Quality tools are worth the money.

[IATool]

As I get older I started investing in quality tools. Luckily for me I don't use that many tools, so it has not been breaking the bank to upgrade.

I own a couple cars and small engines and use my tools for routine maintenance. I'm not restoring cars or building engines so I don't need SAE on top of my metric sets or specialty tools.

I use to subscribe to the theory a tool is a tool. Just buy the cheapest one from Harbor Freight and return it, if it breaks.

Then I actually bought a few high quality tools and realize what a difference it makes.

They fit better in your hand, they cut easier, they don't round off fasteners as easy, or cam out screws, etc.

I also have high quality tools I can pass down to my kids someday. Or pawn them if I get in a financial issue.

 

[CGarage]

Agreed. Quality tools make or break projects.

 

[CR888]

There are many obvious benefits to well made, well designed tools. But, their is a new generation that is used to buying cheap China product, most new products they grew up owning were from China. This crowd will defend the HF China tool to the bitter end.

 

[BrandoJames]

As a DIYer, my tools span across the spectrum: professional grade (Snap-on and Matco ratchets) to mid-range Taiwan (Blue-Point chrome sockets, Tekton flex wrenches) to budget Chinese (HF Doyle pliers, Craftsman impact sockets).

I try to find value: my Snap-on and Matco ratchets were bought off eBay for way less than list price. The Blue-Point chrome sockets were surprisingly cheap when bought individually from Snap-on's website. And the Chinese made HF Doyle pliers and Craftsman impact sockets have held up well over time. I think a lot depends on frequency of use.

YouTube tool reviewer AvE once said the following of a Snap-on impact wrench: "For a DIYer, you probably won't use this impact enough to get the value reflected in it's price."

I agree with the statement above. For a pro, that $700 Snap-on impact is probably worth the price, just for it's endurance over heavy use. But it's probably not a good buy for a DIYer like me, who may use that impact wrench a few times a year.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I've got tools from Snap-On, Matco and S-K, as well as some Craftsman........and.... horrors.... I've even got some HF.

99% of the time, it doesn't make any difference which tools I'm using. But for the tough jobs, the best tools DO make a difference.

 

[lardy1]

My father was a tradesman. He made his living with tools plus had a well stocked repair shop at home. He told me when I was young that only rich people can afford cheap tools. It took me awhile but I finally understood after replacing **** I bought at Kmart because it was "affordable".

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My father was a tradesman. He made his living with tools plus had a well stocked repair shop at home. He told me when I was young that only rich people can afford cheap tools. It took me awhile but I finally understood after replacing **** I bought at Kmart because it was "affordable".

Good point there. Over time we forget the monetary outlay, but quality is reflected every time you use the tool.

 

[Mr_B]

The good thing in present times is hand tools of quality level suitable to professional standard has never had so much choice or value .
It hard to buy complete junk unless totally penny pinching or unlucky and with small amount research and due diligence quality and value tools are available to all buy truck, store, used goods, mail order etc .

 

[brianh]

Of course they are. That said most of my wrenching was done with what I could afford back in the 80's driving junk. I still have a lot of those cheap Taiwan and Indian tools. I pulled engines, dropped transmissions you work with what you have at the time.

As a woodworker by profession I know the value of a good tool, some of my shop equipment is older than me.

 

[Hammer1963]

Absolutely!

 

[zendriver]

That's why I buy most of my tools from Harbor Freight.

Quality tools, definitely worth the money.

Buying expensive tools as an "investment", certainly not a good one monetarily, IMO, self-worth perhaps, but hard to take that one to the bank.

 

[Citation]

I'm going to say... it depends.

What it worth it is "sufficient" tools. Above and beyond sufficient then you are paying extra for vanity, personal satisfaction, ignorance etc. That's probably better than under buying where a job will suffer because you didn't have the tools you needed. Still, for the price of one good SnapOn ratchet I can get a "sufficient" rotohead + standard + extending ratchet. None are individually as good as the SnapOn but sometimes having a lower quality specialty ratchet makes more sense than a higher quality ratchet that has to be a compromise between all of your different needs because it's also your only ratchet.

I certainly have some tools that are high quality and often those are overkill for any of my current needs (Fluke 187 multimeter, ASSI JFL-P3 tweezers - these are literally for vascular surgery which is not something I am qualified to do, SnapOn 1/4 drive flex head, Craftsman branded Skillsaw model 77). In all cases I got those tools via some sort of deal/gift. I could never justify full price for any of them given how many other tools I could have bought for the same money.

