Hand tools

bob young

wrenches & ANY pipe tool----RIDGID. CHANNELOCK PRODUCTS. PROTO , WILLIAMS , BONNEY FORGE , WISS TINSNIPS , LUFKIN RULERS , PLUMB HAMMERS , VISE GRIP PRODUCTS , KLEIN ELECTRICAL TOOLS & SCREWDRIVERS STANLEY , EXACT LEVELS [ if you can find them ]THESE TOOLS LAST 'TILL THEY ARE LOST OR STOLEN. THE BEST OF THE BEST. that should keep you busy for a while !

JimGPE_17

Hand tools

Who, in the opinion of those whose living depends on them, makes the best hand tools? Wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screw drivers and the like.

I have bought Craftsman all my life, basically because of the guarantee which has come in handy on a number of occasions. I am starting a tool collection for my grandson, and just because I can I'd like to buy the best.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Jim.

Robert O'Connor_12

JimGPH

I like Craftsman too for the very same reason but most companies are also aware what Craftsman does this. I personally prefer S-K for all things automotive and with running a dragster for many years they too went the distance if we had a failure. Wrenches is Ridgid all the way. for everything else I belive Mr. Young has it covered.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Cosmo_3

my favs

Rachets/sockets, etc automotive I have a mix of snap-on, and craftsman. I like the snap-on rachets, but the craftsman sockets were cheaper, and that guarantee is great. I like Bahco screwdrivers, Knipex parallel jaw pliers, Klein linesman pliers, and strippers. Malco used to make good nut drivers that have the handle hollowed out to the end to fit over long bolts. Of course, Ridgid offset 18" aluminum handled pipe wrench. But ever since Ridgid and home cheapo have become lovers, I found that Rothenberger makes excellent quality pipe wrenches.......

But to tell you the truth, if I could only buy 2 tools, I would buy the Knipex small, and large parallel jaw pliers....... best hand tool I ever bought.


Cosmo Valavanis

Dependable P.H.C. Inc.

Geo_5

tools

Channel lock sucks....can't grip 1/2" or 3/4"ips...what are these tools made for??

Robert O'Connor_12

Geo

Everything else.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Bill_14

Craftsman Tools

Guarantees have changed considerably since K-Mart became involved...not the same return policies as before.

Bill

bob young

pipe wrenches & pipe

pipe of any size is assembled with pipe wrenches i prefer offsets over straight pattern . . they both work well once you get the hang of it.

Kevin O. Pulver

BOY OH BOY!

Jim,
There's a lot about hydronics I don't know, but I've used my tool set on cars, trucks, tractors, household, etc... over 25 years or so and sorta fine- tuned it.
First thins first. Get the Craftsman (or s-k)3/8 drive Deep socket sets, (metric and standard)then buy the extra in-between sizes that the set doesn't include.
Deep sockets are much handier than shallows, necessary many times, and 99% of the time,will fit in all the places where they're not necessary.
3/8 drive is what you want for every day automotive use etc... 1/2" is bulky and more for breaking loose head bolts, etc. or big rusty flanges.
Get a 3/8" drive S-K "Roto Ratchet" it has a swivel head that is excellent for tight places like spark plugs. I've used mine hard since '84 and NEVER replaced it. They're over $50, but worth it.
Buy the Sears metal socket rails, and a pack of extra clips. Slide off the plastic handle and straighten the rail (It comes bent at the handle), throw away the plastic handle, add enough extra clips to fit all your sockets in each set. You will know at a glance if they're all accounted for when you finish a job. No wondering later if one is lost under the hood or not. Trim the rail to length if necessary after you get the sockets in place.
Get a good set of 3/8" extensions 1 1/2", 3",6",12" and maybe an 18". These are incredibly helpful.
Your Grandson will also need a good 1/4" inch socket set. When I bought my Snap-On set, them and Proto were the only ones who made a 9/16" socket in 1/4" drive and those were awesome for Chevy fuel pumps and other things. Now Craftsman and S-K have them too. Again, 99% of the time I use the deep ones, with socket rails to organize them. S-K has a great set in a nice box, but I would recommend you get a flex-head Snap-On ratchet to go with them. They're great in tight spots for clearance, and you can use them as a speed-crank too after you break the bolt loose.
I've replaced the guts in the ratchet every few years or so. I've found the S-K ratchets to be much tougher than the Snap On, and the latter's warranty a little trouble- some compared to Sears. Round it out with a good set of Combination wrenches from Sears or S-K. Those new ratcheting type might be the way to go, but I would opt for the more expensive ones with the reversing lever. They have the offset handle like a "normal" combination wrench instead of just being "straight or flat". Buy or make a good, canvas wrench roll to keep them in order and protected from years of hauling around.(bucket boss brand makes one)
Someone mentioned Knipex pliers. They are excellent, but get the "cobra" variety, not "alligator". They adjust differently and cost a bit more. Knaack is a brand of tool box that will last forever and fit all your basic mechanic tools for hauling around. They're heavy guage steel, and come in various sizes. I applaud you for investing in something your Grandson will use often and thank you for years after you're among the "dead men". My motto is to buy a tool BEFORE you need it- if possible. Otherwise you end up doing a suprise evening job without it. Then you think you don't need one. Then you're doing a second job without it, and thinking about the time and trouble you would have saved TWICE now if you'd only got it when you were thinking about it. A man I know says that when you buy quality, you only cry once! Kevin

Unknown

How did it change ?

Most of my tools are Craftsman , and the only reason I have them is for their very liberal return policy .

bob_50

Geo

it depends what you are doing. Channelock 420's were designed, I believe, for electricans working with EMT. They are just the right size for the compression nuts and jam nuts. The handles are designed to ream the inside of EMT. Try that with Knipex. It,s hard to find 420's without that blue crap on the handles. I cut it off and polish them. I prefer Knipex alligators for service work. bob