Cheap tools

[BDT/NWMN]

opinion, need, use, want, cost, durability, sales and service convenience, pride, loyalty,
theft, coworker misuse and neglect, resale value, rental options.


Take that list with on your next trip to the city park.
Park your rear on the center of the teeter-totter.
Split the list to make the teeter-totter balance for you.
You will have your answer;;;but nobody elses...

 

[Hantke]

I'll be the first person to admit that I don't NEED Proto quality in many instances. I don't make a living with my tools. I wrench for pleasure and to maintain my tractor and equipment. Some tools get used several times a week, some once a month, some rarely. However, whether I'm using it once a day or once in a blue moon, my Proto stuff makes me happy. When I reach in my box and pull out a Proto wrench I feel good about my tools, I don't get that sense of pride and enjoyment out of A Pittsburgh wrench. I like Proto and I can afford it. Does that make the Proto worth it's price compared to the HF? Maybe not to everyone, but it does to me. I realize that isn't everyone's situation, and I respect that. People will buy what suits them same as I do.

That is probably some of the best info / advice, even if for no other reason than it's honest. If i was still working full time while i was in school, i'd probably not be buying much from HF to be honest, i appreciate the fact i can buy a roll of standard SAE / Metric wrenches, throw it in a tool box in the trunk and hope i never have to use it, but when i do, i'll be glad i bought them because my GearWrench stuff is all in my tool-cart in my garage space. I do appreciate when i can get certain tools at a discount (such as bleeders, etc.) that i really don't need for sure. I assume once i'm done with college, i'm probably not going to HF very often, because i appreciate the feel of (believe it or not) Bluepoint CAT wrenches, so, i'll probably buy something that feels similar to those.

opinion, need, use, want, cost, durability, sales and service convenience, pride, loyalty,
theft, coworker misuse and neglect, resale value, rental options.


Take that list with on your next trip to the city park.
Park your rear on the center of the teeter-totter.
Split the list to make the teeter-totter balance for you.
You will have your answer;;;but nobody elses...

Aso a very valid point, while i appreciate knowing if my life goes to hell in a hand bag, i may be able to re-sell Snap-On wrenches, i never really plan on selling my tools off.

 

[joel63]

Sometimes we do, other times not, it all just depends. Tools are no different than any other consumer product. Will a Chevy S-10 get me to work and back same as a Super Duty Diesel for a fraction of the cost? Sure it will. Does that mean the S-10 is just as good a truck? No it doesn't. If my only objective is to get back and forth as cheaply as possible and haul small loads on occasion then I'm probably just as well off with with the S-10, but if I'm going to haul bigger loads or pull a bigger trailer on a regular basis and need it to last forever I'm not going to be satisfied with the S-10.

Will a $150 suit from JCPenney's serve me just as well as a $2000 tailored suit? If my only objective for it is to no look like a jake carrying Uncle Bob's casket from the hearse to the grave then yes, but if I have a $5,000,000 sale on the line I want to make an impression.

The same example can be used for virtually any product.

I'll be the first person to admit that I don't NEED Proto quality in many instances. I don't make a living with my tools. I wrench for pleasure and to maintain my tractor and equipment. Some tools get used several times a week, some once a month, some rarely. However, whether I'm using it once a day or once in a blue moon, my Proto stuff makes me happy. When I reach in my box and pull out a Proto wrench I feel good about my tools, I don't get that sense of pride and enjoyment out of A Pittsburgh wrench. I like Proto and I can afford it. Does that make the Proto worth it's price compared to the HF? Maybe not to everyone, but it does to me. I realize that isn't everyone's situation, and I respect that. People will buy what suits them same as I do.

I'm probably not going to change anyone's mind in regards to how they purchase tools with this post or any other and I can assure you nobody is going to change mine. Thus goes another day on GJ.

Again, you can't say it any better.

 

[sberry]

I like Proto, think its priced right too. Never busted a Proto tool and have a couple dozen in hi stress sizes.

 

[sberry]

I bought a Matco universal at a flea, it was priced well but it was in super shape. Only a pit crew is zippier than we are, I pull a few things out as needed and use the fancy stuff as problem solvers and often take a coffee to take a minute to figure a good rig up especially for anything moderately routine or flat rate in nature.
We do wheels, we live on **** roads, we rotate tires with every service.

I bought a set of deep ATD for my pickup. I have a mash of stuff on my service truck where weight isn't an object. I might have a 13 and 15 on pickup too, everything there does double duty or is "just enough"
The service truck is another matter. I have some pieces I snag when they come cheap especially in brutal oil well sizes etc but complete sets of HF, shallow deep in 1/2 and 3/4. It gives a little redundancy. I got 3/8 air ratchet and common smaller chromes but rarely use it. If I got this truck its usually cause we got to absolutely positively heat and beat. I got 16 hp air and could support 20 if needed. 1/2 hose.

I guess the pickup set is buried but in a nice plastic box, bought it just for this truck. Added 1 extra extension.

