Good advice. Between the tractor and implements you’ll eventually need a variety of sockets in the 1/2 drive range and maybe a few in the 3/4 drive range. If you buy them one at a time as you need them they’ll cost about 10x what a set costs. The pipe won’t come with a set but unless you’re a gorilla, you’ll need it.
My father gave me a 300 piece Craftsman mechanic tool set when I turned 18. Even in hindsight, best gift ever. Busted a 15/16 socket messing with my chipper and of course Lowe’s has taken over Craftsman from Sears so I go to Lowe’s for the replacement since there’s a lifetime guarantee. Sears would just take the busted one and hand you another. Not Lowe’s. Stood in line 30 minutes (fine with that, they were busy). Big sign says to go to the Craftsman website to handle warranty claims. I got a smart phone and nothing better to do so I go to the website and check it out. Website says if the retailer (Lowe’s) has it in stock return to them. If they don’t, return directly to Craftsman via some shipping procedure. Makes sense: If it’s a 15/16 socket return to Lowe’s; If it’s a 1 1/2” drive torque multiplier ship it to Craftsman. Next step, go to my Lowe’s app, find out they have about twenty 15/16 sockets in stock at the store I’m in. Make it up to the counter and the young lady tells me they don’t handle replacements, points to the sign, and tells me to go to the website. Told her I did and it told me to see her. She says that’s only for in stock items and they don’t have any. Told her the app says they have about 20. My wife, who is a semi-professional return artist who has embarrassed me in similar situations a couple thousand times, tells me to let it go. I tell her and Lowe’s lady, no. If Lowe’s lady doesn’t know how to handle this, “I don’t know but I’ll find out” is a respectable answer. “Go to the website” and “we don’t have any” without checking stock ain’t cutting it. Lowe’s lady then says, “Fine. How long have you owned this?” After some mental math told her 35 years. She says she can’t believe I’m returning a 35 year old socket (and not in a nice way). Pointed to the sign saying lifetime warranty and told her I’m still alive and they owe me a $5 socket. Finally she calls an Assistant Manager who shows her how to ring up the transaction, which was the whole reason she didn’t want to deal with me.
I’m not sure there was a point to that other than my wife is watching some crap on TV I’m not interested in and if you’re going to use them a lot, lifetime warranties can be a good thing. My 1/2” ratchet hasn’t been abused but it’s seen some hard use. I’m on the third or maybe fourth now and I’ve never paid for one.
www.harborfreight.com
