What brand of hand tools are you using

**My98RT10** · 03-30-2017

I guess I am not the only one here who likes to buy top quality tools. I recently learned that here in Germany the US brand Snap-On is kind of hyped. These are supposed to be of very high quality and, of course, of high price, too.

I am wondering, as to how far you guys in the US use German tools, e.g. Stahlwille, Hazet, Gedore, and how you would judge these over the US brands?

Personally, I am using/buying Stahlwille tools. It started many years back when I had my first motorcycle. My father got me a set of Stahlwille wrenches at that time and since then, I am constantly expanding my tool box with mostly Stahlwille hand tools. So far, I have never broken anything over the years, my 1/2" ratchet still works like new (probably 25 years old now).

I just got my son (16 years) a Stahlwille 1/4" ratchet set for wrenching on his bike. So, seems to become a family tradition... LOL

**ViperSRT** · 03-30-2017

All Sears Craftsman here. Also lifetime warranty. Now that Sears sold the brand I don't know where I would go.

**1BADV10** · 03-30-2017

Sears Craftsman for me, I've worked with snap-on and mac for years when I was in an auto shop. The only thing they had over craftsman tools was the salesman came to you each week if you needed anything replaced as compared to traveling to a sears store. However....I did not know sears dropped the brand as stated by ViperSRT, not sure whats up with that deal.

**labtec** · 03-30-2017

switched from Craftsman to all Kobalt about 5 years ago. They also have lifetime warranty and are available at Lowes. IMO the look and feel is better than Craftsman.

**ViperSRT** · 03-30-2017

Just read this about the sale:
On January 5, 2017, Stanley Black & Decker announced its intent to acquire the Craftsman brand in a deal with a total value of $900 million (with an up-front payment of $525 million, and a payment of $250 million after three years). Sears will hold a royalty-free license to the Craftsman brand for a 15-year period after the completion of the sale, and will receive a royalty on all new Craftsman sales over this period. Afterwards, Sears will pay Stanley Black & Decker a 3% licensing fee.[21] The deal closed on March 9, 2017.[22]

So it sounds like Craftsman will continue to be available at Sears. As for Lowes there are so many tools they do not carry. For easy to find mainstream they can work, but I have no idea about the quality.

**ViperPete** · 03-30-2017

Mostly Craftsman hand tools.
I bought a beautiful set of Matco ratcheting closed end wrenches that are amazing.
I use Snapon and Matco Li-Ion handheld impact (3/8 driver 120 ft lbs) and Drill....etc.. really good stuff. Cant beat how fast you can take apart suspension, brakes, pull an intake... I hardly ever use my air tools anymore because they are so versatile. They come with lights, are very light weight, and can fit anywhere practically.

This is the one for Matco set i have

This is the Snap on impact i have:

**Black Adder** · 03-30-2017

Craftsman C3 power tools and Craftsman/Pittsburg Pro hand tools etc. Pittsburgh also has lifetime free replacement.

**ViperPete** · 03-30-2017

Oh, and i really like Rigid tools from The Home Depot. Angle grinders, cordless drills, nail guns....All my wood working tools are Rigid. Great warranty and stuff is pretty durable.

**BlknBlu** · 03-30-2017

Craftsman, including rakes and shovels. I bought lifetime shovels and broom 25 years ago and have never bought one since, return with no questions asked and I go through a broom and a snow shovel once a year.

Bruce

**Mopar'er no car** · 03-30-2017

Nothing but Snap-on hand tools, nothing else holds up...

AT WORK. Home, mostly craftsman. I do have snap-on ratchets and a set of wrenches at home. It's hard using a Craftsman wrench at home after using a nice Snap-on at work ..

Last winter I used my Grandpa's 1/4 inch Cornwell ratchet from around WW2 to remove my sills on the Viper, I thought that was pretty cool.

**Coloviper** · 03-30-2017

Only Snap On here, usually very lightly used or NOS off of EBAY at a deep discount. Only the very rich can afford Snap On from Snap On. Years of other inferior tools, just decided to go with the best from here on out.

**Redx** · 03-31-2017

Snap on, mac, Milwaukee, proto, gray pneumatic, sunex are all pretty good. Snap on hand tools(ratchets, extensions, sockets etc are seriously hard to beat, I use them every day and there use is unmatched. Last thing you want to happen in the bush is have something break on you(although I carry a lot of duplicates).

