tools

[crane]

my buddy went to HD the other night to get a new 18v dewalt battery.they wanted $90

they had an 18v dewalt with 2 batteries and a charger for $149.kind of ignorant IMO but that's how it is.

Check your batteries out for 2 piece casings. If the battery packs screw together(not glued or pressed), and they are of a good brand name, you can get them rebuilt at a local battery store. Where they sell car batteries not the one in the "mall". Shop around, I got the battery rebuilt for my Lincoln 7.2 volt grease gun, was $30 if I remember....

 

[user 19670]

Craftsman - Only tools I know of that are worth as much broken as they are new.
They must have a hard time discarding the tools that were turned in :monkey:

 

[Freakingstang]

About 15 years ago Wal-Mart used to sell a tool line called "Popular Mechanics", made in Taiwan. Their ratchets and sockets were exact copies of Snap-on albeit of lower quality and finish. I have beat the hell out of those tools and I can't break them, most of my sockets and all my ratchets are this brand, also most of my combination wrenches. Screwdrivers, I like Mac but they are expensive and I abuse screwdrivers too much so I usually buy a new set about every 5 years from Costco or Sears when they have a sale. Torque wrenches, PROTO or PROTO knock offs seem best.
Air tools, I like CP but their impacts are weak and slow but so is my compressor.... For infrequenty used tools I usually buy Harbor Fright, out of economic necessity.

I know what you are talking about, except my PM set (3/8 shallow socket set in a hard plastic case) is made in the USA. I bought about 5-6 sets one year they had them on clearance for like 5 or 10bucks a set. I keep one in all the vehicles. The ractchet set is more of a mac knock off than a snap on, but it was the only decent ratchet I had for a long time. One of the better tool sets I've bought. I was so impressed with them that a coupl years ago I went searching on ebay for Popular mechanics set, and was disappointed at that twainese garbage I recieved.

 

[Freakingstang]

my buddy went to HD the other night to get a new 18v dewalt battery.they wanted $90

they had an 18v dewalt with 2 batteries and a charger for $149.kind of ignorant IMO but that's how it is.

And they aren't the yellow top batteries. They last about half as long as the 90 dollar yellow tops. I bought a cheapie set the last time I needed batteries. I go through a lot of batteries, but when you use them everyday it is to be expected. The dewalts seem to last longer than other brands that I have tried.

I usually wait and once a year buy them when they have the twin packs for $100-110

I'm still waiting for the dewalt 18V lith ion battery!

 

[Freakingstang]

strange, no mention of Kobalt tools from lowe's.
I have bought and abused 3/8 and 1/2 drive kobalt sockets sets, i have only broken one socket so far, and it was replaced no hassle.
also had one ratchet fail and it was also replaced no hassle.
Most other tools are craftsman. wrenches and screwdrivers and other assorted sockets.
It seems the Kobalt brand has mostly switched to 12 point sockets which i dont care for that much, all the ones i have now are 6 point.
But I am happy with them.

The original line of Kobalt tools were made by JH williams....Snap on owns them.

I still have a set of them that I carry on my work truck to this day, and have never broken a socket yet.

I particullary like the wrenches. I actually like them better than my snap on wrenches. They are a little thicker in the handle a just more comfortable.


The new line of Kobalt tools is made by the same people that make Craftsman, Napa, and a few other lines. The wrenches are no longer polished.

 

[TNMIKE]

Channel Lock tool set

I bought a 169 picce Channel Lock tool set at Sams Club about two weeks ago for 60 bucks. I bought it as a traveling set for my farm truck. I am very impressed by the fit and finish of these tools. I am not sure where they were made but I dont think its China.

