What brand of hand tools do you prefer?

[Li'l Work Truck]

I always enjoy the Project Farm guy testing tools.

Aaaand now I have a new channel to watch.

 

[scotts90ranger]

My socket drawer looks kinda like that but after a while I gave up and ran out of room so it got kinda jumbled... I don't have enough drawers to have more socket drawers although the one under it just has a roll of Husky ratcheting wrenches and a 24" adjustable wrench... should probably put the sockets on sticks in there to save room... my ratchet drawer has too many extensions and torque wrenches to be that organized, there's just a pile for 1/2" drive, 3/8" drive and 1/4" drive... then the long stuff and other stuff shoved where made the most sense...

For whatever reason I have a soft spot for Proto and Challenger tools too, they seem nicer in the hand sometimes...

Not sure how you haven't ran into project farm before, he does some good tests...

 

[CertifiedPotato]

I bought a metal Husky portable tool box; not a chest, just a box. It's full of my duplicate sockets because I can't get rid of them myself either. But at least this keeps my primary tool box cleaner. Except the box doesn't feel so portable anymore...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Not a bad idea, I do have a "top chest" type box I should just stick on a furniture dolly and throw duplicates in... you know the type of box you find at an estate sale for $5 and just can't say no to...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Craftsman, Northern, Harbor Freight, Kobalt and a little Snap-On.

I recently picked up a new Craftsman ratchet set and I really like it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I started out initially with a 180 pc mechanics tool set from Craftsman and a bunch of hand tools my parents gave me, mostly Stanley and Channellock. I still have and use those tools but my collection has expanded greatly since then. Now days I have an absolute variety of tools. My first Craftsman set plus additions is currently in my parents garage (mechanic work other than work on dad’s F-150 is prohibited in the garage and there’s not really much room to work in there because half the garage is taken up with materials for finishing the inside of the house). I got a 3pc Craftsman tool chest years ago that’s in there.

I also have a 4-drawer service cart in my shop currently and a 5-drawer plus grandpa’s bottom tool chest up at my buddy Paul’s garage. There’s a 2-piece tool chest in my box truck that has been collecting duplicates. I have stuff from most of the major manufacturers at this point. Usually not much preference, just whatever is handy that will do the job. Most of my ratchets and sockets are Craftsman or Duralast (Autozone) though.

I like the handles on Milwaukee screwdrivers but by no means are they the only ones I have.

Most of my electric tool kit is Channellock for hand tools and Klein for the testing gear. The diagonals in that kit are over 30 years old and still work perfectly.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

 

[CertifiedPotato]

There are no Harbor Freights in my entire state. BUT, I am moving to Wisconsin shortly and I will be able to walk into my first ever Harbor Freight experience.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

There are no Harbor Freights in my entire state. BUT, I am moving to Wisconsin shortly and I will be able to walk into my first ever Harbor Freight experience.

Prepare to be poor.

 

[Shran]

Wisconsin has a bunch of Menards stores, I would check there first if you need hand tools. Their Masterforce tool line is very good quality and the selection is surprisingly good. You can actually get complete socket sets that aren't missing certain ones, among other nice perks. If I needed tools and wasn't on a shoestring budget, that's probably the first place I'd go.

They used to have a Tool Shop hand tool line that was identical to the cheap stuff that Harbor Freight used to carry. Some of that stuff was REALLY good... I have a 1/2" drive chrome socket set that has been relentlessly abused on impact guns for almost 20 years now and they still look great. There is still some Tool Shop stuff hanging around but the good stuff is long gone.

 

[CertifiedPotato]

The more you know. Being in Alaska I have to order almost anything and going to the lower 48 is going to be sensory overload as far as options and abundance. Like petroleumjunkie said - I'm prepared to be poor.

 

[SenorNoob]

Agree on Menard's I love the one in BGKY. Only 30 miles from home. Where else can I get a $300 dishwasher today and $4 10,000lb rated soft shackles?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I kinda wish there was a Menards locally

 

[19Walt93]

I started buying tools in the early 70's, my combination wrenches are S-K because a 3/8 to 1 1/4 set cost $39.95 and Snap On wanted $120. $120 is a lot of money at $2.00 an hour.
My fitting wrenches are all Snap On, as are a lot of sockets, but my 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets are S-K because I like the way the head swivels better than Snap On. During the 10 years I worked as a mechanic, my 3/8 ratchet was replaced at least 4 times under warranty and I bet a Snap On wouldn't have broken. My 1/2 deep impact sockets are all Snap On and none have ever needed replacement.
I have several brands of straight blade screwdrivers but only Snap On Phillips heads.
My grandfather gave me my original Craftsman 1/4 drive set, it had belonged to my uncle who was killed in the Pacific during WWII. I've added a lot to it over the years, mostly with more Craftsman because 1/4 drive stuff doesn't get used too hard.
Most of my hammers are Snap On and I don't remember why I spent the extra for them, they all still work.
I have tools from Mac, Matco, Cornwell, Gear Wrench, Napa, and some others. I have 2 adjustable wrenches that I found, one in the yard at the dealership and 1 in a used car I was working on.
My 1/2" impact is a CP734, 3/8 air ratchet is a Blue Point, and air chisel is a Rodac. I bought a set from Rodac with a 1/2 impact, air drill, 3/8 air ratchet for $39.95 in about 1972. The 1/2 impact didn't last long before I traded it in, too heavy and too gutless.
You get what you pay for- if you're lucky.

 

[CertifiedPotato]

Where do people even buy cornwell? I have an old 1/2 socket set I found at a yard sale and they are great sockets. Of course it could because they are old and the new ones might not be as good.