Time to buy more tools

C

cb_13

Joined
Jul 24, 2011
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Location
Missouri
Looking to start replacing some missing pieces and missing sets for the company tool box at my new job. They pay the bill but have already told me they’re not too fond of the tool truck guys since they tend to get excuses as to why they can’t warranty stuff for them since it’s a government shop.

So I’d be looking at availability from Harbor Freight, Lowe’s and Napa. I’ll probably go Pittsburgh Pro for impact sockets. There are currently two Icon ratchets and some Icon combination wrenches in the company box. One ratchet I really like the other flips directions if you really crank down, the wrenches are meh.
Figured I’d fill in the holes in wrench sets with Napa Carlyle and socket sets with Craftsman from Lowe’s. Since Icon is sold in sets only.

Ratchets?? Idk, I’ve got some Napa Carlyle for my personal box that are decent.

Hex bits??? Probably looking at Carlyle, Icon or Craftsman. If previous experience remains true I will eventually break all the common sizes of any of these brands and have to call the snap on man for some gold bits.

Thoughts, recommendations, experiences???
 
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I have used Carlyle tools from Napa to fill in the missing sockets from my 25 year old Craftsmen USA set. The Carlyle seems like an upgrade in quality to me. I have bought Carlyle and more recently an Icon 3/8/ drive extension set recently. I am happy with the quality so far.

I may be buying more Williams or Wright tools if I go to upgrade my Craftsman wrench set. I would like to have a better set of tools for home and take the craftsman set to keep at the airport, but I need to be working to justify that move..
 
I know the pros laugh at Craftsman tools, but they've always served me well. Some of their hand tools are still built in the USA, but I'm not sure which ones. I have lots of Craftsman tools of all kinds--some 50+ years old--as well as a few Snap-On and Blue Point sockets, which are very nice. Also have some GearWrench and Tekton stuff which are good quality. I think the original GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches were made in the US or Taiwan, but the latest aren't as nice.

I don't have a lot of Harbor Freight or Northern tools based on experience over the years, like sockets cracking and and hex bits breaking, as well as a set of open end wrenches being too tight or too loose on bolt heads. That said, I have three sets of no-name ChiCom impact sockets and extensions that fit properly and have held up well. I have a buddy with lots of Harbor Freight tools, and some are virtually unusable. The ratchets mechanisms are a joke. Fortunately, he also has some Craftsman tools.
 
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I think you have the right idea.

I will add that Husky from Home Depot has some pretty decent stuff. Wrenches and socket wrenches of theirs have served me well.

Pittsburgh is extremely hit/miss for me. Their warranty is great and easy to use. Which is good, because you'll need it.

I have warrantied out several of them and thrown away many more. Including sockets and wrenches. However, their green handled Swivel head 3/8 ratchet remains my go to socket wrench for light and medium work. Even then, I still broke one.

Craftsman is solid despite their lower quality compared to years ago. Even their allen head wrenches are actually pretty decent.

Craftsman told me 2 or 3 yeara ago that Lowe's must honor the Craftsman warranty with same or similar tool, and that Ace only has to warranty out a tool if they have the exact same model in stock.

I have had bad luck with Northern Tool in general. But maybe that's just me. Everything I buy from them, including tools, just isn't quite up to snuff.


I will say this. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a good set of wrenches, ratchets, and sockets to start with and would have avoided wasting all that money over the years by trying to save a few dollars on a tool. Only to have it break or cause me frustration.
 
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Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want and need. I’ll tell you as a mechanic who uses tools everyday I have also been really happy with Duralast Tools from Auto Zone for sockets and wrenches and the pliers are decent too. Also the DieHard line at Advance is good. Power Torque tools from O’Reilly are ok just good for sockets and ratchets none of their other tools are good. Carlyle is also very good stuff if your Napa has a good selection especially for wrenches. Also I’ve never broken a Pittsburgh Pro chrome socket either but except the 10mm they are only available in sets. Of course online brands like Tekton and Capri do very well too.
 
wavinwayne said:
I'd like to hear more about the tool truck guys not wanting to honor warranty since its a govt shop. I work in a govt facility and ~95% of our tools are Snap-on. Not aware of any warranty issues over the years.
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Just what I was told. Not my personal experience. Every route driver differs I do know that but personally I’ve never had an issue with a driver not replacing broken tools for me.

