Looking for a decent set of Combination wrenches metric and standard for working on my 2013 Ram Tradesman Truck occasionally and keeping in the truck all the time. And the same for a 3/8 drive Ratchet . When I say decent I mean something that wont Break in use and doesnt cost much. Something like 1/4 inch to 9/16 and 5mm to 15 MM in the wrenches and the 3/8 sockets. Walmarts Harbor freight,Craftsman, etc or buy used ?
When on sale Lowes has a reasonably priced (~ $150) Kobalt tool set that might interest you. Tools come with full replacement warranty. While case is not the best it is handy for keeping in the truck, strapping to wheeler... link below
When on sale Lowes has a reasonably priced (~ $150) Kobalt tool set that might interest you. Tools come with full replacement warranty. While case is not the best it is handy for keeping in the truck, strapping to wheeler... link below
I say take your pick from any of the brands that offer a "free" lifetime replacement warranty. Craftsman and Kobalt from Lowes, some of the Harbor Freight tools maybe, Husky from Home Depot, etc....maybe others.
They are all made in China, probably come from the same two or three factories.
Last edited by RJY66; 04/22/24.
"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants". --- William Penn
Harbor Freight or Craftsman. Next for mid grade price point, Williams, Proto or S-K. Snap-on, Mac,.... not worth it unless you have money to burn or are using them everyday to make a living.
I would spring for a Williams B-52 super ratchet though. It has a much smaller swing arc than a lot of coarse geared ratchets. You can find them anywhere that sells Williams tools like industrial supply houses or on ebay. It's the first ratchet I reach for ( in a drawer full of ratchets) when I need one.
Kobalt tools. meh... chrome flaking off some of my sockets and I've seen the jaws spread open on a 3/4" open end wrench while under a pretty good load. It did have a 2' cheater bar on it in all fairness. Still though a 2' cheater bar is not much. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do though!
"Aim right, squeeze light" " Might as well hit what you're aiming at, it kicks the same whether you miss or not" NRA Life, GOA
Affordable "budget" tools are just like affordable "budget" optics, all made in China under contract in the same factories. Buy any of them at whatever price fits your wallet. Pittsburgh brand is a good durable hand tool, as well as Kobalt. Craftsman is over priced in the same class of tool. Personally for a little step up in quality I like Tekton sockets and ratchets.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
Good suggestions here by some knowledgeable folks. Depends on what you mean by decent. If you are a professional in some trade you need tools that will produce top results efficiently and will hold up over time. If you are a typical homeowner or hobbyist hacker like me, you can get by with tools that are "good enough". That's the market niche Harbor Freight is based on.
FWIW, my late father-in-law ran a precision metal working business, had an in-depth knowledge of metallurgy. He once told me that some Taiwanese sockets were as good as any, especially with a bit of minor cleanup.
Of course there's pride of ownership and budget to consider, and patriotism. My own military service was directly opposed to Communist China, so I feel a twinge of guilt or regret when I buy a Chinese product, but it's nearly impossible to avoid. YMMV, of course.
Stupidity has its way, while its cousin, evil, runs rampant.
Personally for a little step up in quality I like Tekton sockets and ratchets.
I think Tekton is made in free China aka Taiwan FWIW.
Based out of Grand Rapids Michigan.
"About 77.5% of our current product lineup is made in Taiwan, 20% in the United States, 2% in Canada, and the remaining 0.5% consists of 11 items from Germany and 1 item from Poland. You can find the country of origin for every tool on Tekton.com by referring to the “Specs” section at the bottom of each product page."
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
Agree. I bought four socket sets, standard/metric standard & deep well. They were covered in rust- kept inside the house. Bottom of the bucket tools compared to my 1980's USA Craftsmen tools.
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Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
IDK if this included sockets, but Craftsman hand tools used to be made by Western Forge, located south of Colorado Springs. Stamped with WF. Good stuff.
