Best "Cheap tool" you have ever purchased...

[bcradio]

Hf pick set.

+1000 on this... Bought my orange set for 99 cents and put it through hell. Still works great.

Don't understand all the ney-sayers about these sets.
I don't try and do pullups from them but I use em hard.

 

[quattroJoe]

I bought one of those Stanley 40pc socket sets from Walmart when I was 14. I have used and abused that set and its always ready for more. I still have it 5 years later. The ratchet did die a few months ago but for what I paid for it I would definitely buy another set

I was about to post the same. Bought a Stanley 3/8 deep socket set from Walmart about ten years ago. At that time I rarely had time for projects except at night, and I bought the sockets in a pinch- Walmart being the only place that was open. It's still my go-to set at home, and I just recently noticed there is nothing stamped on the 15mm [emoji1]

 

[diggerrick]

HF 1/2" drive extendable 72t ratchet for $9.99 - great tool that I use all the time.

aldi(which is a budget supermarket in europe where cheapskates like me do their food shopping)

Cheapskates like me do their food shopping at ALDI in the USA, too.

 

[absolutelybillsmood]

I was about to post the same. Bought a Stanley 3/8 deep socket set from Walmart about ten years ago. At that time I rarely had time for projects except at night, and I bought the sockets in a pinch- Walmart being the only place that was open. It's still my go-to set at home, and I just recently noticed there is nothing stamped on the 15mm [emoji1]

I agree my Stanley sockets are great

 

[sasquatch12]

I suppose this is a tool:
My Poulan 56cc chainsaw bought new in 88 and used every spring to cut 12-15 face cords of firewood. it has never been apart, starts on second pull after sitting all winter.
Still has the original pull cord, just last year i had to change the two little fuel lines due to rot.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

3" HF pneumatic cutoff wheel... dirt cheap , come with a steel guard, and seem to last forever... and FAST and handy...

Would the piece of rebar that I use for a prybar count?? I sure do like the factory serrated handle grip

 

[treblarefils]

This bad boy right here it has withstood abuse fairly well also. I put quite a bit of torque on it. It fits into the tightest spots id recommend it to anyone if their was a snap on version id buy it right now after seeing how useful it has been for me working on cars. I haven't been careful with it at all to test its limits within reason If it does break ill just grab another with warranty.
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-and-38-drive-x-14-38-double-head-flex-ratchet-wrench-67994.html

 

[stage20]

3" HF pneumatic cutoff wheel... dirt cheap , come with a steel guard, and seem to last forever... and FAST and handy...

Would the piece of rebar that I use for a prybar count?? I sure do like the factory serrated handle grip

yes to the first part and a good chuckle out of the second.

 

[stage20]

This bad boy right here it has withstood abuse fairly well also. I put quite a bit of torque on it. It fits into the tightest spots id recommend it to anyone if their was a snap on version id buy it right now after seeing how useful it has been for me working on cars. I haven't been careful with it at all to test its limits within reason If it does break ill just grab another with warranty.
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-and-38-drive-x-14-38-double-head-flex-ratchet-wrench-67994.html

ive got the short one too but never used it. the long one is a great tool. extra length to help break fasteners easily. even if they arent stuck, it saves your muscles for other projects.
this is the only tool in the store i can 100% admit there is no way it come from HF if i didnt purchase it.

 

[NoahG]

I really like these Workforce/HDX 8" Channellock style pliers from Home Depot. I like the rounded section in the jaws, its like having a standard slip joint but with more leverage. Really handy and I haven't found anything like it except in the low end Chinese tool tier.

Oh, but after thinking about it, my Skil ixo battery screwdriver comes close.

 

[Matt_C]

Probably this;

32mm rigid scraper - I think originally designed for scraping paint off, but I use it day in, day out, for removing trims, door panels, cleaning up glue around edges, prising wiper nut covers off, getting under clips - all sorts! Next to my hook tool (a Snap On radiator hose pick) it's probably my most used tool! And all for the princely sum of about £4 (about $6.50 US)

Apart from being used for pretty much everything other than what it was actually designed for, they take a lot of abuse too - you'll often find me beating it with a mallet to snap off trims I can't pull off by hand. My biggest problem is I keep losing them, so I always buy two at a time so I have a spare!

 

[atikovi]

Lisle door panel clip tool and Mercedes instrument cluster removal tools.

