handtools
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: handtools
ORIGINAL: DaleG
I am confused. I was in Lowes this weekend and looked at the Kobalt tools. On the back it said they were all made in China. I was in Sears andCraftsman tools showedthey were made in the USA.
I don't know where Stanley is made, but have a set and they seem to hold up pretty well. I have had Craftsman tools for years and have never broke a socket, ratchet or wrench. However, I am not a proffesional mechanic. If I was wrenching everyday for a living I would go with Snap On or other high end brand.
I am confused. I was in Lowes this weekend and looked at the Kobalt tools. On the back it said they were all made in China. I was in Sears andCraftsman tools showedthey were made in the USA.
I don't know where Stanley is made, but have a set and they seem to hold up pretty well. I have had Craftsman tools for years and have never broke a socket, ratchet or wrench. However, I am not a proffesional mechanic. If I was wrenching everyday for a living I would go with Snap On or other high end brand.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Omaha Nebraska
RE: handtools
I have been pulling on wrenches for over 30 years and have a wide assortment of different makers. SnapOn, Cornwell, Mac and yes Craftsman. I have broken Craftsman tools and I have broken SnapOn tools. Most of the Craftsman I have in my box right now have been there for many many years, maybe their quality has gone down but I have no complaints about their tools. Especially when you can buy 4 Craftsman to 1 SnapOn
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
RE: handtools
Most of my tools are SnapOn,but a lot of other brands grace the drawers,including some of my oldest,which are Sears.I have always used the right tool for the job.Well most of the time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
RE: handtools
My brother-in-law is a professional mechanic, and strickly a snap-on guy. Had his tools stolen a few years ago from a shop where he was working and is still "building" his new set. I have noticed that whenever I get a Christmas present from him it always as the snap-on logo on it, so my tools are slowly improving. Tools that I use more often are either Craftsman or Stanley....things that I might need once every blue moon I'll buy from where ever its the cheapest. I don't turn a wrench all that often, so I don't spend any more than I have to. I am, however looking for a couple torque wrenches, but can't bring myself to pay what Snap-on or even Sears wants.....wonder if its too late to give a hint to the brother-in-law?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: handtools
Sign up for the Sears Tool club, and they will send an email about once a month with specials. The torque wrenches were recently on special for a very reasonable price.
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 82
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From: west chicago
RE: handtools
thanks every body for your very good input im a newbie on this website and i tell ya im very impressed i did not think i would get this much input on hand tools but dam we all love our bikes and we all want the best thanks again
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
RE: handtools
Craftsman has really cheapened up in my opinion. If you have the older tear drop style ratchets with the silver levers, you have good ones. I have one that broke but I haven't even bothered to take it back because they will just give me one of the newer style with the black lever. I finally started buying the craftsman thin profile ratchets. They are really nice. I don't like snapon ratchets because they have a round handle. If I have to put a ratchet into a blind spot with a rounded handle, I have no idea which direction the socket is pointed. If the handle is rectangular, I know that the socket is pointed in one of 2 directions. That's a personal preference there.
I have a ton of craftsman wrenches, sockets, etc. If I had a postal scale, I'd weigh my older wrenches compared to the newer ones of the same size and see if the weigh the same. The newer wrenches seem to be thinner. If I buy any more in the future, I will buy the craftsman professional or a different brand. I have a set of the craftsman professional ratchet wrenches and they seem to work great. I use them at work as a maintenance man and have had them inside a sandblast booth that blasts semi trailer backends and the dust doesn't seem to bother the ratchet mechanisms so they are sealed pretty well.
I have a ton of craftsman wrenches, sockets, etc. If I had a postal scale, I'd weigh my older wrenches compared to the newer ones of the same size and see if the weigh the same. The newer wrenches seem to be thinner. If I buy any more in the future, I will buy the craftsman professional or a different brand. I have a set of the craftsman professional ratchet wrenches and they seem to work great. I use them at work as a maintenance man and have had them inside a sandblast booth that blasts semi trailer backends and the dust doesn't seem to bother the ratchet mechanisms so they are sealed pretty well.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
RE: handtools
ORIGINAL: swomack
I've got over 2K invested in Snap-on screwdrivers alone and never had a problem with any of them.
