Tools?

[neutron256]

If you're just working on your own car now and then Craftsman is probably the way to go. They aren't what they used to be, but they hold up well, and if something does break most of the time its just a trip to your local Sears to get a replacement.

DO NOT BUY CRAFTSMAN 'EVOLV'! It's their ultra cheap consumer line and they are total crap.

[Foobar]

+1 Craftsman Mechanic tools with lifetime warranty

For power tools I use Dewalt.

Screwdrivers and crap? Just grab whatever I find on sale at the local hardware or Harbor Freight.

[ZetaVI]

Yeah, like most people said I would just go to Sears and get Craftsman. Rare occasions, a garage sale will have a relatively new set for dirt cheap.

[Draco-REX]

Originally Posted by Gost

Not sure if this is in the right section, but was wondering if anyone had any brand of tools that they swear by. Usually just use my dad's tools that I found around the house but since I'm hardly home now, I need to leave my own set at my girl's place. Was wondering if there was any brands people swear by, prices, quality, life time warranty etc. My cousin mentioned craftsman from Sears but was just wondering on other's inputs. Right now just looking for a screwdriver and a socket set.

How much wrenching do you plan to do?

For most people who wrench on their car once in a while, the cheaper tools are a better choice and the expensive ones are a waste of money.

Before the rest of peanut gallery flames me, please hear me out.

Durability is not going to be a huge concern. As long as the tools aren't $1 bargain bin junk, they will hold up to most home garage jobs. So AutoCraft or Craftsman will do the job just as good as those you buy out of the back of a tool truck.

But what IS important to a shadetree is having the tool you need. Nothing sucks more than getting stuck on a job because you don't have a particular tool. Buying less expensive tools that may not be profressional grade will let you have a wider selection of tools. For example, you could get one medium set of snapon-on sockets, or one full-size set of Craftsman, or two sets of AutoCraft. Or my personal favorite, one medium set of Craftsman, and a medium set of GearWrench pass-through sockets (favorite socket set EVER!). Same goes for box-end wrenches (one 6-point set one ratcheting set), etc. etc.

The only place I'd recommend going for the good stuff (not crazy expensive) is torque wrenches (one good one for Ft-lbs, one good one for in-lbs, then one cheapo ft-lb for lug nuts) and a cordless impact (love my Dewalt).

[SloS13]

Craftsmen is okay. Their 1/4" drives are made out of cotton candy and unicorn farts though.

[supramkivtt2jz]

Originally Posted by neutron256

If you're just working on your own car now and then Craftsman is probably the way to go. They aren't what they used to be, but they hold up well, and if something does break most of the time its just a trip to your local Sears to get a replacement.

DO NOT BUY CRAFTSMAN 'EVOLV'! It's their ultra cheap consumer line and they are total crap.

The warranty is the same as the regular craftsman line but you have to still have the reciept to exchange the faulty tool. I keep my reciepts in a plastic zipper bag under my tool tray.

[philstar]

Majority of my stuff is Snap-On or Matco.

I also have a few Blue Point and Craftsmen stuff in the mix which are mainly used as back ups nowadays. I also have a few Harbor Freight stuff that I've gotten in a pinch and one-time-job type situations.

[Huehuecoyotl]

Originally Posted by SloS13

Craftsmen is okay. Their 1/4" drives are made out of cotton candy and unicorn farts though.

so ar etheir 3/8 non pro ratchets with the plastic lever that snaps off on 1st use

thats why I said craftsman PRO, I cant justify snap on or matco

..for air tools, nothing like the ingersol rand titanium line

[SloS13]

Originally Posted by Huehuecoyotl

so ar etheir 3/8 non pro ratchets with the plastic lever that snaps off on 1st use

I haven't seen those. I've always had metal lever. Another annoyance with Craftsmen is that (in my experience) when you return a tool for replacement, they almost always give you a re manufactured unit which are always piss poor.

[RandomHero]

Never used craftsman. I assume it is similar to the "Mastercraft" line at Canadian Tire stores here in Canada. Which carry a lifetime warranty and free tool replacement. In fact you can just go to the store without a receipt and the broken tool and they take a new one off the shelf for you.

That being said I have nothing but good things to say about Mac and Snap-on. Both are my choice for precision tools and heavy duty equipment,

[akuhei]

Originally Posted by SloS13

I haven't seen those. I've always had metal lever. Another annoyance with Craftsmen is that (in my experience) when you return a tool for replacement, they almost always give you a re manufactured unit which are always piss poor.

I've never had this experience. I have turned in a couple broken tools, without receipts, and every time they simply walked to the shelf, grabbed a new tool, and handed it to me with no questions asked (even when I obviously broke a non-impact rated deep socket using an impact wrench). I've had great experience with craftsman tools and would recommend them. I also use Ace Hardware tools, which are also lifetime warranty, and havent had any of them break (so I cant comment on how their warranty works).

[Dave-ROR]

I use Snap-On, Matco, MAC, S+K, Craftsman, Gearwrench and IR. IR for air tools, the rest are just various hand tools. All of my torque wrenches are calibrated Snap-On's.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by SloS13

I haven't seen those. I've always had metal lever. Another annoyance with Craftsmen is that (in my experience) when you return a tool for replacement, they almost always give you a re manufactured unit which are always piss poor.

I've only seen that with ratchets, everything else has always been new off the shelf.

Biggest annoyance with craftsman is the lack of warranty on torque wrenches. Not that I greatly expect it but I don't like how they don't tell people about that when they are buying them, and I've heard them tell people torque wrenches (click types, not the beam ones which are) have the same warranty... and their newer torque wrenches have lots of plastic in the head.. I've broken EVERY Craftsman torque wrench I've ever owned.

[AZFA20]

It really comes down to your actual use. If you are a casual weekend warrior turning wrenches as a hobby, your run of the mill Craftsman are a decent choice along with anything at lowes or home depot. There is a reason Craftsman does not warranty there products for professional use (They have no chance of surviving constant use, I have tested it myself). They are painful to use over long periods of time and they simply do not work as well. Some of their professional rachets are decent in regard to not destroying your hands over time but that's about it. The gearing is still terrible and the gears rapidly wear out. There are those who will argue this till the sun comes up but more times than not you will find out they are also the ones that don't use tools enough to know or feel the difference. This is fine and to my original point of how often you plan to use your tools and for what purpose. They are all good but they all cater to different end users. By no means am I saying Craftsmen is bad, they are not but to say they are the same as others would be a complete falsehood. You get what you pay for and those who pay a ton for some of the premier tool manufactures pay it because they are paying for tools that simply work better. Warranties are only half the equation whereas the other half is how well do the tools accomplish any given job.

Personally my tool collection consists of Snap-on (Primary), Matco (Primary), Mac (Primary), IR, SK, Cornwell, Lisle, Craftsmen, GearWrench, OTC, NAPA,KD, and even some emergency Harbor Freight stuff so I can speak to it all. I buy based on use.