No more imported tools for me.

[k1xv]

If I made my living every day with hand tools, it would be Snap-on all the way. However, as a shade tree guy who works on things now and then, Craftsman satisfies my quality and price point. After mislaying various tools over the last 30 years, I recently bought a new set at a very low price. If you go to the Sears web site, look for tools, and then look for clearance priced items, you would be surprised how economical many of the tool sets are.

I have never had a Craftsman tool fail, except with extreme abuse (broken screwdriver blade) and they exchanged it for a new one, no questions asked.

 

[VaderSS]

I've broken everything fron Snap-On to "no-name" chinese stuff. If I really have to lean on it, I'm at least expecting the part I'm leaning on to break... If the tool breaks, I was expecting a sharp release of energy anyway...

 

[The_Jeff]

I cheap out on tools I consider "one-time-use." As an example my wrench set goes from 17 to 19mm but skips 18. I have an 18mm impact socket but it won't fit the castle nut on my Saturn ball joint. I assume (dangerous) that there isn't too much 18mm stuff out there so I got a cheapie wrench to augment my collection. I'd be mad if I paid a lot for it, and only used it once.

Sometimes, often, doing it yourself more than saves the cost of the tool... but you don't want those savings/profits eaten up. When I work on my car, yeah, it's fun, but it's also about the benjamins.

 

[cousincletus]

I was just thinking that the Snap-on man usually has some used and repo tools in his van. Also the big flea market usually has a few vendors selling used Snap-on and Craftsman tools. You can get a greak in the price this way.

 

[mikep]

quote:

---

Originally posted by k1xv:
If I made my living every day with hand tools, it would be Snap-on all the way. However, as a shade tree guy who works on things now and then, Craftsman satisfies my quality and price point. I have never had a Craftsman tool fail, except with extreme abuse (broken screwdriver blade) and they exchanged it for a new one, no questions asked.

---

This about sums it up for me.

I have a few SnapOn tools back from when my dad owned a Chevron station and yes they are super expensive and I won't be buying anymore of them, that's for sure. But in all probability if Chris142 had been using a SnapOn wrench I seriously doubtthis post would have been necessary.

Whatever happened to SK tool? They used to be very high quality tools with the same type of warranty that SnapOn and Craftsman have (and made in the USA). They weren't polished to a high gloss like SnapOn but isntead looked more like Craftsman tools and never ever broke. I haven't seen SK tools at an auto parts store in 10 years or more.

I had to restrain myself from responding to HKKC. Lets just say I'll do without or go rent a tool before I buy one that says Made In China.

 

[Chris142]

Whatever happened to SK tool? They used to be very high quality tools with the same type of warranty that SnapOn and Craftsman have (and made in the USA). They weren't polished to a high gloss like SnapOn but isntead looked more like Craftsman tools and never ever broke. I haven't seen SK tools at an auto parts store in 10 years or more.

[/QB][/QUOTE]


Kragen auto can order them. I just bought a nice polished SK shorty wrench set from them about a month ago.

 

[GSV]

I still have a scar on my wrist from a Taiwanese wrench that broke when I was 18. That was pretty painful and bloody so I won't go down that road again.

I've never had a single failure with Craftsman or Matco or Proto hand tools. I'll continue to buy them.