Favorite brand of hand tools?

dailowill · June 8th, 2013, 09:49 AM

Calling out all Saturday Mechanics...what is your favorite brand of hand tools? Do you have any strong opinions for or against certain brands?

Jiggles · June 8th, 2013, 01:08 PM

I use Craftsmen because they are good (enough) quality for me, reasonably priced, and if I break a socket wrench I can switch it out at Sears.

CynicalC · June 8th, 2013, 03:05 PM

I'm quite fond of Proto. Stanley's industrial offshoot. Very high quality.

adouglas · June 8th, 2013, 03:12 PM

Since I can't afford Snap-On or MAC I tend to go Craftsman because of the no hassle replacement thing.

For stuff I'll only use once in a blue moon I'm happy with Harbor Freight.

CynicalC · June 8th, 2013, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adouglas

Since I can't afford Snap-On or MAC I tend to go Craftsman because of the no hassle replacement thing.

For stuff I'll only use once in a blue moon I'm happy with Harbor Freight.

They also do no hassle replacement on broken hand tools, fyi.

lgk · June 8th, 2013, 03:26 PM

made in taiwan harbor freight tools are ok
Made in USA Craftsman is great when its on sale.

i get snapon at garage sales so its not too bad.

Apex · June 8th, 2013, 05:21 PM

Craftsman is my main brand. I do have some Husky tools as well. They have held up great so far.

Daks · June 8th, 2013, 09:16 PM

harbor freight. B)

cheap as pisssss and have a lifetime warranty.

For quality, though, my bf recommends craftsman for people who can't afford "professional" stuff.

sLick415 · June 8th, 2013, 11:46 PM

Craftsman. Lifetime warranty.

ChaoSS · June 9th, 2013, 02:27 AM

I have a bone to pick with Craftsman, as they are moving more of their production to China, and more and more, you don't get the made in America quality. If I want cheap Chinese junk, I buy Harbor Freight, not Craftsman, so it pissed me off when I bought some Craftsman and didn't get made in America.

If you can't afford top quality, like Mac or Snap on, true American Craftsman does tend to be pretty good. Lowe's and Home Depot have their store brands, Kobalt and Husky, both of which I have some of and have subjected to large amounts of abuse and they hold up, and I believe they also have a lifetime replacement warranty. In my opinion, just as good as Craftsman. I have more experience with Husky, but I spent months using a 3/8ths inch drive ratchet with a huge cheater bar to do dozens of tire changes, and never damaged the tools.

Be careful with Harbor freight. Some of their stuff is perfectly good. I use their impact sockets, which hold up very well, as well as their breaker bars. I also use some of their ratchets, but only the "professional" ones, which run almost the price of higher quality brand tools.

The cheaper sockets and ratchets are junk, along with their screwdrivers, and most other drivers. Don't buy them. They have the warranty, but when the soft steel flexes, and strips the head of the fastener you are working on, the warranty only cover the tool, not the piece that now needs to be drilled out, which can often be difficult or highly impractical. Especially don't use their stuff on stuff that really matters. Using their tools to pull off your fairings, fine, using their tools to work on your engine, someone ought to slap the stupid out of you.

Apex · June 9th, 2013, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaoSS

Lowe's and Home Depot have their store brands, Kobalt and Husky, both of which I have some of and have subjected to large amounts of abuse and they hold up, and I believe they also have a lifetime replacement warranty.

Just checked, you are correct on Husky.

That is my go-to brand as of late too.

Quote:

CUSTOMER SERVICE

If your Husky hand tool ever fails, bring it back and we'll replace it for free. Our full warranty gives you specific rights, and you may also have other rights, which may vary by state. For details, visit your store or call us in the U.S. at 1-888-434-8759
(Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST.)

ChaoSS · June 9th, 2013, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apex

Just checked, you are correct on Husky.

That is my go-to brand as of late too.

It's funny, someone gave me a set of Husky tools, never would have thought to buy them myself, and I could not be more pleased with the things. As for Kobalt, I have a few sockets that I bought there, replacements for craftsman ones that I lost and the local Sears didn't have in stock, and they held up just fine.

I know this is about hand tools, but I also bought an impact gun from them, used it on hundreds of tire changes, and use it still for things now and again, it is very comparable to the dewalt, slightly better price, and bitching warranty. Li-ion batteries too, that hold up for quite some time between charges. I just changed my sprockets, and I got the gun out after not having used it for around 6 months and the batteries had a good charge on them.

Snake · June 9th, 2013, 11:13 AM

My brand of choice is Craftsman.

dailowill · June 9th, 2013, 11:50 AM

Thanks for the replies! Currently I have a bunch of random tools brands, but I'd like to be more exclusive.

Seems like there are a lot of supporters of Craftsman. I'll definitely make a stop at sears sometime.

Joshorilla · June 9th, 2013, 01:26 PM

Mostly Draper, very good quality.

I've got a Bosch electric plane and a Makita drill.

1LoneWolf · June 9th, 2013, 10:52 PM

Gearwrench.

