What is your preferred tool brand?

[WannFly]

After completing a full suspension mod on my Jeep I have realized the tools I have are not the best quality. I have also realized this is not the last time I am doing large scale (to me) mods.

I have a mix n match of crap from all over the place - Husky, Duratech, HF, Milwaukee, some crap from amazon etc. I also realized when buying crap back in the day most of them skip the size that you would absolutely need.

While torquing to higher specs I noticed some of my sockets would just slip, apart from rounding off the bolts which is a major PITA all by itself, the torque wrench missed my face by half an inch. I try not to put my face where it doesn't belong, but sometimes you don't have a choice.

I am wondering what brand of tools you are using. I was looking at Icon from HF, but reviews are mixed depending on which YT channel you look at. Some of these reviewers get stuff for free and you can't be sure on who to trust.

Sponsored

 

[grimmjeeper]

Tool quality took a nosedive in the 90s. It has recovered a little. But quality costs money.

Harbor freight is very hit or miss. More miss than hit. I would love to have Snap-On, but I want to be able to afford my Jeep at the same time.

I buy a lot of tools from Home Depot because it's 3 blocks away from my house. Most of what they sell is good enough for moderate use. I've done several big projects with those tools and have had good luck so far. If something fails, I look around for a better quality replacement.

I find that 6 point sockets are better at not slipping. I rarely need 12 point so they're in the back of the socket drawer.

 

[Terrymo]

First choices are Tekton and Milwaukee. Some Husky in the Jeep.

Harbor Freight used to be for hand tools you needed once or twice. That probably has changed but I’m still gun shy. I do have jack stands, floor jack, hydraulic table and a wheel dolly from HF

 

[GATORB8]

All my power stuff is Milwaukee. Vast majority of my hand tools are Craftsman. Rarely used items might be Harbor Freight.

Quality of some of the Craftsman stuff has definitely decreased over the years, and the destruction of Sears has significantly impacted the importance of the "go swap it" part of the warranty.

In general, I haven't been disappointed in some of the Tekton items I've picked up, including my 250 ft lb torque wrench.

One thing I've started doing is utilizing Project Farm on youtube and seeing what he finds to be the best quality/value for a specific item.

 

[grimmjeeper]

All my power stuff is Milwaukee. Vast majority of my hand tools are Craftsman. Rarely used items might be Harbor Freight.

Quality of some of the Craftsman stuff has definitely decreased over the years, and the destruction of Sears has significantly impacted the importance of the "go swap it" part of the warranty.

In general, I haven't been disappointed in some of the Tekton items I've picked up, including my 250 ft lb torque wrench.

One thing I've started doing is utilizing Project Farm on youtube and seeing what he finds to be the best quality/value for a specific item.

Craftsman picked back up some now that Lowes took over. I have some Craftsman from the 80s that are still holding up great. And you can buy kits to rebuild the ratchets when they wear out.

 

[NWJeepr]

Anything other than "Stanley" was a foul word in our house when I was growing up. Like everyone else, they went through their global manufacturing phase starting in the lat 90's, and quality is generally very good now, but there were questionable moments while production adjusted. But they first built their reputation on quality hand tools and mechanics tools made in the USA. And they've had a solid 25+ years of making good stuff again.

As mergers have taken place over the years, if you buy Stanley, Craftsman, Black&Decker, Dewalt, Proto, Bostitch, Mac, Lenox, Irwin, Porter-Cable, and even Cub Cadet, you're buying from the same parent corporation now.

The Stanley-Craftsman acquisition really blew my mind. Craftsman was "the other brand" for a long time.

 

[Dusty Dude]

My recent purchases have been from Tekton after seeing a previous referral here on the forum. I like the quality

 

[Kerney]

I think most people have a hodge podge because the cost to go all in upfront is high. My hand tools are a mix because when I started out craftsman was the good mid priced tools but then they effectively disappeared. Also as ive gone through life I need specific tools that I've had to order... who knew japan and Britain have different versions of Phillips so to work on anything Japanese or British you need those specific screwdrivers or you really struggle.

