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Pittsburgh tools?

stage20

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Nov 5, 2013
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just ignore the complainers... people complain for resurrecting old threads and people complain for starting new threads.
im complaining your complaining. why dont you just go start a new thread so i can comment and tell you to search and paste a link of this thread to your post
:lol:
 
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Milwookie

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I was on a forum where starting a new thread was forbidden in there was already a thread on the topic, no matter how old. It was a pretty toxic forum, though, truly horrible members. I remember at one point one member telling another member who had cancer that he wished she would die.
 

BK13

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Hmmm.



I have used the Ppro locking pliers large and small, for several years, same build and quality as any real "vice grip" brand I have owned,IMO.



After messing with some new Irwins, I'm not sure that's much of a compliment! LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

jd_1138

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Not even good for the kitchen drawer

Speaking of which, I just removed all the tools out of the kitchen "catch all" drawer last night. Since I usually go out to the garage or shed and get my quality tools (SK or CM USA) I rarely use this set. I snapped a pic of them with my phone. I took them out to the shed and put them in a small toolbox. Maybe I will donate them to the church rummage sale (except the nice pair of Channel Lock pliers) or put them in the wife's Honda CRV.
 

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zendriver

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Originally Posted by zendriver View Post
Hmmm.



I have used the Ppro locking pliers large and small, for several years, same build and quality as any real "vice grip" brand I have owned,IMO.

After messing with some new Irwins, I'm not sure that's much of a compliment! LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was referring to Vise Grip pliers, I have owned for 35 years.
 

Weird Tolkienish Figure

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North Shore Boston MA area
I used the Pittsburgh vice grips. They were fine for locking onto the dishwasher impeller (i guess it was the motor fan blade) so it wouldn't spin. I tried to use them to unscrew a rusted and seized screw and they twisted and bent like hell. I ended up cutting off the screw.
 

BDT/NWMN

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Not sure if I should be laughing at the bitching or bitching about the laughing

:lol_hitti :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
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Sugarfryz

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Pittsburgh Tools get a bad rap. I'm an Automotive Technology student at the University of Arkansas. To get though the courses to receive my degree, I had to have tools. I didn't have the money to run out and buy Snap on or any other name brands. I went Harbor Freight and got what I needed. We work in the shop as much as any full time auto tech would, and I was stunned on how well they preformed! The wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, hammers are just as good as Craftsmen. I would push it and say the sockets are better than craftsman; I have not EVER busted one. I have seen Craftsman bust on meany occasions in the shop. To be truthful, a lot of Harbor Freight stuff is junk. You just need to look before you buy, you'll know if it is **** or not. Their Earthquake air tools are very, very good. Harbor Freight ratchets ****, they strip very easy. So with that said, buy good ratchets i.e. Gearwrench or better. I plan to use the tools I have when I open my own shop. Hey, why go out and buy high dollar Snap on tools, when Pittsburgh tools will do the job at a fraction of the price. I want to put money in my pocket, not give it to the Snap on man. I had some people I go to school with flat out tell me they would not buy Pittsburgh tools because they are junk, then run over to NAPA and buy a **** load of Evercraft tools. Evercraft and Pittsburgh tools are made by the same company, only Evercraft is higher because it is a NAPA product. Its your money, spend it as you wish.

My craftsman tools are complete garbage. The Pittsburgh tools I have (especially the wrenches) are much better than my craftsman tools. I refuse to buy anymore craftsman tools, the open end of the craftsman wrenches round off bolts much easier than my Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh aren't great tools for everyday use, craftsman is even worse tho. I have some pittsburgh that I use at work daily that's held up for a year. Sometimes you get lucky at harbor freight sometimes you dont
 

jd_1138

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Old-MummyHead.jpg



21858d1249726366-subcontractors-wanted-22_old_thread.jpg

Mess up "your" versus "you're" while you're at it.
 

anndel

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Hawaii, USA
I have some Pittsburgh Pro HF tools I bought when I was on the mainland and went to HF in Las Vegas. I have ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, adjustable (Crescent-like) wrenches, combo-box end wrenches and locking pliers all for my emergency truck kits. I used the locking pliers to repair the fender on my wife's bicycle and the jaws sheared and broke right off. It was brand new unused and I could have sent it to HF and get it warrantied but instead it went into the trash can. I replaced it with a "real" Petersen Vise Grip pliers.

I replaced a crankshaft position sensor on my co-worker's car using the HF tools and nothing broke. They're not like the Snap Ons in my shop but they work and that's all that matters.
 
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zendriver

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Best tools made - for the money.

People should not use them if their egos cannot handle it. My hold up as well as any American made tools I have, Including SO and Cman.

Locking pliers are no more chewed up than my American vise grips.

Their "Pro" screwdrivers are awesome.
 
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cvcman

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I fairly regularly buy miscellaneous **** from Harbor Freight so, of course, I seem to get a catalog from them every other day or so. Has anybody bought any of their Pittsburgh stuff? I'm just curious if their quality is equivalent to their prices, or are they a good buy?

Thanks,

Dave

The deep well impacts are decent for the money...the other stuff,,,,nope
 

wafrederick

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I like the Pittsburgh Pro ratchets,they hold up well and I use them under pro use.Never broke one yet so far
 
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zktk01

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The Pittsburg Pro Ratchets are ok, but I would rather buy a used Powr Kraft made by Wright on ebay.

