I've been reading these forums for a few months and finally decided to register so I can get some opinions. I have been working as a mechanic for a few months now and I have a U.S.A. made craftsman set that has served me well for about 15 years now. My coworkers both have snap-on and matco tools and I cannot afford pro tools yet. My craftsmans serve me well, my sockets don't split, my wrenches don't slip, overall I am actually quite satisfied with them but I know that I need to upgrade. Is there a nice mid level brand between craftsman and snap-on.
Mid level Tools
- Thread starter Thamuza
- Start date
1950mercury
Well-known member
Why do you need to uphrade if they've served you well for 15 years...
Sk is a nice option,
Sk is a nice option,
Stuey
Well-known member
There are plenty.
Proto
SK
Williams
Wright
Proto
SK
Williams
Wright
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
SK to the rescue.
KamiCrit
Well-known member
Proto, SK, used truck brand tools, can't go wrong.
I looked at SK and Armstrong for a while and a couple of guys came through our garage with both brands the Armstrong ratchets are seriously heavy and heavy duty and the SK ratchets just aren't that great to me. as far as the sockets one of the guys did split 2 of the SK sockets but the Armstrong's seem as heavy duty as the ratchets. I need to upgrade because the new craftsman's are Chinese made and the only way to get U.S. made sockets is to buy them individually.
I have looked at proto but in my area the only place to get them is Grainger and they end up being as expensive as the truck brands.
I have looked at proto but in my area the only place to get them is Grainger and they end up being as expensive as the truck brands.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
You're right, armstrongs max ratchets are better. However, SK has better sockets/wrenches/extensions. Amazing chrome.
Personally I'd get nice ratchets (dual 80s or Armstrong maxx) and nice screwdrivers (SO Insticts) and use those in addition to your current sockets and wrenches.
Personally I'd get nice ratchets (dual 80s or Armstrong maxx) and nice screwdrivers (SO Insticts) and use those in addition to your current sockets and wrenches.
I don't get it. You said you have old CM sockets that have served you well and haven't split.
Then why are you worried about new CM Chinese sockets since you already have old CM and don't need new ones?
If you break your old CM pieces and don't want to get Chinese as a warranty replacement then just replace the individual pieces with whatever brand you want.
There's no law that says sets can't comprised of mixed brands.
Williams, gearwrench, sunex & grey pneumatic impacts, sk, armstrong, and dare i say Mac(to those haters). Are all great brands.
But if what you have works, use them, and spend that money to expand your collection of working tools.
Edit...
Why start a tool debt, if it can be helped. Same for tools that are still working.
But if what you have works, use them, and spend that money to expand your collection of working tools.
Edit...
Why start a tool debt, if it can be helped. Same for tools that are still working.
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transittech
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2012
- Messages
- 299
I don't like my SO screwdrivers. Just sayin'. The tips are too soft and they slip easily. The grips are great, but the shanks ****.
My "most bestest" suggestion would be Witte made Cornwell or Matco.
My 2 cents, no offense intended to Farmall450, just stating my preference.
Canadian Charlie
Banned
If your Craftsman set has served you well for 15 years why upgrade????? Don't fall into the Snap On trap like I did. If you really want tools like Snap On look on eBay
Carlyle. Taiwan made but very nice, very very nice. Bonus if Napa does parts delivery the warranty would he just as good as a tool truck. $$ though. A 22 piece 1/2 shallow metric socket set is $179. That's 10-24 no skips, a 60 tooth (I think) 10" ratchet, 3" 6" and 10" extensions, 18" breaker var and a universal joint. Similar, a 3/8 set with all that is about $90.
au contraire mon frer, it is the Law of Completeness, which was passed by the Order of Compulsorily Organizers, way back in the pre-chrome era.
LOL BikerDad has the right idea I'm kinda OCD about my sets being matched, complete and in order. Don't mind guys workin outa my box, hate when they don't put the tools back in the proper place. I went with sunex impacts because they offered complete sets. after reading and thinking about it, Charlie is right. At the end of the work day my CM's havnt failed me yet so until they do ill just keep using them.
1950mercury
Well-known member
Tips are soft and they dont grip? Snap on acr tip Phillips are awesome and they dont cam out at all. And tbey are not soft
1950mercury
Well-known member
Are you buying new or used? I bought new snap on dual 80's on ebay for alot less than list.
