If you didn't have any tools at all are were trying to build a complete set for automotive work what brands would you consider if you didn't use the tools to make a living?
Some time around 2004/2005 I faced the same dilemma. I am into off road trucks, my dad has antique Packards. I had several small sets of sockets, drivers, and wrenches, mostly sets I had been given as presents. I wanted to build a large set of tools so I started looking at the "build a set" programs that the various dealers had. I really wanted to go with a USA made tool truck brand but finally decided I really could not afford that much money for something I didn't make a living with. For a given amount of money I could get more tools by going with a less expensive brand. I decided to go with Craftsman for the majority of the tools, SO for the torque wrenches, and IR for any air tools. At the time Craftsman had an 8 set program that included arounded 1200 tools and would retail for about $7-8k total if I recall. So I started buying these sets. I got one set a year around Xmas when they would usually put them on sale. I had the first three sets in hand and went to buy the fourth one around 2008 and discovered that they had redone their entire program. The new program was 11 sets that included around 1500 tools. What was in the sets completely changed from the previous program so there was no real way to transition to the new program without having gaps or overlaps in the individual tools. By the time I found out about this, the sets from the previous program had been discontinued and sold off. I have not bought any large number of tools since then partly because I was pissed at Craftsman and partly due to a lack of funds. I have mostly been borrowing stuff I don't have from friends and family.
I have decided to start over. My family has a farm/hunting property and the tools I have now would make a nice set to leave there. So I looked back into this last week and discovered that Craftsman had rearranged their program again after only four years. And once again there is no real way to transition. If I had started over with the program four years ago I really would have been ill. It seems I can't trust Craftsman to stick to one program long enough for me to buy all the sets unless I pony up for them all at once. That would be around $8-9K, (I don't need every set), which would be difficult to bite off all at once. In addition, it seems that more and more of Craftsmans tools are made overseas, even compared to 2004/2005. They also seem to be picker about warrenty replacements.
Are their any brands out there that land between Craftsman and the TT brands in terms of price and quality. Preferably with a "add a set" program.
Some time around 2004/2005 I faced the same dilemma. I am into off road trucks, my dad has antique Packards. I had several small sets of sockets, drivers, and wrenches, mostly sets I had been given as presents. I wanted to build a large set of tools so I started looking at the "build a set" programs that the various dealers had. I really wanted to go with a USA made tool truck brand but finally decided I really could not afford that much money for something I didn't make a living with. For a given amount of money I could get more tools by going with a less expensive brand. I decided to go with Craftsman for the majority of the tools, SO for the torque wrenches, and IR for any air tools. At the time Craftsman had an 8 set program that included arounded 1200 tools and would retail for about $7-8k total if I recall. So I started buying these sets. I got one set a year around Xmas when they would usually put them on sale. I had the first three sets in hand and went to buy the fourth one around 2008 and discovered that they had redone their entire program. The new program was 11 sets that included around 1500 tools. What was in the sets completely changed from the previous program so there was no real way to transition to the new program without having gaps or overlaps in the individual tools. By the time I found out about this, the sets from the previous program had been discontinued and sold off. I have not bought any large number of tools since then partly because I was pissed at Craftsman and partly due to a lack of funds. I have mostly been borrowing stuff I don't have from friends and family.
I have decided to start over. My family has a farm/hunting property and the tools I have now would make a nice set to leave there. So I looked back into this last week and discovered that Craftsman had rearranged their program again after only four years. And once again there is no real way to transition. If I had started over with the program four years ago I really would have been ill. It seems I can't trust Craftsman to stick to one program long enough for me to buy all the sets unless I pony up for them all at once. That would be around $8-9K, (I don't need every set), which would be difficult to bite off all at once. In addition, it seems that more and more of Craftsmans tools are made overseas, even compared to 2004/2005. They also seem to be picker about warrenty replacements.
Are their any brands out there that land between Craftsman and the TT brands in terms of price and quality. Preferably with a "add a set" program.