PS just saying hi to the Folks in 2020.
 

yamaha0343

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Jan 5, 2016
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South Louisiana
This post has tried to die several times now, but it just keeps coming back. :lol:

If the tools have the longevity of this post I may have to pick some up.
 

stage20

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The Pittsburg Pro Ratchets are ok, but I would rather buy a used Powr Kraft made by Wright on ebay.

PS just saying hi to the Folks in 2020.


and the next guy is going to recommend something else. everybody has their thing.... :rocker:
 

Gvos

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Nov 9, 2013
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I have been a tried and true "Made in the USA" Craftsman guy since I got my first set for HS graduation in 1972. Sold off most of my original craftsman tools when I quit wrenching in 1976. Four years ago this coming June I put up a three car garage as a workshop and found myself having to buy tools back. I have acquired most at auctions, and Ace Hardware stores where you can still find "Made in USA" craftsman if you dig. However Last month I purchased a 1/2 drive impact wrench to tear down a 1939 Allis Chalmers I am rebuilding. I noticed a Harbor Freight add for metric and SAE 1/2 drive impact deep well sockets for $20 bucks a set. Went and looked, ended up buying them. From what I can tell they seem to be fairly good quality. Certainly on par with most foreign made tools. I believe these were made in Taiwan.

Looked at some of their other wrenches their, the pro grade tools don't seem to bad from what I could see. Spoke with a guy who works as a mechanic while looking at them. Asked him what he thought, he indicated all he uses is Pittsburgh tools and really has not had any issues. Could it be that foreign tool manufacturing techniques are improving? What are peoples thoughts?? I try to buy American as much as possible.
 

Finky198

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I have both. 6-8 of the Pittsburgh pro ratchets and 5 Snap on dual 80s.

And I have to agree for the money with the coupons and discounts the Pittsburgh pro ratchets are the best value on the market.

But I will say I have broken them in all three sizes. ( I turn wrenches 3-6 days a week in a commercial shop setting.) I wore out the 1/2 flex head till the head flopped. 3/8 and 1/4 striped gear teeth. With bare hands no pipes. They were all warrantied without issue so that's a big plus. I have yet to wear strip or cause damage to any of the snap on and the most obvious difference is the weight it's quite comical to be honest.

I used both until it come to big breaker bars, It's not worth my safety so I go with the SO 24" and up. I have a big mix of pro and non pro tools I save money when and were It makes the most sense in the long term. I have had them for around 2-4 years now for reference

I am a +1 on most of the Pittsburgh pro stuff. It will work well especially if you not a pro...
 

Stevenn1

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Once again. I would be very careful what I buy at Harbor Freight (being a 'discount' tool store). The word "Pro" doesn't mean a thing.
 

nbpt100

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Oct 19, 2016
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Massachusetts
I am careful with purchasing any Pittsburgh tools. About two years ago I bought a set of wobble extensions. My thought was they are on sale cheap and how do you break an extension?

After a short while one of the 1/4 wobbles stopped to hold on the socket.

Apparently it wore just enough for this to happen. Annoying but I still can use it with some extra care.

You can see quality changing over time. Sometimes for the better and sometimes not.
Over time China will become a better manufacturer.

China just launched their first AirCraft Carrier. Trust me they are getting experience designing and making stuff and their people are becoming better educated.

CMan has gone down hill. Pittsburgh will likely get better over time. Things are changing all the time and at a faster rate...Even if you don't want it to. It is up to you to notice or some how keep up. Or don't.
This is a thread worth bringing up now and then.
 
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asm154

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Jan 30, 2017
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134
Keep the 1/2 extendable comfort grip in the road bag as a ratchet and breaker bar. Also have the 1/4 rotohead.

Both great. I'd have more like the composites and flex heads but haven't found an excuse to buy them :)

Note HF now has cheap feeling plastic handled Chinese versions of the extendable. Check the label before you buy (you'll be able to tell by looking & the Taiwans seem to be pushed to the back).

I like the Pittsburgh Pro ratchets,they hold up well and I use them under pro use.Never broke one yet so far
 

Strouty

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Threads like this just prove how self centered people are, too many people don't read anything and just post.

Oh yeah, hello 2025!
 

M_George

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Eastern Pa.
If Stanley doesn't return Craftsman production back to the us and make quality tools, HF could take the market with their Pittsburgh Pro line.
 

Gvos

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Nov 9, 2013
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50
Certainly agree, as with anything one can purchase you need to be aware of quality when you purchase. My post was not meant to knock any ones opinions or choice in tools. Just my recent experience in HF and my noting that they seemed to have a better grade of tool in the Pro's now. I would agree that safety is key and folks should note exceed recommended tool use specs. You place a long enough cheater bar on anything it will fail. I would love to see Stanley return Craftsman to its former higher quality state.
 

Stevenn1

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Dec 30, 2013
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It's obvious Pittsburgh tools are getting better, I have seen it with my own eyes thru the last 20 years. I would put Pittsburgh (Harbor Freight) equal to Duralast (Autozone) now. I'm very cautious buying from HF tho. Yeah that new Daytona jack looks nice, but they have not been out long. the US General boxes have proven to hold up for many years in non Professional home settings.
 
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