Too many tool brands? Duplicate tools? Toptul Garage.

[amishman]

I remember at one time when I started collecting tools for my shop, I had this vision that I would collect one of every tool that brand offered, and I would stick to that brand for good. Then I woke up!

Anyone else out there start collecting a great amount of tools from one brand and then see another brand that they really like the design of, and start buying that one too?

I am starting to ask myself, what do I do with all these duplicate tools? Do I phase the old brand out and move the new one in. How many ratchets does one need?

Believe me, I have barely any tools now, but already have 4 sets of ratchets, and starting to wonder what to do with all these duplicates. They are all good usable tools, but I hate to not see them used.

Anyway, early on I started buying Craftsman. That is what I liked back then, and still do. But, I am starting to like other brands, and the frugal side in me, says use what ya got. The other side can't help but want to buy all these new cool tools, and just wondering out loud what others do regarding too many of the same tools.

I figure I will make some small sets to stash in cars as backup tools, but that will end at some point, as I have only so many cars. Of course I can buy more cars too!

Anyway, although I still like Craftsman, I like the looks of these new Toptul sets. I love the green color and would think it sweet to outfit my whole shop with these new tools. Just confuses the heck out of me what to do with old tools and is this a waste of $$. Just be frugal and use what I have.

tj

 

[terabyte]

dude I have lost a lot of sleep since I saw this.

I asked mike the price and I almost fell down.

I will let those interested find out for themselves what an amazing value this set it.

 

[chammyman]

go on how much is it?

I am seriously considering selling some duplicate tools, but I have done that before and depply regretted it

 

[terabyte]

go on how much is it?

I am seriously considering selling some duplicate tools, but I have done that before and depply regretted it

regular pricing I think was $2700 for everything inside the nicer of the toolboxes

 

[chammyman]

pretty reasonable that

 

[amishman]

dude I have lost a lot of sleep since I saw this.

I asked mike the price and I almost fell down.

I will let those interested find out for themselves what an amazing value this set it.

hubida hubida hubida mmmmmmmm mommy

hehehehe

Damn, I wish I could I wish I could.



tj

 

[Frank Elson]

I'm really good and restrained.
I only buy the tools I need.

...er... every time I see something nice I decide I need it.

 

[paramudduck]

I really like the green Pro line. Oh well may be some day.

 

[Hurricane]

why dont you support your fellow americans and keep buying the craftsman tools that youve already been purchasing, while youre still lucky enough to be able to have an american tool that is affordable, readily available and easily warrantied. No offense intended, but by virtue of the fact that you only have a hand full of tools, I'd wager you're not a very adept or experienced mechanic so you would hardly notice a difference no matter what tool you buy.

Not to mention the fact that there is only 1 dealer in the entire country, which speaks volumes on many different levels. A tool is just that, a tool. Function will always beat out form. It's not a very wise decision to purchase a tool based on the color
________
digital vaporizer

 

[speed bump]

why dont you support your fellow americans and keep buying the craftsman tools that youve already been purchasing, while youre still lucky enough to be able to have an american tool that is affordable, readily available and easily warrantied. No offense intended, but by virtue of the fact that you only have a hand full of tools, I'd wager you're not a very adept or experienced mechanic so you would hardly notice a difference no matter what tool you buy.

Not to mention the fact that there is only 1 dealer in the entire country, which speaks volumes on many different levels. A tool is just that, a tool. Function will always beat out form. It's not a very wise decision to purchase a tool based on the color

There are very few dealers for alot of foreign tool brands that people on this board are enamored with as well. Try buying Hazet stuff here.

Also I know alot of mechanics who purchase on color, if you don't believe me ask Nissian Crawler or anyone of the dealers on this website if color matters to them.

 

[amishman]

why dont you support your fellow americans and keep buying the craftsman tools that youve already been purchasing, while youre still lucky enough to be able to have an american tool that is affordable, readily available and easily warrantied. No offense intended, but by virtue of the fact that you only have a hand full of tools, I'd wager you're not a very adept or experienced mechanic so you would hardly notice a difference no matter what tool you buy.

