Where to buy tools/tools recommendations??

[Azar]

Hey guys,

House is nearing completion (Apr 29th is current D-DAY....feels like it's been forever) and I'll soon have to start getting tools. I just picked up a 16 pc set of gearwrench ratcheting endwrenches, but thats pretty much the start of my collection, aside from the random sockets I've purchased over the years for specific jobs.

My dad had a lot of craftsman stuff, but it was older...forged in the USA type stuff. Now they're using chinese tools and closing sears left and right so that lifetime warranty may not be around...for life. It kinda seems like a more expensive version of harbor freight stuff.

I can't afford Snap-On/Matco stuff, just looking for basic handtools. I'd like durable tools, made in the US is a plus and warranties are super nice too. Sockets, wrenches, ratchets, etc. Any suggestions would be rawsome.

[digitalsolo]

Kobalt at Lowe's is good.    Craftsman is still good value when it's on sale.   Some HF stuff is good,  I love their composite socket wrenches.

[spacevomit]

I like some Craftsmen stuff. Gently used Snap-On from Ebay. Proto. Klein? SK? Mac?

[Bushytea]

Craftsman here as well. I will always go craftsman if it is affordable but if I need tool that is going to be used very little or one time I typically go to Harbor Freight.

[jayv64]

If you are close enough to Harbor Freight, their warranty has been really good to me. I have broken more than one of their tools... and when I take it in, they just give me the whole set, instead of whatever wrench/socket/ etc. that I broke.... I also had one of their jacks, and two years after buying it, they replaced it with a new one when it wouldn't hold pressure...

[wickedrx7]

I would buy quality on some items, ratchets, air and electric tools. You can go cheap in larger, not precise items like breaker bars, impact sockets and jack stands ect. Craftsman stuff still seems pretty decent.

[RX7what]

+1 for craftsman. Orchard supply Hardware also carries Craftsman. I heard they bought Sears specifically to get a hold of craftsman tools. Most of the tools still say made in the usa right on them. I like snap on tools but they are just so over priced I cant bring myself to buy many. I try to find high end tools (snap on, mac) on craigslist used from time to time.

[quinns]

I use all mastercraft sockets/drivers/extensions/etc which are sold by Canadian Tire. I also run their screwdrivers and all the other basic tools. Lifetime warranty well enough made stuff. I guess it would be similar to the Craftsman brand in the US sold by Sears. Sadly not available in the US.

I researched it and it seems all their tools are made by Stanley or Apex Tool Group. So anything made by those two outfits are my reccomendations. Kinda depends what's close to you.

I have a lot of friends who are mechanics and they stopped buying Snapon and Mac tools because the rep was never around and everytime they needed warranty they were without a tool for weeks at a time. A lot of them have switched to this mastercraft brand because when they break something they can just drive over to Canadian tire and get a replacement no questions asked.

I have a lot of tools made by Jet and Gray at my farm. They have also been awesome but a little more spendy sometimes but not outrageous. A lot of specialized tools like balljoint removers and harmonic balancer pullers I've bought from OTC. They are pretty reasonably priced and everytime I'm amazed at how nice the tool is for the cost.

 For pliers lately I've been buying Channellock brand and they seem better made than a lot of the others. When it comes to vice grips if its not an IRWIN VICE GRIP I throw it in the fucking garbage hahaha.

For air tools I got a little spendy and bought an Ingersoll Rand 2135QTiMAX half inch impact along with their 3/8 drive air ratchet 1105MAX-D3. Best money I've spent in awhile. The impact is super quiet its almost eerie and puts out like your mom . I bought it to replace a nytrocat I had which was good till it breaks, which was often. The air ratchet is nice, but definitely not necessary. It's super light and not very big but I've used a pile of cheaper ones that were just about as good.

My brothers an electrician and he INSISTS on Klein tools. Quite frankly after using them he can keep them. Pretty spendy and the quality really isn't that great in my books unless you need specialized insulated screwdrivers and stuff.

I can type about tools all day I don't know why but I think awesome tools pump me up more than what I'm working on half the time.

[gadzooks]

Channel Lock brand pliers are good

[j_tizzle_84]

Should look into knipex thier cobra pliers are the best.

[Sabre002]

E-bay name brand stuff.  Snap-on, Mac, or Matco in that order. 

I'm a tool snob cause I use them and abuse them everyday.  I hate to buy the same tool 4 times when I can buy it once and replace it for life. 

You can even have a tool truck call, meet, or come to your house if you like.  http://store.snapon.com/FindFranchisee.aspx  They will take your money just like you worked at a dealer.  The trick is getting a good one. 

Best way to say it is tools are like good kitchen ware once you use good stuff everything else is junk. 

[Jordan Innovations]

E-bay name brand stuff.  Snap-on, Mac, or Matco in that order. 

I'm a tool snob cause I use them and abuse them everyday.  I hate to buy the same tool 4 times when I can buy it once and replace it for life. 

You can even have a tool truck call, meet, or come to your house if you like.  http://store.snapon.com/FindFranchisee.aspx  They will take your money just like you worked at a dealer.  The trick is getting a good one. 

Best way to say it is tools are like good kitchen ware once you use good stuff everything else is junk. 

This, this and this.  I used to have a few decent "truck" pieces and a bunch of Craftsman/Kobalt/etc, and ever since replacing everything with Snap-on over the last couple years, it REALLY sucks to work somewhere else that doesn't have decent hand tools.

Power tools are a little different - the great stuff is always great, but there's a lot of "good" stuff that's rebranded/etc that you can find for cheap(er).

[Sabre002]

Case in point I use this kit every day.  It use to be 650, its come down to 450 new.  Snap-on does not care where you got it the tools are life time guaranty no matter how many owners. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-on-1-4-drive-44-pc-METRIC-SAE-6-point-Ratchet-Socket-Set-144TMPB-/111298106220?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item19e9e2536c&vxp=mtr

I use this everyday more then once a day. 


Stuff like this is also pretty good.  There is about 550 in tools there.  The safety wire pliers are 80 bucks alone. 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-KIT-MIXED-SET-SOCKETS-RATCHETS-WRENCHES-HAMMERS-SCREWDRIVER-EXCELLENT-/131138429640?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item1e8875a2c8&vxp=mtr

[Supe]

Sadly, I find the Pittsburgh wrenches/sockets/impact sockets at HF to be better than any of the big box stores stuff anymore, and NO HASSLE WHATSOEVER when you bring it back for a replacement.  I wait until they go on sale and buy a few.  Have yet to break or round one off yet. 

[Azar]

When I worked at EPP, all the guys had snap-on. It is SUPREMELY nice, however, there's no way that I'll ever make it worthwhile to have a full complement of snap-on tools.

280 bucks for a set of 1/4 sockets is WAAAAAAAAAAAAY more than I can spend. I was hoping to spend maybe around 500$, hopefully less. Haha.