Who makes decent tools anymore ?

[brods]

My son is looking to get some basic hand tools for tinkering around. Stuff for working on cars and for around the house. Socket sets, screwdrivers, pliers etc. In the past I'd recommend Craftsman as a decent value for recreational use, but it has been so long since I've bought a tool I don't have a clue. Also, it seems every reputable company from the past has been bought out and the quality has been driven into the ground by the bean counters, so companies that were good in the past may now sell garbage. Snapon, Mac etc are nice, but too expensive unless you are using them everyday.

Which brands still have quality tools at a reasonable price? Anybody buy a comprehensive set lately and, if so, how happy are you with the quality?

 

[JR]

Last I knew Husky was made by Stanley tools. I think they carry a lifetime warranty. Some of their stuff seems ok, other not so much. Same with the Kobalt brand.
I've got some older Craftsman hand tools. The last 10-15 years I've been making it a point to buy Proto or Williams when possible. They make top shelf products IMO. Ratchets are top notch and take some serious abuse. Ratchets are rebuild able for next to nothing. Ive yet to need to do so. Occasionally I will take them apart to clean and oil.

 

[Jim W]

Ace Hardware is selling the Craftsman brand and so, is Lowes. For general use these are OK along with the HUSKY brand from Home Depot. I do carry a set of Craftsman tools in my trailer so, if I lose them I am not to pissed off. They seem to work good and for the money spent. I also have some Milwaukee tools but these were purchased from a tool house such as Berland's who caters to professionals users of tools.

When I worked at Cat the tool room was purchasing tools from Proto tools which was a subsidiary of Snap-on tools. These seem to last and Proto stood behind their warranty on tools. But that was in the early 90's so things could have change since than.

 

[BDaugherty]

Mac tools has a line of entry level tools called “expert”. They are decent but have the advantage of easy lifetime warranty. A few times a year they have a beginner set in the sales flier.
I may take some heat for this, but Harbor Freight has some decent stuff AND some junk. I have a couple Pittsburgh ratchets that I reach right past snap on and mac ratchets to use.

If I was starting from scratch and using the tools at home and not professionally, I would have pittsburgh ratchets from harbor freight and grey pneumatic socket sets from amazon in a harbor freight toolbox...the 56” box is an especially good deal if you catch a sale. For everything else, I’m less sure. I really like my tool truck screwdrivers and wrenches, but I started out with craftsman bought at the flea market.
Probably my #1 suggestion is to start out with a real basic set of tools and then add more as needed. Amazon is a great place to buy tools from, but often won’t have the benefit of warranty.

 

[Wayne M.]

Craftsman is absolute junk nowadays. I would consider anything derived from Stanley and if that means Kobalt or Husky, then okay.
Don’t laugh, but Harbor Freight has hit a home run with their ratchets and SOME of their sockets. Guys at the job are putting this stuff through the paces, and it’s looking great! Same goes for a tool box, you’d be crazy to buy other than a Harbor box, unless you were looking for something specific.
That said, there are certain things Snap-On and MAC have that can’t be gotten elsewhere, like snap ring pliers, but for me? I am a die hard S-K guy. There is even a S-K truck that comes by weekly.

 

[Jim W]

Wayne; I agree that Craftsman has gone down hill since Sears sold off the brand sometime ago. But it is still a viable tool for home owners to start a tool kit with the basic wrenches and sockets/rackets and screw drivers. How often does your tools get used if you are a home owner doing basic maintenance. My tools sit in my tool chest in the garage sometimes for months before being used. Especially during the winter months.

Now on the other hand if these are for a mechanic or someone making a living with them, than NO. I would buy the best such as Mac Tools, Snap-on and so forth.

My wood working tools run the gambit of Ridgid tools to Lie-Nelson depending on the usage and type of work I except out of them. Each of the tools was chosen for there intended work such as joining, planning and then finished work. Weighting each tool in the cost price value benefit of the tool. To me it made no sense in purchasing a couple thousand dollar woodworking machine that would only be used a couple hours a month and than sit idle. Such as a European sliding table cabinet saw.

Each person must weight the intend usage and your willingness to spend money for a what ever tool you buy.

 

[mwilson]

My set contains Snap-On, Craftsman and S/K....the latter two fill in for what I lack in Snap-on.

Some instances, only Snap-On will do. NOBODY makes better screwdrivers....period....

Snap-On Ratchets and extensions, a mixture of sockets...six points are Snap-On...when I'm reaching for a six point I'm dealing with a fastener that I have one shot with before breaking out the torches....twelve points are a mix of Craftsman and S/K....

Wrenches are mostly Snap-On with fill ins by Craftsman, S/K and GearWrench. Why??? Because a Snap-On wrench will not hurt my hand like the other brands when really pulling hard. Plus I double wrench a lot of the time on corroded or highly torqued fasteners and I don't want anything to break and land me on my you know what.....

 

[mwilson]

He might want to step on a few tool trucks such as Snap-On, Matco and Cornwall to see if the dealer has trade or repo items on board. Sometimes you can score that way....

I've been decades building up my tools, started with NAPA / New Britain when in High School and then built up from there. Now have a lot of decent hand tools.

