Stanley Tools quality?

[kelpaso1]

I am beginning to put together a set of tools (for Christmas) for my 19 yr old daughter who moved into her first apartment. She needs a general "homeowner" set for furniture, bikes and other general repairs. I was going to get her one of those all in one kits but most are real cheap **** with a lot of useless tools and you guys convinced me to make up my own set.

I was looking at Stanley for pliers, screw drivers, hammer, wrenches, sockets etc. They look like good quality, have good reviews, are inexpensive, and readily available on Amazon here in Canada.
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000NIK8JW/?tag=atomicindus04-20

I would put them in some kind of tool box. Suggestions on what to put in the box without breaking the bank? Basic DIY tools (not that she'll be fixing the plumbing in an App. I want to spend about $200. I know she doesn't need top quality but I'm not getting cheap Chinese **** either. I have a couple older stanley tools I still use today so I want hers to last many boyfriends

 

[Kensgarage]

Before the "investment authorities" show up...those stanley kits are an excellent value.
Around the house, assembling junk from a box..... perfect.
If it was your son and he was into hot rods and monster trucks I' may look for something else.

 

[Empty Pockets]

In my experience, Stanley is decent homeowner grade stuff. If it breaks, it's cheap enough to replace.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[metaldad]

yep. perfect for the novice or homeowner.
btw, i read somewhere that lowes may be having stanley socket sets for a ridiculous low prices.

 

[woody 73]

For your daughter it would be the perfect gift from Dad.
Like someone else said if it was for your hot rod son run for the hills.

PS: If you ever run across vintage Stanley hand tools buy every thing you can get your hands on; because back in the day they made primo quality tools...

 

[defektes]

For your daughter it would be the perfect gift from Dad.
Like someone else said if it was for your hot rod son run for the hills.

PS: If you ever run across vintage Stanley hand tools buy every thing you can get your hands on; because back in the day they made primo quality tools...

Yeah the old stuff was really great, I miss the old USA made hard handle drivers.

 

[Skin]

Whatever you give her is going to be worlds better than the freebie Ikea tool garbage that most people end up accumulating.

 

[JonnyMac]

A nice compact 12v drill/driver would be on my list. The makita system is under $100 in most big stores. Whilst its going to be you putting up shelves 99% of the time its nice to know you wouldnt have to drag your tools round there each time you need to do it!!!

 

[Ruahrc]

My dad gave me (and I still have) a set of Stanley screwdrivers when I was younger too. That was probably 10 years ago I still use them. They will be fine I'm sure. However the one thing I don't like about the set I have and most basic screwdriver sets is that they include too many flathead screwdrivers and not enough Phillips screwdrivers. For example the 6 piece set I have is 4 flathead and 2 Phillips. I hardly ever use flathead thus most of the screwdrivers are underutilized.

In this case I would maybe look for a set that had more Phillips in it? I recently bought myself a 6 piece set from channellock that had 3 and 3 which I like better.

 

[timmyisme22]

Stanley 65 piece set in hard case $40

Stanley 38 piece set with soft bag $25

Stanley 10 piece screwdriver set $8

Low cost Sears 50% plastic tool boxes to choose from

Excel 16" Cantilever box $24

Stanley 16" Cantilever box $27
(Was on sale at Walmart for $14, but seems to be out of stock finally.)


Just a few easy things to check out. If it's not until Christmas (or is it early Christmas?), you can always build a better and cheaper set piece by piece.

 

[1950mercury]

They will get the job done. The only thing I would worry about is warranty. If the place you buy them at will exchange them life is good. But then again what's the chances she breaks one. I think home depot and Lowes are priced about the same with an easy warranty..

 

[Lugnutz]

I am beginning....


...so I want hers to last many boyfriends

I'd suggest, whatever you get, painting them all a nice bright PINK, so hopefully they won't grow legs and walk off. Any kind of nice tool has a bad habit of that!

 

[mrborohachi]

3/8" extending handle ratchet. One of the few 3/8""'s that can break lug nuts free. That is if the tire shop didn't hammer them on

http://www.trucktrend.com/news/1210tr-truckin-tough-3-8-inch-ratchet-test/


I've over the phone warrantied one before.

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

I know she doesn't need top quality but I'm not getting cheap Chinese **** either.

Guess where those Stanley pliers were made. Regardless, they look like a good value for the price. Not everything that comes out of China is ****, just most of it.

 

[shoggoth80]

I've still got a set of Stanley 1/4" deepwells that I picked up about 10 years ago. I either gave the ratchet away, or I broke it, I can't remember. The sockets have been doing pretty well. Got them at dreaded Wally World to boot.

