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Mechanic's Tools: Anything and Everything
As an overall statement, I can say that I take considerable pride in the tools I have brought together over the years, including the roller cabinetry in which I store them. I strongly prefer high quality American manufactured tools with my quest for superb metal work being tempered by price, as I seek the optimum point where art, function, patriotism, cost, and availability intersect. If you have to ask why anyone would want to buy the highly polished, beautifully gnurled, precision made Allen brand 3/8 ratchet rather than the no-name offshore wrench that could be thrown off a cliff without leaving a detectable mark on it, well, you may not want to post in this thread. I would think that this is even more esoteric and obsessive than even the World Class synthetic lube conversation!
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Craftsman hand tools are O.K. quality although you won't find many professional mechanics suing them.
A "lifetime" warranty does not necessarilly relate to quality.
Got to disagree with that. I have quite a few Craftsman tools in my service truck. Some have outlasted my Snap-On and Mac tools. Granted, the largest percentage of my hand tools are made by Armstrong, but I've never broken a Craftsman wrench either. Ratchets are a different story, but I've broken just about every brand I've ever had.
I rarely deal with Snap-On or Mac for my tools. Usually, the only tools I buy from them are specialty tools. And alot of the professional mechanics I know have Craftsman in their toolboxes. Most mechanics that will only buy Snap-On, Mac or Matco are young pups who are single and think that they have to buy only the "best" for their image. The older, wiser guys realize that the "advertised quality" is not worth the great cost that they charge for having that name on their tools.
Since you weren't a regular "customer" it sounds like he blew you off. Too bad since you will always remember and will tell others.
Usually though, they will replace tools without exception.
They guys on the trucks will often eat something to keep a loyal customer happy. an example is a chrome socket that has been used on an impact gun.
warranty demands.
Now, my personal tools are a different matter. I buy only select, foreign made tools of the finest quality ... I do not recall the brand name but, "Made in China" rings a bell. There are several advantages to buying such tools. You do not have to skimp on lunch to buy them, they never get stolen, they never wear out since I may use each socket once in two years, they rust to a better fit, I never have to fret over the lifetime warranty, they are real time savers for the shop since if one should drop into an engine they are not worth the time to retrieve, free replacements are so easily found under the trunk lining of used cars that you will find yourself throwing away the surplus sizes and keeping just the choice ones, there is no need for maintaining both SAE and Metric sizes since there is always one that fits just about right. Can some of you real "cool tool guys" add to this list?
Craftsman tools are my best deal. They only warranty the mechanics of a tool. So if you have a torque wrench that goes bad in the calibration, you have to pay. I was told that ratchets are warranted in the head, although I never had to replace a ratchet though. The craftsman tools that I did break, were years old and not from abuse. All that pressure over time will take its toll on anything.
I had to go out and buy a 1-y/x inch crowfoot from Snap-On because I needed it NOW, and no one else had it. A crowfoot is the only thing I could use to torque tie-rod ends to a rack. I have found that Snap-On specifications in sockets and wrenches are a little bigger than the their competition. I also have a few tools from Fleet and Husky. Those will wear away
mastermech: How'd your graphic get next to my text? Hmmmmmm!
I hear tell that the Cobalt(?) brand tools at Lowe's are in large part made by SnapOn.
What are some of your favorite tools in your chest? I really like these:
3 lb stubby hammer (when you tap something, it MOVES)
dental pick
mechanic's mirror (extendable)
mechanic's stethoscope
Snap-On curved starter wrench (fun to look at but gets in tight places)
Snap-On gasket scraper
I like my Craftsman stud remover, also. I had to trade in the one I wore out in only thirty years of use-- yep, I got the new one free under the only remaining TRUE lifetime warranty still on the market.
For wrenches and sockets I would probably buy SK. These are first class product and sell for half or less than the mobile guys charge.
To me, the warranty isn't a big deal. Unless the product is cheap junk it's usually abuse that causes breakage. Also, I don't mind paying to replace something that I have simply worn out after many years of use. Not a big deal.
There are many special tools that Sears and others do not sell. These items are usually expensive but can save literally hours on difficult jobs. Julus, you might want to think about that before you throw the tool guys out!
julus is correct. The price of professional tools is downright scary. A smart tool dealer won't try to overload a new mechanic with payments he can't afford. Those who do this usually get burned when the guy loses his job and skips town.
This tool I got was a caliper. A measuring device. It can take inside dimensions, outside dimensions, and depth dimensions. It looks and functions very much like a low end Starret or other name brand but it is made out of plastic. They sold for ninety nine cent.
It has been very useful. I just have to be mindful not to measure anything extremely hot with it. And be careful not to scrape it on sharp metal surfaces. If it accidently gets dropped....no biggie!
Thank goodness tolerances on cars are not as exact as aircraft.
