help with tools. favorite brands?

[rev616]

ok now that im out of school i need to buy tools.MMI was good enough to give me a $1000 snap on set.it is 60 piece including the tool box.so i am taking out a loan to get a box and enough tools to start work with.i have heard good things about mac and matco.i have also heard good things about the craftsman pro series.so i was wondering everyones opinions on who to go with?

[bufordtjustice]

Can't really go wrong with Craftsman can ya? Lifetime guarantee and all....just plain good tools, ask AJ Foyt http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif!!

[Smokin Joe]

And there's a Sears everywhere. Some of the others you take back to the store and they don't carry that brand anymore.

[hell_fish_65]

Huskey(Home Depot) has a lifetime warranty too. Im pretty sure Kobalt(Lowes) does as well

[rev616]

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And there's a Sears everywhere. Some of the others you take back to the store and they don't carry that brand anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]

true.i have been hearing bad things about snap on needing an act of god to return tools and such..i will be working a couple miles from a mall


also does anyone have a recomendation on where to get precision tools like micrometers and dial indicators that are decent quality?

[modernbeat]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, just read this old dredged up, reheated, and oft repeated post.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=506433&Forum=A ll_Forums&Words=542&Match=Username&Searchpage=3&Li mit=25&Old=allposts&Main=499991&Search=true#Post50 6433

[Slide]

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also does anyone have a recomendation on where to get precision tools like micrometers and dial indicators that are decent quality?

[/ QUOTE ]

Grainger (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml) is where most of the people I know get them. There may be better places, tho. MOst of the aircraft mechanics I grew up around use (and like) the Starrett brand.

If you get Craftsman, then get the Pro line. The others are hardly worth bringing to work with you. The pro line will hold up to daily use much better.

[zman]

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true.i have been hearing bad things about snap on needing an act of god to return tools and such..i will be working a couple miles from a mall


[/ QUOTE ]

That's all on your Snap-On guy. I've had good ones and bad ones. I've had better luck with the Cornwell guys...

[low springs]

97% percent of my tools are from snap-on. i have over $10,000 in tools. shhh don't tell the wife. Mac is good, Matco i would stay away from. don't really like their stuff. i only bought from them once and that was to buy a used Mac tool box. Husky is a sister Co. of Mac. not all of Craftsmen's hand tools are made here in the USA. snap-on tool warranty depends on the dealers. they'll come out saying you didn't buy it from me so i'm not going to replace it. it's not suppose to be that way. walk into any snap-on truck show them your broken tool and get a new one if they have it on hand. i'll continue to buy from snap-on when ever possible. snap-on has a tighter clearences then craftsmen.

[rev616]

[ QUOTE ]
snap-on tool warranty depends on the dealers. they'll come out saying you didn't buy it from me so i'm not going to replace it. it's not suppose to be that way. walk into any snap-on truck show them your broken tool and get a new one if they have it on hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

thats exactly what i want to get away from.our tool guy at school wouldnt replace tools ever.he wouldnt even give us the tools that were missing from our sets when brand new.

some stuff i am going to have to go with snap on,but i dont want all of it snap on.i dont see the need for their prices with all the problems ive had and heard

[low springs]

i see your point about not having to have everything snap-on. during the time i was going to an auto body trade school. i happened to enter the contest they had their. i won $6,000 in snap-on tools. the rest i bought from them cause they where good enough to give me that much. i would have proablly bought something else if i hadn't won the contest.

[buffaloracer]

Have Snap-on, Craftsman, and S-K in my box and I think that S-K has been the best buy for my money.

[a/fxcomet]

[ QUOTE ]

also does anyone have a recomendation on where to get precision tools like micrometers and dial indicators that are decent quality?

[/ QUOTE ]

Enco (http://www.use-enco.com)

[bills model a]

i like msc for micrometers and dial indicators drill bits
get there catalog its huge
for hand tools i have mostly craftsman and sk tools
i like sk a lot prices are about half of snap on

[bills model a]

heres the site www.mscdirect.com (http://www.mscdirect.com)

[CheatersPete]

Facom, Hazet, craftman, dewalt, kress, craftwerk....

[Fry]

I have westward tools, you have them in the states, no?
I use mine everyday and am pretty pleased with them, lifetime warrenty and any dealer will take them on warrenty.
Snap on and Mac are a waste of money, seriously. I own a few and would have rathered bought some cheaper lifetime warrenty brand and saved my self a couple hundred.
Only thing I'm going to continue to buy from Mac is probably impacts right now their 1000ft/lb 3/8 is only $400 Canadian.
Having to wait for the truck to return tools and then them to send them away is lame too.

[jerry]

laately i've been replacing my craftsman combination wreches with snap-on and mac from swapmeets and garage sales a piece at a time. i don't worry about the warranty too much. if i break one i'll just find another.

i've already got the most used sizes 2 to 3 deep.

i like the feel and fit of the macs and snap-ons better than the craftsmans.


jerry

[KnuckleDragger]

I agree with Jerry I like the feel of mac and snap on tools compared to the rest. I tend to stick to mac tools, but most of the time you will find a snap on truck more often than a mac truck. But a stanley from walmart usually finds its way into my hand in the garage more often then anything else. they are pretty good tools and cheap to replace. I am famous for snaping ratchetts, even the good quality ones.

Jonney

[Missing Link]

As others have stated the Craftsman stuff is good. Plus they are made in the USA. Others are too I suppose. Well, I like craftsman tools just because that's what I grew up using. The lifetime warranty on hand tools and no grief with replacements is excellent. Plus I only ever had to return one item, a socket.
On a side note I recently purchased a set of their dual ratcheting wrenches...do yourself a favor and get a set. These things RULE! They are a bit pricey but worth the cost. The single action type are cheaper but the dual action just kick ass. Worth the price of admission.