Cheapest Tools Ever

[ultgar]

Someone posted a cantilevered tool box with tools for $30.00. The pics were kind of small but I thought this might be a decent quality Taiwanese set at a great price that I could give to one of my brothers. The set was sealed, wrapped in plastic, so I didn't get a chance to inspect it until I got home. I now feel like I got "ripped off", even at $30.00. No brand names on any of the tools. Thinwall 1/4" drive sockets that go to 13mm (will probably replace these with fractional sizes for home use). Poor chrome plating on the sockets and ratchet. The box is a small cantilevered size but still has a lot of wasted space for what's inside. Same set in a blow-mold plastic case would be $15.00-20.00 on Ebay. I got suckered in by the cantilevered box and foam tool inserts.

 

[MacInger]

I'd be pissed if i was your brother and didn't get any Facom.

 

[ultgar]

I'd be pissed if i was your brother and didn't get any Facom.

My brothers wouldn't know or appreciate the difference. Tool appreciation is not a genetic trait in my family.

 

[MacInger]

missed opportunity...

 

[Toold_up]

Take the contents of that box and throw them away. Then refill it with something decent and slap a Harley sticker on it or something. Problem solved!

 

[woody 73]

I hate to disappoint the op today but...(always a but) if you think your tool box and tools are cheap well you got snap on compared to this tool company.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372196

 

[jd_1138]

Yeah it is too high a price for what you got, but the pliers don't look too bad. They look like HF's line which are OK -- especially for the homeowner type who doesn't use them much.

I'd maybe go to HF and buy $20 worth of stuff to toss in. Also, one of the little household hardware assortment kits (Store House brand) that come with wall anchors for hanging pictures, screws, nails, etc..

 

[ultgar]

I hate to disappoint the op today but...(always a but) if you think your tool box and tools are cheap well you got snap on compared to this tool company.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372196

At least they own up to it and put their name on the tools. Agree...they are among the "Chinese Crested" of the tool world.

Found this photo online from 2012 of the Oxwall Tool factory. I suspect there were a few Oxwall tools in the old JC Whitney catalogs back in the 60's and 70's.

 

[ultgar]

The Toptul Homeowners set was good quality....around $60.00. That's what I was expecting this morning when I replied to the local ad.

This USAG set would be better for my brothers as the case is sealed and the tools protected when they leave it out in the rain.

 

[jd_1138]

The Toptul Homeowners set was good quality....around $60.00. That's what I was expecting this morning when I replied to the local ad.

This USAG set would be better for my brothers as the case is sealed and the tools protected when they leave it out in the rain.

If they leave them out in the rain, that'd be the last tools I'd buy them. I wouldn't even leave tools outside even if they are inside a case.

That Toptul set looks nice.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I had a set of Oxwall 3/8 metric from the late '60s. Made in Japan. This was when Japan made current Chinese look like SO. I wore them out on one car. I bet you didn't do that with your Craftsman and that '55 Chevy three on the tree six four door. And if you haven't lost them, they are still your go to.

 

[Coach James]

I have a pair of needle nose exactly like the ones in OP's photo. Same coloring on the grip, identical. My daughter bought them for me at some sale her elementary school was doing where the kids got to use fake money they earned to buy things.


They are surprisingly good. I have used them for over 10 years now and they work fine.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I like the design and size of that tool box. Add a utility knife, a pair of water pump pliers, a scraper, small frame hacksaw, a vise grip, adjustable wrench, and a few other tools.

 

[kctyphoon]

Lol. Well if it makes ya feel any better -
My company has fastenal vending machines at work to dispense tools and supplies..
So I’m at another location, and i see a small metal box that says Proto wrapped in clear sealed plastic. Description on the machine says mechanics tool set, or socket and wrench set.. something like that.. its a small METAL Proto box like i said..

I’m like no **** - they’re actually getting Proto tools?
Swipe my card (everything is free for whats it worth, but this ain’t about the $$), vending doors opens - grab my new Proto tool kit..

I cut it open, unlatch the little box - theres 4 loose Blackhawk sockets inside, and the ratchet, extensions, open end wrench, and whatever other little things inside, are all STANLEY, with the plastic peg hook hangers still on them.. the only thing Proto was the box.. lol.. gotta laugh..

 

[65k10]

Is the tool box at least half way decent?

 

[mc4life27]

Someone posted a cantilevered tool box with tools for $30.00. The pics were kind of small but I thought this might be a decent quality Taiwanese set at a great price that I could give to one of my brothers. The set was sealed, wrapped in plastic, so I didn't get a chance to inspect it until I got home. I now feel like I got "ripped off", even at $30.00. No brand names on any of the tools. Thinwall 1/4" drive sockets that go to 13mm (will probably replace these with fractional sizes for home use). Poor chrome plating on the sockets and ratchet. The box is a small cantilevered size but still has a lot of wasted space for what's inside. Same set in a blow-mold plastic case would be $15.00-20.00 on Ebay. I got suckered in by the cantilevered box and foam tool inserts.

What kind of dividers are in the main tool box. Not the cheap pos one I'm talking about the drawer that is pulled out and resting the cheap one on.
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[dscheidt]

I had a set of Oxwall 3/8 metric from the late '60s. Made in Japan. This was when Japan made current Chinese look like SO. I wore them out on one car. I bet you didn't do that with your Craftsman and that '55 Chevy three on the tree six four door. And if you haven't lost them, they are still your go to.

I have a set somewhere (haven't gone looking for them in a long time) of Oxwall wrenches in quite small sizes. They're sized by 32nds, which means that some of them fit BA nuts. Of course, I think I could stamp stronger wrenches out of cheese, so they're not really useful for that purpose.

