Tool brands and buying habits

[AJHD]

I want to be clear this is NOT meant to spark a debate on this brand vs that brand, or debate tool brands in general.

Instead I'm genuinely curious how many other people have changed their buying habits at some point when it comes to the tool brands they buy.

Over the last several months I've been selling off a lot of my tools and buying very few new tools. I've really only picked up a handful of tools I've been wanting to test out, almost entirely in conjunction with a good deal for said tools...

I bought a Stahlwille wrench set on Amazon, but only because I had gift cards from Christmas. I bought some Proto adjustable wrenches because I got them cheap from a local forum member. Similarly I bought some PB Swiss screwdrivers from the same member, and some other assorted PB Swiss/Koken tools from DRPD, but only during their sales.

I've found myself conflicted when it comes to buying tools over the last several months. Not only questioning need vs want and cost/price, but also questioning brands. I still want to buy Snap On, but I'm mostly unwilling and unable to convince myself to buy them. I've been on the truck several times and bought nothing, which is strange for me. The things I have bought were small, a single socket or other some individual tool.

I have no intention of selling my Snap On tools and replacing them with other brands... But I'm looking for and more willing to buy or consider other and cheaper brands these days, far more than I would ever have in the past.

Honestly, I don't really want to spend to money at all. It sounds stupid and it's difficult to explain, but things in life change and buying tools is no exception.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have been moving some types of tools to cheaper brands, some staying the same, some being upgraded. I use tools for work, thus they're all consumables and die eventually. I upgraded to snap-on ratcheting combos, swapped some worn out sunex impacts for tekton, williams USA sockets for blue-point, new tekton wrench organizers, and a new streamlight folding/stick light. That said, I got a price on a Zeus+, and that was too rich for my blood. Because I buy for work, it's much easier to justify expenses as I use the tools constantly.

 

[RC KID]

I want to be clear this is NOT meant to spark a debate on this brand vs that brand, or debate tool brands in general.

Instead I'm genuinely curious how many other people have changed their buying habits at some point when it comes to the tool brands they buy.

Over the last several months I've been selling off a lot of my tools and buying very few new tools. I've really only picked up a handful of tools I've been wanting to test out, almost entirely in conjunction with a good deal for said tools...

I bought a Stahlwille wrench set on Amazon, but only because I had gift cards from Christmas. I bought some Proto adjustable wrenches because I got them cheap from a local forum member. Similarly I bought some PB Swiss screwdrivers from the same member, and some other assorted PB Swiss/Koken tools from DRPD, but only during their sales.

I've found myself conflicted when it comes to buying tools over the last several months. Not only questioning need vs want and cost/price, but also questioning brands. I still want to buy Snap On, but I'm mostly unwilling and unable to convince myself to buy them. I've been on the truck several times and bought nothing, which is strange for me. The things I have bought were small, a single socket or other some individual tool.

I have no intention of selling my Snap On tools and replacing them with other brands... But I'm looking for and more willing to buy or consider other and cheaper brands these days, far more than I would ever have in the past.

Honestly, I don't really want to spend to money at all. It sounds stupid and it's difficult to explain, but things in life change and buying tools is no exception.

I really like my Snap-on tools, however they aren’t the best for use in the pull-a-part or other local salvage yards (Tools get lost). So I have been using older craftsman tools for the salvage yard or in the tool box in the truck. I buy everything used either on Facebook Marketplace or Ebay.

 

[William Payne]

I like the shape of the stahwille wrenchs. I like how my thumb fits them. I like snap-on ratchets and sockets and extensions because the ratchet feels good in my hand and I like the fit of the drive. Nice and snug, doesn't fall off. Screwdrivers also snap on. I like the way they grip a screw and the handle feel. But Wera is also very very nice and I happily use them. The handle is nice. I definitely buy tools based on user experience of the tool.

If I am going to use tools they had better be comfortable.

 

[fatfillup]

I am not your normal consumer as I sell used tools as well as use them a bit for work. Can't remember the last time I paid retail for tools. When I buy new, it was always a mix of Snap on, Mac, Napa and other less expensive brands including some Chicrap.

