what brand of tools to buy

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: Bob Woods
Don't overlook Ace Hardware, they have the same life time warranty.


Most Ace stuff is made in China. They do carry Craftsman but not the full USA line.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: Bob Woods
Don't overlook Ace Hardware, they have the same life time warranty.


Most Ace stuff is made in China. They do carry Craftsman but not the full USA line.


My 1st set of ratchet was Ace branded, made in Taiwan. It was ok for many years until I put a water pipe over it and use it as a breaker bar for some suspension bolts. The square drive twisted off, but the sockets are still good.

The replacement Craftsman ratchet seems much sturdier with the same abuse.

 

[Milkman]

Beware of the Snap-On Student deals. They will probably try to sell you a 1000 piece set with 900 tools you will never use. Your better bet is to try to start a relationship with a local "tool truck" guy who can help you get going. Worked for me.

Certain Craftsman tools are excellent. You gotta watch what you buy.

Personally, I would stay away from MAC. I had a friend who owned one of their tool trucks and they really hosed him. And, i have had a horrible time with warranty replacements.

Hope this helps and good luck and God's speed.

Frank

 

[user52165]

If you are in a major city, check for good used Snap On or other. $3K gets eaten up very quickly even with a discount. Having to buy all those sizes......check the prices on 3/4" drive - Wow! Tool chests can get very pricey and what about air tools or speciality types? Check Craigs List (watch out for HOT stuff) and Classified ads, etc. Let some one else take the depreciation. Good luck - we need good young mechanics. Are you good with electronics........ because that's where cars are and will be?

 

[user52165]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
Where can you get snap-on I have some of there tools from my grandpa and they are tough as nails. But I've never bought any.


If grandpa is still around, ask where he got them and who he knows. If he was a mechanic, you have an "In" on the market. Ask around - old guys like to help young guys who want to learn.

 

[dparm]

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point.

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
While Craftsman ratchets will now be made in Taiwan or China, the regular Craftsman wrenches and sockets are still USA made. It's not clear if they will be replaced with imported tools or not.




Only the low end Craftsmen Ratchets are made overseas. Their mid and upper ratchets are all 100% USA made and will remain so.

 

[AstroTurf]

It's not long after the Camel pokes his head in the tent, That he is sleeping on your cot.

Buy American, By Americans for Americans.

Jim

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
While Craftsman ratchets will now be made in Taiwan or China, the regular Craftsman wrenches and sockets are still USA made. It's not clear if they will be replaced with imported tools or not.




Only the low end Craftsmen Ratchets are made overseas. Their mid and upper ratchets are all 100% USA made and will remain so.


I just found the thread on the new Chinese made socket vs. US made.

In response to your post Chris, I am wondering if it starts with only the low-end ratchets and will slowly consume everything. Sort of a "get their foot in the door". You could once say "all of the ratchets are 100% USA made" and apparently that is no longer the case.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.


Only the low end Craftsmen Ratchets are made overseas. Their mid and upper ratchets are all 100% USA made and will remain so.


Wrong.

While the premium ratchet is still USA made (for now), the thin-profile, 60-tooth ratchets are now made in Taiwan.

Here's a pic from another forum of a 44994 (note the part number in the UPC code).
Here's the link to the 44994 ratchet on the Sears website. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944994000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

As posted in this thread, the regular raised panel ratchets are now Chinese.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point. [/quot

avoid craftsman if you are a tech, if they think you are using them in the professional world they WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, had this happened to me as well as many co-workers, plus most craftsman ratcheting tools are not fine toothed which is a real pain when you don't have enough room to swing it enough to engage the next tooth.

 

[Smokefan1977]

Being a longtime tech and shop owner I have learned so much about the tool Biz and what tools to buy from whom. 1st Tool trucks are a great option. Snapon has great deals setup ar SOME schools but not all. Snapon has changed how they do business in many ways. They dont make as many stops at smaller shops and they have gone to alot of employee truck operators.

Mac has great tools, but their trucks are usually ill stocked and they require pretty hefty weekly payments.

Matco has become my new Fav. The tools are great and the prices are far less then snappy's. The dealers seem more willing to work with new techs and warranty issues are promptly taken care of.

If you get a snapon discount through school buy your ratchets and wrenches.

All trucks carry fluke meters and many of the same branded specialty tools so shop those tools for the best price.

Air tools....IR is the very best bang for the buck shop this aswell from the truck to online and even sears.

Your smaller stuff such as 1/4 sockets and ratchets you can get away with a lessor quality tool as the force put on these are very minimal.

When you step on these tool truck refrane from buying into the sales and promos. You can go deeply in debt to these people because you wanted a shirt so bad. DON'T DO IT.

Lastly I know myself i wont let a tech off of work to drive his but to sear to return his broken tool and I know when I wrenched for a living thats the last thing I wanted to do when i got off of work

 

[Chris B.]

whoops

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point. [/quot

avoid craftsman if you are a tech, if they think you are using them in the professional world they WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, had this happened to me as well as many co-workers, plus most craftsman ratcheting tools are not fine toothed which is a real pain when you don't have enough room to swing it enough to engage the next tooth.


