Adventures in wrenching.....who makes a decent tool these days?

[toolmanmike]

No such thing as a "name brand" Japanese tool, they will put anyones name on it. I would stick to Lowes or Home Depot as they are convenient to me but all have a lifetime warranty,

While we are on the subject of warranty, Lowes Kobalt tools are lifetime Warranty against defects of material and workmanship and not warranted against "misuse, abuse, normal wear, or unauthorized repairs" . They will probably replace a tool for you with no issues but just so you know, the warranty does not apply to "under all conditions". MAC started playing hardball with warranty a few years before I retired. "Lifetime" is not your lifetime but the life of the tool. When the tool is old and worn out and doesn't do the job it was designed to do, it's life is over and you need to buy a new tool. I didn't play hardnose with customers but I did have some tools that weren't covered and returned to me. I would just defect them again and the next time they were covered. Probably a different employee checked in my broken tools and let it slide.
AI Overview

Kobalt hand tools come with a hassle-free lifetime warranty that covers defects in material and workmanship, allowing you to return the defective product to the place of purchase (Lowe's) for a free replacement at no charge. While the warranty generally doesn't require a receipt and is considered a "lifetime" guarantee, it excludes damage from misuse, abuse, normal wear, or unauthorized repairs. For specific questions or to replace a lost socket, you can visit the Lowe's website or call 1-888-3KOBALT.

 

[nutz]

Let them soak in oil every once in a while

 

[nutz]

I wear out my 17mm 1/2 deep every 6 months or so I guess that why snap-on rules

 

[JC71340]

I've made my living for over 45 years with everything from Craftsman, Mac, Matco and Snap on. I bought a ****-ton of Snap-on over the last 18 years. I replaced all my Mac because I really didn't like what Stanley did to that company. Also, my Snap-on Dealer was one of the best tool dealers in Wisconsin. Bonus: a large majority of their hand tools (not power or digital) are not only made in the USA, but right here in Wisconsin! I DEFINITELY PAID MORE with the understanding I'm supporting AMERICAN JOBS!!!
Note: it's VERY easy to send your warranty tools to Snap-on, they repair/replace and send right back to you.

 

[Goop]

For hand tools, I’ve always been a fan of SK. Back when I was in high school, I took auto shop and was an apprentice at a local shop. I had a small toolbox that I was trying to start filling with good tools. My shop had a Snap On guy and an SK guy. The SO guy wouldn’t give me the time of day and was quite honestly a dick because I was a kid. The SK guy was down to earth and helped me get started buying tools. World of difference between the tool trucks. Here I am at 42 years old and that still resonates with me, even as just a weekend warrior wrencher on my Duster. Matter of fact, I just bought a new set of SK wrenches. I know they aren’t made in the US anymore, but I’ll still support the brand that got me started in this hobby.

 

[nutz]

Sad but I have some broken sk have no idea were to warranty them same with mac proto ect.
I think i said before it all comes to who or how easy it is to buy/warranty them

 

[toolmanmike]

Sad but I have some broken sk have no idea were to warranty them same with mac proto ect.
I think i said before it all comes to who or how easy it is to buy/warranty them

Contact the companies. I know MAC will warranty tools if you send them to them. Ask MAC if they can warantey Proto as well.

 

[JC71340]

Contact the companies. I know MAC will warranty tools if you send them to them. Ask MAC if they can warantey Proto as well.

I forgot to mention that indeed, they all will honor the warranty if you send them in.

 

[nutz]

Oh yes it's just another hassle
When your using them every day
I still have my craftsman that I bought 45 years ago ...nothing wrong with them I replaced them with tool truck tools just cause it was a pia to go to Sears for the 1/2 socket and then find out they where out of stock .....I have a small pile of broke stuff
Its just the package drive to ups and wait
After working 10+ hrs

 

[BkrDude001]

Williams is made in the same factory as Snap On.

 

[R72Demon]

Back when Craftsman tools were made in USA, Snap On was the usual maker. I have a whole set of the older Craftsman wrenches.