Beyond price, there is a question of what makes it better. It's usually a combination of "nicer to use", has more features and/or lasts longer. My Fluke 187 has a bit of all three. Things like a fast continuity check and touch hold measuring makes the meter nicer to use vs some others I have. Many of the extra features are wasted on my needs. Finally, Flukes have a well earned reputation for durability but mine isn't used the the field so that extra toughness again is of little value. At something like $400-500 retail this meter would have been a terrible purchase based on my needs. The same is true of a SnapOn wrench or ratchet set. I would be better served by spending around $100 and then using the rest to get other tools.

I suggest people try to go for the best value and what's the most value for someone who makes their living with tools vs a weekend shade tree is going to be different. Junk tools are almost always a bad idea but top of the line can be a waste of limited funds.

So, no, I don't think quality tools are always worth the money. It needs to be a balance between quality and need.

 

[sberry]

As I get older I started investing in quality tools. Luckily for me I don't use that many tools, so it has not been breaking the bank to upgrade.

I own a couple cars and small engines and use my tools for routine maintenance. I'm not restoring cars or building engines so I don't need SAE on top of my metric sets or specialty tools.

I use to subscribe to the theory a tool is a tool. Just buy the cheapest one from Harbor Freight and return it, if it breaks.

Then I actually bought a few high quality tools and realize what a difference it makes.

They fit better in your hand, they cut easier, they don't round off fasteners as easy, or cam out screws, etc.

I also have high quality tools I can pass down to my kids someday. Or pawn them if I get in a financial issue.

Good plan, pay 300 for something g today you can pawn for 75 10 years from now.

 

[jonshonda]

I agree for the most part, but avoid spending more then what is required on tools that aren't used often.

What I find to be most satisfying is when you have used a cheap tool for a while but then come across a good deal on a high end tool of the same type. And when used side by side, you can appreciate the extra money you spend based on performance, ergonomics, etc.

For example, I have been using a black friday special PC grinder for the last 3 years. It has seen a lot of use (home gamer) over the years and I have suggested it a few times based on the cost and longevity. I recently picked up a used Metabo grinder with similar power and size, and am very impressed with the cord, lack of vibration, and soft start. idk if it's worth the cost if bought new, but I do know it handles much better then the cheap PC

 

[Davefr]

If I use a tool or machine day in/day out for many years and it makes me "Moolah" then I seek out the absolute best quality/performance and ignore the price because it's a nit. Even if the second best is 99% as good, that extra 1% is still worth it in the loooong run.

For tools used only occasionally, some sacrifices can be made as long as the tool performs well for the intended use.

 

[will335i]

I would say there is as much importance to the quality of the tool as there is in the knowledge and skill of using it correctly.

For example, I have some Le Creuset pots and pans and they by themselves won't make the food I cook taste any better but since they are better made food cooks more evenly and doesn't stick as easily. So the quality of these pots and pans require less effort on my part for a better end result. If I didn't know what I was doing I could still burn food and destroy a meal and the extra cost would be wasted on me.

 

[ssdave]

....

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The good thing in present times is hand tools of quality level suitable to professional standard has never had so much choice or value .
It hard to buy complete junk unless totally penny pinching or unlucky and with small amount research and due diligence quality and value tools are available to all buy truck, store, used goods, mail order etc .

Another good point.

It's never been easier or cheaper to get good quality tools. Going from the cheapest of the cheap to decent quality is typically a small outlay.

 

[driftpin]

With some judicious choices, you can buy reasonably-priced, well-made tools, and if you're willing to buy used, then you can save even-more $. Most of my hand tools are Craftsman, bought in the 1970's, and they are still serving me well. I have a set of Wright 3/8" metric sockets I asked-for as a teenager to be able to work on our family VW beetle, they're > 50 years old, and I still reach for them to work on my hobby motorcycles. It's the famous 'Tootsie Roll' handle on the ratchet.