I got a very good dial caliper gauge from Harbor Freight Tools for about $20. Mostly metal, the adjusting wheel was plastic. It broke off its stem one day, under normal use. I returned it for consideration for warranty replacement and they did it in a heartbeat! They gave me the upgraded more recent model that was identical except for the adjusting wheel-- now metal. Obviously, it is a good company. Try 'em, you'll like 'em.
I get fleet sales catalogs all the time.
They were bought out along time ago.
At one time, I thought they were a property of Williams tools, but I think Williams is now gone too.
I guess that's the price of progress.
I get sales catalogs for all kinds of different tools for fleet maintenance.
I mentioned (way back in the thread, #19) that I had some superb Danaher tools. Want a treat? Go to:
http://www.danaher.com
and click on hand tools. Or click on anything else! It is a very entertaining web site. They claim, "We are the largest manufacturer of mechanics hand tools in the world." {:^> WOW!
Almost all of the tools that they make and design are sold under another name. Most of those names are high quality tools.
Armstrong is one of the leading Industrial tool companies.
About 70% of the name brand tools on the market are produced by Danaher.
SK, Snap-On and Mac are some of the few name brands that aren't produced by them.
If you want an extremely high quality tool for a reasonable cost, check out Armstrong tools.
Kobalt tools, recently introduced by Lowes', are reportedly made by Snap-On and many are priced to compete with Craftsman. It will be interesting to hear how owners rate this brand in comparison with Snap-On.
1)I don't use my tools often enough to wear them out (strickly a "weekend warrior").
2)The price is right for us poor boys.
3)You cannot beat the return policy, and there is a Sears in almost every city in the USA.
BTW, what do you guys think about Black-and-Decker and DeWalt tools?
Allen, Craftsman, NAPA and KD-Tools are then line down.
The only difference btween Matco tools and Armstrong is the name and cost.
Armstrong is available at most industrial supply stores. Places that carry welding supplies and hydraulic supplies probably carry the Armstrong line.
Here are a couple links to some info on them.
Armstrong tool sales
Another one
Armstrong's Homepage Although, I couldn't get it to come up today.
With Black and Decker drills, I hate the detachable power cord, because it has the habit of detaching on its own. The B&D power tools that I used, do not seem to be able to handle heavy jobs. I now use a Craftsman 1/2 drill.
Besides, where do you go for service with B&D tools?
Someone mentioned twelve point vs six point sockets. Six point are the best until you get some of these *&%(##%^ Fords or Jeeps (and a few others) with twelve point bolt heads. The six millimeter ones that hold the anti-lock brake sensors on the Ford vans are the worst. I ordered a few sockets from the Mac man, as they don't work when worn, and it's awfully hard on the cheap 1/4 inch sockets to pound them on the six millimeter bolt, something I did on the first one I needed to remove. No one in town had a twelve point six mm in stock.
I have one 3/8 drive ratchet that I would like to find more of the brand and type in other sizes. It is "RADIAN DRIVE". There and no teeth, it has a sprague inside, and you push the square drive to the other side to reverse it. It has no slack, if you can move the handle you can turn the bolt. I got it as a promotional gift from Perfect Circle chassis parts about twenty years ago.
Harry
I've got tool boxes and even some roller cabinet drawers full of old, collectable tools-- okay, junk if you must. Some of the old American brands are really something. There were certainly a lot of companies making tools many years ago.
So the theory according to "old Harry" that 6 point is best is a little shaky. Granted, the 6 point sockets are generally stronger, there are reasons for the 12 point.
Anyone who only buys 6 point sockets is going to find themselves in a bind sooner or later.
Personally, I don't care for Mac or Snap-On.
I have broken too many of their tools in the field and when your 30 miles up in the mountains, it gets expensive to carry replacement tools. I do carry multiple sets, but when you need 2 of the same specialty wrench to do a job and one breaks, you go looking for the snap-on or Mac tool man to replace it. I once broke a Snap-On roll pin punch, it just shattered, a little one, not like you could hit it hard or anything, Snap-On refused to replace it. I told the tool guy, Fine, get out of my shop and never come back.
The Mac tool man sold me a wrench, didn't have my check book, so put it on my account, 3 months later, he came back screaming about taking me to collections, I handed him the check that had been sitting on my desk for 3 months.
Funny that some of these tool salesmen fail to realize that some mechanics spend a large amount of money on their tools and that money will get spent on tools at one place or another.
That's just smart business.
Many times, however, an abusive customer can try their patience.
It seems like some mechanics never break anything while others walk out to the truck every week with a broken tool in their hand.
Chrome sockets that have been impacted to death, drill bits that are worn out or blue from heat.
You name it, I've seen it!
Can we still buy "T" handles. Mine (1/2 and 3/4 drive) are about thirty years old. I haven't noticed them on the tool trucks in a while.
Harry