Lets talk about tools...

[donbeezy]

excuse the mess. rearrange some things

 

[tropicsteve]

<--- smart as a bag of hammers

 

[Swanicyouth]

^yes thats a jar of Dodo Juice on top.

Random drawers:

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

Ive got a lot of tools (too many to list) because I dont trust dealerships and/or most mechanics... Whatever I dont own I buy or if it costs too much I rent. For example, I dont have a lift but if I need one I rent a bay at a local garage for a few hours and get it done.

The only major things Im missing are a compressor and a lift at this point. When I buy a house I plan to have a lift in the garage, because Im as addicted to moding as I am to detailing (detailing just happens to be more affordable)

 

[Billy Jack]

My Dad was a mechanic before he moved into management, so as a kid, I was wrenching on my bicycle with Snap-On stuff. I guess I can blame my premium tool disorder on genetics. Heres a few pics:

Small Pliers

Standard Wrenches

3/8 Sockets and Ratchets

And finally, the wall behind my workbench

The only cure is poverty, or funding a couple kids college educations (essentially the same thing), so Im in temporary remission.

Bill

 

[KBzPTGT]

 

[RaysWay]

My Dad was a mechanic before he moved into management, so as a kid, I was wrenching on my bicycle with Snap-On stuff. I guess I can blame my premium tool disorder on genetics. Heres a few pics:

Small Pliers

Standard Wrenches

3/8 Sockets and Ratchets

And finally, the wall behind my workbench

The only cure is poverty, or funding a couple kids college educations (essentially the same thing), so Im in temporary remission.

Bill

I have a strong urge to borrow something from you I promise Ill bring it back!

 

[Ronkh]

The only cure is poverty, or funding a couple kids college educations (essentially the same thing), so Im in temporary remission.

Bill

Can I get a Halleluiah?

 

[Billy Jack]

I have a strong urge to borrow something from you I promise Ill bring it back!

Thats one benefit of being somewhat organized. You can quickly tell if something is missing. As you might expect, I do get frequent requests to lend out stuff.
Thats the reason for all the empty slots in the pliers drawer, as my son just bought a "needs TLC" house.

Bill

 

[Accumulator]

Im really enjoying this thread!

My stuff is a varied, uhm...accumulation...of stuff from various makers (quality ranges from Snap-On/etc. to a bit of chinese [junk]), some of it dating back to pre-WWII stuff I got from previous generations (which IMO is generally of higher-quality than any of my modern stuff).

Basically three tool setups with lots of redundancy: Garage- vehicle-centric; Basement shop- household/general repairs; Sub-basement- outdoor/lawn equipment-centric. Would be a lot better to have everything consolidated (and of high-quality) but thats not how it worked out.

Qs:
- Does anybody else have FACOM? Do you like it? I have some, most of which was received as gifts, and much as I want to like it I keep thinking "its sure not Snap-On", and all *THREE* of my FACOM ratchets broke/need serviced oughta look into that). At least when Craftsman stuff breaks its a quick trip to Sears = replaced. Speaking of Craftsman...

- Does anybody else find todays Craftsman stuff to be of questionable quality? Ever since I broke one of their breaker bars (no, I wasnt using a "cheater" on it or standing on it, etc.) Ive lost my faith in it. The piece that broke off hit the floor hard enough to chip the concrete...couldve hit me instead. I saved that tool rather than take it in for replacement, just as proof that it happened and as a reminder to buy quality from now on.

EDIT: this thread has reminded me that I oughta get my torque wrenches recalibrated one of these days...

 

[Swanicyouth]

Im really enjoying this thread!

My stuff is a varied, uhm...accumulation...of stuff from various makers (quality ranges from Snap-On/etc. to a bit of chinese [junk]), some of it dating back to pre-WWII stuff I got from previous generations (which IMO is generally of higher-quality than any of my modern stuff).

Basically three tool setups with lots of redundancy: Garage- vehicle-centric; Basement shop- household/general repairs; Sub-basement- outdoor/lawn equipment-centric. Would be a lot better to have everything consolidated (and of high-quality) but thats not how it worked out.

