American & European Handtools

[protoolman]

Lots of different tools out there, just Wondering about your favorites? I like Williams, Proto, NAPA USA, Wera, Grey Canada, Snap-on, Craftsman USA, S-K in wrenches. Proto,craftsman, X-celite, Facom and Wiha and SK in Screwdrivers. Ratchets have to be Williams,Proto,SK or round head double pawl USA Craftsmans. I worked out the best of each specs over the years and no one brand built the best everything. Snap-on came the closest but surprisingly didn't make the very best of any one thing except maybe file handles. Biggest criticism is when oily their wrenches are hard to hold on to. All that chrome is slippery and their ratchets are just not the very strongest design. Although they are up there. I've probably forgot some other brands you guys will remind me of.

 

[contender]

I learned at a young age to buy quality tools if I plan on doing much work with them. I have a fair selection of Snap-On, Craftsman, MAC, as my primary tools. And over the years I've gotten other tools of different brands,, but their design or purpose was the reason.
But since I bought most of my stuff LONG ago,, they are of very good quality, and will outlast me.

I think the last new set of tools was an odd purchase about 15 or more years ago. I was in a Sears,, and it was close to Father's Day,, and I saw a set of "hollow" sockets & wrench by Craftsman. Eliminated the "deepwell" design so often needed. I bought that set,, and they've been in my truck(s) ever since. In fact, I enjoy them so much that when I found a set of sockets, minus the wrench,, (Proto brand) at a yard sale,, I bought the sockets for .50 cents. I found a Proto wrench for them & now I have 2 sets. Very handy traveling sets.

Now I also like to get job specific tools,, such as good quality Gunsmithing screwdrivers.

 

[Watertender]

One of the best tool deals I ever got was something not a lot of people could make good use of. A friend of mine found 3 brand new Walworth Stilson wrenches at an old oilfield warehouse and got them for $50. I got 2 36 inch and 1 48 inch pipe wrenches for practically nothing. They are solid forged steel and tough as hell. I will never wear them out.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

When it comes to tools. I always buy the best that I can afford.
Buying on the cheap , always cost more in the long run.

 

[protoolman]

Ah yes, I forgot Mac and Cornwell other tool truck brands. As well as Bonney another industrial brand.

 

[eveled]

Some brands aren't what they once were. Craftsman for one.

I like Ridgid pipe wrenches
Xcelite drivers
Klein pliers and cutters
Channel Lock plumbing pliers
Sockets have to be American made
Estwing hammers
Fluke meters
Randall knives.

 

[Yaworski]

I have one Snap-On tool. I needed a socket in a size that Sears didn't stock at the time. So I called Snap-On and got the number for a truck guy.

He wanted to meet me on his lunch break. I explained that a friend owned XYZ shop and asked when he'd be there. Nope. I had to meet him on his lunch break or not at all. I found him and bought the socket. I asked for a catalog and he refused. I said, "This is my first and my last Snap On tool."

 

[GasGuzzler]

Had the same helpful Snap-On rep for years and years. Then he retired and the new guy is so bad I had to call customer service to tell them I didn't have the guy's name, hadn't seen him in months, and needed a warranty claim. She gave me his number and said she'd contact him. He showed up kinda pissy on his next "regular" day. That was a few months ago and he's actually been back at least once since ...

 

[Mike J]

My father was an auto mechanic, service manager, service advisor, shop foreman, etc. most of the time I was growing up. Before he died he let me go through his box & take what I wanted. While he had some Snap-On stuff he seemed to prefer Mac. There are a couple of Easco ratchets he gave me that he said he bought when he first started as a mechanic when I was 3. He gave me that stuff when I was 37. One of the ratchets needed to be rebuilt. I contacted Easco's parent company to see if I could buy a rebuild kit. They sent me one for free.
Most of the mechanic tools I bought are the old Craftsman U.S.A. I have an assortment of screwdrivers from different makers. That is the stuff I keep in the garage. Then there is the stuff I keep on the truck, just in case, then there is the stuff I keep for work.
This may be a bit off the main topic but I prefer Midwest tin snips. Wiss would be my second choice. I don't trust any locking plier but Vise Grip brand. When I clamp something down I want it to stay clamped.