I've got over 2K invested in Snap-on screwdrivers alone and never had a problem with any of them.
Oh...swomack....I know I aint got no 2K in drivers, but I would think if you included all the drivers I own its over 1K.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: danbury ct
RE: handtools
I have not seen any posts that I could strongly disagree with.
I was an ase certified tech in 1979 to presentand ...
my fav tools are snap on. and what I would buy is snap on.
but
What I tell my new tech's with few if any tools is to go to sears and get the craftsmen starter sets. If you wear out a tool, or break it, replace it with a snap on.
Also when the snap on (or mac etc, who ever you choose) salesmen come by(I know it wont happen at home) they usully have weekly or monthly specials. think about them, this is how I purchaced most of my tools.
also got some great snap on screw drivers at a tag sale for pennys. broken tip (he-he how did that happen) got new replacements.
my torque wrenches are used very infriquently. at the price of them!!! not sure about purchacing them, I think some tool rentel places rent them, could be a way to go for a one time use.
Or if you know your local tech that might loan(rent) you one.a case of beer goes a long way. (but they might not loan. i am sure some will say no way. I for one would loan to a friend but not to someone I dont know)
I was an ase certified tech in 1979 to presentand ...
my fav tools are snap on. and what I would buy is snap on.
but
What I tell my new tech's with few if any tools is to go to sears and get the craftsmen starter sets. If you wear out a tool, or break it, replace it with a snap on.
Also when the snap on (or mac etc, who ever you choose) salesmen come by(I know it wont happen at home) they usully have weekly or monthly specials. think about them, this is how I purchaced most of my tools.
also got some great snap on screw drivers at a tag sale for pennys. broken tip (he-he how did that happen) got new replacements.
my torque wrenches are used very infriquently. at the price of them!!! not sure about purchacing them, I think some tool rentel places rent them, could be a way to go for a one time use.
Or if you know your local tech that might loan(rent) you one.a case of beer goes a long way. (but they might not loan. i am sure some will say no way. I for one would loan to a friend but not to someone I dont know)
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 159
From: Mount Laurel, N.J.
RE: handtools
[quote]ORIGINAL: OhioSkully
most all tools are made by a very few manufactures. It comes down to which ones you like and how much you want to spend. Find one you like with a lifetime guarantee and run with it. Craftsman in my opinion are not what they used to be they have gotten cheap.
I have a large collection of Mac tools expensive but good but overpriced. But the materials and quality is better than the tools that are made in the same factory.
Stanley is a big player in the tool market. I don't want to type it all but heres some info.
I did not write this here is a link to what i quoted below:http://bracketmasters.com/Tool%20Facts.htm
Okay, here's more than you ever wanted to know.
Loews now (as of earlier this year) is selling a line of Mechanics Tools called Kobalt which is made by Snap-On. Snap-On. They are good tools.
Home Depot's Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky).
Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools. Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. They beat out Stanley Stanley on the contract over price. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On).
Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through additional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).
[font="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"]There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.
most all tools are made by a very few manufactures. It comes down to which ones you like and how much you want to spend. Find one you like with a lifetime guarantee and run with it. Craftsman in my opinion are not what they used to be they have gotten cheap.
I have a large collection of Mac tools expensive but good but overpriced. But the materials and quality is better than the tools that are made in the same factory.
Stanley is a big player in the tool market. I don't want to type it all but heres some info.
I did not write this here is a link to what i quoted below:http://bracketmasters.com/Tool%20Facts.htm
Okay, here's more than you ever wanted to know.
Loews now (as of earlier this year) is selling a line of Mechanics Tools called Kobalt which is made by Snap-On. Snap-On. They are good tools.
Home Depot's Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky).
Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools. Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. They beat out Stanley Stanley on the contract over price. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On).
Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through additional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).
[font="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"]There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.