Well, last night I went to remove the cracked off bolt that holds my small centre sprocket. It cracked off last Sunday.

I managed to drill a hole through the centre of the bolt. I was lucky that the shaft was hollow behind it. I made it a little bigger with a larger bit and tapped in an easy-out. A little pressure an voila . . . the gosh darned easy out cracked off. I then had to drill out the easy-out. I managed to get through it and the bit cracked off . . . no more Walmart and surplus store tools for me. I'm off to Sears during lunch.

Lesson Learned: If you work on your $5000 (US) $9000 (CAN) quad . . . spend a few bucks and get good tools.

 

Quality tools in critical applications are important, Loyal. However, in my limited experience, removing a stuck bolt or screw with an easy-out can be anything BUT "easy," even with the highest quality tools. Nevertheless, best of luck; and, Sears' Craftsman tools are lifetime guaranteed; that feature is hard to beat.

Diogenes

 

Loyal

The only thing cheap tools are good for is throwing when they fail. Go to Sears and get yourself some good Craftsman tools. Apply for their Craftsman club card (its free) and you get to participate in some good sales throughout the year. I am slowly trying to replace all my cheap tools with good quality Craftsman and Stanley tools. I have never regretted spending the extra money on a good set of tools.

 

I just got back from Sears . . . 14 piece metal drill bit set to add to my collection . . . list price 39.95 . . . but 40% off (thank god for sales)

I too have been adding Stanley tools to my collection in addition to Sears and Canadian Tire (very similar to Sears quality).

Piece by piece our collection grows . . .

 

I don't care how much anybody laughs, I stand by my BENCHTOP tools. They have the same warranty as your pay for the name tools (snap on, mack,sk), it breaks you take it back get a new one.
You can tell me all you want about better quality in mac or snap on, I really dont care. The only time I broke a BENCHTOP tool is when I used a rachet as a hammer.

2000 SCRAMBLER 400 2X4

SCRAMDADDY400

 

Actually you are going thee wrong way for goodtools sears tools are made in japan 90 day warrenty crasfam tools are liftime except for the easy out and drill bits tap and dies only the old sets had a liftime warrenty. And for quality there not much better ask the salsman to show you the BAARRELS of broken tools Yes BARRELS. i worked for sears in the tool dept for 3 years and know all to well about it. I will stay with my SK tools and GRAY there both an excellent tool supplier.

 

I use Craftsman tools. I don't know of any other tool company that you can walk in with a tool that is hardly recognizable from abuse, and they will hand you a brand new one, no questions asked. Maybe they aren't theee best, but if they're willing to replace them after I abuse them, I'll keep buying them. I personally have only had trouble with their screwdrivers, only because I use them as chisels too.

 

I have been getting most of my tools lately through an industrial supply place. They are NOT cheap, but I know of no where else that warranties them as well as they do. They will warranty every bit in the set, even the little tiny ones, for any reason, they warranty taps and dies for life. To top it off, if & when you break one, they send you a new one & even pay the shipping! If anyone is interested, I can look up their 1-800 number. Keep in mind, these are premium tools with a premium price tag. They also deal in imports for the budget minded, but I haven't gotten any of that stuff so I don't know how good they are.

 

All you guys probably have good quality tools, whether they're made in Japan, Mexico or Chicago. Fact is, you can go to the local auto store and they do sell tools they will replace at no additional cost. Try it! Loyal, the easy-out you used was probably made by the same people that made the new tools you're buying. That doesn't really matter. Here's what I'm saying. If you have a 3/8" dia. bolt in a hole, that's broken off and you want to use an easy-out to get it, first you have to determine what size drill to use which will remove most of the metal of the bolt and leave only a thin wall. So, you use a 5/16" dia. drill to drill out the meat of the bolt then place the proper easy out in the hole and you're in business. Don't try to use a small easy-out to remove a bolt that's half again as big. Maybe you did everything right but try this next time. Treat your tools good, they'll be good to you... Questions should be taken to your local Sears Hardware Man, I'm only the messenger... :0)
Chuck, Suzuki KQ 300, GPS & lunch...

 

You really do get what you pay for in tools. There is no way that you can use a Snap On wrench set, then go to Benchtop, or Craftsman, and say that they are the same. The more expensive tool really does work better.

Do I use Snap On ? Nope. The quality to cost ratio isn't worth it. Craftsman for me, as far as mechanics tools. Klien for my professional tools.

Bottom line is, that the warranty means nothing when you have a warranted easy out broken off in a shaft. Those things are as hard as hammered hell, most drill bits wont even scratch 'em.

Dave