Your "go-to" source for NEW tools?

[Dud]

My question relates to needing to buy new tools. If you need a new set of ratchets (just an example) where do you typically go if:

a) You need them NOW?

b) You can wait a bit?


For me, if I need it now I run to a local store like HF. If I can wait, I will usually shop around online (Toolbarn etc.) then see if I can beat that deal on Fleabay. Just recently found a really nice set of Sunex impact sockets for about $225 at an online store but a reputable seller on Fleabay had it (w/ free shipping) for 25% less.


You?

 

[d.mcfarland]

This is probably best described by "it depends".

 

[BaMaDuDe87]

This is probably best described by "it depends".

This

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[Danglerb]

Yup, when I "wanted" an 80 tooth Snapon ratchet, checked ebay, hit a couple swap meets where I finally bought one. About half, usually the expensive half, of my tools are yard sale and swap meet sourced. If I needed a ratchet today, right now, no question HF, but only because they carry several cheap ratchets that I like and stores are local to me.

Home Depot has the precision screwdriver bits I like, some plumbing stuff etc.

Zoro has a LOT, often best price, getting up to free shipping level isn't good for me.

Amazon, if they have it, usually a decent price and used to be fast shipping, now days shipping times vary a LOT. From time to time Amazon clearance or warehouse deals get me to buy things I do not need.

I don't think I've spent more than $100 lifetime from the Trucks.

 

[neophyte]

If I need something same day, I usually go to Home Depot or Lowes, or Pep Boys since those stores are closest.
If I need something more specialized but quickly, I go to Grainger, or a specialty Industrial Plumbing, Electrician, or Roofing supplier, or maybe Harbor Freight.
If I need something within a week, I just order it from whoever.
I live in a major city though, so I still actually have professional Industrial supply sources within the metro area, even if there aren’t as many, and they’re not as close as they were 20 years ago.

 

[matt_i]

If its a socket I would go up to the Meijer (multi dimensional grocery store) and get some Tekton.

More specialized than that and I would goto the machining end of the shop and start carving it

 

[CGarage]

Amazon, Zoro, Ultimate Garage.

 

[dr_clyde]

For hand tools, Snap-on. I’ve called my dealer when I’ve been in a jam, and he’s left his route to come bail me out.

For just about everything else, I buy from my welding supply house, Purity Gas, my favorite online industrial supply McMaster-Carr and local industrial supply, Lamb Industrial. They stock just about everything between them.

I reward excellent service with my money. If you keep stock and can get it to me fast, when I need it, you get the sale. The last thing I want to hear is “I can order it for you.” Yeah. Me too. I also have the internet. If I’m going to bother with you in the first place, I need it now. Anyone can order off the internet for later.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Amazon, ebay, tooltopia, jbtools, cpo outlets, snap on truck.

I rarely NEED anything same day I dont already own. Bargin shopping to fill up my orders means I sometimes have tools before I need them, and I can improvise if need be. Local places for tools, aside from maybe an industrial supply store, are unlikely to have anything I dont already own.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Your "go-to" source for NEW tools?

Either Harbor Freight or Rural King or Tractor Supply who both carry Gearwrench. Lowe’s for Kobalt too since they are great


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[bsaint]

Snap on if i can wait. Cornwell if i need it in an hour.


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[vavet]

McMaster, amazon if I’m ordering,

Hf, Home Depot, Lowe’s, tractor supply, or the local ace if I need it now,

 

[sberry]

As was said, I got what I need. I took a spin around hf for some more/replacement, Walmart some. The box stores have their place, huge variety. Multi trade. I went to the LWS recent, it's ok, would have scored a roll of wire at Menards for 15 less and I don't owe any of these vendors a thing. Most of them jab a regular guy type every time he isn't looking. Dam near got to price every item on the list.