 

[contender]

eveled reminded me of a few more brands I own & like. Ridgid, Klein, Channel Loc, & Estwing. Then Mike J reminded me of my Vise Grip pliers.

Yep,, quality tools are appreciated by those who actually use them a lot. Many were made when the industry made stuff to last & outlive us.

Now, I've also been known to buy what I call a "disposable" tool. I once had an underwater job,, that I knew I was going to need a 1" air impact wrench. I knew that after I used it,, I'd never feel comfortable that I'd get all the water out of the internals. So,, A cheaper brand was purchased,, filled it with oil, and took it underwater & did the job. I had figured in the expense of that tool in my job quote.
And I do have some odd tools that I bought at Harbor Freight,, just because I KNOW I would never use them, in any real serious manner, and knew I couldn't justify the expense of buying a better name brand,, if I could easily find one. (It's usually the odd stuff here.) In fact,, I consider HF as my "Disposable work items discount store." Consumables that are cheap are purchased there if I can't get them elsewhere. I watch their sales,, and buy things like leather gloves, nitrile gloves, & the odds & ends that aren't carried in other stores.

But my decades old,, (1970's era) Snap-On tool box is still top quality. It's been used a lot,, isn't nice & shiny,, but the drawers still work flawlessly, and will outlast me.

Yep,, give me quality tools for my serious work!

 

[Mike J]

eveled reminded me of a few more brands I own & like. Ridgid, Klein, Channel Loc, & Estwing. Then Mike J reminded me of my Vise Grip pliers.

Yep,, quality tools are appreciated by those who actually use them a lot. Many were made when the industry made stuff to last & outlive us.

Now, I've also been known to buy what I call a "disposable" tool. I once had an underwater job,, that I knew I was going to need a 1" air impact wrench. I knew that after I used it,, I'd never feel comfortable that I'd get all the water out of the internals. So,, A cheaper brand was purchased,, filled it with oil, and took it underwater & did the job. I had figured in the expense of that tool in my job quote.
And I do have some odd tools that I bought at Harbor Freight,, just because I KNOW I would never use them, in any real serious manner, and knew I couldn't justify the expense of buying a better name brand,, if I could easily find one. (It's usually the odd stuff here.) In fact,, I consider HF as my "Disposable work items discount store." Consumables that are cheap are purchased there if I can't get them elsewhere. I watch their sales,, and buy things like leather gloves, nitrile gloves, & the odds & ends that aren't carried in other stores.

But my decades old,, (1970's era) Snap-On tool box is still top quality. It's been used a lot,, isn't nice & shiny,, but the drawers still work flawlessly, and will outlast me.

Yep,, give me quality tools for my serious work!

Harbor Freight has its place. The last business my dad operated was running two service stations with mechanic stalls. The man that owned the stations offered him a deal. Keeping the mans gas pumped was his rent, Any profits he made from the mechanic stalls were his. He furnished the tools for his employees to use. After his Mac tools started driving off under car hoods he kept them stocked with Harbor Freight tools. He didn't see the point in investing in higher quality as they would lose them long before they wore them out.
I have some Harbor Freight stuff also. I use them for things that I need for once & done, or occasional use.
The ICON brand they sell now is actually supposed to be comparable to Snap-On but I have no experience with it.

 

[Yaworski]

The vast majority of my tools are Craftsman. Ease of purchase in the 80s.

I have a Harbor Freight breaker bar in my trunk.

I do have a bunch of Blackhawk tools that my grandfather borrowed from work.

 

[Randyzzz]

Craftsman, Snap-On, Mac, and Gear Wrench. My big roll-away box is Mac. Snap on is mainly for specialty sockets and torque wrenches, rachets and ratcheting screwdrivers. Mac for pliers, screwdrivers, and their amazing tiny 1/4" ratchet. Gear Wrench for ratcheting wrenches. Craftsman for sockets, Craftsman Professional for box and combo wrenches. There's a lot of miscellaneous brands floating around in there too- mostly garage sale finds. Like Contender, Harbor Freight for single use/disposable tools. And recently I have been loving Knipex products.

