Good Tools.

[B.M.800]

I was thinking it may be useful to have a list of tools, or tool brands we find to be usefull and have good quality.

So someone doesnt go out and buy a 500 piece set for $1.50 and end up shattering socket in their eye, snapping off wrenches, rounding out the ratcheting mech in a ratchet... you know, the usual.

We have loads of Craftsman wrenches/ratchets... theyve held up to the abuse, and the ones that didnt were replaced with no problem.

What do yall like to use?

 

[klicky96]

I love my Stanley and Craftsman tools, they always get the job done.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

I like the Silver Eagle brand from Matco. Not as pricey as the Matco brand but just as good in quality. Matco screwdrivers all the way, the best handle design by far.

Craftsman are good tools, but I find them a little rough on my hands,

If I'm going to modify a tool I'll only use a couple times, I'll grab something from HF.

 

[r97]

Most craftsman, Stanley/Proto, Irwin, stuff from Mcmastercarr.com, Dewalt, Hobart/Miller/Lincoln. Your local hardware store can have some good stuff too, you can at least look the tools over before buying.

Unfortunately I don't have a whole lot of tools from those brands, a lot of my tools are cheap things my dad got from the hardware store many years ago. They are fine for household stuff, but the more I get into this stuff, the more I replace those with nicer tools.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i like stanley tools. my uncle has been working there for 50 years.

harbor freight is good too, by far the cheapest but it is not all china junk (like my welder has been used a TON and still works great)

i have spent more than twice as much on welding wire than what the machine costs to begin with

 

[r_chez_08]

Draper and sealey make pretty good affordable socket, ratchet and spanner sets, and most hand tools
If in the UK, the halfords advanced stuff is good.
For power tools, I have found dewalt, makita and black and decker are all good.

 

[South Kart3377]

I got a 3/8 torque wrench from HF Paid 21.99 ffor it I like it, What I don't Like is no quick release for the socket. All my other tools are Craftsman, Stanley and Northern Industrial Tools.

 

[fowler]

For the Aussies
Repco
Kincrome
Sidcrome

Are all good brands for less
Tang tools are not good

 

[Rustydog2010]

I just brought a heap of Proto tools. Got them at a very good price.

Sockets, spanners and anything else you want.
Just need a toolbox to put them in.







And, yes that is a 2 1/2' spanner!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

View attachment 19081

holy crap that is a big wrench

 

[kendelrk]

from america, i like

matco
snap-on
craftsman

 

[Badot]

That wrench almost looks like it's one of those things where some object is really close with something else in the background (like a toy car with a person in the background making it look real size)

What is something like that even used for?
valid answers do not include: bolts/nuts with a 2 1/2" hex

 

[r97]

What is something like that even used for?
valid answers do not include: bolts/nuts with a 2 1/2" hex

Why not? I bet you could find something like that on any decent sized excavator. I needed a 45mm wrench for my motorcycle's flywheel nut.

 

[HellSpawn]

I'll use nothing but Proto and SK stuff. I've used my fair share of cheesy ratchets and socket sets though... And they just don't last. I've never broken a single SK or Proto tool.

 

[landuse]

That wrench would cost a good $80 here. How much did you pay for it?

 

[bighead]

i like stanley tools. my uncle has been working there for 50 years.

harbor freight is good too, by far the cheapest but it is not all china junk (like my welder has been used a TON and still works great)

i have spent more than twice as much on welding wire than what the machine costs to begin with

I worked for stanley/proto back when they were in Oregon 20 years ago. Got most my proto tools then.

I garage sale any USA tool I can find. Over the years garage selling your tool boxes will be over flowing with USA tool.

Most proto and craftsman. I like USA screw drivers but I will buy any type of them. Can never have to many of those.

 

[fowler]

Why not? I bet you could find something like that on any decent sized excavator. I needed a 45mm wrench for my motorcycle's flywheel nut.

ya u get bolts that big but when they are done the 2000ft lb a spanner is no good

big spanners are for hose fittings

that 2 1/2 in is good for some air line fittings on haul trucks

iv got no name spanners for 1 1/8 to 2 in
and no name crome vanadium sockets 15/16 to 2 1/2
then kincrome spanners are sockets
then snap on ratchets, screw drivers, bvreaker bars , ect
knipex pliers and sir clip pliers
hitachi cordless rattle gun, drill, grinder

 

[B.M.800]

I worked for stanley/proto back when they were in Oregon 20 years ago. Got most my proto tools then.

I garage sale any USA tool I can find. Over the years garage selling your tool boxes will be over flowing with USA tool.

Most proto and craftsman. I like USA screw drivers but I will buy any type of them. Can never have to many of those.

Nice collection you got there!

Something else from garage sales, getting some elchepo tools along with good stuff, you can sell the crappy ones and make all your money back.


We have a dewalt angle grinder, reciprocating saw, and cordless drill. All doing well.

A friend gave me a set of Kobalt sockets and ratchet. He said he got em in 1/4 so I shouldnt break them lol.

Does anyone know of a USA made 6 in 1 screwdriver?
Or bits? Like phillips and whatnot? I picked up a dewalt set and put it back down, made in chinaland and all...

We like the USA stuff.

 

[pipehack]

90% Craftsman. Some Snap on and SK. I scounge throgh estate sales for the OLD craftsman stuff and usually walk away with quite a bit. I unfortunately have it all in one of those Chinese HF 41" tool boxes. I'll get an older Snap on box eventually. I got the HF box at an Unreal price and needed to get something together.

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

I refuse to buy crap tools.

Hand tools I prefer:
Snap-on/Bluepoint,
Mac Tools.
Facom, (Aircraft industry standard)
Britool, (Were the only tools requested during wwII)
Teng Tools,
King Dick (They used to make the best tools in the world but cheaper tools that were still excellent quality being imported into the UK made the company shrink massively in production)

Electrical goods:
Makita,
Dewalt,
Lincoln Electrical,
Miller,
Older black & Decker,
Bosch,
Milwaukee.

I've had alot of experience over the years with tools and I would say it narrows down to two things:
- Price of initial purchase,
- Aftermarket assistance and warranty work.

Snapon are the most expensive around but their warranty service is excellent (around here anyway). Their tools do not outlast everything on the market but they are good quality and like I said their service is quite often the best.

IMO of course!

Jordan