Good cheap tool vs. pricey tool discussion

[jw33]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67850

cliff notes: Guy on garagejournal.com has $3-4000 worth of all kinds of HF tools and uses them pretty often/semi-pro with minimal issues. Snap-On/MAC homers come unglued. 28 pages and going.

IMO if you loaded up a tool truck with HF tools you might just be able to make some scratch with the right attitude....

[greenbullitt]

i like my knuckles...

[JP135]

I'd love to have all top-flight tools. But the fact is, I don't make my living with them so I can't justify having a $6000 big-name roll-around chest full of super-expensive tools. And I refuse to pay weekly payments to the guy in the tool truck.

I buy decent consumer-quality (Craftsman etc) for stuff that I'm gonna use over and over.

Single use or rarely used? Harbor Freight.

[Denny]

I've never heard of fitting/slipping issues with Harbor Freight. I'm good if it is a snug fit and lifetime warrantied.

[Cooter]

I'll use whatever works...

I'll use some cheap stuff, but I don't like how cheap ratchets break or how cheap combo wrenches open up, etc.

you gotta pick your battles

[JP135]

...cheap ratchets break or how cheap combo wrenches open up, etc.

Truth.

[Cooter]

big heavy impact sockets? bet I'm going cheap

[Mopar63]

I've never heard of fitting/slipping issues with Harbor Freight. I'm good if it is a snug fit and lifetime warrantied.

I have broken 2 sockets I bought there, 1/2 inch ratchet no cheater bar.
I was working on a 50+ year old truck that had quite a bit of rust...
1 was a bad knuckle buster.

[helosailor]

I'd love to have all top-flight tools. But the fact is, I don't make my living with them so I can't justify having a $6000 big-name roll-around chest full of super-expensive tools. And I refuse to pay weekly payments to the guy in the tool truck.

I buy decent consumer-quality (Craftsman etc) for stuff that I'm gonna use over and over.

Single use or rarely used? Harbor Freight.

I'm right there with ya. For the vast majority of things, HF is just fine. For the common or heavily used tools, Craftsman it is.

I'll use whatever works...

I'll use some cheap stuff, but I don't like how cheap ratchets break or how cheap combo wrenches open up, etc.

you gotta pick your battles

Exactly. Good Ratchets and combo wrenches are a must.

[HarrisonTX]

I've had real good luck at the Mexican flea markets, and swap meets, and pawn shops for tools. My last good purchase was a full set of MAC wrenches from the messican flea market for $10.. I built the set from a massive wrench pile, the seller didnt know the difference.

[Lason]

if I only plan on using it once then maybe HF otherwise I go to Sears.

[BP]

It's not just the quality, it's the fact that Snap On and Mac come to you and you can pay $20 a week for the rest of your life for them. That $400 set of wrenches doesn't seem nearly as bad when it's the same price as a bucket of beer every week.

Most of my tools I used as a tech are Snap On but I also have a backup that's either Craftsmen or Napa, sometimes harbor freight. In my home box it's mostly Craftsmen (300 piece kit for $180) but also a lot of Autozone tools.

[GSXRK5]

Since i'm a Tech i'll be buying tools for life. But I have to say i'd use my snapon/matco tools any day over a craftsman or HF. Don't get me wrong they have their uses, I just think snapon/matco tools are better. I have a helper who used to talk crap about them being over priced tools. Now when i check my took box my over priced tools are missing and he has them.

Everyday use I'd go with more expensive stuff. Rarely or house use lower priced ones are the way to go.

[01-GATOR]

I bought a craftman tool set so that's all I use. Don't use them enough to buy snap-on or mac.

[2K2 LS1]

Having the cheapest of tools to the snap-on/craftsman/matco/s&k and Harbor freight tools. I can easily say I have never been disappointed with any of HF's tools. I have broken a couple, simply taken them to the store and they replace them. Craftsman is my second favorite. The tools from the tools trucks simply are over priced to me!