elusivemax93

on ratchets ive heard alot of debate about the snap on ratchet and how it has to much slop compaired to the matco ratchet which doesnt have as much slop. i have used both and i do in a way agree that the snap on ratchet has alil bit more slop then i would like it to have. but i do say that both ratchets from both makers are very nice.

iI also have some kobalt tools. picked myself up the 1/2 impact, 3/8 air ratchet, air hammer and abunch of accessories in a kit i bought back in like January or Febuary

Cutler

iTrader: (3)

Big Lots is where I buy all my tools.........

/Thread

jlidon

Harbor Freight can have some good deals but some of what they sell is junk. Sometimes it is kinda hit and miss.

300zmax

only great thing about the freight is no questions asked warranty. if it breaks you can replace it.

brnxv8

Once you buy anything from snap on you never have to buy it again if it wears out. just get it replaced. any reputable tool company has the same warranty. craftsmen is probably best bang for the buck. when i got my aviation contracting job i got everything craftsmen from sears. however..since this is my porfession im slowly upgrading my stuff with the major brands. no one is the undisputed best but some are definatley better than others. if you want snap on quality with the craftsmens name than you need to get anything from there "professional grade" line. its equal to snap on. but so is the price. maybe a few bucks cheaper. besides snap on, matco, cornwell, mac, an craftsmen, there is also gear wrench. there stuff is great. all the major name brand trucks i deal with sell gear wrench along with there name an so does sears! there is definatly something to be said there.

musama21

walmart always has tool sets for cheap, can get a good set of all basic sockets for 20 bucks

Kountz430

yeah but its the warranty issue's that kinda suck with stanley though.

Empyrials

ya if you NEED a cheap set to get you buy and can't by craftsman then sure buy the cheapy from wallyworld. Just keep in mind you'll prolly break a bunch of sockets, i know i did lol. I've started upgrading to craftsman as i brake things or when i can afford it.

95arcticpearl

iTrader: (3)

I just recently read in a Harbor Freight ad that their hand tools have a lifetime warranty on them. I don't know how well that keep to it cause i haven't had to replace anything yet. I have had no problems at all with hand tools so far from there. I did have a bad experience with a cordless drill from harbor freight that fell off a 17" high platform and when it hit the ground it cracked the body right in half. Took it back that day and they refunded the money for it with no problems.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

Pay attention to sales at Sears. they'll sell socket sets for 1/2 price several times a year. $10 for a full set of 10mm-19mm.

This year's Black friday deal: full set of 3/8" drive 10mm-19mm deep sockets + 3/8" thru like 3/4" or so for $16.99 or somesiht like that.

DanNY

iTrader: (14)

lifetime..yes but if you break a socket in the middle of the job then you have to stop and bring it back. craftsman is a little tougher.

IMO any US made hand tool is decent quality.

ObeyPixel

I have a snap on ratchet and a few craftsman ratchets, but I buy most of the stuff I seldom use at Harbor Freight, like my impact gun, it was only 30 bucks for the base 1/2 and I've been using it for a few years.

orange57

i'm a fan of harbor freight as well. Another one that is pretty good is northerntool.com I've bought a few things from there and have been pleased.

nitrous360

Craftsman for most tools. Snap on ratchets. Ingersol Rand air tools. Of course have some no name brand tools...the ones that last.

Whitebread

iTrader: (2)

Exactly the same here. Some Gearwrench ratcheting combination and double box wrench sets though. I couldn't pass up the 50% off I got on the 3 sets last year. The 6 point MAC, Matco and Snap-On wrenches were very tempting though.

Now all I need is a good drill and more storage space...........

Derrick2k2SE

iTrader: (3)

Here's the thing about cheap a$$ tools even with a warranty. They aren't as rigid and strong as good tools. They will flex and deform with use and have a better chance of rounding off nuts or causing more damage. When you round off that nut that you can barely reach, the price won't seem so good.

Harbor Freight is OK for an oddball tool you might only use once. For the workhorse tools forget it.

Check out Craigslist for high quality tool sets cheap. There are a lot of mechanics getting out of the business now and selling their pro quality tools. I've seen some really good deals on rolling toolboxes full of tools.