Upgrading My Hand Tools

[ldg397]

I am in the process of upgrading my hand tools. I used to be a craftsman or nothing kind of guy but realizing all the new stuff is ****. Here is what I have.

Screwdriver: I have an original set of Enderes I bought when I was 16 (about 25 years ago) that are still my favorite also have a full set of Klein’s which I also like. Probably set here.

Pliers: I have the old us made craftsman set but have recently added a full set of NWS which I can’t say enough about. Love them.

Adjustable wrenches: just upgraded from craftsman to irega and like those as well.

Locking pliers: have slowly upgraded from new foreign made vice grip back to original us made vice grip via eBay.

Estwing hammers, enderes and craftsman punches, wiha Allen wrenches.

Which brings me to my main question. I started off with one of those big us made craftsman blow mold tool box case sets. From what I can tell my combination wrenches are pretty desirable they are marked with the V inverted V which is the sought after Armstrong?? Correct? Any reason to upgrade these? I have Sae from 1/4 to 1 1/4 and metric from 5mm to 19mm don’t have the large metric wrenches, would like to have them just to complete set.

I just purchased a blow mold 47 piece SK socket set? Are my old craftsman G marked sockets worth anything? I was considering selling my sockets out of this set and keeping combination wrenches to find more SK sockets.

Been a lurker for awhile finally got registered. Already have a Wilton vice almost completed restoration which I believe is a requirement for registration??

 

[woody 73]

I am a firm believer if it ain't broken then keep using it', why get rid of something just to upgrade?

 

[jgromada]

Welcome to the site, enjoy your new tools. Watch out acquiring new tools can turn into an affliction.

 

[Gmonkee]

You did not mention any ratchet love or hatred so can we assume you are set with what you like?

If so thats great. I looked hard for a favorite.

 

[bonneyman]

I agree with Woody. Upgrade to new tools gradually as older ones wear out or the need for a new tool arises.

And yes, tools can become addictive. it won't kill you like opioids, but it'll **** your wallet inside out!

For screwdrivers, look at Tekton. And you could do alot worse for wrenches than GearWrench ratcheting combo's.

 

[Tonyuk]

Screwdrivers - I like Wera the best however wiha, vessel, and even some like stanley etc.. can be good.

Pliers - Best i've used are knipex by far, however the US tekton slip-joints get a lot of use, milwaukee / irwin / grip-on locking pliers, NWS and the re-brands by irwin are also very good.

Adjustable spanners - There are 2 major supplies for the quality brands, both based in spain im sure. I have Bahco which are exactly the same as snap-on for much less money, channellock are another brand, Milwaukee also sell good ones under their brand.

Hammers - Estwing ball peins are the most used in my box, along with an estwing club. Cheap no-name deadblows, Thor brand copper/rawhide hammer, thor brand plastic face hammer. Don't spend too much on the basic rubber deadblows. You can get good hammers for little money.

Torx / Hex keys and sockets - T30 and under i just buy in 1/4" bits and that goes for 6mm hex and under too. Again wera are the best here imo but the tic tac like boxes from dewalt etc.. are handy to have in common sizes. Anything larger then its either 3/8 or 1/2 sockets, wera do a good line of 1/2 torx sockets and facom do a good line of hex as well as torx. Dont cheap out on these.

Combo spanners - I've tried a load of brands over the years but i think the best all around choice is the Facom 440 series, great fit and finish and the perfect size for someone without a lift imo, not too long but thick-ish beam for putting torque on. Other choices in order of how much i use them. Gedore Xl, Stahwille 14, snap-on fdp, hazet xl, toptul xl. Don't be sucked into the idea of a super long spanner being better than a short one, many times they'll be too long to be useful and if your using it to counter-hold for an impact it doesn't really matter.

Long 0' offset spanners - Beta make a great set with a load of sizes, gearwrench do a great set which are very long with spline drive and a ratchet end but only go to 19mm, snap-ons set is okay but nothing that special imo.

Flare nut spanners - Never cheap out on these, i like facom the best but also have a snap-on combo set and an SK set. All are good. Stahwillie and Gedore also make good ones, you can get a nice set from gedore for around £75 that'll do most anything you need that comes with a tray for your box.

