Thread: Favorite Toolmaker

It's time for me to start building a tool set. I've never owned any tools because I've always been able to use my dad's. He doesn't do heavy work (plumbing, carpentry, electrical, roofing, heating, and masonry ) anymore but when he did, he used anything that worked. I'd like to stick to one brand though so that doesn't help me. Which company do you guys recommend? I don't have any specific uses for the tools except for general house/car repairs and maintenance. Thanks.

well...my brother is an auto mechanic and he swears by his Matco tools but, those are some hardcore tools (that means expensive usually) but i have a ratchet and wrench set from good ole' craftsman and they're wonderful and for what you listed, they would work great...and they have a lifetime warranty :P I took back one of my grand dad's old craftsman ratchets that didn't ratchet (this thing was atleast 1940s i believe) and they looked at it said okay and pretty much handed me a new one :P (i exagerated the ease)

I have used Proto, Mac and Craftsman hand tools. The Proto and Mac are FIRST RATE! IMHO there are none better. But for a guy who wants to change his own spark plugs and do some routine home repair/maintenance, Craftsman will do a fine job. There is also a hefty price differential between Craftsman and the other two, you need to consider.
I have had experiences very similar to Detach, walk in with the broken wrench and walk out with a new one.
I have a Craftsman half inch drill that is almost forty years old. It has been abused badly and it is still truckin' right along.

Regards,

Jeeter

I third Craftsman!

I buy mostly German or Swiss tools. Nearly everything I've got is professional grade.
If there's one thing I hate when working around the house, it's working with crappy tools.
I'd rather pay more and have a good tool, than pay less and have to make do. And the work is so much easier (and better) for it.

A former colleague of mine bought a 40$ pneumatic drill. While building his house he had to drill 40 holes through conrete. Had to get warranty replacement 5 times.
His justification: hey, it's cheap and if it breaks I get a replacement...

I don't stick with 1 brand because different brands are best with different things.
My panasonic electric screwdriver is the rolls-royce of screwdrivers.
Angle grinder and pneumatic drill are Bosch (Blue)
Files, Chisels and saws are bahco
Hedge trimmer is garderner grade metabo
...

Sure, buying these tools was a serious investment (didn't buy them all at the same time of course), but as a friend of mine once said:
The joy of working with quality tools remains when the pain of paying for them is long forgotten.

Hello Bruno,

Craftsman aren't 'crappy' tools. They are just more within the budget of a man who doesn't NEED a Professional tool. The few Craftsman tools I have taken in for replacement had given stellar service, right up until the tme I 'forced' them a bit too much. I have always been big, strong and inclined to 'give it just what it needs and about another half turn.'
To MY way of thinking, 'crappy' tools are the ones you get in a plastic package, containing three different sizes of pliers, a ratchet and sixteen sockets, four screwdrivers and a two foot level, ALL for seven dollars and forty nine cents.
I can see nothing wrong with your choice of tools. And I agree, every tool you own doesn't need to carry the same brand name. Here in the USA, Craftsman is a good quality tool, at a reasonable price. Not the best, but certainly not a "Flower of Crapcanistan" either.
TstebinsB specified he would be doing general house and car repairs. My assumption was that he wanted to acquire reasonable quality tools on some kind of budget. Hence, my recommendation of Craftsman.


Regards,

Jeeter

I've got a mix of Craftsman and Snap-on.

Since I don't have a full set of Snap-on I still rely on the Craftsman for various jobs. However, I can't tell you how nice it is when I do a job with just using my Snap-on's. The quality is obvious.

It's going to be a long road until I fill my mechanics toolbox (also Snap-on), but I'm determined.

I use tools professionally and tend towards Craftsman, Klein, and Proto for hand tools! Power tools I prefer Milwaukee!

Originally Posted by bpave777

I've got a mix of Craftsman and Snap-on.

Since I don't have a full set of Snap-on I still rely on the Craftsman for various jobs. However, I can't tell you how nice it is when I do a job with just using my Snap-on's. The quality is obvious.

It's going to be a long road until I fill my mechanics toolbox (also Snap-on), but I'm determined.

Snap on is the cream of the crop but as far as longevity goes, I perceive little difference!

I'll also vote for Craftsman. You can get a decent set of tools in the $200-500 range versus the $50k range (and yes I do know people who owe the snap-on man more than $50k). Craftsman is "acceptable" quality.. sort of the 90/10 rule.. 90% of the quality for 10% of the price. If you can afford Snap-on etc, then do so, for the rest of us there's craftsman!
I have a few Craftsman tools, but not a full set yet. My plan is basically at some point to get one of the super complete sets of Craftsman and then augment with Snap on or similar when I need specialty tools, and maybe buy Snap On from time to time for common use tools.

One other "honorable mention", I have had good luck with Kobalt tools from Lowes.