Calling all backyard mechanics. What is better Craftsman ,Snap On or..?

BellaBlades

BellaBlades

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Hey guys and Gals, Matt here. I am hoping this is in the correct forum.

So here is the skinny. I am in need of a tool upgrade for primarily my automotive needs. I have everything else I need in my work shop.

I am like many others, a backyard mechanic.
If a repair is within reason, brakes, bearings, gaskets etc. I like to do it and save us money. But my old tool set is running on fumes. I have had this 150(Approx) piece set since I turned 20. So almost 8 years. A good run for being used so much.
After the past year. I broke the 3/ 8 and 1/4 inch ratchets. They did wear down, but the pressure often required from frozen hardware. Ended up busting the mechanism.
At this point I realize they would more than likely be under warranty, but my set is missing 20% of its sockets now.

So the question is, what should my wife and I get.
Craftsman again, or perhaps Snap on or husky.

I am curious if any of you experts can chime in. They will be well used and well cared for.

Matt :)
 
Imho the Craftsman line of today doesn't seem like my old ones.Unless you're wrenching for a living the Snap on stuff is an over kill as far as price.If you have a Lowes in your area I'd check out the Kobalt line of tools. They have a great free lifetime replacement policy should you need it.
 
I started buying Snap On in 1974, I probably bought most of what I own over the next 10-12 years and I'm still using it except for a few pieces that have gone missing. Mind you it doesn't look brand new but they look a lot better than any other brand that's 40years old. I have had some Craftsman over the years, I have a box of mixed tools that I take to the u pull it or if I go somewhere to work on other peoples stuff and it's perfectly fine for most mechanics but I haven't used any of their recent stuff. One thing that does drive me somewhat crazy with Snap On is their ratchets, I've got a couple 3/8ths that just won't quit no matter what I do to them and then there's others that need constant tlc, some of their 1/4" ratchets really stink, they are rebuildable but unless the salesman is stopping regularly it's a hassle tracking one down to get them rebuilt.
 
Craftsman is not what it used to be. The Husky or Kobalt tools are decent if you have a Lowes or Home Depot nearby.
 
General Tool Discussion

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=4

ToolGuyD

http://toolguyd.com/

Check these out for reviews and what to buy today. IMHO Tool truck brands are hard to beat, but out of reach for most shade tree mechanics. The days of one brand (loyalty) in the toolbox are gone.
Craftsman has changed their COO (country of origin) over the years and not only is their quality, future warranty in question, if the brand and the business that sells them will still be around long is unknown. There is still some good Craftsman tools out there, at good prices. You just have to pick and choose & get reviews before you buy. Hurry, the words out and the USA stuff is running out fast. If you live near a Sears outlet, you might want check it out.
 
I'd say go with Snap on or Mac. But those are some overkill unless this is the last tool set you are buying. Otherwise as the others have said go with your hardware store brand, preferably not craftsman. The have a good replacement system but who honestly wants to have to replace their ratchet 3 times during a project (not exaggerating we seriously broke 3 ratchets before getting out the snap on).
 
After the past year. I broke the 3/ 8 and 1/4 inch ratchets. They did wear down, but the pressure often required from frozen hardware. Ended up busting the mechanism.
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Investing in Breaker Bars will help with that. Right tool for the right job kind of thing. :)

Also you may want to look at SK.

Hard to believe, Harbor Freight pro impact sockets and ratchets (72 tooth) have been getting some great reviews. (Taiwan made not the PRC stuff) Research is your friend when shopping HF, it's very buyer beware when shopping there.

The sad part is, for decades Craftsman was somewhere in the middle of expensive truck & USA tool brands and the el cheapo hand tools. Like Craftsman, Husky or Kobalt have also changed over the years.
 
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The first tool set that I owned was Husky, back in the 1960s/70s they were good tools. I agree with 555 on SK, if you can find somewhere that sells them they're good tools for the money.
 
Kobalt is better than Husky.....I have some Kobalt sockets and ratchets and I use them a lot.

The Dewalt mechanic's tool sets are good also.

I also like SK / Armstrong / Williams, because they are made in USA.
 
I have been wrenching for about 20 years or so. I have found that I tend to go the cheap route on tools that I don't use often, and a bit better on tools that see a lot of use. If a tool gets used often and breaks, I upgrade to something better. Lifetime replacement is nice, and I have taken advantage of it a few times, but the most frustrating is losing a socket or wrench.
I also have never purchased a large tool kit. I have bought things as I've needed them over the years, and have a few small cheap kits I keep in the car/truck, etc.
I guess I'd suggest something decent from a local store with a good warranty for a large kit. Then if you find a specific tool needs replacement more than once, consider an upgrade or possibly a different tool. IE - If you break a 3/8" ratchet, why did it break? Should you be using a 1/2" or a breaker bar?
Good luck and happy wrenching!
 
