After fixing diesel engines for 30 years I have used most everything. The Kobalt / HD / and even Craftsman sockets work just fine. The one thing I wouldn't compromise on is ratchets. I can't stand a ratchet that requires two hands to change direction. That leaves out Kobalt ratchets. The HD ratchets have a flip lever to reverse but look fragile.

As painful as the price is, Snap On is currently the best there is. I do have a 1/2 inch drive Craftsman ratchet I bought in 1967. It has never failed me, but I did have to take it apart and clean/lube it. Once. It may have been some time in the 80s. Sadly, the new ones aren't the same.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
The Carlyle line from NAPA is great for the price. They are Taiwan built.

I never thought I’d say this, but the Pittsburg line from Harbor Freight is incredibly nice, considering the price. They have really upped their game in the last few years.

I seem to collect tools like I collect guns. I run the range from Craftsman to SnapOn. I find myself always going to the Carlyle tools. The SnapOn is nice, but I want them to stay that way, so they are like museum pieces in my toolbox.

For you military guys, remember your display foot locker in basic? All your socks and stuff laid out nice and pretty, but you never used those. You wore the thrashed socks you kept in your personal drawer. Well, my SnapOn tools are like my display. I might as well not own them.

USE them (snap on)! What good are they sitting in a drawer? They will still be nice if you use them!

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Originally posted by Minnow:
Kobalt.
Unless he is turning wrenches 40 hours a week with them, they will outlast him. From a weekend mechanic standpoint, Kobalt makes the grade. They have a great warranty that I have not had to use yet. Watch the sales at Lowes, they will place some nice sets on sale that should make any casual mechanic happy.

This!

I've found that Workforce from Home Depot makes pretty good tools, for everything that an amateur will need.

I don't know why you're going to spend all this money on your GF's son......You can fix ANYTHING with less than $20 in tools:

2lb Hammer
roll of duct tape
baling wire
flexseal

If you really want to spend some serious money on hand tools to pass on to your Grandkids and their kids. Look to Hazet or Stahlwille, from Germany.

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Originally posted by jimmy123x:
You can fix ANYTHING with less than $20 in tools:

2lb Hammer

Standing joke with a tanker. His choice is the hammer. We actually gave out 4oz hammers to retiring tankers as a gift. Anytime a tank went down, you could be sure a tanker was there with a hammer

I have six roll-aways full of tools, and I use them a LOT.

Despite what some have said, craftsman tools do very well, as do their boxes (I have one that's been in play for 30 years with me, and was well used when I got it...still seeing hard use daily).I do take them apart and clean and lubricate them; I don't expect any tools to serve for decades without maintenance.

I do like snap-on tools. They're pricey, but can be had from sources other than the truck (ebay, for example, or craig's list) for far less. I like Mac and have quite a few, but most of Mac aren't US-made, if that matters to some.

Craftsman has been purchased by Stanley; depending on what one wants, Stanley's tools aren't bad. Knipex tools are excellent. Home Depot's tools are made by the same suppliers that do Craftsman (boxes by Waterloo, etc). The Lowe's Kobalt tools hold up well.

I've actually had more snap-on tools fail than craftsman, and I've been pushing them in the wet, cold, heat, sand, rain, whatever, for a long time now.

Get snap-on ratcheting screwdrivers. Worth it.

I have used this Metrinch set for over 12 years now I have replaced lost tools, and a case that cracked at the seam. This is my go to set.

62 piece set

Honestly, I have the Harbor Freight ratchetsvand combo wrenches and they’ve been perfect for the occasional user like me. If this young fellow is in that segment of tool users I see absolutely no reason to spend more.

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Originally posted by mbinky:
Speaking of Proto, if we are discussing non "commercial" type tools Proto is a good bet. Lots of military tools are Proto (well except for the aircraft Snap On guys). They make lots of larger sizes too.

When I first joined we used proto tools on the flightline (in my squadron at the time). The wrenches were good but everything else was very average IMO. I was happy when they made the switch to snap on.

The LOWES hand tools seem to be of decent quality. Bought a few sets maybe 4 or 5 years back and they have held up well.

Speaking of old time quality, before they went cheap...I still have Sears sockets,wrenches, etc from 1965 when my Dad bought me my first set of tools. Same with a set of 1/4" from SK. STILL clicking away.

In a recent thread I was asking on suggestions for a maintenance box I was putting together at the shop. I had decided to go Snap on but ended up with Wright for sockets and wrenches and couldn’t be happier. I got their ratchets too but that’s the only thing I decided to supplement with Snap On. They are a great American company with quality tools at a decent price. I didn’t need “truck” service so it made sense for me. Epsteins is a great supplier for Wright. Also if the order is big enough they’ll arrange drop shipping from Wright and that’ll be free which is nice.

For pliers I ended up with a mixture of Channellock, Knipex, and Klein. For screwdrivers it’s a mixture of PB Swiss, Klein, and Wiha. Everything Hex except the Wright hex sockets are Eklind.

I’m still looking for the best Screwdriver type torque wrenches for my needs. Right now I’m leaning towards the PB Swiss offerings and may go that way.

quote:

Originally posted by AITG:
I can't stand a ratchet that requires two hands to change direction. That leaves out Kobalt ratchets.

My Kobalt 1/4" ratchet has a flip lever and the tool feels fairly substantial.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
Honestly, I have the Harbor Freight ratchetsvand combo wrenches and they’ve been perfect for the occasional user like me. If this young fellow is in that segment of tool users I see absolutely no reason to spend more.

I was afraid I was going to be the first to say Harbor Freight.

I have a socket set that works just fine for the occasional handyman like myself. They have a lifetime warranty too. For the price saving you can add on a bunch of extras like deep sockets or oversized sockets.

Harbor Freight, Lowes, and Home Depot often sell very similar tools. Some of them made by the same manufacturer, just much more expensive at Lowes or Home Depot.

The old school style Craftsman 36 tooth ratchet that everyone has, I would avoid. Its a piece of junk. Some of the more expensive stuff is ok, but its Chinese crap tools at the old Made in America price. No thanks.

Honestly, best bang for buck, Pittsburgh Pro tools (Harbor Freight), made in Taiwan, are as good as any other Chinese/Taiwan tool, for half the price. I use the $8 plastic harbor freight ratchet the most, and like it the most, even though I have hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of expensive ratchets.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by AITG:
I can't stand a ratchet that requires two hands to change direction. That leaves out Kobalt ratchets.

My Kobalt 1/4" ratchet has a flip lever and the tool feels fairly substantial.

I also have some Kobalt ratchets that have a flip lever.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarms229:

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by AITG:
I can't stand a ratchet that requires two hands to change direction. That leaves out Kobalt ratchets.

My Kobalt 1/4" ratchet has a flip lever and the tool feels fairly substantial.

I also have some Kobalt ratchets that have a flip lever.

Hmmm. I looked at my local Lowes last week and didn't see any flip lever ratchets. Sold out for the holidays maybe?

Hey guys thanks for all the input. I went to Lowe’s and looked at they tools
They seemed pretty decent and they had a sale on a set so I went with those.