With all the the mechanically inclined here I thought this would be a good place to ask this question.

What brand tools do you like and why?

I often drive myself crazy deciding if I should buy Craftsman or if I should spend the extra money on Snap-On, Mac, etc.

One thing in particular I'm wondering about it toolboxes.

I'm looking to buy a toolbox to serve as storage as well as a workbench in my race trailer. It will be about 5-6 feet wide. I can get a Craftsman version for like $1,200 but I think the Snap-On variety is more like $3K. The Craftsman ones are ok but you can tell they're lighter duty. Craftsman makes their professional series which are much heavier but not sure if that's a good compromise or I should just go even more espensive and get a Mac box.

Please try and keep comments to real world experience. I rather not hear about what you like "because you like it". This isn't a Ford vs. Chevy thread.

TIA

 

I rate the quality of my tools by how much I use them. If it is something that I will use a lot I go Snap On, if I use it every once in a while Craftsman, and if I will probably only use it once every 6 mths, Harbor Freight.

I do not skimp on precision measuring tools though, I learned my lesson on tools that don't give correct measurements. ex Mics, torque wrenches, so on...

 

Since I'm a just home weekend wrencher Craftsmen are perfect for me. Not near the cost of Snap-On or Mac, but still a quality tool. And the lifetime warranty is nice also. I broke a socket wrench once, brought it down to Sears and they exchanged it without saying a word. If I were Daddy Wiggs I'd have a roll-away full of Snap-On. Since I'm the typical broke sucker I'll stick to Craftsmen.

 

I mostly own craftsman, maybe a few kobalt here and there, just from running up to lowes real quick for a single socket/torx/etc I need RIGHT then...

For the most part, its easy to replace at sears if something breaks. They dont ask questions and if youve ever owned a Snap-on tool or Matco, how hard is it to "find" the Snap-On/Matco guy when something breaks, seems like they just dissapear....

 

I agree with "STACKED97" and then some. Unless you’re a professional and the high dollar boys will then come to you for service/replacement, go with a company like Craftsman or any of the "lifetime guarantee” company’s out there. Being able to get a replacement on a Sunday afternoon as its getting dark is a wonderful thing. I have never broken a Craftsman tool using it for its “intended” use. It’s been with me using a 4 foot breaker bar on a 3/8” ratchet wrench, I’m sure you get the point.

 

Yep, and ive broken two doing that very thing, and you know what, NO hassle what so ever when I took them in to sears


Althought maybe its because of the young punk behind the register and not the "fantastic" customer service they DONT have anymore...
Out with the old knowledgeable guys, in with the young kids that dont know a screwdriver from a circular saw. But thats a whole 'nother gripe story....
Sad thing is, im not even really old enough to talk like that....

 

Stacked 97 brings up a very good point. You need to check the availability of the big name tools in your area if they are what you are after. my box is full of tools from several different manufacturers. Each brand has a line/type of tool I prefer over the other. I like Macs ratchets a lot, especially the zero ratchet line. Less lash between teeth and comfy handles. Snap-on box wrenches I have found are really uncomfortable to use. They have long thin design that really cuts into your fingers when you lay into them hard. The idea of going to Sears to exchange broken tools anytime is nice though.

I look at tools just like truck parts. You get exactly what you pay for. Especially when it comes to boxes... If this box is going to live in a race car hauler it will need to be a stout box. Especially with tools jarring around in it on the road even if its secured well. I would spring for a sturdy box from Mac or Snap-on with a good set of casters if your going to wheel it in and out of the trailer all the time. When you are wheeling hundreds of pounds of tools all the time good casters make all the difference in the world. I would spring for a box that could take a real beating.

 

First of all, ask how often you will use the tools and to what extreme? My career is in industrial technical support. I use hand tools almost every day. In my tool box at work I have expensive tools, a lot of Snap-on, Matco, and some Proto ect. These tools get a lot of use and I can justify the added expense of the higher quality tools. I can also get them replaced very easily because the industrial tool rep's are there quite regularly. There is a BIG difference in the quality of the more expensive tools.

On the other hand, In my tool box at home, you will find Craftsman, Husky, and the more run-of-the-mill stuff, simply because it only gets used occasionally and not on a regular basis. I still have a lot of Craftsman tools that I have used for 20+ years and they are still fully functional.

Now for toolboxes, I think Snap-on toolboxes are overpriced for what you get. Craftsman is o.k. for the occasional user, but even the Craftsman top of the line box is not industrial grade. If you want a good, well built, industrial grade tool box that is reasonable in price, take a look at the Kennedy line. I have Kennedy both at work and at home, I have used them for many years and they hold up really well.

 

Being a full time Marine mechanic.(Technition)I have a LOT of tools,& 99% of them are Snap-On.The craftsman are for bending up to make special tools.The truck comes to my shop every wed.,& if I need something fast,he'll bring it to me.That kind of servise costs,but for me it's worth it.

 

I try to stay away from Crafstman these days. It seems their wrenches are way to soft and all of their stuff is way overpriced for the quality. I have had alot better luck with stuff from Autozone. Its taiwan made but it actually better quality and tougher too boot! The autozone ratchets are WAY better than the craftsman junk.

The ultimate stuff though is Snap-On.
If I was buying a tool box look for a direct supplier of tool boxes not people that relable them (ie craftsman, snap on, mac etc.). Dont pay for the name. A company called waterloo is one of the big suppliers of tool boxes.

