Big tools

century3045 · Jul 1, 2006

Not sure if I am posting this in the right place or not but I was over in Greenville, S.C. the other day at the Northern Tool and picked up a set of combination wrenches 1-3/8"-2". 6 in all for 49.95. I'm sure they are probably made in China but who cares? THey are actually ok looking wrenches. For doing big jobs I don't think you'll break one by hand. I'm sure a set of Craftsman or Snap-on is tougher but if you are like me and don't use the big boys that often , 50 bucks is a bargain. I also bought some high polished chrome wrenches in metric sizes 24mm-32mm for 6 and 7 bucks each. They look almost exactly like the craftsman professional wrenches. I thought this might be of some interest to some of you . Northern Tool also has a website but the shipping might be a killer on heavy wrenches like that.

Robert_in_NY · Jul 2, 2006

I am sure they will work fine if you don't use a cheater bar on them but I know if you do there is a good chance they will break and I had a chunk of metal fly 40 yards when the last one broke.

I no longer buy cheap tools, I got tired of having to replace them when they break. And they only break when you need them which adds to the frustration level. But if you don't abuse them they will work fine.

I prefer to go to auctions and buy old tools as you can usually get great deals on good tools.

century3045 · Jul 2, 2006

I don't like cheap tools either but I have a set of 3/4 drive ratchet socket set that has paid for itself time and time again. I don't use the big wrenches that much but I can't see paying 3 or 4 hundred bucks for them to use once in a great while. If I was a diesel mechanic , yes it would be a set of Snap-ons

EddieWalker · Jul 2, 2006

I've bent the handles on some cheap wrenches, but never broke one yet. Mostly I use mine for hydraulic hoses, but have no problem using them on anything I have.

For those odd sizes that don't come in the kit, I've found Tractor Supply to have a good selection and the prices are fair. Sears didn't have anything over an inch when I was looking and Snap On was just more than I wanted to spend.

I've found the 15/16 to be the one I use more than any others.

Eddie

goodoleboy · Jul 3, 2006

I carry Big ole crecsent wrench in the truck. I ve used as a hammer plenty of time and as a wrench too..I have a $40 3/4" socket set use it only once a year but worth every penny.

The site www.Homier.com has good prices and they ahve a traveling show with excellent prices.

century3045 · Jul 4, 2006

http://www.northerntool.com/?cm_ven=PPC&cm_cat=Performics&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=Google

that was a good site, check this one out

Soundguy · Jul 7, 2006

I've got a good craftsman 3/8 drive ratchet set, and then picked up a 1/2" drive and 3/4" drive ratched/breaker bar set from the chinese store. Those 2 sets cost less than the craftsman set.

I've used the heck out of that 1/2 and 3/4 set. I was putting a bumper on my tractor the other day and working with some 5/8+ bolt hardware.. using 15/16 and 1 1/16 and 1 1/8 sockets on a 1/2" breaker bar and 4' pipe... and me on the end of the pipe... no issues.

I've used the 3/4 on stuff nearly 2" and the breaker bar it has is massive... Used it to torque down the 3pt lift pin nuts on my 10' mower. I had enough pipe on the bar that I was actually lifting the 2500# mower a bit off the ground near the edge...

I realize they are cheap tools.. but for about 26$ a set.. they paid for themselves the first job they did.

For my tractors.. I have ended up with lots of cheap tools.. cheap tools = more money to buy rusty tractors. Take pickle forks... Harbor freight has thm for 3.99.. napa has them for 19.99 I'm sure the napa unit is better.. however.. I've done 6 tractors with the 3.99 one ( plus other odd jobs like draglink ends and steering arms.. aside from tie rods.. etc.. ). i even bought a spare if I needed it.. havn't yet..

Best yet is a 14$ chinese paint gun ( binks rip-off ) I got on sale for 9$.. got it in 2000 or so... It's painted all my tractors... can't beat that with a stick...I almost replaced it a month ago when i did my batwing.. I was going to relegate it to primer, and "upgrade" to a new 14$ gun for paint.. plus maybee get a spot/finish gun with a couple ounce cup for small jobs... but the old one works so good.. I couldn't justify replacing it.

Soundguy

century3045 said:
I don't like cheap tools either but I have a set of 3/4 drive ratchet socket set that has paid for itself time and time again. I don't use the big wrenches that much but I can't see paying 3 or 4 hundred bucks for them to use once in a great while. If I was a diesel mechanic , yes it would be a set of Snap-ons

goodoleboy · Jul 7, 2006

Well I bought a oil lubed 2hp 6 gallon compressor for $50 new about 3 years ago at Homier. Ueed it for every air tool I had as it was my only compresor. Worked great till last week when i nopticed i heard a leak.I noticed were the quick connects are on the actual compressor their were cracks in the pot metal. i went to try to fix it and broke it real good then. I figure it broke when I tolted back to drain the tank with the hose still attached.

I Bought another compressor at Habor Freight yesterday. An upright 3hp , 21 gallon oil lubed. I made sure the part that broke on the other are made of decent steel. I paid $150 for it. A " good one" would have run me $400 at the lowes. It runs like a champ, Blows air just like More expensive one and does not take much space. I have to say many of HF tools are much nicer than homiers tools. But some are equal also.

I would get sick and go broke if I had to go to sears to buy everytool I needed. I think the China tools are fill a large nich in the market.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 7, 2006

Best move I ever made was to buy a well stocked SNAP-ON box. I bought it back in the early 80's. I've got 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", and 3/4" ratchets, deepwell, regular, and thin-wall sockets in metric and standard. Combo wrenches, box wrenches, screwdrivers, pullers, air tools, and the list goes on.

Also, along the way, I've managed to buy (as old dealerships go under) quite a collection of Massey Ferguson, Deere, and a few Ford "special tools", specific to certain models.

On paint guns. I bought a VERY expensive Binks gun off of EBAY. It sits when I paint. The one I use? A "HUSKEE" HVLP gravity feed gun from Home Depot. I paid something like $39 for it. Does a spectacular job. The Binks might be an EBAY item before too long.

I do buy some cheap tools from time to time. They reside in the tractor toolbox(s). No sense in leaving expensive tools laying in the hayfield. Also use "cheap-o's" when it requires beating on a wrench.

Biggest problem with having expensive tools? Getting it through your sons head (and now a grandson) that they aren't playtoys and they don't leave the shop.

Soundguy · Jul 7, 2006

goodoleboy said:
A " good one" would have run me $400 at the lowes. It runs like a champ, Blows air just like More expensive one and does not take much space. I have to say many of HF tools are much nicer than homiers tools. But some are equal also.

I would get sick and go broke if I had to go to sears to buy everytool I needed. I think the China tools are fill a large nich in the market.

I agree.. If i ran a big shop and had vehicles in day in and out.. I'd get a good big dollar compressor.. but for once a week tire airing and limited us air.. the chinese compressor is fine. I got my chinese pancake compressor a few years ago.. have run the snot out of it and it still makes air. A while back TSC had some chinese 4hp 27 gallon upright units on sale for 199$.. I got one.. works good so far.. As yo said.. I couldn't have touched a name brand for less than 2x what I paid..

Soundguy