Ratchets - Too many options to list types here, good brands are facom, snap-on, wera, toptul, williams, harbor freight,

Handy stuff to have - Selection of grease (silicone, moly, synthetic, ceramic, copper, spray), bottle of ACF 50, good penetrating oil (wurth rust off ice, liqui moly), a few packets of mixed size zip-ties, good breaker bars, decent selection of drill bits, sauce bottle filled with good oil, few pairs of safety glasses, plenty of disposable-ish gloves (fabric with rubber palm), plenty of tape, wire brushes, cheap make-up brushes (best for grease out there), plenty of brake clean (wurth), sense of humor for when (not if) it goes wrong.

 

[kythri]

Haven't G-code sockets (G, G2, GK, G2K, etc.) been confirmed a few times to be off the same production lines as Armstrong-branded sockets?

 

[ldg397]

To answer a few of the questions.

I have a set of reversible gear wrench ratchet combination wrenches which I use a ton.

The ratchets I have always just used the craftsman raised panel that came with my set. Never tried anything else. Considering the SK pear shaped ratchet to upgrade my standard one in the SK set which I don’t like as well as the raised panels. Any advice on a good ratchet?? I have a whole set of us made craftsman breaker bars.

Would love to know more about the G stamped sockets if they are considered quality.

 

[kythri]

All of my G-code stuff is great. I'm 99.9% positive that it's the same as the Armstrong stuff of the same era. I don't see any reason why one would need to go with different sockets.

As far as ratchets, there's a lot of great stuff out there. Snap-on is great, but premium priced. I like mine, but I also like my GearWrench and Carlyle stuff a lot.

 

[Gmonkee]

I like a Facom type 72 tooth ratchet best. Wurth hand the hot ones when I bought but changed recently. Now carried by several brands in different forms.

 

[WWheeler]

[...] Which brings me to my main question. I started off with one of those big us made craftsman blow mold tool box case sets. From what I can tell my combination wrenches are pretty desirable they are marked with the V inverted V which is the sought after Armstrong?? Correct? Any reason to upgrade these? I have Sae from 1/4 to 1 1/4 and metric from 5mm to 19mm don’t have the large metric wrenches, would like to have them just to complete set.

I just purchased a blow mold 47 piece SK socket set? Are my old craftsman G marked sockets worth anything? I was considering selling my sockets out of this set and keeping combination wrenches to find more SK sockets.

Been a lurker for awhile finally got registered. Already have a Wilton vice almost completed restoration which I believe is a requirement for registration??

Haven't G-code sockets (G, G2, GK, G2K, etc.) been confirmed a few times to be off the same production lines as Armstrong-branded sockets?

According to the 'Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges' thread the codes are ...

[...]
G = Easco, ca. 1980 - 1989 perhaps as early as 1979

G continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

G1 = Danaher, ca. 2000 - 2004

G2 = Danaher, ca. 2004 - 2008

G2D = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2011

GD = Danaher, ca. 2008 - 2009

GK = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2003 - 2011

GK-A = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 1999 - 2003

GK-F = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-G = Danaher/Kingsley Tools, ca. 2007 - 2008

GK-X = Danaher/Kinsley Tools, ca. ? - 2008

[...]

VV = Easco, ca. 1974 - 1989

VV continued = Danaher, ca. 1990 - 2011

VW = Danaher, ca. 2002 - 2009

VΛ = Danaher, Armstrong Division, ca. 1992 - 2012

ΛV = Danaher, ca. 2010 - ?
[...]

 

[Tonyuk]

To answer a few of the questions.

I have a set of reversible gear wrench ratchet combination wrenches which I use a ton.

The ratchets I have always just used the craftsman raised panel that came with my set. Never tried anything else. Considering the SK pear shaped ratchet to upgrade my standard one in the SK set which I don’t like as well as the raised panels. Any advice on a good ratchet?? I have a whole set of us made craftsman breaker bars.

Would love to know more about the G stamped sockets if they are considered quality.

I would pick up a good medium to long length flex head 3/8, this is the type of ratchet i use the most.

