Tools That you Wouldn't BUY AKA. Tools that ****!!

[eschoendorff]

Interestingly enough, I like the craftsman 1/4 ratchet the BEST?!?! Go figure that one out. Idk why, I just like it more than Sk or Snap on. Of course, I know 2 sk as well, but I find myself using the craftsman alot of the time. It just has a good feel to it. The snap on ratchets in 1/4 just piss me off... the pawl spring is way too strong, especially for a 1/4 drive ratchet. The long handle on the standard craftsmans helps with comfort.

Idk, maybe Im wierd lol

Jim

Nah... not too weird. I like my Cman 1/4 the best out of the three drive sizes too.

 

[joenero]

Any socket made in china. I've been unfortunate enough to use some and I've seen the main 3/8 or 1/2 drive area be machined offcenter (wtf?) as well as for the fact that they can handle no torque whatsoever and I saw a socket that was new out of the box marked 13 fit a 14 nut, the others were about as bad.

 

[Coach James]

Cummings,



I hope that it is the last time mankind sees that F#@$^&* tool. I hope archeologists don't ever find it years from now. Since it is Chinese made, the best that could happen would be for it to become a small iron oxide deposit in the soil of a North Carolina pine forest.

-BWP

BWP, I wondered what that UFO was that went flying past my house a while back. Now I know.

Coach

 

[fourspeed]

For the most part, I know better than to buy crappy tools. But once in a while, I give in to my cheapa$$ side. I bought a benchtop hydraulic press from Northern tool, made by the kings of cheap ****, China. It was either that one, or a huge floor-standing press, which I have absolutely no room for. Still, it was tempting to get something decent. My third choice was to shop elsewhere and not work on my car that day... YEAH RIGHT!

I bought the cheapie to press bushings in my lower control arms. On the second bushing, it started to put up a fight when it was almost seated. So I started applying pressure. Bent the press rod. Now I have a cheap press that was a complete waste of money.

If you overspend for a quality tool, you are out the cash, but the tool will last a lifetime. If you underspend, the tool will go to hell on you, and you'll STILL have to spend the money on the better tool. You would think I would know this by now...

 

[Willy Victor]

The way tool companies are being bought up by other companies these days, you just have to shop around for the best deal. I believe Black&Decker owns DeWalt but I would never buy anything B&D. Skil and Bosch are owned by the same company. I wont touch Skil. The Bosch line has some quality tools. I like Porter Cable and Rigid. You need a score card to keep up with who owns what. What can I say about Robo-Grip, the storage case is nice.

Willy Victor

 

[jay_imok]

it's a poor workman who blames his tools . . . . .

 

[chicane]

Dewalt power tools

You're joking right? These are some of the best power tools on the market. I have about half a dozen Dewalt's from Nail guns to power drills and I have beat them up and never had one fail or not do something that I needed done. I think you are just being contrarian.

 

[chicane]

Anything with a pointless marketing tie in. "official Nascar socket extensions".
Real tools don't need a gimmick and why pay more for it.

Ummm, let me guess.... Craftsman? Advertising isn't a gimmick....it's advertising.

 

[chicane]

hate me, but I'm going to have to declare 3/8" craftsman ratchets on my 'most hated' list.
Went through 4 in a year's time, usually busting my knuckles when they let go.
Bought a snap-on, and have had the same one for 6 years.
their sockets are fine, though....

Oh, here we go. Snap on rules, Craftsman *****.
You enjoy your overpriced hand tools my friend. I'll enjoy my Craftsman.

 

[chicane]

it's a poor workman who blames his tools . . . . .

x1000!!!!!!

 

[Hawk321]

What I hate

Dewalt XRP cordless drilldriver
Stanley Screwdrivers
Hazet Ratchets
Facom (good tools...but I don't like french stuff)
any 1/4" bit sockets...too expensive, I work with a bit adapter and single high class bits.
cheap Hazet torque wrenches...range from 5-60Nm...but you can only adjust in 5Nm steps.
Hammers without this red-band from Habero....all others *****.
Northern pliers.
Brueder Mannesmann (german china ****...100pc for just 50$...)
Wiha screwdriver magnetizer
Wera bits
snap-on gloves
snap-on spark plug sockets with a magnet
Cman srcewdrivers (any)

 

[jerk_chicken]

Oh, here we go. Snap on rules, Craftsman *****.
You enjoy your overpriced hand tools my friend. I'll enjoy my Craftsman.

I'm not going to go as far as to say I replaced my CM with Snap On, but I even went up to Armstrong ratchets and there was a difference. There's nothing wrong with CM, as I used them for years, but the main problem I have with them is that flimsy coverplate that's supposed to support the mech when loaded, but instead, it just flexes and also leads to skipping and stripping under high loads and sometimes. I don't enjoy slamming my knuckles into something hard and sharp. The abnormal wear and highly loaded pawls is a problem. The RHFT might get good reviews, but not their regular line. Armstrongs don't cost that much more than CM and work way better and are without a doubt stronger.