I do like Craftsman -hand- tools (power tools you have to check out carefully). But, as others have noted, now, unlike before, you have to check the hand tools as well. The lifetime warrantee is good, but you have to go back to the Sears store. Sears (corporate) is having problems now for several years (they should never have bought K-Mart). So, the future is unknown as far as access to replacements, etc.

If money were no object I'd have a bunch of Snap-On and/or Mac tools. (Like I'm about to inherit $$$ LOL).

Kobalt (Lowes-brand) gets decent reviews for some things, not so much in others. Husky (HD-brand) has great warrantee now - but I'm not really impressed by their tools. However, since you can find them (the stores) everywhere, they are probably a good starting point.

Best advice: check reviews for each category (wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.) and go get the best you can afford in that category without regard to brand loyalty. You'll end up with a better tool selection and be happier in the long run. All you sacrifice is the heady feeling (and false confidence) of having a complete set of "CRFNAPONAC" tools in your toolbox.

Cheers, Ed
edh3007 - because 30.06 was already in use :-)
 
the thing I like about the Dewalt tool sets is that is doesn't have any filler pieces like the other brand tool sets have, it just has the basic stuff that you will need.
spin_prod_830620212


If you want something lower priced, the Kobalt mechanics tool sets are priced down pretty good during the holiday season.
1213tr-02%2Bbest-mechanic-tool-set-under-200%2Bkobalt-227-piece-tool-set.jpg
 
Good read, but a lot has changed since 2007.

History[edit]

Lowe's and manufacturing partner J.H. Williams launched Kobalt in 1998,[1] with the intention of competing against rival retailers Sears and The Home Depot and their respective Craftsman and Husky tool brands.[2]

In 2003, the Danaher Corporation began producing the majority of Kobalt hand tools.[3][4]

In 2011, Lowe's ended its arrangement with Danaher and switched to a different supplier for its mechanic's hand tools,[5] JS Products of Las Vegas, Nevada.[6] Screwdrivers continue to be supplied by Great Neck.[7] The same year, the Kobalt line expanded to include cordless power tools, [8] manufactured by Chervon.[9]
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobalt_(tools)
 
Wow, guys. Thanks for all the information. That Kobalt set looks just fine to me. I will need to price these out for sure.
I really appreciate it. Let me absorb all of this information and check back in a bit.
 
My primary sets are older Craftsman tools. However, I am unimpressed with the quality of their new stuff. Some is absolute junk, some is merely not-as-good-as-it-used-to-be. The new ratchets, especially, are poor.

I've moved on to different brands. SnapOn and Mac are good but very pricy for a home user. SK is very nice also. The good news, now I only purchase single items as needed so the extra expense is not a hardship.

I have no experience with Husky or Kobalt.

----------

I've also moved away from Craftsman for wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and other hand tools. Crescent, Klein, ChannelLock, and even some Ace brand stuff are better replacements.
 
Jaidmaster said:
I have been wrenching for about 20 years or so. I have found that I tend to go the cheap route on tools that I don't use often, and a bit better on tools that see a lot of use.
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Exellent point! About 20% of the tools in a set are most commonly used about 80% of the time. I've picked up some snap on tools over the years at garage sells and such really cheap.I've bought some specialty tools just to do one job and never used them since.
 
skyhorse said:
Exellent point! About 20% of the tools in a set are most commonly used about 80% of the time. I've picked up some snap on tools over the years at garage sells and such really cheap.I've bought some specialty tools just to do one job and never used them since.
Click to expand...

skyhorse said:
Imho the Craftsman line of today doesn't seem like my old ones.Unless you're wrenching for a living the Snap on stuff is an over kill as far as price.If you have a Lowes in your area I'd check out the Kobalt line of tools. They have a great free lifetime replacement policy should you need it.
Click to expand...

Jaidmaster said:
I have been wrenching for about 20 years or so. I have found that I tend to go the cheap route on tools that I don't use often, and a bit better on tools that see a lot of use. If a tool gets used often and breaks, I upgrade to something better. Lifetime replacement is nice, and I have taken advantage of it a few times, but the most frustrating is losing a socket or wrench.
Click to expand...

This! All great advice. I've been working on cars for 11 years and over the last 5 on my weekend track car. My tools are a pretty big cluster fcuk of random hodge podgery lol. I try to buy things when they go on sale even if I don't immediately need the particular tool. Most of my stuff is mastercraft (Canadian Tire brand) with a lifetime warranty and a no questions asked return/replacement policy. And to further echo Jaidmaster, certain tools really can't/shouldn't be cheaped out on. All my precision tools (torque wrenches, calipers etc) are the best I could afford. When it comes to things that require specific tolerances you don't want to be gambling on tools that are cheap or lower quality.
 
I have a lot of older Craftsman stuff and have always sworn by it. But I think any American made product with a lifetime warranty is a good bet. IMHO.
 
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