Hand Tools

[qmaster3]

Most auto techs I know will stay away from Craftsman ratchets. I've had a couple 1/4 drives snap. I live close to sears so it's no biggy.

 

[avbug]

Interesting. Are they beating on them with hammers or putting excessive amounts of torque on them? I've never been able to hurt one. Then again...I treat my tools like I own them.

In fact the only rachet handle I've ever had break or have had problems with has been snap-on.

 

[qmaster3]

NO probably just using them a lot more than the average aircraft mechanic. j/

 

[mds767]

Interesting, and I'll say that I'm also a big Craftsman fan as well. I'm actually an A&P student now (graduate in December) and 99% of my tolls in my school box are Craftsman along with an I-R air drill and a NAPA die grinder. And someone mentioned the MAC open end angle wrenches the ones that came with the set I have are Armstrong. As for what I have here at the house it's about all Craftsman again too.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

What brand of hand tools do you guy's prefer? Is there a clearly better choice of tool manufacturer, Craftsman over Matco etc.? I've always assumed that Snap On was the choice of most. I just wondered what you guys use most.

SWASS!! Brother!! --- Is that you asking about TOOLS!???

How ya doing?

 

[belchfire]

Most of my stuff is Snap-on, but I have
many others-the Mac angled open end,
some SK's that live in my truck with the
craftsman and others. Love my Snap-on
ratcheting screwdriver.

Last year I was changing the engine out
on my wife's car. I had the right-sized
craftsman socket on the crankshaft bolt,
leaned on it to brake it loose and the damm
thing slipped and rounded the bolt.
$!@@T!!!
Sooo I dug around and found the right
Snap-on socket, 'cept it's a 3/8 drive and
dosent want to fit the now rounded bolt
head. Drove that 12 point "flank drive"
on with a hammer, put the 3/8-1/2 adapter
in it and got the break bar on...My neighbor
had come over to help and was watching the
whole thing. When I got the bolt loose with the
"good" tool I could only look at him and say
"Snap-on. There is a difference."

Wouldn't ever willingly part with my 1/4"
drive Snap-on stuff...

 

[Weasel Keeper]

I have a decent Kobalt box, and most of my tools are Craftsman. I do shop at Harbor Freight for things that don't really matter...huge savings over any of the big named tools. Hard to come by stuff or things I need on the spot I get from Matco since he comes to our hangar.

I've had to replace my 1/4" drive Craftsman ratchet once so far because the gears finally failed, but it was about 15 years old.

 

[darkvw]

I use Hazlet wrenches & craftsman sockets & ratchets, no problem so far. the wrenches probably cost me as much as the entire toolbox and craftsman tools but they fit with no slop on nuts and bolts.

 

[UnAnswerd]

Wouldn't ever willingly part with my 1/4"
drive Snap-on stuff...

That's another thing. You cannot do without a complete 1/4 set. Snap-on wanted over $350 for the set of shallow, deep, standard, metric, extensions, and ratchet in a plastic case. It's a good set, but the price is a little high. I found an almost identical set from SK, and it costed only $150. When almost everyone is offering a lifetime warranty these days, it pays to shop around.

 

[Peanut gallery]

Mixed bag

You can find almost every manufacture in my box. Snap-on for the small stuff and a varied mixture for everything else. I love my S&K open end wrench set with a boxed ratchet on the other end. For ratchets Snap-on is the only way for me, it's the number of teeth and relative small movement that can actually work in a tough spot. Used to really like Dewalt but quality has really slipped lately. Of course Chicago Pneumatic for the air tools.

Just my .02