New Tools?

[1980scottsdale]

Guys I'm looking to get all new tools. I'm tried of my old stuff and I'm ready for new. My problem is that I don't know what kind of tools are best ex. Husky, Craftsman, Duralast, etc?
I will be using them for automotive work and a little construction. Can you guys give me any ideas on what brand of tools is best? Thanks

[keeler]

Ive got a few duralast tools and they are kick ass. I heard that they are actually made by snap on. I know they are stout and i havent broke one yet, and i use the chit outta them...

['01_1500]

are you talking hand tools or power tools? i assume hand tools. i have mostly craftsman and i have had good luck with them. also there is always the lifetime warranty. i'm not sure if the others have that.

[Mark13]

My dad has craftsman tools for our shop and a husky rachet set he carries in his truck, both seem to work well but he did break 1 husky rachet.

[thadrawr]

When I was doing the automotive program at my school it was Snap-on or nothing. MAC, MATCO, ect are all garbage. But for everyday use Craftsman or Husky will do the job but in a garage/dealership where you are getting paid to do things then Snap-on just because of the way they grip bolts or can get into spots. Hope this helps.

[stook]

well.... when u ork at a shop u usually use snap on or mac or wutever tool truck comes around....

i would just use craftsman they have a lifetime warranty like snap on and they replace them for free if they do break

[Sierra Stud]

Craftsman and Husky, lifetime warranty and cost effective.

[firestorm]

Yep, for a DIY'er, Craftman and Husky are two good options.

I received a 100+ piece kit from my parents for Xmas about 10 years ago, and it has been enough to get the job done just about everytime. The biggest thing is, save the ratchets (and your knuckles) by using a good breaker bar on stubborn nuts and bolts. If the price is right, I'd buy more Craftman... in fact, I just bought a 12 piece impact socket set (metric) for $50! I've busted a couple sockets, and usually end up running to the nearest store, such as Home Depot, and pick up a replacement tool that is stronger. Then, I can get the broken tool replaced at Sears the next time I'm out that way.

I don't have many Husky tools, but they do seem to be better hand tools; a little more like what Craftsman used to be. Lowes and Menards are a few miles farther out (while HD is blocks away), so I haven't tried any of their hand tools. I haven't had to buy many tools lately either.

[CKTA]

Icase you missed it on the other thread. I posted this a while ago.

Good read I stole from the GTO site......

http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html

By no means offical, but research and you'll find he's about 95% accurate.

Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky).

Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools. Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. They beat out Stanley on the contract over price. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On). Odds are, if you own any Craftsman tools that are older than about five years ago, they were made by Stanley in plants in Dallas, Texas, Witchita Falls, Texas, and Sabina, Ohio.

Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through addtional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).

There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.

There are a hand full of other minor players (Vermont American, etc) and an endless list of Taiwanese import tool companies (some of which Stanley own as well as Danaher to serve the lower end consumer import brands at WalMart, etc). How do I know all of this? I work for Stanley Mechanics Tools, specifically with the Proto Industrial brand. I personally do not think that MAC, MatCo, or Snap-On branded tools are worth the extra markup since they use the same forgings and manufacturing processes that make Husky and Kobalt and pre-1994 Craftsman. Where you need to pay attention are things like ratchets and torque wrenches. There are different specifications of ratchets and you do pay for the difference. Some mechanics require a finer, more precise ratcheting mechanism than guys like me who just bang around in the garage on the weekends.

[Bens95cobra8594]

Icase you missed it on the other thread. I posted this a while ago.

Good read I stole from the GTO site......

http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html

By no means offical, but research and you'll find he's about 95% accurate.

Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky).

Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools. Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. They beat out Stanley on the contract over price. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On). Odds are, if you own any Craftsman tools that are older than about five years ago, they were made by Stanley in plants in Dallas, Texas, Witchita Falls, Texas, and Sabina, Ohio.

Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through addtional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).

There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.

There are a hand full of other minor players (Vermont American, etc) and an endless list of Taiwanese import tool companies (some of which Stanley own as well as Danaher to serve the lower end consumer import brands at WalMart, etc). How do I know all of this? I work for Stanley Mechanics Tools, specifically with the Proto Industrial brand. I personally do not think that MAC, MatCo, or Snap-On branded tools are worth the extra markup since they use the same forgings and manufacturing processes that make Husky and Kobalt and pre-1994 Craftsman. Where you need to pay attention are things like ratchets and torque wrenches. There are different specifications of ratchets and you do pay for the difference. Some mechanics require a finer, more precise ratcheting mechanism than guys like me who just bang around in the garage on the weekends.

Great info, thanks bro.

