what kind of tools should I get?
 

ok so I am starting school in the fall and have to buy a bunch of tools and I am wonder what kind of tools anyone on here recommends. some of my choices are craftsman, napa, sk, matco, snap-on

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

I dislike napa and SK. If I went back and did it again I would get snap on. I have craftsman and they are good.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

I'm a fan of craftsman. Good compromise between quality and price. Lifetime warranty (on most things anyway). A lot of cheap brands offer a lifetime warranty as well, but you WILL have to use it.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

http://www.dsmstyle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15970
That thread has some good opinions in it.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

Nobody has the best of everything, but I like Matco and Mac the most. Snap-on is good, but usually spendy. SK makes nice sockets, the strongest I have found. Craftsman is mediocre for a lot of stuff, but the price is nice too. For things you don't use a lot, they are fine. I am actually really happy with Stanley ratches and sockets. Olympia makes a nice ratchet too (Norther Tool), they have the best feel I have found, especially the 1/4".

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

I would start out with Gear ratchets. I love mine. Then some gear wrenches too. Got mine from Sears, lifetime warranty and honestly I use them more then any of the tools at the shop. But you will need another socket set. I suggest Craftsman. Thats all we use at the shop and never have any warranty problems.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

If you are dead set on turning wrenches for a long time then go with Snap-on or Mac. They do cost a lot more but it is for a reason. The wrenches fit your hand so much nicer and the the tolerances seem to be a lot tighter.

I will never buy anything more then Craftsman for the garage at home but now that I turn a wrench for 60hrs a week I will be definitely seeing the snap-on guy for the tools that I use the most.

As far as tool boxes though. The Craftsman Professional boxes are damn nice for the money. You are going to drop a pretty penny to be able to advertise snap-on or mac when in my opinion a nice Craftsman box will work just as good.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

By far my favorite is Husky. They have fared much better then my Craftsman or Snap On tools(over 6 years of heavy/severe use). Then you compare prices and it's a no brainer. If I had to do it all over again, I would not have wasted so much $ on Snap On, big waste if you ask me.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

at school we get a 50% discount on snap on and a 55% discount on matco so I think I might look into one of those two. I would consider mac tools but I don't think we can get a deal on them through school and I don't want to have to pay full price for those right now

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

50% off snap-on is a great deal. I cant imagine they give you much of a deal on Craftsman though do they? 50% off snap-on should be damn close to full price Craftsman. Maybe still a little more expensive but getting close anyway.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

Honestly, being as I am in this industry, do it once, and do it right. While I hate paying for them, Snap-on will be your best choice. They have starter sets for beginners into the field, that will include your basics you'd need like sockets, wrenches, ratchets, screw drivers, files, chisels, pics, pliers, hammers, etc etc. Also, depending on the school or job you have, they travel to you, and will give you a new tool if yours breaks. Mac and matco are honorable mentions, but it seems that they are dying off in the industry, and I hardy see them anymore. Mac is weekely, if not bi-weekly, and matco is no more.

-A. Swift

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

I too will say Snap-On or Mac if you are seriously going to stay in the industry for more than a few years. For garage wrenching Craftsman are good, but in everyday use they don't last. And some Sears stores are picky about the lifetime warranty if you use them in a shop daily. Snap-On or Mac are made for everyday use. And they will stand behind the warranty.

Also, you can drastically improve your credit rating if you get an account with the Snap-On guy and keep it up to date. That's how I got my house a few years ago. Speaking of which, I still have that box for sale.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

we don't get a deal on craftsman they would be full price from sears. from what everyone is saying I think I am starting to lean towards snap-on. the 50% of with snap on is a one time thing if I remember correctly. the matco deal is as long as you are enrolled in school

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

Harbor Freight.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

Haha, Two blocks from my house is a Harbor Freight. I love that store, they have cheap but good tools, and lots of them. In terms of prices they are the walmart of the tool industry.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

I've always had good luck with Matco, especially thier air tools.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

Husky is a good brand to take to the junk yard so as you lose them on the ground its not a big deal.

Just don't go cheap on the things that matter such as a torgue wrench and swivel extensions and your rachets. All tools will break and strip some faster than others. It just depends on how much warrenty bulls*&t you want to go through. I'd have to say go with what you've had best personal exp. with, and if you haven't spent much time with tools and found out whats best by now than good luck. IMO crafstmans wrenches are sorta bulky in the handle and can make it a bitch from time to time.

Snap-on for what matters and if your short on cash buy what you can for now until your well on your feet and can upgrade as needed.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

very true, I like snap on sockets and open end wrenches alot.
It's hard asking for opinions on this stuff though, almost no one is gonna spend $10,000+ on tools and tell you that they suck and it was the worst purchase they ever made, even if its true.

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

thats true I guess I am just trying to see what kind of tools people are using especially if you are in the business seeing that I am starting school to get into the business

Re: what kind of tools should I get?
 

All my air tools are Matco, and I've had pretty good luck with them. My 1/4" air ratchet took a shit on me once, but the Matco guy had a new one for me the same day I told him about it. I've also had pretty good luck with Mac tools. Snap-on makes very nice boxes, much nicer than Craftsman IMO. I use a Craftsman box, and the only thing I don't like about it is that it isn't nearely as deep as say a Mac or Snap-on box of the same size.