Tool sets (sort of on-topic...)

[couchsachraga]

Well, this is my first post I'm not sure where to put, but since this is the forum that got me thinking of it (all that chain talk) here goes!

I'm starting to look for a 3/4 drive socket set, just for the few big nuts and bolts on my tractor and backhoe, not to mention attachments (replacing brush hog blades, etc...)

"Good" sets are really, really pricey (this I knew) (1k+).

That said, Grainger, Harbor Freight, and TSC all have "reasonably" priced stuff...but I don't want junk...just good tools, not prof. quality (my smaller tools are mechanics grade polished craftsman and Armstrong...I'm looking for something a step down from that).

So, anyone have any experience with TSC, or Grainers's tools? I've used some Pittsburgh (Harbor Freight) stuff before, and it was OK.

I'm also tempted by some of the Stanley sets (or an S&K, though I have yet to find one I think is reasonable yet).

Any thoughts and or opinions are greatly appreciated!

If any of the moderators want to move this, please do, and let me know the most appropriate place to post this type of query in the future.

Sincerely,
Couchsachraga

 

[automech]

craftsman makes a decent socket, guaranteed and easy to replace if broken. Decent ratchets too. Not top quality, but decent. I have the Snap on 3/4 head and 2 handles, I do like the 3 foot handle for big jobs. I like to buy tools that are replaced easily when broken, not thrown away or shelved until a replacement can be had "someday".

 

[johndeerefarmer]

Dad and i bought the Craftsman 3/4 drive set nearly 20 years ago. Still works great (even after I put a 6' cheater pipe on the breaker bar) to remove stubborn nuts on my Bush Hog mower blades

 

[browns40]

Hi couch,

Northern Tool has a set advertised at $99.99 with a "limited lifetime warranty" on pg. 375 of the spring/summer catalog

1 inch drive for 159.99--no warranty implied...

 

[tawilson]

I joined the Craftsman club for some reason a while back, and was surprised at some of the savings that can be had with it.

 

[Paddy]

Buy a 3/4" breaker bar and the few sockets you need. Add to your colection over time. Why buy something you will really need? You don't need a ratchet
patrick

 

[RobJ]

The bigger the socket drive (3/4) the more you can get away with a cheaper set. There is more metal so they are stronger. Plus you don't use them all the time. A HF 3/4 drive set would be fine. I would not spend more on anything else. Be sure to pick up a 15" Cresent wrench with the tapered handle for a cheater pipe. We use this for 90% of the big stuff. I have 3 that I picked up on Ebay for about $20 each. i think they are 35-40 new at lowes.

 

[jpm]

another place is your local NAPA store, the person at the conter should be abile to show you a big choice ie;single ,sets,pro vs retail ect.

 

[1948berg]

I agree with paddy, I bought a cheap set, the only sockets I have left is the ones I never use.

 

[Egon]

Gunnar:

You have just hit on the perfect procedure to find which items are most used and should be replaced with a high quality product. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KubotaSteve]

My dad bought a set of the cheap ones and then bought a set of Craftsman. The ratchet exploded on the cheap set and the breaker bar broke as well. The craftsman set has held up well even with a piece of 4 foot pipe on the end of the ratchet.
I'll agree with the others that if you don't want to lay out a bunch of money at one time, get a good 3/4" breaker bar and a couple of the sockets you use as well as an adapter taking the 3/4" stuff down to 1/2" drive. Then you can add to your collection as need be. There are quite a few sockets that we have never used in the sets.

 

[rixtory]

Hey Couchie,

I love your Namesake Peak - I am a 46er and have been there twice when I was active in the high peaks. you don't find too many Couchsacraga's around.

