Cheap Tool Lesson Learned

[ETravis]

I finally learned to avoid cheap tools. While doing a spark plug change on my 2007 F150 with 5.4L (Anyone who's familiar with this knows that it is a thread topic all its own!) I had to use a 3/8 universal joint to get to the back passenger side plug. As I was breaking it loose the cheap Auto Zone joint broke and a piece fell down the spark plug shaft and landed next to the spark plug preventing me from putting the socket on the plug. I tried several things to get it out but eventually found success with a pick and a small tube rigged up to the shop vac to **** it out. Anyway, it was a huge pain the *** that could have been avoided by using a good quality U-joint. Anybody else learn their lesson the hard way??

 

[smothers33]

every day i use a craftsman_________. you fill in the blank. i never had a problem using craftsman wrenches or sockets or racthets, or pliers, etc.... until i started wrenching for a living. now every day im spreading wrenches, twisting allen wrenches, cracking sockets and ratchets, etc. almost all the craftsman i have are USA craftsman albeit recently purchased but still I didnt beleive they were that bad untill I started turning those basturd bolts gooped up will loctite and rusted to hell. I am slowly going to be moving to snapon/matco possibly sk or wright.

 

[vssjim]

I thought they people on this site said Duralast made snap on tools didn't they.

 

[Tomg303]

Harbor fright ratchet stripped its gears and my hand catapulted into the clutch fan on my '75 camaro. I'm a poor college student but now I figure a decent ratchet would be a good investment.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I finally learned to avoid cheap tools. While doing a spark plug change on my 2007 F150 with 5.4L (Anyone who's familiar with this knows that it is a thread topic all its own!) I had to use a 3/8 universal joint to get to the back passenger side plug. As I was breaking it loose the cheap Auto Zone joint broke and a piece fell down the spark plug shaft and landed next to the spark plug preventing me from putting the socket on the plug. I tried several things to get it out but eventually found success with a pick and a small tube rigged up to the shop vac to **** it out. Anyway, it was a huge pain the *** that could have been avoided by using a good quality U-joint. Anybody else learn their lesson the hard way??

I've broken u-joints from Snapon, Mac, Matco, Proto, SK and Craftsman. The only ones that have stuck around for any length of time have been the SK's and a ¾" drive Williams that I have no idea where in the hell came from.

They are a fragile tool regardless of the maker. I've mostly done away with them in favor of impact swivels and wobble extensions.

 

[OHMS LAW]

When I was changing plug 5 on my Nissan 3.3 v6 xterra, the ceramic broke and the shards blocked the socket from fitting and so after much cursing and dog kicking, I sacrificed a water hose to make a crevice tool and got all shards out and was able to finish the job. Glad they are now lot more durable

 

[Inkncraig]

I learned my lesson early. Inferior tools just break, round bolts and generally cause more havoc than its worth. My time is valuable. I make a living with the tools I own. So I buy the best. I will usually buy used though.
When your in that [snafu] situation, and your tools have to come through.
Mine do.
I just bought a used snap on mg325 impact wrench
I did a rear main seal on a -all wheel drive Acura mdx.
That tool made a difference

 

[CWP1616L]

There are some types of tools that really stand out in quality above and beyond their auto parts store or home center store counterparts and that's universal joints. Get yourself a Snap-on universal joint off eBay. Williams are also excellent.

 

[JASTECH]

Ouchie ya'll, That's why we talk so much about it so the chance of "shaking hands with your closest fan" won't happen! <---Just made that up, lol


Well now you two can assist when others ask, it may save you money, time, pain in the long run.

 

[pipsters]

I learned early on to buy a magnetic pick up tool

 

[bcradio]

I learned early on to buy a magnetic pick up tool

That's for sure... One of the best things I've purchased

 

[03protege]

I learned early on to buy a magnetic pick up tool

I have a few in various sizes, can't even begin to say how many times they saved my ***.

 

[Neuswede]

That's for sure... One of the best things I've purchased

..with the led light in the end, when you get old and can't see didley in the dark.

 

[greasemonkey44]

I learned early on to buy a magnetic pick up tool

or several

OP: i feel you on the cheap stuff, i knocked the pins out of a northern swivel
my cheap swivel 1/2 impact sockets are starting to give on the pins more and more too
the snapon universal is a work of art, welded pins too ..... just the price is murder
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=674831&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

also a little birdy told me an impact works wonders on those plugs

 

[ATC]

My Craftsman tools changed the plugs on my 4.6L just fine


I wrap ALL my universals with electrical tape. It keeps the socket in position until you get it on the bolt/nut (when you can't reach your hand in there to guide the socket on). The tape also doubles as a catch so if it does break, the pieces don't go anywhere

 

[zakmartin]

every day i use a craftsman_________. you fill in the blank.

Okay. Every day I use a Craftsman and it works just fine, just like my S-K tools, my Armstrongs, my Protos, my Blackhawks, my Wrights, etc.

And I wrenched for a living too. That being said, I'm glad I bought my Craftsman hand tools back in the day when it wasn't the garbage they sell now.

 

[Gary S]

Poorly designed tools and poorly designed trucks don't play nice. A better truck wouldn't have those problems.

 

[smothers33]

Okay. Every day I use a Craftsman and it works just fine, just like my S-K tools, my Armstrongs, my Protos, my Blackhawks, my Wrights, etc.

