Hand Tools: The highest quality/value

[JackW]

I'm the tool engineer over hand tools at Lockheed in Marietta - I have been working with all of the hand tool manufacturers for over twenty years. I also used to be a professional mechanic - worked on Porsches, Mercedes, BMW's, Fiats and Land Rovers. I have a lot of Snap-On tools in my personal tool box.

As one of the posters above pointed out there are three major manufacturers of hand tools in the USA. There used to be a lot more but the big fish started buying up the smaller family owned businesses about eighteen years ago. (Armstrong was independent until about ten years ago). Craftsman tools have been made by a variety of manufacturers over the years (low bidder) and they generally aren't built to hold as tight a tolerance as some of the more expensive tools. this becomes very signifigant as you're attempting to loosen a bolt that's a little rusty and the head is a bit undersized. Busted knickles and rounded of bolts are a fact of life with Craftsman tools. The older ones seemed to be a bit better as far as durability - I still have some of Dad's Craftsman tools from the sixties that I use frequently.

Ratchets have been a huge problem for the aerospace industry - we have to worry about durability and FOD - broken ratchets tend to shed debris in whatever you're working on - not good if its an airplane. Snap-On has been one of the best - Armstrongs were awful - Proto not so good either but they've just introduced a new line of ratchets that look pretty good (their "Big Dawg" line was horrible).

There is a German made line of tools called Stahlwille that is making inroads in the aerospace industry. I've known about them for many years due to my experience working on German cars - and they are really, really good tools. They are built to even tighter tolerances than Snap-On and their satin chrome finish is outstanding. Just flipping through their catalog of "German Tool Porn" makes me want to spend way too much loot on a whole new set of tools (although they are cheaper than Snap-On - but not by a whole lot). In my forty years of working with tools they are some of the finest chunks of metal I've ever held in my hand. Baum Tools sells Stahlwille tools out of Florida.

 

[Mobryan]

Mostly I use Craftsman, though I do have a number of free/deeply discounted Snap-on's. I've broke a few Craftsman tools, but their warrenty policy is good, and I can afford to buy a full set of spare Craftsman for what a Snap-on set runs

At work we have a bunch of Proto tools of various vintages (USAF surplus). The wrenches don't feel very nice in my hand, but we've got some 1" impact sockets that are totally un-brokable

Matt

 

[Bongo Boy]

I used SnapOn stuff a lot, but way back in the 70s and it was all good stuff. Almost all of my wrenches are Craftsman, but I bought a number of the other Sears brand stuff for the trail bag--seems every bit as good to me.

I've recently purchased Craftsman socket sets, and my big issue with them is that they're plated and the plating flakes of immediately and is an irritant. I've not had this problem with the older stuff nor with the wrenches themselves--just the sockets so far. These are the ones with the gold 'easy read' sizes etched on them.

In 30 years I've only taken one wrench back to sears for warranty replacement, so that feature isn't a big draw for me.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

I've always used mostly Craftsman, and have only occasionally encountered a failure through most of the time that I've owned them. I had a rash of failures within a short priod of time a few years back, and like you started looking to others. I bought some $nap-on tools, and they have worked well with only the very occasional failure- that is until this morning where I broke a box end wrench on a tough bolt as well as a tap bit within 10 minutes of each other.

I couldn't tell you which is the best out of the two, as I have had success and failures with both. However, I can tell you that the added benefit of the many options for exchange with Craftsman tools is a definite advantage over many other brands, and that unless you work in a shop where the $nap-on truck comes through often, they are not nearly as quick or easy to replace.

 

[Arivalsend]

snap on warranty

I have always had a mixed up tool collection comprised of old Williams 1/2 stuff from my father. And a goodly collection of craftsman 1/4. But many of my 3/8 and 1/2 metric pieces are Snap On. Now looking back, I would say they are well made, but certainly not exceptional. I have broken a 3/8 and a 1/2 ratchet now. I have breaker bars so don't start having visions of me in the garage with a 4' length of pipe. These were broken just through use. I generally take my ratchets apart once or twice a year and repack the ratchet gear. Invariably on their ratchets I have sheared off teeth on that gear. The real downside is not the break but the lack of service from snap on. Unless you are a shop owner or pro wrench type of guy you just don't have warranty access. I don't have the snap on truck coming to my door. I have gone so far as to send two separate 3/8 wrenchs in along with a 1/2. I recieved one back (1/2) from snap on saying that because I had taken the back plate off (two smalls screws) the warranty was void. Even though to not repack it would to me be a sad lack of upkeep on one's tools. The other wrenchs are still out to lunch. I have called once and gotten nothing back. So I must say that at this point I have really not been overly impressed and have fallen back on a Williams 1/2 and a SK 3/8 to tide me over. Just my 2 cents.