For electrical stuff, Amp/Tyco and Thomas and Betts for crimpers, and Fluke for meters.

Main box-

Electrical tools

And- I know this said hand tools, just in case- Team Red Milwaukee for cordless.

 

[Acorn]

Years ago we sold a now defunct brand of hand tools made in Chicago IIRC. Indestro.
Nice tools. Still use them.

 

[Danjet500]

In addition to many of the brands mentioned above, I have a set of offset box end wrenches that I got from my dad after he passed away. They are Herbrand and were made in the fifties in a town local to me. They survived him and will also survive me. Quality American made tool.

Herbrand, The Vanguard of Van-Chrome

An article on the Herbrand Company and their tools.

alloy-artifacts.org

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Harbor Freight has its place. The last business my dad operated was running two service stations with mechanic stalls. The man that owned the stations offered him a deal. Keeping the mans gas pumped was his rent, Any profits he made from the mechanic stalls were his. He furnished the tools for his employees to use. After his Mac tools started driving off under car hoods he kept them stocked with Harbor Freight tools. He didn't see the point in investing in higher quality as they would lose them long before they wore them out.
I have some Harbor Freight stuff also. I use them for things that I need for once & done, or occasional use.
The ICON brand they sell now is actually supposed to be comparable to Snap-On but I have no experience with it.

No offense intended , but if I went to an automotive shop and they were stocked with Harbor Freight tools , I would go elsewhere.

 

[Mike J]

No offense intended , but if I went to an automotive shop and they were stocked with Harbor Freight tools , I would go elsewhere.

It matters more the skill of who is using them than what wrench is turned. The old man was sharp. Some of his help were not but like any good manager he used people according to their abilities, mentored them & did the more complicated things himself.

 

[Jeepnik]

One of the best tool deals I ever got was something not a lot of people could make good use of. A friend of mine found 3 brand new Walworth Stilson wrenches at an old oilfield warehouse and got them for $50. I got 2 36 inch and 1 48 inch pipe wrenches for practically nothing. They are solid forged steel and tough as hell. I will never wear them out.

I have pipe wrenches from 8" to 48". Up through 24" I have both steel and aluminum. 36" & 48" are aluminum.
I worked with steel 36's & 48's. What a pain. The aluminums are much easier to use. And since I don't beat on them with stuff they don't get mashed up.

Watched a fellow set a 36" steel wrench on a bolt on the head of a heat exchanger then proceed to wail on it with a sledge. Missed the handle of the wrench and hit himself in the shin with the sledge. Result, compound fractures of both tibia and fibia.

Some folks shouldn't be allowed to touch tools.

 

[Dan in MI]

I have a majority of Snap On, followed by Craftsman, with a smattering of most of the others listed depending on use. I like Matco, but they were late in the game.

Early on I scoffed at Snap On based on price, until I broke four Craftsman sockets on the first of three painted in bolts. I borrowed a Snap On and got the all three out no issue. That event sold me. There were others later that solidified it.

I started to deal with our Mac man right up until he called me a liar and wouldn't replace a tool. It was a pair of wire strippers. I bought them and the first or second time I tried to cut some wire they just caved around the wire and made the cutter look like a 12g stripper. I took them to him the next week when he came in. He told me I tried cutting hardened steel and would not warranty them unless they passed testing at home office. We had a long conversation and he told me I was lying. In the mean time he wouldn't even give me a loaner set. I kept asking about them when he came in. He would just say "no news, what else do you need?" "nothing" A month later he comes by with a new set and says "I'm shocked they were never heat treated" and handed them to me. Then promptly asked "Need anything else?" I said "Yeah, never stop by my box again."

I do buy Harbor Freight specialty tools. Since I am not in the business I won't spend $400 for a one or two time use specialty tool when HF has their version for $25-75. I can replace them quite a bit if I'm not relying on them.

 

[Slyk Willy]

I still have and use my older Craftsman tools however more recently my go-to is Rigid.