Hand Tool Brand Recommendations

[ABart]

I would like to tap into everyone's collective wrench-turning wisdom.

Recently, the old 1980's Craftsman tools that I have been using and the tool chest that they were in rolled out of the barn and I need to replace them. Two 20 foot logging chains left at the same time. 

I am an occasional mechanic parts changer. I work on lawn equipment, cars, occasionally boats, and tractors (50, 55, and 90 HP.) There may be a bus in the future.

I have been looking for US made replacements but cannot justify Snap On, Wright, Mac, etc. My preference is to find something US made, but I am not having any luck.

Within three miles of the barn, I have Northern Tool and Equipment (Klutch), Lowes (Kobalt, Craftsman), Home Depot (Husky) and Harbor Freight (ICON). I qualify for a military discount. I am 10 miles from Fastenal, Grainger, McMaster-Carr. Amazon comes to me.

Do you all have any recommendations?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

If I were a professional mechanic, who worked on equipment full-time, I would buy high-quality, expensive tools.  Because I own an Eagle that seldom needs to be worked on like the other models    I just buy cheaper tools such as Craftsman. 

I think it is a factor of how much money you have to spend, and the amount of time you plan on using your tools, which is somewhat based on how many vehicles or what equipment you need to work on.

Most of my tools, I have had over 50 years and they do not need to be replaced yet.

[dtcerrato]

I keep my vintage tools up & running. The kind that used to work on our 1953 4104 back in it's hay day. Name brands like Thorsen, Snap On, Bluepoint, Craftsman, Ken Tool, Blackhawk, Channel Lock, KD, Mac, Starrett, Ridgid and the list goes on.

[luvrbus]

Lowes sold Snap/On years ago under the Kobalt name, I have few the Snap-On guy replaced  a breaker bar for me not long ago, any American made tool is expensive Stanley owns the Craftsman name and the Craftsman line is made in China. There are some good Chinese made tools but Habor Freight doesn't sell those. I tried a set of their new ICON sockets and 1 broke the first time I used it so I got my money back, The Lowes tools look like a better grade of tools made in India, check your local contractors supply most sell good tools with out all the markup since  contractors are cheap to began with. I have seen some nice American made tools with boxes on Facebook Market Place I was tempted to buy because I knew what they were worth. H/F does have good tool boxes now so does H/D and Lowes and H/F is selling some tools made in India now I notice not just the Chinese junk I have a lot of Wright and Proto tools that are 50 years old ,I really get pissed off when some one miss places one to

[Jim Blackwood]

Oddly enough, I have a fair number of tools bought from the box stores. The quality and finish is good, they are easy on the hands (unlike Craftsman)  and they will replace broken ones. Not particularly expensive either. I kinda like the Kobalt line too but Lowe's is farther away. I also like the fact that it's easy to go buy tools for specific jobs most of the time.

My old Craftsman set is still around and still get used regularly, particularly the screwdrivers, but there a lot of good tools out there these days.

Jim

[DoubleEagle]

I always grab used tools that come up at auctions or on eBay that are from Wright, Snap-on, Proto, or Gray. Some of the Icon products at HF are not too bad, they are made in Taiwan, but when it comes to impact sockets, Wright is the first choice for me, they hold up.

[Dave5Cs]

I don't need anymore tools but when I did we would go to estate sales at old farms and ranches and I could get unbelievable prices for snap on, SK, craftsman etc. and they have lasted many many years for mr. All sizes of drives and types plus got lots of cans of lubricants and  pribars hammers etc.

[luvrbus]

I always grab used tools that come up at auctions or on eBay that are from Wright, Snap-on, Proto, or Gray. Some of the Icon products at HF are not too bad, they are made in Taiwan, but when it comes to impact sockets, Wright is the first choice for me, they hold up.

I have a set of Wright combo wrenches from  a 1/4 1inch up to 3 inches I have owned for many of years that show no wear, I like Proto deep impact sockets they are tough, I have a set of Wright deep 12 point std sockets I love  ,a impact gun doesn't even faze one,I haven't broken one yet and I like the old Blackhawk and SK fine click rachets I never had to rebuild one yet lol Snap/On I have rebuilt several times over the years .I will say after having a set of the H/F long combo wrenches in metric and sae on the wall for people to use they don't walk off like American made tools do 

[buswarrior]

used, auctions and estate sales, if you have time to wait for the deals.

Otherwise, whichever flavour that will guarantee and replace broken pieces, from the closest vendor.

Break it at lunch, go for replacement, finish before dinner!

happy coaching!
buswarrior