As I have aged, I really like better quality tools so I find myself gravitating toward Snap on more and more but always buy at a used wholesale Amount.

 

[Dave455]

I started of with cheaper tools like most folks, but I knew enough not to buy the bottom end, which back then was the Taiwan imports.

With a bit more money I bought very good tools, but not from any one maker. Yes, that included some Snap On. For the most part it’s superb stuff, but over years it’s bounced between poor value to good value as prices / exchange rates have shifted.

My life improved no end when I started buying the tools I wanted, rather than just those I needed, and there are tools I regret not buying. I’ve used my tools professionally, but now I spend a lot of time doing maintenance, repair, and restoration (which saves me money). Using my tools is my recreation. I don’t smoke, drink, eat out much, or take holidays.

At the moment I’m not buying much Snap On, simply because the prices where I am have risen to the point where it’s poor value. To give some perspective - wrench sets that I could buy, on a deal, for £150 a few years back, are now £420.

For hand tools I’m buying a mixture of European and Japanese tools. No one particular maker, but a lot of KoKen, Stahlwille, Hazet, Facom. For power tools I’m favouring the German (Fein etc) or makers like Bosch and Makita (though I avoid the Chinese made).

For engineers tooling - taps, dies, drills, lathe tools etc - then I’m generally going with domestic made (British for me) which represents the best value by far, though European or even sometimes U.S. made are not far behind.

 

[Ton ton]

I like to buy used hand tools in decent shape when I have spare time.

 

[gtae07]

I don't really buy tools anymore unless I need them for a project or repair--I pretty much have almost everything I need at this point. But I never had any brand allegiance either; just bought what seemed the best usefulness/quality/price/service life tradeoff for a given need.

 

[Buckaroo5]

I do not use my tools professionally and my tool collection does not include any tool truck brands although I don't like cheap tools. I have bought "tool truck equivalents" in the past looking for similar quality but at lower costs - see following thread....

The Truck Tool Equivalents Thread - Gathering Data

I looked back to posts dating back to 2020, so I may have missed it, but I know Trusty Cook makes hammers for Matco, and some other companies as well. Trusty Cook Matco They even have the same sticker.

www.garagejournal.com

I don't buy tools just to have them although my wife does point out my collection of welders that haven't gotten used much (Lincoln Stick, Hobart Mig, Harris Oxy-Acetylene). Also, I don't spend a lot of money on tool storage. I'd rather buy the tools. If I need tools for a particular job I am considering undertaking (broad spectrum automitive and property management), I look at how much money I am saving doing it myself and, if I can come out a little bit ahead given the tool purchase, I will go for it. When I was younger and money was tighter, I tried to make do as much as possible but have gotten to the point in life that if I need a tool, I buy it. It is a nice place to be.

 

[Skellyii]

As a poor kid in the 70s, I acquired Craftsman, because they were readily available, and I had a cousin that worked for Sears and I could get stuff at the employee price. For my first real job, the company supplied us with a limited selection of Snap On.

As my dad and other relatives passed, I acquired a lot of SK, Blackhawk and Craftsman, a lot of which I sold, because I wasn't turning wrenches for money at that time, and frankly didn't have room to store it all.

When I got close to retirement, and started turning wrenches for fun again, I cleaned and sorted my tools, keeping the Snap On and the older USA Craftsman and SK for my shop tool set.

The rest either got given away, or relegated to my pic a part tool bag. I sometimes buy fills from Estate sales or the clearance aisle at the big box stores and HF.

 

[GeoBruin]

This is easy. I buy whatever Garage Journal tells me I should buy!

But seriously, I have most of what I would consider "core" hard-line tools, so most of what I buy now are specialized tools for specific projects. For those I really do come here and read the "prevailing wisdom" before making my decision. Most times, there is a clear leader or two in the "bang for the buck" category and that's what I buy.

I find Harbor Freight to be a convenient place to shop because they carry a lot of things that overlap with my hobbies, and because I can go handle the tools before I buy them. For that reason, if there is a HF equivalent of a tool that's otherwise available online, I typically go HF.

 

[zendriver]

If they have it, I buy everything I need at Harbor freight.

