Where do you buy most of your tools?

[TonyHuntimer]

Like the title states... :)

Where do you/did you get your regular hand tools?
Sears, Harbor Freight, Mac, SnapOn, Home Depot, Craigslist, etc...

Where do you/did you get your fabrication tools?
Craigslist, Harbor Freight, etc...

There are a few reasons I inquire, but mostly to see if you have luck and experiences to share about the tools they purchase and what brands are most popular among our Pro-Touring.com family. :)

Tony Huntimer

[andrewb70]

I am still working with a Craftsman tool set that I got from Sears in the mid 90s.

Andrew

[67 ls1 vert]

Craftman tools mostly but lately I have been buying a lot of snap on tools from the driver that stops by the shop. Dang that guy!!

What do you inquire Tony??

[TonyHuntimer]

Craftman tools mostly but lately I have been buying a lot of snap on tools from the driver that stops by the shop. Dang that guy!!

What do you inquire Tony??

Yeah! Dang those SnapOn and Mac tool guys. They know we're suckers for cool tools. ;)

I edited my post above to give a reason I ask about tools...but here's what i added...
There are a few reasons I inquire, but mostly to see if you have luck and experiences to share about the tools they purchase and what brands are most popular among our Pro-Touring.com family.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[Bryce]

Usually craftsman, sometimes harbor freight; depends on the tool and use. And I buy allen brand from my hardware store.

[parsonsj]

I like the Craftsman professional tools. I've got a bunch of them, and they hold up well. But I still prefer Snap-on. I've got 30-year old Snap-on tools still doing the job. I even bought some replacement sockets (lost 'em over the years) to fill out my sets just this past week. They'll be here tomorrow.

Snap-on is expensive, but it is the best tool brand.

[Takid455]

Snap - on and craftsman (old) is what fills the box. Some Cornwell when a friend was a dealer.

[ATOMonkey]

I have a hodge-podge of tools. Hand tools, I really don't care about the brand. One is as good as another, IMO.

Anything with an electric motor is either Milwaukee, or Porter Cable, or some kind of Professional Grade. I have found that if you buy an off brand or cheap sander, drill, grinder, etc. It will die a viscious death in a short amount of time.

My welder is a Lincoln.

All of my other tools and gauges come from harbor freight.

[Protour_Pinto]

After losing all my tools twice, once in the earthquake and more recently the Station Fire, I have been picking up a lot of tools from Craigslist, Craftsman and hitting up the Snap=On dude for used repoed tools. I have still yet to get a welder since I dont have a place to do any type of fab work.

[Rick Dorion]

Most are Craftsman because of their warranty. They hold up reasonable well. My first screwdriver set, that I still use, is Snap-On. They're 45 years old! Unfortunately (or maybe not) the Sanp-On truck won't come to my house.

[parsonsj]

Unfortunately (or maybe not) the Sanp-On truck won't come to my house.Yes, but Snap-on.com will sell online now. :)

[rixtrix1]

Mostly Snap-ON, some Matco, Craftsman, Mac, Cornwell and HF. Depends on how much or often I use them. Huge wrenches I may use once or twice a year are Craftsman or HF. All my airtools are Ingersoll-Rand. They last longest and are the best price. HF Chopsaw, Craftsman 15" drillpress, Lincoln MIG with a Miller Elite hood. My hand electric tools are Dewalt, Milwaukee or Craftsman. Much like andrewb70 above I still have an Indestro set I got for my 16th birthday(44 years ago, shhhh). Measuring tools range from HF to Starrett to Mitutoyo. Best tool besides my MIG is my Drill Doctor!

[absintheisfun]

All my sockets are craftsman, my ratchets and air tools are all snap on.
My heavy tools (prybars, hammers, etc) are snap on as well
I have a bunch of harbor freight and northern tools for my cheapies-picks, visegrips, magnets, etc
All of my electric tools are dewalt or makita

[HarleyR]

Snap On truck for hand tools... we get 25% off at work... I somehow always seem to find something to buy.... I like Mac for a lot of things too... get 35% off with them... Fab tools I like chuck smith motorsports tool over in Mooresville... they have everything from pop rivets to lathes and shears...plus chuck is a great dude.... I also like Ebay for things like taps dies and drill bits...Its pretty sweet living here in NC... you can find any high performance part or material with little effort....

