My new technician grade tools.

[redbarron57]

SK 1/2 drive t-handle
SK 5 piece pliers set 6-inch combination (slip joint) pliers, 7-inch and 10-inch tongue and groove pliers, 7-inch chain nose pliers with cutters, and 7-inch heavy-duty angled diagonal cutters, all packaged in a storage pouch.
SK breaker bars 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 inch drive
SK duck bill pliers
SK magnetic pickup tool
SK telescoping insp mirror
SK 60 pc 1/4 drive sae/mm
SK 47 piece 1/2 drive mm/sae socket set
SK 15 pc SAE combo wrench set
SK 15 PC MM combo wrence set
SK 12 pc 3/8 Drive sae hex bit set
SK 12 PC 3/8 Drive mm hex bit set
SK 49 pc 3/8 drive socket set SAE and MMSK
SK 9 piece screw driver set
SK 1/4 inch drive flex head ratchet
keter master pro tool box. (it had hundreds of 5 star ratings so I dont care where it was made)
Overall 232 pieces for about 1500 dollars.

After looking at all the professional grade tools I think this will be fine for the rest of my life.
Things that I refuse to spend big money on is punches, hammers, pry bars, locking pliers, adjustable wrenches and **** like that. I can get box store brand stuff for that and it will be fine. Dont bother telling me any different because my ten years in the maintenance trades tells me otherwise. Craftsman punches and pry bars are just fine. Irwin, channel lock and knippix pliers for the locking stuff and slide adjustments. I cant seem to find any brass tools, maybe harbor freight if I remember right. I cant see spending 200 for a hammer so just shoot me if that happens. snap on sells a hammer that they must have filled with gold or something. lol. I was really torn between Snap on and SK. But the plan I came up with was SK because no body could say anything bad about them. You can say something bad about snap on and that is price. Quality they are the best but they have fallen in love with their name a little IMO. For my 1/4 drive stuff the kobalt **** I have will work for the time being. Now I need to upgrade my toolbox and get truly mobile. An air tight military shipping container will work for that. Add wheels and a handle. Build some shadowed pallets and I should be fully upgraded, mobile and modulated. Its going to be challenging to get it right but I will post a thread.

 

[redbarron57]

bump

 

[maxdustington]

I just got the 13 piece SK metric wrench set and the 47 piece 3/8 metric and sae socket set. They are very nice, a huge upgrade over mastercraft or craftsman. Another thing I like about SK is that they are a little under the radar and easy to get deals on compared to snappy.

If you haven't got your hands on them yet you will be pleasantly surprised. I just got my socket set tonight and it definitely exceeded my expectations. The chrome is sooooo nice.

 

[Gmonkee]

Why all SK? Mixing and matching a bit can get you a better item sometimes at the same price. A decade in the biz you must already have some runaway favorites in pliers or ratchets.
ln the end its your money, your choice but fact is no one company makes the superior everything.

Either way, good luck sir, and it does appear you have a more than solid kit to work with.

 

[donvito]

The advantage I see in going with one brand is warranty replacement, especially if you don't have a truck pull up once a week.

Who is the OEM for SK pliers?

 

[Kaane]

The advantage I see in going with one brand is warranty replacement, especially if you don't have a truck pull up once a week.

Who is the OEM for SK pliers?

Western Forge

 

[Flivver250]

I have favorites in every US brand. I have become partial to Wright, Mayhew, SK, SO, Knipex, Kein, Mac and a few others. As I am no longer in the business, and wrench as a hobby, I buy what I want, when I want it and try to avoid Asia as much as possible, personal choice and my money. I did buy a used Asian box (Extreme). Very happy with it. I have almost every tool I ever bought over the last 40+ years and I have broken very few. When I was in the bay plying the trade I used 90% Snap-On but started with some SK. As you say don't tell you different, I won't offer my observations between the brand differences.

 

[Wrenchinfool]

Technician grade? First of all I am a grease monkey.. Technician sounds more like words used by marketing, 2nd who is gonna warranty all the sk tools...

