Being a professional automotive technician, I buy mostly Snap-on tools despite the greater cost. I recognize that for the non-professional/homeowner this cost may not be justifiable.

A good screwdriver for the money is the Greenlee brand. I have some that I rarely actually use as screwdrivers, more often as pry bars, chisels and punches, and they are still holding up. Lowe's carries them (the last time I looked), but they are in the electrical department, not "Tool World."

The Kobalt line, also at Lowe's (made in Taiwan or sometimes China), seem OK. However, I needed a special purpose socket (½" drive, ½", 12-point, deep)for a 4.0L Jeep head bolt.


(The seven bolts in the top row)

The Snap-on truck could have been anywhere within 100 square miles, but a Lowe's was 2 miles away. I found the socket, but the counterbore inside was too small to accommodate the portion above the bolt head. This may not be a concern for you if you don't have a 4.0 Jeep, but it pissed me right off.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
SK has nice socket sets.
Klein has good screw/nut drivers.
Knipex makes the best pliers.
Klien has some good electrical tools.
Snap-on, Mac, Napa for specific tools.
Gear Wrench for ratcheting wrenches.
Ridgid pipe wrenches.
KD tools and many others.

Pretty close to my list:
Wrenches (combo, DOE, DBE, ratcheting, adjustable), a mix of SK, Wright, and Armstrong
Wrenches (torque), SK and CDI (the SK's are made by CDI)
Sockets, SK, Craftsman
Ridgid for pipe, check
Knipex, fantastic pliers
Older Craftsman and Xcelite nut drivers, several different sets
Irwin for tap/die sets
Starrett and Mitutoyo for precision metrology
Fluke for electrical meters
Wiha for smaller precision screwdrivers and bit sets/drivers
 
SK makes some really handy socket sets in a box that combine 6 point inch and metric, regular and deep, ratchets and extensions. 91844 is the 1/4" drive set, and 94549 is the 3/8". Both have a lifetime warranty. Though Amazon says the 1/4" is from China and the 3/8" from USA, the SK site says both sets are USA made. I have the 1/4" set, and find myself grabbing it a lot when I have to walk any where to work on something needing a socket, but unknown or varying sizes.
 

WIHA tools are first class. Great stuff.

https://www.wihatools.com/scre...ObcIZlJlEaAkkZ8P8HAQ

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmnut:
Can't beat Klein hand tools. Worked at one of their factories longer than I care to remember. Retired after almost 30 years. They purchased the Vaco line somewhere in the 80's. Made thousands of screwdrivers and nutdrivers plus other items. Never could make enough to satisfy sales. You should see how they make flattip screwdrivers. Take a look at them at Lowes.

Cool. One of the screw drivers, nut drivers, adjustable wrenches, or channel locks in my tool bag could have been forged by you.

Know what they call lines man's pliers? Kliens. So at least for electrical tools they are your best bet.

Except a scratch awl, punch, and one speciality screw driver everything in my tool bag is made by them, even my channel locks (those are going to be replaced with CHANNELLOCK).

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
^^^^^

Kobalt is the Lowes brand.

IIRC, they also have a free replacement policy. Break one, trade it for a new one.

Also, We have an Ace hardware store up the road from us, and they are stocking Craftsman tools.

Grey Pneumatic makes good impact sockets. This set of ¼" drive magnetized sockets for getting small bolts and screws into tight spots is one of my most used.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: egregore,

I didn't see anyone mention MATCO. I bought a pretty nice torque wrench off e-bay. They're kinda up there on the level of Snap-On, but not quite as pricey. The best suggestion I read was whoever recommended going to estate sales.

On my reloading bench, NOTHING is going to require a lot of grunting and torque to tighten it down. I just got the Pittsburgh tools from Harbor Freight. Cheap Chinese crap, but it fits the bill for what I use on the bench and light work around the house. I got nice sets of crescent wrenches, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, and ball-headed allen wrenches. Good stuff for my uses...

At one time- Pawnshops would have bins of tools and you could pick out the better individual sockets etc. I got some nice extensions rooting through the bins.

