carlyle tools

[GA in SWNE]

Good evening everyone What is the thoughts on the new line of hand tools at napa i have heard lots of different reviews

 

[Brad Gyde]

I haven't bought any, and I plan not to, unless it's a absolute necessity..

Just before our local NAPA changed to the Carlyle tools, I bought a 90 piece socket set to put in my company issued service truck (I hate to buy good tools for their trucks.. we usually have to turn them in when work is slow, and no telling what will walk off..)

The tools I bought look much like the "better end" harbor freight stuff, but a higher price (but still lifetime warranty and so on..)

Fast forward about 60 days.. The 3/8 drive ratchet gave out under what I'd call light usage.. Took it to my local NAPA (where I bought it from).. "Oh, well, NAPA don't handle that line of tools any longer, and the warranty is now void"

I'm gonna catch h*ll for this, but, I'll just go to harbor freight.. If I'm gonna buy junk and fight for warranty replacement, I might just as well BUY JUNK, use it till it breaks, can it, and buy new JUNK..

I truly don't believe there is a decent tool a "common person" can buy anymore.. Everything is cheap Chinese/Taiwanese, or just plain too darn expensive..

A set of Snap-On tools comparable to that cheap NAPA set would set me back well over a grand.. which, in turn, is close to half of my monthly income.. NOT WORTH IT for the amount of tinkering I do. I'd much rather buy American made than the rest, but, I can only afford so much.

I guess my overall point of the rant is that due to what NAPA has done with the warranty on the tools I bought, I will buy no more.. How long before they change vendors again and the warranty on this new stuff is void? I don't buy tools and plan to destroy them, but, I like to know if it has a lifetime warranty, when the tool fails, the warranty will get me something.. Not just a "Sorry.."

Brad

 

[Fergienewbee]

I don't have enough mechanical knowledge to need too good a set of tools. I have a Cobalt 3/8 drive socket set and a set of open end wrenches that work for evertything I'm able to do. I used themn a lot with deep well sockets when I remodled my dog kennels.

Larry

 

[Gambles]

They are now made in Taiwan. And if NAPA will no longer warranty the old tools that you purchased from them, it's time to find a new place to buy your auto parts. I'd make sure you tell the owner why you no longer go there also, it stops him from wondering.

 

[Pops1532]

I hear Crarlyle tools are decent but I prefer to buy American made tools.

 

[pete black]

do not know about carlyle but there will come a day, probably close now, when good quality american made tools will be a much sought after item. a basic quality tool collection and tool chest can be worth hundreds/thousands of dollars and will be considered a high thief item. my dad's set, although quite small, consisted of some good quality plus some junky. i separated them, combined the good ones with mine and disposed of the others. i place a high value, more than dollars, on my tools, guard them, use them, clean them and keep them.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Not the first time NAPA has pulled this stunt,
anyone remember New Britten and Sparta? They were
decent tools, I still own quite a few. I am with
you on the China tool deal. HF quality has come a
long ways, far enough that I am not going to
support NAPA or anyone else that sells far east
tools with their name stamped on them when I can
cut them out and buy for half at HF. I do try to
buy USA made when I can afford them. I just cant
drop a months pay on a wrench set, sorry guys. I
have been buying some stuff from Martin tool
lately, not sure where all of their tools come
from but the wrenches sets are USA made, decent
quality and affordable for all but the cheapest of
cheap.

 

[evilboweivel]

Butch
check around for a Wright Tool dealer
made in Ohio
their cresent wrench is thinner and better made than any other I have found for a long time
on my school van have 1/4 and 1/2 socket sets
both resonable priced they also have a high end line that I can't justify based on the work I do
Wright Tools

 

[Butch(OH)]

I know of Wright. At least some of their tools are forged by Martin, maybe all of them? Most of the time the same tool is cheaper with Martin's name on them.

 

[Dalex]

Martin tools are in Ft.Worth ,Tx. I have some and all of them say USA , but they are old , can't swear modern ones are still all USA products....

 

[Lou Kocon]

I found a lot of good used tools on ebay, (Snap On, Williams, New Britian, Proto, S&K, etc., etc..) Sometimes you can get really good deals on good quality used wrenches, sockets, etc..

 

[Brian G. NY]

My F.I.L. gave me a set of Craftsman sockets in all 3 sizes along with some screwdrivers and such for Christmas back in 1961 right after I married his daughter. I have added many, many tools to it since then mostly from auctions, garage sales and flea markets. Like Lou, I have added all name brands like
Blackhawk, Williams, Thorsen, S-K, Snap-On and so on. I have hardly any foreign made tools at all.
One exception, I bought a set of "made in Taiwan" Gear-Wrenches when they first came out. They are well made and very handy. It's funny when "made in Taiwan" was considered a bad thing and now from what I can tell by looking at them, a lot of Taiwanese tools look good; especially when compared to Chinese stuff!

 

[GA in SWNE]

My understanding was that they would still warranty the old napa tools but ill have to ask the next time i am in town. I am tryn to find some new socket sets but i dont want to spend a small fortune on a snap-on or black hawk set. so was just picking up on some opinions. thank you in advance. beautiful day here in Nebraska. Gerald

 

[Pops1532]

(quoted from post at 19:29:52 01/22/13) My understanding was that they would still warranty the old napa tools but ill have to ask the next time i am in town. I am tryn to find some new socket sets but i dont want to spend a small fortune on a snap-on or black hawk set. so was just picking up on some opinions. thank you in advance. beautiful day here in Nebraska. Gerald

Gerald,
There are lots of good US made tools on ebay. Some of the used stuff is very affordable. I've bought allot of new and good used tools there.
Also watch for local auctions. My wife bought me a NOS 1/2 drive SK socket set for 32 bucks at a local auction a month or so ago.
Pops

 

[Brad Gyde]

(quoted from post at 12:29:52 01/22/13) My understanding was that they would still warranty the old napa tools but ill have to ask the next time i am in town. I am tryn to find some new socket sets but i dont want to spend a small fortune on a snap-on or black hawk set. so was just picking up on some opinions. thank you in advance. beautiful day here in Nebraska. Gerald

Gerald,

I looked this evening when I got home, the ones I have are NAPA Evercraft. If you should find out they will still warranty them, please let me know..

Our local NAPA had 2 counter guys.. One was TOP NOTCH.. the other.. NOT SO MUCH. The good guy was great at pleasing the customer, but he has left for a better parts person job elsewhere (the day I bought this set was his last day).. It left the other guy.. Did I mention he's about helpless?? Knowing how he is, it wouldn't surprise me if there is still some sort of warranty still out there on the tools.

Gambles,

I just want to say that the only reason I continue with NAPA is because I WILL NOT DO BUSINESS with the "supermarket" parts stores. Their parts suck, to put it nicely. I have started using our local Parts Plus store a lot more since the warranty issue and the parts counter guy leaving NAPA.


FWIW, I'm starting to look into the Case-IH tools.. They are made by Blue-Point, unfortunately, they too come from overseas in modern times.. The price is NOT CHEAP, but my good friend is a parts guy at the C-IH dealer, and he says they're worth the money (he's bought a lot of them, and they look to be good quality..)

Brad

 

[Gambles]

Just a little follow up to this tool post. I was in my local NAPA store yesterday and asked the guy if they still warranty their older tool lines. He told me that "Of course!" they warranty their older American tool lines. All of them. And the warranty is backed by NAPA, not the local owner, although the replacement might not be American-made. So if somebody here has some older NAPA tools and their local store doesn't stand behind them, they need to find another NAPA store. Or another store. Because if they don't warranty their older lines, chances are they won't warranty their newer line either.