Not to mention the fact that there is only 1 dealer in the entire country, which speaks volumes on many different levels. A tool is just that, a tool. Function will always beat out form. It's not a very wise decision to purchase a tool based on the color

Actually, I have a good collection going... Just meant I don't have 20 years worth. More like 10 years worth. So, I have more than a hand full.

Kind of like my cars, I buy what works and I also like the looks of them, so yes, color helps me on my tool purchases. So, for example, you will not find a Pink ladies tool set in my drawer. hehehe At least I will not show that draw off to you all.

As for american, are Craftsman actually made in USA. I thought they were made overseas someplace.

My cars are German anyway, so maybe I need to switch to Hazet!

tj

 

[Hurricane]

are we talking apples to apples here? american to chinese? truck brand to asian internet sale? think about it. really.

 

[amishman]

But yes, I do dig Craftsman too. I have a whole bunch of workbenches and tool chests to show I do. But, for whatever reason, I am starting to digg the TopTuls.

tj

 

[Hurricane]

As for american, are Craftsman actually made in USA. I thought they were made overseas someplace.

"Craftsman brand hand tools, made in USA by Danaher Tool Group. (Craftsman power tools are imported). Available from SEARS and KMart."



http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

 

[amishman]

"Craftsman brand hand tools, made in USA by Danaher Tool Group. (Craftsman power tools are imported). Available from SEARS and KMart."



http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

Ah cool, thanks.

tj

 

[paramudduck]

Or Moose with the orange handled stuff. By the way has he disappeared? I haven't noticed him of late.

 

[paramudduck]

Hurricaine don't get to hipped up by Made in the USA marks. I remember when a lot of the junkiest tools in the world were made here.

When I was young the no name brands still had USA on them. Craftsman has also sold Taiwanese and Japanese Craftsman brand hand tools at different times.

Stanley was fined for selling imported tools as being USA made.

Some companies admit to what is imported others hide it like crazy.

 

[wilbilt]

"Craftsman brand hand tools, made in USA by Danaher Tool Group. (Craftsman power tools are imported). Available from SEARS and KMart."



http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

That website is waaay out of date. Plenty of Craftsman hand tools are now made in China. I'm sure there will be more to come.

 

[paramudduck]

"Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools , Allen Hand Tools , and KD Hand Tools are made in USA by Danaher Tool Group." Hmm the Gearwrench guy have admitted to a lot of KD being imported now.

Tools imprinted with the Snap-on name are made in US? Remember the thread on the fancy new flare wrench?

http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/lw204_lw10_lw11_lw1213_lw14_npa.pdf

 

[Hurricane]

i wont play *** for tat, fact of the matter remains that buying the craftsmen over toptul puts money in american pockets. is the cashier, the delivery truck driver, shelf stocker, sears' office buildings etc in china/taiwan etc. really think hard about all that goes with it before you snap back about these tools. furthermore, who the **** cares if *gasp* snapon has an imported flare wrench. WAKE THE **** UP PEOPLE!!!! what about the other 99% of their tools? How many people are employed in Iowa alone manufacturing snapon tools? How many truck drivers, fuel stations, management personnel, etc. I could go on for an hour, I'm not trying to start a ******* match here or argue for the sake of arguing. How many americans is toptul employing? how many brick and mortar facilities do they have in the US thats generating revenue and property tax?

Before anybody replies, give thought to where you want your country to be 10 years from now. I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

Your wallet is no different than a voting booth come election time, it's up to us to help save our country from all this ********. Buy american whenever possible. Sometimes you cant buy american, but when you can, you should.
Show some pride in your country and help take care of your fellow americans out there by keeping YOUR money in YOUR country, rather than shipping it off to another continent.

