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I am new to the automotive field and I understand buying quality tools. However I am a firm believer that some tools don’t need to be Snap-on, Mac, Matco. I have found the grey pneumatic duo sockets to be awesome. What other tools have you guys run into that are the off brand gems that have proven to be good tools.
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Lisle (pronounced like Lyle) is a staple for oddball stuff like the spill-free funnel, adjustable hood prop/brake pedal depressor, good seal pullers, tap socket/hex/torx socket sets, serp belt tools, etc.
OTC is also great for all kinds of front end service sets for gettting steering components and wheel bearings apart. Baum tools also makes the best on the car wheel bearing tool I’ve seen, which I’ve been using for years with the help of a few small custom add-ons.
Schley Products is great quality, but they are niche tools that some tool guys don’t carry but both my mac and snap-on happen to.
Gearwrench is also another high quality brand. Aside from good ratcheting box wrenches, they have a good serp belt tool set and a set of inserts that turn your 10, 13, and 17mm ratchet wrenches into lo-profile 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ ratchets
I also think a Craftsman serp belt tool is really good to have in addition to any other one, and it’s almost the cheapest. You can get one at Advance Auto Parts that is a close knock-off of it even cheaper.
Ingersoll-Rand is the master of air tools except for the very top of the line mac and snap-on that nobody that are theirs exclusively.
[quote=”Fopeano” post=110095]
…except for the very top of the line mac and snap-on that nobody that are theirs exclusively.[/quote]
Really? When did Mac start making their own air tools? Everything I ever saw from them was a re-branded and/or re-bodied IR or CP tool.[quote=”kt14328″ post=110075]I am a firm believer that some tools don’t need to be Snap-on, Mac, Matco. [/quote]
No, they don’t. Anything facing the daily grind has got to be good, or it won’t be in your tool box for long and it won’t save you $.
I bought a set of Duralast wrenches from Autozoo once out of desperation. I’ve had the same metric set of ratcheting wrenches for 5 years now, and they have stood up to a lot of abuse. I went back and got the regular wrenches too, they are longer for added leverage, and the finish work on them is just as good as the Snap and Matco.
I use them everyday for alignments because of their length. If they break, which hasn’t happened yet, they are guaranteed for life. They are often overlooked because of their “low” price. I hope this helps someone out there looking for decent wrenches.
I have some of their sockets, which are the same as everyone else, nothing special, but the wrenches are worth a look for sure.
That reminds me…
Napa came out with their own tool line a couple years back, sold under the “Carlyle” brand. Anyway, their ratcheting combination wrenches are definitely worth looking at. The open-end has all the features of a Snap-on Flank Drive Plus wrench, while the box end is a 90-tooth six point reversible ratchet. I grabbed a few to fill in the gaps I had in an existing set(from a different brand). So far so good. Feel good in the hand, no complaints.
From a price perspective, it looks like NAPA is trying to fill the gap in the market between Craftsman and truck brand tools. Anyway, give ’em a look next time you’re buying a Napa Gold oil filter.
Dewalt Impact driver is my favorite non top tier tool. It makes work easier and more efficient and even has a built in worklight and comes with two industrial capacity rechargeable batteries!
If you find old Kobalt tools (pre 2004) I believe…. They were made by Williams who is owned by Snap on… You can put Snap on Sockets right next to these Kobalts and they are exactly the same (even used the same year stamping as Snap on) and the internal broaching is the same as well… The Flare nut line wrenches were exactly the same as Snap on and are now highly sought after as collectibles… The Combination wrenches were VERY good as well…
After this time, Kobalt was manufactured by Danaher (who made all USA made Craftsman tools, up until a year or so ago when Craftsman went Chinese)….
Now Kobalt is Taiwan… Must say it looks pretty good, but I wish I could go back and buy up all the old Snap on made stuff when they put it on clearance to make way for Danaher made Kobalt…
Look for old Kobalt… Awesome hard line tools for pennies on the dollar…
I have a set of both the SAE and Metric Mastercraft Maximum wrenches. They’re actually pretty nice and go on sale consistently for cheap, my old Snap-On guy thinks they might be their old design. Princess Auto (think Harbor Freight) has the Pro-Point line, I have some random large impact sockets and have a couple sets of the regular impact sockets. Pretty nice and unlike other cheap sets they have ALL of the sizes. AirCat air tools are the cat’s you know what. I have a 1355XL and use it for taking off tires, yes it is a 3/8 gun and yes it is more powerful and makes less noise than the expensive Snap-On one.
Honestly up here north of the border we can get some of the cheaper stuff but it usually isn’t worth it. If you aren’t physically buying it in the US.
Expert http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/Pages/ExpertBrand.aspx My 3/8 and 1/2 fine tooth, quick release, flex head long handle ratchets are made by them and I cannot believe how well they stand up. I broke 3 MAC ones and Snap-On wants 3 arms and a leg for those and their handles get beat much easier. I also have their dead blow hammers and while they are sand they work extremely well and all of above were cheap. I use them every day as a diesel tech.
Knipex http://www.knipex.com/en/pliers-abc/basic-information-about-pliers/ I have a pair of high leverage diagonal cutters use them every day and they are still not dull after 2 years bought a second set after 6 months just to have one for at home. I have used other tools by them and they all hold up well.
Grey Pnuematic http://www.gpsocket.com/ I have used there impact sockets for 2 years the 13mm swivel socket specifically gets used at least 20-30 times a day and has still not worn out and works extremely well as long as you do not try to step up the gun on the swivels they will break the regular sockets are damn near indestructible.
Gear Wrench http://www.gearwrench.com/ I have flex ratcheting box wrenches by them I have broken my 13mm twice both times were my fault and it gets used and abused and i got them replaced no questions asked and almost all tool guys will warranty them and they make most of the ratcheting wrenches for everyone.
Klein http://www.kleintools.com/ hands down the best wire strippers and cutters out there and is normally the best for all electrical tools with the exception of Multi Meters. I used cheap ones do yourself a favor and buy these first and it will save you a lot of time and aggravation.
Channel Lock https://www.channellock.com/ This is who I use for needle nose, linesman pliers (great for cotter pins), and well groove pliers aka Channel Locks.
Mayhew http://www.mayhew.com/ The best name in prybars, punches, chisels, hose picks, etc. Craftsman professional driving handle prybars, matco driving handle prybars, I suspect cornwell uses them as well. These are nearly indestructible and are stronger then snap-on pry bars.
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