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So, are you saying that quality of Armstrong is the same as SK, and both are less then Wright? Then why is Armstrong more? The Wright 3430 is $31, and SK and Armstrong are at least $35. Plus, Armstrong doesn't seem to have a short 3/8", and if I was to get one, what is the point getting a 3/8" when about the same length as a 1/2"? |
Whenever I'm at a swap meet I head for the used-tool vendors to check out their wares. Got a nice 1/4-inch drive Easco ratchet awhile back that beats any of the mass-market stuff I've seen in recent years. Thirty years old if it's a day. Estate sales are also a great source.
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Street Rod show. First think I do is head back to the Swap Meet, and there is one seller that has some good old American made tools. I picked up 2 old 3/8 Snap-On Ratchets. One has a imprint of Ferret F-70 N, made in 1944. Got it for $5. It did slip a lil bit, so stopped at the Snap-On booth at the car show, and the guy looked at it and gave me the run down on it. Fiddled with it for a while, and then replaced the guts with new parts....... no charge, part of the Snap-On warranty. The other one has a long handle about 12", and the same size from the head to the end, with knurled handle end. the guy thought it was made in WWII for the military, and those were special made, so no parts are available. may have paid $25 for it. I mostly use a craftsman 3/8 long handle polished Tear Drop head one. think they go for around $30. They work ok for the most parts, but the plastic tang for will not hold some times and Iam free wheeling. :mad: Replaced it at Sears, and eventually it did the same thing. They don`t make them as good as the older craftsman on the 70`s etc... I have a few of the old one`s. Charlie |
Another old brand I run across once in awhile is Kal. I've got a nice Kal 11 mm combo that has done a nice job for me on brake flare fittings. Some Kal wrenches are American made, but I guess some of the newer ones are made in Asia. My Kal 11mm says made in USA on it.
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I don't have a wide selection of tool brands nor any expensive tools but I'll give a rundown of what I have and then what I want.
In terms of ratchets I have a few favorites: Crescent 3/8 ratchet, 72 tooth I believe, seems to be the same as other 3/8 ratchets out there such as a Kobalt ratchet. Came with a set of excellent 12 point Crescent sockets http://www.amazon.com/Crescent-RD12BK-8-Inch-Ratcheting-Socket/dp/B001FOQH2K Performance Tools 1/4 3/8 stubby ratchet, it's the one you can get from that 45 piece stubby set at about any auto parts stores for about $25, it's definitely generic because many brands put their names on it but it has been on of my favorite ratchets, low cost but never had any problems with it or the sockets it came with. http://www.amazon.com/Wilmar-W39000-Piece-Stubby-Set/dp/B000FW4MZ2 Pittsburgh Pro 1/2 Indexing head ratchet- I got this on clearance at Harbor Freight because they were discontinuing it but they have a similar model now. I spent $7.50 on it, and it works well, has a nice long handle so it can be used as a break bar of sorts. Only complaint is it is not a high tooth drive so you have to swing it a lot for it to click over to the next tooth. 1/2 in. Drive Indexable Head Ratchet Obviously these are not the nicest out on the market. I would say however that the Crescent is perfectly fine for the shop while the others are cheap enough to use in the yards. They work in the shop too but could be better. In terms of wrenches, I own a 26 piece Craftsman Metric combination set, a Husky 28 piece SAE Metric set with standard and stubby wrenches, and the GearWrench 8 piece metric ratcheting combo wrench set. Highest quality goes to GearWrench , which I paid like $30 for. The Husky set I paid like $10 for vs the Craftsman set which was $35. The Craftsman set is much more complete but the casting quality is no where near as good as the Husky or GearWrench set. One part of the set is made in China and the other part of the set (the ignition wrenches) are made in the US. The Chinese wrenches are actually better than the US made wrenches. That being said, I have not had any issues with the Craftsman set or the Husky set besides the Husky set missing some important sizes. For sockets, I have the already said Crescent and performance tools as well as some no name cheapo set that have worked extremely well for being so cheap. I also have a set of Stanley 1/4 dep sockets from Walmart, pretty good stuff. Then I have Harbor Freight hex sockets (short and long) and impact torx sockets that are pretty good as well as a Kobalt set of torx sockets that are very good. I also have miscellaneous Northern/Klutch sockets that I bought for certain jobs because they were half off, some are impact, some are not. Also some miscellaneous Kobalt and one Duralast socket. I would readily buy Crescent, Stanley, Kobalt, Northern/Klutch, or Duralast sockets. Finally, for breaker bars, I have an old 16 inch or so Craftsman 1/2 inch bar and a harbor freight 25 inch 1/2 breaker. The Craftsman is much much better than the harbor freight but the harbor freight is longer. Problem with the harbor freight is the pin that holds the head in likes to back out which could cause serious injury and the bar itself also likes to bend. The best thing to do it to put a cheater pipe over the craftsman one and call it a day. As for tools I want here were a few that caught my attention: Shop Kobalt 300-Piece Standard (SAE) and Metric Mechanic's Tool Set at Lowes.com I really wanted to buy this set a couple of months ago. It's not complete but I know Kobalt tools to be extremely high quality and the set was at $129 but I didn't have the cash. Klutch Mechanic's Tool Set — 305-Pc., 1/4in.