Good affordable Tool brand?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
OK, just a do it yourself type of person.
I do not limit myself to one brand.
Older stuff is mostly Craftsman because that was the easiest tool source a long long time ago but i rarely buy Craftsman anymore due to pricing.
I have a mix of brands to also include Home Depot, Lowes,Stanley & others.
Harbor Freight is sprinkled in with lifetime warranty on hand tools, sometimes the pricing is crazy inexpensive while the quality is the same as Home Depot and Lowes.
Got a cheap no name tool set from the auto part store in each vehicle also, seem to be my "goto" tools at home and on the road mostly because of the organization provided by the plastic cases.
I do not limit myself to one brand.
Older stuff is mostly Craftsman because that was the easiest tool source a long long time ago but i rarely buy Craftsman anymore due to pricing.
I have a mix of brands to also include Home Depot, Lowes,Stanley & others.
Harbor Freight is sprinkled in with lifetime warranty on hand tools, sometimes the pricing is crazy inexpensive while the quality is the same as Home Depot and Lowes.
Got a cheap no name tool set from the auto part store in each vehicle also, seem to be my "goto" tools at home and on the road mostly because of the organization provided by the plastic cases.
Last edited by im; Jan 5, 2014 at 08:35 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Don't limit yourself to one brand. Harbor Freight has great sets that do the trick. Craftsman has solid stuff for double the price. However with power told drills ect I'm not a fan of craftsmans battery stuff. Goodluck!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,750
Likes: 261
From: back home in Michigan
Craftsman, like others have said, are the ticket for you.
I was a certified mechanic for years so along the way I picked up snap-on, sk, mac, and craftsman tools. Always looked for 'quaranteed not to break or free replacement' tools.
You can also hit some of the larger flea markets or auctions and can find lots of used tools of all brands that way for pennies on the dollar. The other day I found a 1/2" drive snap-on ratchet at a flea market for.....fifty cents! New they go for near $200....so you never know.
I was a certified mechanic for years so along the way I picked up snap-on, sk, mac, and craftsman tools. Always looked for 'quaranteed not to break or free replacement' tools.
You can also hit some of the larger flea markets or auctions and can find lots of used tools of all brands that way for pennies on the dollar. The other day I found a 1/2" drive snap-on ratchet at a flea market for.....fifty cents! New they go for near $200....so you never know.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
Likes: 6,442
From: Honah Lee
Stanley Torx from Walmart will work for home garage use. Craftsman wrenches are not too thick..least any application I have seen except maybe a bicycle. Even Harbour are OK except for the torx. Least the torx I got from them. Snapped the 27 right off and when a bigger one went, I grabbed the Stanley from Walmart. It took my impact on the foot pegs, and they can be a real bear to get off. (not a good place to be throwing 500 degrees at but I guess same people do it) My Harbour torque wrenches $30 for 1/4,3/8 and 1/2) are OK.. sure not perfect but had been using a beam ones (one homemade for differentials) for 50 years and I have rebuilt a lot of car motors. Sure wish they would put the 3/4 drive on for $10. I need a 200lb one since my big dial one went missing.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:06 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Streamwood, IL
Bought a larger kibalt snapon set that I have been very happy.
Random pieces from farm and fleets house stuff.
Some harbor fright stuff that's specific and lower use.
Also use hf torque wrenches as all others are redic priced.
I have matched them with a known good one.
Random pieces from farm and fleets house stuff.
Some harbor fright stuff that's specific and lower use.
Also use hf torque wrenches as all others are redic priced.
I have matched them with a known good one.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 742
Likes: 1
From: Down South Jukin'
I've been buying Husky tools lately and am very impressed with them. I even bought the 111 piece set to keep in the truck. Nice fit and finish. No complaints. There's always a Home Depot close. Used to buy Snap-On.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I was machine repairman/mill-wright in a factroy for 39 yrs before retiring in 06.. I used my Craftsman tools every day and still have all of the tools that I started buying in the late 60's. That's 2 roll a rounds and two toppers full of them.
In all the yrs I had them, I abused them a LOT and did break a few.. But with the Craftsman brand all you have to do is return them for a new one.
For now if a person is wanting new tools, I'd Look for the big 1/2 price sales Sears has all the time and IMO you Cant go wrong with them.
Plus there about 1/3 the price of snap on when on sale.
Snap on tools a great tools and with the van rolling around there service is great for Professionals, but still I'd buy Craftsman for the overall cost savings and quality if I was to need more.
Biggest savings I had was on their tape measures... I bought 2 in "69" and I bet they replaced them 50 times in my life time.
Make sure the tools you buy says Craftsman (lifetime warranty) and Not the ones that's stamped Companion or SEARS or the new cheaper stuff the make now... It has to say (CRAFTSMAN) on it> I cant/don't remember what there cheaper stuff is called now.
Here's a good starter set,, reg $399 sale for $299,, still they have better sales than this during the yr..
just have to wait till they do..
I think this is the first set I got my son 5-6 yrs ago..
It was 1/2 off at Christmas for $149.99 I think..
and it is a decent Starter set to build on...
.
In all the yrs I had them, I abused them a LOT and did break a few.. But with the Craftsman brand all you have to do is return them for a new one.
For now if a person is wanting new tools, I'd Look for the big 1/2 price sales Sears has all the time and IMO you Cant go wrong with them.
Plus there about 1/3 the price of snap on when on sale.
Snap on tools a great tools and with the van rolling around there service is great for Professionals, but still I'd buy Craftsman for the overall cost savings and quality if I was to need more.
Biggest savings I had was on their tape measures... I bought 2 in "69" and I bet they replaced them 50 times in my life time.
Make sure the tools you buy says Craftsman (lifetime warranty) and Not the ones that's stamped Companion or SEARS or the new cheaper stuff the make now... It has to say (CRAFTSMAN) on it> I cant/don't remember what there cheaper stuff is called now.
Here's a good starter set,, reg $399 sale for $299,, still they have better sales than this during the yr..
just have to wait till they do..
I think this is the first set I got my son 5-6 yrs ago..
It was 1/2 off at Christmas for $149.99 I think..
and it is a decent Starter set to build on...
.
Last edited by oct1949; Mar 1, 2014 at 03:40 PM.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,117
Likes: 7,643
From: Poolville
My first set of tools ever was in 1976 when I got my first car, it was a $99 Craftsman 200 piece tool set which I still have to this day.. obviously I lost some of them and some got stolen but for the money you can't beat it.. And yes I know this is an old thread but I don't know how to hell it came up in general tech topics when the last post was January of 2014.. except for mine that is..
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 911
Likes: 647
From: west coast
I bought a Craftsman set also in 1978 when I got out of the service and bought a (pickup) truck and a BSA Lightning, still have mine too.
FWIW the Icon line from HF is pretty good, not cheap but that is OK, I've been happy with the items I've bought.
https://www.harborfreight.com/icon-hand-tools
FWIW the Icon line from HF is pretty good, not cheap but that is OK, I've been happy with the items I've bought.
https://www.harborfreight.com/icon-hand-tools