As far as power tools I bit the bullet last year around Thanksgiving and replaced my few power tools with all dewalt. Milwaukee appears to be what the professionals use but they never did any good sales. I consider myself a heavy recreational user and the cost to get 4-5 batteries and 7-8 tools was a pretty penny.

Yard equipment is all stihl but that was easy since they've been around for 20+ years so when I need a new tool I can stick with the same brand.

 

[3TV]

I had cheap crap Harbor Freight tools for decades as well. About 6 years ago my son attended mechanics school, and the graduation class gets to buy Matco tools at 1/2 price. I bought him a set for his graduation present. And why buy one set when for twice the price you can buy two sets? So, I have had a complete set of Matco tools for the last 6 years. It is really nice to have high quality tools; they just work better and don't break on you halfway through a project. I also bought a number of Snap-On ratchets, which also work very well. I end up using the Matco ratchets more than the Snap-On ratchets. They are both great quality, but I prefer the ergonomics of the Matco ratchets a little more.

I would recommend buying once, and getting the highest quality tools you can afford.

If the big-name brands like Snap-On or Matco are out of your price range, I have found that Tekton tools are also very good. I have several Tekton tools, especially the big stuff like 1" drive breaker bars, etc. I buy mine at the local Cal Ranch store, but they can be purchased several other places or online. Tekton tools are much better quality than those sold at the big box stores, like Husky and others.

For power tools I use Dewalt but also have some Milwaukee.

 

[MauiSteve]

+ 1 for Project Farm, he really does a good job with his tests.

 

[Heimkehr]

I am wondering what brand of tools you are using.

As for hand tools, mine are Craftsman, mostly. They were purchased over time when I was newly married and a cub DIYer with limited funds. They've served me reasonably well for many years now, relative to my Homeowner use case.

I do have a high-zoot Snap-On screwdriver set, as well as a nice assortment of Vessel JIS drivers. That's where I purposely saved up for the best, if only because they needed to be as robust as possible for how they were to be used. Money well spent.

Regarding power tools, I've gone down the Milwaukee rabbit hole a fair bit. Again, a perfect fit for what I've required of them.

As for what's in the shed, I'm all over the map. It starts with Stihl and ends with this.

Milwaukee appears to be what the professionals use but they never did any good sales.

There's no less than two, maybe three Milwaukee power tools in my cabinet that were free as part of package purchase at Home Depot, which does have recurring brand promotions.

 

[sherpaJL]

I have vintage Craftsman, Snap-On, S-K Pro, and Williams hand tools.
My boxes are Snap-on.
My power tools are all Milwaukee M18 Fuel.

 

[Terrymo]

Craftsman picked back up some now that Lowes took over. I have some Craftsman from the 80s that are still holding up great. And you can buy kits to rebuild the ratchets when they wear out.

I only bought Craftsman way back but their quality declined. Used to be you could walk into Sears with a broken hand tool and walk out with a free replacement. Good to hear the quality has improved.

 

[Heimkehr]

Used to be you could walk into Sears with a broken hand tool and walk out with a free replacement.

The one time I did that, the desk clerk pulled a shopworn cardboard box from under the counter, and began to root through it before offering me an obviously refurbished ratchet. I declined, saying that my original was purchased new at full retail, and that's what I expected as a replacement.

No Joy, so I walked out with my non-functioning ratchet still in hand.

After arriving home, I found and paid a bit too much for an OEM rebuild kit, and restored my ratchet to full functioning.

Some time later, that Sears closed shop. After prolonged renovation, the same space now houses a Harbor Freight, a grocery outlet and an Ulta Beauty.

Circle of life.

 

[WannFly]

I am too far into the Dewalt battery system, so thats what I am sticking to. But I really need some good rachets and socket sets. These are some great pointers. Thank you eveyone

Sponsored