Tools ?
 

Ive got a list of tools i need for my mechanics classes. I acan get a 60% discount off of snap ons but damn those things are high. What do people out in the field prefer. Whats the best bang for my ever fleeting money?

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I bought a bunch of Craftsman tools when I was doing the mechanic thing. They are fairly cheap and do have a lifetime warranty.

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craftsman sockets/screwdrivers/wrenches/pliers etc, but for power/air tools go snap-on or mac or matco. I really like a snap-on ratchet though.

upon graduation from wyo tech, i plan on buying one of those huge kits from craftsman and buy a few other tools from snap-on. i also would get the 60% off from snap-on, but I dont think its really worth it to me. im gonna go mostly craftsman.

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Ive got about $55,000 in snap on tools ;)

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So what does that consist of? A few wreches and sockets? Maybe a hammer?

Haha just kidding. I remember when the snap on guy came to my college with their catalogs and said we get like 95% off or some BS like that. I still ---- my pants when I saw the prices lol. They are awesome tools and my dad has had some since he was a mechanic back in the day, but for a poor college student that's a lot of dough. Later on down the road if you want to upgrade and have the money I say go for the spendy stuff. I really like my dad's snap on wrenchs actually.

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just remember with snap-on it's not how much is it..it's how much is it per week. I have tons of Snap-on and Craftsman both. i like the snap-on stuff much better...i haven't broken any of it like i have the craftsman stuff.

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fyi.... Do not walk into Sears in a mechanics uniform with broken tools, even their professional line, they will not replace them.

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homedepot has some HUSKY brand tools that come with a lifetime replacement. i just buy cheap tools i don't do it for a living.

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anyone use a gearratchet set? those things are bad ass

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i get half off all MAC tools at work :-*

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Who ever invented rachet wrenches desrves a nobel prize.....

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im a big fan of snap on, craftsman, SK and Mac... particularly SK and Mac

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As much as I'd like to have all these expensive tools, I went to lowes and bought the biggest KOBALT carrying case set they had. They have a lifetime War., plus, nobody has that ---- so my tools are easy to identify at the meets.


Yeah yeah Julio, I am missing some. (I meant they're easy to keep track of when I don't lose them.) 8)

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ya they will, it's a lifetime warrenty no matter what. a friend of mine cut his screw driver in half on a grinder then brought it in and they replaced it no questions asked.

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yeah craftsman stuff is fine for the most part but I ould not buy generic tools ever cause they will brak at 9:01 at night when you can't replace them. also like aeg said buy good air tools from mac, snap on and matco, speacially your impact don't be cheap with that cause a guarantee that if you don't buy the best the first time you'll have to buy it the second time. I also bought a few nice snapon ratchets, just cause they feel nicer in your hand and I spend a lot of time every week holding a ratchet.

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https://www.homemadeturbo.com/misc/sunday/sunday10.jpg

Matco tools baby, IMO they make the best boxes as far as quality compared to other brands. I spent along time trying to decide what brand and type I wanted to go with before I bought.

Hand tools you simply cant go wrong, you can pay the extra few dollars for snap on, but matco, mac, cornwell are all very similar quality.

Air tools, just buy them at sears (not craftsmen ones), I use all IR (ingersoll rand) products which is basically the same thing as all the matco/mac/snap on guns & ratchets.

Jeff

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I enjoy going to swap meets and buying peoples old craftsman tools then take them directly to sears and bam. new tools for me. this is how I have about 90% of my tools.


screwdrivers, sockets, wrenckes, everything.

I usally find a box of tools for like $20 and its worth about $100 after I turn it all in. I probably have about $6-$700 in craftsman tools, I have spent probably $100. ;)


I also have wal-mart tools for when I go to the junkyard and pull parts, so if I forget something, its a $1.00 screwdriver, not a $8 craftsman.

