Great Neck tools ?

[Mark914]

I never heard of Great Neck tools, came across a BIG box (50+) of these screwdrivers at a garage sale. They say made in the USA which I thought was unusual. Also no UPC code on the card, which makes me think they are older.

Are Great Neck tools cheapie harbor freight type stuff ??? I see their website says they been in business like 100 yrs. Do they still manufacture stuff ? or is it all made overseas?

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I broke a 24" breaker bar this summer got a replacement right away fom calling direct. Warranty process was pretty easy. Have some pry bars I bought at Autozone years ago. Menards has their tack puller other than that don't know much about them.

 

[JimD1]

I've had various great neck hand tools over the years. They are low end but generally serviceable. I wouldn't be afraid of screwdrivers. A hand plane might be too rough to be much good, however. The analogy to HF is pretty good. I like HF tools and you often get a lot more than you paid for at HF but not always.

 

[gipraw]

Sold at various independent hardware & lumber stores and some chains. They've been around a long time.

Payless Cashways in Oklahoma used to carry a lot of their stuff, as did Big L

The parent company owns several brands you might recognize.

http://www.greatneckbrands.com/

 

[expfcwintergreen]

I bought a great neck T50 from Auto Zone to loosen the bolt on a seat belt I needed to replace. The bit twisted with very little torque placed on it. I went to Sears and got a Craftsman T50 which worked like it was supposed to. That was 1997. I haven't bought a Great Neck brand tool or any tool and very few parts from AZ since.


Being able to swap or return a defective tool isn't the point with me. I don't want to stop in the middle of a job because a tool doesn't do the job it was made to do. I don't use ratchets as breaker bars or hammers, and I don't use screwdrivers as chisels or pry bars, so I expect the ratchet to function as a ratchet and the screwdriver as a screwdriver.

Decent tools aren't expensive.

 

[mykvr6]

I have an old great neck click style torque wrench I "borrowed" from my dad years ago. I've used it as a breaker bar a few times back in the day. I've banged stuff with it. Generally just abused it in my youth before I grew to appreciate tools a bit more. Still have it in my box and it still works. I guess anyway, not sure how accurate it is, but it appears to work fine. Not sure where my dad bought it, but it's been around since I was 18 or, so its 20ish years old. It replaced a beam style torque wrench that is probably still floating around my dads garage somewhere. I think I have an old GN socket or two in my box as well last time I looked in my random bits.

 

[warweapon762]

Great Neck stuff is generally garbage.. Very poor heat treating as well, Ive had a couple of needle nose pliers fail doing very basic jobs ( pulling cotter pins if i remember).

 

[southalabama]

Economical or cheaper line of tools.

My 1980s great neck tools are serviceable. They were all I could afford at the time. Their quality appears to have diminished though there are some bright spots. Their 4-1 screwdrivers are good.

I keep most of the in the kitchen junk drawer now.

 

[tarbellb]

Ha, actually one of my first sets of pliers is Great Neck! I think they are circa 1994? Cheap, Asian stuff, buy they have lasted. Not great, but ok for a 13yr old at the time.