 

[MattPersman]

Exactly unless you got a local SK seller, enjoy

 

[Brownsfan]

I didn't see anything in the original post about any warranty concerns. My guess warranty can be handled directly with SK ? I have said it before and I guess I will say it again. I have never seen so many so concerned with a tools warranty. I have been using tools professionally since 97 and can maybe count on one hand the amount of tools I have broken. Now cell phones that's another story. Until I joined this site I had no idea tools broke at such an alarming rate. I think we may need to get congress involved.

 

[d.mcfarland]

No 3/8 or 1/2 ratchets in that list??

 

[sberry]

I agree about the warranty, its the most profitable thing they sell. They did warranty 2 ratchets back in the day with dealers and were none too happy about it but my Bud used SK and I got a few, never known him to warranty one outside that and neither have I.
My Bud bought a few nice sets in the small drive where he really used them a lot. I think we bought them all thru our parts stores.
Cman is the worst lifetime tool ever made. They warranty more of those than any other and they are cheap. You don't need it on hi end stuff.

 

[larry_g]

Dont bother telling me any different because my ten years in the maintenance trades tells me otherwise.

I just love the ignorance of youth.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[herfalerf]

no pictures and no questions just a list of tools you own? i don't understand the purpose of this thread.

 

[lewis26]

no pictures and no questions just a list of tools you own? i don't understand the purpose of this thread.

exactly my thoughts. especially after he bumped it....

 

[abk241]

I didn't see anything in the original post about any warranty concerns. My guess warranty can be handled directly with SK ? I have said it before and I guess I will say it again. I have never seen so many so concerned with a tools warranty. I have been using tools professionally since 97 and can maybe count on one hand the amount of tools I have broken. Now cell phones that's another story. Until I joined this site I had no idea tools broke at such an alarming rate. I think we may need to get congress involved.

Add 25 years to that and the fact that any tools I have broken were from abuse.

 

[CJM8515]

I too have been using tools professionally and as a my hobby for eons. Only things I ever broke were cheap junk, the tool wore out after repeated use or from abuse and honestly the better tools were from abuse in a few cases and mostly worn out. But literally less than a dozen tools broke... FWIW I like stanley/husky (used to be made by stanley) and proto. All you have to do is call them up, they wont question why its broke or how and they send you a new one within a week or less. I broke a hex socket and they shipped me a proto (was stanley) in 3 days. I cant say the tool truck woulda been any quicker unless you got them on speed dial or they were coming to the shop that day

 

[abk241]

no pictures and no questions just a list of tools you own? i don't understand the purpose of this thread.

Agreed!
And since when is a good hammer, decent puches and pry bars considered ****???

 

[Kirbot]

I didn't see anything in the original post about any warranty concerns. My guess warranty can be handled directly with SK ? I have said it before and I guess I will say it again. I have never seen so many so concerned with a tools warranty. I have been using tools professionally since 97 and can maybe count on one hand the amount of tools I have broken. Now cell phones that's another story. Until I joined this site I had no idea tools broke at such an alarming rate. I think we may need to get congress involved.

I finally got over my warranty obsession a while back...

Just buying a new $5 socket or no.2 phillips every other year or so, is hardly going to plummit me into financial ruin.

The only exception I can think of is stuff like torx and hex bits, which really do seem to break often and easy.

 

[crab]

I've certainly broken some tools in the last 50 years. All kinds to. Snap On is the class of the field but like anything else you're going to pay for it. I understand you just want a tool that will get the job done without spending any more than you need to, nothing wrong with that.

 

[Adam.C]

Things that I refuse to spend big money on is punches, hammers, pry bars, locking pliers, adjustable wrenches and **** like that. I can get box store brand stuff for that and it will be fine. Dont bother telling me any different because my ten years in the maintenance trades tells me otherwise.

Wow- thanks for sharing. You are the smartest person in the world.

I cant see spending 200 for a hammer so just shoot me if that happens. Snap on sells a hammer that they must have filled with gold or something.

Wow! I've never seen a $200 hammer from Snap On. Too bad I didn't see your post last week when I bought a set Snap On dead blow hammers for $75 brand new off the truck (16, 24, and 32oz). I will get to warranty these hammers for the rest of my life.

Too bad you know everything and can't be told anything. Because a lifetime warranty on a fantastic tool in the hands of a young pro can be a seriously great deal.