 

[wrenhandtools]

Hurricane you need a beer. Nuff said

 

[krusty the clown]

i wont play *** for tat, fact of the matter remains that buying the craftsmen over toptul puts money in american pockets. is the cashier, the delivery truck driver, shelf stocker, sears' office buildings etc in china/taiwan etc. really think hard about all that goes with it before you snap back about these tools. furthermore, who the **** cares if *gasp* snapon has an imported flare wrench. WAKE THE **** UP PEOPLE!!!! what about the other 99% of their tools? How many people are employed in Iowa alone manufacturing snapon tools? How many truck drivers, fuel stations, management personnel, etc. I could go on for an hour, I'm not trying to start a ******* match here or argue for the sake of arguing. How many americans is toptul employing? how many brick and mortar facilities do they have in the US thats generating revenue and property tax?

Before anybody replies, give thought to where you want your country to be 10 years from now. I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

Your wallet is no different than a voting booth come election time, it's up to us to help save our country from all this ********. Buy american whenever possible. Sometimes you cant buy american, but when you can, you should.
Show some pride in your country and help take care of your fellow americans out there by keeping YOUR money in YOUR country, rather than shipping it off to another continent.

AMEN............

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

i wont play *** for tat, fact of the matter remains that buying the craftsmen over toptul puts money in american pockets. is the cashier, the delivery truck driver, shelf stocker, sears' office buildings etc in china/taiwan etc. really think hard about all that goes with it before you snap back about these tools. furthermore, who the **** cares if *gasp* snapon has an imported flare wrench. WAKE THE **** UP PEOPLE!!!! what about the other 99% of their tools? How many people are employed in Iowa alone manufacturing snapon tools? How many truck drivers, fuel stations, management personnel, etc. I could go on for an hour, I'm not trying to start a ******* match here or argue for the sake of arguing. How many americans is toptul employing? how many brick and mortar facilities do they have in the US thats generating revenue and property tax?

Before anybody replies, give thought to where you want your country to be 10 years from now. I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

Your wallet is no different than a voting booth come election time, it's up to us to help save our country from all this ********. Buy american whenever possible. Sometimes you cant buy american, but when you can, you should.
Show some pride in your country and help take care of your fellow americans out there by keeping YOUR money in YOUR country, rather than shipping it off to another continent.

+2

Mike Wren is not the enemy. He has the courage to put his name and number up for all to see. He is a fellow American trying to make a living.

-BWP

 

[wilbilt]

I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

You speak in circles. Are you saying we should buy Anheuser Busch products even though the money is lining the pockets of the foreign owners, who are planning to eliminate American jobs as we speak?

If I buy Chinese Craftsman pliers, should I feel "good" about it because the guy who put them in the bag has a minimum wage job?

Should I be overjoyed when I go to Mao Mart because somebody has to place those imported products on the shelves?

I don't think so.

BTW, A-B makes crappy beer.

 

[wrenhandtools]

HEY NOW, let's leave the beer out of this............shall we?

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

dude I have lost a lot of sleep since I saw this.

I asked mike the price and I almost fell down.

I will let those interested find out for themselves what an amazing value this set it.

Damn, I really like that set-up. Its perfect for people with OCD like myself. Those are some GREAT looking tools and boxes...

 

[bchee]

regular pricing I think was $2700 for everything inside the nicer of the toolboxes

does that include the box too?

 

[terabyte]

does that include the box too?

please confirm with mike but from what I understood
$2700 buys you either the red or green NICE toolbox(es)

so 10 drawers and 7 of them come full.

 

[speed bump]

i wont play *** for tat, fact of the matter remains that buying the craftsmen over toptul puts money in american pockets. is the cashier, the delivery truck driver, shelf stocker, sears' office buildings etc in china/taiwan etc. really think hard about all that goes with it before you snap back about these tools. furthermore, who the **** cares if *gasp* snapon has an imported flare wrench. WAKE THE **** UP PEOPLE!!!! what about the other 99% of their tools? How many people are employed in Iowa alone manufacturing snapon tools? How many truck drivers, fuel stations, management personnel, etc. I could go on for an hour, I'm not trying to start a ******* match here or argue for the sake of arguing. How many americans is toptul employing? how many brick and mortar facilities do they have in the US thats generating revenue and property tax?