If buying new sockets sk,williams usa made are almost snap on clones. If you have a tool truck that comes to the shop with a good driver buy that brand. Its a huge benifit to get tools replaced that come to you. Buy them o. Ebay and through the driver. Ypu cant expect him to constantly replace your tools if you never buy from him
If buying new sockets sk,williams usa made are almost snap on clones. If you have a tool truck that comes to the shop with a good driver buy that brand. Its a huge benifit to get tools replaced that come to you. Buy them o. Ebay and through the driver. Ypu cant expect him to constantly replace your tools if you never buy from him
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Don't consider an overall brand as the replacement. Find the best individual tools!! You will get better value as far as cost, durability, and usability.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
If i were starting over today. I would be buying a lot of Proto and SK. Great tools that can be found for very reasonable prices. Both have a full line of hand tools that are pro quality. That being said. All my sockets are USA Craftsman. Most are around 17 years old. Some are newer. I bought the last USA made socket modules when they went on sale when the switch to China started. So now i have back UPS if i break something. I have a rather large craftsman pro screwdriver set. Now i won't be able to warranty them because they discontinued the pro line drivers. The new proto screw and nut drivers look fantastic. Also look into Armstrong ratchets. They are Matco at a greatly reduced price.
bl00
Well-known member
espyking83
Well-known member
This is the garage journal, we all look for excuses to buy new tools. You sound like my wife.
espyking83
Well-known member
Except for the fact that there's only 1 or 2 tools that Snap On actually does better than the 'mid level guys'.
espyking83
Well-known member
Oh, and TS, you should get a mix of Proto, SK, and Wright. If you do it right you'll have a better set of tools than someone exclusively Snap On. Someone prove me wrong.
Maybe I just got one of the better CM sets because after using my buddys SO sockets I wasn't impressed. They were nice don't get me wrong, but for the price they didn't do any better than my CM, and I guess that's where I'm coming from. We have a guy in our shop that has nothing but blue point and almost all of his is made in Taiwan and the only prob he has is it takes him 3 times as long to get replacements from the truck because everything that isn't SO is special order for our truck guy
you know its getting to the point that it seems no matter who you buy almost all are made by Danaher now.
you know its getting to the point that it seems no matter who you buy almost all are made by Danaher now.
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Re-read what you wrote to us. First off, if your a newbie, no one cares what your using, so long as your keeping your mouth shut, ears open and work hard. Second, if you've had this set for 15 years and you have zero issues with it, what logical reasoning do you have that you "need" to upgrade? Again, your a newbie. Lastly, you said it yourself, you cannot afford pro tools right now. Why? Because your new to the job. Invest in your knowledge, constantly offer to lend a hand when your not busy to learn something from the more experienced guys. Show your a team player, and that you want to learn. Show them that your a good enough worker and part of the team to be worth teaching. Focus on that aspect of the job, not what your wrench says on the side of it. So long as it works, it works. Learn the job, gain more experience, and you'll also know what you would prefer in terms of tool replacement (if anything). And you'll also be able to afford better tools later down the road too.
Not trying to be an ***, just trying to get you focused in the right direction.
Filson I'm not unskilled I have been wrenching as a hobby for about 17 years. I only made the transition to "pro" status in the last few months. unfortunately all my coworkers "grew up" wrenching and I didn't pick it up until late as all my family is in the medical field. Which I coincidentally left a year ago. As they have had years to build up their tools sets, its a little intimidating when your looking at 12k matco boxes with 15k worth of tools in them and the going opinion is that CM is "junk". but like I said they've always worked fine for me. now that they are made in the PRC, will they still be fine? probably not. Ive been reading all across these forums about how CM has went down., but no one has said what a clear mid level set is. until now which seems to be SK
Zeke
Well-known member
I think you nailed the subject when you talked about how the other mechanics view YOUR tools. **** them. However, it's the same in construction. Show up on a job with HF power tools and no one will take you seriously. Someday I'd like to see some cat make some really bitchin' cabinets and trim with nothing but Chinese 'junk' just to show folks that the person holding the tool has more than just a little to do with the outcome.
If I were building one house and not planning to build another, I'd buy many of the tools needed at HF. Yeah, I like my old school Milwaukee drills and Sawzall and I've damn near smoked them up and they still work.
But even that stuff is made in china now.
Where do you draw the line?
BTW, I have some SK tools that I bought as a kid at the hardware store. They are all over 50 years old and other than one or two lost, they look good and work fine. Never broke one. Mind you, these are SK from the 50's, not 2014. I have some old school Thorsen too and all is good there as well.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Thamuza,
Just a wanted to share my way of looking at slowly upgrading my tools.
I have 90% cman sockets, and they have served me well, some I have had and used hard for 10-15 years, so I have left them alone.
I have been upgrading my most used tools, specifically my ratchets to snap-on. I have no regrets, in fact I have even bought some SK ratchets for backups just because the cman ratchets now seem so clunky when compared to the snap-on ratchets. the SKs are a good solid ratchet, and while they may not be as nice as Snap-on ratchets they are reliable.