No Craftsman tools were ever made by Snap On. Here is a list of the manufacturers over the years.
Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

 

[nutz]

Williams is made in the same factory as Snap On.

I have some of those too
Looked like quality stuff
Dont think I ever seen them for sale

 

[nutz]

No Craftsman tools were ever made by Snap On. Here is a list of the manufacturers over the years.
Craftsman Hand Tool Manufacturers & Date Ranges

Now I need to find the code #s
Never noticed

 

[Woody500]

Seems like loads of people miss or skip right over cornwell tools. Last I checked, completely US made/tested and warrantied. Am I missing something about them? Saw a video once where they claimed 1/2 inch ratchets were usually tested to 500lbs, but they would do 750 and proved it. Interesting if nothing else.

Cornwell sells a lot to truck shops. Any thing from them I've used seemed good quality.
Lots of older good brands, but torque wrenches don't have repair facilities available anymore.
Old Brands I own include all mentioned in post #1, except Tekton. Remline tools are good. Very old Buffalo Brand, made in NY.
Proto & S-K were both @ the Speedway years ago & sold(& comped)there extensively, long before Snap-on.
Some older sockets very heavy duty(thick) and will take a lot of abuse.
Like Buffalo, many older names now owned by lo priced brands & quality isn't so good.

And so far, have heard no love for Wright. Never heard of them either.....then noticed they were being sold by Summit Racing.......and not cheap. So did some looking............and seems they might be worth considering too, if you can find them.

Old Wright is very heavy duty stuff. Williams too.
I'll buy any I see at Garage Sales or junk shops.
Got an aluminum Williams Pipe Wrench @ garage sale for $2 a few years back, has steel toothed jaws, like new, little used.
I have some Gedore Sockets from a yard sale, never heard of before. 12 pts & will take abuse. Good Alloy.

 

[RAT ROD AL]

My "Gearwrench" ratchet wrenches scare me when I put too much pressure on them.
Just like my "Craftsman" ratchets do.
I have had too many strip teeth.
I need a better torque wrench.

John Force swears by Cornwell, not so sure I believe that story line.

Wonder when Force last turned a wrench ?

 

[ProjectBazza]

Cornwell sells a lot to truck shops. Any thing from them I've used seemed good quality.
Lots of older good brands, but torque wrenches don't have repair facilities available anymore.
Old Brands I own include all mentioned in post #1, except Tekton. Remline tools are good. Very old Buffalo Brand, made in NY.
Proto & S-K were both @ the Speedway years ago & sold(& comped)there extensively, long before Snap-on.
Some older sockets very heavy duty(thick) and will take a lot of abuse.
Like Buffalo, many older names now owned by lo priced brands & quality isn't so good.

Old Wright is very heavy duty stuff. Williams too.
I'll buy any I see at Garage Sales or junk shops.
Got an aluminum Williams Pipe Wrench @ garage sale for $2 a few years back, has steel toothed jaws, like new, little used.

I forgot about Remline! We used to sell that back in the day (ma and pa auto parts store), and it was pretty good stuff.

 

[H Monster]

The new Icon torque wrench was put to the test on some oil pan bolts and torqued......no click per se, but did break.

But instructions said such a wrench is to be re-calibrated every 5,000 cycles, or once year? But does not way where. I assume a tool truck guy can do that for their customers, but where would the rest of the world go for that?

 

[fishmens67]

You can't find a decent ratchet these days, they are all junk.
My favorite ratchet is an old Herbrand 1/2" drive from over 50 years ago, still works like a champ, I prefer it over the snap-on I inherited along with it.
Most of my tools I inherited from my grand dad in 1978, mostly Snap-on, Cornwall and old Craftsman, there's a difference.

 

[nutz]

Funny never really new much about Cornwell
I about 8 years ago bought some stuff
Now after 2 guys they both gone

 

[BigStrok3]

1st generation kobalt mechanics tools were made in the usa by williams (snap on) but are hard to find. I use name brand ratchets ( Snap on, matco, proto, mac). Sockets i use taiwan stuff from harbor freight so if i break one i can get it replaced fast. I bought up a bunch of the sk socket sets when they were cheaper before production was shipped overseas.