 

[sberry]

I buy drill bits at a flea, guy been going there for 30+years. When I was busier and needed fast I ordered right with auto parts. Here in an hour without having to tape 100 bills to my forehead.
I have heard it all from jobber salesman too,, want me to pay 10 large more today so I can get 5 more in resale 10 yrs from now.
Want me to pay thru the *** today in hopes I do enuf in the future to get a discount. Some incentive that is. Ain't never made a single sales call, want me to.make some loyal commitment, pull in a loaded service truck and guy one of the sales staff cat be bothered to say hi and the counter man acts like he gets paid to save words, is that all was the extent of the vocabulary.
One guy they just promote due to retirement was at least trying last trip in. Used to be we had to deal with those stores, now we got easier cheaper and more convenient.

 

[Honda guy]

I've been a motorcycle mechanic for 35 years, so have pretty much everything I need. When I worked at the dealership, we could count on the Snap On guy or the Matco guy to show up same day or the next morning, if we really needed something right away. They are both great!

If I need a specialty tool, such as a puller, I order from one of my suppliers or maybe ebay or Amazon.

Having said that, I've purchased probably 50% of my tools by being patient and waiting for killer deals to come along. A lot of flea market and pawn shop purchases.

 

[CGarage]

15 posts and almost no one is buying tools from traditional auto parts stores.

 

[ssdave]

.....

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

15 posts and almost no one is buying tools from traditional auto parts stores.

I do occasionally from Advanced Auto when I use my speed perk rewards points to get money off they sell Gearwrench also but not a fan of their Autocraft brand. If I was going to buy from an Auto Parts store for tools it would be AutoZone because they are the best quality both the OEM brand and Duralast brand tools. I actually needed a 30mm 12 point the other day and needed it in impact and they had it so that was handy.


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[65k10]

If I need a tool now it would probably be Napa since it's pretty much the closest source (despite being about 40 miles away) for decent tools that are probably in stock or can be had next day.

Since I don't have many options for quality tools, much less any tools beyond the real basic stuff close by, I buy a lot online. Mostly Amazon, Zoro, and sellers on Ebay. What I try to do is watch for deals/sales on tools I think could potentially be useful, so that I already have them when the need arises. This doesn't always work out, but other times it has saved me some grief.

 

[CGarage]

I would take Napa over any of the auto part store brands.

 

[mopac01]

If I can't wait I go to Napa. If I can wait I go to Harry Epstein online and then drive the 30 minutes to their store in Kansas City to pick them up.

 

[M6erfan]

I would take Napa over any of the auto part store brands.

Yup. If i need something "right now" I go to my local Napa.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I would take Napa over any of the auto part store brands.

How do you like their Carlyle tools? I have heard great things about them and I have heard really bad things about them. I am guessing you like them I don’t own any of their stuff except a 17mm USA Napa socket and a 1/2 Napa Raised Panel USA Wrench I don’t own none of the Carlyle stuff.


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[jeepinerdeep]

Local stores have nothing that I don't already have except maybe an oddball metric socket.

My best option would be TSC or NAPA.

Other than that- it's online.

 

[anndel]

My SO Driver.

 

[sberry]

So Napa has pixie dust in them?

 

[CGarage]

How do you like their Carlyle tools? I have heard great things about them and I have heard really bad things about them. I am guessing you like them I don’t own any of their stuff except a 17mm USA Napa socket and a 1/2 Napa Raised Panel USA Wrench I don’t own none of the Carlyle stuff.


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In my very limited use of them, they are fine if you need it that day and better than the auto part store junk.

That said, it’s better to buy a tool a week (deals online save money) than to pay 3x or more in the Napa store for what you could have bought at a discount online.

Half the battle to being professional is to conserve resources and to spend wisely to maximize profits.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

In my very limited use of them, they are fine if you need it that day and better than the auto part store junk.



That said, it’s better to buy a tool a week (deals online save money) than to pay 3x or more in the Napa store for what you could have bought at a discount online.



Half the battle to being professional is to conserve resources and to spend wisely to maximize profits.

Yeah I usually go on eBay and buy stuff if it’s like a specialty tool or an odd socket I needed or something like that. I know one thing is the Napa in my area nobody knows anything the only reason I go in there is because I get my 3M Brake Cleaner there but I don’t buy anything else there because every time I have it’s been wrong on their part not mine.


