Hand Tools: The highest quality/value

[david despain]

As I am cleaning out my garage, I am filled with visions of more mod. coolness, and since I work on all of my own vehicles and often build interesting and unique projects, tools are a big piece of what I do.

So far, Craftsman tools have been more than adequate, but I am looking to begin a tool upgrade, shifting my Craftsman tools to a trail/travel set and begin replacing with the highest quality sets I can.

What are your thoughts on:

Snap-on

Craftsman Professional (I have quite a bit of this)

Facom

Matco, etc.

Drool

here's my 2 cents based on the O/P and not on the other stuff folks have posted:
the title is highest quality/ value. These two need not be mutually exclusive, but they are not always the same thing. If you make your living with your tools then the highest quality will be the best value.You cant afford to stop in the middle of a job to fool around with a tool that just doesn't work right. That doesn't have to mean you blow up a socket or a wrench breaks, it can be(and usually is)as simple as the fit and finish or how refined it feels in your hand. This can greatly affect how you can acomplish a repair. a socket that doesn't fit the fastener well can make for a big problem. maybe not now but what if the fastener's shape is slightly compromised by a crappy socket and then later on when you are in the sticks that same crap socket cant get a good bite and rounds off the fastener. then u are screwed. That is why I have never understood the "It's good enough for me, i dont use them for work" line. As far as Scott is concerned, in a certian way he does make his living with his tools. But, even if your paycheck is not dependant on your tools it's still worth noting that your time and agrivation is worth something too.

facom: i dont have any personal experience with them.
matco: some of it is fine, just as good as snap-on. their wrenches seem good. much of thier screwdriver line is witte. i have a couple and they work well. some of their ratchets appear to be pretty good although i dont own any. i dont like their tool boxes, they appear boxy and almost like they were designed in a soviet bloc country. they do sell quite a bit of other brands just marked with matco. and although all tool resellers do that matco seems to do it with basic stuff like screwdrivers, pliers etc. over all though their prices are pretty much in line with snap-on but only some of thier tools are as good
mac: i dont have a mac guy so i cant speak to indepth of them. although their website is absolutely horrible and if given a chance i wouldn't use them for that alone.
craftsman: this is interesting as its the price point most people are in and can justify. here is my brief opionon. their bottom line stuff is cheap and getting cheaper all the time. and i dont mean inexpensive either i mean junk. their "professional" line stuff is not too bad and getting better all the time, but the prices for this line are pretty high in my eyes, espically for the level of service you get. some of it is 3/4 of the price of snap-on. they do seem to be adding many of the tools that are unique and useful, but at the detriment of stocking the basics.
Snap-On: In my mind there is nothing higher in quality than snap-on for most things, and for most of the most important things at that, ratchets, wrenches, tool boxes, your basics. I think a good quality set of basic stuff is most important part of any tool set and its where people should start. the size range and drive sizes will depend on what exactly you drive.
As for tool boxes, hands down nothing better than snap-on. every month or so i remind my wife that I'm getting a new box when the 100th aniversary comes around in about 11 yrs or so. :victory: the snap-on websiet is the best of any tool seller. and most everything is shipped free. so no excuses about " I dont ever seel a tool truck"

there are also some tools that sold by all dealers like Knipex pliers, witte screwdrivers, streamlight, etc that are very good. I think that you need to look around carefully and ask questions as well to find the best places to get these. you can get them from places like grainger and sears for quite a bit less than a tool truck. This also applies to lots of tools that are "branded" tools. Blue Point tools used to be things made for snap-on by companies they had purchased or had an exclusive agreement for and were good stuff, just not made in a snap-on factory. now the general quality of blue point is about the same as craftsman and in many cases you can find the exact same thing at sears for considerably less.
i know that this thread is just a way to kind of think out loud as most people already have their mind made up but since i love tools so much i had to post. sorry its so long.
And scott, if you are going to "drool" over a box dont make it a KRA series. At least make it a box worthy of envy http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17805&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog :drool:

 

[ttravis5446]

I'm not sure ho I missed this thread before. I do love my tools. I am a heavy diesel/ over the road truck mechanic, working at a Detroit Diesel dealer right now trying to get a little free factory training. I have to admit to spending a lot of money on tools in the last couple of years ( over 25K in tax write offs). I tend to buy certain brands for certain things:

Tool Box's- I think Snap On is by far the best, although I don't think I would spend the money for a new one. I'm very happy with my slightly blemished box. A couple of my friends have the same boxes in different colors and I paid less than half of what they did.

