Tractor Supply impulse tools appreciation thread

[rslaback]

Over the last few years I've become quite the Jobsmart tool aficionado. I love the offering at the front of the Tractor Supply stores of decent quality, specialty, reasonably priced tools. I've got pretty much any tool I need these days but I love seeing what I can acquire for cheap too buffer up the collection even more.

I don't have a store within 60 miles of me but there are a couple I drive by when I make a trip home and I always make sure to stop.

This weekend I picked up some long reach hex and torx wrenches, a set of through core screwdrivers with hexes on the shanks and some impact driver bits and adapters.

 

[Robinson1]

Been my experiemce that Job Smart is either total garbage or pretty decent. And its pretty easy to judge the quality by looking at it.

Ive got a small set of Job Smart wrenches that have been abused since day 1. Never a complaint and they cost $8.99.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Their tools are good when you can find the good ones. I’ve got a few odds and ins from those bins too haha. Heck one time I was out and needed another wrench that was the same size went to an auto parts store could not believe the price of one. So went to Tractor Supply and priced one and priced a whole set. Walked out with the whole set for like $9 or $10 and one wrench was $7or $8 and $3 or $4 at TS. Still have them but they are hardly used but still good for emergencies.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Last week TSC was the only place that had a 1/2" drive 1-1/8 socket. I needed one to modify and I didn't want to do that to my good USA made sockets. I was working on a dished tractor rim and a wrench wouldn't work because of the angle. A 3/4" drive socket shortened on my lathe was still too thick to fit. The task even seemed like too much for my 25" Snap-on ratchet. I ended up using a breaker bar and 4 foot cheater pipe.

I thought for sure I would shear the anvil or bust the socket. I was able to break loose all 3 stubborn bolts without breaking anything. Job smart sockets must be decent enough.

 

[m6z]

There's some gems among the junk. I got a set of magnetic nut drivers for a couple bucks that have been quite useful.

 

[67CarGuy]

I'll admit, TS is one of the last places I usually think of for tools, but that's more likely due to living in the city the past few years and not having much/any need for most of what they carry. But now that I'm getting back out in the sticks, I'll have to swing by more often.

 

[dnschmidt]

I can't go to Tractor Supply it's too scary. Went there to get some corn head grease for my grinders and polishers and man it was SCARY. I pulled up in my Camry and everybody else had an F250. I was wearing a Polo shirt and shorts and everybody else had skinny jeans, boots and a cowboy hat. They has **** in that store I never knew existed. I'm pretty sure they were instruments of torture like they used in the Middle Ages. For a city kid it was a complete nightmare. God, if I'd had driven my 911 in there I'm sure I would have been stoned to death. I've put Tractor Supply on my off limits list. I'm so much more comfortable at Nordstrom's.

 

[redwrench60]

One of TSC’s hidden gems is RM43 weed killer. It kills **** that fire won’t. Roundup is 18% glyphosate, RM43 is 43% glyphosate plus some other **** to keep it dead. It’ll punch your toughest weeds in the nuts.

 

[brownbagg]

most of those f250 at tsc are just tow vehicle for the golf cart trailered to the golf course

 

[rslaback]

I've been a fan of these clamps. Couldn't beat 7 bucks a pop on clearance.

 

[carmantl]

+1 on those clamps. I'm an ironworker and we buy these by the dozen. Not in same class as a Bessey or Wright, but very handy.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Of all the tools i buy and place’s i buy them i never bought a tool from tractor supply. I bought a horrible set of load binders one from ts on clearance, returned them.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Can't say I've bought many Tractor Supply tools over the years. I get a lot of yard and garden stuff there, though. T-posts and bird seed were both cheaper than Home Depot and a much shorter drive.

 

[ste6168]

How much did the long hex keys cost per set? Not that I have any need for them, it might have to pickup a set.

 

[Walkers]

I've been a fan of these clamps. Couldn't beat 7 bucks a pop on clearance.

Got the same ones on clearance. I only wish I had bought every one they had. I have cut down several and repainted the end, because I use shorter clamps in greater quantity.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I can't go to Tractor Supply it's too scary. Went there to get some corn head grease for my grinders and polishers and man it was SCARY. I pulled up in my Camry and everybody else had an F250. I was wearing a Polo shirt and shorts and everybody else had skinny jeans, boots and a cowboy hat. They has **** in that store I never knew existed. I'm pretty sure they were instruments of torture like they used in the Middle Ages. For a city kid it was a complete nightmare. God, if I'd had driven my 911 in there I'm sure I would have been stoned to death. I've put Tractor Supply on my off limits list. I'm so much more comfortable at Nordstrom's.

Try showing up in an old 1980's Volvo station wagon.

F250 folks are usually fine people. Them's spendy rigs. It's the jacked up F-150 folks you gotta look out for.

I like TSC. Better mish-mash of useful-to-me stuff than the home improvement stores. Farm stuff is just plain cool.

-Ryan

 

[rslaback]

How much did the long hex keys cost per set? Not that I have any need for them, it might have to pickup a set.

9 bucks a set

 

[brownbagg]

i like tsc for hydraulics and bolts but not for the people that work the place

 

[ZRX61]

I bought a set of three pistol grip pliers there. Finish was kinda rough looking, but a quick session with the fiber deburring wheel on the bench grinder had them looking 100% better

 

[ybnormal]

One of TSC’s hidden gems is RM43 weed killer. It kills **** that fire won’t. Roundup is 18% glyphosate, RM43 is 43% glyphosate plus some other **** to keep it dead. It’ll punch your toughest weeds in the nuts.

will it kill the damn asian ivy ?