Loads of brands sell them, from the harbor freight stuff over there to williams etc.. You wont go wrong with any of these, but there are plenty others;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007YREJRW/?tag=atomicindustr-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BTEXV52/?tag=atomicindustr-21

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/snap-on-...n=2&_sacat=0&_nkw=Snap+on+3/8&_from=R40&rt=nc

 

[Heididayne]

i think everyone around here is an inventor.

 

[mowkep]

I've got that "itch" myself right now. Looking to upgrade to USA made sockets. (Wright, Proto and Williams) Not sure if I can find Williams USA or not. It'll mean buying 4 different sets. I want 1/4 sae/metric 6 pt and 3/8 sae/metric 6 pt.

 

[MrDeerHunter]

I personally am doing the same thing. I am upgrading from craftsman into SK. It's unnecessary but it's fun. I am keeping old sockets in my farm truck and keeping a garage set.
SK has treated me right when the didn't need to. I am struggling to buy into any other brands right now. I have more craftsman from USA and China than I should. I am slowly branching out thanks to GJ.
OP SK stands behind their stuff don't be afraid of it. They are like any company they have mistakes but they fix them quickly. I love my sk stuff and I have really started to enjoy the round head ratchets. Low tooth and low back drag. The LP90 is incredible though.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garag

 

[mowkep]

That's one thing I like about SK, is that they have socket sets to fit your needs. I could kick myself because someone sold the set I wanted for $100 not that long ago on here. I'm looking at over $200 for either Proto or Wright....not including ratchets. I'd like to find a deal somewhere

 

[Lisamelting]

Back in 1995 the factory I was working at had 42 injection molding machines, of which only 1 was European which was metric. As a result I had very few metric tools. 23 years later and the scenario is completely opposite. I'm working in a shop with 18 extruders and thermoformers of which all but 1 are metric.
As a result almost all of my SAE tools have been collecting dust, since they only get used working on support equipment. The metric tools I've purchased have been Williams through our local industrial supplier and Tekton through Amazon.

I do still have a no-name set of 1/2" drive deep impact sockets from 10 to 32 mm purchased through McMaster-Carr. I beat on them everyday, especially the 24 mm. About once a week I think about replacing them with something of higher quality. Maybe someday I will, but for now I'll just continue to use the snot out of them and see if they ever fail.

 

[MN_Runner]

Ratchets - Too many options to list types here, good brands are facom, snap-on, wera, toptul, williams, harbor freight.

It is interesting that people see value in HF tools and consider them equal to Snap On. This is refreshing.

 

[Tallpilot]

I've got that "itch" myself right now. Looking to upgrade to USA made sockets. (Wright, Proto and Williams) Not sure if I can find Williams USA or not. It'll mean buying 4 different sets. I want 1/4 sae/metric 6 pt and 3/8 sae/metric 6 pt.

That's what I just did. Toolsdelivered and Zoro. Less than $200. I didn't do SAE though just metric. Consider Carlyle for SAE if you insist on upgrading. Unless you are a HD mechanic or millwright I am will be curious to hear if you use SAE enough to justify a major upgrade.

 

[Tallpilot]

It is interesting that people see value in HF tools and consider them equal to Snap On. This is refreshing.

Yes. No.

Not seeing any value in HF is being purposely obtuse. Equating the quality to Snap-on is post purchase rationalization.

 

[techieman33]

It is interesting that people see value in HF tools and consider them equal to Snap On. This is refreshing.

They're not equal to snap on, and I don't think anyone who knows anything about tools would tell you that. I wouldn't even say they're equal to my gearwrench ratchets. But they are pretty good ratchets for the price. Most people would use them and be perfectly happy. And for a lot of people they would be a big upgrade of the raised panel craftsman ratchets that most people seem to have.

 

[mowkep]

That's what I just did. Toolsdelivered and Zoro. Less than $200. I didn't do SAE though just metric. Consider Carlyle for SAE if you insist on upgrading. Unless you are a HD mechanic or millwright I am will be curious to hear if you use SAE enough to justify a major upgrade.

