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Tools: What do you use and why?

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I'm a Toyota tec... It's my living. I've got a bit of everything, but my core tool set is Craftsman. My box is crafstsman.
Combo wrenches, standard grade craftsman (thier "Professional "series are smooth like Snap-on)
All my regular sockets, Craftsman
Screwdrivers, Snap-On and MAC. Sorry. Craftsman screwdrivers are the pits.
Impact sockets, and Torque wrenches, SK. Got a good deal, and they've held up beautifully for years.
Air tools. IR, MAC, Blue-Point(snap-on sub-name)
I don't cheap out on most of my air tools, as cheap ones are a total waste of money.
I try to keep all my tools in the range of warrantied brands Craftsman, Snap-On and Mac. I do believe that Snap-On and Mac tools are made to a slightly higher standard than Craftsman. Thier wrenches fit a bit better, and thier ratchets operate a bit smoother and last longer, but with the warranty, a lot of that gets leveled.
RIght now I'm boycotting Snap-On as they haven't felt it important enough to send anyone to our shop in about a year since our last dealer quit. Everyone in there has broken tools that need replaced, and even after repeted calls to the regional office, nothing's come of it....
But that's OK. the MAC guy comes every week, and Sears is right across the highway. (tough Noogies Snap-On)
 
Mostly Craftsman, Proto and S-K in hand tools. As a hobbyist Snap On and Mac are a bit expensive and not convenient. I have owned a 1/2 inch set of Proto sockets and ratchet for almost 50 years. Broke the breakover a couple of years ago and the local dealer took one from a set to replace it at no charge. My air tools don't get enough use to justify top quality. I have mostly Campble-Housfeld or similar grade with a few Harbor freight.
 
Mostly Craftsman here too. I do have some Mac and SnapOn for speciality tools and some wrench and socket sets. My older Craftsman wrenches are great, like a good ol' pair of comfortable shoes. My newer Craftsman sometimes leave a little to be desired. I have done some finishing on them to make them easier on my hands in high torgue situations. Craftsman are definitely easier to get my hands on, even though I work in an industrial complex area where SnapOn, Mac, and you name it trucks are always running around ... except when I need a tool!

Mark
 
Wow. After reading the replies to this I went out to the shop and looked. I have a Mac tool box (won't ever buy one again) and everything from Mac, Snapon, SK(inherited from my father-in-law), Thorsen, Stanley, Proto, HF, Cummins (tool sellers that come to the fair grounds), Craftsmen.

I started out with Thorsen and bought a complete set of Craftsman when I was Drag Racing. I even have Sun electronic tools. I do buy at HF but only if the tool is too expensive and I want to try it out before going to something better (old tools go to my son). I gave a 1/2" Sears drive set to my son (after grandpa died) he is using it now.(came with a small metal tool box). I don't buy Mac any more because of the saleman that comes around. He has done some "interesting" things with accounts in the past. I will go to Kragens or other stores (great one in our town, B&B supply) for tools. I found a set of plyers at a garage sale I need for leather working and asked if they would take $5 instead of $10 for it. I was told if I could tell them what they were used for I could have them for $5. I did. the people having the sale told me they had not idea and were having an informal bet on what the plyers were. I settled the bet.

Back to tools. I will use HF or other "low" end tools if I can look at them and see how they were built. I no longer use my tools to earn a living.
 
Caught a nice deal on a couple of Kobalt boxes today; went by the local Lowe's and saw a 4 drawer ball bearing top chest for $89. Drawers slid as smooth as silk; that came home with me post haste.

On the way home, I also stopped by a local tool seller; guy who sells random tool bits out of his garage basically. He'd picked up a Kobalt 5 drawer roller with a scratch going down the backside from a scratch-and-dent auction; bought that for the princely sum of $100. Also BB drawers, and very smooth. Scratch buffed out easily.

$189 for a BB rollaway and a top chest, yes sir! Never used their hand tools, but if those feel as good as their boxes, I might be getting the old wandering eye.
 
