The price of tools

[KYbass1276]

I have been wanting to start buying more tools here latelty so I will have everything I need to to work on whatever needs fixing.  I have a nice garage and have alot of power tools already.   I just bought a craftsman tool box.  I just bought the top section and in couple of weeks will buy the other two sections.  

I got a catalog from sears and started to look at the tools I wanted.   Wow it's amazeing how much they want for these things.  I can't in my life see what makes them so expensive.   It dosen't really matter what brand there all high unless you get some el cheapo version that might last a couple of months.     I guess I'm just going to have to buy a little here and there.    

[xboxfisherman]

Two words. Harbor Freight. They sell cheap tools. Not the best but they are all warrantied. I use them everyday at work. Yes, they break often. But I just return them and the grumpy old lady at the counter swaps them out for brand new tools.

[tipptruck1]

I have a whole tool chest full of craftsman tools. My dad loved them so do I. Sears offers free replacement if a tool would ever break. It dosn't matter how old the tool is. I saw my dad once take back a 20 year old screw driver and they got him a new one. Nothing aginst snap-on or mack tools they just cost to munch. A set of 34 wrenchs from them cost like 1,200 dollers. You can go to sears and buy a lot of tools for that price. Plus if a craftsman tool breaks you don't have to wait two weeks to get a replaced. So you will pay a little more for a name. But harbor fright also has good deals from time to time. So shop around.

[Catt]

Try buying Matco, Estwing, & Klein tools  

[KYbass1276]

I'm actually thinking about getting Kolbalt or SK.  I don't mind craftsman tools they do fine I have some already but need to expand more.    Your right about snap on  I don't care what anyone says if anyone is stupid enough to pay $ 1200 dollars for 34 wrenches then they have some mental issues that need some atten.  They are building a Harbor freight here soon.  I will check them out but I don't plan on buying much there as far as tools are concearned.   I don't want to go in debt buying tools but I don't want cheapy's that break when I need them not to.

[Tin]

Snap-On is worth every penny imo, except for their impact sockets.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Snap-On is worth every penny imo, except for their impact sockets.

Snap On is indeed the mac daddy of tool companies. HOWEVER, $300 for a combo wrench set is way above me. I have a Sears 1.5 miles from my house, so Craftsman it is..... 8-)

[telecaster]

For the average home owner projects, most inexpensive brands will do just fine.

Those folks in a trade, that use tools for a living, want better quality things that will last.

Ya want to spend some money,take a look at Festool or Fien.

have fun jim

[Popeye]

Sears Craftsman guy all the way. A couple of years ago for Father's Day my wife MADE me go to Sears with her and we bought a complete new Craftsman Rollaway with two matching tool chests on top and a complete set of Craftsman mechanics tools and some other odds and ends (4 ton floor jack, heavy duty jack stands, etc.). I have always preferred Craftsman.

[FishTank]

Craftsman has always been my favorite.  For the average household (at home mechanic) they're great but I would only buy them in large bulk sets.  Not in small individuals sets.  If you keep your eyes open, they will have some sets around Christmas for 1/2 price.

As far as cordless tools go I like Crastman but I like DeWalt better and again buy the largest set you can afford that comes with the most batteries.  Also, a word of advice on the batteries....Dont leave the batteries on the chargers, charge when needed.  It drains the life way faster than normal use, even if it states that the batteries has no memory.  I have quick charger that will charge a battery in less than 15mins.  I have had the current batteries I got with my set for 7 years and they still last for about 4-8 hours of normal use.

[nboucher]

I'll wear ragged clothes and save on other things, but two things I don't skimp on are food and tools. Of course, it depends what kind of tools you're talking about, but especially for big power tools, cheap tools mean a lot of frustration. I think it's worth taking your time and saving up for quality, especially if you're doing any precision work such as furniture making or cabinetmaking.

However, Fein and Festool are just ridiculous, telecaster. You gotta draw the line somwhere.  :

[Bud]

         For the average home owner projects, most inexpensive brands will do just fine.

Those folks in a trade, that use tools for a living, want better quality things that will last.

Ya want to spend some money,take a look at Festool or Fien.

have fun jim                          

X2

[Alpster]

For me it's a matter of how often and how critical the the work is. A fancy/expensive pry bar is a waste to me, Harbor Freight is fine. However when I welded up my luggage carrier for the Goldwing (someone could be hurt or killed if it failed). The Lincoln SST welder was well worth the extra cost. As with most things, it's a cost benefit issue. For repaing the lawn mower or garage door, Craftsman tools are great, but if you were working on tiny foreign cars every day and had to reach into very tight places, you would quickly come to realize the value of Snap On tools. JMHO

Ronnie

[KYbass1276]

No doubt that snap on are good tools but man they are proud of them.  I just don't see them being all that for the average joe.  