If I won the Powerball tomorrow, I’d see no need to upgrade anything.

 

[Steve_P]

There are so many newer import brands that make excellent products- the high-quality choices we have now seem like 10X the selection that existed 10-15 years ago when I bought many of my higher quality tools to replace my old, but totally functional, variety of stuff. For things like bit sockets, all of my recent purchases have been Tekton, Capri, Vim- most of which wouldn't have been an option 10+ years ago. If I started buying a few years ago, I'd buy a lot more of those brands, and less Williams USA, SK.... I would still go with lots of brands like Wiha, Knipex, NWS.... and would buy all of those again today; but for things like sockets and accessories, ratchets, bit sockets... the good Taiwan imports are just fantastic for the $; especially for home use.

 

[mopar66]

I agree lots of good choices today. I sold off a lot of tools in the last 6 plus years. Some were truck brands, some craftsman etc. Still have a lot of Craftsman and some Cornwell sockets. All stuff I picked up at estate sales, garage sales, CL etc. I didn't downsize I repurposed funds as I like to say. I had 100+ screwdrivers for example, but a lot of them were really worn. I sold them off and bought new Wera and a few Felo. Still had plenty of cash leftover and made room in my toolbox. Sold off a set really worn Cornwell 3/8 impact sockets that I bought on CL. Made enough to buy a set of Sunex Impact in shallow and deep, 3/8 and 1/4 in both SAE and Metric. As a DIY trucks brands were not easy for me to warranty. I do have some Knipex pliers I bought new. But I also have Craftsman, Channel Lock, etc.

 

[Fedwrench]

Perhaps, with age comes wisdom. When I was a young tech, I wanted everything to be Snap on, Matco, Mac. I amassed everything I needed and then some through mostly the secondary market. As jobs changed, I ended up on shifts or places without tool trucks. At the same time, I noticed the quality gap narrowing between truck and non-truck brands. I also noticed the that the tool trucks were smoking crack with their pricing. As I'm closing in on retirement, I don't buy nearly as much as I used too. Very little of it comes from a tool truck. I think the last snap on purchase I made were the long nose 3 position slip joint pliers. Lately, it's been new offerings from Astro, VIM, Tekton, and Capri filling any tool needs I might have.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Perhaps, with age comes wisdom. When I was a young tech, I wanted everything to be Snap on, Matco, Mac. I amassed everything I needed and then some through mostly the secondary market. As jobs changed, I ended up on shifts or places without tool trucks. At the same time, I noticed the quality gap narrowing between truck and non-truck brands. I also noticed the that the tool trucks were smoking crack with their pricing. As I'm closing in on retirement, I don't buy nearly as much as I used too. Very little of it comes from a tool truck. I think the last snap on purchase I made were the long nose 3 position slip joint pliers. Lately, it's been new offerings from Astro, VIM, Tekton, and Capri filling any tool needs I might have.

I've been doing this 10 years, and WOW has the tool landscape changed. Good quality tools abound, easily accessible and affordable.

 

[bonneyman]

My first socket set was S-K, because that's what my dad had. And when I went to buy combo wrenches, I wanted Snap-On (because everyone has heard of them and consider them the best). But as a beginner tech I couldn't afford them. The truck guy said he had wrenches that were as good as Snap-On but more affordable. So began my journey with Bonney.
All of the other typical tools a noob mechanic needs were whatever was offered on the tool truck. Some were good, others not. You learn as you go.
When I started in HVAC in 1988, I bought the brands my first boss used. Not cheap - I had to pay off the tool bill for 6 months. But I still have most of those tools. As I went I began learning what I liked and why, and my tool purchases changed as I went.
The past decade I've accumulated more home improvement tools, as hiring professionals has become prohibitively expensive.

