What are good value hand tools?

2510Paul · Apr 3, 2016

Who makes a good value hand tools, combination wrenches, sockets and socket ratchets? I want to buy some for a young high schooler who is interested in mechanics. I generally have Craftsman purchased 10+ years ago. They have been acceptable to me. Are they still good? I have heard comments they are not as good today. Comment?

If not Craftsman, then what? There are a lot of people who make hand tools. Who makes good value hand tools at least as good as the old Craftsman tools, or better. I hate it when I put an open end wrench on a hex nut and you can see the wrench bend. I have a newer John Deere set like that.

Paul

vscummins · Apr 4, 2016

Craftsman is now Chinese the ratchets are garbage but I've never had good luck with the ratchets ehen using em everyday in a shop for a kid they would be fine harbour freight quality has surpassed craftsman for about the same price and a warranty you don't have to get in a fist fight over every time you need something fixed . I have quite a few John Deere wrenches there pretty good had a 6 foot Cheater on my 3/4 breaker bar taking dual hubs off a ford tractor with two guys on it I broke the wrench about the time the hub came Loose took it back and they gave me a new breaker bar all there wrenches and sockets are free replacement warranty most all there tools are lifetime warranty . I'd probably go craftsman or harbour freight for a kid though because it would be easier for him to get warranty service than trying to find a dealer that's open and then a parts man that won't smart off about having to warranty something

Fawteen · Apr 4, 2016

Home Depot Husky brand or Lowes Kobalt. IMHO, both are the equivalent of the older Craftsman stuff before they cheaped out.

Stephen Newell · Apr 4, 2016

I don't have any trouble with harbor freight wrenches. I have a sets of wrenches I keep in my shop and work truck. I also have one of their ratchets and sockets.

Richard G. · Apr 4, 2016

I like Lowes Kobalt also. Free replacement is nice also.
Richard in NW SC

Lazy WP · Apr 4, 2016

I like Gearwrench tools. Lifetime warranty.

Mike(NEOhio) · Apr 4, 2016

S-Ks are good. They were gone for a while but are now made by, I think, US Tool or something like that. I found a local salesman and he replaced two cracked sockets for free.

M-MAN · Apr 4, 2016

The Lowes Kobalt is a good replacement for the old Craftsman. That's what I've been replacing mine with since there's no longer a Sears anywhere near.

I rate tools in three catagories. There's cheap for occasional non danger application's. Homeowner's for the average Joe who does a fair amount of mechanic work. Then there's the professional tools that can take the abuse and not hurt you in the process(other than your wallet.) I have some of all three catagories but my go to for the average job has alway's been the old Craftsman.

JF in MI · Apr 4, 2016

Like you I'm starting to warm up to HF tools. When I was a pro mechanic I had a set of the older Craftsman. I somehow wound up with several of the short 1/2" and 3/8" drive ratchets. Not wanting to spend money on the long handled ones I welded a piece of pipe onto the ends of the spares and used them, no problem, for the last 30 years of that career. When I was building a new house in MI I needed a tool set out there and had enough spares to split a set but had no 1/2" ratchets. I bought one of those HF 1/2" drive with the extending handle (which takes the place of both short and long). I like is so much that it is now my "go to" tool of choice. I am, however, not a pro anymore.

T in NE · Apr 4, 2016

For someone young who hasn't had to buy his own quality tools yet, I'd get him some craftsman stuff, and watch sales for a set of Mac or Snap-on combination wrenches. The craftsman box ends work well enough, but compared to Mac or S-O, the open ends just can't keep up.

Mac is much more affordable used, btw.

I'd avoid SK. The former boss bought a set of tools from them a little over a year ago. I sprung the open end on a half inch wrench on a nut that didn't put up much of any struggle at all. And their ratchets still usually take both hands to reverse them.

Stanley ratchets aren't bad.

As his skills progress and if he takes care of them, cleans them up when putting them away, puts them where they belong in the box, you can expand his set or swap out some of the beginner set for better quality, or help him do so himself, if you are so inclined.

Remember, Snap-on also has the Bluepoint line, and there are brands like Armstrong and Gear Wrench that can be bought online for a fair price.