 

[RobSmith]

Snap-on is as expensive as anything in Australia. Sidchrome was the brand of choice but now there's Kinchrome and others...china based. I've never seen craftsman here. There is also a Toolies brand...each time I go there they don't have what I want or have never heard of it. I think "Toolies" is an appropriate name.

 

[quattrojon]

Metrinch spanners are at the top of my list. The chrome plating soon flakes off, and then sticks in your hand! I've binned my set.

 

[herb101]

Wow a 3 year thread resurection just to throw a general jab?

 

[krusty the clown]

Wow a 3 year thread resurection just to throw a general jab?

welcome to the internet.............at least it wasn't political

 

[jerk_chicken]

What I hate

Hazet Ratchets
Facom (good tools...but I don't like french stuff)
any 1/4" bit sockets...too expensive, I work with a bit adapter and single high class bits.

No! Not Hazet ratchets! I'm going to be getting some in the future!

Hear ya about Facom, BUT they sell for practically nothing!

 

[herb101]

welcome to the internet.............at least it wasn't political

Yea - I guess so....

While we're here, I'll chime in about the non-Vise-Grip locking pliars. All I have tried are junk, especially the C-man ones.

Also, many of the automotive specialty tools I've come across should be avoided as well. Things like the window crank clip removers, trim removers, brake spring pliars, small bore cylinder hones, etc. On these items in general, if you buy it new for less than about $15, expect tool carnage, vehicle damage, chunks of missing hand meat, sacrifical bleeding or any combination of the above. Lisle should be the BARE MINIMUM quality consideration on these specialty items and even with that expect about 25% success. Pay the money or pay the price....

 

[jerk_chicken]

Yep, my Lisle triple squares didn't really handle too well over the years.

 

[kythri]

I'd imagine a lot of these "zombie threads" are found via search, and people don't pay attention to the dates.

I've done it myself, in the past...

 

[dxdexter]

Yea - I guess so....

While we're here, I'll chime in about the non-Vise-Grip locking pliars. All I have tried are junk, especially the C-man ones.

Try Grip-ons, you might never go back to Vise-Grips. At least that's my experience and I have 9 pairs of Vise-Grips and 4 Grip-ons and reach for the later first every time.

 

[goodfellow]

Any tool that Billy Mays sells on TV for $19.99. Also anything labeled "EZ Out", or "Sold Millions in Europe".

 

[Chris Adams]

The only one I can think of off the top of my head was a Harbor Freight pop rivet gun. The first time I tried to use it, it ended up in the trash barrel. I grabbed my father-in-law's 30 year old, made in the USA one and never looked back.

Edit: I forgot about my Craftsman buffer. I thought it was okay until I bought a Porter-Cable. The Craftman sold on eBay for fifteen bux.

Any pop rivet gun. The ones from HF last one to two jobs. Others I have bought last one to two jobs.
Doesn't anyone make a pop rivet gun that works? And sells for less than 50 bucks? Although, I had a 59.99 one and it only worked twice.

 

[evil16v]

I agree with Black and Decker

I am x3 on that

 

[Monte]

No! Not Hazet ratchets! I'm going to be getting some in the future!

sell them to me

 

[Bo Heck]

What I hate

Dewalt XRP cordless drilldriver
Stanley Screwdrivers
Hazet Ratchets
Facom (good tools...but I don't like french stuff)
any 1/4" bit sockets...too expensive, I work with a bit adapter and single high class bits.
cheap Hazet torque wrenches...range from 5-60Nm...but you can only adjust in 5Nm steps.
Hammers without this red-band from Habero....all others *****.
Northern pliers.
Brueder Mannesmann (german china ****...100pc for just 50$...)
Wiha screwdriver magnetizer
Wera bits
snap-on gloves
snap-on spark plug sockets with a magnet
Cman srcewdrivers (any)

What's wrong with wera bits?

 

[vette-kid]

Yep I dont like Dewalt....lets move on

 

[senlow]

Any pop rivet gun. The ones from HF last one to two jobs. Others I have bought last one to two jobs.
Doesn't anyone make a pop rivet gun that works? And sells for less than 50 bucks? Although, I had a 59.99 one and it only worked twice.

Marson makes a good blind rivet tool. You should be able to find the HP-2 for less than $50. I've had mine for over 20 years.

 

[KCarGuy]

A few years back, when Skil came out with their first Cordless 14.V tool set...like an *******...I figured since they were in Bed with Bosch, That it may actually be worth buying.
I would never, ever spend a dime on Skil's regular power tools that were made in the last 20 years.
Anyway, the tradition continues...What ****! I really dont know how they are still in business today (maybe cause guys like me, still hope that there is some quality out there and give them one more chance and buy their ****)
Whole communities are going to built ontop of the buried remains of Dead Skil products!