Hard to get German stuff over here, wera and stahwille etc, I only get it sometimes if our company buys it for us(we are German based). Forget about even seeing a double ended din wrenches, they are hard to come by(24-70).

**Camfab** · 03-31-2017

Basically all the Craftsman hand tool line is all China. Pretty sad, and really no excuse for that. The execs destroyed a brand that had more goodwill built in than anyone. I have mostly all Craftsman USA tools I've acquired over the last 40 years. If something breaks, I'll replace it with higher end US tools. Ratchets will be the first to fail. The only German tool I own is the Knipex brand. They are really effective and precise. New Snap-On is hard for me to justify, but if I was in the automotive trade I'd certainly buy them. Your paying for quality and service which is time/money. I'll have to check out some of the German tools if I can source them locally.

**Vprbite** · 03-31-2017

Originally Posted by Camfab

Basically all the Craftsman hand tool line is all China. Pretty sad, and really no excuse for that. The execs destroyed a brand that had more goodwill built in than anyone. I have mostly all Craftsman USA tools I've acquired over the last 40 years. If something breaks, I'll replace it with higher end US tools. Ratchets will be the first to fail. The only German tool I own is the Knipex brand. They are really effective and precise. New Snap-On is hard for me to justify, but if I was in the automotive trade I'd certainly buy them. Your paying for quality and service which is time/money. I'll have to check out some of the German tools if I can source them locally.

I heard this a while back. Craftsman tools used to be guaranteed for life as a sign it would last. Since made in China, they are guaranteed for life because you WILL need a replacement. Sad really what happened to such a great American brand.

I think snap on are good. Exoensive, but good. For more affordable I have been plenty happy wih Kobalt. Especially for home use. I don't know about serious wrenchers or professional use though.

Harbor freight tools are great because you don't need to take time put them back after use, just throw the pieces of them away : ) My friend's dad had a crescent wrench from there break in two right in his hand.

**My98RT10** · 03-31-2017

I think you find some of the German brands on Amazon.com (is there anything you won't on Amazon??)....

**bluesrt** · 03-31-2017

snap on for me, but I gave them the boot due to they are stupid crazy on their prices latley/ so I buy them on the net now at a greater /cheaper price

**JasonMuscat** · 03-31-2017

Snap On.

After 2 decades of being a licensed aircraft mechanic, there is no substitute when trying to remove a blind, revers thread bolt, from the back side of an access panel, while your body is contorted into the proverbial human pretzel laying inside a fuselage trying to get the tool on the head of the fastener, and only then do you realize that the amount of movement you can achieve to spin the bolt is exceeded by the slop/tolerance of a lesser tool manufacturer.

Motivational minimums quickly plummet. followed by great wailing and gnashing of teeth.

That being said, I think many if not all tool manufactures get their tool blanks from the same over seas location these days. And are then finished with whatever brand is distributing them. Go figure.
I look for pre millennial snap on tools on ebay.

**Jack B** · 03-31-2017

Some clarification, I still buy some Craftsmen tools and have not seen a "Made in China" label yet. Matco did make a a lot of the Craftsmen base tools.

**Camfab** · 03-31-2017

Jack, maybe the Sears you shop at has old stock. I go to OSH as well as different Sears locations looking for any USA tools. Their adjustable wrenches are still made in USA. One thing to note is that their last run of USA ratchets and sockets are of a lower quality than their stuff from a few years prior. Really bad finish work with sharp edges. If you look at the China Craftsman wrenches, you'll note that the head design is much fatter, making it useless for tight quarters. Also the Chinese tools they sell don't state the origin on the tool, only on the packaging.

**FrankBarba** · 03-31-2017

I took a quick look around the shop. Looks like my kids have confiscated all of my Craftsman tools, most say Walmart Now

**Fatboy 18** · 03-31-2017

Britool combination wrenches, everything else is a complete mishmash of all sorts

**daveg** · 03-31-2017

GearWrench, Snap-On and some Craftsman for me. Moving toward GearWrench instead of Craftsman.

**uberpube** · 03-31-2017

I carry around a backpack full of Klein hand tools every day, the grips don't fatigue the hands and the tools last a long time. For cordless power tools, I use Panasonic and Makita, for corded tools, Porter Cable. Sockets, its Gray and snap on...