Butch(OH) · Apr 4, 2016

I am going to through out a name you don't read here much, J H Williams. They are now owned by Snap-On and are the economy line for them. I like Williams wrenches and sockets a LOT, especially when bought on Ebay at huge discounted prices. They have taken the place of Craftsman in my tool purchases since Sears made the move to China and quality went with it.

glennster · Apr 4, 2016

get him quality rachets, either mac or matco, snap on if you can swing the price. nothing worse than a cheap rachet that slips or randomly reverses by itself, or the action is so tight you have to hold the socket to back a bolt out. if he is working on cars, most of his go to's will be 1/4 inch or 3/8 drive metrics. 1/4 inch drive crafstman sockets in 6 point deep and shallow are nice. a good magnetic tool tray to hold em. my impact sockets are all snap on and mac in shallow and deep. they are a higher grade steel and thinner wall than the thick cheap sockets, and will fit in tighter spaces. here is a link to a real nice socket holder tray from mac tools. they hold 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive sockets and lock with a 1/4 turn. i got this last year and am really happy with it.
poke here

CenTex Farmall · Apr 4, 2016

Sears almost always hassled me about replacing tools.

CenTex Farmall · Apr 4, 2016

Look at the Stanley tools they sell at Wally World. I ended up with a metric set as gift once. They have held up very well even though I have occasionally put them on an impact and they were not made for that. The set came with a fine tooth ratchet that is better than the regular Craftsman ratchet. I also once bought a separate ratchet at Wah Mart because you could twist the handle to make it ratchet in tight spots. That one is still going good too and is one I will pick up first in the tool box.

I wore out my good Craftsman 3/8 ratchet from 30 years ago but it's a style they no longer make or have parts for. I still use the 1/4 and 1/2 drive from that original set. They have a very short ratchet arc and comfortable round handles. I have a couple of the standard Craftsman ratchets in the tool box that look like new because I rarely reach for them.

I only have one socket set from Craftsman that was made in China, bought is about 4 years ago. I was disappointed to see China and said it would be the last Craftsman tools I buy. That said, they appear to be as well made as any other Craftsman and I haven't broken any....yet. No point in paying for a legacy name if it comes from China; might as well shop at HF!

Jim in Ma. · Apr 4, 2016

Do they have to be new? For a starter set up for someone like that I would not worry about brand and look on craigs list. I picked up a good but used top and bottom box full of tools of all kinds and brands for under $ 200. We filled 3 five gallon pails of tools when we loaded it into the pickup.
That is less then one of my Snapon ratchets cost.

Mark W. · Apr 4, 2016

I will second the Williams tools name. Slowly replacing many sears tools with the Williams name. Love the ratchets.

DeltaRed · Apr 4, 2016

About anything thas has a "lifetime warrantee".I have a multitude/'plethora'/hodgepodge of different brands from Snapon,craftsman,S&K,MAC,Harbor Frieght,Proto,JohnDeere(you name it)...........I can honestly say that no one single brand is any better(or worse) than the others.In some cases the 'cheap' HF tools have out performed the 'high dollar' tools.My advise,look around and see what suits your needs,does it feel good in your hand,Is it affordable,does it have the lifetime warranty..... Then just buy it.

Steve@Advance · Apr 4, 2016

I bought a set of Husky/Home Depot tools. The end wrenches and sockets have held up well. The 3/8 ratchet did not work or hold up.

My biggest complaint though is the packaging... Skipped sizes! Buy a set of end wrenches or sockets, then discover they left out random common, needed sizes! WHY???

DGinVT · Apr 4, 2016

If you are in good flea market country, try and find him some name brand tools at some of the venders. SK Wayne, Proto, Sears, etc. I have SK Wayne sockets that are fifty years+ as well as Sears. 2 years ago I found an almost brand new set of Sears open end/box ignition wrenches. Saw very little,if any, use. Examine all the points on the sockets as well as worn jaws on the open ends. Make sure that you find him 6 point sockets as well as 12s. I have several lengths of rachets and two strong arms(breaker bars in 1/2 and 3/8 inch size)

vscummins · Apr 4, 2016

ya im not a sears fan when it comes t o warranty

2510Paul · Apr 4, 2016

Thanks everyone for your comments. I see DeWalt hand tools now. Does anyone have experience with them? Paul

Gambles · Apr 4, 2016

Anywhere near a Menards store?
They have a line that they sell call MasterForce. SOMETIMES they will go on sale and will be an excellent value.
Lifetime warranty, made in USA, and can be a good value, especially for a starter set.
If you buy their wrench "sets", you may have to add a tool or two, such as a 16 mm, or something like an 11/16.

OliverGuy · Apr 4, 2016

Master force pliers sets are a great deal. I still buy case ih tools that are rebranded bluepoints I believe

stonerock · Apr 5, 2016

snap-on you get what you pay for

vscummins · Apr 5, 2016

They do it because if you buy the metric and standard sets one set or the other will cover the missing sizes like 19 for 3/4 or 14 for 9/16

What are good value hand tools?

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads