How do you rate your tools before you buy?

[smoky]

Before I invest money in tools I have 4 things that are important to me:
1) Quality (1=poor,10=excellent) meaning the attention to detail of the tool, and if it breaks easily.
2) Value (1=poor,10=excellent) Value to me is how much can I buy at an affordable price.
3) Availability (1=poor,10=excellent) Availability is where in my local area do I need to go to buy the tool.
4) Lifetime warranty (1=poor,10=excellent) warranty is how the company will stand behind their warranty.
Quality + Value + Availability + Warranty = total score
I rank all of the brands that I’m interested based off of these traits. The higher score, of all 4 is going to be my choice. Example:
Craftsman: quality=3 value=5 availability=7 warranty=10 total score=25
Snap-on: quality=9 value=4 availability=5 warranty=7 total score=27
Stanley: quality=5 value=9 availability=9 warranty=5 total score=19

now, obviously my ratings are going to be different than others based off of location, because some tool dealers are not as easy to get a hold of vs retail stores.
I would love to know how other GJ members rate their tools.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

mainly i base it off what i need to do my job efficiently and then factor in value and quality.

 

[BQuicksilver]

IMO

Craftsman: quality=5 value=4 availability=9 warranty=9 total score=27
Snap-on: quality=9 value=2 availability=6 warranty=7 total score=24
Stanley: quality=3 value=8 availability=8 warranty=4 total score=23

Of course it all depends on the tool. I may prefer a SO ratchet but not see much value in going for SO sockets over CMan.

 

[diesel research]

I think everyone will claim quality and value are some how figured in, but even then, there are sub categories and different perspectives to grading in those 2 areas.

I do NOT rank based off of warranty or availability though. Unless it is a crazily short warranty like 30 days. I would rather there not be any stated warranty than something so short. Lifetime warranty doesn't mean squat to me either. For many brands I almost feel it is a common attribute of cheaper quality tools. I understand nearly every brand offers such a warranty on hand tools, so I reserve the right to use that notion selectively.

The notion of "value" is kind of imaginary anyways...or atleast highly subjective and hard to prove w/o the use of anecdotal evidence.

 

[JeremyManning]

I usually buy a few different styles of wrenches for example then see which ones I like using the best and then sell the others off, also we can purchase tools at work so I get to try a lot of tools that I may otherwise not get to test before I made a decision to buy.

 

[Danglerb]

I spend more time and effort not buying tools, than buying them. Once I target a tool as prey, the hunt doesn't stop until I have it.

Warranty doesn't matter much to me, I either buy easy lifetime replacement warranty tools, or high quality tools where its my own fault if it breaks.

I like nice finish, but I am only willing to pay for function, so a brand like Mountain suits me fine.

 

[FJF]

This could be a great thread!

I'm hesitant to contribute, as I'm really new to all this. I'm a homeowner who's only been buying quality tool for a couple of months and never had to warranted anything. So, I guess below is my perception of the products driven by my recent purchases:

Craftsman: quality=5 value=7 availability= 9 warranty= ? total score = 21
NWS: quality= 9 value= 4 availability= 2 warranty=? total score = 15
Knipex: quality= 8 value= 6 availability= 7 warranty= ? total score = 23
Wera (ratcheting screwdrivers): quality = 7 value = 6 availability= 3 = 16

Interestingly enough, my very favorite tools get the lowest scores.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I rate my choices by how much time and effort can the new tool save me. About all of my tools have paid for themselves in saved time, muscle pain, or by permitting me to do the job instead of having to pay someone else to do the job. At present labor rates on auto, house, lawnmower it does not take a long time for a tool to pay for itself. Two or three plumber bills will pay for a lot of tools for instance. The price/quality of tool I purchase depends on how much I expect to use a tool. For something I would use one or two times, I might choose HF or Northern China imports. For something I am going to use often and for a long time, I choose USA , or what ever tools are available in a better grade. I have tried renting tools and discovered that most I rented were already worn out, or worn to the point that problems were showing up and not working correctly. Purchasing tools on EBay used and rebuilding them has given me several tools I could not have afforded or that were no longer in production(B&D #8 Nibbler). Also tools for carrying in trunk for emergencies are not SO but Northern as they should not get used very often. Normally on power tools its name brand, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Miller, Delta, and Grizzly as parts stay available for repair. Some of my tools are over 40 years old and still working as well as when I bought them because I bought good brands. As a mechanic for over 40 years I almost always found a way to do the job myself with the proper tools and have spoiled my family into never having repair bills on vehicles or homes.

