Which would you buy if .......

[T56 Impala]

Okay, say your tool maker of choice doesn't make a tool you are looking for. It will be a very limited use tool. Maybe once or twice this year and maybe never again. Say a 11/24" deep 12pt 3/8 drive socket. (Yes I made that up.) Would you buy andother well known brand like SO, CM, S&K or would you try to find and el cheapo? (If el cheapo company even makes the right size which they may not?)

 

[engnerdan]

Cheapo, no doubt about it, chiweneese here I come.

-Dan

 

[rsanter]

depends on the application.
for basic work I would get the elcheapo. for a specific high end or special application I would look at the option of will this save me money or is there another reason I am needing it. if I can get a used one and save money by doing it myself that I will buy it. otherwise its time to pay someone

bob

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

How about.. make it ? Once I needed a 12mm extra deep socket at work. I didnt have it.. SO price would be highway robbery.. I looked in my catalogs - found a SK set that prob cost as much as one SO socket. Well, I ended up borrowing a extra deep 12mm socket from my co-worker who has made his own. And, that was the only time I needed it, and havent needed it again yet.

 

[jay50]

Buy the most expensive one from SO; use it once; Sell it on ebay...and get negative feedback from buyer because it had a slight scratch on it.... LOL

 

[eschoendorff]

Depends on the application, like Bob said. Just use your head and spend the money you can afford.

 

[Fedwrench]

If I could get hurt or if what I was working on could get hurt if the tool failed, I would opt for the better grade of tool even though it would be a dust collector. However, if I'm not using it in a critical application, I would opt for the Taiwan made tool.

 

[mrsleeve]

I have always had the line of thought that if I need a tool I will get the at least the best quality I can afford. If that be Snap so be it, if it be Cman so be it. But always buy some thing decent even if its a dust collector you never know when you might need it again.

I have made a number of supper deep sockets an custom wrenches, normally from cman stuff. All for special purpose stuff at work putting in a repairing water mains .

 

[kblazer87]

I won't buy cheap, chinese junk tools for any reason.

 

[Merkava_4]

I won't buy cheap, chinese junk tools for any reason.

For a second there, I thought I wrote that post.

 

[rjh-yota]

I won't buy cheap, chinese junk tools for any reason.

I also agree

 

[RAYJAY]

either make what i need or harbor freight here i come........ as for SO will never buy any thing from them...... there driver s*#k only come around when they can sell you something. call them for a broken tool and you never see them......

Jeff

 

[Merkava_4]

as for SO will never buy any thing from them...... there driver s*#k only come around when they can sell you something. call them for a broken tool and you never see them...... Jeff

Just get yourself a different dealer; there's no need to deprive yourself of some excellent tools just because the dealer is no good. I've had dealers get scared to death when I would mention sending the tool back to the factory with a note saying the dealer couldn't warranty the tool because he would keep forgetting to order a replacement. After me saying that, I've had dealers send the tools straight to my house and they'd pay the shipping.

 

[Danglerb]

If you need it "now" then buy it from the easiest place to buy it, or see if you can borrow it. Otherwise I would look for it in the usual places and buy the first decent one I found at a good price.

 

[dxdexter]

Back in 1984 I needed to change the ball joints in my 79 Chev Blazer and needed a special socket. I bought it from Snap-on because at the time they were the only place I could find it. I used it once and it still sits in my box to this day. I recall it was a lot of money for me at the time (maybe $12 to $15 ).

If I had purchase a tool that would be used only once then I would definitely buy the cheapest tool that would do the job. I would buy it from Princess Auto here in Canada where there is a lifetime warranty on every tool they sell regardless where its manufactured.

 

[Junkman]

I'd just borrow the tool and not return it.........

 

[dxdexter]

I'd just borrow the tool and not return it.........

Are you sure we're not neighbors????

 

[Junkman]

Are you sure we're not neighbors????

I'm from Al-lash-ka

 

[dxdexter]

I'm from Al-lash-ka

Just as I suspected!!!!! Give me back my screwdrivers, you've had them long enough

 

[Junkman]

Just as I suspected!!!!! Give me back my screwdrivers, you've had them long enough

eh........ Vous avez été vissé hors de ces tournevis.

