Best tools
Ive been using a combination of Craftsman, SK, and Snap-on for yrs now. Mainly all of my precision hand tools are Snap-on like torque wrenches and ect. Wrenches and general tools are primarily craftsman, and havent had to many issues with them, even if there is a problem just take a ride to sears!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 12
From: Greene County, MS
I use all Craftsman at home. We have toolboxes loaded with Snap-On at work and they are great but I can't afford that for personal use. Never had any real issues with Craftsman tools. The warranty is hard to beat.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Worthwhile tool brands
My (mechanic's) tools, collected over nearly 60 years, include many brands; among the worthwhile ones are:
Snap-On, S-K, Proto, Williams, Klein, Mac, Matco, Craftsman...
Craftsman brand is generally adequate. But if you can appreciate finer things, even if you're on a budget, look to craigslist and oBoy for near-mint Snap-On...
Snap-On, S-K, Proto, Williams, Klein, Mac, Matco, Craftsman...
Craftsman brand is generally adequate. But if you can appreciate finer things, even if you're on a budget, look to craigslist and oBoy for near-mint Snap-On...
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
Based on some of the advice on here, I bought a pair of Pittsburgh torque wrenches from Harbor Freight, both inch and foot lbs, $20 and $25, respectively. I'll use them every once in a while as I don't work on my bike a whole lot. I just couldn't live with dropping $80+ per torque wrench.
Also, the "new" Craftsman Evolv series (Made in China) isn't too bad. It's better than their old Chinese junk stuff (Companion), but on par with the Kobalt line at Lowe's. I was looking for a set of torx, hex, and standard allen sockets. The Craftsman sets were $40/each. I picked up the new Evolv sets at $10! That's a bargain if you ask me!
Also, the "new" Craftsman Evolv series (Made in China) isn't too bad. It's better than their old Chinese junk stuff (Companion), but on par with the Kobalt line at Lowe's. I was looking for a set of torx, hex, and standard allen sockets. The Craftsman sets were $40/each. I picked up the new Evolv sets at $10! That's a bargain if you ask me!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach, Va.
Having been a tech since the 60's, i've used 'em all, and nothing beats Snap-on, their products just feel better in you hand, their " flank drive " will remove a rounded off fastner better than the competion. As mentioned, Snap-on makes a Harley tool kit which is hard to beat. If you check most shop's the tool of choice is Snap-on, the best way to go.
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I started buying Craftsman 30+ years ago because A) there was a Sears store 10 min. from my house, and B) because they would go on sale. I still have the very first hand tool box I bought from them, and a lot of the metric sockets / wrenches / screwdrivers are from the 80's. I've had several replaced over the years.
I do remember going there one Sunday after the new sales flyer showed up in the newspaper. I had been wanting another combination wrench set for a while. They had two different 7-pc or 9-pc sets (I forget which). One was $19.99 and the other was $34.99. Both had the exact same sizes and number of wrenches. Only difference is that one set was made in the USA, and the other set was made in Japan. I asked the clerk if the Japan ones were still guaranteed for life, and he said yes, so I bought them. A few years (5?) later, Sears was doing a big ad campaign w/ A.J. Foyt, and touting how their hand tools were made in America. I stopped into that local Sears store and was talking w/ one of the guys I dealt with all the time, and told him about how I had a couple of combination wrench sets that said 'Made in Japan' on the side. He got his manager to come over, and the guy told me if I brought them in, he'd give me new, made in USA versions. Swapped them all out! In hindsight, I should have probably held onto them.
I have a very good friend that has been a professional mechanic for over 25 years. He uses primarily Snap-On tools. I have to say, that after using them quite a bit, the combination wrenches and the screwdrivers are fantastic. Compared to a Craftsman wrench, a Snap-On wrench just feels so much better in your hand, Same goes for the screwdrivers. I also really like how their ratchets feel (and work). The Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver is the best ratcheting screwdriver I've ever used, well worth the money.
That all being said, some tools that I've recently acquired are Gearwrench ratcheting box-end wrenches. The beam has the feel of a Snap-On combination wrench, and the can handle tough jobs. I've put some serious torque on some of the larger sizes (5/8" / 17mm and up), and they have never missed a beat. The ratcheting function is great, and the flex head ones are REALLY versatile.
I've had ratcheting box-end wrenches over the years, and the Gearwrench ones beat them all. Got mine from Sears when they were on sale at Christmas 2 years ago. Went back last year and bought a set of the Craftsman ones because the Gearwrench ones weren't on sale. No comparison, as soon as the Gearwrench ones go on sale, I'm buying them and selling the Craftsman. The beams just feel clunky, and the ratchet mechanism is no where near as good.
Something else that I've found to be indispensable is a set of allen-head and torx-head sockets. I have both standard head and ball-end on the allen-head ones. Great stuff. That, and wobble-end extensions.
And an IR-231 is still a great air gun. I've seen ones in professional shops that have years of service, and they're still going strong.
I do remember going there one Sunday after the new sales flyer showed up in the newspaper. I had been wanting another combination wrench set for a while. They had two different 7-pc or 9-pc sets (I forget which). One was $19.99 and the other was $34.99. Both had the exact same sizes and number of wrenches. Only difference is that one set was made in the USA, and the other set was made in Japan. I asked the clerk if the Japan ones were still guaranteed for life, and he said yes, so I bought them. A few years (5?) later, Sears was doing a big ad campaign w/ A.J. Foyt, and touting how their hand tools were made in America. I stopped into that local Sears store and was talking w/ one of the guys I dealt with all the time, and told him about how I had a couple of combination wrench sets that said 'Made in Japan' on the side. He got his manager to come over, and the guy told me if I brought them in, he'd give me new, made in USA versions. Swapped them all out! In hindsight, I should have probably held onto them.
I have a very good friend that has been a professional mechanic for over 25 years. He uses primarily Snap-On tools. I have to say, that after using them quite a bit, the combination wrenches and the screwdrivers are fantastic. Compared to a Craftsman wrench, a Snap-On wrench just feels so much better in your hand, Same goes for the screwdrivers. I also really like how their ratchets feel (and work). The Snap-On ratcheting screwdriver is the best ratcheting screwdriver I've ever used, well worth the money.
That all being said, some tools that I've recently acquired are Gearwrench ratcheting box-end wrenches. The beam has the feel of a Snap-On combination wrench, and the can handle tough jobs. I've put some serious torque on some of the larger sizes (5/8" / 17mm and up), and they have never missed a beat. The ratcheting function is great, and the flex head ones are REALLY versatile.
I've had ratcheting box-end wrenches over the years, and the Gearwrench ones beat them all. Got mine from Sears when they were on sale at Christmas 2 years ago. Went back last year and bought a set of the Craftsman ones because the Gearwrench ones weren't on sale. No comparison, as soon as the Gearwrench ones go on sale, I'm buying them and selling the Craftsman. The beams just feel clunky, and the ratchet mechanism is no where near as good.
Something else that I've found to be indispensable is a set of allen-head and torx-head sockets. I have both standard head and ball-end on the allen-head ones. Great stuff. That, and wobble-end extensions.
And an IR-231 is still a great air gun. I've seen ones in professional shops that have years of service, and they're still going strong.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Yeah, it was almost the same price as my bike..............