Tools...what's in your rollaway?
 

Mine...tools and rollaway mostly craftsman hand tools (all made in USA, bought before the change) with a smattering of Proto, Stahlwillie, New Britain, Blackhawk. SK, and even a bit of snap-on. Also cheap chinese stuff for seldom used items. But generally, I stuck with Made in USA, all gathered over decades...

But the real question is wondering why I visit youtube sites like project farm and watch product comparisons of stuff I already have? Will I toss all my craftsman sockets because XXXX brand is ranked higher? Not likely, since they've worked well enough for me over many years.

Just curiosity. I guess. That, and if any I need new or as replacements is my excuse..
A funny observation is that many of these "tests" are obviously thinly disguised advertising. Harbor Freight seems to be a master of this technique.

Anybody else find themselves doing the same? If so, why?

Tools I know how not to break.

Nothing is made in America anymore.

Snap On is a racket.

One of the best decisions I ever made was NOT to try to become a professional mechanic.

I work on my stuff only. I have a mix and match of mostly Sears hand tools like sockets and open end-box end wrenches. The less used weird tools are often made in India or now China.

I don't feel bad about cutting up a Chinesium crappy socket to make a special tool that will be used once. I have a set of wrenches that start at 20 mm and go up to 38 mm. I use them for only a few things, and yep they are poorly made Chinesium, but functional for AC connections or oil lines on the 911.

It is amazing that the sockets I use the most are Japanese made Fuller, that I bought in 1971 to use on my 60 model VW bug. I broke the 14 mm socket using it on my impact wrench. The ratchet is still working perfectly and so are the other sockets. The chrome is mostly worn off the 13 mm socket from so much use.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641841580.jpg

Over the years I have had to chase down a Snap On truck. For my El Camino the power steering high pressure line going into the steering rack is a 18mm. I did not even own a 18mm wrench. There is no way to get anything on the line from the side as it is surrounded by the lines, and the body and chassis.

I ended up needing a 18mm crow foot line wrench. I have a set of crow foot wrenches, but it skipped 18mm size and they are not line wrenches. Snap on had the one crow foot I needed. It was on there tight, and never would have come off without a quality line wrench, and I would have never been able to get the new line on there tight without it.

Tacos. Only $25/week


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641843300.jpg

Which toolbox? I have 3 roll-aways and several upper chests.
I worked for a couple of years at a Sears, in the hardware dept. A lot of my paychecks went back into tools. Most of my metric stuff is Craftsman. I remember people flipping out when Craftsman sold a set of wrenches made in Japan.

Me too...sometimes, it seems only snap-on has what's needed. One of mine was looking for a 3" 3/8" drive extension. Craftsman jumped from 2 to 4...so nestled among my extensions..

Doesn't make Fred's "rape van" poster any less funny, tho.

Memory fail..maybe rockfan remembers...what was it that Sears called the Japanese made line? Recall looking at those..and sticking with the USA made stuff. When? Back in the 90's?

^^^ The new owner / endeavor is prolly making more net profit than with Snap-On^^^

When I was at the snap on truck, I waited for him to finish with some lady. As she was leaving she went into full "Karen" mode and told him if he ever sells her husband another tool on credit he is out of luck, as she is never paying off his tools again. She was ranting and raving and I know the Snap On guy got the message. I started out with "this will be a cash purchase".

I don't think project farm accepts advertising or tool hand outs, same with torque test channel. AVE BOLTR are definately the most entertaining and a pioneer in the space though.


I am about 50% USA craftsman, 20% chinesium, 10% fancy pants snap on, and the remainder decent high value tools largley from taiwan (Williams, gear wrench, kobalt, etc).

Unfortunately it seems impossible to get mid grade USA made tools these day.

By example: Wont pay $400 for a set of snap on sockets, dont want a $20 set of harbor frieght sockets even though they will work most of the time, 50-100$ set of williams taiwan will work great, but Id be willing to spend 150 for a decent set of USA or europe made sockets. They don't have to be delivered and financed by an ice cream truck.

Felo screwdrivers are definitely a hot pick youtube discovery for me courtesy of AVE

Really nice made in "CHErmony" screw drivers for reasonable price

We had a great "man toy store" that I would stop at here and just browse. It was before Harbor Freight and Northern tools. They had top quality tools, mid level tools or cheap crap tools, so I had a choice of what I wanted. I loved hanging out there and never went in without finding something I could not live without. Harbor Freight put them out of business. A small mom and pop store had no chance against the big corporate chain. I really miss them. I have never been inside a Harbor Freight store until the local store was gone.

I needed some really long small screw drivers to get to a screw that was small, but down in a tight place. None of my many screwdrivers would work. Harbor Freight had a set of low quality small screw drivers that did the trick. The tips were easy to magnetize and the project was easy with the right tools.

I was there from 85 or 86 until 88. The Japanese wrenches say "Craftsman" on them. I still have them. Maybe even the 10mm. There was just "Craftsman", that was lifetime warranty, and "Sears", no warranty. Are you thinking of the "Companion" line? That was after my time. They were replaced by Evolv tools. I bought a set of those wrenches to put in the truck. Tried to use them at my stepdaughter's house, had a 1/4" bolt to remove. There's no 11mm in the set. Had to use vice grips.

Combination of everything mentioned above. 90% midgrade with a few Snap On, Matco, Mac.

Buying this box a couple of years ago has been great to work with, as I can spread my tools out and not pile them on top of each other.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641863872.jpg

Mostly USA Craftsman tools from my youth, in a 54" black rollaway Craftsman chest with the wood top. I have a 40" Craftsman top chest that is filled with cheap screwdrivers, pliers, and hammers.

...what's in your rollaway?

I don't own a rollaway. Just a "biggish" tool box on a wheeled trolley.

Most of my tools are Snap-On Or German/Euro origin but I bought a lot of them second hand.

Have you guys checked out the new Icon tools at HF? I mean ...wow.. Can you say "game changer" and make a little check mark motion with your index finger?

Felo makes a good torx bit set with a ratcheting handle. I like Wera screwdrivers. Or Knipex. Knipex makes a frikken awesome set of adjustable pliers. I would say they've reinvented the damn things.

Now I remember..the difference was no "USA" on the imported stuff. Thanks for the memory jog. Anyway, glad I bought when I did. Also glad hand tools don't really wear out...only break or "get misplaced". Never say never, but I'm pretty much done with tool buying.

Ive got a full set of Knipex pliers AWESOME stuff.