Lets talk impact guns

[pebjr]

I have full line of Craftsman impact drivers. Have not have any issues with them. They carry a 3 year warranty and Lowes carry them.

 

[Zak99b5]

Off topic, but does Lowes honor the old Craftsman warranty? I have an old 1/2" drive ratchet that doesn't work (was my dad's) and I'd like to swap it out for new. Back when it was Sears it was a simple hand in the broken tool and they handed you the replacement.

 

[Bradm]

Off topic, but does Lowes honor the old Craftsman warranty? I have an old 1/2" drive ratchet that doesn't work (was my dad's) and I'd like to swap it out for new. Back when it was Sears it was a simple hand in the broken tool and they handed you the replacement.

Dont know about lowes but if you have a ACE hardware in your area they will exchange. I have had to wait for a tool to be ordered if it wasn’t on the shelf but they’ve always honored the warranty

 

[oilhammer]

That's the issue, they may not have any replacement available, and since the "Craftsman" brand is essentially just that now, no longer an extension of Sears, the folks that make the stuff vary. The current parent company is Stanley Black & Decker. Stanley has their own hand tool line, and much of the Craftsman branded hand tools now are just rebadged/reboxed Stanley stuff. So if you have a 30 year old Craftsman ratchet, that was probably made by Proto Tool (which is now ALSO owned by SB&D) in the USA, the replacement might be made at one of the Stanley facilities and it might not be made by Proto. DeWalt, MTD, Lenox, Cub Cadet, Troy-bilt, Mac Tools, and others are also part of the SB&D company.

SB&D really pushed the Craftsman brand in recent years, and that's why you see it on all kinds of things in all kinds of retailers, but Lowe's and Ace are the big ones. But the use of the name and brand is WAY more prolific that what they actually manufacturer themselves. I bought a Craftsman branded power washer from Lowe's a few years ago. It has a Honda engine made in South Carolina, a Cat pump, and was assembled in Wisconsin at one of the MTD factories. But the cheaper version right next to it was made in China, also Craftsman branded, had a no-name pump and a Chinese-made Briggs & Stratton engine.

 

[Zak99b5]

So, could the old ratchet be rebuilt? Or are all rebuild parts China anyway so it doesn't matter?

 

[J_dude]

So, could the old ratchet be rebuilt? Or are all rebuild parts China anyway so it doesn't matter?

Hmm, that would be a good question for the craftsman fanatics over on Garage Journal. How old is it?

 

[Genesis]

I have been able to source a decent percentage of required pieces for such in the past, but haven't had a need in the last couple of years. They're almost-certainly Chinese of course, but..... yeah.

 

[Striker223]

I have a 50 gal shop air system but I switched to pure electric for impacts due to way better power and durability, extremely expensive but more effective. I have all 3 sizes and the mid torque is the one I have begun to use the most since it can get honda crank bolts off without needing to remove nearly as much as the fullsize. The fullsize was beaten on for years and years but still works perfectly, did a full disassembly on it and then put it away unless needed. The full size is a nuke that outguns the 3/4 inch air gun by almost 200lb/ft

I started out with a IG fullsize, mac small and mid size as well an a snap-on air ratchet out of my mentors toolbox.....then I went electric due to superior flexibility since at the time I wanted to take them home as desired but we quickly found out they can do things air just cant and never break. He is now using full electric as well but went team yellow since he got a great sale. Shop air is still needed for die grinders etc so it's all still on hand if needed but the air tools just sit and do nothing.

I've been at this for 4 years now on my own and most everything I have is snap on/icon/Milwaukee now, along with the pile of special tools etc for all the brands I see. Started with much more basic stuff until I could easily buy everything I wanted

http://imgur.com/a/rDrL7Xu

Batteries are a very easily solved issue, you can buy nearly new one from pawn shops for $50 for a 250 battery and you can also rebuild them. I have yet to have one fail though.......

 

[wonneber]

Off topic, but does Lowes honor the old Craftsman warranty? I have an old 1/2" drive ratchet that doesn't work (was my dad's) and I'd like to swap it out for new. Back when it was Sears it was a simple hand in the broken tool and they handed you the replacement.

