Theowegian
Gold Member
Well. Im probably an outlier from some of you guys. I never buy cheap chinese tools. I did for a while and then was so unhappy with the "fit" on the fasteners, that I just gave them all away - most were those Harbor Freight tools.
I have mostly Snap On and SK Tools in my tool box. Yeah, a few Craftman, too.
Here is what Im doing right now to increase my tool sets.
I buy SnapOn off Ebay. I often buy them at 30-40% of new. Ive been burned only a couple of times by bad sellers-never lost money tho. (Blue Point is very good tool, too. Also Williams are excellent - all are owned by SnapOn Tools now).
My father started building me an SK Tool set. They are a very good tool and a good one for me to continue to buy since I get them locally. I would have to go 50 miles away to get a Craftman tool.
My point is this.
1. Buy SnapOn if you can get them bought right (Ebay or a used set somehow)
2. Buy quality. SK and Craftsman fit the bill, literally for this.
3. Build a tool set that you can pass on to your kid, if possible.
4. Get rid of the cheap HF tools unless you're going to bend them with a torch or cut them down to fit something. That is ALL they are good for, in my opinion. Yeah, yeah, I know I'll get flamed for that...
5. Good things are seldome cheap and cheap things are seldom good. Remember that when you plunk down your hard earned money.
dwight
OBTW, If you are going to work on tractors, then I suggest starting with a 1/2" set, both shallow and deep well sockets.
Then go with 3/8" set. A 1/4" set is perfect for the lawn mowers to work on.
I have mostly Snap On and SK Tools in my tool box. Yeah, a few Craftman, too.
Here is what Im doing right now to increase my tool sets.
I buy SnapOn off Ebay. I often buy them at 30-40% of new. Ive been burned only a couple of times by bad sellers-never lost money tho. (Blue Point is very good tool, too. Also Williams are excellent - all are owned by SnapOn Tools now).
My father started building me an SK Tool set. They are a very good tool and a good one for me to continue to buy since I get them locally. I would have to go 50 miles away to get a Craftman tool.
My point is this.
1. Buy SnapOn if you can get them bought right (Ebay or a used set somehow)
2. Buy quality. SK and Craftsman fit the bill, literally for this.
3. Build a tool set that you can pass on to your kid, if possible.
4. Get rid of the cheap HF tools unless you're going to bend them with a torch or cut them down to fit something. That is ALL they are good for, in my opinion. Yeah, yeah, I know I'll get flamed for that...
5. Good things are seldome cheap and cheap things are seldom good. Remember that when you plunk down your hard earned money.
dwight
OBTW, If you are going to work on tractors, then I suggest starting with a 1/2" set, both shallow and deep well sockets.
Then go with 3/8" set. A 1/4" set is perfect for the lawn mowers to work on.