I have HFT items in my shop/garage, and they have been cost-effective and reliable. It's not the first place I turn to shop for tools, but in certain circumstances, I may. When my elderly FIL called to say, "we hear an animal inside the living room wall," I confirmed what sounded like a kitten. A trip to HFT for a color fiber optic 'snake' and monitor, the 'snake' inserted through a 1" hole in the old-fashioned plaster wall, showed a kitten staring back at us. My Porter-Cable Tiger Saw, a purchased-new item, w/its rotating head, cut me an access hole to remove the kitten. A trip into the crawlspace showed where patches needed to be done to keep-out stray cats. I'm sure there was no-need for anything more-expensive than the HFT fiber optic camera I used. I remove the batteries from it so if a battery leaks, it doesn't corrode the battery holder or the electronics. Since then, I also used it to perform a similar probe to easily-locate a plumbing leak, to be able to fix it. Would a Snap-On fiber optic camera do a better job? I doubt it. Would it cost me four-times more than the serviceable HFT item? You bet your sweet bippy! (probably)

I am not advocating cheap, poorly-made tools be purchased. I agree, "quality tools are worth the $," with the observation that with a bit of patience and sleuthing, you can afford quality tools without in many cases, paying full MSRP, especially purchasing used.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I use to subscribe to the theory a tool is a tool. Just buy the cheapest one from Harbor Freight and return it, if it breaks.

Then I actually bought a few high quality tools and realize what a difference it makes.

They fit better in your hand, they cut easier, they don't round off fasteners as easy, or cam out screws, etc.

There are some caveats to your statement.

Most of my tools are Craftsman, acquire in the 70s, 80s and 90s so they are Made in the USA (although I am sure some that the few I have purchase in the past 15 years are so are not).

I actually LIKE that way the tools fit my hand. As for rounding off fasteners, I don't own ANY 12 point sockets and I have 2 sets of SAE wrenches, on with 12 point box end and the other with 6 point box ends. I would not say I have any issues with screw head "cam out", but there is a place for a hand or battery powered impact !


The real point is, you do NOT need the absolute BEST tools that money an buy. Yes, Snap-On tools are nice, but even for a professional on a budget (raising a family) I do not believe they are worth the cost. The Snap-On truck is like a drug dealer. They sell shiny things that you will pay much too much for especially if you use their weekly payment plan !

 

[Robbie B]

I use harbor freight as a get me by kind of place. I don’t have much disposable income to buy everything as high end as I would like so I have to be selective. My main wrenches and socket sets are snap on, I used them to make money and even though I don’t work on cars anymore they make it easier when I need to work on my own. Speciality stuff I bought as needed from whoever seemed to have a good quality product. As for the stuff I get from harbor freight it’s stuff I’m just not gonna use often or it’s something that I need cheap and now. I bought a Banks 21* framing nailer there the other day for assembling a pallet chicken coop. I went in knowing i had to be as cheap as possible buying it and that it would not be the best air nailer. It works. I still have to knock some in and I accept that. You have to know harbor freight’s place in life and know that it’s best for getting you buy but it shouldn’t be a life goal to buy cheap **** consistently because ultimately it just makes you miserable.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a set of Wright 3/8" metric sockets I asked-for as a teenager to be able to work on our family VW beetle, they're > 50 years old, and I still reach for them to work on my hobby motorcycles.

My first tools were a set of Craftsman SAE 1/4" and 3/8" sockets, a 3/8" ratchet and a 1/4" "breaker bar". I still have them today and they are probably my most used tools !

 

[LOW1]

By luck in the late 1980s and early 1990s I stretched my meager budget and bought a bunch of craftsman sockets and wrenches and a box which still serve me well. I have replaced all my craftsman pliers with knipex and channelock stuff which I find to be better quality than similar older craftsman pliers. I am in the process of replacing my craftsman screwdrivers because my older ones are getting worn and better screwdrivers are now easily available.

So for things like pliers and screwdrivers I believe that now is a better time to buy them at reasonable prices than it was 30 years ago. I don't know if the same can be said for sockets and ratchets.

And perhaps the main thing that I miss about places like Sears is the incredible variety of tools that they had on display and available to check out before you bought them.

 

[cherrybomb]

I totally agree,quality tools are worth the money.You have to stand back and access your own situation. You have to decide how much you will use the tool,versus how much you are willing to pay.If its a tough fix,and you do it often,sometimes you will be ahead buying a bit up the line tool.I don't believe back and forth on a Sunday afternoon,replacing tools that let you down,when you most need them to perform is a wise move.When I started buying,50 years ago,I did cheap price and warrenty. Some where down the line ,I decided I could make choices.I chose Quality,and never looked back.I still have and use some of these tools.A more gratifying way to wrench in my case.It seems sometimes on this site,there are a lot of readers on this site,that are at this crossroad.No right or wrong answer I.M.O.

 

[rsanter]

I believe in quality tools, but quality is relative.
You only need as much quality as the job needs and as much as the user needs.

