Mid-grade tools? Kobalt vs Husky vs ???

[Zewnten]

[/QUOTE] the ease of warranty replacement definitely makes up for any issues they may have quality-wise.[/QUOTE]

This is the most important thing when buying tools brands you aren't familiar with. I have a lot of one off duralast at home because Autozone is right down the street, and if they don't have it HD usually does. HF and Lowes are a 30 min drive so I don't have much from them unless it's a planned project I needed to gear up for and the pawn shops didn't have anything and if it doesn't work I don't want to waste 2 hours dealing with it.

 

[giants]

the ease of warranty replacement definitely makes up for any issues they may have quality-wise.[/QUOTE]

This is the most important thing when buying tools brands you aren't familiar with. I have a lot of one off duralast at home because Autozone is right down the street, and if they don't have it HD usually does. HF and Lowes are a 30 min drive so I don't have much from them unless it's a planned project I needed to gear up for and the pawn shops didn't have anything and if it doesn't work I don't want to waste 2 hours dealing with it.[/QUOTE]

If the tools aren't that expensive, why not buy two, with one as a back-up, until it's convenient to get to the store?

 

[The Fall]

Hassle over warranty replacement really frustrates me. It's the principle. I pay a lot for mostly American-made tools. Not used. New most of the time. SK has been great.

I only buy Mac in regards to the trucks cuz he shows up every week. I won't buy from the other drivers when they decide to show up.

Sears was the best here. I spent A LOT of money there and only had to warranty one wrench and maybe three sockets over the years. Dead simple process; in and out in a few minutes. I miss those days.

 

[Zewnten]

Because most people don't have the storage to organize duplicates for just in case. And i use this rule for things a lot more expensive than basic hand tools, as example all of my Milwaukee stuff was bought through HD so that if it doesn't hold up i can swap it at HD rather than waiting 2 weeks to mail it to Milwaukee and wait to hear back (which isn't bad Cornwell is about a month turn around time from my coworkers experience).

After a while most people will end up with multiples of the same hand tools if not in their tool box then scattered around in their vehicles, wood working bench, house tool set, garage, shop, etc. The tools I can "trust" after they've been through my shop I put in the cars knowing they will do the job, but like I've said almost any socket and ratchet will turn a bolt on a good day and i don't generally worry about warranty on basic hand tools. But if some one comes on here asking for recommendations I encourage looking at the warranty aspect as a kind of insurance.

 

[The Fall]

Warranty matters when you're in a garage. Especially if you need something like an overpriced air saw rebuilt and the truck hasn't shown up in weeks. Hand tools less so cuz I think everyone has doubles. But when you're knee deep in it, you expect good tools to last. When they don't, the warranty should be on point. It's factored into the purchase price, especially off the trucks. That's my two cents.

 

[Robinson1]

Hello. First post.

I want to start filling my tool cabinet.

Gonna start with the basics (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.) and work my way up.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Wrenches and Sockets: Tekton and Gearwrench will get you alot of tool for the money. Dont overlook Sunex either.

Screwdrivers: Pratt Reed, Tekton if you like the handle shape, Pittsburg pro isn't bad for the price

Pliers: Channellock all the way

 

[Nineeightyone]

Screwdrivers: Pratt Reed, Tekton if you like the handle shape, Pittsburg pro isn't bad for the price

I actually put down the Pittsburgh Pro/Quinn screwdrivers recently, I just felt like there was a better option out there for the money. Headed over to Lowe's and picked up this Project Source kit for $12. Primarily because I find the handles to be more comfortable than the Pittsburgh versions, at least the ones I was willing to spend money on. If I wanted to buy one quality set, I'd likely buy the Wera with the impact cap -- but that's a ~$40 set of screwdrivers. I also have the Kobalt bolstered screwdrivers and find them comfortable.

 

[Al Borland]

As of late, a lot of GW stuff is being Made in China. If Apex tool group continues to cut corners on GW tools, it will barely be able to qualify as mid grade. As for Husky tools it depends on what vintage we are talking about. The old USA made Husky is on the same level as old USA made Craftsman. The new stuff shows clear signs of cost cutting.

Old USA Husky was on the same level as the last of the USA Craftsman, but that isn't exactly a compliment.
The APEX Husky tools, even though China-made, are far better.

 

[giants]

Old USA Husky was on the same level as the last of the USA Craftsman, but that isn't exactly a compliment.
The APEX Husky tools, even though China-made, are far better.

Thanks. In what ways are the APEX Husky tools far better than the old USA Husky?

 

[CJM8515]

Thanks

Do you mean the ratcheting mechanism on the ratchets? What are the symptoms?

Do you have the same experience with the ratcheting wrenches?

yes the ratchets. I plain jane wore them out but I abused them. I used them as hammers, prybars, didnt care. I was a mobile mechanic/tow operator/battery tech for a towing company. Im no longer in that life and warranted them and now have had no issues for years using them non professionally.



I never used theirs or anyone elses ratcheting wrenches much, dont like them unless I have no other option so mine are mint.

 

[ZRX61]

Used husky professionally for ten years. Other than wearing out the ratchets no issues and I abused them

Same here, but don't have any Husky ratchets, just sockets & the pro series wrenches.