A bit of everything:

Boxes: Craftsman 9dr 26"W bottom w/ 12dr drop-front chest, although I've outgrown them and I'm not sure what I'll replace them with... also have two Gladiator cabinets which hold other tools (mainly wood working tools). I've actually been thinking of building a custom tool cabinet out of wood since I really don't need a lot of the security features of a pro-style mechanic's box and onces that have the space/drawer features I want are mega-$$$$.

Wrenches: Craftsman, K-D/Easco and Gearwrench. My Gearwrenches are my "go to" wrenches right now, but the ratchet mechansims in some are starting to show their age. I'm considering replacing the Craftsman wrenches with a new set from S-K. My flare nut/line wrenches are Snap-on. After tossing almost every other brand away, they're all I'll use and recommend.

Ratchets/Sockets: Mostly Craftsman, with some Easco, Husky and Snap-on thrown in. Oddly enoguh, my main 3/8" dr ratchet is a made-in-Japan Snap-on knock-off that I've had for nearly 20 years... My Snap-on sockets are mainly pieces that no other company makes.

Screwdrivers. Hodge-podge of Craftsman and Easco (I used to work at a parts house that sold Easco, hence why I have them). This is one area where I'm sorely in need of upgrading...

I also have a frightening collection of specialty tools no sane amature wrench would buy. Timing belt tools, computer diagnostics, professional strut spring compressor, tranny jack... a service lift... etc... Looking at equipment for servicing R134a systems... We have 5-6 cars + 1 truck ranging from 1973 to 2007 and are not very trusting of mechanics = a lot of DIY.

I've become a big fan of https://www.thetoolwarehouse.net (S-K dealer) and thats where I buy most of my tools now. Free ground shipping for orders over $100 (not hard). Order in the morning, usually arrives at my office the next day (they're close). This is much easier for me than fighting with getting in/out of the local Sears (who usually don't have what I need anyway). I am picky about using the right tool for a job and as a result, I rarely break tools. For example: I never use ratchets for breaking a fastener loose (only breaker-bars) and as a result, my ratchets have lasted for years.
 
Hehe, my craftsman ratchets even useing a hammer on them from time to time are about 50 years old and going strong except for the oldest they replaced last year, would no longer reverse.
 
With all this discussion of ratchets I decided to go thru mine and clean/service them. The oldest Snappy 3/8" has the chrome worn off'n it (and NOT from abuse). Thirty years of pro wrenching on it, hasn't quit yet. I have 'skinned' the teeth off of a 1/4" drive one once. They quit offering the 'fine-tooth' 1/4" drives due to that problem, IIRC. The Snappy guy replaced ratchet/pawl with the coarse tooth set. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
DrEntropy said:
They quit offering the 'fine-tooth' 1/4" drives due to that problem, IIRC. The Snappy guy replaced ratchet/pawl with the coarse tooth set. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
Click to expand...

That stinks... One of the tools I wish for is a fine-tooth, easy-action ratchet (one that ratchets instead of spinning the bolt in reverse) for working in tight spaces where it's not easy to fit another hand/finger on the socket to keep it from back-turning. I don't mind having to switch to a course-tooth ratchet (or more often - a torque wrench) for final tightening.
 
FWIW you can buy inserts to go in a GearWrench that turn it into a rather low profile fine tooth ratchet. And my GearWrenches ratchet very easily (unlike some of the clones). (If the nut is too loose for a GearWrench, I can usually turn it with one finger.)

I don't use the inserts very often but every once in awhile...

I vaguely recall seeing an ad a few years back for a "toothless" "infinite resolution" ratchet that used a coiled spring as the ratchet mechanism. Whatever happened to those ?
 
Yeah... I have a some of those inserts... they came with a serpentine belt tool kit based on a Gearwrench.

Unfortunately, a couple of my more heavily used Gearwrenches (1/2" and 9/16") are getting to where they won't ratchet at all, occasionally locking in both directions regardless of the ratchet lever.

