Just curious what kink of hand tools you guys are using. I myself prefer snap-on tools but actually own very few of them. My tools are mostly craftsman due to the low cost and decent quality and the fact they are made in the USA with prices similar to the imports. I do however dislike craftsman ratchets and screwdrivers. I like Klien screwdrivers and I have yet to find a ratchet that I really like.

The breakdown of my hand tools looks something like

85% Craftsman
5% Snap-on
10% Imported tools-i.e. cheap

 

I try and get snap on whenever i can. But i have a lot of S-K stuff too. S-K is better than craftsman to me and i get good deals on it from a tool guy i know. As for ratchets i have blown out too many sk and craftsman ratchets to use anything other than Snap On. I like the plastic handled flex head ones. Screwdrivers i only use snapon because otherwise i just brake them. I hate when i am leaning into a screw and the tip brakes. I also have some MAC tools which seem to be pretty good but i only have a 1/4 inch mac set so i dont know about their ratchets or screwdrivers. As for pnumatic tools i havent found anything much better than Ingersol Rand. I have an extended anvil impact wrench that will blow anything off. My boxes are craftsman and so is my air compressor though. Im in college so i dont really have the money for the good boxes right now and i cant justify the cost.

 

personally, i can't stand strap-on tool's. i've sustained a couple serious cuts from their tools breaking, and thier local guy won't stop at our shop to replace them.... i'm up here in the great north, so i buy only mastercraft tools (canadian tire in house brand), they have the same warrenty as the other companys, just a good of quality, and alot lower prices.... all hand tools have life time garrenty, and they dont' even ask how ya broke them... working in a machine/welding shop, our tools get some serious beatings on a daily basis, but they never fail us.... how about the 5" grinder we bought from them, $99 canadian, 3 years ago, and i just put new bearings in it today... i've seen days when i've used 6-8 grinding wheels back to back with it....

 

I'm pretty happy with Craftsman, but here in Canada Sears started importing them from Japan around 10 years ago; I bought my set before that happened. The Japan-made "Craftsman" tools are shinier (more polishing), but they don't fit fasteners as well. I've used breaker bars on the Craftsman ratchets and not broken one yet. The lever style ratchets have a nice feel, but the other style (the kind where you twist a **** to change direction) have finer ratchets, so they're good for working in spaces where I can't swing the ratchet very far.

The Mastercraft tools are good value (especially when they're 1/2 price); if I need onesies of something, or a set of wrenches to keep in the truck I"ll get 'em from Canadian Tire.

Craftsman "channel-lok" and "Vise-grip" style pliers have been disappointing. The real thing works better.

When I had a summer job at a local pulp mill, many of the millwrights used Craftsman, although if they broke something they'd get the foreman to replace it with something from the Snap-On truck.

Klein makes a nice hacksaw (it'll cut flush).

I dunno about air tools; I bought a cheap Alltrade set and it does the job (although the blow-gun needed one more hole drilled before it would work).

 

The majority are S-K, but I also have a great selection of Armstrong Bros., Gray(Canadian Mfg), Klien, Channelock, Allen, Stanley-Proto,& Williams. I like certain brands for certan types of tools. I sure everybody has the favorites for whatever reason.
The nice thing about my job is that I can purchase tools at factory cost. My garage has a better selection than some commercial garages.

 

From the few Snap on sockets I have they seem to fit better and have a better contact area on the fastener than other brands.

I left out a few brands that I also use. I use Channel Lock brand pliers and have no complaints. I also use "VISE Grip" branded locking pliers and also like them. I also have a set of PROTO allen head, torx, and misc. driver bits along with a set of PROTO impact sockets. I also have a Husky 3/8 torque wrench that was made in the USA. When I bought the torque wrench at Home Depot several years ago all of the Husky tools were made in the USA. Now they are all made in Taiwan but the price is the same. The torque wrench is the only Husky piece I have.

Anyone know anything about PROTO tools? They are made in USA and appear to be good quality.

 

I saw where Lowe's is dropping the KOBALT brand of tools. That is a fine tool it seems. It says on the back of Kobalts package that they are made in the USA by Williams, a division of Snap-On. I considered buying some of these poor man snap-on's but the Lowe's in my area are already almost out of the tools.

They will be replaced with ALLEN brand hand tools.

 

Proto tools are made by The Stanley Works. They are decent tools and carry a full lifetime guarantee.
Allen tools have never impressed me. I had a 3/8"& 1/4"drive sae & metric set given to me by the factory rep., when we started handling the line. The first time I tried to use the ratchet it was jammed. They replaced it for free, but it took them a couple of weeks. Brand new out of the box it should work perfectly. On the other hand I have never broken an Allen socket and I have beat the snot out of them.

 

Well... here's my 2 cents on tools.
I have several Snap on tools that I have robbed from my dad over the years (haha)
but the tools i buy are either Craftsman or Kobolts.
Lowe's in my area is dropping Kobolts also.
Allen makes good tools in my opinion.
As for wrenches... Ive had a few sets of imports and haven't complained yet. Thats about the only thing I'll buy import.
Screwdrivers.... Craftsman or Snapon only. Ive broken way to many handles and tips on other brands.
Anyways, that's just my 2 cents on things..

 

>>.. i'm up here in the great north, so i buy only mastercraft tools >>>>(canadian tire in house brand), they have the same >>>>warrenty as the other companys, just a good of quality, and >>>>alot lower prices....

I used to save my C-T money and buy tools with it, but after they refused to give me warranty on a broken snap ring plier, I refused to buy any more hand tools from them.
Incedentally, the Benchmark (Home Hardware brand) that i borrowed to finish the job broke too, but the dealer replaced it no questions, he had to order it in, but he hand delivered it when it arrived.


I still have that broken mastercraft one on my toolchest, but guess where i bought my replacement.

 

Personally, I like Benchtop (Kmart). Priced right. lifetime guarantee. The ratchets are good, especially the 1/2'' drives. Havent broken one yet.

 

There are a few things I look for in hand tools. Wrenches and ratchets need to be full polished with no rough forging/casting areas left on them anywhere. This way you can wipe the grease off with a rag and be done. I prefer S-K for this. Sockets too. As far as screwdrivers go, they should have a hex up by the handle so you can put a wrench on it and lay the torque on if you need to. Also, the handle should be square with no extra indentations and the shaft should be round and chrome, again for easy cleaning. About the last 1/2" should have no chrome to avoid flaking off when used. Philips tips should come to kind of a blunt point to avoid bottoming and stripping in the shallower Japanese philips screw heads.

Get the feeling I am picky? But I don't pay too much if I can help it. I look for these characteristics. For the most part I prefer S-K hand wrenches and Mac screwdrivers.

Birken