 

[AndrewP]

Kobalt tools used to be made by JH Williams Tool. Williams Tool is a division of Snap-On, but Kobalt and Snap-On were never made on the same line. Snap-On tools came from a different foundry than the Kobalt, so they are not functionally equivalent. Snap-On also owns Bahco, a pretty big worldwide tool company, and Blue Point. Thing is that for the past couple of years Kobalt tools have been made by Danaher. Kobalt tool chests are made by Waterloo.

All companies have domestic and foreign plants, so the source of the tool also needs to be checked if that's important to you.

Good post. When Lowes first came to town, their line of tools (Kobalt) was excellent. The quality was immediately obvious and I bought tons of sockets, combo wrenches and the like. Still use them, and like them. Now the Kobalt tools kind of suck. The sockets and combo wrenches are 12 point, the chrome finish has suffered, they are just a step or two down in quality. I no longer buy them.

I feel like this is a parallel universe to IH8MUD where I said the same thing, but Craftsman is pretty good. Most of my everyday garage tools are from them. They have a good selection of 6 point sockets and combo wrenches. Their professional series wrenches and ratchets are excellent. The professional finish is especially nice at claen up where the grease wipes right off. They fit the fasteners really well too. I use their flare wrenches all the time and the fit is very good.

The coolest tools in my tool box are Craftsman from my Grandfather. He died in 1955, but his tools are still marked with his ID number from when he worked in the Philadelphia ship yards during WWII. I still use those tools like normal tools today, meaning I don't baby them. I also have a Metric socket set given to me by my dad in 1976 when I was 16 and got my first car. Those sockets are still in every day use in my shop.

Snap-On has a great reputation and makes great tools. But I'm not a professional mechanic, so the extra 1% from Snap-On tools does not work for me, especially given that it comes at a 100% mark up.

Just me, but I don't like Husky tools. It's hard to find 6 point stuff and their 12 point stuff is CRAP. Same quality as Harbor Freight. I hate their ratchets too, but that's just me.

To be honest, I don't see Sears or Craftsman surviving as a company long term, so my recommendation is to complete your Craftsman set now. Avoid their lower line, as the ratchets are bull**** and not worthy of their long term name. Their laser engraved sockets however, are nice once you reach your mid 40's, meaning you can actually see the size!

If you are going to spend big coin on tools, the place is the ratchets. Craftsman Professional line is excellent, as is Snap-On. Husky in my opinion is terrible, plus I hate the whole Home Depot experience. Gear wrenches will change the way you work on things--they are that good.

The last few years, I've gone over to mostly air driven tools. This will change the way you work too. I like Ingersoll-Rand air tools, but there are others that work OK. Avoid Harbor Freight air tools. As a group, they require at least twice as much air to do the same job.

I've had fun over the years buying tools, and deciding what I like and don't. I still like Craftsman, but I feel their days are numbered. As evidence, I went in to buy a large adjustable wrench. For years, the adjustables have had a "Forged in USA" stamp in big letters on the handle. Now that is suspiciously absent. If you are going to sell me a China tool, I'll take the China price at Harbor Freight.

 

[Clark White]

I use Craftsman at home and Snap On at work. Love them both! Honestly, I cant really tell the difference in operation, besides things like handle shape. Never had either break on me, never had either rust, etc. However, I can say that my Craftsman doesn't see a tiny fraction the use the Snap On's at work do, so it may not be a fair comparison. A lot of the mechanics I know use either Craftsman or Matco, but in support of Snap On, every Air Station I've been to uses nothing BUT Snap On(though someone in procurement may be related to the Snap On family, who knows).

 

[Lynn]

Bunny Trail Follows:

Years ago I found a Craftsman 18" adjustable (crescent) wrench laying in the road. Monster wrench. Right at the base of the handle it has been broken and welded.

I've always wondered how long the cheater bar had to be to break that sucker.

I could probably take it in to Sears and exchange it, I guess, but the weld gives it personality.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

My father used to sell Snap-on (I remember riding around in the truck as a small kid). I was in the 8th grade when he urged me to switch from remote controlled cars to real cars. He said I needed to get Craftsman tools, because it was alot easier to find a Sears than a Snap-on guy. I guess it's easy to say when he had four chests full of Snap-on in his garage.

To this day, I use mostly Craftsman...Unless I'm at his house!

I did just use his Snap-on tire spoons this weekend to mount some old tires on new wheels and they made me look like I knew what I was doing (At least I looked like it).

