What Are The Best Tools On The Market?

I started my time with a set of Stanley tools, they did the job quite well, still got al the 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 sockets, the ratchets and extensions/bars have all died, replaced them with snap-on as i was sick of sending them back for warrenty, I'm not a fan of snap-on spanners as they are abit sharp, running repco ones, screwdrivers are all snap-on old school hard handle ones, the soft grip ones are cr@p, prybars 3/4 gear and torquewrenches are all snap-on, sick of breaking other brands, used to run alot of mid-range tools but if it broke once i brought a snap-on one, i was field service for a long while, nothing worse thn being in the middle of no-where with a broken tool/s which could make the job easier/faster but at the same time you have to be prepared to cut/weld/make a tool to get the job done if you need to so dont buy things you can't bring yourself to take an oxy to if need be to get a result with a break down

We have to be operator/mechanic where I work and have never had time to check the name on the side. Just checked for what wrench, ratchet, size was needed for the job and got-r-done. I went to Harbor Freight to get some tools I didn't have, including a 1" impact. Spent $1,000, and rolled out with 3 shopping carts of tools. I use that 1" impact at work now and don't regret buying a thing. I will say this, I think Ingersoll rand makes great air tools. I'd take the other 19k and have one hell of a party and vacation!

3 pages and no mention of Armstrong or Wright...or Knipex

Stahlwille and beta. On stahlwille i have my pref because i was working with a set for 2 years without any problems. Question is that i was not fixing things i was testing them. They behaved nice from -20ºC to 140ºC and pressions from vacuum to 2 maybe 3 bars. Also no corrosion on salty enviroments. Best tools that i worked with and they was not even top line of them (stahlwille).When i was leaving them on my change of work they was like new. Beta, i'm more on repairing cars and machinery and they handle nice with low care. We have a screw driver wih 10 years from them that was transformed many times to adapt. No corrosion and the handle of beta on very nice condition after being used like even a hammer. KStools i have for my garage, very nice Quality/Price. Cheap and durable. Snapon i was using maybe 2 times, they seem nice tools but here they are not so popular. Set of stahlwille will last your life i assure that and if i will have money will be my chose.

Always bought Crap-on tools .. first it was from a dealer then off ebay .. NOW I buy Mastercraft from crappy tire that I use in the field or CAT tools from the dealer .. CAT tools are hit and miss because sometimes you dont get what's in the dealer book ..

Snap-on spanners are thin compaired to some brands and some of there stuff is re-branded .. CAT tools are crap-on rebrands but do break under normal use ..

Snap On... I just wish I could afford more!

Plenty can argue with me on this, but tools don't make a mechanic, the person does, top brand name wrenches in the hand of an idiot won't fix anything, and cheap wrenches in the hand of an excellent mechanic can work miracles, now that said, some will last longer and have better warranties than others, I buy what I need to get the job done at a reasonable price. I use mostly craftsman, but some other brands thrown in as needed.

I've had cheaper toolboxes over the years but am really happy with my swivel pro box I bought two years ago, no more headaches with drawer pulls, slides, or ball bearings to contend with, I also like my montezuma style box I built for my truck, along with my homemade drawers on my truck that use angel iron and plastic slides for my slide drawers that are heavy enough for a person stand in and not break them. As for anything else, I buy what I need as I need it, and as I can afford it. I don't get hung up on name brands at all, or just because most have them I need them kind of thinking. I have about every maker of tool there is, even if its only one wrench or speciality tool, it just depends on what I need at the time I need it and who has it on hand or can get it for me in the shortest time. If you've got 20k to put towards tools, I'd buy the basics, keep the rest of the 20k in your pocket till you need more and avoid going in debt to anyone for tools or a toolbox, but that again is just me.

The spanner??? I would think that the Workshop/Depot mechanic could justify a good standard tool chest and some nice hand tools inside it, I go to plenty of Workshops to undertake repairs ether outside the scope of the employed mechanics or as an aditional hand in a busy period to do a set job leaving their own staff to cope with their regular tasks, I often see the best of Snap on chests full of Snap on jewels sparkling in neat tidy rows ready to be selected, then cleaned off after use and placed back in the alocated position, when these mechanics see my shambles of a small Snap on (more like Snapped off) top box with things thrown in good enough to close the lid order, you can nearly see the mechanics being ill or near sick at the thought of delving into any area of my tool box, as the spanners are often covered in gunge or going rusty from jobs in the rain, the spanners I like to have are Snap on, Proto or Britool, I never use Snap on ratchets only in 3/4" and 1" size, as I feel they are heavy, cold to handle and old fashoned in there style with the on/of control in a poor location,plus I seem to break their innards in a few days, I use a composit style ratchet made of some sort of tough plastic?? with full lenght steel plates, I buy them 2 at a time and get great service from them, if you are doing Field/Site work it would be not advisable to spend great amounts on fancy tools, you need to only buy the best (Snap on) for the nuts and bolts you know are often pigs to set free.

