go to for "in store" tool purchases?

[n8n]

Just curious, let's say you break a socket and you need one ASAP, the Snap-On guy just stopped by yesterday so he won't be back for another week (or three, if you're at my friend's shop) where do you go?

Used to be an easy answer, "Sears."

Today, I'm not so sure, although that probably will be what
I'll do today as my 13mm 1/2" stripped as most of the loose sockets seem to be USA made still, but that'll change soon.

I've had real bad experiences with Husky sockets. Cracked a lightly used deep 6 pt. hand socket all the way up trying to change a tire on my car - which I'd hand torqued to spec using a torque wrench. So it couldn't break a bolt torqued to ~90 ft-lbs? Not impressed. Also, had a Husky (gift) torque wrench fail to click on me causing me to strip a captive nut in my jeep... ever try to helicoil a cage nut? takes a touch with the drill...

Local auto parts stores are an indy, NAPA, Carquest, Autozone. The indy is listed as a S-K dealer (which would be great, as I'm a huge S-K fan, I have a socket set of my grandfather's that I still use and also a real nice "superkrome" wrench set from a pawn shop that are my favorites) but the tools they actually have in the store are "K-tool." I actually searched that out online and drove there (not far, but I didn't know it was there as it's off the main road on a side road I never have a reason to go down) to get an S-K socket to replace the broken Husky one (rationale: if I broke that one, replace it with something better so it doesn't happen again) so that one (17mm) is K-tool, I pretty much don't use that socket *other* than to change wheels twice a year so the fact that it hasn't failed yet is unremarkable. I do have Sears and Lowe's (Kobalt) readily available as well. I also have a Harbor Freight across the street, but I don't think they even sell loose sockets.

So of those choices, let's say you were in my position today (need a particular small tool and can't wait for Snap-On guy to return, or shipping on some eBay tools) what would you buy? What would you buy assuming that the Craftsman stuff was non-USA?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

With HF across the street, I'd go there. Easy to return if you break any.

 

[n8n]

I see your point, but if I did that a lot I'd end up with a whole mess of the seldom used sizes of wrenches, sockets, etc. in a box somewhere, as they don't sell singles. Although in the specific instance I mentioned (one broken socket) it almost makes sense anyway as for about 2x the price of a loose socket from Sears, Lowe's, FLAPS etc. I could get a whole set of HF sockets...

 

[Fedwrench]

NAPA gets my vote. Yes, their Carlyle line in imported from Taiwan but, they offer a wide selection of good quality tools. NAPAs are every where and some are open 7 days a week.

 

[n8n]

Thanks for the input, I have exactly one Carlyle tool (an E-torx that I needed for a brake job on a SAAB that was one size larger than whatever the biggest is in my S-K torx set) so I have almost no experience with them. However, those caliper carrier bolts were a cast iron female dog to remove, so my use of it was borderline abuse... I think they were torqued to something close to 200 ft-lbs and loctited from the factory so removing them was a workout.

 

[cburnscrx]

With HF across the street, I'd go there. Easy to return if you break any.

I see your point, but if I did that a lot I'd end up with a whole mess of the seldom used sizes of wrenches, sockets, etc. in a box somewhere, as they don't sell singles. Although in the specific instance I mentioned (one broken socket) it almost makes sense anyway as for about 2x the price of a loose socket from Sears, Lowe's, FLAPS etc. I could get a whole set of HF sockets...

Well, I just looked up a 1/2 metric socket set from HF...

$8.99 after using the 25% off coupon.

What you don't use or want to keep in your main box...throw in a tool box in the corner. I am 99% sure the Pittsburg Pro's are made in Taiwan too.

 

[cotjocky]

If you're going to be buying a Taiwan/China socket and can get a complete set dirt cheap, I'd just go that route today. When the Snap-on guy comes back next week, get your broken socket made up and buy another one just like it so you can have a back up. On frequently broken sizes, I always try to keep a duplicate just for when it breaks. 3/8 Drive 13mm and 9/16 Deep Well were always the 2 sizes I seemed to break the most. Then you can give a way the cheap set, throw it in a road or junk yard box, or just use them at home in a pinch.

I had craftsman sets (20 year old USA models) before I bought Snap-on so I went with a craftsman socket until the truck rolled back around. I kept the craftsman deep wells in the box for the rare occasion that I needed a socket that was completely broached. The rest of my Craftsman stuff went home. You could buy craftsman sockets for .50-$1 a socket back then at flea markets so having craftsman backups wasn't a big expenditure. I stopped using craftsman due to constantly breaking sockets and the nearest "real" sears being 45 minutes away. My local sears never had anything in stock and was a week wait on a replacement. They didn't sell singles and would not break one of their sets to warranty 1 socket.

I worked 8-5pm M-F and 8-12pm Saturday. I got tired of spending 2 hours of my life going back to sears every week.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I got Napa right around the corner. I got Advance Auto around the other corner. Home Depot, Lowes, and Harbor Freight all within a short 10-15 drive. I live in a pretty rural section of town, but still close to everything.

 

[SeanConklin]

I have had great experience with Carlyle. NAPA carries a good selection of singles too, which helps.