 

[atavuss]

most of my work tools as well as my toolbox are Snap-on, I depend on them and use them to make my living (I am a government fleet mechanic and I keep 26 Harley Davidson Road King Police bikes on the road).
I also have a set of Craftsman tools and tool box that I have at home to do any repairs. Snap-on, Mac, and Matco have gotten very expensive the last few years IMO.
I am of the opinion that Craftsman tools are not as durable as Snap-on and Mac.
here is a crappy phone picture of my work area (the clown was a Halloween prop):

 

[JeepN95YJ]

The hand tools I keep in my vehicles are Metrinch. I bought them about 10 years ago and they work great.

My primary reason was that I was carrying a LOT of tools for our Jeep trips in KY/TN/IN and OH. I had an offroad shop at the time so whenever someone's vehicle broke down I was usually the one to fix it. The Metrinch tools work from the 'flat' of the fastener rather than the 'corner'. This design makes each socket or wrench work on both metric or standard. They also work great with slightly rounded fasteners.

Now I only carry one set of wrenches/sockets instead of two complete (metric and standard) sets. It is a convenience and they have never let me down. I sometimes grab my Metrinch set from the truck for projects around the house too.

 

[SeaRubi]

If you don't depend on your tools daily for your paycheck, I don't see how snap-on or mac could ever be regarded as a high value proposition. my craftsman stuff has been abused and still works pretty well.

One thing I've thought that worked well (especially on rovers) is to use 1/2" for anything on the chassis or suspension. I had the beginnings of air-tool setup but the 1/2" set was so solid and versatile I never finished putting it together.

I don't have a "real" 3/8's set - just the 1/2" and a complete 1/4" set with lots of extensions and elbows. I have yearned for a good 3/8" ratchet and wobble-sockets for working around the engine, but got around this by using a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter, 3/8" extensions, 2 elbows, and a cheap chinese 3/8" socket set for the 10~20% of the time my 1/2" stuff is too big to get to. Usually that's all engine work and doesn't require much in the way of torque, so the cheap stuff is a compromise and only used when needed for the mid-range size.

my dad was a mechanic in the 70's thru mid 80's and used all mac and snap-on. good stuff but really, really spendy, and hard to find if the truck isn't coming by the shop once a week, as mentioned earlier. He told me as well - "piece together a good set of craftsman and call it a day!"

fwiw

 

[ntsqd]

As a side note, I recently found that Gear Wrench offers double box-end wrenches with two sizes to each end, so 4 sizes per wrench. Four wrenches gives me 16 SAE & Metric sizes. Those wrenches can't be used in every application, but I can stand carrying them for their size versatility.

 

[highlandercj-7]

I Have a lil bit of everything in my tool box. Everyone seems to make something well. Craftsman is the main stay, because it's the best compramise between price and quality. Snap Off is good, but I prefer MAC if I'm spending the big $$. I have around $30K Snap Off set here at work. It's nice working with quality tools. I would not be affraid to buy from any of the quality manufacturers: Snap On, MAC, SK, Cornwell, Blackhawk, Craftsman, Matco, ETC.

 

[biere]

I worked as amechanic for a bit and have a lot of expensive tools from that time of my life.

If I lost everything the first thing I would do is buy snap-on ratchets and craftsman chrome sockets for a start.

The snap on combination wrenches are a joy to use but I have all sorts of other brands and in most cases something will get the job done.

One thing I will say is the tiny sizes like 8mm and what not tend to be better done by snap on.

I have no facom stuff. I have mac, matco, and some other expensive brands and tend to roll them all together at times.

One thing to really pay attention to is wall thickness of the sockets.

I bought some craftsman impact sockets at one point and as we all know craftsman has their name stamped on stuff.

The outer diamter of 2 or 3 sockets would be the same while the inside meausrement changed.

For a lot of jobs this did not matter. But once I bought a set of snappy impact sockets and did not have sockets with really thick walls I found they fit more places and the impact became more useful.

I also had issues with fords front suspension on the vans and a deep well socket. One socket could do 1.5 bushing replacement jobs and then it cracked. And this was an impact socket used with the proper size impact. I owned 2 of the sockets, I want to say 13mm deep well but I could be wrong, and basically I was always exchanging them.

I no longer work on vehicles but kept all my tools.

Basically I would look at what is offered and make sure you are getting what needs to be done.

For something you handle often, like a 3/8 inch ratchet, I would go snap on or other expensive brand.

Then again I hope craftsman is ahead of where they were 10 years ago.

But the snap on stuff never gave me trouble.

The only time I replaced stuff is because I really abused it or I lost it or I left it on a vehicle.