 

[65k10]

Lol. Well if it makes ya feel any better -
My company has fastenal vending machines at work to dispense tools and supplies..
So I’m at another location, and i see a small metal box that says Proto wrapped in clear sealed plastic. Description on the machine says mechanics tool set, or socket and wrench set.. something like that.. its a small METAL Proto box like i said..

I’m like no **** - they’re actually getting Proto tools?
Swipe my card (everything is free for whats it worth, but this ain’t about the $$), vending doors opens - grab my new Proto tool kit..

I cut it open, unlatch the little box - theres 4 loose Blackhawk sockets inside, and the ratchet, extensions, open end wrench, and whatever other little things inside, are all STANLEY, with the plastic peg hook hangers still on them.. the only thing Proto was the box.. lol.. gotta laugh..

Was it similar to this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J40THEW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bonneyman]

I'd be pissed if i was your brother and didn't get any Facom.

Did somebody mention FACOM?

 

[Magnum440d100]

Damn. Now I feel like when I sold this for $35, I should have asked for more...

And I agree with a poster above that mentioned to pull the **** tools out, and fill that box with slightly less **** tools. At the end of the day, it is a metal box, and good for at least “something”....

 

[gungatim]

I like the design and size of that tool box. Add a utility knife, a pair of water pump pliers, a scraper, small frame hacksaw, a vise grip, adjustable wrench, and a few other tools.

I hate the design personally. I have that same box in black, similar Stanley set of tools came in it. Thought it seemed like a nice design and I started using it as a truck box/junkyard box. it didn't last long.

The tip out trays bend and twist, can't grab stuff out of them because of the lip is always in the way, and it doesn't close well at all. I quit using it because it just didn't work well. every time I needed something quick, you can't just grab it, you have to open it all up which is a pain in the back of a truck. it seemed like a good design but not executed well at all...i'm back to using a normal box now.

 

[eschoendorff]

Did somebody mention FACOM?

Ok that’s badass. Then again, I really like facom tools.

 

[bonneyman]

Ok that’s badass. Then again, I really like facom tools.

You should have seen what it looked like when I received it! I didn't know if I was going to like the cantilever design, but I took on the restore as a challenge and it came out pretty good. Too heavy to haul around the jobsite, but prefect for holding all my car battery and brake tools.

A real rags to riches story.

 

[ultgar]

Is the tool box at least half way decent?

Tool box is small but decent. I don't know how the Chinese can package all this and ship it to the US with there still being profit for the seller at this $30.00 price. I presume this was purchased before the recent 25% tariffs.

 

[ultgar]

What kind of dividers are in the main tool box. Not the cheap pos one I'm talking about the drawer that is pulled out and resting the cheap one on.
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Dividers are from Lista........

 

[ultgar]

You should have seen what it looked like when I received it! I didn't know if I was going to like the cantilever design, but I took on the restore as a challenge and it came out pretty good. Too heavy to haul around the jobsite, but prefect for holding all my car battery and brake tools.

A real rags to riches story.

You did a great job restoring that old (BT13??) box.

 

[jgromada]

Did somebody mention FACOM?

at least something good came out of this thread!

 

[jd_1138]

Dividers are from Lista.....

Wow, that's some nice organization. I just keep my hardware in a few compartment containers from HF. It's probably nice to have them organized in an actual cabinet like you have.

 

[MacInger]

I didn't know you sell Festool...

 

[ultgar]

I didn't know you sell Festool...

Not any longer. Good stuff but pricey and not much margin for the dealer. In the old days, you could buy 1 of any/every tool at 50% off as a demo and I took full advantage of that program. There was no more demo program when I left them 5 years ago.

 

[MacInger]

Shop looks great. Systainers in a toolbox - boxes within a box - is proper GJ ocd

 

[kctyphoon]

Was it similar to this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J40THEW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Lol. Yup - that's it.. I thought maybe there was another piece or two inside - but that looks like it's exactly it..
I can't believe the price on that thing..

And where are they getting 15 piece set from? Lol

 

[bonneyman]

You did a great job restoring that old (BT13??) box.

Thanks!

 

[dnschmidt]

Ultgar, did TOPTUL contact you recently? They have Emailed me twice and want me to come back. Apparently Jerry Wei and superbitch Ellie Chen have left the company and new people (who knows if they are better or worse) now are running the show. I told them that the window of opportunity has passed for them in the United States with HF coming out with Quinn and ICON and SBD getting it's Craftsman act together. Just wondered if they contacted you as well. Denny Schmidt

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I once worked for an importer, his cost was 10% of wholesale. He had warehousing, duties, etc. The retailer would take the wholesale price and double it.

 

[ultgar]

Ultgar, did TOPTUL contact you recently? They have Emailed me twice and want me to come back. Apparently Jerry Wei and superbitch Ellie Chen have left the company and new people (who knows if they are better or worse) now are running the show. I told them that the window of opportunity has passed for them in the United States with HF coming out with Quinn and ICON and SBD getting it's Craftsman act together. Just wondered if they contacted you as well. Denny Schmidt

Yes they did. I thought about it but just don't feel like putting in a $10k stock order. Other than the people on this forum, there's not a lot of demand for Toptul, despite the quality and good price. Is Mike Wren still selling Toptul? SD

 

[dnschmidt]

Beats me. He's sort of low, low, low key. As I understand it, and I know absolutely nothing about the guy, he runs an independent tool truck in the Pacific Northwest. Sort of like your local TOPTUL Snap-On, Mac or Matco guy selling TOPTUL.

The whole thing is a damn shame really. There was an opportunity for TOPTUL to really take a bite out of the apple five-seven years ago when HF sold only garbage and Craftsman turned to ****. They didn't strike when the fire was hot and as the Rolling Stones so accurately stated: And time waits for no one and it won't wait for me."