 

[redwrench60]

will it kill the damn asian ivy ?

I don’t know about Asian Ivy but it kills my English ivy and bamboo. It’s worth noting don’t spray heavily anywhere near the root system of a tree you want to keep. Ask me how I know….

 

[MarvinBerry]

Nearest TSC is nearly 40 minutes away never been there but thinking about going soon. It's near a Lowes that I often leave with about half of what I needed... and they sell dog food & whatnot too?

They typically stock any name brand stuff? How about single sockets & wrenches?

 

[ybnormal]

Nearest TSC is nearly 40 minutes away never been there but thinking about going soon. It's near a Lowes that I often leave with about half of what I needed... and they sell dog food & whatnot too?

They typically stock any name brand stuff? How about single sockets & wrenches?

I see they're selling PorterCable tools now

 

[rslaback]

I see they're selling PorterCable tools now

They were on clearance in both stores I was in on Saturday.

 

[ATC]

JobSmart isn't even on my list of tools to look at. I hardly ever even go down the tool aisle...most I do is glance down it and look for yellow clearance tags.

TSC is where I go for Grade 8 nuts & bolts by the pound...

 

[freudianfloyd]

TSC also sells Gearwrench, Dewalt, Husqvarna, and Hobart Welders and equipment, they may still sell Ingersoll Rand, but I think those went away when the started selling Porter Cable. I bought several Ingersoll Rand tools for just a few bucks when that happened. I love TSC, but haven't been since I sold all of my livestock. I have bought several tools there over the years. They typically have pretty good clearance sales.

 

[ste6168]

9 bucks a set

Worth it.

 

[Jtels85]

JobSmart black & gray handle screwdriver sets with black shanks are a legit gem. I bought their largest combination set and torx set last year for working on golf carts at my buddies business. We used them for everything from installing rear seat kits, removing dash panels and prying on ****.

Comfortable handles and they held up to a lot of hand torque.

That being said, most of my favorite screwdrivers have come from auto parts stores and TSC.

 

[Goosedowner]

One of TSC’s hidden gems is RM43 weed killer. It kills **** that fire won’t. Roundup is 18% glyphosate, RM43 is 43% glyphosate plus some other **** to keep it dead. It’ll punch your toughest weeds in the nuts.

Rm43 is Fantastic! I use it to spray around farm fences. Spray once in the spring and nothing grows back all year. With round up I usually have to spray twice.

 

[Ton ton]

As far as the ambience of Tractor supply, show up about 6:30 -7 pm. You may be lucky and be 1 of 3 customers in the store. The chainsaws are what I drool over. Most of the hand tools are Chinese. Nothing wrong with them, just what I have noticed. Sometimes you can find some decent reputable brand name stuff but it can be a shot in the dark @ times. Don't buy shoes @ tractor supply. Speaking from experience.

 

[Ton ton]

They have some nice gear wrench brand ratcheting wrenches.

 

[Ton ton]

I see law enforcement officers shopping @ tractor supply in Luray,VA.

 

[thool]

They usually have a good selection of lawn chemicals. I get the 2.5 gallon jug of Amine 400 weed killer to keep the tough weeds at bay: wild violet, oxalis, creeping charlie, clover, dandelion, etc. Their liquid weed and feed is pretty effective. Plus surfactant for better coverage.

 

[mrb1]

Stopping there shortly for a few big bags of bird seed. I can get by the tools ok usually, but the dog bones and treats are a different story

 

[Bubba Fett]

I got a set of Allen wrenches, both SAE and Metric in a folding holder for $6. I also bought as set of SAE/Metric offset boxed end wrenches for $15. It's also a good place to for for drill bits, driver bits, bolt cutters, lawn and garden tools, and they have an extensive hardware section.

They also have a pretty good selection of power tools. FYI: Porter-Cable is now exclusive to Tractor Supply.

 

[rslaback]

This baby has come in handy quite a few times. Good fit and finish on the case and had all those weird security heads that are on modern electronics.

 

[Copymutt]

I did buy a decent compressor at TS. Other than that its the only place around where I can buy bolts and nuts by the pound.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Stopped at TSC on Thursday.... overall it seemed like hazard freight crossed with TJ max. If I lived closer I'd probably go more often.

Dropped a hundred on mostly random stuff dog treats, hornet spray and a porter cable 4" grinder.

Tool section reminded me of Sears, the last visit. Looked like a bomb went off totally blown out. I think they had 3 tape measures... not 3 different models 3 total. Wasn't totally bare but lots of empty space.

They had those bins with the colored hex keys at the front of the store... didn't see anything I really had to have. And yup lots if porter cable & dewalt power on display.

This store also had a fair amount of crescent in stock but it was all random... sets of metric combo wrenches but no SAE. Pack of Phillips screwdrivers but no flats? Huh.

Most of the store was decently stocked but looked like tools hasn't seen delivery for a long time.

 

[Odd-job]

I have some Jobsmart Jumbo metric wrenches which I picked off the clearance aisle for $30. One of these days I am sure they are going to come in handy. For now they are proudly hanging up on the wall.

Definitely echo the comments above, that it seems like they are focusing more on pet food than anything else rather than "for life out there" and of course tools tools and more tools.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have one just a couple miles from my house and i pass one on the way to work and another about 20 minutes the opposite way. That’s one of my favorite things about tough $hit charlies is the bins up front