I was wondering what the consensus is among my C3 forum family on which tool brand you own and recommend. Sure, Snap-On is great, but do you think it's worth the price?

I was raised by an engineer/physicist who used CRAFTSMAN exclusively and that is what I own now. I intend to buy some new tools but hoped some of you could share opinions first.

So, what do you buy and why?

Thanks! I look forward to your responses.

 

Craftsman is the way to go for your main tool set in the garage. ie handtools and also their advance timing light.

My portable tool kit is a 144 piece set from Sams Club (Crescent Brand by Cooper Tools) which cost $59. It includes 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive wrenches, sockets etc in standard and metric. They have a lifetime warranty and they replaced a a couple of things I broke in about 3 days from CA. A similar set now sells under the Stanley brand at Sams Club but has also been marketed as Cooper.

Air tools and compressor I use Campbell Hausfield. If you order online or from a representative they can usually deliver for at least the same if not better then someone like Home Depot. They also have lots of refurb air tools.

Impact wrench sockets and anything BIG that i don't use often -Harbour freight.

 

Almost every tool I own is Snap-on.

I'm a full time GM Technician so I need Quality tools that last!!!
My home Compressor is craftsman
If I didn't need them at work..... I'd have more Craftsman tools!

 

My hand tools are Craftsman for the most part. I have some Snap-on, but I did not pay for them, I wouldn't pay their price. If a Snap-on tools fails it will be replaced after you get in touch w/ a Snap-on dealer. Where as if a Craftsman tool fails you can get it replaced that day if needed. I have bought my son Craftsman hand tools only.

My air compressor is from Sears also. It's replacement will probably be from Harbor Freight or Northern, at times they sell Ingersoll Rand units.

Vehicle emergency tools are from where ever I can get inexpensive tools, like when on sale at Sears, big box discount stores or auto parts stores.

Infrequently used tools, bead blaster, jack stands, pnuematic tools, etc. come from Harbor Freight or similiar places.

Roger

 

I worked in the shipyards in the mid 70s - early 80s. During that time I bought something off the Snap-On truck almost every time they drove into the yards. So after 8 Years, I had a pretty good collection of Snap-On tools.

Then over the years of working on different cars, I collected a good set of Craftsman tools.

When my Father-in-law died 4 years ago, I inherited his set of Mac tools along with a rolling Craftsman chest.

Between all of the tools, I like Snap-On the best, but for the price, I like Craftsman. The Mac tools have some interesting tools that can get into places where the others can't. The Craftsman tools are easier to keep a grip on when my hands are greasy.



www.bigdogvettes.com

 

I am an industrial refrigeration tech by trade and I work on heavy equipment, I am a firm believer in Craftsman tools. I don't like Snap-On their combo wrenches, rachets, and such are too thin and hurt my hands, also I think they are overpriced. For my larger tools 3/4" ratchet set and the like Proto. Instruments Fluke or Starrett. Specialty tools Craftsman as Proto will not warranty torque wrenches and the like. I also own many Imperial Eastman and Ingersol Rand specialty tools. Welding equiment the only way to go is Lincoln. Of course all of this is JMO, but I've been swinging wrenches 28 years .

 

Craftsman definately gives you more bang for your buck. I have two sets of craftsman along with assorted snap-on ratchets that a friend, who was a snap-on dealer gave me.

 

Almost all of my tools are Craftsman. I have a few Snap-On pieces. I'll buy Snap-On if I think quality or fit is really important. There's also a couple of independant tool shops nearby. I sometimes buy from them; for example S&K. S&K torque wrenches are the same that are sold under the Craftsman label. I buy tools from the small independant tool shops because they can give me advice. For instance, if I need some specialized machine work, they'll recommend me to one of their machine shop customers. These tool shops with their own line of products (like S&K) are more expensive but I will pay more just to help keep them in business because they can help me. The staff at the local Sears store where I buy Craftsman are all strictly minimum wage very young people. They are really clueless.

I've bought Harbor Freight, but I feel guilty about it. A lot of their stuff is made in China by people probably making $2 a day. Buying things made this cheaply is very certainly stiffing out workers in the USA/Canada etc. Example: I wanted to buy an engine hoist. Snap-On wanted $1069 US dollars. What looked like the same hoist was available from Harbor Freight for $179. (!!!) I bought the Harbor Freight. I can see that I will have a problem with the power ram - the chrome cylinder is corroding. However, since a rental hoist is about $50 a day, my Harbor Freight hoist will be cost effective. The welding on this hoist looks good. Another concern.... I didn't think I, or anyone here in the US, could just ship a hoist from China for $179.00, forget about how much it cost to make it. The big Chinese freight company, Chinese Overseas Shipping Company - COSCO, is owned, I understand, by the Chinese Army. They must be subsidizing shipping all of this stuff to the US and elsewhere. . How can you make this hoist and ship it to the US for $179??? Anyhow, when I buy things I try to add some social concepts into my purchase decisions. I think we should try to favor our own skilled craftsman, and union assembly workers. (Although a little pro-union I do tend to vote Republican.) Here in Los Angeles, I probably am one of the very few people that has all made in the US/Canada cars (5 ).

 

I like Craftsman as well, Made in the USA and they have a great warranty.

