What tool brand do you stand behind?

davidbrooks

It's time for me to start replacing some of my old tools and I've begun to realize that white Craftsman tools are just not worth spending any more money on. What hand tools do you all use that you really think are worthwhile. I'm specifically only looking for tools that have lifetime guarantees.

davidbrooks

DeWalt, Milwaukee, husky, Harbor Freight? I'm initially looking at a complete socket set and then head into wrenches screwdrivers Etc. I've just gotten to the point of where I've realized that my toolbox is full of a lot of the same tool. And I need to replace it with a full set. The older I get the more I appreciate having really clear markings on the tool also.

Formulaben

Great sale right now on Milwaukee stuff...check out https://toolguyd.com/ and subscribe for sale updates. 

https://toolguyd.com/black-friday-tool-deals-2024/ 

PickleRick

Harbor freight impact sockets are awesome.  Had the same set at the shop going on 10 years now.  Have a 1 in inch impact we occasionally take out for blades and wheel hub bolts.  Have not cracked or stripped one yet. 

Have both deep and shallow,  use the deep 99.9% of the time whether we need them or not.  

LaRea

I like the Milwaukee socket sets I've bought in Packout cases.  They have 90-tooth ratchets, and the sockets are squared off so they don't roll around as much.  Also, it's one of the few brands with separate tool sets for "metric only" and "SAE only" rather than bigger, heavier combination sets.  

aero3113

ICON tools at Harbor Freight are competing with Snap-On. I’m very impressed with ICON tools. My tools at the hangar are 95% Snap-On. If I were to do it again, I would go with ICON.

https://www.harborfreight.com/icon?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21831987755&campaignid=21831987755&utm_content=173063794270&adsetid=173063794270&product=&store=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4fSE3fwyNO03UI8-8h_c20a1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_9u5BhCUARIsABbMSPvC6IJSpx5VIQJ25nDOrc2tRH9aeA1mOOZbN3iUL84ml6JJ1_y0oqsaAp_UEALw_wcB

PickleRick

Speaking of cheaper tools kicking the a$$ of name brand.  I've been a Makita lithium tool user for many years now. A Coworker and my dad both use Ryobi.  Very impressive impact drivers and impact guns.   They are as good if not better than my Makita.  The Ryobi 1/2 impact will remove blades from commercial mowers with ease.   Co-worker used it exclusively for about 5 years before it finally died.  

davidbrooks

Have you guys ever had to deal with a warranty exchange?  I used to love the ability to walk into a Sears.  Hand them a broken socket and walk out with a new one.  Lowes absolutely won't help with anymore.  Ace Hardware will only do it if it has a serial number on the part that perfectly matches what they have in the store.  The website won't help you.  They just say go back to where you bought it.  Last ratchet i broke i brought to Ace Hardware and they looked at me like i was crazy.  "You want a new ratchet to replace a broken 25 yr old one?"  Yep! Lifetime guarantee and i am not dead yet.  

captkevin

Rigid tools have lifetime warranty including battery. Hard to beat. Just have to register them

davidbrooks

I am leaning towards the Milwaukee route.  Returns are through their website but supposedly you just upload a pic and they send you a new item.  I also liked that the packout trays can be removed and i can put them in my large toolbox.  I just bought a new toolbox to replace my 35 yr old Craftsman box.  It was overloaded with tools...some i just needed to toss.  Timing light, dwell meter.  old multimeter.  I have been trying to get my socket drawer and wrenches organized.  As soon as you do that you realize that you have 10 of the same size of one thing and you are missing so many other sizes.

Aqua_Aura

I have been happy with ICON from harbor freight. I also bought some Craftsman ratcheting closed end wrenches as well. My Rigid battery tools I have had for about 14 years and other than buying some extra batteries they have been great. 

PickleRick

Dwell meter...that's from back in the day!

LaRea

Packout cases are a great storage solution for socket sets.  Back when I had a house with a giant rolling tool chest, I stored sockets using those little rail-type organizers.  Now that I only have Packout cases, I'll never go back to using rails.  

davidbrooks

It's interesting to me that no one here has really mentioned the DeWalt or Husky brands for sale at the big box stores. I decided to purchase the Milwaukee sets as they seem to have one of the better warranty programs, reputation and I also liked the organizer that they would ship in. I agree with Chris. I have both the big rolling tool box but I also really rely on my go to set that's in an easy to grab container. I think one of the big reasons why I like it is I can grab everything at one time and I immediately know if I'm missing a socket or a wrench because it's not in its place. The drawers on my old toolbox was literally a massive junk drawer that you would spend so much time sorting through just to find out you were missing that socket.

davidbrooks

Oh and a lot of the stores are offering really good Black Friday deals right now and what pushed me over the edge was I could stack on top of that a veteran discount.

