The_Veg
D'OH!
I'll be the odd man out here and say that I hate Snap-On screwdrivers. I find that square handle to be rather uncomfortable. I also think that Snap-on make one thing better than tools, and that is hubris.
I'm no pro, but I do a lot of wrenching (damn near all of my own maintenance and repair of multiple vehicles, plus household stuff, plus helping friends). For many years I had a set of cheep old junky tools that a friend assembled for me from a pawn-shop after my tools were stolen while in his care. I even used them on the job for a year when I worked as a two-way radio installer. That was twenty years ago and I still have some of them!
Since then I've slowly built up to better quality. Sears was usually my first choice when I needed something, but not always, and there were other times when the only convenient source for something might be who knows where. I'd say maybe half my sockets are really what I'd call 'good,' but the remaining old junky ones just refuse to die. I keep telling myself that one day I'll go out and buy a complete set of something good but it has yet to become a priority. I've got a Craftsman ratchet (that's how you spell that) that I've had for about four or five years that is a joy to use and is always what I grab first. I've been meaning to get a shorter version of it, and a 1/4" version too. I've got a set of larger Torx-driver bits for ratchets, from the Kobalt brand...bought those when I mounted the engine-bars on the GS and they were the only locally-available set I could find that had a T-50. I also bought their multi-tip Torx screwdriver to carry on the bike. Those few Kobalt items have so far proven to be really great, very well-made and have yet to show any weakness under pressure. I like Klein for electrics too. In my most recent work, our company tools included a large set of Husky wrenches, both hand and ratchet/socket. We used those for things like installing and servicing medical air compressors and other hospital equipment, and they felt good in hand and performed admirably- especially since we were NOT professional mechanics and our methods could get a little strange at times. I've got a set of spline-drives I got from an auto-parts store that seem great, but I've only used them once.
The only tool I ever turned in under warranty was a Craftsman electric drill that was probably around 15 years old. They exchanged it for the then-current equivalent model with a smile and no questions- in and out in under five minutes. In hindsight, I don't think that they were supposed to do that for other than hand tools- oh well, their poorly-trained employee made my day (in a good way). That replacement drill is doing fine at around 10 years of age BTW.
I don't know where my next tools will come from, but I suspect that just like with cars and motorcycles, the average product is better today than it ever was.
I'm no pro, but I do a lot of wrenching (damn near all of my own maintenance and repair of multiple vehicles, plus household stuff, plus helping friends). For many years I had a set of cheep old junky tools that a friend assembled for me from a pawn-shop after my tools were stolen while in his care. I even used them on the job for a year when I worked as a two-way radio installer. That was twenty years ago and I still have some of them!
Since then I've slowly built up to better quality. Sears was usually my first choice when I needed something, but not always, and there were other times when the only convenient source for something might be who knows where. I'd say maybe half my sockets are really what I'd call 'good,' but the remaining old junky ones just refuse to die. I keep telling myself that one day I'll go out and buy a complete set of something good but it has yet to become a priority. I've got a Craftsman ratchet (that's how you spell that) that I've had for about four or five years that is a joy to use and is always what I grab first. I've been meaning to get a shorter version of it, and a 1/4" version too. I've got a set of larger Torx-driver bits for ratchets, from the Kobalt brand...bought those when I mounted the engine-bars on the GS and they were the only locally-available set I could find that had a T-50. I also bought their multi-tip Torx screwdriver to carry on the bike. Those few Kobalt items have so far proven to be really great, very well-made and have yet to show any weakness under pressure. I like Klein for electrics too. In my most recent work, our company tools included a large set of Husky wrenches, both hand and ratchet/socket. We used those for things like installing and servicing medical air compressors and other hospital equipment, and they felt good in hand and performed admirably- especially since we were NOT professional mechanics and our methods could get a little strange at times. I've got a set of spline-drives I got from an auto-parts store that seem great, but I've only used them once.
The only tool I ever turned in under warranty was a Craftsman electric drill that was probably around 15 years old. They exchanged it for the then-current equivalent model with a smile and no questions- in and out in under five minutes. In hindsight, I don't think that they were supposed to do that for other than hand tools- oh well, their poorly-trained employee made my day (in a good way). That replacement drill is doing fine at around 10 years of age BTW.
I don't know where my next tools will come from, but I suspect that just like with cars and motorcycles, the average product is better today than it ever was.
. I can still visually pick the right one , but sure helps when I am tired.
