Used American made hand tools to avoid?

[Natsfan]

I have a few holes in my wrench collection. It is always easy to pick out Craftsman tools from the bins at the swap meet, but I thought I should broaden my horizons. I would only consider US made tools, but is it bad to generalize in that way? Are some US brands ****?

 

[reptilezs]

you can usually just tell by the finish. do not automatically rule out satin finish though. i would stick to the well known industrial brands like sk, Williams, wright, proto, even the non snap on truck brands. bonney is good stuff. indestro is good. off the top of my head, thorsen is a value usa brand

 

[SMKS]

For me, I generally avoid vintage sockets and wrenches, when it comes to tools I'll be using frequently. They don't have modern off-corner engagement, so they're more likely to round off fasteners.

I have backup sets made up of some vintage tools, but my main tools are newer vintage.

 

[Plombob]

There's a lot of old iron that has no name. I stay away from those. Other than that, if it doesn't fit the hand well, don't bother.

 

[Ironhorse]

I have a few holes in my wrench collection. It is always easy to pick out Craftsman tools from the bins at the swap meet, but I thought I should broaden my horizons. I would only consider US made tools, but is it bad to generalize in that way? Are some US brands ****?

Buy tools at the Bethany home drive in...the greyhound park has crappy ones...

 

[zkling]

Oxwall and proto.

 

[kams1973]

Avoid Proto? Can you elaborate?

 

[3baygarage]

Oxwall and proto.

Oxwall look like children's tools. Stamped little playthings.

But Proto? Oh yeah, just avoid the Proto and save it all for me.

 

[Mickey O]

To avoid:

Thorsen (sockets, not sure about their wrenches) & Barcalo.


To get:

Bonney, Armstrong, Duro-Chrome, Indestro, Proto, Williams, S-K, Easco, Vlchek, Billings, Martin, Fairmont, Penens, Plvmb ......... the list goes on

 

[Ironhorse]

Oxwall look like children's tools. Stamped little playthings.

But Proto? Oh yeah, just avoid the Proto and save it all for me.

I think he meant Oxwall and Fisher Price.....stay away from the older Fisher Price Hammer sets..

 

[3baygarage]

I spent years avoiding Snap On because I thought it wasn't for me and Craftsman was king.

 

[larry_g]

Globemaster

lg
no neat sig line

 

[DieselSaves]

To avoid:

Thorsen (sockets, not sure about their wrenches) & Barcalo.


To get:

Bonney, Armstrong, Duro-Chrome, Indestro, Proto, Williams, S-K, Easco, Vlchek, Billings, Martin, Fairmont, Penens, Plvmb ......... the list goes on

Thorsen wrenches are pretty solid. Close to Bonney I'd say.

 

[kams1973]

P&C made some great wrenches too.

 

[Honda guy]

Get back in the water. I'm trying to catch a different fish.

Now that's funny!

 

[the tool man]

Any tool made in America is better than overseas made tools

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have a few holes in my wrench collection. It is always easy to pick out Craftsman tools from the bins at the swap meet, but I thought I should broaden my horizons. I would only consider US made tools, but is it bad to generalize in that way? Are some US brands ****?

Older us made knives (mass produced stuff) is pretty much dog turd.

For tools...you probably can tell by looking at it but most will be worn to **** anyway and cheap enough that it doesn't matter. I wouldn't buy older than 80s snap on (not that I do but what I've seen) but I'm not everybody.

 

[928'er]

Thorsen wrenches are pretty solid. Close to Bonney I'd say.

I agree. I've got a set of Thorsen combination wrenches bought in the early '70's that, while maybe not quite "truck" brand quality, are equal to - or better than - anything else available on the commercial market at the time.

Unfortunately, current Thorsen branded tools are just chicom **** made under license of the Thorsen name - sad.

 

[PCO6]

Any tool made in America is better than overseas made tools

 

[mrborohachi]

Lisle allen sockets and E-torx sockets both pieces of trash,

 

[shockwave]

Lisle allen sockets and E-torx sockets both pieces of trash,

Agreed they do make some nice specialty tools thou

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I buy a lot of tools at estate sales and auctions. I really like, Wright or New Britain. I have bought bundles of tools to get the good stuff. I just keep what I want and either sell the imported **** or give it away. I try to only keep and use American tools. JMHO.

 

[Wakefield]

Was "Fleet" a value line of another more expensive brand? Sort of OK?
Was Bonney about as good or better than anything made during its time?

 

[Scout Driver]

Was "Fleet" a value line of another more expensive brand? Sort of OK?
Was Bonney about as good or better than anything made during its time?

I've seen Fleet tools that look like re-branded Thorsen. That said, the earlier Thorsen tools are good. The wrenches are basic but good quality. As Mickey O said, their sockets can be iffy. From my experience, they had a tendency to wear quickly and "strip out" and were prone to cracking more-so than other sockets. As far as Thorsen ratchets, pick them up and try them. If they look, feel and sound ok, they should be good.