Pliers- Knipex is the best in my opinion

Wrenches- I have mostly Craftsman and Gearwrench. Mostly because I lose them more than I break them. It does suck when I break one because it is 100 miles to the nearest sears.

Torque Wrenches/ Impact Wrenches/ Screwdrivers/ Extractors/ Electric Impacts/ Cordless Work Lights/ Ratchets/ Drill Bits/ A/C gauges/ Stubby and Crowsfoot wrenches and tons of other stuff I like Snap on the best. Just bought a new 1/2 impact when my old Ingersoll finally gave up the fight and love it.


I have bought a lot of Matco stuff in the past, but I don't care for the Matco Rep I have now and choose not to buy from him, part of that is because the Matco tools I have bought in the past seem to be lesser quality than Snap on. I have one 1/4 drive ratchet that I have had warrantied 6 or 7 times in the last year. My 3/4 gun is a Matco and has gone to crap in little more than a year ( it is a rebadged Ingersoll so it may be a fluke).

Electric Power tools are mostly Dewalt, although one guy I work with is trying to persuade me to switch to Milwaukee.

I used to buy Cornwell and really liked it, I just don't have a Cornwell truck nearby. They are nice because nearly everything on the truck usually has a prive tag on it. I particular like my Cornwell hex and torx socket sets, only broke one bit out of 40 in the last 3 years.

Sockets are mostly Craftsman from the original sets I bought when I was a kid, but they are slowly being replaced with Snap On.

Multi-Meters I only use Fluke

Sorry I got to rambling.

 

[madizell]

When I twisted wrenches for a living and the Snap0On guy stopped at the shop regularly, I used Snap-On where and when I could afford them. However, for the non-professional, I don't think buying tools off the truck is the way to go. I still have a Snap-On 3/8 ratchet that died about 30 years ago, and for lack of internal repair parts and access to a dealer, it still sits out here gathering dust.

The Craftsman Slim-line is a very nice ratchet. Beefy with a good contour, and durable internals, and medium fine gears. Standard Craftsman ratchets usually have coarse gears and require free space to work well. The Slim-Line has very good feel in my opinion.

My Husky 3/8's ratchet is also a very nice tool, and better than you might expect from Home Depot. The gears are fine which resets the wrench with very little arc travel. This is important when working in tight spots, but it also requires that the wrench be kept clean or the pawl will skip. The fine-geared wrenches are not usually the ones you want to abuse due to smaller engagement surfaces, but if you are working in the blind by feel and need to really feel what you are doing, the Husky is an exceptional ratchet handle and is physically lighter than most. It also has a very good retaining ball in the drive, which can also be a plus when working in odd spaces. The sockets and extensions don't fall off as easily, and in fact, if you don't use the release button on the Husky, the tool will generally NOT come off the handle.

In all these years I have broken only one socket of whatever brand, from Craftsman to SK to Matco, or whatever. You will generally get what you pay for.

If you are spending your own money and are a hobbyist, I don't think you will get a return on your investment buying high-end high-dollar tools.

I have had mixed results getting replacements from Sears. In past years, all their Craftsman hand tools were lifetime guaranteed. Not so anymore. Ask before you buy.

 

[chuck45]

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.

I've lived in various places and have never had any poblem getting service fron Snap-On. I get the local guys phone number and most of the time I just stop by his house after work. Other times he tells me where he is going to be and I meet him there.