This discussion made me order a pair (1/4" & 3/8") of Blackhawk/Proto twist-ratchets, since I was placing an order anyway. I've read posts by a couple of pros that while kinda cheesy in concept, they actually work surprisingly well.

Amazing how quickly I can pass that $100 mark... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif and I was trying to be good... honest... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif
 
I use canadian tire brand they have a regular series and a pro series and I have never had a problem getting parts replaced. I just take a worn or broken one into any of their stores and they replace it no questions asked and with the ratchets they replace the guts of them also(in the store)so no sending away to get them replaced.
 
IanF said:
Unfortunately, a couple of my more heavily used Gearwrenches (1/2" and 9/16") are getting to where they won't ratchet at all,
Click to expand...
Dunno if they still do, but Sears used to sell GearWrench clones with the lifetime guarantee. Seemed identical (except for the logo) and I was told they were made by GearWrench, so the only real difference was the guarantee and the price (almost twice for the lifetime).

I don't use them that much, and I try to remember to always switch to the open end or another wrench for final tightening; so I didn't pick up the lifetime ones. But if you tear them up on a regular basis, might be a good deal for you.
 
I have a couple of the Craftsman versions. I was surprised to find those didn't have the cool lip that prevents the wrench from slipping over the nut (I have the reversible versions) that my Gearwrenches do.

Mmm... toolwarehouse order arrived while typiing this.... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif ...more tools I don't have room for... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazyeyes.gif
 
IanF said:
I was surprised to find those didn't have the cool lip that prevents the wrench from slipping over the nut (I have the reversible versions) that my Gearwrenches do.
Click to expand...
Seems that even some of the reversible GearWrenches don't have that lip either. Not sure why; but I'm not convinced how 'cool' it is. Several times now, I've wanted to use them with a reverse offset (like for reaching a bellhousing bolt that is under the edge of the opening in the firewall) and that lip means they can't be used that way.
 
TR3driver said:
Seems that even some of the reversible GearWrenches don't have that lip either. Not sure why; but I'm not convinced how 'cool' it is. Several times now, I've wanted to use them with a reverse offset (like for reaching a bellhousing bolt that is under the edge of the opening in the firewall) and that lip means they can't be used that way.
Click to expand...

True... but for the most part I like having the lip more often than it annoys me.

All of my GearWrenches are the revisible switch type. I didn't like the idea of no-angle/offset.
 
IanF said:
All of my GearWrenches are the revisible switch type. I didn't like the idea of no-angle/offset.
Click to expand...
I've actually got a set of each plus a set of stubby no offset ones. Considering how many times I've bumped the switch on the reversible ones, I kind of like the flat ones. Except of course for when I need the offset /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Craftsman here. I just got two new boxes (new to me) and it came with a bunch of Craftsman and Mac tools. I wish I would have remembered to post about it here. Have a look.https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/344103/fpart/1
I just broke both my 1/2" Drive & my 3/8" drive that I've had since I was 14. No questions asked & I got a brandy new set of Chrome rachets now. Shoot I've been using the same tape measure since I'm 19 (replaced 3 times).
 
TR3driver said:
I've actually got a set of each plus a set of stubby no offset ones. Considering how many times I've bumped the switch on the reversible ones, I kind of like the flat ones. Except of course for when I need the offset /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...

Yeah... I've been looking at expanding my Gearwrench collection to add more versions... S & half-moon types... XL versions... and so on... Except I've completely run out of drawer space, so I have to fix my storage problem before making any more serious additions.
 
I love my Gearwrenches; bought a set of box ends about a month ago. The 7/16" one paid for the whole set with the increase in ease that it gave for reinstalling the seats in my B.

I started to get the combo ones, but I've already got a set of regular combos in my set already; I figured the dual box ends would give me what I need and save me some tool box space at the same time.

Has anyone tried those new Cross-Force wrenches that Craftsman has out? They look pretty promising to me; I think they're a Gearwrench item that was relabeled with Craftsman though.
 
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