what is the best "bang for your buck" tool maker/seller?

[Gillbot]

But you only used them to cut Styrofoam. 7 years ago.

Umm, no. If you knew what I put that saw through you'd be appalled! :sneaky::sneaky::sneaky:

 

[mkrohn]

If you're in the market for smaller power tools Skil makes fantastic small screw drivers and ratchets. I have a bigger 19v drill/driver and I'd rate it sligtly above the craftsman I have but I'd prefer milwaukee or some of the other higher brands but you can often find great prices on the skil stuff. I bought most of mine on I think lowes clearance because alot of people dont like them. I used to use the small drivers a good 6 hours a day and some did die but exchanged easily. Normal use though they'd last a really long time.

 

[momeNt]

Well to help you out by saying three places to absolutely never step foot in or order from.

Grainger.
Fastenal.
McMaster Carr.

Large-scale construction or professional companies may use these because of certain bulk buying discount or the ability to buy on invoice, but avoid them for any personal stuff. Just very expensive.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i used to buy bosch, milwaukee, rockwell and porter cable, and never had a problem with any of those brands

 

[herm0016]

Well to help you out by saying three places to absolutely never step foot in or order from.

Grainger.
Fastenal.
McMaster Carr.

Large-scale construction or professional companies may use these because of certain bulk buying discount or the ability to buy on invoice, but avoid them for any personal stuff. Just very expensive.

McMaster is great for hard to find parts. Where else can you even buy half the stuff if you just need 5 or 6 of them? The prices are actually not bad, I would not order things you can pick up local easily, but for hard to find parts, they are hard to beat.

 

[momeNt]

McMaster is great for hard to find parts. Where else can you even buy half the stuff if you just need 5 or 6 of them? The prices are actually not bad, I would not order things you can pick up local easily, but for hard to find parts, they are hard to beat.

Yea but apples to apples comparison. HD, Lowes, Amazon will beat them every time.

If you need a particular type of fitting or something obscure, McMaster Carr has a catalog that weighs about 15 pounds... so yea you'll find it

 

[rudeguy]

Yea but apples to apples comparison. HD, Lowes, Amazon will beat them every time.

If you need a particular type of fitting or something obscure, McMaster Carr has a catalog that weighs about 15 pounds... so yea you'll find it

you are banned from my thread until you answer my question!


How much meat do you consider bulk?

 

[momeNt]

you are banned from my thread until you answer my question!


How much meat do you consider bulk?

That to me is having 2+ weeks of meat frozen. I live around the city though so when eating for 1 or 2 and I buy 3 family packs of chicken breasts, that's bulk to me

Legit bulk is probably at least 1/4 cattle, 1/2 pig, or 4 doz chicken, or 2doz turkeys.

 

[twinrider1]

Re: Harbor Freight Sawzall

Good for homeowner. But buy good blades.
I've used mine to cut dozens of trees/branches as big as 4" in diameter, 2x4s and nails, and the chain link fence rails/posts. Just let the blade do the work and don't lean on it so hard you stall the motor.

 

[rudeguy]

Re: Harbor Freight Sawzall

Good for homeowner. But buy good blades.
I've used mine to cut dozens of trees/branches as big as 4" in diameter, 2x4s and nails, and the chain link fence rails/posts. Just let the blade do the work and don't lean on it so hard you stall the motor.

I don't know man...anything with a blade moving that fast, I want to have confidence in. A big part of doing projects is confidence and if I'm not sure my tool will work.......

I think I'd rather pay the extra cash for something good.


So back to my original question:
I need a good driver (think small screws for taking apart electronics)
A good set of bits for that driver
A good set of pliers

And I also need a small, desktop tool box.

 

[momeNt]

I don't know man...anything with a blade moving that fast, I want to have confidence in. A big part of doing projects is confidence and if I'm not sure my tool will work.......

I think I'd rather pay the extra cash for something good.


So back to my original question:
I need a good driver (think small screws for taking apart electronics)
A good set of bits for that driver
A good set of pliers

And I also need a small, desktop tool box.

Do you need the screwdriver to be ESD safe?

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.co...o-electric-screwdrivers/electric-screwdrivers

like that? or do you just mean a screwdriver to take apart computer cases, control panels, etc.

 

[bignateyk]

I have a mix of Dewalt and Bosch

 

[slag]

Well to help you out by saying three places to absolutely never step foot in or order from.

Grainger.
Fastenal.
McMaster Carr.

Large-scale construction or professional companies may use these because of certain bulk buying discount or the ability to buy on invoice, but avoid them for any personal stuff. Just very expensive.

I bought a run cap from Grainger. Super cheap, easy to deal with, sold to me as a consumer. I like them.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Some companies make better product sets. So what you end up with is a mixed bag of brands.