p.s the bigger the box, the better the Mechanic??? tctractors

p.p.s. My Snap on dealer is absolutly first rate and is willing to put himself out to meet any needs I have, he leaves things in any workshops nearest to me to call and collect at required, he will also meet me at road points if needed, plus his knowledge on his product is top spot

I know that the tool doesn't make the mechanic but afetr 20+ years I have found that at least for me snap-on wrenches prevent alot of busted knuckles. I prefer to spend a little extra for some tools that I find work better. That being said, I have used craftsmen, blackhawk, wright, williams, proto, as well as the big 3.

buy once buy no more snapon all the way,dealing with heavy gear have the best in your hands i donot like bursted knuckles do you

I have a lot of brands , mostly snap on ive had 30 years, mac was good till bought by stanley, same with vice grip, total crap now. Channelock for lots of pliers, I pick up a lot of old rusty mac , snap on, wright and proto at yard sales for the toss in the trunk box, they seem to be the best.

My grandfather gave me his old Monkey wards power Kraft toolset, strong as hell. My half brother stole them for dope money, shoulda drowned that little b*****d at birth I guess.

My truck is loaded with just about everything, Snap-On, MAC, Matco, SK, Craftsman, Chanelock, Vise Grip, etc........ If I need a tool I buy it, I have alot of Proto and Wright stuff from working in industrial plants. Basically anything USA made that is quality is up for living in my tool box.

I'm not a professional mechanic so I don't live by my tools but I have a set of Crescent tools that I'm pretty impressed with.

I was always a Snap On guy, their flank drive end wrenches are hands down absolutely the best open ends on the market. Also, you can use their chrome hand sockets on impact and they will live for quite a long time. I have a snap on roll away that my dad's uncle bought new in the 1940's and it still works great.
But now, our current local Snap On dealer is an absolute useless cull, so for the last 5 years I've been buying stuff from Sears, Napa, Northern Tool, and ATD.I've had to have a friend take my broken stuff to Seattle for warranty. I really hope the Snap On guy reads this.
For air tools, I prefer IR. The 2141 3/4 impact makes tons of power and light weight. They don't live very long, but are fairly inexpensive to repair.

OCR said:

Ingersoll Rand for air tools.


OCR

Click to expand...

I'll take Chicago Pneumatic over IR every time.IR's 1" drive impact is garbage.It only has one hammer.CP's one inch gun is as near bullet-proof as you'll find-double hammer, power to break your arm, and durable as a steel ball in a rubber room.And nobody has come close to matching CP's air-over-hydraulic porta power pumps.That's my informed opinion, from my personal experience.

I can't in good conscience bad mouth all of IR's products.Their half inch drive heavy duty impacts with the extended anvil were (still are?) some very fine units.Plenty of power and I never had any problems with them.Matter of fact, those were all I ever used on trucks with Dayton wheels.

I don't see where anyone has mentioned Armstrong brand tools. I have a few of them. They are real nice tools.The company has a long history of making tools in the USA.

Like many others I have made a living as a mechanic for a lot of years and I have never owned a snap on tool. I am sure they would be nice but they are not necessary to make a living.
It can also depended on what type of work you do, if you work remote in the field in the rain and mud for long hours you will lose tools, leave em on machines, cut them up to get a job done etc etc. Much easier decision to cut a cheaper spanner in half!
If I were buying new I would just go for a middle of the road tool. If its a size you use a lot and they are wearing out them look at better quality. Its all good to say buy the best (dearest) but its often just not cost effective or necessary.
I read a few posts about breaking ratchets, usually caused by using them crack bolts, that is what breaker bars are for then use the ratchet to finish removing.

SK I have alot of sk product that duplicate all of my snap on stuff. the snap on stuff is hidden away so they do not go missing. The sk has never failed me yet, very siminlar in fit and finish. long profile and short profiles for avery possible loaction. about 1/3 the cost. sure snap on will replace what is broken but when I pay for three of them up front well you see I do not buy much from them any longer.
Alot of the specialty tools are built by someone else anyways. I have snap ring pliers that are identical in gray or blue point or snap on.
Air tools Gotta love the IR 2135qti max. Quiet as hell. Customers look at me taking there wheels off and wonder if the bolts are stripped as they just come off without much noise and no rattle. I have 4 of them now. they get used an awful lot. and not too well looked after they get only at least twice a year. One needs some repairs as the trigger leeks a little.

My box is just like willie's. I have a variety.

Big socket sets, 3/4 and 1.0 inch drive are both Wright. Wrenches are pretty much all Wright too. Socket sets from 1/2 drive and down are all SK.

CP for impact wrenches and other air tools.

I have Craftsman which goes on the truck to job site. The good stuff above never leaves the shop. Anyone try and take it out the door and it is a KILLING OFFENSE!!!!!!!!!

I have had a lot of my Wright stuff for years and years, same for a lot of the SK stuff.

In my book Wright is the best value in tools for the price. I will put them against Snap On any day.