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without even reading the rest of the posts, I will tell you CRAFTSMAN is the best, you can buy them at sears,ebay, craftsman online low prices, you break them you exchange them at sears you are good to go. SNAP ON, crap! as a mechanic in the ARMY all my issued tools are snapon, nothing but shiny expensive peaces of ----, break easy also, plus when you want to exchange broken tools you have to wait for a rep to come by, snapon= show tools, craftsman= work tools. my military tools are snapon, my personal tools are craftsman. the only other tool I have experience with is KD and SK my experience my 2 cents

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Jeff, I like that cart that you have. Thats all my uncle uses. He has a cheap box which he stores his tools in, but he does big/long term projects that generally use the same size's for just about everything, so he puts his tools he knows hes gonna use in the cart, and he has everything right there. no running from the car to the box to the car...

I am thinking of doing the same thing...he says he wouldnt have it any other way.

thought other people might want this tip.

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I use my dads.. free ;)

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If I could afford snap on, I would have more. Right now, I have a mixture of craftsman and Stanley (Walmart baby!!) If you can get 60% off snap on, doesnt that bring them down to the price of craftsman??

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damn i knew i forgot matco.... My fav wrench is a 10mm matco i found in the street walking home from school one day... no lie

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I think I love my roll-around tool cart more than my girlfriend :-\ lol, ya they are badass, I am fully mobile at the shop so I can move around really easy and have a pretty good arsonal of tools in my cart that can get most any job done. The big box stores most the tools that I dont use, and more car parts than anything.

Jeff

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If your poor harbor freight. Not the best stuff in the world but if your on a budget it works

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mac tools baby.

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word, in a good ol MACsimizer.

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i buy my tools from walmart, can't go wrong with a 50 piece tool set for 15 dollas 8)

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Craftsman is the ---- but i hate how there rachets feel... it feels like there is a rock stuck in the gear

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to bad the warrenty isnt if you work on cars for a living..

I'm slowly starting my snap on colection... also have a few matco toolz... i just dont want to run a high credit with them.

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And if you break something its only another $20 to replace it.

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Somethings at harbor frieght you just cant go wrong with, my backup set and tools i like to modify are always harbor frieght tools. Craftsmen tools are great too, most of us all start with craftsmen, the only problem is, if I break something I have to run to sears to warranty it out. Where as if my snap on socket or matco screw driver breaks I just get it replaced when the toolguy comes in every week.

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Ive come to a realization that most Craftsmans tools suck.Why?Well becouse they are pretty pricey and they break.Yeah they have a lifetime warranty but who wants to break a rachet in the middle of a project and have to take time out to go get another one?

A friend of mine gave me a 12"snap on ratchet for my brith day a few years back and I beat on that thing like a breaker bar.I havent once had it fail on my.I cant even remember how manny snap on ratchets and extensions I have broken so far.

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I would have to agree with you on this one. I also had a friend give me a snap on ratchet, and I love that thing! it is used on every project. I don't like there wrenches or there screwdrivers. Its just something about them. I like craftsman for everything except air tools and ratchets.
also...
I would rather make a quick run to sears when the tool breaks than wait for the ------ tool man to come around... especially if im deep into a project :-\

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I get discounts on all the good brands through my school. Matco, snap on. I hate Craftsmen so much, I have broken 2 ratchets and cut my knuckles up pretty badly from their freaking wrenches slipping. I have a big Snap on Top box and whatever stuff I can't afford from Snap On I get from harbor freight, so cheap. Jeff's matco box does look super hot though.

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---- mac are expensive. today the mac guy came and i went to order in some deep sockets, a set of 14 standard and metric, and the total came to 400 $.

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so why did you buy them?

you couldve turbod your car for that much.

shouldve went craftsman.

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sry to bring up and old thread... does anybody use/like SK? Ive used a few of their wrenches and ratches and i really really like them...

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I have a S&K toolset I usually keep in my car, seems pretty good. The best S&K tool I've ever seen is my 3/8 Ratchet. Extended, swival head, fine tooth and knurled handle.. God I love it :)

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i didnt buy them, i was gonna order them but too much moola.

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craftsman is a good brand. but you can go wrong with the autozonoe great neck crap, its breaks but has lifetime warranty. hahah ;D