Fast forward to today. I now buy tools as I need them, and have pretty much slowed my buying to a trickle. Actually beginning to think about pairing down my stash. I still have my small collections I'm adding to, but with the mortality clock ticking I'm realizing I don't want my wife to have to dispose of any more stuff.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

So, I had a philosophy about tools, tool usage and buying tools but that’s all out the window. My shop is undergoing rapid change and new certs and all this other stuff and we are being mandated to have just one footprint for a personal box. It has to be under a certain depth and width and it sounds like they are asking for us to utilize US or North American sourced tools. Not sure which yet but I’m sure they will clarify everything this week. Needless to say I am pretty hosed as I invested a ton into German tools. So, yeah I’ve basically just spent the whole weekend staring into space trying to figure out how I want to handle it all.

 

[Robinson1]

I grew up fairly poor in a rural area. My options for tools as a teenager were Walmart, a Southern States co-op, True Value Hardware, and Napa.

As a teenager most my tools came from WalMart. Mostly because I couldn’t afford the tools Napa and Southern States sold. I bought a few things from True Value that WalMart didn’t stock. In the end the tools sold at True Value were about equal in quality to what WalMart sold. I got in on the tail end of the Popular Mechanics era then they switched to Stanley. Walmart had a much better tool department back then than they do today.

In my late teens and early 20s I bought a lot of carpentry related tools. Starting with brands like Black & Decker and Skil. Realized they were junk and transitioned to Bosch and Dewalt. Today I’m pretty much all Dewalt with a bit of Milwaukee and Hitachi.

I’ve never owned what I consider to be a really good set of sockets or wrenches. Starting with Popular Mechanics and Stanley, then adding some Harbor Freight, selling off a lot and replacing things with Craftsman and Napa brands then another major purge to Gearwrench and Tekton. At this point I have something from every cheap import tool brand that was popular enough to be stocked in stores.

Entering my 30s I got bit by the farming bug and what started as a hobby has become a sideline business. I have good tractors but most my attachments are marketplace finds and would be considered by most as rusty junk. That sparked the need for more tools and bigger tools and duplicates of tools so I could have what I needed staged when I needed them.

The brands I turned to at this point were Sunex, Tekton, Vevor, and Job Smart. I’ve been impressed with Vevor, and they are cheaper than Harbor Freight. And while price isn’t as big of an issue to me at this point in my life as it used to be I’m still a cheap person. Sunex is serviceable but hasn’t left me super impressed. Tekton is Tekton and Job Smart is either pure junk or pretty good.

So basically I started with WalMart junk and now almost 30 years later I’m buying Amazon junk. The fact of the matter is I’ve broken very little.

The last mechanics tools I bough was a rail of 3/8 drive metric sockets from Tractor Supply, JobSmart brand. They cost $19.99. I’ve grown to like the JobSmart tools. Like I said above they are either pure junk or pretty good. The good part is if you use common sense and actually examine the tools in store you can weed the junk out easily. They are cheaper than Tekton, and better quality than what WalMart currently stocks. We don’t have a local Harbor Freight. For me Job Smart has became my Pittsburgh Pro. (And wouldn’t be shocked to learn they are both made in the same factory)

I’ve told this story before but it’s worth mentioning. A few years back (likely 10 years now as time flies) I needed a duplicate 9/16 wrench for a project I was working on. I was far enough from home it made sense to just buy a tool versus going back home so I walked in Tractor Supply and found a small set of wrenches in the bargain bins up by the door for $5.99 that included sizes from 3/8 thru 3/4. And since that was cheaper than a single 9/16” wrench in the tool department. I bought them. That set of wrenches has lived on my work truck since. They have been used hard and they’ve never let me down. If someone asked me today to show them my favorite set of wrenches that’s what I would bring them. I think the brand was Barn Star although the tools themselves have no marking except for the size. They still have a similar set available at certain times of the year although they cost more than $5.99 now. I’ve often wondered if I just got lucky and got a set that had really good heat treatment or if they are all that good.

 

[AJHD]

Perhaps, with age comes wisdom. When I was a young tech, I wanted everything to be Snap on, Matco, Mac. I amassed everything I needed and then some through mostly the secondary market. As jobs changed, I ended up on shifts or places without tool trucks. At the same time, I noticed the quality gap narrowing between truck and non-truck brands. I also noticed the that the tool trucks were smoking crack with their pricing. As I'm closing in on retirement, I don't buy nearly as much as I used too. Very little of it comes from a tool truck. I think the last snap on purchase I made were the long nose 3 position slip joint pliers. Lately, it's been new offerings from Astro, VIM, Tekton, and Capri filling any tool needs I might have.