[SRD art]

Mostly craftsman, however I think they switched to cheaper Chinese ratchets a few years back. Lately I've gotten a better price on Kobalt hand tools at Lowe's, they also have a lifetime warranty, and seem to be decent quality. I bought an air powered 3/8" impact gun there and it has held up really well, was a great price, and offered more torque than store level competitors.

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Harbor Freight over the last 2 years as there's one close to school. I bought all my impact sockets there and I love 'em. My air cut-off grinder will prolly last 10 years+ if I keep it oiled. My two-ton floor jack lasted about 4 years before it started leaking and the bearings on the swivel wheels came apart. My electric 5" grinder is wonderful, especially for $19.99. They have good deals on nitrile gloves, but they seem to blow out a little easier than more spendy ones. I bought a set of ratchet/socket style torx wrenches that fit what I needed them for better than the Craftsman that I already had.

On the other hand I bought a small electric 1/2" wide belt sander from them, the belt broke after about 45 seconds of sanding and the adjuster was frozen so I couldn't replace it. I took it back. Their air grinder cut-off wheels blow apart all the time and last about 1/3 as long as higher quality ones, won't buy those any more. Their 3" Roloc style sanding discs kept peeling off the backing and flying across the room. Their wrenches aren't exact fit. I bought a pair of channel lock pliers that right from the store slip out of the channel and there's no way to tighten them. I have had much better luck with my Vise Grip brand locking pliers than the Harbor ones. I bought a set of magnetic towing lights that had such bad wiring and poorly constructed sockets only one turn signal worked and the other one went out after 3 uses. I had to re-wire the whole unit. Their multimeters aren't as accurate as name brand units, this was proven in the electrical lab at school. Drill bits wore out pretty quick.

In a nut shell, think of Harbor Freight as the imitation low quality Chinese cheapie outlet. You can get some great deals there but you have to be wise in what you buy, and you can't expect Craftsman or snap on tolerances and quality. If you sign up for their sale flier to come to your home you get even better discounts than in-store sale prices. That's a good way to keep your investment low if you're not sure on the quality.

For a full time technician prolly Snap-on or Mac is the way to go.

[SparkyRnD]

I used to want everything in the Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac and Matco catalogs, due to the Made In The USA classification. Now each of those companies have lines that are made in China (ie: make sure you know what you are really getting, as just buying by the brand name doesn't make sense anymore). Old tools, absolutely, buy them up as long as you don't get a tool collector up against you. I tend not to buy much new stuff anymore, unless it's a screaming deal (check out the tool sale thread on garagejournal.com). For most of my stuff, I find great used tools at flea markets, ebay, craigslist and local tag sales.

As it was explained to me as a child, when asking my grandfather about tools (he was a master mechanic), he said "if you have to rely on it for your living, buy the best you can afford, and don't be afraid to buy used; if you know what to look for, you get a better deal and you don't break the bank". When I visit various customers shops, quite often I see some young kid that just bought a $7k tool box (empty) from the tool guy, along with setting up payments for a bunch of tools they don't need or can't use, and get in debt up to their eyeballs. Yeah its shiny and new, but truthfully the old tools do the same job in most cases, and usually last longer too.

[JEFFTATE]

I have a huge Craftsman Box , and all Craftsman Professional Series tools in it .
But , some of the specialty tools , meters , etc.. are Snap-On , Mac , or Matco ..

[Bad94]

I have a big Mac tool box, with Mac, cornwell, snap on and craftsman(hate there ratchets). As for air tools, 95% are Mac.

[sniper]

Snap-On is on crack with their prices. I have some snap-on stuff but man, it's just WAY to expensive.
Example. I needed a long pry bar, 36"-48". Snap- actually wants $180 for one. It's a freakin bar of steel. I went to sears and got one for $39. Same warranty and all that jazz. Sorry but there is no justification for that much of a difference in price. Even on the exact same tools, they are way higher than the other tool trucks or tool mags. Finishmasters is high on tools and they are still cheaper than snap-on.

