Which are the best tools

[jarteaga189]

Hi, I've been reading some posts suggesting most tool purchasing decisions are based on preference and budget. Currently I get my tools purchased for me by the company I work for, so with that in mind what tool brands are the best in their category? I work on industrial machinery. Nothing too big in size at the moment. Currently I feel Wera screwdrivers are the best, so various sets from them have been ordered already.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

-Pittsburgh Pro for hand tools and tool boxes
-Chicago electric for power tools
-Central Pneumatic for air tools

 

[RV77]

Harbour Freight has the best deals and best prices anywhere.I have damn near one of everything in the catalog.

 

[Wamsutta]

Tell your boss you want all Harbor Freight tools. Make sure you give him the 25% off coupon from the Sunday paper.

 

[1950mercury]

I agree you can't go wrong with harbor frieght..one stop shopping for all your needs

 

[dsp1]

I don't see why he should go Harbor Freight it his employer will pay for better tools. If price isn't really a concern then for simple hand tools I would go:
Ratchets- Snap-on dual 80's
Wrenches- Snap-on or Wright
Hex Keys/sets- PB Swiss, Bondhus(Eklind's good, I just don't find it to be as good as the other two)
Hex bit sockets- Snap-On gold

 

[neophyte]

Seriously?

 

[thewatusi]

This is a question that I've never seen asked before!

Subscribed for the inevitable helpful and insightful unbiased information thats sure to follow.

 

[jarteaga189]

The concern I have with snap on regarding wrenches is that they don't offer a quick way of distinguishing between sae and metric.
Ratchets I will probably go with snap on and Wera zyklop
Hex key sets I have had good luck with my bondhus. They offer a good variety of styles I will be getting their stubby sets for sure. Never heard of pb Swiss. I have some snap on t handles, but they're not great they're just ok.
Hex bit sockets I wonder if snap on offers various styles like bondhus.
Regarding harbor freight, I feel that most their products are priced right, but again I'm looking to get the best tools available not the cheapest.

 

[monster1]

Duralast. Built to last.

 

[sk farmer]

everybody is a comedian today

new choices

wera drivers? not my choice but they are adequate. felo or maybe williams hard handles.

wrenches. wright grip, sk armstrong

sockets. sk, armstrong, williams, gearwrench.

ratchets. gearwrench, armstrong, williams

pliers. channellock or wilde.

if your budget allows, snap-on or other truck brands may be good choices but if you don't have a truck they may or may not be worth the extra cost. all of the brands i mentioned will give good service at a decent price.

 

[monster1]

I think the reason there are so many smart *** answers is because this smells like a troll post.

 

[defektes]

The concern I have with snap on regarding wrenches is that they don't offer a quick way of distinguishing between sae and metric.
Ratchets I will probably go with snap on and Wera zyklop
Hex key sets I have had good luck with my bondhus. They offer a good variety of styles I will be getting their stubby sets for sure. Never heard of pb Swiss. I have some snap on t handles, but they're not great they're just ok.
Hex bit sockets I wonder if snap on offers various styles like bondhus.
Regarding harbor freight, I feel that most their products are priced right, but again I'm looking to get the best tools available not the cheapest.

As a fellow industrial mechanic, what I do with my wrenches to differentiate them is use bright electrical tape. Since 90% of what I use is SAE in bigger sizes I have a very small selection of standard length SKs and some USA raised panel CM.

I do not like snap-on wrenches, I own a few, and never reach for them. If I had no budget i'd ask my boss to pick me up some SK, or Proto. I personally prefer SK due to the heft and thickness of the wrenches. Wright is also a good option. IF you do go SK, ask for the long patterns. Bit sockets, I use SK mostly, but also have some mixed in CMAN USA, Proto Challenger, and a couple Snappys. STAY very far away from the CMAN. The Snap ons and SKs have served me very well, as have the Challengers.


I agree with your choice on Bondhus t's they are what I use aswell. Eklind makes very good L and foldable sets though, something to remember.

Sockets: SK, Proto, Wright.