-, 3/8in.- and 1/2in.-Drive, SAE and Metric | Tool Sets| Northern Tool + Equipment This is the set I want the most. It seems to be the most complete mechanic's tool set you can buy at a hardware store. It doesn't contain tons of useless bits, in fact it has much more useful tools I haven't seen in other sets: Crowfoot and line wrenches. From what I've seen from Craftsman, I wouldn't buy a full set from them. I also am wanting impact sockets for which the best rated that are within my budget are Tekton. They have nice short and deep 3/8 and 1/2 sets. |
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Not trying to be a flaunt but here's a pic of my box :D Having been a professional automotive repair technician for most of my working career and now an aircraft mechanic, using tools is an everyday affair and required tools that can stand day-in, day-out service. The vast majority is all Snap-On. I really do love their hand tools, they are in most cases some of if not the best in the business. I'm not loyal to the name, I will buy whats best and from whom ever happens to make them. Snap-On certainly doesn't make the best of everything. My toolbox at home is a mix mash of various stuff, plenty of cheapie's and HF stuff and a mix of Craftsman. I can't afford to duplicate the work box! Its nice to have stuff you can grind/weld/hack into what you need and not care. Whats important is it gets the job done.
Some other really good brands, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, SK, Hazet, Beta, Facom. The european stuff is nice but pricey here. |
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QUOTE=charmalu;3450693]I agree[...] I mostly use a craftsman 3/8 long handle polished Tear Drop head one. think they go for around $30. They work ok for the most parts, but the plastic tang for will not hold some times and Iam free wheeling. :mad: Replaced it at Sears, and eventually it did the same thing. They don`t make them as good as the older craftsman on the 70`s etc... I have a few of the old one`s. Charlie[/QUOTE] Charlie, glad the swap meets have worked out. Right now with my pain in my hands and wrists, I am picky, so want a specific ratchet. Though, will go with 1/2" drive if I do get picky, then pick up any 3/8" drive for general, if I can find. If you paid $30, then even more reason $45 is good for a Wright! I see this model sold other places for as much as $150! :eek: Now that you mention it, think that is what happened to my Craftsman also! Wright is all metal, fine tool. Quote:
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Trouble is, all those brands are made in China, Twain, or India, and suspect them. My shop teacher drilled into me not skimp, as your body was at risk. He was even more so, and disliked Craftsman, preferring Snap-On. Had a really weird experience this morning. I read your post, wondered where my breaker bar was, and what brand, as a gift from Vater. decided to put together my drafting chair I have had in storages for years, but not enough space for the drafting table and chair. Well, figured getting over my laptop be less pain, so got it out, and guess what was in the packaging? My breaker bar and its 3/4" to 1/2" adapter! :eek: :D A bit rusted, but glad to have it back! :P My breaker is a Craftsman, and have used it on a 6' extension with good results. Yes, a shame, but will not buy anything more of them, unless I can put it my hand, check that it is made in the U.S.A., and be sure it is decent quality. Where is Tekton made? Quote:
If one can find an old Craftsman rolling tool chest, they give good bang for the buck. The lower quality new stuff is junk, and many folks can't afford professional, especially Snap-On which holds its value, so used still not a help. What brand is your screwdrivers? I miss having a matched set, and want to eventually have a backup if I can't get made in the U.S.A. for the broken ones (still have yet to replace one). I mean, is there really a point to get Snap-On when Wright should work just as well? Not brand loyal either, but got my favorites! :P Hazet, Beta, and Facom being European? Know Hazet is, and very expensive. Don't forget Zelenda! They are about $3 to $5 for each wrench, so if getting a lot of sizes, can add up. The advantage to them is they are very slim and black oxide finish. Forget what I paid, but then got most at a tool shop that was closing up, so got a good deal I am sure; $45 is coming to mind. They are special, as are in a nice plastic tool roll. Sadly starting to fall apart in the Desert warm climate. Some of these nicer American brands are hard to find dealers for. Where does these brands fit? |
The harbor freight composite ratchets and their new flex head ratchets are pretty good. I've beaten them, used the 3/8th with a 3' cheater bar on a frozen lug bolt just to see if I could break if and the bolt broke free it hour the ratchet failing. Harbor freight has it's gems and it's turds.