I used to use craftsman only and though shap on was a waste. And at the time it was for me as I was not have rounding or breakage issues.
As I began using tools more and then getting deeper into projects. I saw more breakage or rounding. I also started more using my own tools that I bought verses the older craftsman that my dad bought.
I started the move to snap on and have keept on that.

On the other hand, I sometimes have a single job I need to do and don't know when I will use that tool again. I will often buy the harbor freight (or other alternate brand) version if it appears to be of at lease decent quality.
If it gets the job done, great.
If I use that tool 3 times in a year and it breaks, I will then buy the higher end version

 

[SeisMec]

I use to subscribe to the theory a tool is a tool. Just buy the cheapest one from Harbor Freight and return it, if it breaks.

Then I actually bought a few high quality tools and realize what a difference it makes.

The difference between the cheapest 'one' from HF and the middle of the line 'one' from HF can be gigantic - the huge gap between it might work once and 'perfectly functional for decades in the hands of your typical DIYer'. I'm not claiming that's true for every tool HF sells. And the same is true in other box stores.

People like to present this as a binary: cheap vs quality. It's a wide range - usually with fine gradations. And often from the same manufacturer/brand.

Here is a Gearwrench 3/8 drive, mid-length, 15mm socket. Note the knurling.

And here is a picture of a Gearwrench 3/8 drive, mid-length, 1/2" socket.
Note the parallel radial grooves instead of knurling.

The difference won't ever matter to some. It may not matter to a pro with a wide enough assortment of other tools. For me it's important - but I'm now a DIYer working on older equipment with a limited set of tools.

Back in the day - decades ago - when I was being paid to turn wrenches - I owned Craftsman, Snap On, S & K, and Proto sockets in various sizes. Snap On was my go to in 3/8" drive (the only sockets to be had with flank drive at that time). But S & K was my primary alternate, because they were the only thing I could find in mid-length. (3/8-9/16). Neither set had knurling. Was constantly looking the unicorn: 3/8" drive sockets that had knurling and flank drive in standard, mid-length and deep.

I own both sets of Gearwrench mid-lengths. I'm old enough and turn wrenches seldom enough any more that I'll probably never know if they will hold up as well as the Snap On, S & K and Proto sockets I owned decades ago. (Disappear in a stolen tool box.) May never know if they will hold up longer that the 1970s manufactured Craftsman's, but my guess is the Gearwrench sockets will be far more durable. It's been about a year since the last time I step into a Snap On truck, didn't really look, but I'd guess their sockets still lack knurling.

 

[Rabid Badger]

The title of this thread is absolutely accurate:

"Quality tools are worth the money."

Unfortunately, it's almost always followed by a deluge of comments from people who read it as:

"Expensive tools are worth the money."

As I've said before, learning to recognize the attributes that make for quality tools allows a person to spend their money where it makes a difference (and save it where it doesn't).

Yes, if you buy nothing but Snap-On (hand tools) you will have quality tools.

I own Knipex, SK and Fein. I also own Tekton, Craftsman and Pittsburgh Pro. None of my tools are Snap-On, but they're all quality.

 

[Mr_B]

^^
I pretty much only buy sockets with knurling and lower half in a satin style finish as far better ergonomically
snapon has the very light visual use only knurling used on metric and the 2 grooves for imperial which not much use ergonomically .
Snapon piss poor on ergonmics of socketry and wrenches but broaching and alloy quality top effort .

 

[richfinn]

You can buy good quality tools and brands "cheaply", just do the homework on GJ before you hand your money to the websites.

I have a love/hate relationship with the internet (like most people I suppose). The one thing it has done is make good quality stuff more affordable (if you look in the right places)

I can buy tools from anywhere in the world and its awesome

 

[Ralf11]

OP left out one thing: They fit better in tight spaces, and don't break.

This goes way back. Tharg told his wife that trading 6 deer skins to Oog for that really nice spear head was "well worth it" cuz then he could get more deer.

Unfortunately, she was still angry over not getting the nice pebbles at the last fair and told him he was too lazy to get off his fat azz and hunt ANY deer.

 

[IATool]

Yes, if you buy nothing but Snap-On (hand tools) you will have quality tools.

Snap On without a doubt makes a high quality tool, no doubt. The issue is the price of Snap On has far exceeded the quality.


If you look at old Snap on price lists (they are purposely hidden online) the prices of their hand tools are (IIRC) about 3-4 times as much as they used to be.

People will buy them no matter the price, and to this day you will be frowned upon in auto shops if you don't use Snap On, Mac or other tool truck brands.

