which brand tools?

[!kid]

i have a mix of tools. snap-on ratchets and sockets,craftsman wrenches and sockets. IR impact gun, Wright tool flared wrenches. blue-point air ratchet. i just picked up a set of the snap-on flank drive wrench's happy i bought them. also got a set of Matco screw drivers, use them all the time. snap-on plier set

if you use your tools alot stick with snap-on,mac,matco... for your main tools
for other stuff you may not use as much go with craftsman or other similar brands.

[iignite]

i had craftsman tools, but ratchets kept breaking on me. So i switched to matco tools, way cheaper than snap on for pretty much the same quality

[Devil Inc]

I really like the Great Neck brand sold at Autozone. They carry a lifetime warranty, not to sure on the fine details, as I've never had to replace anything. I don't care for the look of the Duralast brand sold there.

[mikeedler]

I have 70% snap-on 20% Craftsman and 10% whatever.

ohh, BTW Facom is some French homo crap over here-- I hate it!!!!
At work I use Wurth (zebra) pretty nice stuff other than the ratchets wear out every year or so.

[ortholithiation]

I have mostly Craftsman, and I think they are your best bet for your core tools if you are not a professional.

Wait for a sale at sears and buy a kit that includes a shit load of 6 pt wrenches, open/box and sockets. They have a bunch of different kits, but maybe 3 out of the 12 are actually a good deal and do not unnecessarily replicate tools (possible?).
yes the sockets are thick, but I have never had anything other than a drive extension break on me, ever over 8 years. I love my tools.

I love SnapOn and MatCo they just are better in every regard, but they are only slightly better than CMan, and should only be used if you wrench every day, all day.

Let me show visually.

Cheap brands ----------------------> CMan--->MatCo->SnapOn

This may sound strange but one thing I would buy high quality is screwdrivers. Cman screwdrivers and most other are very shitty. Although it doesn’t seem important, you use screw drivers A LOT.

SnapOn just makes beautiful drivers in all shapes and sizes which never seem to bend or deform. Also the big plus is they really seem to have magic power to not strip out the heads of the screws.

Everytime I have bought something lower quality then Cman because it’s a little cheaper and right in front of me I always regret it and end up replacing it.

Spend the money on decent quality tools every time.

[JetBlackE46]

Bang for the buck I'd stick with Harbor Freight tools. You just have to be smart of which items to purchase.

Most brands out there including craftsman is made overseas so there really is no difference.

[dkmr]

My tool box at work is loaded with different brands. I buy whats a good deal and good product and each brand has their plus. Most of them are Snap-On, Craftsman, Mac, Princess Auto and Mastercraft. I need a bigger box now but I don't want to pay the big bucks so I'm building my own.

[straight6pwr]

Bang for the buck I'd stick with Harbor Freight tools.

harbor freight tools say "Item pictured may be different from product inside" on the box

[Aptyp]

I have a nearly full set of Ampro tools from the days Advance carried them... Never broke one. Love them way too much, but now have no place to go for lost sockets or warranty.


Someone mentioned Kobalt. A friend has a socket set, and it is AMAZING. Wrench has small teeth and is long enough to put some torque down and it doesn't skip any sizes. From what I'm told, the set was only $40 as well, which is very well priced compared to everything else.

[StereoInstaller1]

I like the US made NAPA shit WAY better than craftsman...but it is hard to find, too. I think it was Proto, dunno.

All I am gonna say about that is the $160ish that a set of 1/4" drive medium depth 6 point Snap-On metrics is the most used bolt-turning devices in my box by a LONG stretch.

If you wanna save yourself some major hassle, find the money for just that one set.

[b*saint]

Today the jackass I work with lost once piece from a set. I havent lost a tool in 3 years. Fuck me. Where am I going to find a replacement 6mm stubby ball end hex key that matches the set I have?

[kronus]

Is there a quality kit somewhere that has only metric tools, and doesn't come with 60 fucking hex driver bits? Am I stuck assembling my own?

Needs to have:
1/4 ratchet
3/8 ratchet
6-14mm 1/4 drive 6pt
12-22mm (not all necessary) 3/8 drive 6pt
ball-end hex sockets
straight-end hex sockets
8-17mm combo wrenches (ratcheting would rock, I have a ratcheting 8 and 10, use them constantly)
extensions and elbows for both 1/4 and 3/8

anyone know a set like this anywhere?

[b*saint]

No I think you'll have to piece that together. I've never seen ball end metric keys come in a set.

Also most wrench sets are 10-19 and you have to buy 8,9, and 21-24 seperately.

What is an elbow?

[rotarievtec]

Matco tools all the way. Thats all i use. They are alot cheaper than strap on and just as good. For example, i had the strap on guy try and sell me a set of torx sockets back when i was buying all my tools.He wanted 250 for the set. I said f you mr snap on man and called up the matco rep.
He came to my shop and had pretty much the same set in silver eagle for about 125 less than snap on and i have never had any problems with them.
If your a tech by trade then i would say matco. If not then craftsman is your best bet. Wait till black friday and sears usually has their 200 piece or whatever it is on sale for around a hundred bucks.

[straight6pwr]

If not then craftsman is your best bet. Wait till black friday and sears usually has their 200 piece or whatever it is on sale for around a hundred bucks.

ive bought a couple of really good sets when they are on sale, great value! however, my gripe is that with the tool sets, instead of adding more different tools as the sets increase in pieces, they add redundant sockets. Seriously, you'll get like six different 10mm sockets in a 300pc set!