June 8th, 2013, 09:49 AM	#1
dailowill ninjette.org member Name: Will Location: CT Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 54	Favorite brand of hand tools? Calling out all Saturday Mechanics...what is your favorite brand of hand tools? Do you have any strong opinions for or against certain brands?

June 8th, 2013, 01:08 PM	#2
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	I use Craftsmen because they are good (enough) quality for me, reasonably priced, and if I break a socket wrench I can switch it out at Sears. __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

June 8th, 2013, 03:05 PM	#3
CynicalC ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Colin Location: Bay Area Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): '96 EX250 Posts: A lot.	I'm quite fond of Proto. Stanley's industrial offshoot. Very high quality. __________________________________________________ Ç¥ñï©ª\| ßÿ Ñâ7µ®é. Äñt¡~§º¢Ïä\| ßý Çhøî©è.

June 8th, 2013, 03:12 PM	#4
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Since I can't afford Snap-On or MAC I tend to go Craftsman because of the no hassle replacement thing. For stuff I'll only use once in a blue moon I'm happy with Harbor Freight. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

June 8th, 2013, 03:26 PM	#6
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	made in taiwan harbor freight tools are ok Made in USA Craftsman is great when its on sale. i get snapon at garage sales so its not too bad. __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700

June 8th, 2013, 05:21 PM	#7
Apex Livin' the Minimoto Life Name: Mark Location: Riding around in TX Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2022 Honda Navi, 2018 Z-125 Pro Posts: A lot.	Craftsman is my main brand. I do have some Husky tools as well. They have held up great so far. __________________________________________________ --- My IG Page --- My FB page! --- 2022 Honda Navi && 2018 Z-125 Pro

June 8th, 2013, 09:16 PM	#8
Daks Jersey Devil Name: Daks Location: Austin, TX Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): '06 Ninja 250 Posts: 469	harbor freight. B) cheap as pisssss and have a lifetime warranty. For quality, though, my bf recommends craftsman for people who can't afford "professional" stuff.

June 8th, 2013, 11:46 PM	#9
sLick415 ninjette.org guru Name: Danny Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 263	Craftsman. Lifetime warranty.

June 9th, 2013, 02:27 AM	#10
ChaoSS ninjette.org sage Name: Tim Location: Goshen CA Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 red 250 ninja Posts: 740	I have a bone to pick with Craftsman, as they are moving more of their production to China, and more and more, you don't get the made in America quality. If I want cheap Chinese junk, I buy Harbor Freight, not Craftsman, so it pissed me off when I bought some Craftsman and didn't get made in America. If you can't afford top quality, like Mac or Snap on, true American Craftsman does tend to be pretty good. Lowe's and Home Depot have their store brands, Kobalt and Husky, both of which I have some of and have subjected to large amounts of abuse and they hold up, and I believe they also have a lifetime replacement warranty. In my opinion, just as good as Craftsman. I have more experience with Husky, but I spent months using a 3/8ths inch drive ratchet with a huge cheater bar to do dozens of tire changes, and never damaged the tools. Be careful with Harbor freight. Some of their stuff is perfectly good. I use their impact sockets, which hold up very well, as well as their breaker bars. I also use some of their ratchets, but only the "professional" ones, which run almost the price of higher quality brand tools. The cheaper sockets and ratchets are junk, along with their screwdrivers, and most other drivers. Don't buy them. They have the warranty, but when the soft steel flexes, and strips the head of the fastener you are working on, the warranty only cover the tool, not the piece that now needs to be drilled out, which can often be difficult or highly impractical. Especially don't use their stuff on stuff that really matters. Using their tools to pull off your fairings, fine, using their tools to work on your engine, someone ought to slap the stupid out of you.

June 9th, 2013, 11:13 AM	#13
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	My brand of choice is Craftsman.

June 9th, 2013, 11:50 AM	#14
dailowill ninjette.org member Name: Will Location: CT Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 54	Thanks for the replies! Currently I have a bunch of random tools brands, but I'd like to be more exclusive. Seems like there are a lot of supporters of Craftsman. I'll definitely make a stop at sears sometime.

June 9th, 2013, 01:26 PM	#15
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	Mostly Draper, very good quality. I've got a Bosch electric plane and a Makita drill.

June 9th, 2013, 10:52 PM	#16
1LoneWolf ninjette.org member Name: R. Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 86	Gearwrench.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Your Favorite Jacket Brand...And Why!	justinocean	Motorcycle Gear	125	August 20th, 2014 02:49 PM
Favorite brand of cordless power tools	Snake	Off-Topic	7	June 17th, 2013 09:04 PM
[roadracingworld.com] - Send Us Your Favorite Road Atlanta Memory Or A Favorite Road	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	April 11th, 2012 05:10 PM
[motorcyclistonline] - Thread Repair Tools \| Tools 101	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	February 27th, 2012 08:20 PM
[motorcyclistonline] - Motorcycle Brake Bleeding Tools \| Tools 101	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	February 2nd, 2012 11:00 PM