And I wrenched for a living too. That being said, I'm glad I bought my Craftsman hand tools back in the day when it wasn't the garbage they sell now.

i think thats the difference. i dont have any older craftsman tools every tool i have i purchased within the last 2 years. most(not all) of the people who i hear arguing for craftsman are people that either have the older craftsman or just dont put them up to the abuse that the people that ***** about them do. i was always on craftsman side i didnt believe when people said they were **** because i used them every day. but now that i do it all day everyday on heavy duty jobs they just are not holding up. i still think they are a really good value considering the price but to me they are more suited for homeowners than mechanics

 

[Mickey O]

I thought they people on this site said Duralast made snap on tools didn't they.

They do, you're seeing them above.

I learned early on to buy a magnetic pick up tool

Especially if you buy your tools at a place that rhymes with barber great.

 

[Mike007]

They do, you're seeing them above. Especially if you buy your tools at a place that rhymes with barber great.

 

[FiendFX]

They do, you're seeing them above.


Answer:broken



Especially if you buy your tools at a place that rhymes with barber great.

Answer: Harbor Freight

 

[Danglerb]

Poor tools won't make a good mechanic bad, and good tools won't make a poor mechanic good.

I like heat shrink around the universal more than tape.

 

[lennoxlennox]

Poor tools won't make a good mechanic bad, and good tools won't make a poor mechanic good.

I like heat shrink around the universal more than tape.

ahhh but the question is, would a good mechanic choose to use "poor tools"

 

[Hiball]

I'm not a big fan of "Cheap" universals/extension, I had a 1/2" drive long extension snap (in the middle) one time and its not a ride I want to take again anytime soon. Obviously... Any tool can fail or have poor QC, but on a personal level I just won't cheap out in that area.

 

[NWphotog]

I've broken u-joints from Snapon, Mac, Matco, Proto, SK and Craftsman. The only ones that have stuck around for any length of time have been the SK's and a ¾" drive Williams that I have no idea where in the hell came from.

They are a fragile tool regardless of the maker. I've mostly done away with them in favor of impact swivels and wobble extensions.

Exactly. Any one that think SO tools don't break doesn't have a clue. A fool and his money....

 

[NWphotog]

They do, you're seeing them above.






Especially if you buy your tools at a place that rhymes with barber great.

Any tech who doesn't have a magnetic pu tool is not a tech regardless of how many tens of thousands he has wasted on toolery!

 

[acidise]

im a heavy truck mechanic, snapon prices ****, mac is a bit better, I love snapon ratchets. if you have to buy a ratchet, get the locking flex head high tooth count ones, simply gorgeous and work amazing! haven't broken one yet and I've sniped them all! only the 1/2" drive torx screws keep coming loose, so i use that time to fill it back up with silicone grease or ex. press. gear grease, blue loctite the screws in and away i go.

 

[mr.speaker]

I've learned that using an impact is the best way to remove the triton spark plugs while the motor is still hot. They come right out

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Harbor fright ratchet stripped its gears and my hand catapulted into the clutch fan on my '75 camaro. I'm a poor college student but now I figure a decent ratchet would be a good investment.

I hate hand catapulting i really really REALLY do.

Cheap tools **** and in more ways than one. They break, they screw up what you're working on, they break your hands, F%*& cheap tools.

Inexpensive tools? sure, CHEAP oh hell no.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

ahhh but the question is, would a good mechanic choose to use "poor tools"

Mechanic philosophy anyone? Here is a sage quote [from a dude named Balthasar Gracian]

Aphorism 62: Use Good Instruments
Some would have the subtlety of their wits proven by the meanness of their instruments. ’Tis a dangerous satisfaction, and deserves a fatal punishment. The excellence of a minister never diminished the greatness of his lord. All the glory of exploits reverts to the principal actor; also all the blame. Fame only does business with principals. She does not say, "This had good, that had bad servants," but, "This was a good artist, that a bad one." Let your assistants be selected and tested therefore, for you have to trust to them for an immortality of fame.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

He's tryna say that "some would have their supersonic mechanic abilities proven by their ability to use junk tools, but that is BS and they should like die, and stuff"

 

[NWphotog]

He's tryna say that "some would have their supersonic mechanic abilities proven by their ability to use junk tools, but that is BS and they should like die, and stuff"

Honestly I wouldn't suggest junk tools but it is kind of scary how much some worship over priced shiny chrome. Good tools can be surprising low cost despite what some think.

 

[Hiball]

Honestly I wouldn't suggest junk tools but it is kind of scary how much some worship over priced shiny chrome. Good tools can be surprising low cost despite what some think.

"Overpriced" and How much dictates "Wasting money on toolery" are all personal preferences based on ones needs. What works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another, no matter how many times someone types it in a forum.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

They cost 3x as much.

1x for the tool, 1x for the warranty, and 1x for the Name.
It's not like there is no reason at all for those [high] prices.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

I agree though, it depends on if it's worth it or practical to the end user, absolutely.

 

[balane]

When you broke that tool did you get in the zone, the auto zone?

 

[pipsters]

MechanicNamedJohn build his business including several progressively bigger shops using nothing but el cheapo Harbor Freight tools.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Last time i broke a tool i was smokin some good weed though .....

 

[TheCarbideRat]

MechanicNamedJohn build his business including several progressively bigger shops using nothing but el cheapo Harbor Freight tools.

I had read that whole thread. He also went to truck brand boxes and other things later on. I have some HF stuff in probly every drawer of my boxes, in fact i'm sure i do. Inexpensive yes, but not always low quality. Simple but effective is the way to go.

 

[SO/PW newbie]

I thought they people on this site said Duralast made snap on tools didn't they.

Is it a duralast? it looks more like a great neck.