I have had pretty good luck with Stanley's that I got at Walmart and tehn a cheaper set that I got at TSC (Can't recall the brand) but I agree with the breaker bar and a couple of popular sockets. I'd also throw in an good adjustable 18" Crescent Wrench.
Cheers
Rick

 

[sneaky_pete]

As you have seen, opinions on tools vary widely. Personally, it vexes me to have a tool break or a socket round-off when used, so I avoid Horrible Freight and buy the best quality I can afford even though I am a cheapskate in other areas. This past year I have had good results buying used Snap-on tools off of eBay for less than half-price of new.

 

[Jagmandave]

If you're making a living with it or your job or life depends on it, don't buy cheap tools. If not, then why not? I have a tool box full of Snap - On some of which I've had over 40 years and they're like new, even tho they've been used heavily. I also have some Craftsman tools that I've had that long as well and they hold up well too. But, for something that's going to live outside and maybe get a bit rusty, and is not a critcal tool, I buy what I call "2nd tier" tools.......You have to be a bit careful at Harbor Freight and Cummins, but if you look at them you can tell what's made well and what's just junk.......

 

[Farwell]

I have not read all the posts on this thread so I do not know if Home Depot tool sets are mentioned. I do not have any Home Depot tool sets but have heard that they have a similar warranty to the old Craftsman warranty. You might give them a look. I have had all of my tools for the past 20 years or so and most are Craftsman or Snap On. I like the Snap On more than I do the Craftsman because the quality of the Craftsman sets vary from set to set. You can verify this by looking at the metal thickness in the sockets, socket extensions and in the end wrenches. The Snap On quality is consistent from set to set, at least in the older tools that I own.
Farwell

 

[sneaky_pete]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you're making a living with it or your job or life depends on it, don't buy cheap tools. If not, then why not?)</font>

You hit the nail on the head Dave - I used to make a living with my tools, I guess that's why cheap ones still bug me. I too have some Craftsman tools that have lasted a long time, but I've also had Craftsman sockets round off and ratchets break. Even with their guarantee, it's an irritation to have one break in the middle of a job, skinning your hand. Plus I'm 30 miles from the nearest Sears store. To each his own -

 

[couchsachraga]

Thank you all for the thoughful replies!

I'm going to poke around a few garage sales if I have time this summer, then most like go the "Napa" route (or, rather, CarQuest, as the folks I have dealt with for about 15 years are now aligned with CarQuest-seems to work pretty well for them remaining and independent name, and getting decent stuff (e.g. a range-they have tool sets from cheap to expensive).

I have a breaker bar already, and one socket, so for now I may just get the few sockets I come across that I need. The problem is most of my equipment on the farm is over an hour from the city, so if it turns out I need a tool I don't have it's a minimum of a 2 hour trip, so usually I move on to a different project that doesn't require what I broke / what I'm trying to fix. Sometimes, though, that's not really an option...so full tool sets can be nice.

Thank you again,
Couchsachraga
P.S. Yes, the peak is nice, as is the entire area (the "Adirondacks" were actually known as "Couchsachraga" by the Native American peoples that frequented the area)

 

[bota7800]

I haven't had the best luck with the few Harbor Freight tools (mostly air tools) that I have bought but the flyer I got this week has a 21 pc 3/4 in. set for $40. Might be worth a look for occasional use. Item numbers 3994 and 5494.

 

[Marlowe]

Allright guys, here goes. I was a Snap On tool rep for a while, and I've been a technician for a good portion of my life who depended on good tools for my livelihood. For what it's worth, here's my opinion.

The last time I went out and bought a tool set, I bought Stanley. Pretty good stuff at a reasonable price, but the ratchets were junk. The ratchets didn't break, but they would reverse direction while I used them. They may as well would have broken. I discarded them and used other stuff such as Craftsman ratchets, but I still really like the Stanley wrenches and sockets. I understand that Stanley is a division of Mac Tools, or it may be the other way around. Who knows? In today's world we have many name brands that cross over borders. Recently I have purchased many tools from Harbor Freight. Some are OK, some junk, but for the price the sockets seem to be a good bet.

Bottom line, tools are a gamble, unless you pay a bunch for them. Good luck with your roll of the dice.

Tom