I work in a huge corporate diesel repair shop and we have tons of tools from all brands. Craftsmen tools hold up as well as Snap-On and other top quality tools and we use the heck out of them. I posted just a few months ago about a newer Snap-On ratchet breaking trying to get a large bolt free. The Craftsmen ratchet did not break even using the same pipe for leverage. Maybe our shop is lucky but we rarely see a Craftsmen tool break and when it happens Sears replaces it no problem. I suspect maybe other Sears locations are different in regards to warranty service but we never have problems. I have been extremely impressed with Craftsmen tool both newer ones and older ones. No question they are a quality tool(the USA made ones).

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Originally Posted By: stephen9666

Only the low end Craftsmen Ratchets are made overseas. Their mid and upper ratchets are all 100% USA made and will remain so.


Wrong.

While the premium ratchet is still USA made (for now), the thin-profile, 60-tooth ratchets are now made in Taiwan.

Here's a pic from another forum of a 44994 (note the part number in the UPC code).
Here's the link to the 44994 ratchet on the Sears website. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944994000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

As posted in this thread, the regular raised panel ratchets are now Chinese.



Damit!!!! I just read another article stating all the nicer ratchets are USA made and at my Sears store they were all USA marked. Better go stock up on the USA made tools befor they are gone.....aweful news!

 

[mopar_monkey]

i'm not putting down craftsman quality just saying their warranty is becoming harder to use and their tools lack refinement, i work on hondas and often times need fine tooth ratchets and ratcheting wrenches to use in confined space, craftsman doesn't make a good fine tooth ratchet in fact that is why craftsman tools are strong because the teeth in the ratchets are huge and maybe why the snap on ratchet broke on you, it takes a very high quality tool to still be strong with ultra fine teeth.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point. [/quot

avoid craftsman if you are a tech, if they think you are using them in the professional world they WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, had this happened to me as well as many co-workers, plus most craftsman ratcheting tools are not fine toothed which is a real pain when you don't have enough room to swing it enough to engage the next tooth.


Good point. I am just a DIY guy and not a professional...so I can make do.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point. [/quot

avoid craftsman if you are a tech, if they think you are using them in the professional world they WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, had this happened to me as well as many co-workers, plus most craftsman ratcheting tools are not fine toothed which is a real pain when you don't have enough room to swing it enough to engage the next tooth.


Good point. I am just a DIY guy and not a professional...so I can make do.


How does Sears know unless you walk in with a shirt that says "Joes Garage"?

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey

Craftsman. The ease of walking into any Sears store at any time and getting a new one is the biggest selling point. [/quot

avoid craftsman if you are a tech, if they think you are using them in the professional world they WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, had this happened to me as well as many co-workers, plus most craftsman ratcheting tools are not fine toothed which is a real pain when you don't have enough room to swing it enough to engage the next tooth.


Good point. I am just a DIY guy and not a professional...so I can make do.



How does Sears know unless you walk in with a shirt that says "Joes Garage"?


they don't, but if you are working, break a tool it's a real pain to clean up, change your cloths and go down there, then get re dressed in your work wear then get back to work, also i have heard that if the tool shows a good amount of wear they may call it neglect, point being they are getting real picky with their warrenty and if you use them everyday and really depend on htem it's just not worth it, many guys i have worked with use to buy craftsman but no longer do because of all the hassle.

 

[Trav]

Invest heavy in the tools that you use most, ratchets, wrenches, sockets, extensions, pliers, side cutters, screwdrivers, torque wrench, impact gun with sockets and air ratchet.

Snap-On are very good tools but don't marry the Snap-On man, you will run into a problem at any dealer you work for its called the tool snob.
These are usually younger guys who married Snap-On and feel anything less is junk, don't buy into that mentality, buy high quality but buy what feels right in your hand.
My advise is to ask a few mechanics what they use and ask them if you can see how it feels, they wont have a problem with it as they love to show off their pride and joy.

You can get by with a Craftsman black box for now, IMHO better to have the best tools than the best box, the box wont earn you a single dime.
Buy American or German tools there are a few exceptions but in general stay clear of Chinese and for the most part Taiwanese stuff, OTC and Gear Wrench being an exception to some extent.
At this point Craftsman is off the list as far as quality tools go, i wouldn't bother.
Snap-On are great if you like the smooth chrome finish, i don't care for it, i prefer a blasted finishes and thin wrenches.

I know i have the "right tool" when it has the grab factor, meaning its the tool i grab without thinking about it.
One example is my 1/4 ratchet, no matter there are 5 to choose from all top shelf but this 25 yr old quick release round head from Ace hardware is the one i always grab it just "feels" right. I have the same in 3/8 and never touch it, that goes to the new Hazet which replaced the old Hazet only because it has quick release, otherwise its identical and 20 yrs newer.

Some brands that have done me right in the last 35 yrs.

Ratchets. Hazet, Stahlwille, Snap-on, Wright, Armstrong, Proto.
Sockets. Snap-On, Hazet, Dowidat, old Craftsman, Proto.
Pliers and cutter. Knipex, Klein.
Wrenches. Hazet, Snap-on. Both great quality i just love the feel and thinness of the Hazets.
Screwdrivers. Wiha, Witte, Hazet, old SK, some old Stanley.
Torque Wrenches. Stahlwille, CDI.
Air tools IR and CP, spray guns = SATA.
Micrometer and calipers. Starrett.
VOM. Old Fluke (many new are Chinese)