 

I really like my Craftsman. I restore antique tractors, and am hard on some things . I bought my impact sockets from Northern tools, and they are good stuff . I have outgrown my Snap-on Box and am seriously entertaining the big box I saw at Northern yesterday. I do not make a living from my home box, but I like the construction of the Northern unit and the price is way fair.

R/
Eric

 

It's what you do with them that counts! And do they do what they were designed to do. I once knew a guy who had bought a $75.00 set of used golf clubs and used them for years. He played with a friend who had the best "Pings"
at $1000.00 a set. The used set beat the $1000.00 set most of the time! Were they of lesser worth? I'd say the ability of the player, and that the clubs what ever their cost did the job they were intended to do! SOOOZ LANCEK you make the call. Sometimes a story makes things clear!!

 

i have been in the autobody biz since 1987 and have had snapon boxes, mac boxes, proto, cornwell, waterloo and matco. heard a rumor years ago that waterloo makes boxes for just about everybody but cornwell and matco. just a rumor at this point. i don't wheel my box around all day. i know guy's that do and their boxes are trashed. the last box i had was a mac and i will never buy another. tried matco this time around and have had it for about 5 years and it still looks and works as new.it has the stainless top and if you choose you can mount a vise on the top. i am not a rep for matco but i have alot of their tools because i have had all the others and they (matco) give me the best service and support and sell a good tool.
heck if i snap the tip off of a screw driver they give me a new screw driver not a new tip.

 

Most of my tools and all of my tool chests and roll-cabs are Craftsman. I'm not a pro mechanic, but I drag raced for over 20 years and for me it boiled down to availability, price, and quality. I've done things to Craftsman tools that would cause most tool suppliers to laugh at me when I asked for a replacement.

I once found a big pair of lineman's pliers (Craftsman) buried in the dirt in my front yard. I would guess they were dropped by a lineman working overhead many years ago. I was just barely able to make the brand stamp legible for all the rust. Sears happily replaced them with a brand new pair on the spot. They've replaced screwdrivers that I ruined by grinding on them and bending them trying to makeshift a special tool. Also, Sears bought Western Auto years ago and you can find Craftsman tools at those stores as well, which helps me since I live in the country and the nearest Sears is 30 miles away while I have a WA store about 3 miles down the road.

My Snap On collection is limited to torque wrenches (gotta have the best there), a set of female Torx sockets, and the odd wrench or pair of pliers I found laying on the ground at the track. They are clearly superior in construction, but the cost new and the lack of availability for replacements for little old me makes them not worth the trouble and expense.

 

Good reponses...

I guess it's hard to REALLY know what is better and if the higher price if justified in some cases.

Some other thoughts and questions:

1. I'm surprised someone thought that Matco was better than Mac for both boxes and tools. I've been visiting all the tool reps (Snap-on, Matco, Mac) as I see them often in my town. My initial impression was that Mac seemed to be "nicer" than Matco. The Matco stuffed seemed more like a Craftsman type tool. However all this was casual observation.

2. I own two Craftsman boxes now. One is the standard grade with griplatch ball bearing drawers. It's "ok" but I'm leary about buying more of those especially for trailer use. But the prices are so attractive. The other Craftsman box I own is the professional grade and it is much beefier than the standard line. My thoughts were that is was a good compromise between Craftsman standard and the really pricey units like Snap-On, Mac, etc. If I knew that the Snap-on and Mac units were much better I might go for it. It's all about value.

3. General Craftsman quality...the prices are great but I sometimes worry about the quality with all the stuff coming from China now. From my knowledge stuff made in China can vary from junk to high quality. It often wonder things like "are some good and some junk"? when shopping Craftsman.

4. Lately my philosophy has been to buy Craftsman and then if it breaks or I'm not happy I'll consider upgrading. But some things have happened recently that are making me look elsewhere.

Grinder...I bought a small bench grinder. I bought a wire wheel for one side since it doesn't come standard but it wouldn't fit. It was not centered inside the "housing". I finally brought it back to Sears. The guy said "lots of them are like that" and went into hardware to get a bunch of shims to fix it. OK now it's centered. We power it up in the store and the wire stuff is rubbing like crazy. He says "that's common". I asked politely if maybe I could return or upgrade and the guy just said it would probably be the same thing, even the "higher quality" units. I saw that some of the wires were frayed and I figured it would work itself out. I get home to try it out and little metal schards are hitting my hand as I'm using the wire wheel. Definatley not satisfied.

Laser Level...took out my laser level the other day. It's over a year old but I only used it once when I first bought it. I put it on the tripod and as I start to center it I notice that one of the levels (there's 2) has no green fluid in it. Basically the tool is useless now. Back to sears and the girl is trying to look up the purchase date because it only has a 1 year warranty. She can't find it in the computer and says I'm out of luck. I tell her that I've never seen a level lose its fluid before and I only used the tool once. I had everything with it and some of the parts were still encased in plastic. I then asked if I could speak with someone else. She calls the manager and says "we will replace it as we've had this happen on a lot of these"..."I wasn't allowed to say anything so I had to go with the company line". We then go over the shelf for a new one and she decides to check all the remaining units (about 6). Well lo and behold half of them on the shelf have the exact condition. Not confidence inspiring to say the least.


I'm not a professional but I do use my tools fairly often (at least once a week). However I hate buying junk. The hassle of having something break, going back to the store, getting hassled for returns, and loss of money if they won't replace it is very frustrating. I'd rather pay more up front for something that will last a lifetime.

Not to mention the unbelievably lack of knowledge at Sears. I usually know what I want but sometimes I need to know things like "will this Craftsman part work with this one"? and other questions you can't figure out by reading the catalog.....absolutely clueless.