 

[ajchien]

Lots of factors for me. It's not brand specific, it's tool specific.
1. Frequency of use
2. How much easier will having this tool make a job.
3. Cost
4. Perceived quality
5. Warranty

 

[franzdom]

Seems that quality should be rated a LOT higher than the other attributes, IMHO.

 

[William Payne]

Brand and quality reputation and past tool use for me, If its a good quality brand with a good reputation then its up there on my list, but tool comfort and what im used to using does come into it.

I try and find a group of the highest quality brands then make my decision based on preferance and what im able to spend.

 

[FJF]

Seems that quality should be rated a LOT higher than the other attributes, IMHO.

On a personal level, I agree 100%. That's where my preference lies, as well. At the same time I can see how someone would value price and availability over other factors, and warranted support can certainly figure largely for a professional user. No, I'm not offering to write the algorithm.

 

[ajchien]

Lots of factors for me. It's not brand specific, it's tool specific.
1. Frequency of use
2. How much easier will having this tool make a job.
3. Cost
4. Perceived quality
5. Warranty

If the quality comments above were in regards to my post, apologies. I wasn't listing the 5 in order of 'importance'.

 

[Outlawmws]

Hmmm, I don't have any set standards for what I buy. If its a really good deal, I'll usually buy it, If I have an immediate need for it, I'll shop around for a decent deal, then buy it. If I collect that type of tool, and its a great price, I'll buy it, and I'll buy a tool even if I have never used one, and yes, I own tools I've never used. if I need it, its there, and that's a good enough reason for me to have it.

Most of my tools are yard/estate/flea market finds. Some were bought new, some were gifts. Very few would be considered junk by anyone, but not all of them (very few actually) look shiny new. Many (most?) of my used tools I've bought I've reconditioned in some way, if only to get the grunge and/or rust off them. I use my tools, and while I take care of them, tools that get used get that used patina...

My main criteria is I want any tool I buy to be better than mid quality. To me mid quality is a tool than while serviceable, is not likely to last a lifetime. Sure even good tools sometimes break, but almost always because that were pushed past their service limit. It's been rare that I have broken a tool in normal use.

I feel I can pick up a tool and tell within a few seconds whether it is a quality tool. A Part of it is fit and finish, and part of it is less obvious. Some tools that have better than average reputations simply aren't. Craftsman screwdrivers are a good example. the older ones were decent drivers. Then something happened and even though the look the same, the tips are soft and the steel isn't the same.

How a too feels in my hand is important, some tools fit better and are shaped so I can pull on them harder. That's a good tool, One that limits me is not. Warranty is a nice to have, but certainly not a deal breaker. Since I buy so much used, cost is not usually a factor.

 

[Borrego]

Just like a recipe, it takes a certain mixture of many of the following variables:

1) brand
2) condition
3) price
4) quality
5) warranty

 

[theoldwizard1]

1. Frequency of use versus cost (I have Harbor Freight bolt cutters; they worked the one time I needed them)
2. Value (quality and ease of use versus cost)
3. Warranty
4. Cost

These are not hard and fast rules for me. I keep thinking I would like a power miter saw (although I have very little use for one). There must be a million different models priced from below $100 to over $500.

My need is low (OK, non-existent) , so after I spend a couple hours researching I usually just give up !

 

[PrecisionTools]

1. Do I need it?
2. Innovation (will it make my job easier/better)
3. Is it one of the top brands?
4. Country of origin.

 

[rocco]

i mainly go with brands i'm comfortable with and already own or something i've been introduced to here when its a higher priced item, otherwise i'll try most brands out when the price is good.

 

[crewchief888]

Lots of factors for me. It's not brand specific, it's tool specific.
1. Frequency of use
2. How much easier will having this tool make a job.
3. Cost
4. Perceived quality
5. Warranty

i think this sums it up for me.

i buy higher qaulity, name brand,(mainly truck brands) to use at work.
at home it may be anything from cm,sk, hf, duralast,cobalt, and truck brands.
if i do manage to break, mash or mangle a tool at home, theres a very good chance i have another one sitting in my service truck thats parked 20 ft from the garage.

 

[greybeard]

As for hand tools, Craftsman has never let me down and it is at a price point I can justify and afford. So I usually look there 1st. As for power tools, I hate cheap power tools as they have always let me down. I stay with Hitachi and DeWALT for power tools for the same reason, they have never let me down.

 

[smoky]

yea my dewalt has really impressed me. I have used the **** out of my dewalt grinder and is still keeps on working every time. I have used a few other brand grinders and eventuially the bearings would fail, and the grinder would be useless.