You Guys Were Right - Stanley Junk

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Merk, what is your favorite brand besides Snap On?


That's hard to say; it really depends on the specific tool. Mechanics tools have a good amount of industrial standardization which allows you to mix and match different brands of drive tools and still be fully functional. But if I had to choose one single brand for everything, it would probably be Snap-on.

 

[Vikas]

I have no idea why you guys are giving testimonial to the stuff purchased years ago. We all know some of the brands such as Craftsman *used* to be quite good.

The only rule which I will put forward is that if you can not afford better name brand and US (or 1st world) made tools, at least stick with Made in Taiwan stuff. Usually the price of Made in China and Made in Taiwan is similar but MIT stuff is usually acceptable and MIC is usually unacceptable. There are always exception to this rule but generally it holds true.

 

[Merkava_4]

If I were in Nick's situation, I'd buy me one nice Snap-on ratchet and then add in some J.H. Williams extensions and sockets.

 

[HangFire]

Check out Cripe Distributing. They have a ton of closeout Danaher/Apex tools like KD, Armstrong and Allen, quality is the same as the best of the old US Craftsman, not the final 3 years of US Craftsman ([censored]) or the current Chinese stuff (ditto).

Avoid the Chinese Allen tools (part number ends in G), but Cripe is really good about identifying their US made products.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
If I were in Nick's situation, I'd buy me one nice Snap-on ratchet and then add in some J.H. Williams extensions and sockets.


I am assuming something like this isnt US made?

* Here

Amazon has socket sets with an extension and a ratchet, but they say Made in Taiwan.

 

[Merkava_4]

Those are Taiwan made but the quality would be leaps and bounds better than Stanley China. I bought a Williams Taiwan spark plug socket off ebay and I was impressed by the quality. Also, the total cost with shipping was still less than one single ACDelco iridium spark plug. Socket $6. Spark plug $7.

 

[Trav]

Some of the Taiwan stuff is surprisingly good. the Triangle set from Sears for cheap on closeout is holding up as well any of them so far.
Not Snap-On, SK, or Major German brand quality but way better than Chinese Craftsman. The metal seems to be right as does the sizing of the sockets and the finishing.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: dlundblad
I am assuming something like this isnt US made?

* Here

Amazon has socket sets with an extension and a ratchet, but they say Made in Taiwan.


The USA made version of that set is Williams MSB-12HRC

 

[dlundblad]

That is a great price. I see why it is out of stock.

 

[ET16]

What's the Triangle set?

 

[Vikas]

Those are Unicorn Tears i.e. unobtainable!

http://www.shopyourway.com/triangle-19-pc-uni-grip-metric-socket-set-1-4-in-drive/22589124

Paid $19.99 when they were cleared out.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Those are Unicorn Tears i.e. unobtainable!

http://www.shopyourway.com/triangle-19-pc-uni-grip-metric-socket-set-1-4-in-drive/22589124

Paid $19.99 when they were cleared out.


I bought the same set on close out. Not bad for $20.

 

[deepsquat]

I bought this Stanley set from Amazon ..more than happy with the quality .. ll sockets fit the blow mold plastic ..I feel if I kicked it on accident all sockets would remain .. they are all 6 point ..both deep well and shallow ...the kicker... I like my HF ratchets much much better..The HF have longer handles for better leverage . I have learned over the years that short handles equal busted knuckles

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-92-824-Chr...nley+socket+set

 

[Vikas]

That's the one which my mechanic used to earn his living at the shop.

 

[FastLane]

I like Stanley black chrome socket sets. I own a couple. I've never had any issues with them.

 

[thescreensavers]

I got a Kobalt tool set from a father day sale works great, been abusing it and it does not care.

 

[bchannell]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
harbor freight is cheap and usually good quality for their best sets. Usually 1/2 the price of sears and i believe a lifetime warranty


+1 on that! I used to think they sold complete junk, until my neighbor started buying some of their very best stuff. Sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers etc. and I'm duly impressed. they're probably not SO quality, but they're very good indeed, and for the price, unbeatable. I actually like the Pittsburg Pro screwdrivers better than some really expensive sets. My pal does a bunch of small engine repair, and beats his sockets to death, but yet has not had a single failure with HF sockets. I think they're best tools are easily as good as Craftsman, at quite a price savings.

 

[JustinH]

I bought some breaker bars from harbor freight, and some 1/2'' ratchets with different extensions, also impact sockets.

All have been fine, but I am not a pro user, just a driveway shade tree.

 

[Claud]

I picked up a twist ratchet action Stanley wrench about 5 years ago in a Sears store in Texas.
It's in daily use and works just fine to date.
One of my colleagues liked it and bought a virtually identical one made by Facom.
I paid $25.00 dollars for mine, he paid £50 (approx. 80) for his.
I almost never buy tools in the UK, stocking up on anything I might need when I take a USA vacation.

Claud.

 

[mjoekingz28]

There is a really nice 3/8ths Stanley breaker bar at Walmart for $10-15. I want it, but probably couldn't find a use for it if I tried.

Are breakers better at applying proper torque? I mean to say, maybe a ratchet multiplies torque and gives a false feel on how much torque you are actually producing.....