The Official Tool Guide and Recommendation Thread?

[Sully]

Doesn't Craftsman make 3 models of ratchets now? Thought their high end one had a high tooth count.

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[.RJ]

craftsman is shit

[Sully]

You can also get 4-5 harbor freight ratchets for snap on money. if you arent using the tools to make money its not worth it.

craftsman is shit

Lol wut?

Aren't they all the same...

And yes Craftsman does make high tooth counts. The polished ones are like 150 or something. I have super old Craftsman stuff. Works fine still. Think I replaced the quarter at one point cause it started to skip. I also have a few Pittsburgh ones. I use the big ones like breaker bars and have never had one break... Think I put my 1/2 Craftsman on the end of a Jack handle for one job. Started to bend Jack handle.

I'm not saying Craftsman is the best and I actually try to stay away but not sure their ratchets are any shittier than any other

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[Senor_Taylor]

Doesn't Craftsman make 3 models of ratchets now? Thought their high end one had a high tooth count.

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Apparently Craftsman makes some 120 tooth ratchets, which is crazy.

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[D_Eclipse9916]

craftsman is shit

The past 10-15 years Craftsman is worse than harbor freight garbage. Old craftsman wrenches are the boooommmmbbbb though.

Gearwrench is at least decent if you want something local; but I’ve also had some quality control with them too.

The more teeth; the less torque you can apply FYI; just something to keep in mind when you use your jack handle on your long handle 3/8 ha.

[.RJ]

Craftsman went to shit chinese tools 10+ years ago. The name is worthless now.

But I cant remember the last time I had to torque something over 40 ft-lbs

[Senor_Taylor]

craftsman is shit

The past 10-15 years Craftsman is worse than harbor freight garbage. Old craftsman wrenches are the boooommmmbbbb though.

Gearwrench is at least decent if you want something local; but I’ve also had some quality control with them too.

The more teeth; the less torque you can apply FYI; just something to keep in mind when you use your jack handle on your long handle 3/8 ha.

That depends entirely on how many teeth the prawl has. If the prawl has more teeth, or if it's a dual/offeset prawl, an argument can be made that there's no difference in strength.

[Ryan T]

My old craftsman stuff is still holding tough but I don’t abuse it at the same level that I used too. I don’t have any snap-on ratchets, but I’ve got a set of Blue Point ratcheting wrenches I traded an electric impact for and they have been excellent. I think Blue Point is like the entry level snap-on stuff.

[NTIman]

craftsman is shit

The past 10-15 years Craftsman is worse than harbor freight garbage. Old craftsman wrenches are the boooommmmbbbb though.

Gearwrench is at least decent if you want something local; but I’ve also had some quality control with them too.

The more teeth; the less torque you can apply FYI; just something to keep in mind when you use your jack handle on your long handle 3/8 ha.

That depends entirely on how many teeth the prawl has. If the prawl has more teeth, or if it's a dual/offeset prawl, an argument can be made that there's no difference in strength.

100% true. The only ratchet I have flat out broken was a 36t Snap-On and every other time the pawl has just worn down over time (usually a few years of every day use). Everything I've worn out is 72t or more.

I do like Matco ratchets because the body of them is thinner than almost everything else, but most of my stuff is Snap-On. Craftsman has been shit for a while and I absolutely hate anything that has the annoying button on the back to release the socket. 

Blue-Point is the low-end Snap-On stuff. I have a couple sets of their ratcheting wrenches and they're phenomenal. So are the Expert branded tools from Mac, their low-end products. The biggest difference between the Blue-Point and the Snap-On stuff is the length, range of sizes available, and the lack of the flank drive open end of the wrenches.

Most of the major tool companies have been selling more of the low-end stuff recently. The quality is damn near the same, and warranty is the same, and the price is way lower.

[Ryan T]

Basically my tool breakdown is like this:
Ratchets/wrenches/sockets: Old Craftsman, one set of Blue Point and some GearWrench.
Pliers/cutters/Channel Locks: Channel Lock, Kobalt, and Vice Grips
Air Tools: Harbor Freight (they use a lot of air but you can keep pushing air to them till they break the bolt loose.)
Power Tools: DeWalt 20V Max.
Random hand tools you only use occasionally: Harbor Freight
Drill press/Bandsaw/Vise/Grinder/Press/Big Stuff: Old Craftsman

[Mike]

I need a new torque wrench. 1/2". I don't do much more than swap wheels a few times a year and change brakes. Don't need the best, but don't want something exploding in my face. Completely lost since reading back "Craftsman is shit." That used to be the go-to.

[Apoc]

New phone. Who dis?

[Mike]

Top poster you know.

[NTIman]

HF Icon, Cornwell 5-way preset, or Precision Instruments Split-beam.

Icon is easy to find and accurate, the Cornwell is nice because there are only 5 settings literally just for lug nuts, and the Precision Instruments is the same thing as the Snap-On but with a different head. It's my favorite torque wrench, especially for lug nuts just because I feel like it gives the most positive "click" when it hits the correct torque.

[Senor_Taylor]

If you just need it for wheels, the $10 HF one is more than enough.

I have an icon I got on clearance and it's really nice.

[Apoc]

Top poster you know.

Rj has 20k+

[Mike]

Fffuuuuu. Well it took him long enough.

[Senor_Taylor]

Everyone knows Posts/Year is the real metric of big dongus around here.

[Mike]

do we get to eliminate each year I've not visited? and wait you still lose.

[Apoc]

Yes, you get extra bonus points for every year you weren't an active part of the community.