Give me your American-made hand tool recommendations

"Vee Ate Injun" (VeeAteInjun) 08/05/2016 at 14:37 • Filed to: None

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I should have upgraded my shitty preschool tool set years ago. But after almost stripping a few screws last night during a door lock actuator replacement on my DD, I decided enough was enough. This wasn’t the fist time cheap tools cost me (you DON’T want to round off bleeder screws on a brake caliper).

I’m looking for a few essential tools, for light wrenching (mostly maintenance and some reasonable DIY). Since I’ve been putting off buying good tools for so long (and suffering with crap) I don’t mind spending a little more for quality, but I’m no mechanic so not looking to score a suite of Snap On tools.

It would be nice to walk into Sears and pick up one of those 100+ piece mechanic sets, but they’re all made in China (or similar) now. I have been reading up on American-made tools and Crafstman has a USA-made line of tools under the Crafstman Industrial banner, but no big sets like their foreign-made sets.

So, what do you guys use and like?

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:39

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Gear wrench does right by me.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:43

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Estwing. They basically just make hammers, but my god are they good hammers.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:44

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From what I’ve heard, a lot of Kobalt (Lowe’s house brand) is still made in USA. I got a complete set of Kobalt hand tools in 2002 and have had zero complaints, breaks, or problems.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 08/05/2016 at 14:46

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Strongly seconded.

The Lurktastic Opponaught > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 08/05/2016 at 14:46

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I use kobalt. They have make decent midrange tools that last. I've been quite happy with my ratchet sets.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:46

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I like SK. They used to make most of Craftsman made in USA stuff...I actually have some Craftsman Professional screwdrivers they don’t make anymore that are the same as the current SK cushion grip. So I’ve got red Craftsman flatheads and green SK philips heads.

The best deal in hand tools, to me, is used stuff at a flea market. I've stocked the hell out of my box with awesome old made in USA stuff for literal pennies on the dollar.

schwartz > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:47

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Armstrong – Part of the Apex Tool Group

Proto – Part of Stanley Black & Decker

SK Hand Tool – Now part of Ideal Industries

Williams – Part of Snap-on Industrial Group

Wright – An independent manufacturer

Of course my entire life has been engrained in me if you want to buy a tool one time buy a Snap-On and it will last for life.

https://store.snapon.com/U-S-Set-2-9200…

Vee Ate Injun > schwartz 08/05/2016 at 14:52

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Yeah, I’ve seen that list and have been looking at all their offerings. Do you have any experience with any of these?

schwartz > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 14:53

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No, just Craftsman Professional (older line) and Snap-On and the cheap harbor freight stuff I have been buying in college which always fails.

Vee Ate Injun > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 08/05/2016 at 14:54

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Sweet. What have you used from them?

Vee Ate Injun > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 08/05/2016 at 14:59

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Oh, good call! There’s a good flea market near me this Sunday that I will be checking out.

I’m wondering who’s making the current USA-made line of Crafstman Industrial for them. Some folks online are still skeptical of the current quality even if they're American-made.

Vee Ate Injun > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy 08/05/2016 at 14:59

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Alright, good suggestion. I'll stop by Lowes today and see what they offer.

Birddog > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:01

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Kobalt from Lowes is decent stuff.

It never hurts to browse your local CL either. Ive snagged some Blue Point and Armstrong stuff at a reasonable price there over the years.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:03

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No knockoffs for Vise-Grip or ChannelLock. Life’s too short. For hand wrenches, the classic smaller Craftsman sets are good - just get one of the sets that’s like 11-15 wrenches in a pack with a kind of pebble finish. Anything with just a basic glossy chrome smooth finish is your enemy. You want the real deal forged machined ones - they’re more expensive, but worth it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:05

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Also, your local pawn shop may have buckets of hand tools. I know mine does.

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:07

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Channellock is made in the US, but I have no experience with them.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:07

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I honestly thought all Craftsman was made in China etc now. Good to know they’re doing something in the US.

I actually have the ratchet they're calling Craftsman Industrial, it's the former Professional. I used to like it, but it's started to jam frequently. I really ought to bring it to Sears and get a new one.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:16

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Don’t buy that stupid Craftsman set. I have it and it’s awful.

It’s going to sound weird, but I had a basic Stanley socket set once, and it was great. It was stolen, but I really miss it. Also, the Gear Wrench brand ratcheting boxed end wrenches are great. Really strong.

shop-teacher > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 08/05/2016 at 15:21

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Thirded

Vee Ate Injun > schwartz 08/05/2016 at 15:24

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Yeah, cheap Harbor Freight tools have F’ed me in the past. I'm hitting a flea market this weekend - I'll keep my eyes open for Crafstman Professional stuff.

shop-teacher > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 15:26

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For new and decent wrenches and sockets Kobalt makes pretty good stuff. For pliers, cutters and whatnot Channel Locks make a fantastic product at a reasonable price. Home Depot sells a nice assortment that will get you started.