 

[wvrailroader]

NAPA is my go to store here, due to it being the closest. It is 20 minutes away versus everywhere else being 45 min plus.

 

[stage20]

I've got a deep well 12pt set of hold huskys. One socket feels like 2 of the new ones. Hd here has. Huge selection of single sockets but they are priced to match their quality. Pep boys and azone carry a gooood bit of singles

 

[AndrewV]

Im good with Napa, and GearWrench. Both have great quality for what they are.

 

[bcradio]

I would not really worry if I broke a socket as I pretty much have doubles of all sockets (1 set impact & 1 set chrome), so I'd just grab another and go, then warranty the other later. But for tools in general if it broke and I needed another, I'd go to autozone and get it. Autozone is the closest for me. If they did not have it HF is next on the list.

 

[crewchief888]

lowes or sears for an occasional hand tool

home depot for power tools.


within 15-20 minutes from home i can pass by
2 lowes
2 home depot
2 menards
2 sears
2 or 3 autozone
HF

30 minutes away
2 tractor supply

at least 10 pawn shops and resale/ thrift stores

 

[BK13]

Man, I wish I had a Menards or Tractor Supply reasonably close...

 

[rslaback]

I would say that your best bet is to get the cell number of the Snap On guy and an arrangement with a buddy in the next bay. Use the buddy's until after work and then meet the Snap On guy somewhere and snag the needed socket.

 

[jfcasey]

Depends what the tool is really. I like Napa but they keep bankers hours and are quite a bit out of the way for me. I've got a pretty nice Ace near by I will hit up for household tools... however if I really need something quality I would probably just call my snap on guy and arrange to meet him somewhere as he lives pretty close by.

 

[n8n]

If the Carlyle are good, if I'm at the shop that sounds like the way to go (NAPA will deliver with parts runs.) If I'm at home, still dunno... NAPA store is as close to house as most everything else save for HF, Carquest, and Autozone.

 

[stonesfan68]

I'd go to Advanced Auto for Gearwrench or Lowes for Kobalt.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mazdaspeed]

I would not really worry if I broke a socket as I pretty much have doubles of all sockets (1 set impact & 1 set chrome), so I'd just grab another and go, then warranty the other later. But for tools in general if it broke and I needed another, I'd go to autozone and get it. Autozone is the closest for me. If they did not have it HF is next on the list.

This.

Unless it's a very specialty socket, I generally have duplicates in the same size. Impact, Chrome, Shallow, Deep, 1/4"-3/8"-1/2" drive, etc.

Same goes for combo wrenches (long handle, regular, ratcheting, stubbies, flex heads, etc).
Same goes for ratchets (long/short/flex/drives).

It's pretty rare that I would break the one tool I need to do the job.

 

[Coach James]

M-F before 5pm, I would go to NAPA, after that or weekends it would be Lowes, Advance, Autozone or Tractor Supply. Our small Sears has almost no open stock sockets except spark plug sockets.

Coach

 

[n8n]

well, I only work at a real shop when someone is sick, quit, whatever... so the tools I take are crammed into a 26" top and intermediate chest for transport, no real duplicates. Working like this is actually a pretty good education in what you really need and what you don't. I am missing my 3/8" SAE sockets but fortunately I never really use them because most cars using SAE don't come into that shop. Also fortunately the shop foreman likes me so I have privileges to go into his box and use stuff, but I prefer to use my own tools.

 

[bwringer]

Masterforce wrenches, sockets, ratchets, and screwdrivers at Meanards are US-made and good. And inexpensive. And they're open pretty late in most cities. They have a very good range of individual MF sockets and wrenches, too.

You do have to put up with that furshlugginger damn jingle constantly blasting over the speakers, though.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The ASAP part would dictate the closest open vendor with the needed tool in stock..


Add me to the group that favors a backup set of the most common sockets and tools.

 

[crewchief888]

This.

Unless it's a very specialty socket, I generally have duplicates in the same size.

It's pretty rare that I would break the one tool I need to do the job.

all my most used hand tools have a backup.

lot of the back ups have spares too

 

[sberry]

I bought singles recently from both Lowes and Menards. I really don't need the rest of a set, we lose one on occasion. We had auto parts that had SK, got a few that way as needed. Some of the stores carry only 1 line of single now, imports but they are pretty good. I see they raised the price some on the impacts. Lowes is where I got the last. A deep 15 impact and it seems about 6$ maybe. 3/8 1/2 deep chrome was 4 at Lowes and 3 at Menards which was USA, I hedged on convenience and against loss and bought one there too. They had the impact in single but it was a dollar higher.
A dollar either way to fill a gap isn't a big deal, I was glad to get them. Since had one of the lost show back up.

 

[sberry]

I go for that Masterforce for singles too. I swung out of the way to a big sears the other day, 10$ for a 13 swivel x 3/8. I was glad it was in stock. Used it the same day during the install.

 

[n8n]

No Menards anywhere near me; I don't think I've seen one ever other than maybe when I lived in Michigan ages ago.

 

[MattPersman]

If I needed something, would try advanced auto, or autozone they have decent selection and reasonable hours.

 

[jwsia]

My go-to for just a random broken socket is the pawn shop. If I need something a more specific task (or the pawn shop didn't have it)its Autozone