What tool brands don't suck but aren't Snap on priced?

[Black Sabbath]

I find myself buying more auto specialty tools these days and am struggling to find the happy medium of quality vs cost. Most recent purchases were a bearing splitter and timing gear puller. The timing gear puller was from the parts store and not too bad, and the bearing splitter from harbor freight got the job done but only after some massaging with a grinder and cranking on it to the point where things were getting a bit distorted. So since Sears and the ready on the shelf made in the USA Craftsman tools have gone the way of the dodo what brands are there that strike the balance point of not junk but also don't cost an arm and a leg for someone who isn't doing this for money?

 

[A_G]

I find myself buying more auto specialty tools these days and am struggling to find the happy medium of quality vs cost. Most recent purchases were a bearing splitter and timing gear puller. The timing gear puller was from the parts store and not too bad, and the bearing splitter from harbor freight got the job done but only after some massaging with a grinder and cranking on it to the point where things were getting a bit distorted. So since Sears and the ready on the shelf made in the USA Craftsman tools have gone the way of the dodo what brands are there that strike the balance point of not junk but also don't cost an arm and a leg for someone who isn't doing this for money?

otc and lisle for speciality . i prefer OTC but lisle has some neat shit

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

Not sure on the specialty stuff, but I’ve been replacing most of my old lost/broken tools with Tekton. Used to wrench for a living, don’t any more, so it’s hard to justify spending tons of $ but I won’t tolerate junk. I’ve been happy with it so far other than the chrome scratching fairly easily IMO (more a tactile thing than cosmetic, haven’t had it cut me but the feel is annoying),

I like the socket sets because they don’t skip sizes and you can order individual replacements for $4-$10 on Amazon. They have a lifetime warranty also but a lot of times it’s easier to pay $5 for a new one than pay to ship it back, wait for approval, and then it to come in.

I find most of the Harbor Freight specialty tools will hold up if they aren’t used hard. For anything that is properly stuck they tend to fail or become severely distorted on the first use, along with all of the auto parts brands as well. The loaner tools seem to be of better quality as long as someone hasn’t majorly fucked them, you can “buy” those also by just not taking them back.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

otc and lisle for speciality . i prefer OTC but lisle has some neat shit

Can't go wrong with OTC stuff.

 

[TrikeKid]

OTC, Astro Pneumatic and Lisle for non-truck brand specialty stuff. I pretty much only buy Gearwench for home use hand tools now. I have some Gearwrench stuff in my work toolbox too, all my crows feet and 1 1/16"+ wrenches are Gearwrench and I'm not nice to any of them, haven't given me a problem.

 

[Weasel]

KC Tools and CHads Toolbox are my first go to but can take a bit to get your stuff. Mostly german brands.

 

[PAToyota]

The other thing is to check out the tool truck prices on brands like OTC, Astro Pneumatic, Lisle, and others with what the prices are on Amazon. I understand that you're paying for the service, but I regularly see prices being 50% to 100% higher on the tool trucks. It quickly makes you realize how much of a premium you're paying for the tool truck items.

I've also bought some specialty stuff from Eastwood. It tends to be higher quality Chinese stuff, but often some of the specialty things you don't find places other than the tool trucks.

 

[Toreadorranger]

Not sure on the specialty stuff, but I’ve been replacing most of my old lost/broken tools with Tekton. Used to wrench for a living, don’t any more, so it’s hard to justify spending tons of $ but I won’t tolerate junk. I’ve been happy with it so far other than the chrome scratching fairly easily IMO (more a tactile thing than cosmetic, haven’t had it cut me but the feel is annoying),

If you order from Tektons website, they give you 10% back rewards to use on other tools and their prices are almost always identical to amazon or slightly better.

 

[arse_sidewards]

If you're not wrenching for your primary source of income then buy the harbor freight and china stuff. It's only a hair worse than the Lislt/OTC/OEM/Tekton stuff (usually it's just knockoffs or even same product different brand) and it doesn't break often enough (if at all, depending on how you use it) to justify the extra price of buying the brand name stuff.

 

[woods]

I've got a few Tekton stuff from rebuilding motorcycles. No qualms.

I ordered 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 full socket sets of Neiko and Tekton inbound for this week.

 

[aczlan]

If you're not wrenching for your primary source of income then buy the harbor freight and china stuff. It's only a hair worse than the Lislt/OTC/OEM/Tekton stuff (usually it's just knockoffs or even same product different brand) and it doesn't break often enough (if at all, depending on how you use it) to justify the extra price of buying the brand name stuff.

Just don't buy the cheapest stuff from Harbor Freight, go up a level or two.
Their Icon ratchets (for example) are supposed to be as good as the SnapOn ones and identical other than the label.