Qs:
- Does anybody else have FACOM? Do you like it? I have some, most of which was received as gifts, and much as I want to like it I keep thinking "its sure not Snap-On", and all *THREE* of my FACOM ratchets broke/need serviced oughta look into that). At least when Craftsman stuff breaks its a quick trip to Sears = replaced. Speaking of Craftsman...

- Does anybody else find todays Craftsman stuff to be of questionable quality? Ever since I broke one of their breaker bars (no, I wasnt using a "cheater" on it or standing on it, etc.) Ive lost my faith in it. The piece that broke off hit the floor hard enough to chip the concrete...couldve hit me instead. I saved that tool rather than take it in for replacement, just as proof that it happened and as a reminder to buy quality from now on.

EDIT: this thread has reminded me that I oughta get my torque wrenches recalibrated one of these days...

The Craftsman stuff today is junk IMHO. Honestly, you can find better stuff at Harbor Freight. That being said, after reading a ton of reviews - I bought this HF swivel ratchet for twenty some dollars:

I really love that ratchet. Mechanism is solid and fine tooth. Handle is nice and long. I like it so much better than my old USA made Craftsman swivel 3/8":

 

[RDKC]

The Craftsman stuff today is junk IMHO. Honestly, you can find better stuff at Harbor Freight. That being said, after reading a ton of reviews - I bought this HF swivel ratchet for twenty some dollars:

[image removed]

I really love that ratchet. Mechanism is solid and fine tooth. Handle is nice and long. I like it so much better than my old USA made Craftsman swivel 3/8":

[image removed]

Craftsman has definitely taken a dive in quality. Not that I have anything against Taiwanese tools, but ever since they moved production overseas its gone to crap.

I would have to agree that some stuff from Harbor Freight is higher quality than some Craftsman stuff too. However, you have to be careful what you buy from HF. For example, Ill never buy pliers from HF, theyre junk. Craftsman pliers still arent bad. (Also, take note Im not a huge Craftsman fan. I think theyre boxed style is atrocious and it hurts to use.)

Also, check out Gearwrench. They make some good stuff for a reasonable price. I bought a 4 piece flex-head ratchet set from them for work for less than what it would have cost to buy the HF versions. No comfort grip but I dont really want those for work, too easy to get dirty, too hard to clean. I abuse the crap out of my Gearwrench and have yet to have a problem.

 

[Accumulator]

Craftsman has definitely taken a dive in quality..

I have an *OLD* Craftsman 1/2" ratchet, kinda weird-looking thing in the "so ugly I think its cool" sense, that still works like new despite looking like I dug it up out of the ground. Its what I reached for when my fancy FACOM one stripped itself in the middle of a job.

 

[Accumulator]

Anybody else find themselves looking through various brands of sockets to find the one that fits a given fastener the best?

Seems like I can try numerous different [whatever size] sockets and always find one that fits tighter than the others, and its usually different from fastener-to-fastener. Same with my (seemingly innumberable) Phillips-head screwdrivers.

 

[RDKC]

I have an *OLD* Craftsman 1/2" ratchet, kinda weird-looking thing in the "so ugly I think its cool" sense, that still works like new despite looking like I dug it up out of the ground. Its what I reached for when my fancy FACOM one stripped itself in the middle of a job.

I have a few old (I think, they look ancient) Craftsman tools that I dont even know how I acquired that seem to be bulletproof. However, I think another factor a lot of people dont consider is that the design has also changed. My flex heads are 120 tooth ratchets, my regular ratchets are 84, and my 3 1/2 drive is only 30-something. Judging off most of the industrial, heavy duty, or all around beefier tools still tend to stick to smaller teach Im going to ignore what all the manufacturers claim about more teeth being just as strong. More teeth is smooth, and the much smaller swing arc is amazing, but I really doubt theyre as tough.

I can also say that Ive seen tools of many makes broken. I watched a guy break a 3/4" drive Snap-On impact socket that was brand new by hand. A normal 3/4" ratchet hooked up and cracked the socket clean up the side. Also, however much I love Knipex, a guy at work bought a nice pair of Knipex diagonal cut pliers and broke the tip off within a week. How? He dropped them on the concrete - not from an absurd height either - he was just carrying too much and dropped them walking across the shop. Mine though, theyve been dropped off the roof of a truck and still work like a champ and theyre only a couple years older than his.