For me I don't think it's so much age or wisdom, but more that life is constantly changing. I frequently change jobs which brings with each one a change in my needs and availability of tool trucks also change. Although more than 90% of my tool truck buying has with two Snap On dealers and most of that has been me coming to them.

Anyway, as I said it's not just about quality. Things have definitely changed and quality tools that can get the job done are absolutely more available these days than even just a few years ago. But for me it's more about price/cost.

Unfortunately lots of tools from Tekton, Icon and others are overpriced. They don't come near tool truck prices, but still overpriced for what they are. A lot of them have also changed COO or the company has changed hands, etc.

However the real kick in the nuts for me has been the skyrocketing rise in tool truck prices. I just can't do it anymore. I don't know what's changed beyond a higher price tag but the word affordable or reasonable doesn't even enter the conversation like it used to.

I know exactly what the majority of these techs walking on the truck make and I don't understand how they afford to buy $5,000-$10,000 scan tools, $1,000 wrench sets, $500 socket sets, $5,000 tool boxes and everything else needed to do the job without incurring massive debt and spending a large majority of their paychecks on credit/truck payments.

I won't lie, I still owe Snap On money. But it wouldn't take much, as little as one tool, to equal what I owe or easily surpass it. I haven't bought more than an individual tool or two at a time for more than a year now. It's simply too expensive.

 

[liliysdad]

I grew up with cheap tools. My dad had a single S-K round head ratchet and a set of shallow 3/8 sockets in a green tin box, and a set of S-K combination wrenches. Everything else was unmarked “Taiwan” or “Japan.” With that set of tools he rebuilt engines and fixed lawnmowers.

When i started amassing my own tools, I immediately gravitated toward US tools. Since I was young and broke, I started out with a lot of used pawn shop and garage sale Craftsman and S-K. Over time I started replacing it with Snap On, Matco, and other truck brands as I came across it. Holes were filled with Williams USA, Wright, and Proto.

The occasional Icon, Capri, and Tekton have snuck in here and there. They are fine….but most will be replaced with something US made when I run across the right deal.

 

[AEAdam]

So, I had a philosophy about tools, tool usage and buying tools but that’s all out the window. My shop is undergoing rapid change and new certs and all this other stuff and we are being mandated to have just one footprint for a personal box. It has to be under a certain depth and width and it sounds like they are asking for us to utilize US or North American sourced tools. Not sure which yet but I’m sure they will clarify everything this week. Needless to say I am pretty hosed as I invested a ton into German tools. So, yeah I’ve basically just spent the whole weekend staring into space trying to figure out how I want to handle it all.

What do you mean? Does your company pay for tools? Or provide some tool stipend? What say do they have regarding personal tools? Sounds like you have some government contract work.

 

[u2slow]

I lusted for pro tools 20-25 years ago when I couldn't really afford them. Maybe 1 in 10 purchases was something premium.

Now that I can afford a little more, I reflect on how much work I got done with cheap stuff and improvising. I don't really need fancy tools. Often, I run the cheap tool to death, and at that point decide if I need something better.

 

[Steve_P]

Unfortunately lots of tools from Tekton, Icon and others are overpriced. They don't come near tool truck prices, but still overpriced for what they are. A lot of them have also changed COO or the company has changed hands, etc.

I agree that a lot of Icon stuff is overpriced for what it is. But you are paying for the walk-in warranty, and the "OMG, it's 20% of what Snap On costs" - but 2-3X what the HF Pittsburg costs if a similar product is available.

However, if you think Tekton is overpriced, I don't know what to say. I consider it an absolute bargain for the quality vs price. I thought that I was cheap, but....

 

[Callelle]

I go for tool truck tools as often as I can afford but I hunt facebook marketplace for the cheapest things I can. I give my truck dealers my business when I'm looking for specific things that are hard to find second hand, or specific colors. Astro I shut up and take my money to for most things they offer that I would use.