Use them every week for jobs they were never intended to do.

 

[monomach]

Since you specified something that my maintenance/care of has been subpar...the $20 (with coupon) Harbor Freight sawzall. I got it for a quickie job when I was hours away from my tools five years ago and have used it for everything I do outdoors ever since. It keeps my work Milwaukee and home Makita from ever getting water/mud/whatever on them. I just can't kill it. It's gone on for years now.

I've never taken it apart for cleaning or greasing. Every few months or so, I wipe down the outside with a Lysol cleaning wipe; that's the extent of my maintenance of it.

 

[stage20]

Since you specified something that my maintenance/care of has been subpar...the $20 (with coupon) Harbor Freight sawzall. I got it for a quickie job when I was hours away from my tools five years ago and have used it for everything I do outdoors ever since. It keeps my work Milwaukee and home Makita from ever getting water/mud/whatever on them. I just can't kill it. It's gone on for years now.

I've never taken it apart for cleaning or greasing. Every few months or so, I wipe down the outside with a Lysol cleaning wipe; that's the extent of my maintenance of it.

i bought an old orange one when they opened up. they had a doorbuster or something back then and i think it was 7 or 9.99. i use it the same way you do. i dont care about it. been dropped 8ft a few times, still kicking. the blade screw is about stripped out but its had a rough life.

 

[woody 73]

Funny thing but I bought an old tool box full of tools for something like $15.00 dollars at a garage sale and one of the ratchets was a K-mart 3/8 drive Benchtop ratchet; Best cheap tool that I ever used.

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

Homelite ST275 string trimmer bought new in 1994. It hasn't cost me anything but gas, oil, and line. Payed 79.95$ for it at Loews. I trim 3/4 acre and around chain link fence in the back yard. If it was still made, I'd buy a couple more and store them.

 

[tgb]

I bought a popular mechanics 30 pc socket set from walmart in 1991 and used it a lot and still have all the pieces and no issues in all that time, it was the first tools I ever bought for myself.

 

[justang1997]

Titan 1/4,3/8,1/2 inch drive adapter set. Steps up and down drive sizes. $5

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[theoldwizard1]

Not "time tested proven" yet, but I bought the HF 2 Piece 20° Offset & 45° Angle Long Reach Pliers. Work great. The 45° work well on small hose clamps.

Close second is the HF 2 piece Long Reach Hose Grip Pliers. They work well on fuel and vacuum lines.

I have had both for less than a year, but after collecting tools for well over 40 years, I don't know why I waited so long.

 

[ctjohnson]

Homelite ST275 string trimmer bought new in 1994. It hasn't cost me anything but gas, oil, and line. Payed 79.95$ for it at Loews. I trim 3/4 acre and around chain link fence in the back yard. If it was still made, I'd buy a couple more and store them.

My leaf blower is a homelite from around that time and it has never let me down, and I've used it commercially for years as well. Great blower, never even had to clean the carb. Just keeps going

 

[rtole]

Popular mechanics rubber deadblow hammer. I wail on that thing daily. I bought it in the 90s. I buy others and they wear out. This one looks hardly used. Well, I guess I have stopped buying others. This one has earned its keep. I literaly windmill this thing on metal..........cant kill it. I have killed many other rubber dead blows...........I wish I knew who made it. I would stockpile them.

 

[Nikothibault]

Harbor Freight 3/8 ratcheting torque wrench under $20 with a coupon.


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[Grimly]

Makita 7" circular saw, bought used 20 years ago. Since then, it's been used in building other peoples' houses and mine too. Never let me down.

 

[DodgeMech]

Pocket screwdrivers from the snapoff guy...free fitty free and they get used on many things they weren't designed for...

But, I agree with the hf mini pick set(don't even use my snap ons anymore) and the 4 lb dead blow

 

[Kev442]

Since you specified something that my maintenance/care of has been subpar...the $20 (with coupon) Harbor Freight sawzall. I got it for a quickie job when I was hours away from my tools five years ago and have used it for everything I do outdoors ever since. It keeps my work Milwaukee and home Makita from ever getting water/mud/whatever on them. I just can't kill it. It's gone on for years now.

I've never taken it apart for cleaning or greasing. Every few months or so, I wipe down the outside with a Lysol cleaning wipe; that's the extent of my maintenance of it.