 

[joenero]

I'd look at c-man first, then SK if it wasn't available there, then my other options. Depending on what it is the manufacture does make a huge difference. Some things a cheap chinese throw away is worth having around to get the job done.

All my chrome sockets were initially from a huge discounted c-man set. Then I replaced what I used often and sometimes broke with snappys. I've got a lot of sockets I have never used or maybe only once in a blue moon, but I've got them if I need them and I didn't pay much for them.

 

[trainer]

Okay, say your tool maker of choice doesn't make a tool you are looking for. It will be a very limited use tool. Maybe once or twice this year and maybe never again.

So what your saying is that this widget doesn't need to last a lifetime..

compare it this way:
Say you need a suit because your sister-in-law is getting married next month and your wife's great great uncle is 108 years old and you may need to dress up for his funeral next year or the year after.

Do you:
A) buy a designer custom tailored suit for $3-5K

B) go to sears and buy one off the rack for $200-300

c) Get the "harbor tailors" suit in a bag for $14.99

 

[RAYJAY]

So what your saying is that this widget doesn't need to last a lifetime..

compare it this way:
Say you need a suit because your sister-in-law is getting married next month and your wife's great great uncle is 108 years old and you may need to dress up for his funeral next year or the year after.

Do you:
A) buy a designer custom tailored suit for $3-5K

B) go to sears and buy one off the rack for $200-300

c) Get the "harbor tailors" suit in a bag for $14.99

being that all the suits above were made by slave child labor in some 3rd world country....... go with the harbor one why pay the xtra money for the same suit .........

 

[russlaferrera]

So what your saying is that this widget doesn't need to last a lifetime..

compare it this way:
Say you need a suit because your sister-in-law is getting married next month and your wife's great great uncle is 108 years old and you may need to dress up for his funeral next year or the year after.

Do you:
A) buy a designer custom tailored suit for $3-5K

B) go to sears and buy one off the rack for $200-300

c) Get the "harbor tailors" suit in a bag for $14.99

Love the analogy. I go for D) Rent a Tux (it comes with shoes & socks)

 

[eschoendorff]

Love the analogy. I go for D) Rent a Tux (it comes with shoes & socks)

Yeah... and that "rented tux" smell. I wouldn't want to see a rented tux under a black light!

Go buy a good suit. A man should ALWAYS own at least one GOOD suit.

As for the tool in question, only the OP can answer the question. Everyone else has an opinion, but SO much depends on the circumstances of the situation. Use the best tool that you can afford. You NEVER know when you'll need it again....

 

[Junkman]

Yeah... and that "rented tux" smell. I wouldn't want to see a rented tux under a black light!

Go buy a good suit. A man should ALWAYS own at least one GOOD suit.

As for the tool in question, only the OP can answer the question. Everyone else has an opinion, but SO much depends on the circumstances of the situation. Use the best tool that you can afford. You NEVER know when you'll need it again....

When you die, they can bury you in it.

 

[dxdexter]

eh........ Vous avez été vissé hors de ces tournevis.

My French is a little shaky.I needed Babelfish for that one.Too Funny.

 

[russlaferrera]

[/B][/SIZE]

When you die, they can bury you in it.

I can't go with that. because we all hope to grow old. I can hear it now "He looks great. They did a nice job on him. Ugly suit!"

 

[russlaferrera]

Yeah... and that "rented tux" smell. I wouldn't want to see a rented tux under a black light!

You are thinking of a Bedspread in a motel/hotel!

 

[Junkman]

I can't go with that. because we all hope to grow old. I can hear it now "He looks great. They did a nice job on him. Ugly suit!"

I'm already old.

 

[T56 Impala]

All my suits are Brooks Brothers. All my tools are not however!

What I was actually lookinf for was a 3/8 drive, 5/16 deep socket. Cman does not make them and was my first choice. I went for the cheap route. HF does not sell individual sockets and I have no needfor more junk in my box. I found a few SO and S&K on ebay. I think I will go that route. I'll let you know what I end up paying.

I know you are going to ask "why not use a 1/4 drive?" Do I need to remind any of you that the is never a bad excuse for buying a new tool? I have an empty slot on my Hansen tray afterall! Seriously, the nut is on tight. Rusted on real good and I killed one extention trying to break it loose with a 1/4 drive.