Budget minded tools
- Thread starter Gurp
- Start date
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
There is no good answer because we don't know what specific tools you are looking for.
Hand tools. Sockets ratchets wrench ect.
Coach James
Well-known member
Unless you're abusing them, Kobalt, Husky, Stanley, Dewalt and Duralast would all work fine.
Coach
Coach
snickers muncher
Well-known member
Duralast was putting out a 1/4 set for cheap that was really good. There's a newer version out now. It might went for $15 last year around black friday.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
Hit up the flea markets too.
trashmanssd
Well-known member
Sunex, Astro pneumatic, Some Titan stuff,
Some of my best tools have been found at the flea market for "cheap", "very cheap" and "almost giving them away".
Wamsutta
Well-known member
OEM Tools. The brand with the abbreviation that means nothing.
Keep an eye out on Hot Deals for a few weeks (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36) and you'll find quality tools at budget pricing. We've had some insane deals come up in the past.
chad w
Banned
ive always had great luck with kobalt tools. i have used hand and power
M_George
Well-known member
For wrenches and ratchets / sockets, stretch your budget and get the best you can afford. Some of the cheep stuff will fail under heavy torque. You can find loads of old Craftsman, SK, Williams and other brands at flea markets very well within your budget.
SuperCat
Well-known member
Channellock is made in USA and I really like their grooved pliers, there is a lot of bang for the buck there. Reasonably priced, great quality, definitely middle level or above when compared to other tool companies.
Craftsman is still pretty good, especially when you buy their larger sets, even though a lot of their hand tools are made overseas now.
Good luck on your search. Consider paying more for higher quality items that you use often and depend on. Also, don't forget to have a back-up for your most important tools, such as a ratchet. I use a 3/8" ratchet most often, so I have several in case it breaks. Stuff happens, you know.
Craftsman is still pretty good, especially when you buy their larger sets, even though a lot of their hand tools are made overseas now.
Good luck on your search. Consider paying more for higher quality items that you use often and depend on. Also, don't forget to have a back-up for your most important tools, such as a ratchet. I use a 3/8" ratchet most often, so I have several in case it breaks. Stuff happens, you know.
VinceG
Well-known member
Teckton tool. get them through their website or Amazon. great customer service Easy warranty
bwringer
Well-known member
Didn't we just cover this already...?
A little deja vu de ja vu de...
Anyway, that Hypertough stuff you'll find in the back of any Walmart is cheap and works surprisingly well, if you're ever in a pinch at 2am. Of course it's Chinesium, but it ain't too bad.
A little deja vu de ja vu de...
Anyway, that Hypertough stuff you'll find in the back of any Walmart is cheap and works surprisingly well, if you're ever in a pinch at 2am. Of course it's Chinesium, but it ain't too bad.
four.cycle
Well-known member
mudflap
Well-known member
Must just be where im at... but used tool prices around here at Flea markets/pawn shops, etc are crazy high..even the Craigslist sellers are smokin something........Once in a while i find a good deal at a garage sale. Went on the Tekton website for the first time a few days ago..its simple..well thought out..and easy to navigate..A few guys in the garage have some of their tools and really like them.. Im going to sign up to get their rewards points..and buy a set of the USA screwdrivers.. The price is right..see how they do..?
ftb
Well-known member
Some of my best tools have been found at the flea market for "cheap", "very cheap" and "almost giving them away".
This.
I wouldn't even look at modern "cheap" imports. Flea market, car boot sale is where I'd shop for the good old quality iron.
ptgarcia
Well-known member
ftb
Well-known member
Not me. Around here I'd spend more on gas than if I just bought the tool new.
The argument was budget China vs old USA/Europe tools. By the same token, you'll spend even more on gas when you have to bring that modern Chinese budget junk back for exchange for another Chinese budget junk because it broke on second use.
Instead you can get a quality 'used' tool and with care keep using virtually forever. This was my and another member's point.
bob15
Well-known member
Look on e-bay and GJ classifies for used USA-made tools.
You know what is funny is I was at Walmart recently and seen they had a bunch of "clearance" hypertough sanders for $5. I left all my sanders back at my folks house when I moved out yeeears ago so I figured why not. Sure enough im not using it for heavy use, just DIY stuff around my house and it worked perfectly fine. Happy with that $5 purchase
Lemmiwinks
New member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Re: Budget minded tools "EVERCRAFT"
At a recent swap meet I bought a 3/4" socket set and it came with a broken New Britain ratchet. Typical failure of the direction selector disk being broken by using it as a hammer. Yesterday I carried it to NAPA as they formerly sold New Britain and they swapped it for a 3/4" Evercraft. At home I did an inspection of my new ratchet and this is what I found. (See crack in Pic) And why are the ID ratchet teeth visible? Yes I can accept that QC missed the crack but why design the tool to allow dirt, debris and junk to fall so easily into the mechanism.
I am going this morning to get my NH44 back.
At a recent swap meet I bought a 3/4" socket set and it came with a broken New Britain ratchet. Typical failure of the direction selector disk being broken by using it as a hammer. Yesterday I carried it to NAPA as they formerly sold New Britain and they swapped it for a 3/4" Evercraft. At home I did an inspection of my new ratchet and this is what I found
. (See crack in Pic) And why are the ID ratchet teeth visible? Yes I can accept that QC missed the crack but why design the tool to allow dirt, debris and junk to fall so easily into the mechanism.I am going this morning to get my NH44 back.
Attachments
John in OH
Well-known member
Channellock is peddling a pretty nice range of hand tools now ... sockets, screwdrivers, combo wrenches, etc. Made in Taiwan and reasonably priced. Definitely worth a look. Stocked at a lot of Do-It-Best hardware stores.