Super Bee 1, Taiwan 0

[Mike]

For many years I have had a rule never to purchase tools made in China or Taiwan. Last night I was reminded why I have that rule when I attempted to use a pitman arm puller that I had purchased a long time ago, before the days of the tool rule. As in the past, the tool broke the first time it was used. Always remember and respect the tool rule!!!

[71greengo]

I gotta admit that allot off offshore tools/products are inferior.....but I believe you get what you pay for.......I have bought some off shore tools that worked great but were pricey and quality.........and others that seemed like a bargain and were garbage.......such as socket sets/wrenches/vicegrips and screwdrivers sets

I also know that just because it says made in America doesnt mean it was......A ton of parts are cast/forged in China then brought to North America and final assembled....then they can claim made in North America..........GE / Sears....and lots of other companies do it all the time

that puller looks like a weak cast part, and I bet it wasnt expensive.......just looking at tools you can tell if they are good enough to do the job

I buy allot of tools for work and allot come from China....but they are the pricey ones, not the stuff bought at walmart...............I order thru McMaster CArr allot and some are off shore and have proven to be great tools with full warranty
I am not saying you bought your puller at walmart, and sorry it failed for you

[Mike]

Steve, you have probably hit on the real problem. It is hard to purchase quality tools anymore at the retail level. The local auto parts or hardware stores do not stock the good stuff, only the inexpensive stuff. I'm shipping for a new pitman arm puller. I need to get the seals in the steering gear so I can button up the front end.

I don't know where I bought that puller. It was a long time ago. I buy a bunch of stuff out of McMaster Carr and Grainger also, but I have bought any tools there. I'll check into it.

[DynoDave]

Mac tools lists several ranging from $29.99 to $199.99. Even the cheap one is listed as "forged of high grade, heat treated steel" with hardened center screw.

[eckertc1]

I feel your pain Mike. I was lucky enough to hold on to my snap on tools I bought as a young chap in school through all these years. Many times a week I see someone selling their snap-on sets on craigslist because times are tough or they lost interest or what ever the reason and I just feel bad for them. Some day they will kick themselves for it.

I have snap-on ratchets that are older then I am that I got from my dad when I was about 16 or so and they are still more solid ratchets then a few sets I have gotten from relatives over the years for xmas (and remember, I was 16 and ratchets got used as hammers more often then ratchets at that age).

On a side note, as I have added to my tool box over the years, Snap-On is just not an affordable option so I usually try to buy craftsman when ever possible. It's amazing how big their selection is if you order out of their catalog. I find these to be on par quality wise with my snap-on tools in most cases and at a fraction of the cost.

[Mike]

The majority of my tools are from Craftsman. Even their quality has fallen over the years. All of my old Craftsman ratchets are bulletproof. I have to be careful with the newer Craftsman ratchets because they are not the same. I have purchased SnapOn tools for things I use often. I try not to spend a lot of money on tools that sit in the drawer most of the time.

[MrSnicks]

I believe you get what you pay for... That said, I buy MOST of my tools from the pawn shop around the corner from me. I get Mac Snap-on and Craftsman at a fraction of the cost new. I've even bought broken craftsman tools there just to take to Sears and get it exchanged for free. I'm down to just needing "specialty tools" now so the guy has a list of what I need and calls me when it comes in.

[brock]

I've broken that tool every time from dang near every manufaturer.

No more for me. If you have to use a hammer to get it to work???

(You should see my prybar collection!)