[Red]

Two words. Harbor Freight. They sell cheap tools. Not the best but they are all warrantied. I use them everyday at work. Yes, they break often. But I just return them and the grumpy old lady at the counter swaps them out for brand new tools.

i use these at work too...they are good tools for the money i think.  but if you are using and abusing them DAILY on a construction site or something,  buying dewalt, makita, craftsman etc etc might be a better idea.  but i think for "around the house" use harbor freight stuff is great.

[telecaster]

I dont own any Festool stuff.A buddy of mine uses all Festool in his shop,hes a boat builder and also does a lot of cabinet work.Too much moola for me.I do have a Fien,Multimaster,I bought used for 100bucks I love it ,I use it to under cut doorjams , in tight places, that the regular big under cut saw wont fit. I use mostly Milwaukee,Dewalt,Porter Cable,that kind of stuff.

The good thing about Snap-on,Matco,Mac,etc,is they have the trucks that come by the shop,and they sell good tools.I bought a few things from those guys when I was wrenching on cars.T-D sockets and wrenches are good,made in USA,and they look exactly like Snap-on.I wouldn't be surprised if there made at the same plant.

have fun jim

[nboucher]

I can't justify buying Festool either. Mostly I've got DeWalt & Bosch for hand tools, General or General International for the big machines. Lots of Craftsman wrenches and screwdrivers.

If I had the money, I'd spring for a SawStop table saw. If you don't know SawStop, you have got to check out their famous "hot dog" demo in the left column here:

http://www.sawstop.com/

Buying high-end used tools, if you can find them on craigslist and other places, is a great way to buy quality cheap. A good tool will last forever. My hand planes were made in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The metal and the manufacturing was so much better back then.

[moby bass]

I'm not  a professional mechanic or carpenter, so I don't make my living with tools but, I started buying Craftsman tools when I was 16, some 40+ years ago.  I have only ever had to take 1 tool back, an allen wrench that I broke because I had an adjustable wrench on it for more leverage. No questions asked.  Not bad in my opinion.  I don't use them much any more, don't/can't work on cars as much as I used to, and I don't ride motorcycles any more, but they're there when I need them.

[Olebiker]

My uncle has a collection of hundreds of stanley hand planes. Some he's collected, most were left to him by his uncle. (i've been hinting, but he has grandson's..........sniffle) The workmanship on these planes IS second to none. "They just don't make them like they used to."

b

I have a Stanley #7 plane that is more than 100 years old. It gets regular use. If I had the money, though, I would love to have a Lie-Nielsen #7. They are $400.

When it comes to power tools, I have become sold on Bosch. The price is reasonable and the quality is fabulous.

[nboucher]

My uncle has a collection of hundreds of stanley hand planes.  Some he's collected, most were left to him by his uncle.  (i've been hinting, but he has grandson's..........sniffle)  The workmanship on these planes IS second to none.   "They just don't make them like they used to."

b

You can never have enough of those old Stanleys. Brent, will he really miss them if one or two disappear???? Man, let me know if he ever wants to sell any of them.

Biker, I've got two Lie-Nielsen block planes, and they're every bit as good as their reputation. That No. 7 sure is a fine specimen. Lately I've been lusting after one of their tenon saws . . .

[Olebiker]

b       (i'm sure he'd die if he knew you were still using yours olbiker.)

Oh no!  He's not one of THEM!!??  A COLLECTOR!  Among us Galoots there is nothing so heinous a crime as owning and not using an old tool.  ;D

[skunked_again]

Snap-On is worth every penny imo, except for their impact sockets.

as a re-tired auto mech., i spent most of my pay check to the tool man. as soon as all my tools were paid for i quit due to the fact that the cost was too high.

snap-on is a very high qual. tool but looking back the only tool that made a difference were the snap-on wrenches. S*K sockets/wratchets are as good and cost a lot less.

any good tool should last forever as long as its just used for what it was made for.

[guitarkid]

I can't justify buying Festool either. Mostly I've got DeWalt & Bosch for hand tools, General or General International for the big machines. Lots of Craftsman wrenches and screwdrivers.

If I had the money, I'd spring for a SawStop table saw. If you don't know SawStop, you have got to check out their famous "hot dog" demo in the left column here:

http://www.sawstop.com/

Buying high-end used tools, if you can find them on craigslist and other places, is a great way to buy quality cheap. A good tool will last forever. My hand planes were made in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. The metal and the manufacturing was so much better back then.

If you are talking the kind of machines I am thinking about, Haas only man.

                     -searoach

[guitarkid]

Sears Craftsman guy all the way. A couple of years ago for Father's Day my wife MADE me go to Sears with her and we bought a complete new Craftsman Rollaway with two matching tool chests on top and a complete set of Craftsman mechanics tools and some other odds and ends (4 ton floor jack, heavy duty jack stands, etc.). I have always preferred Craftsman.

Lucky.

                            -searoach