I just mentioned this saw in the cman power tool thread. I bought one for the guys at work to cut steel shafts off aluminum for a better scrap price. It has been pounded on and still kicking after 5 years.

I also bought the $29 circular saw for cutting up pallets and other scrap. Well, we ended up cleaning out a basement in another building and that saw was run for hours every day cutting up wood for me to burn at home. I filled a van with boxes of wood twice, old 2 x 10's, solid core doors, you name it. So, after doing that, I decided to use it to cut 16" pavers for a project. It survived that and has been cutting up the oddball pallets we can't sell faithfully ever since. I bet we have put 8 cheap carbide blades on this thing so far. We run the blades after they hit nails until we can't see for the smoke clouds of burning wood, lol!

 

[stikman56]

What has been the single best cheap tool you have purchased that has performed flawlessly for you time and time again with little to no issue even though your care/maintenance has been subpar?

Bottom end Bolans weed-eater I bought over 10 years ago. Paid like $50 new for it 10 years ago and haven't had a lick of trouble from it. Always starts on the first pull and runs out strong. Definately got my money out of it.

Pittsburgh Pro 1/2" extendable ratchet from HF for $15 on sale.

 

[espyking83]

Cheap sand blaster off of Amazon, shortened the tube and it has changed my life forever.

 

[CheckeredFlag]

I've put this little guy in my pocket and used it a million times

it was made to be a bicycle multi wrench - the little "dumb bell" design gives you 10 different sizes to use

Sears has them for under $5

http://www.sears.com/unique-bargain...M2053330714?prdNo=20&blockNo=20&blockType=G20

looks like this:

 

[bczygan]

This:

 

[Gurp]

Probably one of the composite ratchets from HF..not bad for $10 or so

Definitely a great purchase. Had mine for over a year now. I've beat it with a hammer and used it as a hammer. Have had a few cheater bars on it as well.
Either that or a $6 5lbs mini sledge at the local variety store. It has saved me quite a few times.

 

[cat-mechanic]

Got a few different sizes of chain pullers off of ebay. Like the one pictured. Used them a bunch of times. Got them for $10. They have saved me tons of aggravation.

 

[bobbycos]

this thread has a HF love fest feel to it

but I digress

the 40 piece HF socket set for $5

I use it alot and nothing broken (yet)

 

[quattroJoe]

My best cheap tool purchase was a set of Stanley security torx drivers that I bought in a pinch late one night at Walmart. That was 10 or 11 years ago and they're still going strong! They have been my go-to's until a few months ago when all the Cman Pro drivers were clearanced and I grabbed a set, now they live at home. There have been many times that I put enough torque into them that I think "OK, here's where the handle let's go of the shank," but I just can't seem to kill these things!

 

[gearhead1]

Not really a tool, but the HF air couplers/chucks seem to last longer than the Milton's I've bought. I can't figure that one out....

 

[wafrederick]

1/4 central pneumatic earthquake air ratchet,ordered it from Harbor Freight about 3 years ago and it still works to this day with no problems yet.I thought it died one day finally a while back and did not.The lever to change direction was not in all the way.It was $49.99 on sale at the time.There are great cheap air tools out there and this is one of them.

 

[MrJason]

Pocket screwdrivers from the snapoff guy...free fitty free and they get used on many things they weren't designed for...

But, I agree with the hf mini pick set(don't even use my snap ons anymore) and the 4 lb dead blow

I have to agree. When I was little, I used to look at what my dad had in his front shirt pocket, when he'd get home from work. He was a maintenance mechanic, so it was common for tools to be a subject of conversation.

The magnetic pocket screwdriver, was my first tool they my dad let me earn. We fixed my John Deere metal toy tractor, and for a job well done, I earned my first tool.

I still have that first screwdriver, it's in my gun safe.

Now, I've got a few Snap-On screwdrivers that are like this.


My tool collection and love of mechanics all started with a little magnetic screwdriver.

Thanks Dad.

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[KamiCrit]

Magnet on a stick.

 

[MagnumForce]

9 bucks on clearance at Menards, loved it so much went and got another one for work.

 

[pendragon1998]

HF 3/8 ratchet with indexable head. I broke loose some hell-to-reach practically welded-on exhaust bolts with it. Was sure it would break, but it performed like a champ.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Too many to list