What I would like to see is a true, non biased test of tools including Rockwell hardness, chrome plating thickness, etc.

 

[Ralf11]

Do we need Rockwell #s?

I see the need for chrome durability tests.

If it's strong in a low profile config. that should be enough. AFAIK, almost everything is strong enough for regular ratchets.

So we're likely looking at feel, smoothness, maybe backdrag, and the long list above of things like warranty, time to replace or repair (tool truck vs. driving to some big box store, or shipping it back), etc.

 

[RedneckWelder]

The cheap tools of today are a thousand times better than the cheap tools of yesteryear.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

As a mechanic I use a variety of tools I have the old Popular Mechanics brand tools from Walmart and they are strong as heck I just used a pick from them today on an o-ring and they are amazing and there Is even a guy on YouTube who recommended them too it really ***** they don’t make them anymore they were Taiwan made except the picks and screwdrivers were USA made. I got my first tool set from my parents for Christmas in 2008 and it was a cheap $9 Harbor Freight set it was good for a 6 year old today I still have it just after busting lots of knuckles with it and stripping the ratchets I chose to get better stuff as I advanced. I have a variety of brands Snap-on, MAC, Matco, Cornwell, SK, Proto, Armstrong, Williams, Craftsman USA and China, Husky, Kobalt, Gearwrench and lots of the Pittsburgh Pro stuff from Harbor Freight and it all works great and lots of vintage tools that I don’t use and just collect. I also have some specialty tools from various brands honestly as long as it feels quality it has worked for me I have broke a couple here and there but just got them warrantied when I did and haven’t had too many issues. Also a tip is to do like me and buy majority of it used from eBay, pawn shops, yard sales etc you will get them much cheaper and already broke in.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Couldn't agree more. The cheapest tools at Harbor Freight are frequently not suitable for anything more stressful than assembling Ikea furniture. Really not worth returning because you'll just get another cheap HF tool.

Pittsburgh Pro is usually pretty good quality.

I started buying tools almost 50 years ago, mostly at Sears. It's amazing how much less expensive similar quality tools are today, adjusted for inflation. I have several interests, working with hand tools is just one of them. Every dollar I spend on hand tools takes away something from my other interests. Affordability is a quality I won't ignore.

 

[Kodiak]

I could be called a bit of tool snob I suppose. I think about what tools will be passed down to my boys, and what they'll think of them. Most of my tools are American made Craftsman, either bought as a gift by my father or bought used by me. The SK, Snap On, Proto, tools I've got came from my grandfather who was a British auto specialist for fifty years. They both taught me to look for quality tools. I have bought some imports for the lessor used tools since I'm not a professional. While most of it seems decent for the DIYer, and certainly affordable, I don't want that to be the bulk of what I pass down.

I love looking at my grandfather's quality tools and thinking about what he did with them. I'd like my boys to do the same, but not with toolboxes filled with Chinese and Taiwanese tools. I guess attitudes about this are changing, but that's how I was taught and I have a hard time deviating from it.

Unfortunately, to get affordable American made tools today for the DIYer (what Craftsman used to be), you got to buy used.

 

[928'er]

I agree with Citation, "it depends."

I tend to buy the best quality tools I can afford, but sometimes "adequate" is all you need.

For example, the HF made in Taiwan ball joint separator - at around $15.00 it's a well made tool and perfectly adequate for a tool that I may use once every couple of years. Does the job and separates ball joints.

Of course, if I worked on Carrera GT's for a living, I might spring for the German made Kukko version at 10 X the price...

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I guess I dont see the point in having expensive stuff if all your gonna do is general maintenance. For that kind of work, most anything will suffice.

As someone who has made a life for himself turning wrenches, I'll say I regret spending the money I did on tools. most any decent brand will do. I've switched from buying almost all snap on to mostly Napa Carlyle. lifetime warranty right down the road. Snap on warrenty gets worse everytime I have to get somthing fixed. Yes snap on stuff is nice, but grossly overpriced and in time with any real use it all breaks the same...

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Jmo371]

The bottom of the barrel stuff is pretty much universally agreed upon as garbage.


The middle of the road stuff(think Tekton, GW, sunnex, HF-Pro line etc.) all are perfectly adequate, even in a light-Pro setting...just stick with the brands strengths...do your research, buy what suits you well with the features you want and you will not be disappointed.

 

[Jameskelly]

I mean, if You are gonna use your tools to fix something then yes of course quality tools are worth the money. And sometime cheap quality tools can hamper your work more than helping. so yeah. I agree.