Aaron Z

 

[arse_sidewards]

Just don't buy the cheapest stuff from Harbor Freight, go up a level or two.
Their Icon ratchets (for example) are supposed to be as good as the SnapOn ones and identical other than the label.

Aaron Z

My whole point was that the first couple dozen steps up are the same shit in a different box. Either buy really nice stuff and pay out the ass for it or buy the china junk. There isn't much middle ground with these kinds of tools.

 

[Black Sabbath]

My whole point was that the first couple dozen steps up are the same shit in a different box. Either buy really nice stuff and pay out the ass for it or buy the china junk. There isn't much middle ground with these kinds of tools.

That does concern me a bit:

Here is the harbor freight set I bought

and here is the equivalent OTC set at 2.5 times the price.

I swear the case is even identical. I really want to believe the metal and machining is better but without being able to put my hands on them it leaves me turning to this group of assholes for advice

 

[arse_sidewards]

That does concern me a bit:

Here is the harbor freight set I bought



and here is the equivalent OTC set at 2.5 times the price.



I swear the case is even identical. I really want to believe the metal and machining is better but without being able to put my hands on them it leaves me turning to this group of assholes for advice

I committed some impressive sins with the HF one last weekend and it held up great. I had to make some thick washers and pipe spacers for the clamping studs to crank down against in order to get it to stop trying to kill itself but after that it held up just fine to 3ft cheater bar. The best part is the case even has perfect spots for my pipe spacers and thick washers.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

I committed some impressive sins with the HF one last weekend and it held up great. I had to make some thick washers and pipe spacers for the clamping studs to crank down against in order to get it to stop trying to kill itself but after that it held up just fine to 3ft cheater bar. The best part is the case even has perfect spots for my pipe spacers and thick washers.

That thing did not hold up well for me pulling a pinion bearing. Was severely mangled by then end of it though it did technically accomplish the job.

 

[Toreadorranger]

That thing did not hold up well for me pulling a pinion bearing. Was severely mangled by then end of it though it did technically accomplish the job.

Did you put it in the press the right way?

 

[grumpy356]

I have had really good luck with all but the Chinesiest of tools .

I use them all and never have much of an issue.

Maybe I am lucky, or just have low expectations.

 

[montrose818]

Can't go wrong with OTC stuff.

OTC has pretty decent stuff

 

[Thefishguy77]

OTC, Astro Pneumatic and Lisle for non-truck brand specialty stuff. I pretty much only buy Gearwench for home use hand tools now. I have some Gearwrench stuff in my work toolbox too, all my crows feet and 1 1/16"+ wrenches are Gearwrench and I'm not nice to any of them, haven't given me a problem.

Been looking for a dedicated set of wrenches for each rig. Was looking at gear wrench. Good feedback to hear.

 

[Thefishguy77]

Just don't buy the cheapest stuff from Harbor Freight, go up a level or two.
Their Icon ratchets (for example) are supposed to be as good as the SnapOn ones and identical other than the label.

Aaron Z

I have one of the steps below the Icon but above the bottom by several for 1/4 drive and 3/8 drive ratchets and love them. 70ish tooth and seem to hold up. I have breaker bars for leaning on shit. I would not hesitate to buy more of their middle grade or above ratchets. I have some of their ratcheting wrenches and while ok they lack a certain feel I get with gear wrench stuff.

 

[gt1guy]

Williams is actually Snap-on................just cheaper.

 

[Baconator]

Williams is actually Snap-on................just cheaper.

Some things are, not everything. I think Williams screwdrivers are the same as some snapon, my biggest complaint about them is that the handles on the williams melt when they come into contact with solvent, my identical looking snapons dont, so who knows.

Here is a list I came accross a while back of snapon/mac equivalents
Rebrands — Tool Truck Rebrands

 

[Pocahontas]

Knipex for pliers, all I use now.

 

[Silverback07]

Knipex for pliers, all I use now.

Yep, I have a drawer full of them... though they aren't exactly cheap.

 

[Pocahontas]

Yep, I have a drawer full of them... though they aren't exactly cheap.

Cheaper then rounding off whatever you are trying to hold. They are about double but by far the best you get what you pay for in hand tools. I have some knock offs but the real deal are what I reach for every time.

I echo what everyone else has said, I have gearwrech/husky/harborfreight for the majority of stuff just because its easy to warranty. For specialists stuff i usually do some research and get what people recommend, oem/astro/tekton or snap off/Starrett in rare circumstances.

 

[TrikeKid]

Williams is actually Snap-on................just cheaper.

It's a Snap-On brand, but much of it is the same as their BluePoint line that's made overseas.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

Sunex master impact sets are amazing....

Williams black handle screw drivers

Gear wrench

Tekton

Koken