 

[liliysdad]

However, if you think Tekton is overpriced, I don't know what to say. I consider it an absolute bargain for the quality vs price. I thought that I was cheap, but....

For the price it’s decent….but I’ve yet to find anything outside of their US made hard handle drivers that I was impressed with beyond thinking “not horrible for cheap tools.”

 

[2ndGearRubber]

For me I don't think it's so much age or wisdom, but more that life is constantly changing. I frequently change jobs which brings with each one a change in my needs and availability of tool trucks also change. Although more than 90% of my tool truck buying has with two Snap On dealers and most of that has been me coming to them.

Anyway, as I said it's not just about quality. Things have definitely changed and quality tools that can get the job done are absolutely more available these days than even just a few years ago. But for me it's more about price/cost.

Unfortunately lots of tools from Tekton, Icon and others are overpriced. They don't come near tool truck prices, but still overpriced for what they are. A lot of them have also changed COO or the company has changed hands, etc.

However the real kick in the nuts for me has been the skyrocketing rise in tool truck prices. I just can't do it anymore. I don't know what's changed beyond a higher price tag but the word affordable or reasonable doesn't even enter the conversation like it used to.

I know exactly what the majority of these techs walking on the truck make and I don't understand how they afford to buy $5,000-$10,000 scan tools, $1,000 wrench sets, $500 socket sets, $5,000 tool boxes and everything else needed to do the job without incurring massive debt and spending a large majority of their paychecks on credit/truck payments.

I won't lie, I still owe Snap On money. But it wouldn't take much, as little as one tool, to equal what I owe or easily surpass it. I haven't bought more than an individual tool or two at a time for more than a year now. It's simply too expensive.

It's financed. That's the whole scene.

Just like a house couldn't be 500k. That only exists because financing exists. Otherwise no one would save up 500k cash.

 

[micromind]

I've been buying tools off and on for about 50 years.

When I was young and broke, I bought whatever I could afford. I don't think I still have any of these.......lol.

A local department store stocked SK so I started buying those. I still have a lot of these, they have stood up well even with the abuse of working on farm machinery. (I'm pretty sure that back then they were made in USA)

At some point about 30 years ago, I started buying Armstrong. Really good tools and had a great lineup, made in USA. But after Apex bought them, they closed the factory, 2011 I think.......something I will never forgive them for.

After that, I started buying Wright. Incredibly tough but they don't make everything, made in USA. For the stuff Wright doesn't make, I go to Proto. Not sure but I think Proto is made in USA too.

 

[Steve_P]

For the price it’s decent….but I’ve yet to find anything outside of their US made hard handle drivers that I was impressed with beyond thinking “not horrible for cheap tools.”

Fair enough. We all have our opinions.

But for new tools, easily available, for the same $, what's superior to Tekton for the same product?

 

[liliysdad]

Fair enough. We all have our opinions.

But for new tools, easily available, for the same $, what's superior to Tekton for the same product?

I don’t know that there is anything better at that price point…

 

[Steve_P]

I don’t know that there is anything better at that price point…

I think we're both correct

 

[nicks78camaro]

For me I don't think it's so much age or wisdom, but more that life is constantly changing. I frequently change jobs which brings with each one a change in my needs and availability of tool trucks also change. Although more than 90% of my tool truck buying has with two Snap On dealers and most of that has been me coming to them.

Anyway, as I said it's not just about quality. Things have definitely changed and quality tools that can get the job done are absolutely more available these days than even just a few years ago. But for me it's more about price/cost.

Unfortunately lots of tools from Tekton, Icon and others are overpriced. They don't come near tool truck prices, but still overpriced for what they are. A lot of them have also changed COO or the company has changed hands, etc.

However the real kick in the nuts for me has been the skyrocketing rise in tool truck prices. I just can't do it anymore. I don't know what's changed beyond a higher price tag but the word affordable or reasonable doesn't even enter the conversation like it used to.

I know exactly what the majority of these techs walking on the truck make and I don't understand how they afford to buy $5,000-$10,000 scan tools, $1,000 wrench sets, $500 socket sets, $5,000 tool boxes and everything else needed to do the job without incurring massive debt and spending a large majority of their paychecks on credit/truck payments.