 

[Conductor562]

Again, you can't say it any better.

Thank you Sir

 

[Tbirdtc]

All this complaining about the newest craftsman all of my craftsman sockets are USA but the newer laser etched ones are **** I break one every other day n I don't abuse my tools (anymore) I had a 21 deep chrome I have had for 25 years it came in a metal cased set I used to use that one on a impact to take wheels off trucks all day for years this was back when I couldn't afford a impact set I broke a newer 21 on a short hand ratchet this week c man tools have been junk for years maybe the Chinese will improve them I doubt it but can't really get worse
Most of my tools are 20 years old at newest w the exeptions of ones I have warranted I notice breakage of newer ones only I never break the old stuff I won't pay for new snappys I am slowing down now but I do need a few things that don't breAk maybee the solution is filling in one of my sets w common use Sk sockets and wrenches but I really don't like non sets
I don't kno what to do n I refuse to bust my arthritic knuckles as far as basic hand tools I need less not more I have no less than 200 screw drivers only counting 75 truck brand and 125 c man I have no less than 40 pliers and no less than 1000 sockets maybee I should sell some to get what I need immediately I need unfortunately a new set of snappy line wrenches and a rail of 3/8 high quality metric sockets 10 to 21 maybee Sk or second hand truck brand Mac or Matco as long as they are older I also could use met wrench long pattern set high end I'd gladly pay 90 to 140 for a set but snappys are 3 times that how can they be worth that
Where is the middle ground y can't we get a quality us wrench set for 100$ that's what they should cost

 

[Ruger_556]

Where is the middle ground y can't we get a quality us wrench set for 100$ that's what they should cost

Because you can't... US manufacturing is expensive. Union employees, engineering, taxes, EPA regs, etc... You just can't do it for that cost in this country. You want to get payed $20-30 an hour to work in a plant but won't pay for the product to support the company paying people that wage

 

[sberry]

I notice breakage of newer ones only I never break the old stuff

That is because most of the old that is likely to break already has. I replaced a bunch early on, now its old and doesn't break.

Aso a very valid point, while i appreciate knowing if my life goes to hell in a hand bag, i may be able to re-sell Snap-On wrenches, i never really plan on selling my tools off.

Like I said what interests me with these threads is the logic. It hadn't occurred to me to use a highly depreciatable asset as a savings account. The fact that one can find near new for 50 cents on the dollar makes this suspect.
I was at an auction, Truck tools about 30 cents and MIT wrench set beat to piss half missing goes for more than you can buy it new. A person should buy a bunch and toss them in a cement mixer with some scrap steel and gravel for a couple hrs, add a little rock salt, hang them on a rusty tie wire and double the price, auction off.

 

[sberry]

Because you can't... US manufacturing is expensive. Union employees, engineering, taxes, EPA regs, etc... You just can't do it for that cost in this country. You want to get payed $20-30 an hour to work in a plant but won't pay for the product to support the company paying people that wage

There are a lot of good US tools, they don't have a truck brand name on them for that price.

 

[Conductor562]

There are a lot of good US tools, they don't have a truck brand name on them for that price.

This is true, but people tend not to look. You can get a fine USA made 17 piece Blackhawk set up to 1-5/16 with ASD opens for $115 @ Zoro right now. An 8 piece set of 6 pt. flares in full Polish can be had for around $100 also.

They are satin (which I prefer), but they are great wrenches at an affordable price. People tend to overlook brands like Blackhawk, but to the savoy shopper they are a great value. I'd go as far as saying the best value in tools in some cases.

Anything with a ratcheting mechanism, most of which is made by NewTools/Hi-Five) is Taiwan, but the sockets, wrenches, etc., are USA, lifetime warranty, etc.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I need unfortunately a new set of snappy line wrenches and a rail of 3/8 high quality metric sockets 10 to 21 maybee Sk or second hand truck brand Mac or Matco as long as they are older I also could use met wrench long pattern set high end I'd gladly pay 90 to 140 for a set but snappys are 3 times that how can they be worth that...Where is the middle ground y can't we get a quality us wrench set for 100$ that's what they should cost

Everyone wants a deal on a tool... but, every time you shop at a discounter, you are part of the problem. It's easy to blame the manufacturers for high prices... but, then what do you do? You go off to your job and demand high labor rates, huge benefits and other supposed entitlements because all you did was roll out of bed and go work like every other working stiff. Then after work you go shopping for the lowest price, think even the lowest you found is too much, then go home and buy it from Amazon instead of supporting a local store. Buy the Snap-On wrenches, even at 4x the price of the Craftsman's it's not going to make or break you. A wise man once told me to look at it this way--$400 bucks is what a good pair of shoes cost, so you own one less pair of shoes in your life, I think you'll get by. And keep this in mind... I have never once said to myself; "Damn, I wish I would have bought the cheaper one." But, I have said; "Damn, I have wasted money buying that cheap POS".