I inherited a 40x56 building 45 miles away. That is where I keep my Mac toolbox and my Mac and Snap-on tools. Toolbox is too big for my tiny garage and storage building. I would like to have a small set of tools at home so I don't have to travel to do small jobs. Don't want to get more of the expensive tools. What brands of tools work for yall? Which ones should be avoided? I'm OK with Craftsman sockets, but their rachets aren't as good as some of them half the price. Anyone have any luck with Husky? Who makes a good skrewdriver?
If its just an incase tool box and you just need something to keep in the car, I have been running a cheaper 65 peice tool kit from harbor freight. Has a bunch of 1\4 1\2 and 3\8ths inch sockets in it with several deep sockets. I am yet to break a single socket. Broke the 1\4" wrench with a cheater on it when I couldn't fit the 3\8ths in the same place. Replaced no questions asked. Screwdrivers, get the $3 5 in one, or a $10 kline 10 in 1, and a cheaper 10 peice screw driver set. Small tool box and about $80 and your pretty well set. I also have a set of wrenches with 1\4" to 7\8ths inch and 8mm to 19mm in a holder for about $25 all from harbor freight. The open end will slip open with a lot of torque, but will do fine as a just incase set.
I'll keep Harbor Freight in mind. I've had some tools from there that were just junk, but some of them I still use today. Kline seems to be pretty good tools. I had a large cheap screw driver set from Harbor Freight that had a rubber "no slip grip" and the grip slipped right off of the screwdriver as soon as solvent hit it. Oil would cause them to swell also. The flat screw drivers would break the tip easily, but the phillips screw drivers only had the problem with the grip. Blackhawk used to have awesome tools, but now are questionable. Still open to tool comments. Cheap and quality are not two words that go together, but that is what I'm after!
I've actually had good luck lately with Stanley stuff from wal mart...bought a couple of ratchets there because I was tired of running to sears once a month to get my 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets replaced/sent off.
No more probs. I do however have 6 or 7 sman sockets to replace yet....
Must have tool, the stanley 3/8ths inch ratcheting handle. Best tool for starters or anywhere room is cramped ever. I got mine for $22 at walmart several years ago. I honestly would not buy a single wrench that isn't that one.
I know it's not an option for you 'Mericans, but I loves my Mastercraft (Canadian Tire) tools. Their "Maximum" and "Professional series" hand tools can stand up against any from Snap-On, Mac, etc. They're Canadian made (no Chinese shiznit), guaranteed for life and they don't argue with you when you break one, unlike the Snap-On man, who looks for any reason to avoid warranty repairs/replacements. And they are cheap. Every week's flyer has several Mastercraft tool sets on sale for something like 70% off. These sales are a Canadian Tire trademark (nobody pays retail for tools at CT, they know that if they wait a week or two it'll be on sale). Because they're so cheap I can afford to have two complete, fully kitted out tool chests, one at home and one at work.
Now, air tools are a different story. Mastercraft air tools suck. They might be good for home use but aren't up to the task for professional use. Their cordless tools aren't the greatest either. The only Mastercraft power tools worth buying are the carpentry related ones (saws, sanders, routers, etc).
I have very few Snap-On tools. They are outrageously overpriced, and even if there is a difference in quality (which, for the vast majority of hand tools, there isn't) it doesn't justify the price difference. The only tools that I consider Snap-On a MUST for, cost be ed, are flare nut wrenches (they don't slip on the nut and round it off like others do), the double flaring tool (the line doesn't slip in the holder) and that famous ratcheting screwdriver that every mechanic has.
As for Harbor Freight, we don't have that here in Canada but we have something similar, Princess Auto. Their tools are generally of horrid quality and almost all of it is made in China. They do, however, sell some unique tools that are hard to find elsewhere, and they're a good place to buy tools you don't use often, or even only once (no point in tying up a bunch of money on a tool that's just going to sit in the box). Their hydraulic stuff is pretty good though, and some of their larger shop tools (cherry pickers, engine stands, jacks & jackstands, etc) are OK...
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I've always had good luck with Kobalt ratchets form Lowes, I bought one a few years ago and it has outlasted 2 of my Craftsman ratchets, and they are pretty reasonably priced. Gearwrenches are also great to have, they hold up well and they aren't overly expensive either. As for screwdrivers, I bought a set from Harbor Frieght a while back and they have been awesome, paid 7 bucks for the set, it comes with a case and some torx head screwdrivers, it's really a decent set.
Craftsman is out of the question. Their hand tools are junk. Husky and Kobalt have me really interested. May go with Stanley for a few odds and ends. Kind of leery about Harbor Freight. I think it is similar to that store Thunder Chicken was talking about. Kind of a "buyer beware" sort of thing. Its a matter of knowing whats good there and whats not.Tool trucks are impossible for me now because I am never in the same place at the same time, and their prices are way more than I am looking to spend.