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I've got quite a mix of different brand hand tools. When I have to buy a new or replacement I've been buying the Gearwrench brand, they seem to be well made, have held up well and are reasonably priced.
Gearwrench is the brand that I went with to fill my tool kit that I carry on my bike.
Today I just ordered a CDI torque wrench 10-100 ft/lb 3/8 drive and a CDI torque wrench 20-150 in/lb 1/4 drive. I'll use these for oil changes and minor fiddling work on my bike whenever I am feeling mechanical. (Lord, help me.)
Speaking of "less expensive" tools....
Several years ago I purchased a 1/2 torque "clicker" wrench at HF.
I had heard a few negative comments about the accuracy of these wrenches so I compared it to my friend's "very expensive" Snap-On and there was little (if any) difference between the two. Later on I ran across a deal on a Craftsman 1/2" torque and there doesn't seem to be any difference between it and the HF wrench.
By us, Ace Hardware and Lowes carry the Craftsman tools. Still do not need a receipt, no questions asked, they just give you a new one. BUT they do not have the same inventory Sears had on hand, so sometimes they have to order it. But I am still taking full advantage of the Lifetime Warranty. Unfortunately they do not cover torque wrenches!??!?!?
Do FaceBook look up the Craftsman tools collector group, getting replacements are thin and starting to cost for things like the ratchet head repair kits. Kinda wish I found it earlier, I all but gave away most my old crafty stuff, guess there's money in the right ones LOL!!
Here`s a pic of one of the tools I fabbed for doing safety wiring in really tight spaces, it doesn`t twist the wire, just makes it easy to move the wire into position in spaces where fingers or pliers won`t fit.
Safety wiring has become pretty much a thing of the past on modern aircraft, new mechanics will never know the joy of safety wiring a circle of 24 bolts inside a channel where your fingers don`t fit...
Hmmmm .I made the same tool for pulling exhaust springs off my Ski Doo snowmobiles. Aint that something.
I still have, and use regularly, my Snap-On hand tools from the early 90s, when I was a professional wrench. Whenever I need something "new", I buy used Snap-On. Just my preference. They always fit the fasteners better, and have a slimmer profile than most other brands. They take a beating, and rarely break or wear out. Most of them still look almost brand new.
Speaking of "less expensive" tools....
Several years ago I purchased a 1/2 torque "clicker" wrench at HF.
I had heard a few negative comments about the accuracy of these wrenches so I compared it to my friend's "very expensive" Snap-On and there was little (if any) difference between the two. Later on I ran across a deal on a Craftsman 1/2" torque and there doesn't seem to be any difference between it and the HF wrench.
The main difference is that the HF will go out of calibration long before the Snap-On, and if you make your living wrenching, you can't afford to have tools that can't stand up to daily use for long periods of time. For home use, time to time, the less expensive torque wenches do just fine.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
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Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
