Me too, and for the same reason. The exception is that I may buy a real cheapie if it is only for very limited (maybe only one time) use. An example is the 2-3/16" socket that has to be turned on a lathe to remove the chamfer so that it will fit the rear axle retaining nuts on the Healey. Used it once. Bought it through Northern Tool for a little over $10.

I suppose that if I made my living with tools I would be a Snap-On man, but I've done OK with Craftsman.

Wes

If you use your tools day in and day out, then Snap-on, Mac and Matco hands down. Craftsman for the weekend wrencher. I would never use Craftsman wrenches in my job as my knuckles couldn't take it. Most of my stuff is Snap On with some Mac and a little Matco thrown in. These are my livelyhood and I have to depend on them. At home for weekend wrenching I have mostly craftsman with some snap-on thrown in. These are more emergency tools as I vary rarely work at home, I usually just take my vehicle to my shop when it needs something.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

There are a number of factors here in the difference between the moderately dear (best quality domestic tools) and the ultra dear (best quality commercial grade tools).

Here in Australia we don't have craftsman (well, we do but it is taiwan style garbage) so our best quality domestic tools are Kinchrome and Sidchrome.

I have a mixture of kinchrome, sidchrome, snap-on, stahlwille, hazet. Basically I buy the tool that I think will do the job best for its price.
So, I have:
Kinchrome sockets (never broken or rounded one yet and they go onto bolt heads as well as any other)
Sidchrome and snap-on spanners (different shapes)
Stahlwille screwdrivers and 3/8 drive sockets

And, my favourite tool out of all the ones I own is definatly the snap-on flex head, 3/8 drive ratchet. No body else makes them as nice so thats why I spent the extra $$$ and bought one. (It can do anything!)

I've found that the dearer makes put more research into their tool geometry so you get tools that are easier to use. And, you get things like the snap on flank drive sockets etc that make it much harder to strip heads.

Oh, and I haven't found any difference in quality between Stahlwille, Hazet and Snap-on, it's just that some brands make better this, or better that.

And if only snap on made their ratchets with quick release! Being polished chrome, it's too hard to change sockets with greasy hands!!
Anybody agree?

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Andrew
300e 294,000mi
380sel 185,998mi
380se 309,980mi

Thanks for the comments on Stahlwille and Hazet. I have been debating about spending a little more because I had not heard of personal experience with them.

And yes, most definitely I agree with greasy hands comment. Recently, I purchased one of those combo 3/8 & 1/2" drive ratchets and found that I always needed a wrag handy to change sockets.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

My favorite is Snap On by far. Got hooked on them back and school.

But I don't wrench enough to justify the price so I buy Craftsman. They have a great warranty, and the price is pretty good.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200