I did pick up a 1/4" mini air rachet the other day from cornwell for $114 and that thing is Bada$$. Love it.

[nathanr15]

i use craftsman tools most of the time but time they just dont cut it like snap ring pliers i have had good luck with mac. a good brand of slip joint pliers i have found are knipex german made good quailty

[Motor_Mouth]

Craftsman, unless they don't have it. Then I chase down a snap-on truck or buy it off the internet. I'm also a big fan of Lisle. They make some cool stuff. Like my remote hose clamp pliers - love those things.

[BonzoHansen]

Since we are back into this old thread...it depends on the tool and how often i use it. Sometimes a HF tool is enough - and some of those 'pittsburgh' brand hand tools they have are more than sufficient for the home guy. I also have a lot of craftsman, some snap on, some matco stuff. KD, Lisle, etc. Also kobalt.


BTW, I expect on Sears being out of business within 2 years. While I expect the craftsman name to live on I think it will become a giant PITA to get your warranty upheld. I need to make a broken socket & screwdriver run soon.

[SLO_Z28]

Air tools I have Snap On, they are the best hands down. I have a lot of snap on sockets and other basic tools. I have a lot of OTC tools too from my service days. I have some big money into my Fluke electrical tools too, and those are worth every penny!

[SLO_Z28]

BTW, I expect on Sears being out of business within 2 years. While I expect the craftsman name to live on I think it will become a giant PITA to get your warranty upheld. I need to make a broken socket & screwdriver run soon.

I wholeheartedly agree. I never sold my Sears Holding Corporation (SHC) stock and im kind of conflicted about it. I left SHC when it was formed because I didn't believe in its ideals, and its going to leave a LOT of people jobless, but they way they are systematically liquidating the brand sure is making all the shareholders a lot of money. When the dust settles the shareholders are going to be rich, and a lot of people are going to get the shaft.

[novajess1972]

I don't buy tools. I go into the local Sears and steal one tool at a time until I have a full set.

(kidding)









Or am I??

[Chris02rex]

I started out with craftsmen but am slowly upgrading to matco. Ive also heard about people thinking that sears is going out. Being im in school, i think its a good time to get my tools at 50% off. If you plan on buying anything from any of the major tool guys (snap-on, Matco, Mac) i would become friends with someone in school.

[gak68]

A little tip in regards to getting snap-on and mac tools for cheap; go to local auto parts swap meets, friends of mine and myself have literally walked away with boxes of snap on tools for like 200 bucks, just random boxes full of tools, some are broke some aren't but since they are lifetime replacement you can just turn them in and get new ones. I am happy Ace has taken on the craftsman brand around here, SEARS has gone to hell with customer service regarding tools.

[zzfranczz]

I use mainly Craftsman and for the special tools like torque wrenches (Snap-on) better quality stuff. I used to believe in the high quality brands for my power tools and paint guns but am converting over to HF. I pass HF everyday on my way to work and once a week I stop in and look at what is marked down and spring the 20% off coupon from the magazines. HF allows me to have an array of tools for a fraction of the cost of one high quality tool. If I break it or wear it out I may consider the better brands. I also have a craftsman set that was passed down from my father. All good stuff but the ratchets are not modern nor have the gear reduction. I used to go to garage sales and buy the random tools. I used to carry a bag of sockets with me and when I needed a particular socket just trade them in for it. Now I shop the fathers day sales and get the discounted sets.

I thank the guys in the PT.com chat room for changing my views on tools (setting me straight) plus they give you the true insight on how a tool will last based on their experience. I now have the right tool rather than waiting and saving.

[DB Z28]

My Tool box is a Large upper and bottom with side drawers Craftmans . All my sockets are Snap -on and Rachets and screwdrivers,all my wrenches are pro wrenches, Gearwrenches from sears and lots of kolbalt tools. my air tools are 1/2 sears and snap on