Like others have said, used can be a great place to find quality tools at low prices. I’ve even found a few tools at antique malls, not wall hangers either, I use them.

Vee Ate Injun > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 08/05/2016 at 15:46

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Nah, not planning on getting the foreign-made Crafstman stuff. I just included that picture to lament the fact that they don’t make anything here anymore (except for their standard screwdriver sets, I noticed).

I'll check out Gear Wrench stuff. Thanks for the suggestions.

Vee Ate Injun > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/05/2016 at 15:47

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I’ll try the flea markets first - pawn shops have crazy markups most of the time.

Vee Ate Injun > Birddog 08/05/2016 at 15:48

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Oh yeah, good suggestion regarding CL. I haven’t scanned that yet.

And a few other people have vouched for Kobalt so I'll take a look.

Vee Ate Injun > luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! 08/05/2016 at 15:51

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Their stuff seems to be the real deal, others have vouched for them.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 16:00

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All of their, wait for it, wrenches.

lol Mainly the different types of ratcheting wrenches they have. And a set of these.

Urambo Tauro > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 16:12

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I like made-in-USA tools, but I have no shame in using China-made tools of good quality. Growing up, it was pretty much “Craftsman or bust”. But now it seems like everyone offers a lifetime guarantee, and makes tools that are up to the task. Whatever the “secret” was to making long-lasting tools, it must have gotten out. Even Harbor Freight, despite their poor reputation, has some decent stuff in their “Pittsburgh Pro” line.

Lately, I’ve been rather impressed with budget-friendly Tekton tools (a Michigan Industrial tools brand).

JRapp: now as good as new again > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 16:14

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I wouldn’t buy a “set” in general. I buy just the essential tools I need in better quality. Sets can be handy for the one time you need an oddly sized hex bit, but in general, they come with a lot of fluff. The only sets I own, I’ve been gifted.

Personally, I don’t really buy into the Made in the USA philosophy necessarily. You can generally tell good tools from bad ones just by looking and holding them. A lot of the time it’s the stuff that’s made in the US, but not always. And stay away from anything nickel plated.

And I still mostly prefer Craftsman even if they’re not all made in the US. I like the idea that I can pop into Sears on a Sunday afternoon with a broken tool that I totally didn’t use as intended, and get a new one on the spot. Haven’t had to do that often though.

Harbor Freight does actually have some decent stuff as well, like the sockets made for air-tools. Those tend to work fine with hand tools as long as you have a good quality ratchet of the right size.

I’ve also heard good things about Blue Point, the Snap-On sub-brand, but don’t have any personal experience with them.

As always though, you get what you pay for.

Frank Grimes > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 16:29

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i would rate harbor freight better than craftsman imports.

Die-Trying > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 16:45

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the “duralast” tools from autozone, are decent......... AND so long as you can still read the duralast name on it, they will swap it out for another one. they dont really care how you managed to break it....................

uofime-2 > luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! 08/05/2016 at 17:01

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I have a channel lock set and use it as the OP plans to and it works real well for me.

Vee Ate Injun > schwartz 08/05/2016 at 17:26

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Well, yeah. Snap On has earned their reputation. but as much as I’d love to buy that “starter set” for $5,828, I don’t think I’m going to be able to swing that.

What do you like/use?

Vee Ate Injun > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 08/05/2016 at 17:31

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Radtastic. Sockets from them, too?

Vee Ate Injun > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/05/2016 at 17:34

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Good to know, I’ll look out for that. I have a USA-made 8-piece set of SAE box end wrenches from Craftsman, but I cant recall the finish. What's the problem with the polished, chrome ones?

Vee Ate Injun > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 08/05/2016 at 17:36

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I’ve never given much thought to hammers (“it’s a hammer, what’s there to think about”), but I will now. Thanks for the suggestion.

Vee Ate Injun > Urambo Tauro 08/05/2016 at 17:39

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Well, I get what you’re saying. But a lifetime guaranty isn’t going to help you at 11 pm at night when the tool you need to finish the job breaks on you (or strips the bolt, etc.) but I’ll take a look at Tekton stuff. Cheers.

Vee Ate Injun > JRapp: now as good as new again 08/05/2016 at 17:45

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All good points. I like the convenience of a set, but the more I look into it the more I realize thata la cart is probably the smarter route.

And you’re right about the convenience of Craftsman/Sears. And we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion if their tools were still USA-made. But I have a few tools from them that I’m happy with.

I'll take a look at Blue Point. Thanks for all the suggestions. Cheers.