Bonney made tools for Matco and John Deere. The wrenches are comfy and much sought-after. Bonney was probably as good as anybody during their time.

Scott

 

[bonneyman]

Thorsen wrenches are pretty solid. Close to Bonney I'd say.

I have to agree here. The older Thorsen and Bonney stuff I have are good tools.
And S-K always made good stuff. Now that they're back from the brink I'd support them in an New york minute!

As to what to avoid, the statement that older standard broached tools tend to round off under high torque situations is a valid point. Though, I'd rather have some vintage USA steel than almost anything Chinese.

 

[_vin_]

Was "Fleet" a value line of another more expensive brand? Sort of OK?
Was Bonney about as good or better than anything made during its time?

I believe fleet tools were made by penens, which was owned by proto.

 

[exmaxima]

Any tool made in America is better than overseas made tools

Have you ever tried a raised panel Craftsman USA ratchet??

 

[gol4]

I think it would be a good idea if Everyone avoided buying Plomb tools.

That way I can get them cheaper.

 

[zkling]

Was "Fleet" a value line of another more expensive brand? Sort of OK?
Was Bonney about as good or better than anything made during its time?

I think Fleet was to Proto as Kraeuter was to SK. I have some fleet wrenches, ain't pretty, but they seem to get the job done just fine.

 

[RRmech]

Almost anything that says.....THORSEN USA will be a decent tool.
Fleet was considered an 'inexpensive' line of tools, still fairly good compared to most modern offshore garbage.

I was never that impressed with Great Neck USA tools.
Often sold in drug and grocery stores, right beside light bulbs and trash bags.

 

[parnass]

Oxwall .....

The first (and only) wrench I ever broke was an Oxwall. I think it was a small, stamped ignition type wrench.

 

[Kev442]

I doubt I would hunt down Herbrand, kind of a budget tool. The few I have are quite rounded off and worn.

 

[jakemac]

I have a large Herbrand 40oz BP hammer that was well used when I got it, but the faces were still fine. For some of these brands it may depend on the tool, rather than the overall brand. Much like the tools found at Harbor Freight.

As for my preferences, I won't touch newer Craftsman tools USA or China, but I'm all over older Cman tools at the flea market.

 

[Natsfan]

Wow, thanks for the responses.

If I may hijack my own thread and turn it into a flea market price rant. All day Sunday I thought I was being a cheap skate, did not buy a thing. For example I needed another 3/8 ratchet. Every booth had a Craftsman one, they all wanted $10. I could not talk anyone down. I knew they were $14 new, for used I want a better discount that that!

When I got home I check ebay and got a brand new Craftsman 3/8 ratchet for $10 free shipping!

I also passed up a 3' ish Columbian vise for $20 kinds regretting that now

 

[Gmonkee]

Natsfan, there will be more vises out there, 3" is kind of small for most household projects anyway. I'm using a 2-1/2" little thing the last decade and dearly miss the 4" vises the shops had.

In my humble opinion you can do much better than current CM ratchets with a lot of other brands. Sometimes a little rust disguises a fine old ratchet for $5 or a $1 ratchet that only needs a good cleaning to make it a good working unit. There is a lot of info on this and other forums on how to strip them down and rebuild them. Its almost a hobby in itself to do that now.

How goes the tool hunt otherwise?

 

[Jim C.]

Have you ever tried a raised panel Craftsman USA ratchet??

Yes, I've been using them for years with no problems and no complaints.

Jim C.

 

[Natsfan]

How goes the tool hunt otherwise?[/QUOTE]

Well I am relatively new to Phoenix, so I am still learning were the swap meets and good garage sales are. I am proud to have my first garage as well, so I finally have room to spread out. Picked up an old Delta drill press last month. I have a crappy China vise, well some vise, its mostly bondo, that I need to replace. Also on the look out for a bench grinder.

 

[Ruger_556]

Avoid older John Deere wrenches...

 

[nicksnothereman]

Yes, I've been using them for years with no problems and no complaints.

Jim C.

Those are my main wrenches (besides odds and ends mainly craftsman stuff). Not a wrench guy though.

I have durabuilt offset 12 point wrenches. True story. Are they ****? I'll never know because I'll probably never use them. Must've got a good deal on them 5+ years ago. I wonder if they're taiwanese...

I have a ton of "****" tools. Most people are missing out with buying only good stuff. I use those walgreens chinese no names for random **** (like mixing paint or various other crud duty)...paid 1.25 (maybe less) for a set of something like 6 (probably more). Would people have a problem paying 1.25 for a set of screwdrivers made in china? Probably, but they're missing out on near free stuff. Gotta squeeze every penny folks.

 

[RRmech]

Squeezing pennies for ME, meant yard sales and flea markets:

My main work wrenches for YEARS; a set of NOS with pouch KAL-USA SAE wrenches.
Old Snap-On sockets for a buck-a-piece, a NOS 3/8" drive Easco ratchet for five bucks.
Every dollar saved on good-but-cheap tools; went for food, gas, and our house mortgage.