Wrenches on the other hand once you get some quality ones you will never look back, I prefer the feel and quality of SK superkrome, I have nearly replaced all my Cman RPs with them and couldn't be happier.
I also have been upgraded other failure prone items like bit sockets to Proto and Sk and love them, probably not as nice as Snap-on, but the price is good, and they perform very well.
Bottom Line IMHO, slowly upgrade or expand your collection where it counts, based on what you use the most.
And just to answer you original question, I consider these to be the beast examples of "mid level" tools, mostly on price, quality if often close to snap on. SK, Proto, & Williams. (I left out a few brands b/c I have never used them, and can't offer an opinion on them) Wright, Armstrong, Bluepoint
-Sam
Just a wanted to share my way of looking at slowly upgrading my tools.
I have 90% cman sockets, and they have served me well, some I have had and used hard for 10-15 years, so I have left them alone.
I have been upgrading my most used tools, specifically my ratchets to snap-on. I have no regrets, in fact I have even bought some SK ratchets for backups just because the cman ratchets now seem so clunky when compared to the snap-on ratchets. the SKs are a good solid ratchet, and while they may not be as nice as Snap-on ratchets they are reliable.
Wrenches on the other hand once you get some quality ones you will never look back, I prefer the feel and quality of SK superkrome, I have nearly replaced all my Cman RPs with them and couldn't be happier.
I also have been upgraded other failure prone items like bit sockets to Proto and Sk and love them, probably not as nice as Snap-on, but the price is good, and they perform very well.
Bottom Line IMHO, slowly upgrade or expand your collection where it counts, based on what you use the most.
And just to answer you original question, I consider these to be the beast examples of "mid level" tools, mostly on price, quality if often close to snap on. SK, Proto, & Williams. (I left out a few brands b/c I have never used them, and can't offer an opinion on them) Wright, Armstrong, Bluepoint
-Sam
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
IMO SK makes the best breaker bars. I would like for them to make a linger 3/8 but there 1/2 drive 24" is Awesome. I have the snap on at work but I like my SK at home better.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I'm not a pro, but I see the value in high end ratchets (dual 80's), but for most everything else anything made in USA is good enough.
Problem too is that when you show up with a set of MAC and SO, they get stolen piece by piece when you're not looking. Happened to many friends over the years.
So I would just get mid-level gear to help others avoid the temptation. Tho' they still may be snatched.
wise
Well-known member
I'd focus on filling out your set before you decide to blow whole pay cheques on pro-tools. There are a lot more to the 'basics' then Sockets and Wrenches. Get a big enough tool box to allow for a year or two (or more) of expansion. Get a good selection of good quality pliers like Channellocks. Air tools...
Once you have a nice well rounded set of 'pretty good' tools... then you should start thinking about getting some SO and other really expensive pro brands. Even then, buy used when possible. The tools I use all day are Snap-On, Proto, USA Mac, Gray etc. Most are used except for ~$5000ish I've bought off of various trucks. It adds up QUICK if you're out to get lots of Pro stuff.
Once you have a nice well rounded set of 'pretty good' tools... then you should start thinking about getting some SO and other really expensive pro brands. Even then, buy used when possible. The tools I use all day are Snap-On, Proto, USA Mac, Gray etc. Most are used except for ~$5000ish I've bought off of various trucks. It adds up QUICK if you're out to get lots of Pro stuff.
Mopar-Scooby-Doo
Well-known member
Well I am not a pro mechanic. Yet. But even if I was I don't care if I have just top of the line stuff. Right now I have for sockets most CM and Williams with some Proto and SK in the mix. I am trying to do a full set of Williams USA but that's just because I like Williams tools. This is just my two cents. Hope you find what's best for you. 
Here's another opinion (just what you needed!!! LOL) : Peer pressure is tough, but not insurmountable.
As you wear out your current stash of tools, buy decent replacements. Plenty of threads on this forum about all the major tool manufacturers world wide. I would probably pay up for the tools I use the most, after the others wear out. Of course, depends on your circumstances when the need arises.
I was an industrial mechanic for just shy of 15 years. Never had problems with my Craftsman (not that there were my only brand), except for the ones I abused. Most CMs I bought in the late 70s. Also used primarily Proto and SK.
CM may seem to be going down the tubes, but they had a lot of good manufacturers producing their tools for many years. Maybe Sears will find the right person who can restore their reputation via solid business decisions.
Concentrate your efforts on doing quality work with the tools you have.
NFH2740
Well-known member
Yep. If your kit stilll does the job, why spend the money? Add Wright to the list.
I have the armstrong maxx 3/8 and 1/2 and some of their sockets and they are seriously good i prefer armstrong ratchets over sk but sk has better wrenches imo.
Armstrong=Matco