shoggoth80
Well-known member
So, I have gotten to a point where I am slowly adding and upgrading stuff.
Working within a modest enough budget. Soliciting some feedback if I may.
I wrench. Day in, day out. My work tools are a lot of SK, Proto, and Cman...with a smattering of other stuff like Snappy, Matco, Gearwrench (my own). My work box is predominantly issued tools. They work, most of the time. Sometimes I gotta warranty something... but that is fleet work.
I am upgrading my home tools. Ratchets... I have Snap On, Bahco, Cman, Titan, Thorsens, Kobalt. Aside from adding a bigger 1/2" to the arsenal (Armstrong or Williams long handled.... maybe a HF due to infrequent use), I'm pretty covered there.
Wrenches...I have Armstrong, KD (older USA), Cman (older USA, SAE), some Pittsburgh (live in junkyard box now), Matco ratcheting stubbies, Kobalt stubbies (junkybox). Thinking about long pattern Gearwrenches w/ their version of flank drive. Just for a set of longer patterns. Want a set of Wera Jokers, but that is like a sometime next year maybe.
Sockets... I have Cman in 1/4 shallow, Stanley in 1/4" deep. I have Cman and Companion in 3/8" shallow, Gearwrench in 3/8" mid, and Kobalt in 12pt 3/8" deep. Thinking of doing straight Gearwrench for the shallows and deep in 6pt, and then would make my 3/8 set portable? Or ignore the shallows altogether, and go with 6pt deep. Not sure what direction to go there. I had thought Williams... but a friend pointed out that they aren't USA made. So, why pay more for something that is also outsourced? GearWrench seems to make some very nice sockets for the money. I would love a full set of Wera or Hazet or something... but pockets not quite THAT deep.
Impacts...Armstrong deeps in 1/2". Won't get rid of them. Not really needing more impacts though. Have Pittsburgh 3/8" shallows and deeps. Had them for a while now. No reason to ditch them, they work.
Torque Wrench is a Kobalt I picked up on sale. I use it for wheel lugs mostly. It does its job. Also still fine by me.
Screwdrivers. Have vintage Proto, Cman, Husky, Wera chiseldrivers, and Pittsburgh (again in the jankybox). Only thing I really want to add is a Wera Kraftform Kompakt with a bunch of bits.
Prybars... don't have these. Hit few situations at home where I need one. At work, when I need a pry bar...I need a big one. Have the Cman big screwdriver pry at work, sometimes borrow bigger. 3ft Mayhew? Wilde? I can see a couple home jobs happening where one would be good.
Pliers... my vintage ones are good, though well used (patina). My newer ones are cheap. Sometimes they work, sometimes they piss me off. Knipex. Knipex. I already know which brand I want to run with for that.
Basically, I have mostly stuff that works... and some stuff that both works, and is GOOD. I want to eventually upgrade the stuff that is not quite as good to better options.
Right now it's a mix up of stuff that I have actively pursued, and leftovers from when I was a teenager (yes, those cheapo tools have held up and still work a decade and a half later).
Hive mind input?
Working within a modest enough budget. Soliciting some feedback if I may.
I wrench. Day in, day out. My work tools are a lot of SK, Proto, and Cman...with a smattering of other stuff like Snappy, Matco, Gearwrench (my own). My work box is predominantly issued tools. They work, most of the time. Sometimes I gotta warranty something... but that is fleet work.
I am upgrading my home tools. Ratchets... I have Snap On, Bahco, Cman, Titan, Thorsens, Kobalt. Aside from adding a bigger 1/2" to the arsenal (Armstrong or Williams long handled.... maybe a HF due to infrequent use), I'm pretty covered there.
Wrenches...I have Armstrong, KD (older USA), Cman (older USA, SAE), some Pittsburgh (live in junkyard box now), Matco ratcheting stubbies, Kobalt stubbies (junkybox). Thinking about long pattern Gearwrenches w/ their version of flank drive. Just for a set of longer patterns. Want a set of Wera Jokers, but that is like a sometime next year maybe.
Sockets... I have Cman in 1/4 shallow, Stanley in 1/4" deep. I have Cman and Companion in 3/8" shallow, Gearwrench in 3/8" mid, and Kobalt in 12pt 3/8" deep. Thinking of doing straight Gearwrench for the shallows and deep in 6pt, and then would make my 3/8 set portable? Or ignore the shallows altogether, and go with 6pt deep. Not sure what direction to go there. I had thought Williams... but a friend pointed out that they aren't USA made. So, why pay more for something that is also outsourced? GearWrench seems to make some very nice sockets for the money. I would love a full set of Wera or Hazet or something... but pockets not quite THAT deep.
Impacts...Armstrong deeps in 1/2". Won't get rid of them. Not really needing more impacts though. Have Pittsburgh 3/8" shallows and deeps. Had them for a while now. No reason to ditch them, they work.
Torque Wrench is a Kobalt I picked up on sale. I use it for wheel lugs mostly. It does its job. Also still fine by me.
Screwdrivers. Have vintage Proto, Cman, Husky, Wera chiseldrivers, and Pittsburgh (again in the jankybox). Only thing I really want to add is a Wera Kraftform Kompakt with a bunch of bits.
Prybars... don't have these. Hit few situations at home where I need one. At work, when I need a pry bar...I need a big one. Have the Cman big screwdriver pry at work, sometimes borrow bigger. 3ft Mayhew? Wilde? I can see a couple home jobs happening where one would be good.
Pliers... my vintage ones are good, though well used (patina). My newer ones are cheap. Sometimes they work, sometimes they piss me off. Knipex. Knipex. I already know which brand I want to run with for that.
Basically, I have mostly stuff that works... and some stuff that both works, and is GOOD. I want to eventually upgrade the stuff that is not quite as good to better options.
Right now it's a mix up of stuff that I have actively pursued, and leftovers from when I was a teenager (yes, those cheapo tools have held up and still work a decade and a half later).
Hive mind input?
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