Looking at new tools Options

[bkrantz]

And I recently bought a HF tool chest, a General 72 inch roller cabinet. I am VERY happy so far, especially for the price.

[GBX0073]

In my mix match of Craftsman and Cresent
I have replaced my Rachets with ICON
I really like them smooth gearing and may sound silly, the On / Off Markings
Makes it a no brainer for the out of sight upside down work

[mepstein]

And let’s not even talk about my Milwaukee power tool addiction (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Freezin 914]

My vote would be for Husky tools over Craftsman, easily available at Home Depot, strong warranties or a vote HF. Most of us will never wear out hand tools. (Normal use)
My vote is based on me being a weekend wrencher, and could replace tools 2-3 times for cost of the box truck tools.
Just my .02

[lalee914]

My son worked in an automotive junk yard for a while. A u pull it kind of place. It was very common that he would find all kinds of tools in the yard that people had left behind. Mostly Craftsman. Some had been there a while and were rusty so when he brought home a rusty socket or wrench, we would go to our local Sears and they would swap it for a new one, no questions. We put together several big sets of Metric and SAE sockets and wrenches. Gave them away to friends since we both already had everything we could possibly use.

He got rid of all his Craftsman stuff and now has a BIG expensive box full of expensive snap-on stuff. Craftsman is very good. Snap-on tools are a little better.

[ConeDodger]

I have decades old Craftsman and they are solid. I would suggest you look in to a Canadian brand I’ve been picking up lately. OLSA tools. They’ve got some innovative products and the quality seems pretty good.

[Amphicar770]

For the tools you use all the time, buy the best you can. For those items which you may dig out of the drawer every 2-3 years, no point spending a ton of money when something from HF will do the job.

The Cratsman professional line from several years ago was top quality, US made. That line was discontinued. Their current products vary greatly in terms of quality.

Almost all of my power tools are Milwaukee and increasingly I buy their hand tools which, when they go on sale, are a good buy with high quality.

HF quality has certainly improved in recent years, but the prices have also gone up. You can often find Tekton or others at same price.

[914e]

I have a mix. In grade school and high school I mostly used Craftsman. That is what my dad had and when I needed a tool I would pick it up a Sears. After High School and working as a dealer mechanic the prices on the tool trucks came as a huge shock. But I needed certain tools and started the grow my tool collection at likely 5 times the cost of craftsman. I'm pretty sure my combination wrench sets were around $200 each 7 piece set close to forty years ago. By 1982 every new car was metric except powertrains. So I was in need of more metric tools.

The Craftsman tools while great for home use, really started having problems being used 8 hours a day. I was stopping by Sears twice week to have tool replaced. I never had a problem exchanging them but the time lost with broken tools was becoming a problem.
So my core tools are Snap On. I can count on hand the times I have had one break, and each one I was pushing the tool hard. Like trying to help someone replace a tire on truck with a 3/8 ratchet. The small electronics cutters and screwdrivers are fantastic.

I used to have deal with some small connectors that will destroy the few dollar 1/8" blade screwdrivers you might be able to do a hundred connectors before damaging the blade. Thirty-five years a ago everyone I worked with thought is was crazy to 10-12 dollars on a tiny flat blade. I have two of them, I chipped the tip once on one of them I redressed it and it has been fine for a few more decades. I have used those on tens of thousands of connectors.

Without easy access to a Snap On truck I will say service is a pain. Not the no questions asked service I have in the 80's. I don't think they will replace items that are just worn. I have few sockets that have heavy wear, I don't think they will replace them.

Flankdrive was amazing 40 years ago but most good tools these days have some version of that.

As I have needed larger 20mm and above tools those have been a mix of Harbor Freight, Husky and AutoZone and O'Reilly tools. Auto supply tools tend to be junk.
The Harbor Freight tool boxes are better quality than my 40 year old Snap On box. They didn't have roller bearing slides back then.

There is many good hand tool options now.

[ConeDodger]

For the tools you use all the time, buy the best you can. For those items which you may dig out of the drawer every 2-3 years, no point spending a ton of money when something from HF will do the job.

Almost all of my power tools are Milwaukee and increasingly I buy their hand tools which, when they go on sale, are a good buy with high quality.

HF quality has certainly improved in recent years, but the prices have also gone up. You can often find Tekton or others at same price.

Good point. I get Harbor Freight for things I will probably use once. I have also been collecting some Eastwood stuff.

[peteinjp]

I’m located in Japan and for high use tools or tools where I don’t wanna strip something I stick with KTC. If you hard Pressed define better quality and for the quality the price is reasonable – at least here. Available on Amazon.

KTC

[jd74914]

I'm not a matched sets guy. I like certain brands for certain things, particularly ratchets, screw drivers, and Allen keys. Otherwise, I'm all for generic.

Craftsman ratchets have sucked [IMO] for 30 years. I personally think Mac makes the best ratchets, though SK and SnapOn are really nice too.

Screw drivers: Wiha for the nice ones. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

Allen keys: Bondhaus is a solid choice without too much cost.

