Sunex vs Astro

[kartracer55]

So what do you guys think? I have always seen astro pneumatic as a sort of half-*** kind of a tool company. How do you guys view them?

Now what about sunex? Anybody use thier stuff?

The reason I ask is because I am looking for a set of long reach needle nose pliers, and I simply will not pay 200$ for a 4 pc set of them from snap on. This is one instance where I simply cannot justify the price. There is a 4 piece set of long reach orange pliers that seem to float around at work. Nobody claims them, they just sort of float around. Anyway, I want a set. I use these exclusivly. Unfortunatly there is no brand marking on them. Im pretty sure they are made in taiwan (thats unfortunate), but the quality is excellent. They are either sunex or astro, both of which are less than 35$ from the toolwarehouse which makes them very attractive.

Thoughts? I believe the ones I use are astro pneumatic, but I was wondering what you guys thought about the quality of sunnex. 10$ more for the set but its 4 different needle nose pliers instead of 3 needle nose and some sort of hose gripping plier.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/AP-9415.html

or

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SUN-3600.html

Any input would be appreciated. It kills me to buy taiwanese tools like this but Its not a critical tool like a wrench or socket.

Jim

 

[ZRX61]

I've had a set of 4 from Horrible Fright (blue handles) for at least 5-6 years. They're fine & they get used several times a week.... I'd go with the Sunex set.
I also have 3 pairs of the ones with the round ends, great for pulling spark plug boots without the fun of smashing a knuckle into a fender apron

 

[chevy302dz]

From what I have seen and used Sunex tends to be better quality than Astro. Astro would be closer to HF in fact some of their items are identical, and Sunex is more comparable to say Stanley.

 

[ron in sc]

I use Sunex impacts as well as Sears Craftsman and the Sunex seem just as good. They are not made in China but Taiwan. Personally I've found a number of tools made in Taiwan to be of very good quality.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I too have some Sunex stuff, good stuff.

 

[chevy302dz]

There's a E Bay store selling 2pc sets made by Blackhawk for $24 that are US made.

 

[HighOctane]

where do they sell sunex stuff? I heard it was good, is it expensive?

 

[eschoendorff]

where do they sell sunex stuff? I heard it was good, is it expensive?

www.thetoolwarehouse.net

 

[strizzy]

Not to get even more off topic, but I know our MAC guy has a flyer which has all the Sunex stuff and a lot more "off brand" stuff. With our guy you just tell him what you want and then he orders it for you too. A guy at our shop likes to get odds and ends like this from the flyer. He also has the Sunex swivels and swears by them.

Aside note: I grabbed a set of Sunex combination wrenches cause they were a good deal. They are dropped forged china junk (well they didn't stamp the junk part in huge letters, just everything else), although not bad at all considering the price. I did have a bake line fitting put a "notch" into my 3/8 on the open end side.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

The shop has an OLD 3/4" set of Sunex sockets and ratchet (made in Japan to show you the age). I found a set of wheel sockets at my "junk" store for $15. Use them all the time and think they are great. I've even been considering getting a set of Sunex wobble sockets (figure if I don't like them they will be fine for home).
Astro stuff I see all the time sold as other named stuff: Neiko, Titan, Performance tool. I prefer the Sunex, unless your local store will handle the warranty.

 

[May Pop]

I believe you will like the Sunex over the Astro. Finish on Sunex is nicer. But both will get the job done nicely.

 

[chevy302dz]

As far as import impact sockets Grey Pneumatic beats out Sunex and everyone else. While the quality between Sunex and Grey is pretty similar with Grey having the advantage.The major difference is Grey offers much better sets.

 

[Ign]

Not to get even more off topic, but I know our MAC guy has a flyer which has all the Sunex stuff and a lot more "off brand" stuff. With our guy you just tell him what you want and then he orders it for you too. A guy at our shop likes to get odds and ends like this from the flyer. He also has the Sunex swivels and swears by them.

It's probably this flyer:
http://www.toolweb.com/

They also carry stuff like Clarke, etc, most of which looks to be approximately Harbor Freight quality at a higher price.

 

[wrench]

we have an independent tool man who calls on our shop,he sells all different brands of tools,and he carries the full sunex line,quarentees them too. I have used sunex impact sockets every day for many years,and I swear by them.I dont ever recall breaking one,I seem to lose a few every once in a while.the sunex combination wrench sets are excellant also.full polished,extra long and cost about 1/10 th as much as snap on.