Before anybody replies, give thought to where you want your country to be 10 years from now. I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

Your wallet is no different than a voting booth come election time, it's up to us to help save our country from all this ********. Buy american whenever possible. Sometimes you cant buy american, but when you can, you should.
Show some pride in your country and help take care of your fellow americans out there by keeping YOUR money in YOUR country, rather than shipping it off to another continent.

Remember A-Bs board approved that buyout. If they didn't want to be bought out by In-bev they didn't have to approve it.

Also I try to buy american products and support good american companies for instance I just here recently bought a set of New Balance shoes, NB had a tag right on them that said this shoe was made in the USA however due to an inability to source certains components about 30% of the materials used in the manufacture of this shoe are imported.

As far as manufacturing in this country we don't have the power available to do it inexpensively and we won't build the infrastructure to get the power to where its going either. Judging by the canidates who were elected on Tuesday I would say the american manufacturing is going goodbye becuase if you can't afford or get the power to run a plant here there is no point in staying here. I have talked to lots of small business owners here in Montana as well large business engineers that keep telling me "if our business starts heading down hill that factory is gone becuase we won't be able to afford the power to stay here". Keep in mind some of these businesses have single processes that consume enough power to cuase rolling blackouts across the west if the go online when the grid isn't ready for them.

As far as WrenHandtools goes, give Mike a call and order something. I ordered two things from him today one of which was something no US manufactuer makes and the other was something that should tell me right away about the quality of TopTul stuff. If the stuff is great i'll buy more if not well other than the few things that TopTul makes that no one in the US will sell you for a decent price (or makes billymade check the locking extensions both chrome and impact rated and certain sockets). Bottom line is I am giving Mike a chance becuase he did a good job of selling his product, if the product isn't great well i'm out some money and Mike has some negative publicity. If it is good, I'm buying more tools and Mike has some good publicity.

Also in case your wondering I didn't buy based upon location of manufacture (although China would of been a deal killer), or observed quality from using, I bought them becuase Mike and Toptul worked hard to make me curious enough about there products to try them out. This is similiar to alot of people on this boards near fanatical promotion of SO, I have a few SO products and some of them are good and some aren't. The good products I will promote the bad products I will tell people not buy.

 

[paramudduck]

When the investers quit thinking in terms of long term investment and started selling at any dip in a quarter it killed USA manufacturing.

If you modernise your factory it causes the profits to drop for a time. Modern investers sell at that moment. Companies no longer follow 5 or 10 year plans. Now it is do anything to show a profit for the quarter. So what if the company folds or is bought out. That is what my golden parachute is for.

It would take major investment in the entire support infastructure to bring manufacturing back here. Power systems are poor. Telecom might as well be 1960's in many areas. Our broad band coverage is pitiful when you consider area instead of population.

I won't even touch the enviromental issues or the labour issues.

Asia did not kill us we killed ourselves.

 

[wrenhandtools]

Terabyte and others curious about the sets of boxes that come LOADED with the tools in trays like you see in the picture.
1. You can order just the bottom box, just the top box, or both together.
2. There are two styles of boxes; Pro-Line series and General series. The only differences are the color of the drawers, and the mechanism in the Pro-Line that only lets you open one drawer at a time to prevent tip over. The Pro-Line tends to be about $100 or so more. You can get either series in Red or Green.
3.Full of tools, these exceed the weight limit of standard UPS but not to worry, I get a 70% discount through Yellow freight so the shipping from me to you will be competitive for sure. All I need is an address since I know the exact weight of the pre-loaded tool chests.
4. Here are the prices.
Pro-line Series - 3 Drawer Box...with tools $934.87
Pro-Line Series - 7 Drawer Box...with tools $1819.69 total for both $2,754.56 before shipping

General Series - 3 Drawer Box...with tools $912.01
General Series - & Drawer Box..with tools $1707.02 total for both $2619.03

And these would qualify for the 20% discount offered just to Garage Journal members that I will be announcing (now I guess) and tomorrow morning (my time zone)
The discount will be good for tools in stock now and anything I can put in the next order before the end of the year.

