Where do you get good tools these days?

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

When you're out in the fields on a tractor you can't take a whole tool box with you. After loading in the necessary hitch pins and bailing wire there's only room for a big screwdriver, little screwdriver, pliers, hammer, and a 10" adjustable wrench.

Oh my God, that is all 100% true. One wrench I do carry is a 1/2" wrench for the battery clamp.

[Tobra]

Estate sales are the best place to get good tools. Most of the good tools were made by Americans that are long dead.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by look 171

Being in the construction business, often we have to deal with big nuts, that's some of the home owner BTW, so an adj wrench is what gets the most attention. Most of the time, they nuts and bolts aren't that tight unless its an iron pipe. That will require a big pipe wrench to get it lose. Adj wrench isn't even in the equation when it comes to working on a car. No way, that's asking for it.

Yep. I have no tractors, just my cars. I have used the Adjustable wrench for the a-c fittings that are large but not much else.

[Scott Douglas]

The key to Cresent tool company wrenches is the way they fit the nut in the circled area.
I understand what the OP is saying when he says nothing 'feels' like the original wrench.
I have a number of these types of wrenches in various sizes/makes. Nothing feels the same as the wrench pictured. It was my dad's and I've been using it for over 60 years as he would let us boys (my brother and I) use his tools freely.

[Scott Douglas]

[Nostril Cheese]

As far as new tools go, I've found that the new Milwaukee branded stuff is pretty good. I bought a set of wrenches recently. I know a lot of guys here are anti-HF, but I've got a set of Chinesium ratcheting wrenches I've beat to hell. They still work after 15 years. I think sometimes its hit of miss with HF, but the newer Icon branded stuff seems to be quality.

I don't buy into the Snap-On fetish nonsense. I know how not to break a tool. Way too expensive for what they are. However, I'll certainly grab them if cheap enough at a pawn shop or garage sale.

There's a lot of tool testing channels on YouTube that work stuff to failure. Pretty interesting results.

I usually hit up any BMW I come across in the Pick and Pull for the toolkit. You'd be surprised at how useful the factory sets are. Pretty good quality too.

When I was a teenager (and Craftsman was still decent quality), I'd go to garage sales, buy Craftsman, then break them all. New tools from Sears.

[sugarwood]

Amazon.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Our local hardware sells Channel Lock wrenches and I picked one up based on the name alone. I'm not very impressed. It looks and feel weird, it's sturdy and functions pretty well but it just doesn't feel right.

Sounds like a personal issue. Channel Lock makes great stuff.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Considering probably at least half of them are made in China, at least HF is honest about it. I have a decent amount of HF stuff and can’t remember breaking anything.

[look 171]

Im diaspointed at Snap-on with their 14 mm socket. I show the sloppiness snap-on truck guy and he wouldn't warranty it. I take a cheap autpzone socket and it fits perfectly. Maybe its me, but that one 14 and 12 mm socket's fit is very bad. It a bolt head stripper for sure.

I an going to try the ICON stuff from HF. Its suppose to be much nicer.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I usually hit up any BMW I come across in the Pick and Pull for the toolkit. .

I have a few of the open end wrenches with different size ends. They are really nice and usually thinner which comes in handy at times.

I was stationed in Germany and on the neighboring Army installation 20k down the road there was a junk yard lot, just like a pick and pull in the US. It was awesome! I got tons of stuff at that place, including tools to fill out my empty car set.


On another note:

Does anyone know who is making Craftsman now? Since they are in Ace and Lowes, I'm wondering whether they are still made by the same company.
Also, back when Home Depot started selling Husky, I would swear that they were made in the same factory as Craftsman. Anyone know if that is true?

As to estate sales and garage sales: my experience is that sellers have become wise to the deal and usually price the good stuff accordingly and sometimes even higher than market price. That is if you are lucky enough to get there before the people that show up at 6am...

[David]

There's always snapon.com if you don't mind spending a bit more.

I needed an E18 torx socket swivel for pulling the transmission on my Cayman. Ordered online and had it the next day with normal shipping.

Here's the 12" crescent I bought new almost 40 years ago when I was a bike mechanic:

[gtc]

I replaced my crescent wrenches with three sizes of these knipex pliers.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-10-in-Pliers-Wrench-with-Comfort-Grip-Handles-86-05-250/205333661?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-205944373-_-205333661-_-N

[matthewb0051]

I got this cool piece from my grandfather's stuff back in the 80s. Its 3/8th drive and that part slides to either end. Attach an extension and socket and its great.

Craftsman. Never seen another.

[matthewb0051]

My BMW wrenches, West Germany!!

[gtc]

Sliding T-Handle. Handy but pretty common.

[mocha07]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I got this cool piece from my grandfather's stuff back in the 80s. Its 3/8th drive and that part slides to either end. Attach an extension and socket and its great.

Craftsman. Never seen another.

Have that tool in 1/2in as well as the ratchet,+ 24in extension bar,must be 60yrs old,my fathers.All craftsman. Still as good as new.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

When you're out in the fields on a tractor you can't take a whole tool box with you. After loading in the necessary hitch pins and bailing wire there's only room for a big screwdriver, little screwdriver, pliers, hammer, and a 10" adjustable wrench.

Sounds to me like you need a bigger tool box on your tractor! Or maybe a bigger tractor? Maybe both?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

My BMW wrenches, West Germany!!

Those look a little big and clunky?. I have a few snap-on opens. theya re a joy to handle, skinny and easy to get into tight places. 10mm, still have them

[dad911]

Originally Posted by gtc

I replaced my crescent wrenches with three sizes of these knipex pliers.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-10-in-Pliers-Wrench-with-Comfort-Grip-Handles-86-05-250/205333661?MERCH=REC-_-pipsem-_-205944373-_-205333661-_-N

I have one of these also. One of my go-to tools. Someone walked off with my knipex water pump pliers, miss them.

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

I got this cool piece from my grandfather's stuff back in the 80s. Its 3/8th drive and that part slides to either end. Attach an extension and socket and its great.

Craftsman. Never seen another.

I have one with a bent bar.