What brand of tools do you use?

[59ghia]

Craftsman here also. Has anyone been buying their "professional" series? They remind me of Snap-on, lighter weight and smoother over-all finish.

[26th-Z]

Oh you got me started. I gotta have a tool box of King d*** tools to match my personality! ROFL ROFL

[billcapp]

Hey Guys

I've been buying quite a bit of tools since '02 (1902) and I have quite a collection. Some of everything. Most all American local brands fare well---Husky Craftsman Snap-on etc. For the new mechanic....stay away from the cheap far eastern stuff.

The '02 thing is just an expression that is now meaningless now that we are in the next century.

[hmsports]

My tools are mostly Crafsman because I started collecting when I was in the Air Force and had little money for tools. My Dad gave me a few he has had since the 50's and even when I broke his 18" breaking bar a quick trip to the local Sears store and I had a brand new one for free.

I do buy some cheap-o (Chicago Electric) tools like my 1/2" electric impact wrench. I only use it about two or three times a year (at most) so I couldn't justify spending several hundred on a quality brand when this was only $49.

[bpilati]

You should have allowed more than one choice. I have a lot of Craftsman, even my rolling tool cabinet, but also German hand tools from my father and some cheap brands. Even Walmart sells tools with lifetime warranties now.

[seerex]

Mostly Craftsman as well, but assorted ones depending on whats on sale and what i need at the time. Funny you start this thread because I just broke a 1/2 drive ratchet and it was and off brand , and I was wishing it was a craftsman:). There is a diffrence in quality but as soon as I find the 12/14mm sockets and phillips goblin thats has been stealing my tools all will be good on this earth .

[hls30.com]

Craftsman, SK, Matco, throwaway.

Though recently the Craftsman tools I have purchased seem to be in the throwaway category(3 3/8" wratchets in 5 fasteners(no not spindle pins)(replaced a 20 year old tool, that had been hammered on one too many times with 3 before I got one that would wratchet repeatedly), 1 1/4 wratchet-same problem, chrome peeling off new sockets-cutting skin, After having three trips to Sears to replace a faulty wratchet, slicing open my thumb with the chrome plating that was peeling off a brand new 17mm deep socket was just too damn much-Sears said the plating wasn't warranted, and the tool still performed as intended-my question was what part of the design was ment to peel the flesh from my thumb.

I am not buying more Craftsman tools, they have lowered their quality.

I will replace them as they fail with SK, Matco, or Snap-on.

Will

[LanceM]

I'm mostly Craftsman, though I agree that the new stuff isn't like the old stuff. Snap on and Mac are mixed in there too. One thing I consider a best buy are the impact sockets at Harbor Freight, I've got one set that is going on 20+ years and lost most of them before any of them broke, so for impacts HF is the way to go, when they are on sale of course

[CoastGuardZ]

Mostly Craftsman here, with a few odd ones tossed in from when I was working at autozone ... Greatneck I believe... they are those seldom used tools, so I didn't mind. Since I get moved all over the country I find that Craftsman is the best for me because there is always a Sears nearby. My floor jacks jack stands and toolboxes are all Craftsman also ... even my new aircompressor - Thanks mom! Craftsman is expensive enough, there is no way I could justify Snap-on.

Nate

[GunnerRob]

I prefer whichever brand my mechanic uses! If any of them break, become lost or stolen, or just plain wear out, I wouldn't even notice!

In all seriousness, I have Craftsman tools in a Craftsman benchtop toolbox, as well as various hardware store and auto parts stuff. My needs at this time don't require a wide variety of tools so my collection is rather limited (combo wrenches, screwdriver assortment, various adjustable wreches, etc.). Although, if I had unlimited funds, I'd just buy my Z mechanics shop!!