 

Mostly Craftsman as well, though must admit that the Kmart purchase is making me nearvous.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=955352

Craftsman for sockets... nothing else.

 

For yall that are saying snapon is to thin... check out williams and wright tools!

Those things are a good 3/8ths inch thick!

Both make great everything else too... just hard to get.

 

It really depends... most of my tools are good quality and unfortunately expensive, but they last forever...

It's not only about strenght, f.e. a 3/8" wrench will never break, the bolt is weaker and breaks first... but the quality wrench is mostly made to tighter tolerances, does not rust and fits better so you don't mess up the hexagon on the bolt or nut...

Then there is the warranty - I never returned a tool (wrench, pliers or such) but I was told that Sears replaces the stuff with no questions aked.... that's worth it...

 

I believe there is a huge difference in tools, both in quality and price. Although I work over 60 hours a week, I am in the low income bracket. That means I have to get as much bang for the buck as I can. For me that means I buy Caftman tools for something that will be used often as a hobbist. If I need something that will used very little then Harbor Freight may be a better choice for me, keep in mind that very little for a hobbist might only be 2 or 3 times over a 10/20 year period.

 

Craftsman. Only had one fail on me in 40 years. The socket must have been 25 years old and was replaced with no question asked.

 

I like craftsman, too poor to buy snap-on

 

I use mostly Craftsman. It's a pretty convenient deal if you break a tool, you can go down to any Sears and trade it for a new one. Alot of my military tool boxes have Snap-on. Snap-on is pretty good stuff, but when I worked Special Ops aircraft, the torx bits broke on a daily basis. We called them Snap-off. Don't know what it was, but those things were crap.

 

Go look at where professional mechanics hang out at and see this argument rage over there. I figure if they are even arguing for/against Craftsman - it's darn hard to beat for a home/hobbyist/DIYer I figure.

Another thing you really can't beat is the convenience of exchange - Sears stores maintain a lot of open stock and that makes it easy to exchange broken tools on the spot. Or buy a specialty one-of size or something.

If you are not a pro and the snapon truck doesn't come by your house each week or month - keep this in mind when getting a broken tool fixed/replaced. They visit the pros sometimes several times a week - they aren't going to visit you at your house though. Basically you'll have to track a dealer down, arrange a place to meet is all - no biggee - just an FYI. Most are good guys but the occasional jerk can exist.

Craftsman has been around for a long time backing up their tools. Others have come and gone (Penncraft, Powrkraft...). Craftsman will be there 20 years from now I suspect (I've got Craftsmans passed down 3 generations now). Even if Sears went under - somebody would buy the Craftsman franchise - it would be worth plenty to anyone interested in marketing/retailing to the home tool buyer.

Something else I didn't know about - the tremendous debt load some professionals carry w/ financing provided by Snap-on.

Snap on is very very good stuff - no doubt and rightly so popular among pros. There are a few other brands that are as good as Snap On or even better. Look at Wright and Cornwell. At least as good and arguably better than Snap-On.

Danaher used to make Craftsman for many years - I think Stanley now makes Craftsman (Stanley's us production division). Danaher also does Matco or Mack and Stanley the other but I always get those confused. Those are marketed as pro level tools that compete w/ Snapon directly.

Kobalt and Husky from the home imrovement stores are basically US made Craftsman market competitors meant to compete directly w/ Craftsman w/ same warranty but I've been unimpressed w/ their selection and open stock sometimes locally - your mileage may vary. Nice tools. Interestingly enough some of the earlier Kobalts were I believe Snapon at one point.

Autozone is also getting into the act w/ a line of tools called Duralast. I'm fiercely loyal to US made tools but I have to admit 'some' of the Asian tools are getting to be at least of an 'acceptable' quality. I think some of the Stanleys that are asian made that you see in discount stores are like this. HOwever most of teh Asian no-name fare is pure laughable junk of course.

There are some neat old defunct brands floating around that can be had used for a song if you like to scrounge and hunt. I've found some fantastic high quality tools that are 30 to 50 years old that are immaculate w/ little/no use and even hot forged (most modern tools except maybe Cornwell(?) are cold forged nowadays). Of course oldie tools like this don't have a warranty in effect anymore.

I have a little bit of everything but predominantly Craftsman.

Couple other notes, I prefer 6 sided to 12 - less chance of rounding off. Sometimes you do need a 12 in certain instances. I'm kinda hit or miss on polished but they cleanup nice and easy and look cool. If you buy a rolloway - get one w/ ball bearing drawers - the cheapos don't work well when weighted down and that get's frustrating over time. I'm unimpressed by Craftsman screwdrivers but they get the job done for the most part and also have the same warranty. OK I've blabbered on enough!

 

I bought my first tool set when I was 18 and it was (is) Craftsman. It helped drive my 67 Chevy II 327/350 down the quarter mile in the 12's. I don't have the Chevy (tho I wish I did) but I do have that original Craftstman tool box now supplanted with two rolling chests, project center along with metrixs, flexibles and all those other new fangled tools they get you to buy!

 

I've used Craftsman tools all my life and so did my Dad. My son has his own rolling box full of Craftsman tools. We've had a few things fail over the years, but Sears always replaced it, no questions asked. I am a little nervous about the K-Mart connection also. We'll see. I do have a Harbor Freight store in my neighborhood and I like it for stuff that you may not use that often.