As to tool quality I have an extensive collection of both Snap-On and Craftsman. My work truck has Craftsman as does my Jeep. My garage tools are pretty much all Snap-On and are in a Snap Roll Cab and top box. Snap on ratchets and sockets are the best and I have abused them. Are the worth the extra money? Not for most people. The Snap-On screwdrivers are the best by far. Lately I've had to buy some additional impact sockets and have bought Ingersol Rand on Amazon and so far I'm happy with them. Thirty years ago I bought 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" click type torque wrenches from Snap-On and have never regretted the decision. I prefer Klein pliers, Crescent wrenches, IR air tools and Fluke meters.

 

[Michael Slade]

Most of my tools are various brands. I do check for brand name and quality but all of one or another frankly doesn't really interest me at all and again is one of those unneeded "bling" things.. I have a large mix of husky (Home Depot), Gear Wrench, craftsman, and everything in between... Very few cheap tools but plenty of inexpensive ones

You just described my tool box.

I have one piece of Snap-on. I asked for it for Christmas several years ago, and my wife actually chased a truck down to buy me a 6-point 9/16 u-joint socket. Perfect for swapping out drivelines.

 

[JimC]

I drool over Hazet, but all my stuff is craftsman pro. The nice thing about buying the fully-polished and pro stuff is that if you break a regular ratchet, they give you a refurb, if you break a more expensive one, you get a new one out of open stock.

 

[Antichrist]

Some folks seem to be equating "value" with cheapest.
Harbor Freight isn't going to be best value very often unless you hardly ever use the tool.
Best value could be most expensive. If you're some place where there's no chance to replace a tool under warranty, I'm guessing you'd be willing to spend a lot more on very high quality. it's value to you do not have to have a spanner air dropped to you. Or to cut your shuttle mission short.
Most of my tools have always been Craftsman. Most I inherited from my dad who bought them in the later 40's early 50's. Some were also Snap-on. Unfortunately most of them were stolen by someone in the moving company when I moved from Wisconsin to Georgia in '98. I did replace them mostly with Craftsman.
About 15-20 years ago I started to see a marked decrease in the plating on sockets. The chrome would frequently peel. I still had some of my older stuff, and stuff of my dads, and holding one of those side by side with the new stuff, I could visually see the lower quality. It was a few years after than they started coming out with the "professional" stuff which seem to have a better quality finish than the regular Craftsman.
I have a pretty full set of Craftsman impact sockets, 3/8" and 1/2" shallow and deep, and haven't had any issues with them.
I buy Snap-on and Matco when Craftsman doesn't have something I need.
The other exception is "special" fasteners, like the caliper bolts. 13mm 12pt, so I bought a Snap-on because they are high torque and the Craftsman didn't last. I mostly only buy Craftsman 6pt wrenches and sockets. The 12pt break too often. The few places I really need 12pt I'll buy Snap-on.

edit: to add the craftsman professional line has a better finish

 

[MoGas]

As a Professional Mechanic, (Heavy equipment, Automotive, A&P) My box is set up like this:

All my hand wrenches below 27mm and 1-1/4" (Flare nut, offset head, stubby, standard length combination, etc) are Snap-On.

The only wrenches I have above 1-1/4 are inch combination wrenches up to 2" size. Those are John Deere branded and made in India. I have had an overhead hoist hooked to the open end, using the box end on a grader blade mounting bolt, and the bolt finally came loose with me smacking the head with a small sledge and enough up on the hoist to lift the blade an inch off the ground. So they are good enough in my book to not invest in the big sizes of Snap-On.

1/2 drive impact sockets up to 1-1/4 and 27mm (deep and short) are Craftsman. I have a few larger sockets that Craftsman doesn't carry that are Snap-On, Mac, Or Matco, depending who came to the shop first when I called them.

1/4 drive sockets are Snap-On for the metric short, mid and deep well in 6 point. Craftsman for the 12 point short and deep. I have a couple different styles of Snap-On ratchets for my 1/4 drawer.

3/8 drive sockets are Snap-On in the standard depth (both 12 and 6) and Craftsman for the Deep wells. I have several lengths of Snap on ratchets for the 3/8 size.

1/2 drive sockets are Mac in standard depth 6pt (1/2-1-1/4) and Craftsman for the inch standard depth 12pt,and all the metric 6 and 12pt standard depth and all the 6 and 12pt deep wells.again, a few different sizes of Snap-On ratchets.

