Tool Thread - Post up your new tools!

[bstarr3]

Sadly I'm in a rural area and the closest big box store is a HD 90 minutes away. I have a Sears and a HF, so if I want to be able to take advantage of the lifetime warranty, it's Craftsman or Pittsburgh. From what I've heard, I guess I'll find a good deal on a Craftsman set, and maybe get some specialty tools from HF as needed (gear pullers, tie rod separator, etc). Also heard the HF has pretty good quality impact tools for the amateur. I'm also always checking out the local pawn shop for gently used snapon etc.

[M-technik-3]

They are cheaper than Harbor frieght these days. I'd recommend Kobalt from Lowes over Craftsman. That way when Sears folds in 5-6 years you still have a source of Kobalt tools.

I'd like to bring back a few items to Sears but it's cosmetic and the replacement will be cheaper. Very Sad. $209 is ok deal but I got a 409 piece set last spring for my wife's kids for 73 dollars, that way when they stay out of my boxes.

[keine30]

Craftsman tools are plenty good enough for the weekend warrior. Plus they have a lifetime warranty, no questions asked. Bring anything that breaks into your local sears and you'll get a brand new one. I've even heard of people bringing in their old beaten up Craftsman screwdrivers and exchanging them for new ones.

[bstarr3]

start with this and build on it.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-3...p-00948302000P

So many people on this thread are talking about how craftsman is made in China now and not worth it. Are all American made tools insanely expensive like wright and snap on? I want to keep this set forever, but Ill only be using it for weekend car projects, up to and including engine rebuild/swap

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[flyboyx]

I'm looking to replace my box of mismatched and cheap tools with a good quality but not too expensive set. Ratchets, sockets, wrenches, hex keys, screwdrivers - a general, common sizes, mechanics tool set.

What should I buy if I want to spend around $3-400?

start with this and build on it.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-302-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00948302000P

[bstarr3]

I'm looking to replace my box of mismatched and cheap tools with a good quality but not too expensive set. Ratchets, sockets, wrenches, hex keys, screwdrivers - a general, common sizes, mechanics tool set.

What should I buy if I want to spend around $3-400?

[doorman]

Free filing cabinets and some paint and and it looks nice. Reminds me I need to look for some on cl.

Gonna put all my Bentley manuals and porn in there.

This backfired on me once.......wife was looking for a screw driver or something.

Just some sage advice from an old man!

[M-technik-3]

Cman sales have plummeted DEEP into the shitter since off shoring much of their production. People seem to have taken the mind set that "if I am going to get China Junk from Cman screw it, I am going to Harbor Freight as its cheaper and better selection" . Or they are just moving up market some, to the entry level truck brands, or finding the US made industrial brands. Like me not even going to take broken stuff back and just replacing with better stuff even though it costs much more. Snap on is capitalizing on this by buying up Williams, though they have been splitting production between the US and Taiwan with ISO production standards, and selling them decent enough prices to attract the enthusiast. Stanley is doing the same with the Blackhawk line it seems a well by selling them a price point not to far above what US made Cman was selling at 4-5 years ago.


DAMMM I got a bit long winded and rambled on there a bit sorry

Craftsman suck ass now their small wrenches feel feel like they were stamped and then buffed. Not worth it anymore to venture back into another sears store every again

[AndrewBird]

Filing cabinets look great!

I have a filing cabinet similar to this that I keep all my chemicals in (paint, cleaners, etc). Works great.

[TrentW]

Free filing cabinets and some paint and and it looks nice. Reminds me I need to look for some on cl.

Gonna put all my Bentley manuals and porn in there.

[iwantspeed]

I got a 44 inch harbor freight tool box.
I paid 400 out the door with tax.


I got some file cabinets for free
A little scrubbing and sanding.

All done
I went for a craftsman look
Gloss red exterior
Back drawers
Silver handles

[estoguy]

Back at Xmas I got this set:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ma...l#.Vu7VLjBtLk0

30 wrenches with the following: SAE: 1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1, 1-1/8"
Metric: 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22 mm

Got them for about $160. Full price right now is abour $400, plus tax.

I also got a FRAM oil filter wrench, which worked great on my last oil change. :)

[AndrewBird]

Thought I would bump this thread with my recent purchase.





$128.97 with free shipping if anyone is interested. Amazon is the next cheapest at $148!

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=PREC3FR250F

[kts]

S&K is back from bankruptcy (AGAIN) , bought out by ideal industries as their premium brand, they seem to be doubling down and committed to US production with a new state of the art Forge/factory in CO (they bought Western Forge recently as well just for this) and NEW HUGE warehouse/distribution (might be production to) facility in Chicago. I have some of the last Good S&K and some really old stuff that I like a lot. Am going to shy away from them for now, just because I nor anyone I know have no real world experience with "Ideal" out side of wire nuts....

I have a number of Ideal-owned SK tools (1/2 socket set, 3/8 socket set, long pattern wrench set) and they have all been solid. I'm just a DIY guy but between my E30's projects, a new-to-me-house with a ton of projects, and maintaining my DD and my wife's car my SK tools have gotten a lot of use. I have yet to break anything and the chrome looks amazing compared to my old Craftsman stuff.

I personally prefer my Snap-On ratchets to the SK ratchets but I have used the SK ratchets a number of times they work well even in cases where I probably should have been using a breaker bar.

If you're looking for a set of wrenches I recommend SK's long pattern wrenches over their standard length. Standard length is roughly Craftsman length while their long pattern is closer to Snap-On/Matco/etc length. I personally find that extra length to be great for stubborn fasteners.

If you need new tools and SK is a option I wouldn't shy away from them.

[rturbo 930]

Turbo:
Same ratchet in both those links and the one I just got today. Will review a little bit tomorrow when I have chance to use it some. Initial impression, not as refined in both action or appearance as some of the other more popular automotive biased tool makers, but is very nice in the hand, switches gears supper smooth and feels strong like ox, and tuff as Bear. Seems like its going to be a really great ratchet that I can pass on 40 years from now.

I saw they were different model numbers, just assumed they were different, figured one was a long handle or something. At 32 bucks, I think I'll go ahead and place an order. I'd love a SO or Matco ratchet, but I can't justify ~100 bucks for a ratchet.

Thanks for the heads up on SK. My dad has some of their older stuff from the 70s or 80s. I'll do some research and keep an eye on how they do.