20% saves a person over $500 dollars on cost.

 

[84TurboBuick]

Terabyte and others curious about the sets of boxes that come LOADED with the tools in trays like you see in the picture.
1. You can order just the bottom box, just the top box, or both together.
2. There are two styles of boxes; Pro-Line series and General series. The only differences are the color of the drawers, and the mechanism in the Pro-Line that only lets you open one drawer at a time to prevent tip over. The Pro-Line tends to be about $100 or so more. You can get either series in Red or Green.
3.Full of tools, these exceed the weight limit of standard UPS but not to worry, I get a 70% discount through Yellow freight so the shipping from me to you will be competitive for sure. All I need is an address since I know the exact weight of the pre-loaded tool chests.
4. Here are the prices.
Pro-line Series - 3 Drawer Box...with tools $934.87
Pro-Line Series - 7 Drawer Box...with tools $1819.69 total for both $2,754.56 before shipping

General Series - 3 Drawer Box...with tools $912.01
General Series - & Drawer Box..with tools $1707.02 total for both $2619.03

And these would qualify for the 20% discount offered just to Garage Journal members that I will be announcing (now I guess) and tomorrow morning (my time zone)
The discount will be good for tools in stock now and anything I can put in the next order before the end of the year.

20% saves a person over $500 dollars on cost.

You just had to throw in the 20% Discount didn't ya?.....

Now I just gotta figure out to get my wife to see what a great deal this is

 

[wrenhandtools]

84, just have her call me. I'll get it done for you!!! I'll tell her how much you'll be saving.....how much cleaner the garage will be.......how amazingly happy you will be. That she will even look younger to you and your friends because of these tools. Just by owning them you will age less quickly and smile more. You'll be the envy of your friends.
You'll be the ONLY PERSON in the midwest to have a set such as this....hell you might even make the 11o'clock news in your area. She could take pics of you opening up the boxes and post them on here for our enjoyment!!!!!!!! Yes....the last point is the best!

sleep well,!

 

[chammyman]

$500 off would mean essentially free shipping and then some wouldn't it? Good deal.

The whole made in the USA thing is strange to other nations, we all buy stuff from where ever with no issues until it breaks

 

[nissan_crawler]

why dont you support your fellow americans and keep buying the craftsman tools that youve already been purchasing, while youre still lucky enough to be able to have an american tool that is affordable, readily available and easily warrantied. No offense intended, but by virtue of the fact that you only have a hand full of tools, I'd wager you're not a very adept or experienced mechanic so you would hardly notice a difference no matter what tool you buy.

Not to mention the fact that there is only 1 dealer in the entire country, which speaks volumes on many different levels. A tool is just that, a tool. Function will always beat out form. It's not a very wise decision to purchase a tool based on the color

Craftsman is NOT readily available OR easily warrantied anymore. There's a reason many of my tools have switched to Snap-On, and it wasn't due to quality issues.

I've bought things that have no dealers in the country, and loved them. Many of our plane parts are out of country only, I guess they must be junk, right?

There are very few dealers for alot of foreign tool brands that people on this board are enamored with as well. Try buying Hazet stuff here.

Also I know alot of mechanics who purchase on color, if you don't believe me ask Nissian Crawler or anyone of the dealers on this website if color matters to them.