Screw me once...shame on you! Screw me twice...shame on me!

 

[Hawk321]

@bo heck
my wera bits are all worn. Wiha are better, have some wihas here for over 2 years. My SO ACR Bits is also very durable.

After 100 screws, my wera's will give up. But only PZ and PH bits. My torx bit are still fine.

 

[Hawk321]

There are power tools out there with less quality than skil. In germany we have EINHELL....

Really crappy tools, hate them...drill drivers for only 10 Euro include a 10 pc bit set...their trick is, to paint the tools in dewalt yellow, makita teal/blue, milwaukee red or bosch green....every Einhell tool that I used, is broken, burned or just dead.

 

[cnyeco1]

I have a pair of robo grip pliers, I use them specifically for tightening water hoses up outside. That's all they are good for. And I will never buy anything that says dewalt again. They are junk. I have a cut off saw, 2 cordless drills and a circular saw and all are pieces of ****.
My circular saw I bought new, put it on a shelf and the first time I used it, the magnets exploded in it and took out some of the coil. I fixed it myself with parts from the manufacturer, but what a pain in the ***, and it still doesn't sound right.

 

[Kona Cruisers]

some people have said 1/4 and 3/8 craftsman ratchets... Im going with any CM raised panel ratchet.. been trough 10+ 1/4, 7ish 3/8 and 1/2 drives... warranty good.. quality ****. up graded to SO and Matco.

 

[ephotrod]

I will have to through in Craftsmen power tools, every time i see someone buy them i cringe. For the money most can buy makita and have more tool for about the same dollar.
Josh

 

[Tlag]

I really don't like my aluminum HF jack. Many on this site have been happy with theirs, but I'm not too fond of it. I would'nt get a new one!

I've been pretty happy with my 4000LBS model, don't know about the others. I will admit that the square saddle/lift-point it has is not a good fit for some cars.

 

[Coach James]

I have a B&D 12v cordless drill that is going on 9 years old and still works well, just not a lot of torque. My other B&D power tools, sander and planar, work fine as well but they don't see use every week either. Generally B&D is off my "to buy" list. My B&D jig saw went down the drain after a year. A Bosch 1590 took it place and never looked back.

Speaking of gimmicks, SnapOn tools were the "official tools of Orange County Choppers" for two or three years. Don't that make you want to sell your C-man and buy Snappy?

Coach

 

[Bo Heck]

@bo heck
my wera bits are all worn. Wiha are better, have some wihas here for over 2 years. My SO ACR Bits is also very durable.

After 100 screws, my wera's will give up. But only PZ and PH bits. My torx bit are still fine.

I was going to buy their stainless bits, have any experience with them? What about their screwdrivers? Wiha vs Wera, who wins?

 

[back2class]

Dewalt tools I have owned have been POOR! I used them as a contractor and they were better than Ryobi but not of the same quality as the other big brands that cost the same. Fine for weekend warriors though.

In fact my 14.4v mini circ saw was a useless piece of junk!

ROTOZIP! Huge piece of useless ****! Dremmel is not much better.

Cornwell long reach pliers.

Any cheap Torx bits!

Craftsman Heavy Duty stapler. JUNK! x2

Craftsman basic Phillips head screwdrivers. JUNK!

I do not often buy gimick tools but have used the RoboGirps and they do **** a big fat egg!

Chinese **** speaks for itself so no need to list that stuff. I can hand sand faster than my black and decker belt sander works. MTD lawn tractors are poor too!

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

I bought on ebay a cheap CH sandblaster that you hook up to a pressure washer.. it worked, but once it clogs up.. forget about it. Too much trouble.. I still got it somewhere sitting in the cardboard box.. tried it once, and that was it.

 

[Truxx1956]

Craftsman adjustable flex wrench.





Also, I was at TSC the other night and looked at their line of tools called "Farmhand" The chrome on them looked really good, I only say that cause usually cheap offbrand taiwan tools have cheap lookin chrome on them. I also noticed that TSC carries "Thorsen" brand. Now Thorsen used to be an AMERICAN made tool, but now are made in china. That being said are they junk? Has anyone used any of the new ones? The also have good looking fit and finish chrome on them. I am fully aware you get what you pay for , but sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised. The Thorsen set (3/8" ratchet+ SAE sockets short were $15)


On a side note, I've NEVER said that I wished I'd bought the cheaper tool instead of the good one. Thats just my .02 The reason I ask about the Farmhand wrenches is I need an 1 1/2" wrench for my mill and an 1 1/8" for my lathe and was thinkin they might be good for occasional use for that application?

Thanks for any responses