 

[94_C/1500]

Stanley fat max tape lines are in my opinion the best made, and in the USA. I don't know if the Fat Max Extreme is still made but avoid those. They break much faster than a regular one. Regardless unless the store near you is good to work with then the warranty is useless unless you send it to stanely. Lowes will only honor it for 30 days. I do have a Leverlock currently, it's imported but it's a nifty design. Their anti vibe hammers are also top notch stuff, I prefer the graphite. I have used several different ones and they are great. They also sell hammers that are dark gray that look just like the graphite hammers but are plain, they can come in two packs sometimes, they work almost as good. If you're getting her a utility knife then the fat max is good but dewalt has a better one, it's arched and has a longer handle. Their sockets and ratchets aren't bad for cheap stuff. My first ratchets were Stanley 1/4 and 3/8. I can't remember which style it was, but they still have USA screwdrivers. Here's my suggestion, if you're wanting to go stanely then buy the bigger tool set and get the hammer, tape line, and knife. Sometimes Walmart has the extra generic roller toolbox on sell and it comes with a socket set. You can grab one of those and resell the box cheap to make some of the money back, maybe $50. But you got to ask yourself a question, does your daughter like pink? Not the small ones but the department store Sears have a whole section of pink tools. Or another route is to buy the stanely stuff and use pink plastidip.

 

[mrvm]

Check out what Craftsman has to offer since we are discussing starter sets in tools. On sale nearly every week and high availability. USA made pliers, hammers and screwdrivers are still available. Other than the fully functional RP ratchet which one could live with the CM sockets and extensions should give comparable performance to the similarly imported Stanley,HF, kobalt, GW, Husky.

 

[HanShotFirst]

For general use Stanley is great. Most of the stuff is made in Taiwan, which is very good stuff. It will hold up for decades and you won't be too light in the wallet.

 

[Monte]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001JZY92/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[danwolfgang]

For just starting out, I think I might bypass a ready-made kit in favor of building my own filled with starter items I really need.

If she's thinking about a trip to IKEA (or anywhere else where she may get something to put together that uses hex keys) do her a big favor and buy her some hex drivers or some kind of bit system with hex options. (Using those hex keys gets old fast.)

A small hammer for hanging pictures or whatever needs a good thunk.

Plier sets always look nice and complete, but... slip-joint pliers are annoying. Get a 10" water pump pliers instead. I'm not sure needle nose or diagonal cutters would merit a spot in my starter kit. Certainly not a lineman's pliers.

Basic screwdriver kit -- three or four of philips and flat head. Better yet, a bit driver with an assortment of relevant bits. But I think I'd also still add a small philips driver for those little battery door screws.

Drill/driver.

Tape measure.

Torpedo level, or maybe a 2' level for shelves and picture frames.

Utility knife.

And a small toolbox to store it all in.

I think that's it. I don't know what the cost would add up to; perhaps even more than the ready-made starter kits. But I think this kit would be more genuinely useful thanks hex drivers/bits, water pump pliers, and a tiny philips driver.

 

[retDAC]

3/8" extending handle ratchet. One of the few 3/8""'s that can break lug nuts free. That is if the tire shop didn't hammer them on

http://www.trucktrend.com/news/1210tr-truckin-tough-3-8-inch-ratchet-test/


I've over the phone warrantied one before.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NIK9XM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-3-8-Extend-Ratchet/14146063

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sly-92-645

 

[d.mcfarland]

I have a Stanley ratcheting 1/4 bit driver that isn't bad for the $7 I paid, but it feels like it only costs that much.


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[thegroundpounder99]

Stanley or Craftsman would easily do the tasks around the house and your budget should get everything she'd need. Good luck to her.


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[94EG8]

I have a newer Stanley set I bought about 5 years ago when I was working at Kent Building Supplies, we used to get $40 gift cards every so often and we got a pretty steep discount depending on what the markup on an item was (sadly tools don't have that much of a markup) I just got it for a set to keep in the car in case I broke down or was at a junkyard and needed tools. They're decent quality but if I had to pay retail I'd just got to Canadian Tire and get Mastercraft when it's on sale. It's generally better stuff for less money with a better warranty.

 

[lightning02]

The only Stanley tools I own are very old tape measures that where my father's. Can't kill those sobs lol and a set of ratcheting wrenches I bought over 10 years ago. When I first got them the 13 or 14mm broke out of nowhere. It most have been put together on a firday (lol) since all the others are still going strong to this day. Not sure if there still made the same. I also have some of there old school screwdrivers but there slowly being trashed as they break or wear out. They have done there time so I can't blame them.

I haven't tryed or handled any of there new stuff so I'm not sure. I think in this case I wouldn't buy any of there stuff unless I can yet my hands on it and see what's good and what's bad. Sometimes that's all you need to do for a deciding factor.