 

[Shiner]

My set contains Snap-On, Craftsman and S/K....the latter two fill in for what I lack in Snap-on.

Some instances, only Snap-On will do. NOBODY makes better screwdrivers....period....

Snap-On Ratchets and extensions, a mixture of sockets...six points are Snap-On...when I'm reaching for a six point I'm dealing with a fastener that I have one shot with before breaking out the torches....twelve points are a mix of Craftsman and S/K....

Wrenches are mostly Snap-On with fill ins by Craftsman, S/K and GearWrench. Why??? Because a Snap-On wrench will not hurt my hand like the other brands when really pulling hard. Plus I double wrench a lot of the time on corroded or highly torqued fasteners and I don't want anything to break and land me on my you know what.....

That is my standard. Which one do I feel is not gonna bust my knuckles.

 

[Mark31]

I like Klein cutters, pliers, and strippers. I have a little Blackhawk 1/4 and 3/8 set that I can hardly read the socket sizes.

 

[Wayne M.]

I think a S-K ratchet runs rings around a Snap On (or any tear drop) ratchet. Especially the older stuff. I have a set of Gearwrench double ended flat ratchets that I’ve been flat out abusing for 10 years. I’m very impressed with em.
I am meticulous with tool maintenance though. Everything gets oiled.

 

[jgillott]

I purchased my first Gearwrench ratchet last year. I was looking for a cheap 1/2 ratchet to keep in my trailer for the adjustment bolts on my weight distributing hitch. Anyway, our local tractor supply had one in the bargain bin for something like $10. I can't believe how comfortable that tool is in my hand. Really nice quality and if you would told me that it was that cheap, I wouldn't have believed you.

 

[jgillott]

Speaking specifically of Craftsman tools, our last local Sears is scheduled to close at the end of the month. I'm personally going to be very sad to see it go. There was nothing better than going to Sears years ago and just browsing through the tool section. I know that the tools aren't what they used to be, but I'm still going to miss that place.

 

[mwilson]

Speaking specifically of Craftsman tools, our last local Sears is scheduled to close at the end of the month. I'm personally going to be very sad to see it go. There was nothing better than going to Sears years ago and just browsing through the tool section. I know that the tools aren't what they used to be, but I'm still going to miss that place.

We lost our big Sears in Bangor last year. Miss the tools and appliances. Every appliance in this house came from there..

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Craftsman is absolute junk nowadays. I would consider anything derived from Stanley and if that means Kobalt or Husky, then okay.
Don’t laugh, but Harbor Freight has hit a home run with their ratchets and SOME of their sockets. Guys at the job are putting this stuff through the paces, and it’s looking great! Same goes for a tool box, you’d be crazy to buy other than a Harbor box, unless you were looking for something specific.
That said, there are certain things Snap-On and MAC have that can’t be gotten elsewhere, like snap ring pliers, but for me? I am a die hard S-K guy. There is even a S-K truck that comes by weekly.

WOW - a S-K truck? A guy here closed down years ago. I have a socket I need warrantied, but it isn't worth the hastle of shipping off somewhere and hoping they replace it.

So, whatever you get, make sure it is local and not just off one truck.

 

[jgillott]

We lost our big Sears in Bangor last year. Miss the tools and appliances. Every appliance in this house came from there..

I guess I'm as guilty as anyone for the demise of Sears. It became so simple to just buy from Amazon instead of driving there and picking something up.

 

[Bill Lins]

I am a die hard S-K guy. There is even a S-K truck that comes by weekly.

I'm still using a set of S-K sockets I bought back in 1971- I've never seen a S-K truck, though.

 

[Wayne M.]

Speaking specifically of Craftsman tools, our last local Sears is scheduled to close at the end of the month. I'm personally going to be very sad to see it go. There was nothing better than going to Sears years ago and just browsing through the tool section. I know that the tools aren't what they used to be, but I'm still going to miss that place.

That’s what I’m most frustrated about. Watching the decimation of Craftsman in particular, and Sears in general. The whole tool industry got screwed a few years ago by a company called Danaher. These people had a bunch of brands, craftsman was one of them, at their peak, and spun them off and outsourced them. I just looked on wiki, and indeed Stanley now has control of Craftsman, and it’s imported stuff. File this story under “Brand names mean squat anymore”.

 

[JR]

I think it's largely been that way for a few decades Wayne. Proto sold to Stanley back in the 80's. I think they were Ingersoll Rand before that. Im just glad that particular lineup didnt move overseas. They are still manufacturered in Texas, SC, and Ohio.

 

[Wayne M.]

I think it's largely been that way for a few decades Wayne. Proto sold to Stanley back in the 80's. I think they were Ingersoll Rand before that. Im just glad that particular lineup didnt move overseas. They are still manufacturered in Texas, SC, and Ohio.

Yes it has. In fact I have a TRW tool catalog somewhere in the archives. Tool companies have always been a hot potato- being tossed around, but now stuff is being outsourced by wolves.
Back to S-K, disclaimer is that I have no skin in the game, but this is a real deal American company. They were in trouble recently, and have been saved by Ideal industries. Yes they have tool trucks, and my guy should be by on Wednesday.