 

[Woody500]

A problem with the tool trucks and this has been for years is i have broken stuff but am retired from the business if I walk onto a guys truck with it he doesn't want to replace it because "I'm not a current customer"

Been there!
But guys keep getting screwed over by Company Policy & continue to buy for convenience of In Your Face & Payment Plans.
And The Company keeps getting away with it, because there is no way to contact any one higher up, on purpose. You want convenience you get screwed coming and going.
Even in the 70s they were way over priced, but Mac & Matco trucks were even harder to find then.
& they keep buying Brands like Craftsman to limit their competition, as competition now makes no business sense.
Great Business Schools we have now!

 

[volaredon]

Funny never really new much about Cornwell
I about 8 years ago bought some stuff
Now after 2 guys they both gone

I've never seen a Cornwell rep in my life except for on e at the big world of wheels car show about 20 years ago. I have exactly 1 Cornwell branded tool and that's my "large truck" cooling system pressure tester that I bought (barely) used from on eof the many snap on guys I've had over the years.
For a few years now all I've had that comes to the shop im in is snap on. We used to have Mac but they're in the middle of one of their 7 year droughts around here.
And matco ? haha..
I drove past one on my way to and from work daily, parked in front of the guys house. My box is a matco bought back around Y2K, and I needed slides. I see the guts truck there, pole barn wide open so I swing by and the azzholes sicks his German shepherd on me before I can get out of my truck. Dog jumped right on my driver's door, and he didn't call off the dog until he was able to walk over and ask me what I wanted....
I told him I drive past there 2x every day and have a matco box I need slides for. and that I stopped because I often saw his billboard of a truck parked outside. Then he finally called off the dog after he claws the shyt out of my door... he asked me where I work and I told him/ at which point he said well there i should have such and such coming in that's his route, I'll see what I can do to make that happen, (in a year I still haven't seen a matco guy)! I found a number of of Google for matco corporate and called them, had my slides in a few days.
I asked if this was normal for a current day matco guy and they didn't seem to care....

 

[nutz]

Lost my last matco dealer last year
Liked the guy but as in the past they all come and go but snap-on has been every were I've worked
My first 30+ years i worked at the tire stores
Never worked at one more then 3 years ...
Funny cause I would say I had to drive by at least one to get to the one I worked at I bought my shop 9 years ago its the longest I've ever been in one spot .....I even took the wheels off my boxes and built them in

 

[toolmanmike]

I don't know the deal with the new dealers because they are franchised now. Back 30+ years ago when I got into MAC, I was considered a "Traditional Distributor". I had borrowed around $20,000 in cash for down payments and operating capital and the like. Mac financed the starter inventory, $50,000 and down payment for a leased truck. My first truck was a starter truck, nothing fancy and only 16' and was about a $50,000 truck back then. I didn't pay myself or take a salary for 5 years until I paid off the inventory, bought my truck, and put around $20,000 on the street in accounts receivable. (charge accounts to the customers). It's a tough game especially if there is 2 or 3 other companies trucks in your route area. There is only so much business to go around. Big ticket items like toolboxes can "tie up your pocketbook" (as Snap on likes to do) so you can't afford to buy from anyone else. The failing tool truck dealer is often because there are too many other companies selling tools in your area. Too much competition. Unless the dealer is a complete *** wipe, or a very poor money manager, you can't fault him for trying and if he goes broke and out of business it may not be all his fault. Like coffee shops on every corner, sooner or later one or two close because they can't afford to keep their doors open and the lights on. MAC is part of Stanley which is the largest tool company in the world. But, as far as mobile tool dealers, Snap On is #1, Mac is #2 followed by Matco (which was a spin off of MAC back in the 60's), Cornwell, and lastly the independent dealers usually selling SK for hardline and all the other softline tools.

 

[nutz]

Yeah I would by from the guys I like
Its a tough biz selling to new techs only to find out they quit, move on or get fired and then you have to chase your money around
None of the tool guys would go to the local tire shop cause no one lasted there
I would make sure my tool guy knew where I was going
Never know when you might be going back