I won't lie, I still owe Snap On money. But it wouldn't take much, as little as one tool, to equal what I owe or easily surpass it. I haven't bought more than an individual tool or two at a time for more than a year now. It's simply too expensive.

Are you a flat rate tech? Why frequently changing jobs?

 

[d.mcfarland]

It's nice to be a member of a community like garage journal where people share their experiences with different things. Those reports make it so much easier to make informed decisions. The criteria used is also very broad so you get different perspectives from people in many different environments.

 

[Wiz02]

I started out buying Craftsman hand tools in the early 80s. I am a ********* diy guy that over the years replaced, actually added to my hardline hand tools with made in USA industrial brands as I never could justify SnapOn prices.

I've tried a couple of tools based on raves from GJ fan boys, but ultimately I reach for the tools from the brands that I am used to that I have had for years.

I am not rushing out to buy more itty-bitty screwdrivers, pliers, million tpi ratchets or whatever the latest cool tool is.

Or maybe I am just getting old and set in my ways.

 

[AJHD]

Are you a flat rate tech? Why frequently changing jobs?

I've worked flat rate, yeah. But it's less about the job and more about the people. I've worked for some ************* human beings. There is only so much you can take when the decision is made for you.

I can't seem to escape it. It appears every business regardless of size or industry is run assholes and staffed by morons who don't give a ****. The inmates are running the asylum.

Anyway... This really is a conversation for a different thread.

 

[AEAdam]

I started switching to Snap On in the bad ole days when tools from Taiwan were absolute garbage. The difference was amazing and I’m glad I upgraded. I love my tools.

I’m not buying basics. I‘m good with what I have. But I’d be more inclined to consider non-US made brands based on my perception that high quality tools are being made outside the US.

Not related to brands, I don’t love love love my hard handle dual 80s. I prefer the soft handles. Like to have hard handle rotos.

 

[Shocker]

I have never worked as a mechanic or anything like that. I have done a bunch of soldering etc in a lab when I was a working engineer. I bought all my own stuff and had personal preferences for most everything. Wiha for tiny torque drivers, Hakko for dykes, etc.

I have restored or partially restored quite a few cars so I have a lot of tools. It is a very eclectic mixture by this time. I love Cornwell stuff and buy them used if I need something, Whia or Wera for screw drivers but I have so many now that I bet you will find just about every brand in those drawers.

SK, a lot of that and upteen amounts of Craftsman. Hazet, Snap On, etc etc.

I just buy what I like to use. So far so good!

 

[richfinn]

I like to buy from non tool truck brands that specialize in particular tools, they tend to live or die on quality and innovation.

Vessel and PB Swiss - Screwdrivers

Ko-ken - Sockets

Knipex - Pliers

Fluke -Multimeters (I like my UNI-T amp clamp a lot too)

Stahlwille - Wrenches

Veto Pro-Pac - Tool bags

Lisle - Mechanics Specialty tools

Launch - Diagnostic Tools (not the most intuitive but the coverage and features are always in there somewhere)

I still like Snap-On/Facom/MAC Ratchets if I can find a good deal, I wish we could get VIM Tools a bit easier in the UK (they look to sell some interesting stuff)

 

[Wamsutta]

I really like my Snap-on tools, however they aren’t the best for use in the pull-a-part or other local salvage yards (Tools get lost). So I have been using older craftsman tools for the salvage yard or in the tool box in the truck. I buy everything used either on Facebook Marketplace or Ebay.

When I go to the salvage yard, my tools are never more than an arms length away. I'm paranoid at the salvage yard.

 

[ATC]

For my whole tool-buying life, I've always gone with mid-grade stuff. I look at bang-for-the-buck with everything I buy. Dad was a mechanic his whole life, and had a Matco box full of SK from the '70's thru the '90's. That's what I started using when working on my vehicles at home. When it came time for me to buy, I wanted as close to that as I could afford. So it was USA Craftsman, Gearwrench, Kobalt, Blackhawk, Tekton, Sunex, etc....and still to this day, that's what I buy if I need something.