 

[wood4heat]

About 15 years ago Wal-Mart used to sell a tool line called "Popular Mechanics", made in Taiwan. Their ratchets and sockets were exact copies of Snap-on albeit of lower quality and finish. I have beat the hell out of those tools and I can't break them, most of my sockets and all my ratchets are this brand, also most of my combination wrenches. Screwdrivers, I like Mac but they are expensive and I abuse screwdrivers too much so I usually buy a new set about every 5 years from Costco or Sears when they have a sale. Torque wrenches, PROTO or PROTO knock offs seem best.
Air tools, I like CP but their impacts are weak and slow but so is my compressor.... For infrequenty used tools I usually buy Harbor Fright, out of economic necessity.

The local Ace Hardware has a Master Mechanics 252pc set on sale for $69.95. It was sae and metric mostly ratchets, sockets, and wrenches with a few screw drivers and pliers, they looked like decent tools. You may have convinced me to go back and get them just to keep in the truck.

 

[spacemule]

The local Ace Hardware has a Master Mechanics 252pc set on sale for $69.95. It was sae and metric mostly ratchets, sockets, and wrenches with a few screw drivers and pliers, they looked like decent tools. You may have convinced me to go back and get them just to keep in the truck.

I have a small 3/8" Ace Hardware set I bought 15 years ago. It's perfect for the bottom of a toolbox, and has the most commonly used sizes. It's lasted longer than any set I've had--mainly because it's small enough for a tool box so I don't lose it, tough enough that I don't break it, and compact enough that I know instantly if I'm missing a socket.

 

[Elim]

Craftsman here. I don't mind spending a little extra to not have to buy it more than once.

 

[Fish]

So spacemule is a Snap On dealer?

I don't read all of this c rap, just was curious.

My most used tools are my long curved hemostats. I do have a lot of
Snap on, I love the thread chasing kit, and the bolt extractors. And the
screwdrives are a must.

 

[rxe]

No one manufacturer makes decent tools across the whole range.

Snap-on - great spanners, specialty sockets, pullers and cabinets. Truly things of beauty and function. Some of their other stuff - Welders for example, is just rebadged junk.

Festool - everything woodwork. The router that I have is the quietest, smoothest one I have ever seen. Their kit is incredibly well thought out.

Wiha - screwdrivers, allen and torx keys.

DeWalt - the 18v cordless stuff is great.

Halfords - like Scotclayshooter, I find their socket sets very good. I have one that is 20 years old, has taken unbelievable abuse and still goes on. Their ratchet spanners are excellent.

Yeah, my TAD is just as bad as my CAD.

 

[spacemule]

So spacemule is a Snap On dealer?

No, where did you get that?

 

[Freakingstang]

No one manufacturer makes decent tools across the whole range.

Snap-on - great spanners, specialty sockets, pullers and cabinets. Truly things of beauty and function. Some of their other stuff - Welders for example, is just rebadged junk.

Do you have any idea who makes Snap On's welders and plasma cutters?

I have an older plasma cutter from the blue point line. I bought it used for $400 and it has served me very well. It was about two years old when I got it, and it retailed for like $1700. Guy was going through a divorce and I needed to cut a bunch of sheet metal at the time.


BTW, CAD is just a form of the original Tool Disease.

 

[Hugenpoet]

BTW, CAD is just a form of the original Tool Disease.

Absolutely right.

Before I finished reading this thread I found that I had ordered 3 pair of Knipex Alligator pliers (7 1/2", 10" and 12")-Not because I needed them, but because a couple of guys are singing their praises and I say to myself-How come I don't have any of those Knipex pliers. Only $68 including shipping, which I figure must be cheap considering the rave reviews.

 

[belgian]

Absolutely right.

Before I finished reading this thread I found that I had ordered 3 pair of Knipex Alligator pliers (7 1/2", 10" and 12")-Not because I needed them, but because a couple of guys are singing their praises and I say to myself-How come I don't have any of those Knipex pliers. Only $68 including shipping, which I figure must be cheap considering the rave reviews.

:stupid:

BTW, CAD is just a form of the original Tool Disease

Absolutely right ! I had TAD 20 years earlier than CAD.

One can say that there are a lot of soulmates on this site !!

 

[Austin1]

:stupid:




Absolutely right ! I had TAD 20 years earlier than CAD.

