Buying tools: used vs. new, whatcha think?

[Xfaxman]

Check the local pawnshops that is where a lot of mine came from. :thumbsup:

 

[muddstopper]

And this was back before Mac & Snap-On were made in China.
!

While I am sure some of Snap-on electric tools, and probably a few of their air tools probably come from China, It might interest you to know that Snap-ons corporate headquarters is located in Murphy NC and that they actually make tools there. Real tools, not rebranded china junk. You may or maynot of already knew this, but your post suggests that all of Snap-on tools are made in China. It might also interest you to know that Snapon makes tools for a lot of other tool companies, so even tho the tool you buy might not say Snapon on the side, theres a good chance that Snapon made those tools also. I dont know anything about where Mac tools are made. Craftsman used to make tools in Kings Mnt NC, but they pulled anchor when Bill Clinton signed NAFTA.

My tool box contains lots of Real American made tools and at least a equal number of off shore stuff. I tend to stay away from the el-cheapo china junk, The stuff that looks chrome plated and subject to bend or break if held too tightly, But for general work, I will try to save a few bucks if its something that doesnt see a lot of use, or is a one time, need it now tool.

 

[motownbrowne]

I dont know anything about where Mac tools are made. Craftsman used to make tools in Kings Mnt NC, but they pulled anchor when Bill Clinton signed NAFTA.

I did recently buy some Mac tools. They say USA right on 'em. I paid $75 for a 10-19mm set of long knuckle-savers, and $150 for a 41 piece set of 3/8" sockets. The sockets included a full set of SAE shallow, full set of metric shallow, most of a set of metric deep, and some random SAE deep. All of those tools were barely used, some never.

I think I got a good deal on that stuff, and it's part of what got me thinking about this topic.

Great responses so far, thanks to everyone for jumping in.

 

[timster2]

I made a living with my tools and when my son started in the industry, and I retired from it, he adopted most of my Snap-on tools. I back filled a lot of the impact sockets and select stuff from HF. I have to say I have not broken any of the impact sockets yet. I have used their wrenches and again have not broken one yet. My son laughs at my discount tool box but it works.

Given the choice of new vs used I would work on picking up Snapon or other brand name tools from garage sales etc., I got a lot that way. If you need a specific tool in a hurry hit HF and take a good look at what they have. A lot of their tools are acceptable for occasional use and they are guaranteed, some are not worth the price, so all are not bad. The tools at HF have been increasing in quality over the years and with all the re-branding going on the same factory in China is producing for many vendors.

 

[mikehaugen]

I really do like snap-on tools... but warranty is sometimes an issue. If you don't have a dealer visiting you, then you have to mail them in. I don't have a dealer, so the tools I have came from ebay or ordered directly from snap-on. I had an old ratchet and found it simpler to pay the $10 and order a rebuild kit than deal with the warranty.

For ratchets I also like matco 88 tooth ratchets. They are not cheap. I like using the smallest drive tool I can (I laugh seeing people use 1/2" ratchet with 7/16" socket) so I have a long handled 1/4" matco ratchet that gets the most workout. It started ratcheting a little funny, not stripped but just weird, so I sent it to matco for rebuild and they sent me a brand new ratchet.

 

[DJ54]

The Snap-On & Mac China made comment, is through a buddy of mine who is an Aircraft Tech. In the last couple of years he's had a ratchet fail, a couple of sockets break, and a few other tools that needed traded back in. All replacements were made in China. He was not happy about that, and complained to the guy selling them. Which all the sales guy can do, is pass it on up the ladder. I'm sure they are made to their specs., but that's not the idea.

His company buys all of his tools, and still gives him a generous tool allowance every month. But, can only be spent with the 3 big tool companies that come around their hangar. Personally, if the company is buying the tools, I don't know that I would complain to loud. But then I've had to work with heavy equipment, that someone flying a desk bought, so I guess I can see his point.

I still have a set of S-K combination wrenches, up through 1-1/4" my Dad bought back in about 1960. Only had the 3/4" wrench break. None have had an easy life. Guess that says something about their quality.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Oh, forgot to mention, I won't buy any tools made overseas (okay, maybe Germany or Japan) if I can at all avoid it. I think that rules HF out.

OK, that rules out almost all electrical tools. Hope you have all the old hand tools to sand, rasp, file with because that is what you will be using if you don't use tools made in China. Almost all the original USA brands are now made in China. I don't think made in China automatically makes them bad. Some are crap but others seem to work OK. I have 4 of the 4.5" grinders, 3 from HF and one DeWalt about 20 years old but the first 15 saw very little use. Most of the HF, I have had and used a lot for 5 years and they still work perfectly. I prefer the paddle switch style and I think they are $29 on sale and they are much stronger than the slide switch version. My BIL gave me one of the slide switch versions that are about $15 and it works OK also but I don't like the switch although my DeWalt is also a slide switch.

I did take off the gear box head on all the HF grinders and but some good grease in them. They don't have much from the factory and what is there is more like wax than grease. I recommend everyone buying HF electric grinders do the same with them.

 

[motownbrowne]

@Gary: I said I won't buy "made-in-China" if I can avoid it, not that I wouldn't ever but them. I get your point, and already own an angle grinder that I'm sure is made in China, as well as some other power tools.

That said, to me it is not just about quality. It's about keeping jobs here. As long as I can afford to do so, I'll be buying American-made whenever I can.

 

[kencunningham]

Autozone doesnt have the best prices, but the duralast brand has lifetime warranty. Some of them actually have "lifetime warranty" stamped on the side of the wrench.

 

[jaotguy]

Personally, if the company is buying the tools, I don't know that I would complain to loud. But then I've had to work with heavy equipment, that someone flying a desk bought, so I guess I can see his point.

when you're wrenching something big ( or hard) , you don't want that tool to fail and bust your knuckles or swing the end into your face /teeth ... or slice up your hands and put you out of work for awhile ....

buy the best ( guaranteed ) you can afford ... buy good quality "used" when they present themselves ... don't loan them out ... buy those really needed odd ball sizes/ specialty tools as needed or as they come up .... ( if you need a 1 3/16" deep socket , don't buy the whole set up to 3" if you'll never use them ) use a cross slide 3/4 or 1" cheater bar to loosen / tighten big bolts and nuts, and use the 1/2" drive to assemble ....