 

[928'er]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001JZY92/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Nice looking set for $183, but $194 shipping kinda kills the deal....

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Does she leave stuff everywhere? If so, buy one of the fitted kits so it's easy to spot missing tools and remember to put them back. If not, put together a kit in a bag so it's easier to add stuff to. A tool box is nice in an apartment since you can store it easier (stack stuff on top), but a bag is lighter and you have more flexibility on what you can stuff in there and carry without being able to close it.

I don't know about you, but a lot of people can piece together a decent kit from duplicates in their tool box. You may be able to set her up with a good set of stuff for free from your tool box and end up with much higher quality component.

Don't forget to include an organizer full of hardware like nails, screws, hooks, and wire along with stuff like tape, glue, WD40, etc.

 

[kelpaso1]

Does she leave stuff everywhere? If so, buy one of the fitted kits so it's easy to spot missing tools and remember to put them back. If not, put together a kit in a bag so it's easier to add stuff to. A tool box is nice in an apartment since you can store it easier (stack stuff on top), but a bag is lighter and you have more flexibility on what you can stuff in there and carry without being able to close it..

I was thinking of a 2 drawer toolbox for her new tools like this. Might be a little small/wasted space though.
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00R7QV07W/?tag=atomicindus04-20

She does not have ANY tools except an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver I gave her. She is the "organized, clean, no mess or stuff laying around type of person, and I think she will take care of "her tools" responsibly.

I don't know about you, but a lot of people can piece together a decent kit from duplicates in their tool box. You may be able to set her up with a good set of stuff for free from your tool box and end up with much higher quality component..

I have a bunch of that going in her toolbox.

Don't forget to include an organizer full of hardware like nails, screws, hooks, and wire along with stuff like tape, glue, WD40, etc.

Got that stuff covered too. I am a mechanic and a fix it all myself type of person so I have a pretty good idea what I think everyone should have as far as a basic first time owner/or living on your own tools/stuff to have. We will shortly be living in separate parts of the country and I just want my only baby girl to be able to fix, repair, or put together stuff herself without "dad" there with his tools to do it for her.

I appreciate all the suggestions here and I welcome more input on what to put in there in case I forget something. I'll start another thread when I get it all together, with pics and reviews of the tools I got her

 

[kelpaso1]

Nice looking set for $183, but $194 shipping kinda kills the deal....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001JZY92/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Damn, that is nice! I would like to have that in my Jeep, err my Jaguar
But the shipping

Maybe arrange a GJ buy from one of our European members here?

 

[kelpaso1]

I have a newer Stanley set I bought about 5 years ago when I was working at Kent Building Supplies, we used to get $40 gift cards every so often and we got a pretty steep discount depending on what the markup on an item was (sadly tools don't have that much of a markup) I just got it for a set to keep in the car in case I broke down or was at a junkyard and needed tools. They're decent quality but if I had to pay retail I'd just got to Canadian Tire and get Mastercraft when it's on sale. It's generally better stuff for less money with a better warranty.

I agree. Mastercraft is pretty good quality. My first set of 3/8 chrome deep sockets I bought 30 years ago when I first started out are STILL my number one set I use today. I used to use them often with a 1/2 inch adapter and my IR2135Ti, and daily now with a 3/8 impact. They aren't chipped, cracked, or worn out to this day and I have never warrantied one of them. I don't know how they stand up to the abuse

 

[Sanny81]

I have to say long before I got serious about my tool buying I bought a Stanley pear-head ratchet from Walmart for like $10. That damn thing lasted me over 5 years using at work doing routine maintenance on forklifts. And it's STILL working, it's just been replaced by my F80.

 

[GTO]

Nice looking set for $183, but $194 shipping kinda kills the deal....

Useless for her,she would never use the metric wrenches or sockets...

 

[brownbagg]

i like stanley, in the diy homeowner range, another brand i like is 'Great Neck"

 

[rodsnratfinks]

i like stanley, in the diy homeowner range, another brand i like is 'Great Neck"

Are you joking?

 

[stanleyoutdoors]

Stanley is the best! Of course it's also my last name....

Nor sure why but I've seen really high quality made in usa Stanley branded wrenches in south america. Wish they would sell them here

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[Squddle]

Stanley should be great. I got a Stanley socket set to keep in the car for emergencies and ended up using it at a job where I was concerned about my tools getting "lost". I really wasn't gentle with them as I had not much money in them. To my surprise, they held up great! Still using them today without any problems! I really "used" them, too! LOL! Who knew?

 

[crab]

Stanley owns Mac and several other tool lines.