I dont know, my point is I think tool brand matters less than a lot of people do. I think how you maintain and proper use is much more important to longevity of any tool than who or where it was made.

*rant over*

Anybody else find themselves looking through various brands of sockets to find the one that fits a given fastener the best?

Seems like I can try numerous different [whatever size] sockets and always find one that fits tighter than the others, and its usually different from fastener-to-fastener. Same with my (seemingly innumberable) Phillips-head screwdrivers.

pca
I have definitely noticed this. I have to mix and match all the time, especially with cheaper fasteners/sockets. I have found that its normally easier to swap to the close-to-equivalent socket metric (or standard if its a metric fastener) than to try to find a socket of a different brand. Harbor Freight wrenches are horrible about not being the correct size though.

 

[GearHead_1]

I have some Facom tools and youre right, Facom isnt Snap-On but they are big in Europe and they arent a bad tool. There are many who would just read this statement and think to themselves theres another guy thats paid way to much for tools. Snap-On tools arent for the average guy. The value proposition just isnt there. I for one wouldnt even recommend them to the shade tree mechanic. For those that have made there living using tools they understand the Snap-On thing. It was a catch 22 proposition. The tools made me a very good living as a technician goes but I reinvested a good bit of that living back into the tools. I still get a little weak in the knees when I walk on a tool truck. That said, Matco sure make some nice boxes these days.

Ive made this comment on this forum before, there were a number of years, back in the late 80s and early 90s that I was able to legally declare my Snap-On Dealer as a dependent. Hed come around and give me engraved knives or a belt buckle or something like this that would tell me where I ranked in his customers spending list over a quarter or even a year. I look at some of these mementos from time to time and just roll my eyes.

 

[Accumulator]

I barely even qualify as "shade tree" IMO, but I do still *really* appreciate the quality of Snap-On. Used to think it was just an over-priced ego thing, but then I used em...

 

[JustJesus]

I barely even qualify as "shade tree" IMO, but I do still *really* appreciate the quality of Snap-On. Used to think it was just an over-priced ego thing, but then I used em...

I used to think (still do?) the same abut Snap-On. But, I never used anything from them that I can recall.

And, just for laughs......bringing new meaning to "shade tree" mechanic!! (Replacing my wheel bearing)

...

- Does anybody else find todays Craftsman stuff to be of questionable quality? Ever since I broke one of their breaker bars (no, I wasnt using a "cheater" on it or standing on it, etc.) Ive lost my faith in it. .

I wont ever buy their power tools again. DeWalt (1) or Milwaukee (2) for that. I had a Craftsman TQ wrench bust on me doing that wheel bearing job. NOT COOL. And their warranty for it was crap, so I decided to replace it with a CDI unit.

I would still buy their "hand tools" though. In fact, ended up buying a smaller set for my future son-in-law as he decided to take auto shop in college.

Yeah, those types of hand tools is the extent of what I would buy from Craftsman.

 

[Mary B]

^yes thats a jar of Dodo Juice on top.

Random drawers:

You guys make me want to organize my tools. Now that I have this cool tool cabinet. Drawers are see thru and they cantilever up when you pull a drawer with inside lighting switch on front.

Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk

 

[Swanicyouth]

It really varies. Some HF stuff is junk - and some stuff can hang with the truck brands, IMHO.

Below you can see two small pry bars. The black handle one is from HF - and complete junk. The steel is crap - you can tell it would snap.

The one next to it is a Mac pry bar from the 1990s. Lemme tell you, Ive used these thing professionally working as a mechanic and they are almost impossible to break:

On the other hand, Im pretty confident these Pittsburgh CR-MO Impact sockets will not break. I bought them on a whim one day - and have hardly used them, but they seem pretty tough:

However, the fit and finish doesnt scream "expensive". I prolly posted this before, but I love this set. I bought this MAC metric 1/2" impact set in like 1993. Used it professionally for 8 years and never broke a socket.

I dunno. Ive used HF hand sockets extensively to work on my BMW and Nissan and have never had an issue. I know they arent Snap On - but Ive never had one break or a bolt head strip from using it.