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Basic hand tools

MTChevy

MTChevy

3/4 ton status
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Great Falls, MT
Hey guys, heres my dillema.

At work i just bought a snappy master series box to upgrade from my 4s matco.

now the double bank 4s goes to my shop. Now I need to fill it with tools. I have all matco, mac, snappy tools at work, but for home i was thinking less expensive, craftsman tools or something of the sort.

Problem is i need everything. sockets, ratchets etc.

What would you guys do? id like to buy a huge kit or something but i dont want to break the bank. already did that with the snap on box haha
 
Not gonna lie, i have not been impressed by crasftsman tools these days. Seem to be cheaply made china crap (like most everything). But the fact you can break it and get a new one makes it better.
 
Deuling said:
Not gonna lie, i have not been impressed by crasftsman tools these days. Seem to be cheaply made china crap (like most everything). But the fact you can break it and get a new one makes it better.
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Blah dont tell me that haha... i was thinking since its not something used all day every day and still warrantied itd be the way to go.

Now the matco guy has some grey pneumatic stuff on the truck that seems nice, cheaper than the big name stuff and nice kits...still expensive though
 
Nah id go with craftsman for home use for sure. Its just the fact i can hold up the same brand new craftsman stuff next to my dads old craftsman tools, and the old ones just look, feel, work better. But still better than spending a fortune and or buying walmart brand tools lol.
 
You can buy large craftsman kits for a couple hundred bucks and be done. I use craftsman sockets and wrenches here at home and have been very happy.
 
be careful of some of the Craftsman ratchets, the gear mesh is HORRENDOUS. I gave my neighbor a 3/8" and 1/2" Craftsman ratchets. I knew if I took them in, they wouldn't warranty them cause they aren't broken, that and all the new stuff was the same. Their smooth handle ratchets feel better than their squared off style ones.

Also, check flee markets and swap meets.
 
I hate the Craftsmen rachets. Been using the Duralast rachets from Autozone. They take a beating. I grad my flex handle 1/4 duralast over my snap on 1/4.
 
I've been using the Craftsman Evolv hand tools that replaced the Champion series that sears sold. So far they've all held up wonderfully. Its the same tool as regular craftsman, minus the warranty, which is why they're super cheap.

I have mixed feelings on the screwdrivers though, you definitly cannot pry with the flat tips :D

Only downside, you can only buy sets, that lack size range. But then again, I guess I SHOULD be using 1/2" drive on a 1' socket. But the evolv 3/8 drive holds up just fine
 
mrschaeferpants said:
I've been using the Craftsman Evolv hand tools that replaced the Champion series that sears sold. So far they've all held up wonderfully. Its the same tool as regular craftsman, minus the warranty, which is why they're super cheap.

I have mixed feelings on the screwdrivers though, you definitly cannot pry with the flat tips :D

Only downside, you can only buy sets, that lack size range. But then again, I guess I SHOULD be using 1/2" drive on a 1' socket. But the evolv 3/8 drive holds up just fine
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I just dont like the fact you cant get a new one when you break them...
 
The very worst part of the "new" Craftsman sockets is their no longer stamped for their size and the Craftsman name and everything is lazer or chemical etched. When they get even a little greasy they are slick as hell and WILL get dropped easy and lost. I HATE them and will never buy another Craftsman socket as long as I live.

Oh, not to mention since their made in china now, actually they have been for a good while now, using crappier materials their thicker walled and don't fit up against tight areas like before. If I had to stock 10 tool boxes I would still buy ONLY Snap On, Mac or Matco period. Maybe even Cornwell. Your always going to end up with odds and ends type tools of different brand names, it just works out they way. Even some HF crap too, but for quality where it counts like with ratchets & sockets.......The big three is the way to go. It just takes time to aquire what you need.
 
Ive got all new craftsman wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, and ratchets when i built my garage set a few months ago. Haven't used it all a ton, but i like them for home use.

My sockets were both laser etched and stamped like the old ones.

I went with all channel lock pliers, and vice grip brand vice grips.

The newer vice grips don't have a release lever, and suck . Wish i had gone with someone else's locking pliers, as these take 2 hands to release.

Good luck!
 
dhcomp said:
Ive got all new craftsman wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, and ratchets when i built my garage set a few months ago. Haven't used it all a ton, but i like them for home use.

My sockets were both laser etched and stamped like the old ones.

I went with all channel lock pliers, and vice grip brand vice grips.

The newer vice grips don't have a release lever, and suck . Wish i had gone with someone else's locking pliers, as these take 2 hands to release.

Good luck!
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Their "pro" wrenches are nice, nice as any other. They still do have good tools but you have to be selective for sure. I can not believe Vise Grip changed their pliers. I'm glad I have about 40 pairs of the regular old style in several different sizes. I won't buy the new ones.
 
rdn2blazer said:
Their "pro" wrenches are nice, nice as any other. They still do have good tools but you have to be selective for sure. I can not believe Vise Grip changed their pliers. I'm glad I have about 40 pairs of the regular old style in several different sizes. I won't buy the new ones.
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When i bought this last set of tools, i went for what i considered the "best of the best" in what i could afford. Was VERY disappointed in the vice grips. You literally need to pull them apart with 2 hands if you clamp them down tight, and most of the time when you do that, you pull them apart too far when they release and yank the cross bar thing out of the opposite side :doah:
 
dhcomp said:
When i bought this last set of tools, i went for what i considered the "best of the best" in what i could afford. Was VERY disappointed in the vice grips. You literally need to pull them apart with 2 hands if you clamp them down tight, and most of the time when you do that, you pull them apart too far when they release and yank the cross bar thing out of the opposite side :doah:
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I've used others that were built like this too. Pisses you off to no end when that happens. I would love to know just how many times I have used Vise Grips when you ran out of ideas. They are so worth their weight in gold. I bet we have all used them a thousand times in a pinch and they came through in flying colors and saved our ass too many times to count.
 
Yep. My roommate has a big set of husky ones, and they have done well, and seem well built.
 
rdn2blazer said:
If I had to stock 10 tool boxes I would still buy ONLY Snap On, Mac or Matco period. Maybe even Cornwell.
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Cornwell is right on par with MAC and Matco. A large percentage of their tools are made by the same company and exactly the same

rdn2blazer said:
.......The big three is the way to go. It just takes time to aquire what you need.
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There is Snap-On and then the next three a step below them, MAC Matco, and Cornwell.

Martin
 
The release on Vice Grips is actually a newer thing. The original ones did not have the release either. I have a few sets of really old ones without it. They are much better with the release. I wonder if you bought a low end set, because I have not seen new Vice Grip brand locking pliers without the release yet.

As for the original question. If you are used to quality tools, Craftsman tools will annoy you, but they work. Just throw away the ratchets. They are pure ****. I use to buy every used Snap On ratchet that came on the tools trucks. I believe I have about 20 Snap On ratchets.

Martin
 
mrschaeferpants said:
I've been using the Craftsman Evolv hand tools that replaced the Champion series that sears sold. So far they've all held up wonderfully. Its the same tool as regular craftsman, minus the warranty, which is why they're super cheap.
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Actually they have the same warranty, but you need the receipt for the warranty return. I have a small drawer in my box just for receipts and invoices.
 
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