If I needed to get a new set of tools, I would look in local want ads for people parting out toolboxes or on eBay. I have seen a LOAD of great deals pass through there. Someone else has already paid for the crazy markup on the tools, so you just get them at a reasonable deal.


The only thing I would really look for is a quality set of ratchets and sockets. Those can make the difference between a good torque on a bolt and stripping it and breaking the wrench and bleeding knuckles and swearing. I ALWAYS grab my snappy ratchets, because I love the mechanism and the handle (I have a 3/8" regular handle and a 1/4" size wrench with a 3/8" head and 20 other ratchets), but always love the Snappy feel of the handle and the head mechanism. TIGHT gearing and flawless selection of on and off.

Good luck looking, but all the above info sounds like good stuff.

[2002on22s]

Icase you missed it on the other thread. I posted this a while ago.

Good read I stole from the GTO site......

Who Makes What Tools (http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html)

By no means offical, but research and you'll find he's about 95% accurate.

Home Depot's Husky brand is made by Stanley Mechanics Tools, a division of the Stanley Works. Husky are also good tools and have a good lifetime warranty (they'll even replace your broken Craftsman with an equivalent Husky).

Until 1994 or so, Stanley also made Sears Craftsman tools. Sears Craftsman is now made by Danaher Tools. They beat out Stanley on the contract over price. Danaher also manufactures MatCo Tools, the third largest player in the Mobile Automotive industry (behind MAC and Snap-On). Odds are, if you own any Craftsman tools that are older than about five years ago, they were made by Stanley in plants in Dallas, Texas, Witchita Falls, Texas, and Sabina, Ohio.

Stanley also owns MAC Tools and manufactures MAC tools in the same plants. Now here's the kicker: MAC Tools, Proto Tools (a very expensive industrial brand), Husky Tools, and, (prior to five or so years ago) Craftsman Tools are all made from the same forgings in the same plants. Proto is unique because it goes through addtional testing and certification because it is used by NASA, the military, and industrial customers (including General Motors).

There are three MAJOR players in the USA mechanics tool business: Stanley, Danaher, and Snap-On. Stanley and Danaher (almost identical in sales revenue at about $28 billion each) are the biggest followed by Snap-On. Each of these three manufacture and sell tools under a variety of brands (there are many other brands that Stanley makes that I haven't even named). The quality between these three manufacturers is roughly the same. I know its a bit of a let-down to hear that, but its a simple fact.

There are a hand full of other minor players (Vermont American, etc) and an endless list of Taiwanese import tool companies (some of which Stanley own as well as Danaher to serve the lower end consumer import brands at WalMart, etc). How do I know all of this? I work for Stanley Mechanics Tools, specifically with the Proto Industrial brand. I personally do not think that MAC, MatCo, or Snap-On branded tools are worth the extra markup since they use the same forgings and manufacturing processes that make Husky and Kobalt and pre-1994 Craftsman. Where you need to pay attention are things like ratchets and torque wrenches. There are different specifications of ratchets and you do pay for the difference. Some mechanics require a finer, more precise ratcheting mechanism than guys like me who just bang around in the garage on the weekends.



Proto is the **** - We buy this stuff by the truck load, semi-truck load.....Along w/ the Blackhawk & Stanley lines. Not to mention Armstrong (Danaher) & many many others. But I will ALWAYS sell Proto any chance I get.

[96redsportside]

The huskys I used to use in construction seemed to hold up a lot better than the new(er) craftsmans I've been using.

[Bullwinkle]

Guys I'm looking to get all new tools. I'm tried of my old stuff and I'm ready for new. My problem is that I don't know what kind of tools are best ex. Husky, Craftsman, Duralast, etc?
I will be using them for automotive work and a little construction. Can you guys give me any ideas on what brand of tools is best? Thanks

What brand of tools do you have now? If you have decent stuff (Craftsman, Husky, Stanley, etc.) keep them & add to your collection.

It's good to carry a set in your vehicles, so if you have duplicates, start a box to carry in your truck.

Ideally I would have a set of my best stuff in the garage, and a decent set to put in whatever vehicle i'm driving.

I've had good luck with Craftsman, Husky, Stanley, and of course the expensive stuff like Mac, Snap-On, Matco, & Cornwell. There are more brands, but that is what I own and have used.

You get what you pay for.

[countrys k10]

In my box i have a set of Snap-On ratchets that are the **** Huskey fully polished wrenches that i love! As far as sockets i have allan and craftsman, Snap-On screwdrivers and door panel tools. A bunch of other stuff, way to much to list. Basically the stuff i use every day i buy top quality. Some of the Huskey stuff is really great, you just have to look at what your buying.