Mmmm...Green

i wont play *** for tat, fact of the matter remains that buying the craftsmen over toptul puts money in american pockets. is the cashier, the delivery truck driver, shelf stocker, sears' office buildings etc in china/taiwan etc. really think hard about all that goes with it before you snap back about these tools. furthermore, who the **** cares if *gasp* snapon has an imported flare wrench. WAKE THE **** UP PEOPLE!!!! what about the other 99% of their tools? How many people are employed in Iowa alone manufacturing snapon tools? How many truck drivers, fuel stations, management personnel, etc. I could go on for an hour, I'm not trying to start a ******* match here or argue for the sake of arguing. How many americans is toptul employing? how many brick and mortar facilities do they have in the US thats generating revenue and property tax?

Before anybody replies, give thought to where you want your country to be 10 years from now. I live in St Louis, and Anheuser Busch is a major employer here, you'd have a hell of a time finding any bar/tavern around here that doesnt carry most, if not all of their products. That empire was built from the ground up by a local family and has been owned/operated as such for over 100 years, now theyre facing being taken over by foreign investors that couldnt give a **** about anything besides the bottom line. How long you think it will be before they start cutting jobs and squeezing more money out of them?

Your wallet is no different than a voting booth come election time, it's up to us to help save our country from all this ********. Buy american whenever possible. Sometimes you cant buy american, but when you can, you should.
Show some pride in your country and help take care of your fellow americans out there by keeping YOUR money in YOUR country, rather than shipping it off to another continent.

I'm not going to spite myself to put money in an american's pocket. If there are equal tools and values offered, sure.

Annheiser is NOT being "taken over". THEY APPROVED IT!! They told you, the american thumping beer drinker to piss off, get it? They had no pride, nor interest in keeping your money in your country.

You speak in circles. Are you saying we should buy Anheuser Busch products even though the money is lining the pockets of the foreign owners, who are planning to eliminate American jobs as we speak?

BTW, A-B makes crappy beer.

x2 on both of them.

 

[Merkava_4]

Where exactly in Taiwan are these TopTul tools made anyway....does anyone know?

 

[Jononon]

Where exactly in Taiwan are these TopTul tools made anyway....does anyone know?

Here you go.

Supplier for lots of other brands, too.

 

[Merkava_4]

Thanks Jononon

 

[Hurricane]

Annheiser is NOT being "taken over". THEY APPROVED IT!! They told you, the american thumping beer drinker to piss off, get it? They had no pride, nor interest in keeping your money in your country.

i dont think you followed that very closely, the shareholders let it happen, not AB management. The Busch family only owned about 4% of the stock, though they were still running the company. AB was trying to squash it months ago, but theres not much that can be done about it. The deal still isnt finalized yet either. And if you think they make crappy beer, you're entitled to your opinion, but AB has 50% of the beer market in the US. That has to count for something

What I was getting at is that this country is essentially being taken over, while Americans sit there watching it all go down. American companies' debt is being bought up left and right, and the value of the USD keeps going down.


Since when is Craftsman not readily available and warrantied? Theres 3 sears stores within 20 miles of my house and I've never had an issue returning tools.
In fact, I think they give to much away for free. Just the other day I went in to get another nylon cap for my hammer (double headed, one side red rubber, other side yellow nylon) and they told me I had to get a new one all together rather than just replace the tip


Willbilt- I think you missed what I was trying to get at. The general point I was trying to make is that simple purchases of a US made product vs a foreign made product have more of an impact in the long run than just saving you a couple bucks. Especially when buying at brick & mortar stores vs online. They provide revenue for your local economy that ultimately benefits you. Maybe it's just me, but I try to frequent small businesses and mom & pop type stores rather than shopping at wal-mart or whatever the case may be. Sometimes it's not possible to do that, or the cost difference is too much to justify. Just something that I can do to help benefit the little guy or an american worker thats a middle class guy like myself. Thats all i was getting at.

 

[paramudduck]

Some areas have a lot of sears stores others don't. My closest is 38 miles by road. If certain people are working I just turn around and walk back out. Others are great to deal with.

My point from other discussions exactly. The investors demanding extreme profit at any cost is what has destroyed this nation industrial base.