Where do you get good tools these days?
 

Working around our farmlet I carry four tools on the tractor, a knife, a screwdriver, a hammer, and a "Crescent" adjustable wrench. Lately both my 8" adjustable wrenches were hard to use - slipping, hard to adjust, won't hold adjustment etc. A bunch of my tools were stolen a few years ago and with them went my good tools. These were just a couple of cheap ones I found lying around.
I was at Harbor Freight a couple of days ago and looked at the wrenches - crap, all crap. 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.

garage sales,
eBay
waiting for relatives with nice tools to die

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607896874.jpg

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897042.jpg

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

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897150.jpg

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897261.jpg

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.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607897345.jpg

I have a couple of Irwin crescent wrenches that have taken a pretty good beating. I also have a 25 year old Diamond crescent that I tend to reach for first when I'm using a crescent wrench.

It’s interesting to learn that crescent wrench is actually a brand name not a tool.

https://www.crescenttool.com/about

"crescent" are sold at Lowes.

I'm lucky to have a local hardware store that sells Knipex, Klein, Patriot, Wright Tool, etc.

Here is the only Cresent branded wrench that I own. That's my XL hand for reference

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607907746.jpg

We just bought a couple of those. They guys swear by them. Why didn't anyone think of them sooner. This thing is a game changer.

This thing. I am ordering half dozen of them. Great for tight places like under sink.
https://toolguyd.com/crescent-ratcheting-adjustable-wrench/

I also like this Knipiex. Have it in my tool box in my truck. https://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-10-in-Auto-Adjusting-Water-Pump-Pliers-85-01-250-US/205944373?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA-71700000034127224-58700003933021546-92700031755124811&gclid=CjwKCAiAlNf-BRB_EiwA2osbxQMKU_oW6zdAs-IShw7lNvBVSXqLhqrEt2F8GwGsCnrZ6zq77dkCuBoCVT4QAvD_ BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I feel like today you basically have two tiers. There’s the higher end stuff like Snap On, Proto, Klein, and then the rest of it is Chinese junk. I’m not aware of a middle tier made in America option like Craftsman used to be.

We still have these mom and pop tool shops for the construction industry. They only carry quality tools, no junks. I can think of four we frequent. A couple of them even carry small to large scale wood working machinery along with very high quality hand tools. This is a huge city and have the industry to support them. Small cities may not be able to do so. I got yapping with the owner last year when the construction is booming, he still say, they are only making a living unlike the days before home depot came to town way back in the early 90s.

I have several that are up to 50-60 years old. Diamond, Wescott, etc.

It’s very rare that I use them...it’s a last resort tool for me.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607917690.jpg

Being in the plumbing business I have access to a few "pro" tool companies. I found this online a few months ago and have ordered tools for my personal use from them.

https://www.harryepstein.com/

Thanks, some great deals on good tools in the closeout section. Lots of other good tools here as well.

When I was a mechanic, I had a crusty old codger tell me that no real mechanic uses an adjustable wrench.:)

I heard the same thing!

I own a couple of Cresent wrenches, and they get very little use. I prefer a real wrench, and I have everything from 6 mm to 29 mm and that fits everything I have and I only work on my stuff. About the only time I go for one of my Cresent wrenches is to change the propane bottle. I never remember just what size it is, and it is a pretty simple procedure to change it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607959535.jpg
Metric sizes!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607959535.jpg

Not mine!

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.

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.

Being in the construction business, often we have to deal with big nuts, that's some of the home owner BTW:D, 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.

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

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

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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607979401.JPG

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.

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.

Amazon.

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

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.

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.

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...

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:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607985184.jpg

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 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.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607985584.jpg

My BMW wrenches, West Germany!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1607986682.jpg

Sliding T-Handle. Handy but pretty common.

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.

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

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

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. ;)