Only if they have the exact model of the tool.
I had a small flat screw driver that had a clips to hold the screw to the tip.
One of the clips broke and Lowes would not replace it even with a plain small one.
I cut the clip stuff off and still use it.

Sears use to just give me a replacement ratchet when I had one that slipped.
I took a 3/4 one back once that the head was also beat up a bit from my using it to tap things from time to time.
The sales man replaced it no problem then asked me if I would like to buy a hammer.
I told him why, I have the ratchet.
He liked that.

I miss not having a Sears near me.

 

[Zak99b5]

Back when I started buying tools to work on my ‘78 bus in the mid 80s, Craftsman was the sweet spot for price and quality. Cheap tools back then were really cheap. Pretty much junk. And the warranty on hand tools was unsurpassed, with a Sears nearby in most any town. I’d been using a small screwdriver as a punch, and finally the shaft got pounded into the handle. Went to the local Sears, amd they swapped it out cheerfully.

I still have most of the Craftsman tools I bought back then. 40 years is a pretty good run.

 

[PakProtector]

My first lesson in the Craftsman warranty came about 8 years old when I found an axe head in a camp fire pit while camping by the Finger Lakes in NY. Eye was split from using it as a splitting wedge. Pop and I went to Sears. I *REALLY wanted a double edge axe, but Pop and the store gal had a sidebar and I was stuck with a regular one...LOL

Douglas

 

[Winning]

I started with harbor freigh brand stuff a 1/4 impact drill and 1/2 impact. Both battery powered. They surved me well getting started. Would do 99% of the stuff needed. Switched over to Milwaukee 1/4 in impact drill with the smaller battries and a 3/8 electric ratchet with the smaller battries. They fit better and are lighter for those tight spaces. And got myself a 1/2 Milwaukee impact the one with a larger 18v battery pack that will do 1400 foot pounds of breaking force. The real benifits to the Milwaukee tools over the other brands in my opinion is the power to weight ratio and how mutch quieter they are. I do miss throwing the old harbor freight stuff in a car and not worring about someone steeling it.

 

[neinspark]

could not get the 5 speed fill plug off , couple of weeks ! Got the earthquake air impact 62891 for $70 from harbor freight and it did the job

 

[Nuje]

could not get the 5 speed fill plug off , couple of weeks ! Got the earthquake air impact 62891 for $70 from harbor freight and it did the job

Somewhat off-topic, but you can always fill through the little "port" next to the shifter tower, too. T40 or T45 head bolt.
Measure how much comes out, then dump in 2L regardless because they're always a little low.

 

[AndyBees]

I've been using an old Campbell Hausfeld air compressor that fell out of the back of a truck. I gave the guy $15 for it. Seems I spent another $25 for parts to repair it. I've used it over 20 years. I think it is a 25 gallon capacity. I have it set to kick on at 95 PSI and off at 125 PSI.

I use my Dad's very old Chicago Tool 1/2 inch impact gun (he retired in 1987). It has served me well.
I also have a 3/8 inch drive Craftsman impact gun and an el cheapo air ratchet from Tractor Supply.
Yeah, I also have one of those el cheapo electric ratchets from eBay. Seems I've been using it about six years.

 

[wonneber]

I've been using an old Campbell Hausfeld air compressor that fell out of the back of a truck. I gave the guy $15 for it. Seems I spent another $25 for parts to repair it. I've used it over 20 years. I think it is a 25 gallon capacity. I have it set to kick on at 95 PSI and off at 125 PSI.

I use my Dad's very old Chicago Tool 1/2 inch impact gun (he retired in 1987). It has served me well.
I also have a 3/8 inch drive Craftsman impact gun and an el cheapo air ratchet from Tractor Supply.
Yeah, I also have one of those el cheapo electric ratchets from eBay. Seems I've been using it about six years.

A guy I knew that repaired all types of tool told me to squirt a bit of oil (any type oil but not heavy weight) in the air fitting of any air tool daily or more often if used a lot.
My CP 1/2 inch gun served me well while I was working.
Air chisel also.