As a machinist, I use sae as much as metric. Cars are metric. Around the house, I'd like to say it's more SAE than metric. I have Stanley, DeWalt, CM, Ace Hardware and Cougar Pro. I'm sure they'll last me for the rest of my life....easily. I buy things on clearance or on sale. So far I've found the Williams USA the most affordable for around $160 for all 4. I bought nice Williams ratchets not that long ago. So I'm kind of leaning that way.

 

[Tallpilot]

As a machinist, I use sae as much as metric. Cars are metric. Around the house, I'd like to say it's more SAE than metric. I have Stanley, DeWalt, CM, Ace Hardware and Cougar Pro. I'm sure they'll last me for the rest of my life....easily. I buy things on clearance or on sale. So far I've found the Williams USA the most affordable for around $160 for all 4. I bought nice Williams ratchets not that long ago. So I'm kind of leaning that way.

Very cool. I like Williams as the best utility value in USA made. The sockets are stepped down from the drive end which is becoming less common. You don't always need the clearance but it is nice to have when you do.

 

[Gmonkee]

HF = Snapper, no.
Different approach to different types of tool users.

Both have a place in the market but it is not interchangable for all.

 

[mowkep]

Does toolsdelivered offer discounts?

 

[stonesfan68]

All of my G-code stuff is great. I'm 99.9% positive that it's the same as the Armstrong stuff of the same era. I don't see any reason why one would need to go with different sockets.

As far as ratchets, there's a lot of great stuff out there. Snap-on is great, but premium priced. I like mine, but I also like my GearWrench and Carlyle stuff a lot.

I’ve been using a Snap-On flex handle ratchet and have broken a few of the G-code sockets. I didn’t think I was pushing the handle that hard but it is pretty easy to put a lot of torque on a fastener with that ratchet as compared to the raised-panel Craftsman.

 

[kythri]

My Snap-on ratchets have failed to break my Craftsman sockets.

 

[Tallpilot]

Does toolsdelivered offer discounts?

Not that I’ve seen but unlike Zoro, etc they have “everyday low prices” instead of inflated prices meant to be reduced by 20%. I personally prefer that business model so I can just buy stuff when I need it without jumping through hoops.

 

[kythri]

Agreed. ToolsDelivered has already great pricing.

 

[mowkep]

I ordered 3/8 sae and metric 6 pts. Also got the 1/4 sae 6 pt. The 1/4 metric are out of stock. My grandpa used Williams, so will I

 

[bigjeff94]

In a similar situation. I have two pretty complete sets of usa cm tools including sockets wrenches adjustables screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, punches, chisel, pry bars. Etc. The bigger set came to work with me a few months ago. The less complete set resides in my truck toolbox in a 4 drawer rally box. This left me without a garage set. So I started piecing one together.

Sockets and ratchets: SK IN the blow mold cases. All three drive sizes, supplemented with Williams ratchets in various configurations. Plus a proto 3/4 set from eBay.

Wrenches: Wright grips 12 points up to 1 1/4 and 24. SK 6 points up to 19 and 1".

Impact sockets: williams usa

Punches chisels and pry bars: Mathew

Hammers: eating

Pliers: channellock

Screwdrivers: got some cheap craftsman usa at ace.

Adjustables: channellock wide jaw and vintage williams and proto off ebay.

Regards,

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[bluebolt]

To answer a few of the questions.

I have a set of reversible gear wrench ratchet combination wrenches which I use a ton.

The ratchets I have always just used the craftsman raised panel that came with my set. Never tried anything else. Considering the SK pear shaped ratchet to upgrade my standard one in the SK set which I don’t like as well as the raised panels. Any advice on a good ratchet?? I have a whole set of us made craftsman breaker bars.

Would love to know more about the G stamped sockets if they are considered quality.

If you have the regular Craftsman raised panel combos consider a set of long combos. I have the long Craftsman full polish Professional wrenches which are no longer available unfortunately. I believe mine are the same as Armstrong's. The Pro's are my main users in my big shop, the raised panels are in the "truck tool box" which gets used quite a bit.


I assume you have the Craftsman pear head ratchets, they aren't great. My preferred users are the older Craftsman RHFT ratchets, Consider getting some Proto or S-K ratchets.