[lesorubcheek]

Hand tools are like ice cream. Some like vanilla, some chocolate, etc.... And some like to get those expensive little pint sized specialty types and some the econo-creams in the tubs. Nothing wrong with any as long as you're happy with it. Yes, there is a difference in quality of tools, but many are way past the knee-in-the-curve for ROI. Like others have said, it depends on how often you use them and what you'll feel comfortable with.
Many of my tools were my dad's, mainly old Craftsman with some Proto/Challenger, Vlchek, and KD mixed in. Personal favorite wrenches are SK chromes because they feel nice in the hands and the smooth surface wipes clean easily, but I like the old Craftsmen and the Stahlwilles feel nice too. Almost always use Craftsman sockets and really like the Icon ratchets. For screwdrivers, a set from Bahco have an incredible grip and the metal seems strong on them too. Bondhus T handles are favorite allen and torx.
Favorite tools that's saved my tail more than once are a hand held impact driver, think this one was made by Continental but there's many manufacturers, a Posi-lock caged puller, and most definitely the heat gun, this one's a Milwaukee.

Dan

[bkrantz]

Hand tools are like ice cream. Some like vanilla, some chocolate, etc.... And some like to get those expensive little pint sized specialty types and some the econo-creams in the tubs. Nothing wrong with any as long as you're happy with it. Yes, there is a difference in quality of tools, but many are way past the knee-in-the-curve for ROI. Like others have said, it depends on how often you use them and what you'll feel comfortable with.
Many of my tools were my dad's, mainly old Craftsman with some Proto/Challenger, Vlchek, and KD mixed in. Personal favorite wrenches are SK chromes because they feel nice in the hands and the smooth surface wipes clean easily, but I like the old Craftsmen and the Stahlwilles feel nice too. Almost always use Craftsman sockets and really like the Icon ratchets. For screwdrivers, a set from Bahco have an incredible grip and the metal seems strong on them too. Bondhus T handles are favorite allen and torx.
Favorite tools that's saved my tail more than once are a hand held impact driver, think this one was made by Continental but there's many manufacturers, a Posi-lock caged puller, and most definitely the heat gun, this one's a Milwaukee.

Dan

+1 on the hand impact drive. That is the PERFECT tool to loosen screws that hold brake disks onto hubs.

[jd74914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

The hand impact is an awesome tool! Lisle made the one I have and it’s indispensable for many tasks. Rotor screws, tin screws, motorcycle TB booties, etc.

I’m also a huge fan of my hydraulic (battery) impact driver (M12 or M18, your choice)

[ThePaintedMan]

Lots of great advice here per usual. I had personally not heard of Tekton before but I'll be looking at their stuff now with all the good reviews.

I too don't look down upon HF' s Icon line. For the home gamer, they're as good if not better than Craftsman or similar. The Chinese are quite capable of producing and machining good / acceptable quality stuff with enought investment and oversight by the parent company.

I recall walking around the paddock at Sebring and watching a multi-million dollar race team using a Harbor Freight aluminum jack. I remarked to the chief mechanic that I was surprised because I had one just like it at home and wondered why they didn't use some big name brand. He simply stated, "Why? These work great, they last and if they break we can always go buy 2-3 more for the cost of name brand." Made a lot of sense to me - if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

[mepstein]

Lots of great advice here per usual. I had personally not heard of Tekton before but I'll be looking at their stuff now with all the good reviews.

I too don't look down upon HF' s Icon line. For the home gamer, they're as good if not better than Craftsman or similar. The Chinese are quite capable of producing and machining good / acceptable quality stuff with enought investment and oversight by the parent company.

I recall walking around the paddock at Sebring and watching a multi-million dollar race team using a Harbor Freight aluminum jack. I remarked to the chief mechanic that I was surprised because I had one just like it at home and wondered why they didn't use some big name brand. He simply stated, "Why? These work great, they last and if they break we can always go buy 2-3 more for the cost of name brand." Made a lot of sense to me - if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me.

Bob Russo used a HF aluminum jack when working on the 962. Same reason as above.
The only downside of Tekton is they make it too easy to buy their tools. Log in, put the tool in your cart and checkout. Shipping is free on everything and their points system is easy, it’s just dollars of credit towards your next purchase. Another addiction to add to the list. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[GBX0073]

So thanks to this thread I now feel the need to get a tool cart
Thinking Yukon or US general on the Yukon I like the idea of the wood top to add a Vice Thanks to mepstein I now know about Tekton so may be placing a order for Sockets wondering what black Friday sales they may have .

[VaccaRabite]

I also have the HF 72 inch tool chests and the top chest and one of the side hanging chests for it as well. Its fantastic. The side chest is not as nice, I think its an earlier version and does not have the drawer locks, but I've not had any issues with the drawers sliding open that I have on my Home Depot tool chest.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-1435-1667952598.1.jpg)

[DaveB]

The tool which saved me more than I can remember is a 6 foot 2" metal pipe which I can load in a wrench and leverage off that one damn nut or bolt that doesn't want to come off. So staying with a brand to have a complete set may look nice, but the tools needed to do a job are eclectic.

For personal use, I have Craftsman (USA made) and Thorsen (mfg in Texas), Snap-on, SK, and some HF stuff I've sacrificed to the welding gods. I think I have some Ikea tools that come with their furniture that I've modified for speciality tools. IMO, stay with your Craftsman, rebuild and pack your ratchets, then pick-up a few pieces from various brands and try them. Also get about a dozen 10mm wrenches and sockets. I swear the car fairy takes them and substitutes a 7/8 in their place.

DaveB

[nditiz1]

If you haven't seen his YouTube channel, check out project Farm. He goes over several tool comparisons. Most of the time, the most expensive name brand is not the best.

+1 for cheap tools to do the job, HF. If I need precision, I'll pay more for name brand tools.