 

[giants]

yes the ratchets. I plain jane wore them out but I abused them. I used them as hammers, prybars, didnt care. I was a mobile mechanic/tow operator/battery tech for a towing company. Im no longer in that life and warranted them and now have had no issues for years using them non professionally.

I never used theirs or anyone elses ratcheting wrenches much, dont like them unless I have no other option so mine are mint.

Thanks. What is it about the ratcheting wrenches that you don't like?

 

[CJM8515]

Thanks. What is it about the ratcheting wrenches that you don't like?

Just don’t find them useful really. They are usually to bulky to fit in most areas

 

[snooter]

I have bought kobalt for when i need to bend the wrench to snake in to a bolt in a miserable location or cut up for my old utica torque wrench.(wrench heads) ...kobalt chrome finish seems a step above and they have gotten the job done....cant complain especially when i crank open the blow torch or saw the ends off..aint been in a lowes since the switch over..i actually liked kobalt

 

[Citation]

I have a set of recent Kobalt combination wrenches. They are nice feeling but seem softer than my 90’s vintage Cman raised panel wrenches. I like the Husky ratchets. Nice feel and build. The 72T heads are low profile as well. Tekton combination wrenches seem to have the best made open jaws. Others look like they use more aggressive electropolishing to get a nice finish. Cman avoids that by accepting a rougher finish but that wins a better jaw shape.

 

[Parrothead]

You do realize the OP asked the original question, their only post, and hasn’t chimed in since?

 

[theundermount]

You do realize the OP asked the original question, their only post, and hasn’t chimed in since?

oh damn we got played

 

[jgromada]

You do realize the OP asked the original question, their only post, and hasn’t chimed in since?

who cares it's a good topic, seems only SO & Icon get all the love these days.

I think the bottom line is these are all serviceable, they will do the job when needed. Nicer tools are a luxury for some. Warranty replacement may be mandatory for a professional mechanic but for the typical home wrencher/DIYer I doubt it matters much.

In almost 40 years of working on my stuff I only broke 1 socket because i attempted to use a non-impact socket in an electric impact trying to take off rusty exhaust bolts. (should have known). (socket replaced btw by Sears with no problems)

If you keep some of these out of high humidity or in the rain they should last a long time. If you every go someplace where they are selling buckets of sockets you will usually see some of the better ones (SK) still have some chrome on them while the lesser brands are pure rust. So i try to keep all my tools nice so i will be able to use them for a long time to come.

A small patina of surface rust on some old Craftsmen wrenches doesn't make them less usable.

 

[Parrothead]

who cares it's a good topic, seems only SO & Icon get all the love these days....

It’s not a bad topic, but a quick search will show this topic has been discussed ad nauseam over the years. Feel free to discus some more, but realize we’re not “helping” anyone, just bloviating on the internet (I’ve got thousands of posts doing just that so...). There’s a thread or more where the Husky socket is double stamped Silver Eagle (Matco).

Personally, for mid range/pro tools I’d go with Tekton sockets/ratchets and their USA made pliers and screwdrivers. The rest buy as needed.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Aw, we all love talking tools.

 

[giants]

who cares it's a good topic, seems only SO & Icon get all the love these days.

I think the bottom line is these are all serviceable, they will do the job when needed. Nicer tools are a luxury for some. Warranty replacement may be mandatory for a professional mechanic but for the typical home wrencher/DIYer I doubt it matters much.

In almost 40 years of working on my stuff I only broke 1 socket because i attempted to use a non-impact socket in an electric impact trying to take off rusty exhaust bolts. (should have known). (socket replaced btw by Sears with no problems)

If you keep some of these out of high humidity or in the rain they should last a long time. If you every go someplace where they are selling buckets of sockets you will usually see some of the better ones (SK) still have some chrome on them while the lesser brands are pure rust. So i try to keep all my tools nice so i will be able to use them for a long time to come.

A small patina of surface rust on some old Craftsmen wrenches doesn't make them less usable.

Thanks. Newbie question here: how do I tell the difference between surface rust and more serious/deeper (what's right term?) rust?

 

[measuredtwice]

Thanks. Newbie question here: how do I tell the difference between surface rust and more serious/deeper (what's right term?) rust?

"Surface rust" is what people call it when there isn't deep "pitting". You likely won't actually see the pitting until you remove the rust. Often people have a pretty good idea of what to expect based on experience.

Chrome can't rust. But the underlying steel can rust and microscopic holes and imperfections in the chrome allow the underlying steel to rust.

 

[Rottweiler]

Thanks for all the answers. Lots of brands I'd ever even heard of. I'll have to go thru it all again as I get ready to start buying.

 

[BigBoreFan]

I like OEM sockets and Tekton ratchets.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H2KY8O4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Yarpo]

As of late, a lot of GW stuff is being Made in China. If Apex tool group continues to cut corners on GW tools, it will barely be able to qualify as mid grade. As for Husky tools it depends on what vintage we are talking about. The old USA made Husky is on the same level as old USA made Craftsman. The new stuff shows clear signs of cost cutting.

USA made Gearwrench