Where do you get good tools these days?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by dad911

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



I have one with a bent bar.

Knipex makes a slip-joint pliers that has an angle jaw that fits nuts perfectly. Its quick adjust and doesn't really strip nuts or put teeth marks on steel nuts. Super handy to use, quick too.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

So yesterday I went through my tools including a box of stuff that came from my dad. Turns out I have SEVEN 8" adjustable wrenches.



Most of them are made in China. One is an ancient Proto which was probably a good wrench in its day, but is worn out. One is an S-K Wayne made right up the road in Defiance, Ohio and is still a good wrench. There is an S-K Tools Chinese knock-off that is a piece of crap.



One wrench that is actually pretty good just says "Drop Forged China" on it.



The Channel Lock wrench appears to be good quality when compared to some of the others, but it does feel weird in the hand - not like a good old Crescent. It's made in Spain.



It's nice to finally be getting my shop organized, getting rid of the crap tools I've been living with since my good stuff was stolen and actually knowing where things are.

Nothing like an assortment of adjustable metric spanners.

[look 171]

Its a hammer, I mean Cresent wrench so what did you guys expect? Move the jaw and if it feels solid without slop, then its good enough. I really don't understand some of the photos. Why have so many or every size Cresent, OK, OK, adj wrenches. Are they adjustable after all. So a couple of sizes will do. They over lap. Its was never meant to be precise anyway.

[rusnak]

They're good for bending thin metal.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by look 171

Its a hammer, I mean Cresent wrench so what did you guys expect? Move the jaw and if it feels solid without slop, then its good enough. I really don't understand some of the photos. Why have so many or every size Cresent, OK, OK, adj wrenches. Are they adjustable after all. So a couple of sizes will do. They over lap. Its was never meant to be precise anyway.

Adjustable metric spanners. The do everything, one size fits all original multi-tool. Hammer, pry bar, shoe horn, bottle opener, fish clubber, throwing star and the list goes on. We love them.

[Nostril Cheese]

Man these Knipex are awesome..

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Man these Knipex are awesome..

For general use around the construction site or farm (never been to one), the curved jaws are the "Most awesomest". They grip like a boa constrictor.

[Pazuzu]

I was given an Irwin/Vice Grip wrench set #2078712 at work. The dykes are great, the diagonal cutter is great, the needle nose is great, the slip joint pliers are *meh*, but the adjustable wrench kinda kicks butt. It looks/feels forged, and locks tight. It's got lots of sharp edges and corners which makes it feel like it's gripping better than some of the kinda soft looking ones I've used over the years.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by look 171

Its a hammer, I mean Cresent wrench so what did you guys expect? Move the jaw and if it feels solid without slop, then its good enough.

It takes a good wrench to meet that criterion. A lot of them don't.

Originally Posted by look 171

I
I really don't understand some of the photos. Why have so many or every size Cresent, OK, OK, adj wrenches.

When I retired and moved I consolidated my 3 shops and the boxes of tools from my father, which included tools he inherited from his brother. So the tools I have now are basically a 60 year collection from 5 different shops. I'm in the process of giving the lower quality stuff away. I'm keeping 2 of everything that's worth keeping.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Channel Lock makes great stuff.

Channel Lock makes great pliers. The other tools it sells with the Channel Lock name are imported tools made by someone else, so guys like me will say, "Channel Lock makes great stuff," and get fooled into buying inferior imported tools.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Channel Lock makes great pliers. The other tools it sells with the Channel Lock name are imported tools made by someone else, so guys like me will say, "Channel Lock makes great stuff," and get fooled into buying inferior imported tools.

I have a Channel Lock socket set I bought years ago from Sams. It's actually a pretty good set. The sockets have stood up to being used on an impact. The 3/8 ratchet is my only issue with the set. But it has been abused. You know, "damn it I wish the handle on this thing was a bit longer!" so you go grab a pipe.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It takes a good wrench to meet that criterion. A lot of them don't.



When I retired and moved I consolidated my 3 shops and the boxes of tools from my father, which included tools he inherited from his brother. So the tools I have now are basically a 60 year collection from 5 different shops. I'm in the process of giving the lower quality stuff away. I'm keeping 2 of everything that's worth keeping.

I have my granddads tools, and my dad's and father in law's tools. Some are treasures and I would never part with as I think of them every time I pick one up.

BUT, I dug into my tool box recently and actually threw away some old tools. Screw drivers of various tips that were rounded off or wonn Phillips tips of cheapie screwdrivers. Some low grade imitation vice grips that are only good for pinching my hand, and some tools that were found on the side of the road. Just junk that did not deserve space in my tool box. It was really hard to throw out a Phillips screw driver with a tip that was only good as a prison shank. Since I had no need of a shank, it went in the trash.

I still have a plethora of marginal screw drivers and pliers that can stand a second culling.

[74-911]

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.

Things must have changed since I was driving our Farmall "H" or "Super M" back in the early 60's.... the most important thing in the toolbox was a roll of toilet paper

[RANDY P]

Apart from USA made- Knipex pliers, Snap-on crimpers are the only real brand tools I insist on.

rjp

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

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...

Stanley B&D bought the name but IDK if they make the tools or not.

[RANDY P]

Craftsman supposedly working on being made in 'Merica again- I dunno if that's gonna hold true with the incoming administration- may not make sense anymore cost-wise.

I just wish they would quit making bulky tools that look like they came out of a Transformer's toy set. Fortunately all my C-man is still USA- bought i over 20 years ago and still have almost all of it (a miracle in itself)

rjp

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by 911boost

I used adjustable wrenches when I was a plumber and have them still. They get the most use when working on the sprinkler system or gas lines on the RV.

They are the best for plumbing!

[GH85Carrera]

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Craftsman supposedly working on being made in 'Merica again- I dunno if that's gonna hold true with the incoming administration- may not make sense anymore cost-wise.

I just wish they would quit making bulky tools that look like they came out of a Transformer's toy set. Fortunately all my C-man is still USA- bought i over 20 years ago and still have almost all of it (a miracle in itself)

rjp

Ditto here...glad I got 'em when I did...stamped "USA". Not a clue who made craftsman tools when they were USA tho. My rollaway is Craftsman, contains mainly craftsman, with a smattering of other stuff...snap-on, SK, even some old "new britain" sold by NAPA years ago.

Don't use 'em much these days...at 77, finally figured out that wrenching hurts. Take both Cindy's Camry and my Mustang for dealership service.

(edit) As to where to find? Maybe cruise ebay or Craig's list? Look for retiring pros wanting to sell entire collections? Knew a guy who'd cruise garage sales, looking for broken craftsman, snap on, etc...buy 'em for pennies, then turn 'em in under the free replacement. Took him years, but he accumulated quite a collection doing that.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Pops purchased Craftsman tools back in the 70's, I got hooked up with them, and I still use some of them today. I dig Snap on, and some Husky tools. All pretty stout.