Vee Ate Injun > Frank Grimes 08/05/2016 at 17:48

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GET OUT.

I'm kidding, but in my limited experience the Craftsman import stuff saved me and help me finish a job when the Harbor Freight stuff let me down. Like, I could see the HF wrench bending as I tried to loosen a stubborn bolt. Then, it rounded off the head. F**k!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 17:48

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The pebbly finish ones are drop forged and typically just have enough plating to offer a little protection. The super-smooth ones are often (not always, they are sometimes Snap On :p) some kind of cast or stamped nonsense done out of a softer, smaller blank, and then plated to hell and gone to make them smooth - which can affect how well they actually fit fasteners. The chrome plating is hard, but if you ever seriously abuse the wrench, you can be betrayed by the softer metal underneath and have chipping or spread jaws. Also, the plate-until-mirror cheap wrenches often have a thin edge that eats into your hand.

The classic style Craftsman steel wrench has a thinnish edge, but it’s squared off, and right next to the edge is the raised stamping plate, so it has the effect of a much broader grip - which also can be held onto. It’s just a better feeling wrench. Also, thick jaws that resist spread. Not a SnapOn, but for the vast majority of jobs it’s the best wrench style out there for the money. There are knockoffs made in a similar way but shittier, but even they can be preferable to super-cheap shiny ones. Basically, while a shiny wrench can be all kinds of comfortable or painful in practice and could have any kind of grade of metal under the heavy plate, with the old technology-produced basic Craftsman WYSIWYG.

Vee Ate Injun > shop-teacher 08/05/2016 at 17:49

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I like all your suggestions. I'll be visiting Lowes, Home Depot to check out their offerings, as well as my local flea market to see what treasures I find. Cheers.

Vee Ate Injun > Die-Trying 08/05/2016 at 17:50

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That's true, and very convenient. And there's always an AutoZone closer than a Sears...

Rykilla303 > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 17:59

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I’ve had great luck with husky. Replacement policy is great.

Vee Ate Injun > Rykilla303 08/05/2016 at 18:12

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That’s the Home Depot brand, right? Sounds like several of the house brands have the same replacement policy.

I'm guessing their stuff is not USA-made? Either way, I'll probably stop on my way home and take a look.

shop-teacher > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 19:29

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Good hunting! There’s nothing like the feel of a quality tool!

Rykilla303 > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 20:54

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Even us made still usually includes foreign made components.

Frank Grimes > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 21:43

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well I aint no expert. But craftsmen ratchets break like crazy and I hate the low tooth count notchiness and the fact that they are so sloppy i have been in situations where i couldn’t turn a fastener because the ratchet needed so much angle to engage.

here are two I have from hemorrhoid freight

i bought the plastic ratchet because I wanted the cheapest ratchet with the highest tooth count and it works freaking great! It seems really well made.

Die-Trying > Vee Ate Injun 08/05/2016 at 21:59

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yeah, i talked to one of the managers when i was buying the ratchet........ i was sure to tell him that i am very hard on tools. and like he said, “so long as they can still read the name on the side they will swap it out”, which was music to my ears........ i am THE guy who gets mean with tools. i STILL have a growing box of tools that i keep around to weld stubs back together with.

in my town there was 1 or two sears stores you could go to(40 miles away) in order to get tools swapped out, and on some stuff they would hand you a refurb, or a newer replacement, which never seem to last as long. AND give me a hard time about abuse.........closest autozone, 20 miles, NO hassle.

Vee Ate Injun > Rykilla303 08/06/2016 at 02:02

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True. Most of the time, “you get what you pay for.”

Vee Ate Injun > Frank Grimes 08/06/2016 at 02:12

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Gotcha, I’ll look elsewhere for ratchets, but I’m not giving Horror Freight much respect.

plak424 > Vee Ate Injun 03/14/2017 at 17:33

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Go harbor freight. I used to buy craftsmen exclusively but then ditched them after they hassled me about replacing broken tools that have a “lifetime” warranty. Now I buy dewalt for my power tools and harbor freight for everything else. The harbor freight stuff is nicer than the craftsman stuff I replaced and they just tell you to grab a new one off the shelf if you return anything that broke.

Vee Ate Injun > plak424 03/15/2017 at 12:55

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i have various Harbor Freight tools, but you get what you pay for. i botched a brake job because i only had HF wrenches - they rounded off the bleed screws on the calipers, had to replace the both calipers (even tried using their locking pliers, which also sucked). I could see the wrench flexing around the screw. and their screwdrivers chew up screws - had to borrow a Snap On screwdriver from a mechanic shop to remove a chewed up screw. i’m okay with using certain HF tools for certain jobs, but i need better quality hand tools.

happy wrenching.