 

[1950mercury]

The only thing better than harbor frieghts ratchets are the new craftsman raised panel ratchets

 

[shockwave]

Best I can say is go to pawn shop and see what they have and try out different wrenches and see what feels best in your hands

As for one brand I would say snap on

But pliers for example knipex is some of the best
Where wrenches are concerned I like hazet and Bonney the best or snap on round handles

 

[jarteaga189]

Let me first say thanks to the people who made me aware of some brands I have not heard of before. Below is a list of brands that I currently use.

Knipex
Wera
Snap on
Excelite
Channellock
ideal
Klein
Bondhus
Nupla
Fluke
Wiha
Vise grips

There may be others but I mainly an looking for brands I'm not aware of that are innovative and offer good quality. I also would like to know which product lines of certain brands I should stay away from. Regarding snap on, I like their hammers I think they're very nice quality, but their nut drivers are pathetic given their available resources to be innovative.

Suggesting harbor freight is a waste of time for the poster and the readers.

 

[arz71]

Let me first say thanks to the people who made me aware of some brands I have not heard of before. Below is a list of brands that I currently use.

Knipex
Wera
Snap on
Excelite
Channellock
ideal
Klein
Bondhus
Nupla
Fluke
Wiha
Vise grips

There may be others but I mainly an looking for brands I'm not aware of that are innovative and offer good quality. I also would like to know which product lines of certain brands I should stay away from. Regarding snap on, I like their hammers I think they're very nice quality, but their nut drivers are pathetic given their available resources to be innovative.

Suggesting harbor freight is a waste of time for the poster and the readers.

Harbor Freight is throwing money down a rat hole, can't see spending hard earned money on junk.

Quality over Quantity.

 

[dsp1]

What kind of tools are you using every day to work on the equipment? It might help narrow things down a bit and provide you with companies that are extremely good at making whatever the tool is.

 

[lbgradwell]

Suggesting harbor freight is a waste of time for the poster and the readers.

Well, we sure wouldn't want to waste anyone's time. Like, say, by asking a ridiculous question that has been asked and answered a thousand times already...

 

[Exceller8]

-Pittsburgh Pro for hand tools and tool boxes
-Chicago electric for power tools
-Central Pneumatic for air tools

Those would be my choice, NEVER!!

 

[Tim37]

If your company replaces broken tools got to HF load up and break something every week or so most companies will replace it with the good stuff nomater what brand

 

[stikman56]

Central Pneumatic air tools.
Husky tool boxes.
K-mart wrenches
Wilmar sockets.
Fischer Price boots
WalMart for everything else.

 

[Givl Reggin]

I hope he realizes that y'all are just kidding about the Harbor Freight recommendation!

Can you imaging a professional showing up with that junk in their tool box?!

 

[BK13]

I hate to be that guy, but I'm sure a search will turn up dozens of threads answering this...

 

[jarteaga189]

What has been asked over and over again has always been answered with something along the lines of, "just buy what feels best in your hands" or "just buy snap-on if you can afford it" I am asking people to tell me what they would buy if money was not an issue in making their decision. By doing so I am also hoping to learn of tool brands which I was unaware of before.

I will not be purchasing any power tools because they already have a very complete collection which is shared in our shop. Toolboxes are of no interest to me either, standard issue is Stanley Vidmar or Snap-on.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Harbor Freight is throwing money down a rat hole, can't see spending hard earned money on junk.

Quality over Quantity.

Harbor freight has some stuff that is genuinely great, sure there is a lot of trash but saying everything is garbage is a stupid generalization.

 

[jarteaga189]

What kind of tools are you using every day to work on the equipment? It might help narrow things down a bit and provide you with companies that are extremely good at making whatever the tool is.

What I would be using the most would be allen wrenches, screwdrivers, wrenches, side cutters, crimping tools, pry bars. Mainly machines using metric fasteners.

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

What I would be using the most would be allen wrenches, screwdrivers, wrenches, side cutters, crimping tools, pry bars. Mainly machines using metric fasteners.

In no order:
Allen wrenches - Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss; Screwdrivers - Williams, PB Swiss, Wera 900, Hazet, Witte, Snap-On, Vessel (JIS screws); Wrenches - Snap-On, Wright, Bahco, various others; Side cutters - Knipex, Snap-On, NWS, others; Crimping tools - dunno search the forum; pry bars - some high end USA, European, or Taiwanese brand.