I agree 100% with others tho. I don't feel the need to have warranty service on stuff I can't imagine EVER breaking (combination wrenches). I really like the convenience of having a lifetime warranty on my screwdrivers, ratchet wrenches, bit sockets, and swivel sockets.

 

[Kirbot]

It's a pretty big hammer, to be fair...

https://store.snapon.com/Sledge-Hammer-Dead-Blow-Sledge-8-lb--P635006.aspx

 

[1950mercury]

It's a pretty big hammer, to be fair...

https://store.snapon.com/Sledge-Hammer-Dead-Blow-Sledge-8-lb--P635006.aspx

LOL

I just had a sk locking 1\4 drive driver for my 1\4 dewalt impact driver break. IT was less than 1 month old..it almost cost me as muck to mail it in as it would have cost to just buy another one.

 

[Adam.C]

It's a pretty big hammer, to be fair...

https://store.snapon.com/Sledge-Hammer-Dead-Blow-Sledge-8-lb--P635006.aspx

Well I'll be! I stand corrected. Lol thanks for posting this. I wonder what it's for? I think that's one of the trusty cook models.

 

[larry_g]

Well I'll be! I stand corrected. Lol thanks for posting this. I wonder what it's for? I think that's one of the trusty cook models.

We used such 'hammers' to nudge large machines into place. Some of these machines were connected with doweled plates and had to be exactly in place. So moving a 4000lb machine a .001" takes a different kind of finesse. The large deadblow sledge was used.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[SantaAna12]

Wow! I've never seen a $200 hammer from Snap On. Too bad I didn't see your post last week when I bought a set Snap On dead blow hammers for $75 brand new off the truck (16, 24, and 32oz).

Are you saying you bought all 3 new for 75$?

 

[bcradio]

Wow! I've never seen a $200 hammer from Snap On. Too bad I didn't see your post last week when I bought a set Snap On dead blow hammers for $75 brand new off the truck (16, 24, and 32oz).

Are you saying you bought all 3 new for 75$?

My guess is yes, but he did not say they are the dead blow ball peen hammers... just dead blow, which seems right.

 

[Adam.C]

Yes. HBFE16, HBFE24, HBFE32. All for $75. Here's the story. Snap on promo offer buy a 3/8 impact, get these three hammers. Told my rep I was looking for hammers. So he rips open the promo package and makes me this deal. With the hammers sold, he can now sell the impact less than retail. So everybody comes out ahead. Done this a couple times with him.

 

[SantaAna12]

I did make an *** umption there. Good catch bcradio.

Still a good deal. I gotta go spend some money with our new SO rep.

The old one quit and is selling cars.

 

[zakmartin]

no pictures and no questions just a list of tools you own? i don't understand the purpose of this thread.

Thanks for saying it first.

Dont bother telling me any different because my ten years in the maintenance trades tells me otherwise.

Okay then.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I finally got over my warranty obsession a while back...

Just buying a new $5 socket or no.2 phillips every other year or so, is hardly going to plummit me into financial ruin.

The only exception I can think of is stuff like torx and hex bits, which really do seem to break often and easy.

Amen to that. Most of the things from them I've warrantied were things that would have still worked. They were just worn (by unrelenting professional abuse).

 

[redbarron57]

Ok SK backs their product 100% All you have to do is ship them the tool.I have more than enough craftsman, huskey and Kobalt to sub until my tool returns. Next, Whats with the attitude on this site. If you dont like the thread or what I write then DONT READ IT. Finally if you want to see a picture of the product then go look it up on their web site. Heck you might see something you like and want to buy it. Next a technician turns wrenches for money, we are professionals. I grease monkey while being no less skilled turns wrenches as a hobby.
My runaway favorites
pliers- knipex
wrenches Snap on
Sockes and ratches Snap on
Pry bars dont matter
Hammers Ill use any hammer they all work
I hate all screw drivers but Lilse makes a 90 degree 0 back swing ratcheting screw driver that I absolutly love.
Finally I am not a tool collector, I buy tools because I have to for my job and I need them. I want to support US brands and SK just got restarted in a brand new manufacturing facility in Chicago. They are good quality and reasonably
priced. Although I love snap on they are just to expensive for me and I will only buy what I need from them.

