Good Tools

[Animal]

Can you believe the cost of good American made tools?

 

[Mike M]

Or are they using a good old american name,but really making them overseas?

 

[GarrettFields]

They are expensive, but if you bend wrenches for a living you cant really afford not to invest in them. Once you buy in though, as a rule you can put your wallet away, cause they will last a lifetime/and or are warrantied for life. One obvious exception would be spendy scan tool updates.

 

[Animal]

I bought mine off the snap on truck for forty years and I had a fire last winter that wiped them all out, it was a total loss. I am going through the catalogue to find replacement value. I swear I did not know what an investment I had. And I like you believe in good tools, buy once and cry once, but this is bordering .......



on crazy!

 

[504]

Pawn Shops can be your friend if you have cash.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

I almost never buy new. Pawn shops-yard sales and Craig's list about 1/2 price.

 

[Dalex]

Look at Proto , S-K and Wright. Good American tools without the tool truck prices

 

[old]

Yes if you can even find any. Most places have nothing but made in China stuff. Shoot even some of the Snap on stuff is now made in China

 

[Owen Aaland]

(quoted from post at 20:53:20 01/29/14) I bought mine off the snap on truck for forty years and I had a fire last winter that wiped them all out, it was a total loss. I am going through the catalogue to find replacement value. I swear I did not know what an investment I had. And I like you believe in good tools, buy once and cry once, but this is bordering .......on crazy!

Back when Owatonna Tool Company was making wrenches their warranty covered garage fires. You sent the tools to the OTC factory in Owatonna MN and they would re-temper them and send them back. Probably about 40 years too late for that now.

 

[Steve@Advance]

Did you see if they would warranty them? I've see some pretty ridiculous claims filled without a question.

 

[John A.]

Jim. Better look out! the Anti-Pawn Shop Police will rake you over the coals something fierce!
My first set of Craftsman came from the store, the other 3 sets came out of Pawn Shops in 1s, 2s, 3s count. I got Royally Berated that I had done the Un-Pardonable sin! With Sears it is the Tool that is guaranteed, not the original purchaser, like---Snap-on! These guys are as bad as the J.D. Police!
Be careful!
later,
John A.

 

[GarrettFields]

Animal, I thought you were just doing a little tool truck lusting! I had no idea you were restocking from the fire. If I remember right it was around this time last year? Is the insurance company jerking you around, or does it just take this long to make it all happen?

 

[JOB]

SK tools are made in Sycamore IL., Near Chicago.
I bought a SK set of ratcheting wrenches when Stanley owned SK and they were made in Taiwan. SK no longer offers the ratcheting wrenches. I am guessing so they can say all their tools are made in the USA.

Below is a link to their history.
Untitled URL Link

 

[Dusty MI]

I have a Roto Ratchet by SK that I like real well.

 

[sflem849]

(quoted from post at 05:49:27 01/30/14) SK tools are made in Sycamore IL., Near Chicago.
I bought a SK set of ratcheting wrenches when Stanley owned SK and they were made in Taiwan. SK no longer offers the ratcheting wrenches. I am guessing so they can say all their tools are made in the USA.

Below is a link to their history.
Untitled URL Link

Don't you dare bring Sycamore down like that! They are a good hour from Rockford.

 

[dcarp]

Animal, sorry about the loss. My Dad & MIL had a house fire, house and all contents total loss. MIL was doing the contents list and all her clothes & shoes were expensive designer brands. Sure, may be why our homeowner rates are so high. When she was done she went back to wallyworld and bought the same ones she had before and pocketed the difference.
Not my thing but just saying....
I try to do a video every couple of years of the whole house and shop. Put it on a Zip drive and put it in the safe deposit box at the bank. That way no questions or memory issues about your belongings.

 

[casenut1]

SK is a good company. Have a ratchet, half inch drive , don't know where it came from but it needed the drive replaced. They sent a new one . That ratchet has been around the farm for at least 40 years.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

John,

It's not clear to me who, or what, you're talking about. Who are the "Anti-Pawn Shop Police", who are "These guys", and who are the "J.D. Police"?

Is this code language known to a subset of tool users within this forum? Should I be begging your pardon for eavesdropping on a private conversation?

Stan

 

[Jim in Ma.]

Not to worry Stan any of my conversations on here are for anyone who wishes to read them.
As for pawn shops - I have never had a problem. anyone can try to claim something. When I have a recite Let them try.

 

[Animal]

AS a matter of fact a year ago tomorrow night, and yes the insurance company has been jerking me around, and that's why I am going to replace my snap on tools with snap on tools. I have full replacement value on these tools and if I choose to go cheaper they will depreciate my tools and low ball me.

 

[JOB]

Don't know what you are talking about. My
information came from their web site.

 

[graygander]

check out Wilde tools, They don"t have a large selection but what they do make is high quality and made in USA. Also the last time I was in Menards I was surprised that most of their Allen line of sockets,ratchets,combination wrenches,etc... were still made in USA

 

[Roy Suomi]

I have a John Deere 3/4" drive socket set I bought back in the 80's.. All were made in US.. Now replacements are Chinese.. I've broken 5 breaker bars and a ratchet all replaced with Chinese crapola.. Since then , I've been buying brand named stuff off of Ebay.. I'm tool poor.. At home I now have around 110,000 worth of tools according to Snap-On , OTC, Milwaukee, Mac , Proto, Crapsman, tool price lists.. My stepson just installed an alarm system in my pole barn.. Fire and theft insurance has been updated.. I also insured my '65 W300M Power Wagon that's in pieces/parts..

 

[John A.]

Stan, The J.D. Police are Rampant, Among the Boards but primarily on the John Deere Forum and out in the Show circuit. They will ridicule one if their particular JD tractor is the Wrong shade of green for any particular yr model! ie..a 52 A painted 76, 30 Series green Not the Same!
I have been personally been berated here 0n the Boards by the Anti-pawn Shop crowd. For buying old Craftsman tools in Pawn Shop, Garage sales, Flea Markets taking them to Sears and exchanged for new ones. As I explained above it is the tool that is warranted not the original purchaser as Snap-on are!
No Codes, just a basic explanation, of how some things work. No private conversation going on!
If you are New, then listen and learn!
Later,
John A.

 

[Whichester1]

Cost has gone crazy, good quality (HSS) large drill bits are just as bad. I shop on ebay. Sometimes you can pick up a deal, sometimes you get burnt. Just picked up a new Made in China 1" dial indicator and magnetic base for $13.00. Same thing from Brown & Sharpe would be over $200.
They have already raised the price to $20.00.
You can also find good buys on Brown & Sharpe and Starrett measuring tools.

Snap on is hit and miss, have to watch shipping costs as these are heavy.