Ian

You can’t go wrong with the Ryobi 18v tools and range. I have drills, buffers, saws, lights, fan, Dremel, hedge trimmer, blower……

rasbury

davidbrooks said:

Oh and a lot of the stores are offering really good Black Friday deals right now and what pushed me over the edge was I could stack on top of that a veteran discount.

Thank you for your service!

rasbury

@davidbrooks you are really dating yourself...walk into sears and exchange the broken socket. Bet you rolled over where they had the hot cashews on the way out right? 

I just primarily go to harbor freight down the street. I've bought a lot of different stuff there- they have really stepped up their game here as of late- can't even remember the name of their house brand tools-but don't recall any issues- plenty of stuff I've only used once or twice- and yes, my tool box is a bunch of left over tool kits over the years...

Aqua_Aura

I worked at Sears in the tool department while in high school and I remember all those tool exchanges. We had a metal barrel with an opening to drop the tools in, what a loud bang when that barrel was empty.


We had some seriously angry customers at times when they were trying to exchange power tools thinking they are lifetime warranty. 

davidbrooks

I told my son the other day that he better d@mn site appreciate me when I am dead. He is gonna inherit a nice set of tools. A whole lot better than what I got from my dad. I think half of my dad's stuff came from the flea market. @rasbury you aren't any spring chicken either my friend.  It doesn't seem that long ago when Sears and Craftsman had a good name. It just seems like when I break something I am right in the middle of a project and can't wait on a replacement. 

mattie

MarkB

KitchenAid ... just kidding.

Liberty44140

Hand Tools - Harbor Freight. It's extremely rare that I break one and if I do, very cheap to replace. Also cost makes me not care of someone forgets to return a tool. I can't think off the top of my head of ever breaking a HF hand tool.

Cordless Power Tools - Ryobi. Sure they say DeWalt is better and if I was a pro using it every day I'd probably go DeWalt, but for a weekend warrior the convenience of the same battery powering 25 different tools is just glorious. I have 15 year old Ryobi saws that still work like they are new and have remodeled several rooms. Back then I bought new batteries every 2-3 years but now they last 5 years minimum. I've got batteries that are 8 years old and still hold a very good charge.

Corded Power Tools - Depends on the tool and need. Generally Harbor Freight Bauer brand but also have a Makita corded drill that is 20 years old and runs like a champ!

Formulaben

Liberty44140 said:

Hand Tools - Harbor Freight. It's extremely rare that I break one and if I do, very cheap to replace. Also cost makes me not care of someone forgets to return a tool. I can't think off the top of my head of ever breaking a HF hand tool.

Cordless Power Tools - Ryobi. Sure they say DeWalt is better and if I was a pro using it every day I'd probably go DeWalt, but for a weekend warrior the convenience of the same battery powering 25 different tools is just glorious. I have 15 year old Ryobi saws that still work like they are new and have remodeled several rooms. Back then I bought new batteries every 2-3 years but now they last 5 years minimum. I've got batteries that are 8 years old and still hold a very good charge.

Corded Power Tools - Depends on the tool and need. Generally Harbor Freight Bauer brand but also have a Makita corded drill that is 20 years old and runs like a champ!

For sure I will likely always some Ryobi tools because of this.  While I have not yet started the migration with power tools, I've been buying some Milwaukee tools and I'm very happy with them, especially given the Packout capability.  @LaRea showed how convenient this is for boat storage. 

MarkB

My Ryobi tools have lasted for a LONG time.  I just had to replace 2 batteries that were end of life ... but my tools are 100%.  Good value vs. price point ... and the battery cross over between hardware and landscape/seasonal care is awesome.

Cableguy Greg

For my hand tools, I go with Klein. They make great diagonal cutters along with top notch screwdrivers. I used to buy Craftsman when I could get replacements at Sears, but now I replace with Klein. 

For power tools I use DeWalt. I have been using their tools for 25 years or more. Once you start a collection of cordless tools in a particular brand, it is very expensive to switch. I do know that Black Friday and Father’s Day is the best time to buy them. Great deals to be had around those times. 

rasbury

I'm slowly turning some tools over that pass to electric. I bought a fan for the boat for working on the bilge area when I don't have power- also my Gas weedeater I replaced with an electric- how I ever lived as long as I did without the childless drill I can't explain- 

My neighbor has an electric mower but he had to buy a 2nd battery which was as I recall pretty expensive- I guess the costs for the most part is the battery. Motors are cheap.