My first socket set came from Keymart or some chain like that. It is bench-top, made in Taiwan. SAE and 3/8 drive. Goes from 1/4" to 7/8". Chrome-Vanadium. No problems with it over 7 years now. Love the ratchet which releases the socket. Let me change lots of parts and I love it for that reason. It is not that good but it is that "first" tool sentimental kind of thing. I learned working on autos with it.

Then I got some metric stuff from Walmart also, I think. Also from Taiwan and Also Ch-V. Hardly used it but seems to be "okay". 3/8 and 1/4 sockets, ranging from 6mm all the way to 22mm. Most of it still looks new. But expect to use it more as more cars become metric.

Recently I needed some deep sockets, in both metric and SAE. Went to the usual place, Walmart. They had some "Stanley" (Taiwan). I got it. Then I got the metric equivalent at Target (Durabuilt from China). Both are inferior basically, with Chinese being the worst. No chrome plating and softer steel, rough finish.

Going to return them and try something better, like Craftsman. I keep my tools forever.

Never had any of the real quality stuff but to occasionally pull a few bolts, cheaper stuff works ok. My advice is to get Cr-V sockets. Taiwan stuff seemed to have it a few years ago, now it is like Chinese.

 

I bought a Bench Top tool box (6 drawer) with SAE and Metric sockets, and SAE and Metric combination wrenches. Then I used them for 5 years as a machinist. I never had a problem with any of them. They may not be the highest quality out there, but for the money I can't complain.

 

I buy most of my tools from Harbor Freight. A friend of mine who was a mechanic for Caterpillar and retired when he was 38 said that is all he used. Everyone else used to get MAC and Snap On and he used the ones from HF. They worked well for him and have worked well for me for the last 15 years. They hold up well and get the job done. I usually by the Pittsburg ones that have a lifetime guarantee.

 

ive got tons of craftsman stuff. theyre great. ive broken a few sockets and combo wrenches and a ratchet (i use my tools pretty hard though) and sears replaces them no questions asked. i also have a bunch of powerbuilt stuff from kragen. havent broken one yet but they have the same warranty as the craftsmans, and they just feel better in your hand. more comfortable

 

I know a lot of folks have problems with Craftsman tools (crapsman comes to mind) but I've had nothing but good luck with their hand tools. Most times I lose them before they break and those that have broken (very few) have always been replaced with no questions asked. I just spent the weekend tearing apart my truck where I beat on a combo wrench with a pipe and a hammer to loosen a bolt. The wrench still looks like new.

Most of my power tools are Craftsman as well. All in all, I've had little problem with them either. I did have a palm sander die however, I'm just getting ready to send a Skil router for repair, so nothing's perfect.

I've also got a bunch of stuff from Harbor Freight (small lathe and assorted hand tools) and have generally been happy with that stuff. No fancy finishes and a little rough around the edges, but serviceable for my needs.

I always watch for sales. Sears, Harbor Freight, Home Depot, whatever. If I see something I might need in the future and it's on sale (especially clearances) I'll pick it up.

 

I have a quick question. I have an opportunity to get a Craftsman SAE deep socket set all the way to 1". Do I need it to work on my '89 F250?

 

You may or may not find a us for them on your f-250 but can you ever have to many tools.

 

Someone on one of these forums said "Take $100 to Snap On truck, walk away with it in your pocket, take $100 to Harbor Freight, back your truuck up to the door!" That's about right, too. Quality is nice, but I think Snap On and Mac rely on peer pressure to get mechanics to spend way more than they really need to. My garage is stuffed with Harbor Freight stuff, and no complaints over the past 10 years. Incidentially, for $15.00 I picked up a set of nicely polished ratchet end combination wrenches at Wal Mart, very nice, I've used them a lot over the last month. I like 'em so much, I'm going back for another set! Snap On's would be nicer, but I bet over $200.00!

 

I agree on the Craftsman tools. You can't beat the guarantee and the prices are very fair for the quality of the tools. I don't care for their ratchet handle design though. I prefer a round, slighly thicker handle for comfort but that's just me.

I've broken quite a few deep sockets made by Craftsman, but they were replaced no questions asked. All in all, I'm very happy with them.

 

WAell I started using Craftsman tool years ago in the construction biz, and for me it just makes sence to buy a tool one time, I can't tell you how many taps I have broken, I think i paid around $5 for my first one and Sears will alway replace then, so when it came time to buy my own tool to work on my truck, I went to Sears and got a set of Craftsman, why pay for the same tool more then once?
And by the way Harbor Freight is a great place to get the tools and not spend a ton of money =)

 

I needed a torque wrench but I wanted 1/4" drive and inch-lbs, not ft-lbs. Could not find it anywhere! H.F. had one. Made in Taiwan and pretty cheap (probably not as good as snap-on) but works for me.

 

I also use Craftsman hand tools. I worked in a car dealer parts dept for years and I can say I have some Mac stuff but it was so easy to make a 10 dollar payment every week for that nice impact. In defense of snap on and mac the Techs I know have it because they really cant just run down to Sears in the middle of a job when they break something, they just make a call and the truck comes back out..

Aaron

 

MY dad has a box full of snap-on, and some Herbrand (he was adealer for a bit) and so until I start in the ttrade as a mechanic, I use all his stuff. NEVER have broken a tool, but the ratchets and torque wrench are starting to go, so we have to get the snap-on guy in soon. Pretty good for 20- 30 year old tools, half of that in the trade every day. I have nothing but compliments for snapon.

 

Snap-On, MAC, Craftsman, and good old SK here, and a few MATCO's thrown in for good measure .

 

same here bigblue axcept for the matco. They are way overpriced for the average hobbiest tho. When I was wrenching for a living that was all I used. Even the craftsman felt like a club to me. I liked Mac the best on most stuff except screwdrivers and rachets, although I have more snap-on. I had a mac dealer for several years that was a turd, or I would have more mac.