Stupidity has its way, while its cousin, evil, runs rampant.
I've used mostly older Snapon and S&K but in needing to replace things I have been buying from McmasterCarr. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/socket-sets/ Their stuff is Willaims brand and made in the USA. So far it has held up as well and better than anything else.
Agree. I bought four socket sets, standard/metric standard & deep well. They were covered in rust- kept inside the house. Bottom of the bucket tools compared to my 1980's USA Craftsmen tools.
Stanley Black & Decker own the Craftsman tool brand now and they've a wide range of vendors making them, mostly in China.
"Beginning in 2010, hand tools manufactured for Craftsman by Apex Tool Group (formerly known as Danaher) such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches began to be sourced overseas (mainly in China, although some are produced in Taiwan)"
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children may live in peace. ~~ Thomas Paine
Look at Cresent tool kits, mine folds flat in it's case, and fits under the seat. I believe it's 140 pcs not sure of the number. 1/4 ,3/8, and 1/2 drive, with wrenches 6mm to 19mm and 1/4" to 3/4". Screw drivers, allens metric and sae, plus plyers Depending on where you buy price should be around $60 or $70 dollars. I have had this set since 2012, and beat the hell out of it a couple times, nothing broken yet.
Years ago, HD opened a new store here. They had a drawing for a door prize - a big set of Husky wrenches and sockets, both SAE and metric. I won it. I've used them hard over the last 20 years and they're still like new, with a lifetime warranty.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Years ago, HD opened a new store here. They had a drawing for a door prize - a big set of Husky wrenches and sockets, both SAE and metric. I won it. I've used them hard over the last 20 years and they're still like new, with a lifetime warranty.
I've liked the Husky stuff I've used. 25 years ago - I broke a lot of Snap On stuff. Mac and Matco were good. The price some of these places get for a tool box is pretty outrageous tho, for the home guy looking to just keep his gear running.
I am kind of tuff on tools. Harbor freight replaced my broken 3/8 ratchet no questions asked. Icons are pretty good. I had a old husky ratchet that wore out, home depot sent me on my way with a brand new one. The manager had to ok though.I like the husky better then the Icon.I had a broken craftsman extension, lowes told me that I needed to call craftsman. I am done with craftsman.
It doesn't matter who gets more votes, It matters who counts the votes.
Gearwrench is probably the best bang for the buck imo. Tractor supply usually has great prices on them. Full set of sae and metric wrenches for a 100$ isn’t bad.
I had already resolved this question. Bought a 600 piece Craftsman with my high school graduation cash. Picked up S-K and Proto, Blackhawk at yard sales along the way. All made in in USA.
Always keeping my eyes open at flea market and yard sales. Don’t be a B-Type pussy, stop and investigate blanket sales, garage sales, make eye contact, turn off the john wayne and get outside and meet other real life humans
. That said, fouck-it just go to Harbor Freight. Got people on here 72 years old that don’t even know what brake dust is on their alloy wheels. JFC
I have a mix of everything accumulated over the years most are good except for the really cheap stuff. I've managed to break a few of each brand.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
Any of the brands mentioned will serve your purpose. With all being Chinese made and many coming from the same manufacturing facilities they have similar build quality. Today even Chinese tools do an acceptable job, it is just that I cannot buy Chinese stuff if there is another option.
If you can stand a little more budget Wright Tools out of Ohio build the best wrench available at any price and are completely USA made, and they are not priced at the tool truck price schedules. I am not a big fan of their ratchets but they certainly work and are extremely durable they just to not have the fine tooth count that works well in auto mechanic duty.
Another USA brand is Proto at similar prices to Wright.
Back when Craftsmen was Made in America quality, I had an old 24" level that was my dads. One of the vials somehow got broken. I took it back to Sears to see if they could get me a new vial to put in it. The clerk looked it over and apologized. He said they didn't make them that good any more but he'd replace it with the best they had. He handed me a top of the line level.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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