3/4 drive is all in inch sizes, Craftsman, up to 2-1/4. The larger sizes or sizes that I needed in impact, I either call a tool truck or go to one of our local tool stores (Quality tools or The Tool Guy) they are both KD dealers and either have the big funky sized stuff or will get it overnight.

I have a few 1" drive sockets, all KD or OTC. I don't have a 1" ratchet, but I have adapters from my 3/4 ratchet. I also have to use a torque multiplier for the 1" drive sockets if the torque value it up to 2000 lb/ft.

My torque wrenches range from 5 lb/in up to 600 lb/ft. the 200-600 lb/ft is Mac and all below 250 lb/ft are Snap-On. The 200-2000 lb/ft, 10:1 torque multiplier is K-D.

All my screwdrivers are Snap-on.

Snap-On standard snap ring pliers. Snap-On large diameter snap ring pliers set.


Vise Grip brand vise grips in various styles.

Mac hand pliers and dikes. My large "Channel lock" pliers are Blue Point.

Cornwell pry bars.

Mac drill bit set.

Matco Tap/ Die master set.

Ingersoll-Rand air tools.

 

[toy_tek]

Dave, didn't realize you were an A&P too. PIA?

 

[MoGas]

Dave, didn't realize you were an A&P too. PIA?

Not PIA (However, I have been called a PITA) Embry Riddle had a satellite campus on my base at Whidbey Island when I was in the Navy. I did the Professional Aeronautics Associate program while I was there.

 

[madizell]

For what it is worth: the Snap-On 3/8ths drive that I had sitting in a tool box since 1970-something because of a destroyed internal gear was recently repaired by Snap-On -- for free. I was amazed that they still had parts to fit, and even happier that they would undertake this for nothing.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

I just had a 30 plus year old 14mm socket replaced for free by my local Snap On Dealer. He didn't even blink when I showed it to him. I only wish the new one matched the old set.


Since my father used to sell Snap On, I felt guilty about the "Swap and Walk" so I left the truck with a new close ratio ratchet also.

 

[chuck45]

I buy Snap-on and Matco when Craftsman doesn't have something I need.
The other exception is "special" fasteners, like the caliper bolts. 13mm 12pt, so I bought a Snap-on because they are high torque and the Craftsman didn't last. I mostly only buy Craftsman 6pt wrenches and sockets. The 12pt break too often. The few places I really need 12pt I'll buy Snap-on.

There are places I can get on with a Snap-On socket I can't get on with Craftsman. Snap-On ratchets, sockets, screw drivers and torque wrenches are a cut above. There have been times when, through lack of anything else available, I've had to put a beefy IR impact gun on a standard socket. I've split Craftsman sockets but not Snap-On doing this. I've also abused Snap-On extensions beyond all reason. You might say why have I done this. I work in the energy business and when I could get backcharged 2,000 an hour for a delay you tend to push your equipment beyond it's design limits.

Craftsman is a good value for the money and I own a good bit of it. Snap-On is better but very pricey. Although as I use the Snap-On stuff I bought 30 years ago at much better prices I smile.

 

[jeepmedic46]

My father always used craftsman tools and thats what I use now and never had a problem with them.

 

[IH8RDS]

You just described my tool box.

I have one piece of Snap-on. I asked for it for Christmas several years ago, and my wife actually chased a truck down to buy me a 6-point 9/16 u-joint socket. Perfect for swapping out drivelines.

Mine too. I am used to the quality of Snap-On tools as an aircraft mechanic. I have a good relationship with my "work" Snap-on vendor. It is nothing for me to spend $100,000 for a specialized tool box for work. Personal use though, what ever I can get my hands on. When my dad shut his shop down 20 years ago he had three sets. Snap-on, Mac and Craftsman. My brother got the Mac and I got the Craftsman. No complaints with the tool quality and I enjoy using them. The only Snap-on tool I own is a digital torque wrench that is the cats meow. Over the years though I have replaced allot of lost or stolen tools with brands at the Advance Auto and they have served there purpose well.