Layman's tools preference?

[saltfuture]

I'm sure like quite a few of you, when I started getting serious about my tools, I invested in some high end stuff.

For this specific example, I bought a set of Wera screwdrivers. Admittedly, they're the dog's ball for a precise, perfectly fitting screw driving job.
But for most tasks, I just always gravitate back to my Klein cushioned handles. They just feel right.

Anybody else prefer the cheaper tools sometimes?

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

If I'm fixing some dinky little thing, my gearwrench set has every common socket size right there, and I often just grab that.

 

[L.Cheapo]

No. I was at a family member's house Sunday and needed to remove and replace 4 bolts to access something. I wasn't planning on doing any work, so didn't have any tools with me. I was handed a 3/8 Craftsman RP ratchet, USA made, the exact same kind I started with decades ago. If there had been more than 4 bolts, I'd have driven the 40 minute round trip to my house to get my Snap On hard handle ratchet. My god that thing was awful...an ergonomic disaster, a coarse-toothed crime against hands everywhere. Ok, maybe not that bad, but it truly sucked. I hadn't used one in 20+ years, and now I remember why.

 

[jd_1138]

No. I was at a family member's house Sunday and needed to remove and replace 4 bolts to access something. I wasn't planning on doing any work, so didn't have any tools with me. I was handed a 3/8 Craftsman RP ratchet, USA made, the exact same kind I started with decades ago. If there had been more than 4 bolts, I'd have driven the 40 minute round trip to my house to get my Snap On hard handle ratchet. My god that thing was awful...an ergonomic disaster, a coarse-toothed crime against hands everywhere. Ok, maybe not that bad, but it truly sucked. I hadn't used one in 20+ years, and now I remember why.

BIL has basically just a paint splattered screwdriver and a crescent wrench. I was over there wiring up a light fixture and asked for needle nose pliers. He handed me some really crappy regular pliers made in India. I walked out to my car and brought in my Homer box that has 5x the tools in his entire house.

 

[nutsnbolts]

What he said^^^^. The other day we were getting our new washer & dryer delivered, and I ended up crawling through the attic to clean out the vent. It was the first time I had done it in this house, and didn't really know what to expect. What I did know was that I didn't want to get all the way up there, crawl around through the insulation and all that ****, and then not have the right tool for the job, so I took my best stuff with me in a tool bag. I didn't need much, but it was reassuring to know I had what I needed to get it doine the first time.

 

[Jim Diesel]

I always use the best tool for the job. As im always fighting for space inside the tool box, i dont double up on tools and only chose brands i trust to perform well. They might not be the most expensive in thier class, but i shop for quality, not price.

 

[Sprintman]

I always use the best tool for the job. As im always fighting for space inside the tool box, i dont double up on tools and only chose brands i trust to perform well. They might not be the most expensive in thier class, but i shop for quality, not price.

And that's why I now buy Toptul.

 

[jallyn]

As I buy better tools I have all these old cheap tools lying around. I have small kids and they are interested in tools since I am, so I can often give them an old tool I will probably never end up using again, and they can add it to their collection of special things. They are too small to properly use some tools, but love the sentiment of having something from Daddy.

 

[Jim Diesel]

As I buy better tools I have all these old cheap tools lying around. I have small kids and they are interested in tools since I am, so I can often give them an old tool I will probably never end up using again, and they can add it to their collection of special things. They are too small to properly use some tools, but love the sentiment of having something from Daddy.

Thats awesome mate. Having just had my first child 2 months ago, i can not wait till the day i buy my children their first tool box and slowly build it up with them.

 

[GSMotorrad]

I've had my Snap-On RotoRatchets for about 20 years, and used them exclusively, until I got this one from Harbor Freight a year ago. I tend to grab the Harbor Freight one now, just because I like the Wiha handle and its push-button locking mechanism. I also like how it's longer.

I'll never sell my Snap-On one, it's so broken-in and has done so much for me. It is the much nicer ratchet, but it doesn't get used as much these days. I know the Harbor Freight one is cheap, and isn't as smooth, but as a tool it does its job just fine.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

But for most tasks, I just always gravitate back to my Klein cushioned handles. They just feel right.

For tough screws and trying to put a lot of torque on something, I do like the grip of the Kleins, but for a lot of use I've almost found them to be too grippy. I love the cushion grip on the Ideal screwdrivers, comfortable but it doesn't feel like they stick to my hand as much as my Kleins.

 

[derosa]

I bought two craftsman sets before Christman, a larger socket set and an 82 piece bit set; both have the new 75t ratchets. I've added a 1/4 and 3/8 socket adapters for the screw gun and now find myself grabbing the two cases and the screw gun if I have to go anywhere to work on anything. On Sunday I needed to assemble my parents new swingset for the grandkids and had the BIL there to ,help between the two sets we had all the tools we both needed to do the assembly and work together. Do like my wrights better but the ability to see at a glance what was where and have it all in 2 cases with decent ratchets.

 

[mrjaw14]

if it's really dirty, or outside in the elements I will use a cheaper tool so as not to mess up my nicer ones

 

[jd_1138]

if it's really dirty, or outside in the elements I will use a cheaper tool so as not to mess up my nicer ones

I don't like to use junky tools on ANY repair job. If you keep your tools nice and lubed up, they come clean easily with a quick wipedown with an oily rag.

 

[Dave455]

Here in the U.K. the Wera are the cheaper tools, by a considerable margin! I've got a couple of Klein that I picked up stateside. Good tools, I like 'em!

Most folks forget that screwdriver slots, and screwdrivers, are made to Metric or Imperial sizes. If you've been finding that the Wera fit better, you've probably been working with metric screws.

You'll always be better off with a metric driver in a metric screw, and vice versa, irrespective of make!

I have to hand a set of Wiha's in metric, a set of PB Swiss (normally my go to choice, but some ISO metric slots are not that great a fit with their Swiss spec drivers), a set of Snap On for Imperial sizes, and pretty much a set (if mismatched) of old British Steadfast drivers, which includes a lot of /32 nd sizes that are common here but not offerred by Snap On! The latter really are 'the dogs ********'!

Truth is - you can't have too many screwdrivers!

 

[Al Borland]

All my old, good tools live in the safety and comfort of my tool box. I use crappy tools at work(abuse and loss issues) and decent modern tools working on the car or house.
I DO like to take the old ones out and use them when I'm not in a hurry.

 

[jd_1138]

Truth is - you can't have too many screwdrivers!

Yeppers. Various lengths, sizes are needed for different applications. Plus just having a large number of them comes in handy so you can have some in the car, some in the catchall drawer in the kitchen, some in the garden shed, some in the garage, etc..

Out in the shed, I screwed a 2 foot long 2x4 to the workbench and then drilled about 15 holes in it, and I have 15 screwdrivers stored there. They are vintage Stanley and Craftsman.

 

[Roobaix]

I work in the engineering department at a local hospital.
I'm the only guy rolling around a Snap On cart loaded with Snap On, Wera, Felo, SK, Knipex, Sola, Stabila, and various other nice tools.

So, no. I use the good stuff whenever possible.