Love for tools

[Jose]

Just wondering, what brand of tools most of you guys use out there ? I don' t know much US based brands other than Snap On, but I ' m not able to afford those here in Holand. A simple wrench sets us back for over 100 dollars over here.
I myself use the French brand Facom, ETC and Pro Werke.

[DanH]

I use mainly Craftsman tools from Sears stores. They are not the best or worst, but fairly priced and many have a lifetime warantee.

[DanH]

Matco tools is a competitor with SnapOn. Many mechanics here use these also...

http://www.matcotools.com/

[shapetoshoot]

Im still using my old Britool stuff which used to be the only alternative to snap on for the proffesional mechanic. Just as good ,but not as shiny as snap on.

Not sure they havent been bought by facom now though, typical.

Another brand thats good if you can get it , "King Dick" genuine brand, good quality worth buying for the name.

[Jose]

, "King Dick" genuine brand, good quality worth buying for the name.

I´m not sure how to explain to the missus that my tools go by the name King Dick...

[shapetoshoot]

, "King Dick" genuine brand, good quality worth buying for the name.

I´m not sure how to explain to the missus that my tools go by the name King Dick...

For the well equipped mechanic..............

[Robin-535im]

I really like the Chinese stuff you get at Harbor Freight. You can use it once or twice then throw it away - that way you always have new tools! Sometimes you don't even have to use it once, it's broken already when you buy it.



Really though - I'm like DanH - good, decently priced, lifetime warranty Craftsman for me.

[MantecaBMW]

Decent tools with lifetime warranty

[winfred]

mac is ok i like snapon and i have broken everything matco that i have bought, craftsman from sears is a good starting brand to get for a mechanic and as good as a home user needs, they have some really good package deals sometimes too, they have a 246 piece set that goes on sale for under $200 a couple times a month and that will do just about anything you need, and they have lots of smaller sets that run cheeper. a fair amount of my set is still craftsman because it hasn't demanded replacing
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/toolbox2
http://members.cox.net/wdixon27/toolbox3

[uscharalph]

Ooooh Toools!

[winfred]

not sure about overseas shipping but i don't see why not

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/vertical.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL

[winfred]

ill add i don't like craftsman ratchets as the way the standard teardrop units are built lately are weak and crappy and don't seal out any dirt or seal in any lube, but most everything else is pretty decent


not sure about overseas shipping but i don't see why not

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/vertical.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL

[winfred]

ooooo i want a king dick ratchet, hmmm time to hit the bay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=10076&item=4563003932&sspagename=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=42606&item=4563671559&sspagename=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=42606&item=4563672299&sspagename=WDVW
drat no ratchet but everything you need to change a tire on some mgs and healys


For the well equipped mechanic..............

[Zeuk in Oz]

If you get a chance to get to Sweden, they have a nice brand called "Bahco". I am much more impressed with their tools than what is available here in Oz, mainly "Sidchrome".
Every time a relative comes out here I get them to bring a tool with them. :D

[pundit]

, "King Dick" genuine brand, good quality worth buying for the name.

I´m not sure how to explain to the missus that my tools go by the name King Dick...
Tell her they're good for tightening your nuts! :D

[dacoyote]

I normally run craftman hand tools.. then anything snap on for anything else

-Charles

[Fred Tyler]

I think bahco once made Sidchrome shifters. Now it is all Stanley.
I think it is always worth buying tools as good as you can afford and they will serve you for a lifetome. buy rubbish and they will hurt you!

[shapetoshoot]

I have a bahco adjustable spanner which is very good quality, I have used it for everything from a 10mm to 24mm and occasionally as a hammer for about the last 10 years excellent, still like new.

Further to the "king dick" stuff , mostly this brand was used by the military , the ratchet pictured is aluminum ,as was a lot of their tools for weight saving when on ships planes etc. Not sure if they are still in use/manufacture though.

The one I have is at least 35 years old (not the one pictured) and still works fine.(uuumm the ratchet that is).

[Tiger]

Stanley makes tools for Sears.

[Gene in NC]

Sears selection and stocking have reached astonishing levels from years ago when it was pitiful. Not cheap but if you need it, they prpbably have it.

ACE is a surprisingly good source for common stuff with lifetime warranty and lower prices than Sears.

[DaCan23]

Ya know what "tools" I got recentley that I was very surprised w/ the quality to price... was a 3 piece locking pliers set at HD made by Husky... $13... and for the money (1/3 price of Vise Gripes, which are superior to all) I was very pleased with the Husky set.

[Bill R.]

gotten much worse for the average mechanic than it used to be. When i first started buying snap-on craftsmen,proto and sk tools back in 1974 , sears had a industrial tool catalog in addition to the regular consumer tool catalog. They had much higher grade tools for the professional in this catalog. They stopped this catalog about 5 years ago and stopped producing alot of the better specialty tools that they had. I have a set of metric offset boxend wrenchs that i have to be very careful with since they stopped production of them and have no intention of ever making them again... Needless to say this reduction in real quality of sears tools is forcing me to buy more snap on and other brands that are making better tools now such as sk/facom, I still use sears tools for alot of things since the price is very reasonable but I usually buy things like ratchets from them in multiples so when i break one i have another to use to finish the job until i can get back to sears for the warranty... They see me at least 4 times a year for 1/2 and 3/8 ratchet warranties. They used to just give you ratchet repair kits to keep with your tools ,now they make you return the ratchet and exchange it each time.








Sears selection and stocking have reached astonishing levels from years ago when it was pitiful. Not cheap but if you need it, they prpbably have it.

ACE is a surprisingly good source for common stuff with lifetime warranty and lower prices than Sears.

[winfred]

yea the tear drop ratchets suck, the round head 1/2 drive is pretty good as i have only needed to swap it out once only because the reversing mechanism crapped out after about 5 years, 1/4 and 3/8s i run snapon as i got tired of swapping out the crappy craftsman ratchets


They see me at least 4 times a year for 1/2 and 3/8 ratchet warranties. They used to just give you ratchet repair kits to keep with your tools ,now they make you return the ratchet and exchange it each time.