Hazet is my dream tool. I had an old tool caddy that I should have kept.hazet tools are incredibly German, the sets you buy are made to fit exactly in it's foam tray in a drawer in one of their tool chests. " Alles in ordnung" at it's finest. Tempted to buy this So everything I have matches and it has pretty much every tool you need to work on a W211 short of a torque wrench and the odd specialty tool. The 163 piece Torx set is like $1300.... Dang I could do this for $300 shipped. |
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Yes, I remember seeing at least something similar to the Hazet set. Man, so expensive, but still can admire! :P The Torx bit set does look nice! Seems a little on the high end, but I am sure not as much as Snap-On, if they actually had it. Seems special fasteners are/where more European. The Volvo I had thankfully still had the tool kit, as had a lot of Torx and was kind of annoying. Like really, why not just keep the cross heads? Edit: Just looked, and the American companies don't have a set, especially with the socket heads and handle. Wright does have both bit and socket head, but no handle, and about the same or more in cost. |
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Yup, Beta, Facom, Stahlwillie, Hazet, all euro and well made! When I graduated BMW Step, BMW gave us grads a very very nice 3/8 drive Hazet high-accuracy torque wrench (in Nm) with a special engraving on it. I treasure that thing! I looked one up and iirc, it was like a $400+ tool:eek: Looks like the one below... |
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How did you even find out about the limited run? Me personally, I don't think I could fathom paying $1,000 for a tool box when I could get a auto, which be more useful. Or, even better, one of those floor lifts. As I get older and my joints are failing, will eventually have to. Yep, just like Harbor Freight, Craftsman, Wright, with lifetime warranty. But, are they really worth the extra cost? What does hollow ground actually mean? Opa was a gun smith of single shots, but never seen any special tools other than his bullet loading stuff. Interesting no order of quality for European, unlike American. B.T.W., kept thinking I had Hazet tools, but couldn't remember what. Well, couldn't sleep last night, so did a tool pickup and sorting after done installing the turbocharger. I do! They are the special valve adjusting wrenches. Congratulations on the high marks! Bet you hardly use it. ;) I got a vintage machinist caliper with slide rule, and so special, didn't use it and put it somewhere safe... :rolleyes: Plus, being a teenager, I just could't figure out how to get ti to give measurements. If I ever have children, which I very much doubt, or my Brother has a son if I don't, will pass it on down. |
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That being said, I am not afraid of Chinese-made tools nor would I buy a set of tools just because it was made in the US. The worst tools I have ever used were some US made tools that I inherited from my great-uncle. I forget the brands but they all had prominent "Made in the USA" labels, I'm guessing they were from the 70's or 80's. I think the Tekton sockets are probably Chinese or Taiwanese but have glowing reviews. I've heard some of their stuff isn't any good but the impact sockets are supposed to be very good and affordable. For another view on it, my mechanic told me and my friend that is training to be an automotive technician that his favorite is Matco. He thinks Snap-On wrenches and sockets are fine but does not like their ratchets, claims that he has had them fail several times on him. He likes to keep his chests to one brand, he's somewhat OCD with his job. |
I did a brake job today on my friends E300 and used his tools and lift in his barn. Oh how I wish I brought my own tools! I had to squint and hold the Craftsman sockets up to the light to read the tiny engraved sizes. Besides them being hard to read, they were all 12 point. There is no need for a 12 point socket in automotive work, especially on high torque suspension and brake fasteners (caliper brackets etc.). It was so easy to have the socket slip off the bolt if not aligned just right. If I had my own tools, they would be color coded 6 point sockets. It does sound like I am complaining, but it is my own fault. I guess that is what I get for being lazy and not bringing my own tools- I have to suffer using the customers Craftsman tools :-(
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As for quality, each person must weigh that on there own. How much are you going to use them? How much should I spend? Etc. I'd say buy the better end of what you can afford. I don't mean like, go sell a kidney just to buy the best you can, but buy what your budget allows comfortably. I tossed in a pic of hollow ground (right pic) VS flat ground (Left pic) tipped screwdrivers, easy to see why a HG engages better:D |
Any of you guys remember Wizard tools?
There use to be Western Auto stores. They sold everything, appliances, lawn mowers, tools you name it. They had a line of tools with their name on them, Wizard. I bought a 3/8" ratchet maybe about 1970, I used the heck out of it, and became my favorite even over craftsman. It had a Flex Head that actually stayed put instead of flopping around. Finally about 10 years back it finally gave up the ghost. :( I searched around for info on them but come up more or less empty handed. I replaced it with a Craftsman 3/8 with a Flex head, and cut the handle to the length the Wizard has. The damn Flex will not stay put, so doesn`t get much use. I agree with Rollguy, those Craftsman with the lazer etched sizes on the Sockets are hard to read, and with wear, almost impossible to read. There is no warranty for replacement if the etch wears off. Charlie |
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