Well considering how handy I am,; if it can't be fixed with a hammer, it's beyond repair. LOL

For my garage tool box I like Snap On, MAC and Craftsman. The take to the track box is mostly Craftsman. Specialty tools by whoever makes them.

quote:

Originally posted by roberth:
I look for vintage Proto, S-K, Mac Tools, Armstrong, Williams, Billings, P&C, Herbrand, Bonney, Goodell-Pratt, New Britain, Vlchek, and Cornwell (old) stuff like that on ebay and pawn shops.

Wright makes pretty good hand tools, believe they are USA.

What he said

I have a drawer of wrenches at work I use to get teased about when I was in a Fleet Shop with seven other mechanics. They had Mac, Snap-On, some Craftsman. I at that time had fourteen different brands in my wrench drawer. I called it my UN Wrench drawer.

I thought I was the only one who had Herbrand, Bonney, Cornwell, S-K Wayne, Williams, Proto, Armstrong.

But honestly for the home professional hard to beat Craftsman, Williams, Proto, and S-K are really good.

For large wrenches for the equipment hydraulic lines and fittings. The swap meet China stuff works real well. I have a 6 wrench set from
1 3/8 to two inches I found at a swap meet thirty some years ago for $35.00. I also have a 14 piece of angle head open end wrenches from 3/8 to 1 1/4 made in China that was $45.00 about 30 years ago.

I quit buying a lot of Snap-On stuff when I was an Equipment Mechanic in the dirt fields a long time ago. You drop a wrench when working on a Dozer motor and it is gone in the mud or at the bottom of the engine. Forget about dropping the belly ban to retrieve it.

The China stuff nowadays is not bad.

I've become fond of Carlyle from NAPA. They're made in Taiwan.

Grace makes great screwdrivers for gunsmithing.

I'm a fan of Wright and having also recently discovered Nepros (based upon flesheatingvirus' recommendations)

I own mostly the common brands-Craftsman and Husky. They seem to hold up well for what I do. If I was using them for my livelihood, I might choose a better quality.

You're all leaving out Cornwell Tools, but they too are sold like Mac and Snap-On from independent dealers off a truck. My 3/8 and 1/2" socket wrench sets are both Cornwell, along with my top box (bottom box is Mac).

I have hand me down snap-on craftsman, sk, and some husky before husky went Chinese. I also have Blackhawk, proto, knipex and channellock.
I will buy American as much as possible but I will Felo and Wera. They are German tools and have nice sets.

I had a really nice snap on triple bank roll around with a good collection of snap on tools, they are the best imo but you pay the high price , after I broke my ankle and was out of work something had to give so I sold it off.

I never said I would buy the cheap stuff but after looking at several different brands I bought the kobalts they for the most part are made in Taiwan look dang close to a snap on and so far I have not had any issues with them. I don't use them everyday for my job either though. The wrenches are not bad. screw drivers I bought the Milwaukee, Pliers are from channellock U.S.A company. vise grips sadly are made in china know you can find some usa ones on ebay but you will pay a premium. I did buy a roll around from harbor freight for 350 bucks I have to say it's not bad for the price.

best thing to do is look around for a few different makes and pick the best of what the make. some of the tekton tools are still made in the use and they have a good warranty. also Wilde tools I swear look dang close to snapon and they are made in the usa.

Here is my hf box I debadged it added some stainless steel corners and top to copy my old snap on, also put a Milwaukee decal on it. makes me feel better.

that pink crap on the floor is fish egg dye that wont easily come off.

The tools at work are mostly Snap-On and Mac. The tools at home are mostly Craftsman that started out started out with a set purchased about 45 years ago. They've been added to over time. If I need something now, I cruise the pawnshops looking for the old Craftsman stuff. It can be bought for next to nothing these days.

Mac tools are just a step up from vintage Craftsman tools. The open end wrenches spread if enough torque is applied. They make a few good items, but I would avoid if possible. Craftsman made their wrenches thick so they have enough strength. However they are often too thick to get into tight spaces.

I have been happy with Snap-On, Proto, S-K, Wiha, etc. S-K has been very good, but I do not see them sold anywhere. Klein seems to be okay.