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To: Jim McMannis who wrote (60619)	8/24/2006 10:24:27 AM
From: Think4Yourself	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 306849

OT: I agree on Craftsman being junk now. Explains why Sears had to close their hardware stores, at least they did around here. I have been buying tools from closing woodworking or cabinetry shops and have been extremely pleased with the equipment. The stuff is often old but reliable. If it has been in commercial use for 10+ years and they haven't needed to replace it, the tool is probably pretty good. You can get some outstanding prices too.

To: Jim McMannis who wrote (60619)	8/24/2006 10:36:02 AM
From: Lee Lichterman III	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 306849

Off topic - I ama tool nut so thought I would answer you.... Why American? USA vs Asia quality have swapped places. American made is now like "made in Taiwan/China/Japan was in the 1970s. What tools are you looking for? Cheap Chinese made Impact sockets from Harbor Frieght are top notch and whole sets can be had for less than $20 on sale every so often. I have bought tons of sets from normal to deep well impact sockets in metric and standard and have yet to break one even when using my 1800 ft lb imapct gun on them. I never bother with non-impact sockets so couldn't say anything about them but why buy the regular ones when you can get the impact nickel cadium ones so cheap? Their electric motors are cruddy as are the cheap hand tools like pliers and gear pullers so stay clear of those but depending on what you are buying, many of the cheaper stuff is better than the higher priced American junk. Higher priced American brands lately are total junk made from recycled aluminum cans and are only higher in cost due to overpaid flunky unskilled union labor. Now days, I only buy foreign made unless like you said, I can pick up some older craftsman stuff at a garage sale or for my Ingersaul Rand stuff. Just stay clear of foreign small electric motor stuff, pot metal/cast wrneches etc. "normal" steel tools are better from China now than here in the US. What tools are you looking for? For air tools/compressors, you still can't beat Ingersaul Rand. Thier 2135Ti gun is great but expensive the standard 231C is good enough for most people. I use both daily. I would have to go out and look at what models I have for my two big guns but they are great and each have about 1800 ft lbs of torque but are too heavy for constant use. Again, it depends on what you want. I have favorite brands for each class of tool. Let me know what you are looking for and I could say better. For cordless power tools, I love my Milwaukee stuff though I have a couple Dewaults that are good also. For screwdrivers, just hang out at garage sales and find the old 1940s stuff, it cant be beat. I have bought every new brand and model and they are all Junk! I have a bunch of 50 year old ones now and they never bend, break or fail to fit better than anything made today. Good Luck, Lee