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[Al Borland]

Depends on what I need, when I need it, and what I need it for.
If it's for something I'm working on at home, probably have the tool, just have to find it.
If it's for work, and I need it quickly, Home Despot is across the street. If i need it in a day or two, and am giving the tool to the workers, Harbor freight because it will turn into a "single-use" tool by the time the job is done.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Depends on what I need, when I need it, and what I need it for.
If it's for something I'm working on at home, probably have the tool, just have to find it.
If it's for work, and I need it quickly, Home Despot is across the street. If i need it in a day or two, and am giving the tool to the workers, Harbor freight because it will turn into a "single-use" tool by the time the job is done.

Some of the Harbor Freight stuff is nice like the Pickle Forks and the other auto specialty tools along with the sockets they are nice stuff that lasts forever.


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[CGarage]

Some of the Harbor Freight stuff is nice like the Pickle Forks and the other auto specialty tools along with the sockets they are nice stuff that lasts forever.


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Pittsburgh or Icon sockets?
I heard the impacts were ok from HF.

In 10 years time, I expect HF will own the majority of the US tool market.

 

[CGarage]

Yeah I usually go on eBay and buy stuff if it’s like a specialty tool or an odd socket I needed or something like that. I know one thing is the Napa in my area nobody knows anything the only reason I go in there is because I get my 3M Brake Cleaner there but I don’t buy anything else there because every time I have it’s been wrong on their part not mine.


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NAPA also has specialty oils and fluids and can order it in a day.
I buy Liquimoly from them.
They can order a lot of stuff they do not stock which is nice and sometimes it is same day delivery with the warehouse network.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Pittsburgh or Icon sockets?

I heard the impacts were ok from HF.



In 10 years time, I expect HF will own the majority of the US tool market.

Pittsburgh is what I have experience with both the chrome and impact they are strong and durable Taiwan made tools really can’t beat them I just wish the set wouldn’t skip certain sizes


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[BlakeTheCarGuy]

NAPA also has specialty oils and fluids and can order it in a day.
I buy Liquimoly from them.
They can order a lot of stuff they do not stock which is nice and sometimes it is same day delivery with the warehouse network.

Yeah the LiquiMoly stuff is great I buy mine at Advanced Auto at my locations they stock their products I haven’t bought any at Napa as we only have one Napa and it’s 45 minutes from my house and down a heavily congested traffic area too. They used to have a warehouse where I am at too but they closed it in about 2012 or 2013


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[lardy1]

I buy nearly all my tools online. I live in a very rural area and driving 30 or 40 miles for a tool isn't in the cards. I can find anything I need on my computer. I just can't get it the same day.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I buy nearly all my tools online. I live in a very rural area and driving 30 or 40 miles for a tool isn't in the cards. I can find anything I need on my computer. I just can't get it the same day.

I live in a very Rural area as well I usually go to the local auto parts store or the local hardware store but neither one of them are open on weekends so I usually end up having to go to town the only time I have had to get something same day is when I needed an impact at home to break loose an axle nut so I drove 100 miles round trip to Harbor Freight to buy an earthquake impact which works amazing if I do buy online I do eBay or a tool manufacturer as I don’t like amazon or trust amazon.


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[MikeF2316]

For most stuff, if I need it right away, Princess Auto. If it's something I just want, then I wait until it's on special usually Princess Auto or Canadian Tire. There's not much in that second category any more. Generally Amazon has the best selection of the less common stuff.

 

[cheechi]

here recently my go-to have been

kctoolco.com
detroitmetalworkingsupply.com
toolsdelivered.com
amazon

luckily the only things i am buying recently are 'wants' or new/different style of things ie I have probably 4 nut driver sets but the Wiha are on sale at KC so I bought some Wihas.

 

[dubdoc]

I use everything from eBay to Snap-on, depending on use. I just bought a ratcheting bit driver that I will use a lot off the Snap-On truck and 3 metric deep 1/4 sockets off eBay (12mm, 13mm and 14mm) to complete my set. I have bought wrenches and sockets and ratchets off eBay before and have been very pleased. I have 3 wrenches from Snap-On that are absolute junk, so go figure.

 

[Ton ton]

White horse machine, gap,PA.