I’ve already replaced the broken Snappy tools they still had remaining using my personal online account.
 
AutoMechanic said:
Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want and need. I’ll tell you as a mechanic who uses tools everyday I have also been really happy with Duralast Tools from Auto Zone for sockets and wrenches and the pliers are decent too. Also the DieHard line at Advance is good. Power Torque tools from O’Reilly are ok just good for sockets and ratchets none of their other tools are good. Carlyle is also very good stuff if your Napa has a good selection especially for wrenches. Also I’ve never broken a Pittsburgh Pro chrome socket either but except the 10mm they are only available in sets. Of course online brands like Tekton and Capri do very well too.
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Good to know about the Pittsburgh Pro chromes. I’ve got a lot of Pittsburgh Pro impact in my personal box from the dealership days but my chromes are mostly Snap On and 90s Craftsman.
 
facility1 said:
Menards has master force tools, real decent stuff, lifetime warranty also, no hassle exchange.
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The service truck has a 1/2 inch drive Masterfoce set in it. I was impressed at how complete it was. Very few if any skips and went up to 1 3/8 I believe.
 
I used Pittsburgh impact sockets for several years until getting Tekton. I am certain both will outlive me and be inherited by my kids. Grey Pneumatic on Amazon is another one to look at.

HF has a really good coupon coming up for Icon ratchets starting Aug 12th if you are ITC. I'm thinking about their comfort grips, but may still pass.

HF also will have their Icon no slip wrenches For $70 which topped Torque Test Channel comparisons.
 
cb_13 said:
Looking to start replacing some missing pieces and missing sets for the company tool box at my new job. They pay the bill but have already told me they’re not too fond of the tool truck guys since they tend to get excuses as to why they can’t warranty stuff for them since it’s a government shop.

So I’d be looking at availability from Harbor Freight, Lowe’s and Napa. I’ll probably go Pittsburgh Pro for impact sockets. There are currently two Icon ratchets and some Icon combination wrenches in the company box. One ratchet I really like the other flips directions if you really crank down, the wrenches are meh.
Figured I’d fill in the holes in wrench sets with Napa Carlyle and socket sets with Craftsman from Lowe’s. Since Icon is sold in sets only.

Ratchets?? Idk, I’ve got some Napa Carlyle for my personal box that are decent.

Hex bits??? Probably looking at Carlyle, Icon or Craftsman. If previous experience remains true I will eventually break all the common sizes of any of these brands and have to call the snap on man for some gold bits.

Thoughts, recommendations, experiences???
Click to expand...
Look at Wright tools. Amazon sells them

The Icon series of tools at Harbor Freight is pretty decent but close to Craftsman prices.
 
SnapOn would be an idiot to not want government contracts? The first rule in government is why buy one when you can buy two for twice the price? (Contact)

Proto flex head ratchets are beautiful.

The DieHard flex heads from AAP are ok, although they just seem like average Taiwanese

I LOVE my Carlyle roto head in 1/4", but for some reason don't like the 3/8"

I'd say find sockets where your eyes don't hate the markings. Increasingly this is an issue for me
 
cb_13 said:
Looking to start replacing some missing pieces and missing sets for the company tool box at my new job. They pay the bill but have already told me they’re not too fond of the tool truck guys since they tend to get excuses as to why they can’t warranty stuff for them since it’s a government shop.

So I’d be looking at availability from Harbor Freight, Lowe’s and Napa. I’ll probably go Pittsburgh Pro for impact sockets. There are currently two Icon ratchets and some Icon combination wrenches in the company box. One ratchet I really like the other flips directions if you really crank down, the wrenches are meh.
Figured I’d fill in the holes in wrench sets with Napa Carlyle and socket sets with Craftsman from Lowe’s. Since Icon is sold in sets only.

Ratchets?? Idk, I’ve got some Napa Carlyle for my personal box that are decent.

Hex bits??? Probably looking at Carlyle, Icon or Craftsman. If previous experience remains true I will eventually break all the common sizes of any of these brands and have to call the snap on man for some gold bits.

Thoughts, recommendations, experiences???
Click to expand...
I like the term “ fill the holes in wrench sets”. It’s totally annoying that common socket sizes can be missing from some sets.
 
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