Here's my list:

Power tools:
DeWalt is typically quality. I prefer DeWalt for circular saws/table saws
Milwaukee for Reciprocating saws and heavy drills
Ryobi for cordless impact drivers and medium duty drills/hammer drills...I bought a Ryobi reciprocating saw to have it strip its gears after 2-3 days of heavy use.
Bosch makes a great jigsaw....my Ryobi jigsaw still works, but I've broken about 3 black and deckers....thus I avoid the brand altogether now.

Wrenches....Craftsman
Other Hand Tools.....Kobalt. They have oversized handles and are generally decent quality.

 

[momeNt]

I bought a run cap from Grainger. Super cheap, easy to deal with, sold to me as a consumer. I like them.

For power tools they are quite overpriced, generally 25% or more.

 

[Howard]

Well to help you out by saying three places to absolutely never step foot in or order from.

Grainger.
Fastenal.
McMaster Carr.

Large-scale construction or professional companies may use these because of certain bulk buying discount or the ability to buy on invoice, but avoid them for any personal stuff. Just very expensive.

I find that the prices are reasonable, or even excellent, for certain items from McMaster-Carr. Shipping can sometimes make deals go bad though.

 

[Howard]

But you only used them to cut Styrofoam. 7 years ago.

Your freezer was getting too warm. It needed the extra insulation.

 

[Gillbot]

Re: Harbor Freight Sawzall

Good for homeowner. But buy good blades.
I've used mine to cut dozens of trees/branches as big as 4" in diameter, 2x4s and nails, and the chain link fence rails/posts. Just let the blade do the work and don't lean on it so hard you stall the motor.

I use Lenox or Dewalt blades in mine and i've abused it. I agree that a good blade can make a huge difference. I actually bought two on sale for $30 (yes for both) expecting one to die rapidly. Ironically the 2nd is still "new in box" and the 1st is still being abused to this day.

 

[classy]

I think best bang for the buck is probably Husky.

 

[Mandres]

What you have to understand is that Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman Pro, Pittsburgh Pro, GearWrench, etc. are all basically the same quality. All made in China/Taiwan by one of the big manufacturers (danaher, stanley group) and then rebadged. They're all good tools, and probably fine for anyone except professional mechs who use them all day every day. Buy whichever one you can most easily warranty if they ever break.

I'm a homeowner and garage tinkerer and I've been using the same set of "Great Neck" Taiwanese sockets and wrenches from autozone for the past 13 years for car/motorcycle repairs without a single problem.

 

[foghorn67]

Craftsman. Why? If you need a replacement they have it ready. Most Home Depot stores only have Husky tools in sets, and the selection is very basic.

Power tools. Start thinking about impact drivers. Unless you're drilling a hole, drive stuff in with a compact impact driver.
Low end, my Craftsman 12v NEXTEC works fine. Outstanding deals on SD a couple times a month.
I eventually want the Milwaukee 12v system.
If I need more power, cheap corded drills.
You don't need a 18v system. Its overkill.

 

[thescreensavers]

My first tool I purchased in 2009 was a Husky 3/8th Drive socket wrench. Its been used Exclusively and still is my only 3/8th socket wrench. ( I need to get another one, bigger one) but its never skipped a beat.

I usally buy harbor freight for hand tools, stuff that doesn't move generally lasts a good amount of time and I havent had any issue.

If I need to buy a socket I usually go and buy the individual Duralast Socket as Autozones are usually stocked with every size one can imagine and their sockets are great. ( dont buy their cheapo kit you will get chepo sockets)

 

[Gillbot]

Craftsman. Why? If you need a replacement they have it ready. Most Home Depot stores only have Husky tools in sets, and the selection is very basic.

Power tools. Start thinking about impact drivers. Unless you're drilling a hole, drive stuff in with a compact impact driver.
Low end, my Craftsman 12v NEXTEC works fine. Outstanding deals on SD a couple times a month.
I eventually want the Milwaukee 12v system.
If I need more power, cheap corded drills.
You don't need a 18v system. Its overkill.

But that's the point. SOME places, you can't get Sears to replace Craftsman tools whereas my Pittsburgh and Stanley are readily replaced by Harbor Freight or Wal-Mart respectively.

With Sears (here anyway), its always a battle to get them to honor a warranty replacement as I've already stated.

 

[bryanl]

How are Craftsman? Does their warranty apply to power tools as well?

Craftsman mechanic's hand tools are still good except for the 'Evolv' Craftsman line.

The warranty on Craftsman power tools is much more limited, typically 1 year only. Nearly identical models sold under other brands often come with longer warranties, lifetime in the case of Home Depot's Ridgid.