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So the sears on 9th south is closed now, and the Tool store shut down like a year or two ago. Where's a mag to grab his tools at?
Home depot? Stuff is low quality, and pricy. Same with Lowes. Ace has some craftsman stuff, but not like Sears did.
Where you buyin your tools these days?
SEARS.COM
harbor freight just like all the hispanic mechanics that work at brake shops.
Amazon.
I also buy Hazard Frought for the random tool that is seldom used or is basic like an extra screw driver.
Attachment 231473Quote:
Originally Posted by fatnslow
well that is good news. I do buy some stuff at Harbor Freight, but their stuff generally is cheap and unreliable. Their circlip plier set on the other hand is the bomb.
dang, manual chainsaw prices are really up!
https://imgur.com/gallery/JcG3BQuote:
Originally Posted by acinpdx
Who ever made this is doing God's work.
I can't find it now but there was a website that basically figured out which Harbor Freight stuff was just rebranded versions of high end stuff. I got one of their cordless impact drivers and I swear it is better than my neighbors Snap On.
They are few and far between but it can be a great way to save a little coin. Otherwise find a new friend who works as a mechanic, I buy most of my other tools that way.
Finally, Craigslist is usually good for some old timer mechanic retiring and selling his whole kit for pennies on the dollar. My pops got me a killer (way more than starter) set that was probably 10k in retail for like 800 bucks this way. Its never the tool you need to finish a job is available but you can score some killer deals if you preemptively buy.
Amazon, ToolDiscounter.com, and Tooltopia.com if you know what you want. I putz around enough that I also started getting a few things from the truck brands.
Craftsman occupied a unique market; American made hand tools with a lifetime warranty and easily exchangeable at any Sears. I don't know where you get that combination of product, service, and accessibility now. Big box tools are easy and often cheap but most are made overseas and the warranty is either missing or a hassle to use.
No way. Harbor Freight tools are 90% junk, you will find a decent tool or 2, but it's Chinese shit big timeQuote:
Originally Posted by AdironRider
Snap-on and Matco both come to my shop. Let me know if you want to get anything from them.
I know with some of the stationary power tools the HF stuff comes from the same factory and to similar design, if not the exact same design, as other Chinese made tools. Spindle sanders, drill press, lathes, etc. A little bit ago I was looking to buy a mini lathe and found this comparison between the HF, Sieg, Grizzly, Microlux and anotherQuote:
Originally Posted by k2skier112
https://littlemachineshop.com/info/m...he_compare.php
"All the mini lathes listed on this page are made in the same factory in China. Except where they have different features, the parts are interchangeable. In our experience there is not a noticeable quality difference between the brands."
Fucking goldQuote:
Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier
Did you miss the caveat emptor? Research before buying, you know, because even some high end stuff gets made in China. Then the factory steals it and sells it at Harbor Freight. Ethically dubious at best I admit.Quote:
Originally Posted by k2skier112
Dunfree beat me to it. Very select items, and certainly not the whole store, but there are a few gems, like my impact.
I think you have a unique definition of "high end" lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by AdironRider
High end knock offs! Get it right.Quote:
Originally Posted by 3PinGrin
Plenty of stuff from Harbor Freight is good enough for shade tree mechanics most of the time especially fixing stuff on a budget. I have some good tools and plenty of stuff from HF. My work truck and my travel toolbox are almost all HF because if someone steals it I'm not out much.
One good story trying to remove a 14 mm nut on the Suba between the engine and tranny with only enough space for a box end wrench and over torqued by the transmission shop that replaced the input shaft bearing 35k miles prior. HF wrench was starting to round the nut. Switched to an SK and it came off like butter. Sometimes it matters big time. I have a 3/4 inch breaker bar from HF that I use a 1/2 adapter on and it works great and if I had a garage full of stuff like that from premium manufactures I'd just be out a bunch more money. YMMV.
Things like torque wrenches I go middle road. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1 - that is a great tool for the price in my toolbag opinion fwiw not much but seriously buy it and be happy.
PM Wyeaster or Silver surfer. Two of the biggest tools on this board ought to have some good suggestions for ya.
"middle" end knock offsQuote:
Originally Posted by AdironRider
I agree with uglymoney on things like breaker bars, pry bars, etc. but I personally would rather spend a bit more on ratchets, sockets, etc.
I did buy some digital calipers from HF that see only occasional use and have been okay. I also buy nitrile gloves there for working on my bicycles/motorcycle for changing fluids, etc.
Most decent auto parts stores will carry at least one brand of better tools.
That said, research what you want, then price shop.
Attachment 231559
Guess where I am?
I might have chosen different tools, but I lold.Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva
Are those flags made in Merica?Quote:
Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier
I'm repping Unior bike tools but the company is huge and covers all sorts of things in Europe. While they're currently only stocking the bike stuff here in the US there are orders coming in pretty frequently so other things can be added to the shipments. If anything here http://www.uniortools.com/cgi-bin/cms.cgi?doc=10679 really interests you give me the part number and I'll get you a price quote. If you say go it will be 4-8 weeks for it to get here.