bufflo tools any good ??and do you see something good in this pile

[gasjockey]

so a guy is selling this tool box with tools for ten bucks i think i see a proto wreanch so thinking of checking it out he also has bufflo socket set and an unmarked set of sockets for another ten buck are they any good

[geologist]

It's worth $10. It's my understanding that Buffalo once made tools for Sears.

[barcalo]

Ten? GO FOR IT! I am not sure how anybody EVER passes on that many tools for $10. But then again that is the reason my place looks like Sanford and Son. The sockets are not a bad deal because its full sets. Not the best brands but if you need sockets those will do you well.

[jeffmoss26]

Doo it!!

[jjjrmx5]

I've got a few buffalo wrenches and ratches laying around including a 3/8" air ratchet that need to be repaired and has little torque left in it.

My memory places Buffalo as a lower brand tool sold in the discount and old skool markdown/clearance stores in the 70's and 80's like Rinks, Van Leunens, Value City, Ontarios and China Town. Kind of the equal to today's HF tools. They were likely Asian sourced and sold as a low cost alternative to the Sears and truck brands.

I would never hesitate to use them as the quality is quite nice for the period, but of course, getting anything replaced is highly unlikely.

I don;t remember seeing the brand as a kid, but once I started tinkering on bikes and my first car, it remembered the small stash my father had to supplement his C'man tools.

Good luck.

[Mr Ratchet]

When I was sixteen (30 yrs ago), there was a tool tent sale in town. Not having a lot of money at that age, but needing tools to hot rod my Cougar, I went there. I bought a set of the deep walls like you have in the middle picture, except 3/8" drive and some other stuff. When I got home, I used one of of the larger ones on my car. After some good presure, I heard a cracking sound. Great, I broke her loose!. I continued to turn the ratchet to remove the nut. After a little while I could not figure out why the nut was not off yet. Put my head under the car for a look see and the nut was in the same spot when I started. I looked at the socket and it was cracked in three different spots and allowed the socket to slip around the nut. So, what I thought was the bolt cracking loose was the socket breaking.

From that point on, I have never bought cheap junk tools. Not all was lost though. I learned a lesson first and foremost about quality. Even though the sockets are long gone, I still have the metal case they came in, which more than likely cost more than the sockets themselves. You can see it here in picture #3 on post 4879. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...t=466&page=244

I'd pass on them. You could use your ten bucks better by starting a fire or wiping your butt.

[woody 73]

Back in the day they sold them at Rinks for a few dollars, the Buffalo was the HF of it's Day. If you want to keep them as a spare in your car for emergencies then go for it; if they should ever get lost or stolen no big deal.

Carry them with you at the junk yard if you need to pull some parts and again don't worry about them getting lost.

[Kev442]

The only Buffalo tool I bought was an oil wrench. Served me well for 25 years. Bought it in a bargain bin for $2. The $10 socket set is list price from 30 years ago, so I'd pass myself.