This web site gives a whole new meaning to the team 'S-Word'

 

[redbarron57]

LOL

I just had a sk locking 1\4 drive driver for my 1\4 dewalt impact driver break. IT was less than 1 month old..it almost cost me as muck to mail it in as it would have cost to just buy another one.

Was it an impact tool? if not you abused that tool and the blame is on you not the tool. Right tool for the right job and everything.

 

[Jwych]

I'm confused at what this post is about. Honestly I took it as "HEY THIS IS WHAT IM BUYING AND I DONT CARE WHAT YOU SAY" and to that I say hey that's your prerogative and personally I don't care. Good for you and your right to purchase whatever tools you wanna buy! I'll do the same and buy tools I want to buy!

Good day sir

 

[redbarron57]

Wow- thanks for sharing. You are the smartest person in the world.


Wow! I've never seen a $200 hammer from Snap On. Too bad I didn't see your post last week when I bought a set Snap On dead blow hammers for $75 brand new off the truck (16, 24, and 32oz). I will get to warranty these hammers for the rest of my life.

Too bad you know everything and can't be told anything. Because a lifetime warranty on a fantastic tool in the hands of a young pro can be a seriously great deal.

I agree 100% with others tho. I don't feel the need to have warranty service on stuff I can't imagine EVER breaking (combination wrenches). I really like the convenience of having a lifetime warranty on my screwdrivers, ratchet wrenches, bit sockets, and swivel sockets.

Your welcome, hey dont be mad, I know what what poor, fair, good, better, and best are with tools like hammers, punches, chisels and pry bars. Here is an example. I have looked high and low for a better quality brass punch but harbor freight is the only store here that has that tool.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Well I'll be! I stand corrected. Lol thanks for posting this. I wonder what it's for? I think that's one of the trusty cook models.

We use some of those 8 lb deadblow sledges at work hitting stuff and putting pins in on buckets and attachments on construction equipment. I don't really like using it, it feels "funny" but it works OK I guess.

Our safety department very strongly discourages metal on metal striking, particularly hardened metal, due to the injuries from flying chips. Instead we are supposed to use slide sledges and deadblows as much as possible, and strike metal to metal only if absolutely necessary, plus we are supposed to armor up with a faceshield and welding leathers if we have to.

A guy at one of our customers was killed last year by a piece of shrapnel from striking metal with a sledge hammer. I don't know much details of the incident other than he bled out very quickly.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Your welcome, hey dont be mad, I know what what poor, fair, good, better, and best are with tools like hammers, punches, chisels and pry bars. Here is an example. I have looked high and low for a better quality brass punch but harbor freight is the only store here that has that tool.

Do you have a TSC or NAPA? My TSC carries Mayhew products (Made in the USA) and NAPA carries a taiwanese house brand that is decent...while it doesn't matter so much for brass punches (probably) I would buy only high quality regular punches such as Mayhew.

Same goes for I don't buy cheap hammers...

I prefer to buy better quality than HF or the big box stores when it comes to tools, and I don't like paying SO prices either. Amazon and Ebay have really helped me with acquiring tools, I can obtain high quality goods for very affordable prices from them.

And a decent quality adjustable is the only adjustable worth owning. I like my Craftsman made in the USA adjustables (Western Forge makes them, I believe). Keep that chinese **** away from me when it comes to adjustables.

 

[Bran Diezel]

Well if you think that small list of tools is gonna get you by as a tech for the rest of your life you are 1. Sadly mistaken 2. Working at walmart

If I listed the tools I have to work with it would probably max out the garage journal servers and I still don't have everything I need.

 

[redbarron57]

Its funny to me how folks can confuse the fact that I wont spend big money on punches with I wont buy decent punches. Ill probably hit up my late grand-pa for some of his old punches that are 40 or so years old and US made. The reason why I bumped this thread, I was hoping to get a few good ideas on how palletize tools and store them in an air tight container.

 

[Bran Diezel]

Man I am with you though on cheap punches and chisels, two sets at harbor freight for $30 total I've been rocking and rolling for years now.