One can say that there are a lot of soulmates on this site !!

I thought Chainsaws fall under the category of Power Tools?:monkey:

 

[rxe]

Do you have any idea who makes Snap On's welders and plasma cutters?

At the moment, their Welders are Cebora clones (they certainly look identical). The pricing is nuts. Your $1700 (retail) cutter would buy me a Miller Spectrum 625....and I know which I'd prefer for the money! At $400 you did very well - but someone paid $1700!

 

[Freakingstang]

Absolutely right.

Before I finished reading this thread I found that I had ordered 3 pair of Knipex Alligator pliers (7 1/2", 10" and 12")-Not because I needed them, but because a couple of guys are singing their praises and I say to myself-How come I don't have any of those Knipex pliers. Only $68 including shipping, which I figure must be cheap considering the rave reviews.

I have both the Knipex alligator and cobra pliers. Best pliers I've ever used. To be honest, I like the alligator one better as you don't have to use the button to adjust the jaws (like the cobras). They are alos a little cheaper.

68 bucks for the set, you did good. The first pair I bought cost me about 50 bucks for the 12" ones off of the snap on truck years ago.

I don't use regular channel locks or small pipe wrenches anymore. One of the tools I require as a necessity on the work truck.

 

[Freakingstang]

I've responded to a lot of posts in this thread, but here is a little background on me. I used to be a professional automotive mechanic and found that it wasn't paying the bills like I had envisioned. I pursued another career....

I am a field technician for a world wide rental company. We specialize in larger generators (2MW), diesel and electric air compressors up to 1500cfm, temperature control equipment from A/C's, chillers, dehumidifiers, pumps, cooling towers, heaters, etc.

Most of the jobs we get on are temporary emergancies. We work round the clock and have major contracts with critical companies. We are all diesel mechanics, HVAC techs, electricians, etc. We are not legal electricians as the codes change from county, but 9 times out of 10 we are.

With that said, I have a set of tools at my shop for when I am not on the road traveling. Then I have a set on my work truck that is used 75% of the time. And then I have a set of tools at home.

Over the years I have learned what makes a good tool. A warrenty that is lifetime doesn't mean squat if it is 3 am and you are 100 miles from the nearest sears to turn in the ratchet you just broke. Been there done that. Sears, husky, kobalt, etc all made decent tools for the average tinkerer, but not the day to day professional.

Alot of my hand tools are snap on. I have a very good dealer and have never had a tool not warrentied. Their sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, extentions, etc all have a home in my three tool boxes (work truck is a mobile tool box). For the other tools I rely on, there is Fluke multimeters, Cooper temperature RTD's, Knipex pliers, Klien pliers, greenlee cable cutters, fish tapes, crimping dies, hole knockout sets, Irwin drill bit sets, Rigid Pipe wrenches and Pipe vises, Rigid strap wrenches (great for large oil filters!), Dewalt XRP 18V cordless tools, Tap and dies (USA made), etc.

I've gotten a lot of my stuff off of ebay and local auctions. I just cannot afford to have three complete sets of tools that I got brand new off of the Snap On truck. Blackhawk, Proto, Mac, Wright Tool, Matco, Cornwell, all make excellant tools. I have a lot of older MAC tools that I got as my first real tool set when I was 16. Dad bought me a tool chest at an auction for 50 bucks. The stuff was probably 30 years old then. I still carry some of them on my work truck to this day. The newer Mac tools are made very cheaply and I have not been impressed with them. I have lot of old tap and die sets that were my grandfathers and are 2-3 times the quality of the stuff made today. Snap On and IR make good air tools. Most of the older mac impacts were IR's, but now there stuff is taiwanese.

Snap on is just like any other tool company out there....They have their good line of tools and toolboxes, and then their is there more affordable Bluepoint line. most of thier blue point line is made overseas.

 

[Hugenpoet]

I thought Chainsaws fall under the category of Power Tools?:monkey:

Chainsaws are a subset of Power Tools which are a subset of Tools which are in turn a subset of Toys.