Those should do you good. Use the search function with the type of tool you're looking for and there will be several threads on the subject. Look for correlations between threads, usually indicates quality. Another way to search the forum is to input the type of tool you're looking for into google: Flux Capacitor site:garagejournal.com

That should get you started. However don't expect everyone to do the legwork for you, this forum is a wealth of information.

 

[dsp1]

What I would be using the most would be allen wrenches, screwdrivers, wrenches, side cutters, crimping tools, pry bars. Mainly machines using metric fasteners.

side cutters- I have, use and can recommend Klein Journeyman heavy duty cutters(Fantastic), Channellock(also great) old and new XLT style and NWS(love the high leverage ones).

Crimping tools- I like Thomas & Betts and Ideal. Probably wouldn't be applicable to you, but I have a couple Hozan crimping tools(Japanese) that I use for re-doing motorcycle wiring harnesses and they are fantastic.

Pry bars- I have a set of old Wilde pry bars that have been beat to hell and back over the years and still work fine. Recently picked up a few of the Mayhew Dominator bars and really like them. Ends seem to be holding up good and the striking cap is a nice feature. My old Wilde's aren't quite as long as they used to be. I would like to pick up a Snap-On bar or two just to see if they are as nice/durable as everyone says.

 

[organ]

Snapon makes the best everything...

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

There are three names that come to mind for tools. Harbor Freight,Pittsburgh Pro,US General...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[organ]

There are three names that come to mind for tools. Harbor Freight,Pittsburgh Pro,US General...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

Snapon, Snapon, Snapon...

 

[CNGsaves]

Central Pneumatic air tools.
Husky tool boxes.
K-mart wrenches
Wilmar sockets.
Fischer Price boots
WalMart for everything else.

When you need extra set of tools, hit up the following:

Dollar General
99 cent store

There are always some bargains there your employer won't question on your expense report !!

 

[Adam.C]

I don't know the brand, but the rusty tools with the flaking chrome that you buy in flea markets in buckets of rain water are the best!

 

[panknuckshovel]

Walgreens has some good stuff, aisle 4 just past the doritos. Says lifetime warranty so whats it matter its all the same.

 

[twertsy]

Now why on earth would anyone start a thread with this title.....

 

[Tim37]

What has been asked over and over again has always been answered with something along the lines of, "just buy what feels best in your hands" or "just buy snap-on if you can afford it" I am asking people to tell me what they would buy if money was not an issue in making their decision. By doing so I am also hoping to learn of tool brands which I was unaware of before.

I will not be purchasing any power tools because they already have a very complete collection which is shared in our shop. Toolboxes are of no interest to me either, standard issue is Stanley Vidmar or Snap-on.

Seriously by what feels best they will be in your hands comfort is important to most people. But you may have to have gloves on all the time if so you will want something you can grab with gloves if not you will want something that won't hurt your hands. Different strokes for different folks. Generally US made is better but I that doesn't always hold true. I have two crescent branded wrenches in my box and the 15 year old Taiwan beats the year old USA hands down.

 

[DekeT]

I think it is hilarious that the OP who claims to work on light machinery as a profession asks a question like this.

 

[arz71]

Was told early on to buy USA made tools, the quality of the steel and the longevity and one does not have to to spend a lifetime replacing a tool.

Seeing inferior tools implode or shatter and/or injuries would rather spend money on a quality product. Kinda like a lot of things, one will get what they pay for.

Or spend a lifetime replacing something the gas/time ect...

 

[Holt]

Throw away the Bondhus, pure junk. I've assembled a army of hex keys from ikea furniture. Lol.

Seriously I pretty much stick to American and German tool. I have not really been let down yet. A brand you may have n out heard of is NWS. Amazing pliers. Between them and Knipex you should be good. I have not tried Wilde yet but I want to get some soon. I would not get a wera zyklops if that is your only one. Get a snap on duel 80. The wera is good but the head is big. Mayhew for punches and prybars. Milwaukeee for cordless power. I love my Wera drivers. If i was to buy only one set it would be the chiseldriver versions