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Socket set, wrenches, and screwdrivers: Icon? Cobalt?

4K views 34 replies 27 participants last post by  Ocelot 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello! I'm outfitting my dream shop and want to buy some good quality hand tools. I am not a mechanic and will not be wrenching on cars, but do have woodworking and general homeowner tasks in mind. I'm not planning to spend Snap-On kind of money, but otherwise the price is not the primary factor. I'll be storing them in a nice tool cabinet and plan to build a foam shadow box storage system in each drawer, so plastic boxes that come with the tools are not a factor. I want to build complete sets of SAE & metric, Philips & slots, and have good looking, good quality tools that I can use for the next 20-30 years. Also, the shop's primary color scheme is blue, so blue accents, though non-essential, are a plus. My dad's generation loved Craftsman, but its quality has reportedly gone way down hill over the years. So, what do you all recommend?
Icon?
Kobalt?
Other?

Thanks for your input!
 
#3 ·
Craftsman has gone downhill. But still decent. I think about equivalent to kobalt and husky etc. I have a bunch of old craftaman and snap on hand tools and the old craftsman are definitely better than newer stuff I have bought. I've actually been meaning to buy some of the USA made wood handled screwdrivers that Chris Schwarz likes because I do like wood handles when doing woodworking. I use my snap on stuff for wrenching in cars.
 
#5 ·
I work as a Mechanic if your plan is for not everyday use stay away snap on,Mac tools and Matco. I would not even consider Huskey, Craftsman there pricey to. I would look at Kobalt amazon for any tool that give a life time guarantee. Autozone has nice hand tools that have a life time guarantee and not pricey . IMO dropping money on tools that don't see ever day use is a waste of money when it comes to mechanic hand tool ,0ne basic low to medium price set is all you ever need
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
... I m outfitting my dream shop...
- Tower59
If you have the shekels… go Fe$tool or just dream about a great shop...

Primarily I recommend you don't rig out the shop with exotic timber… use plain timber (as good safe storage is a must) and $pend the $aving$ on better tool$.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
Seems to me that if you aren't going to go with USA made hand tools (Matco, Snap on, S-K, some I can't remember) you are just as well off with the Pittsburgh stuff from Harbor Freight. Even Craftsman (which was a leading contender for years) has went to Asian manufacture.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the suggestions! I've had some of the Pittsburgh tools from Harbor Freight over the years and have had a couple sockets and ratchets break. I want higher quality than that, though ICON from Harbor Freight is a possibility. Anyone with first hand experience with Kobalt? What about Tekton? Thanks for your help!
 
#11 ·
For the wrenches love the Maximum's from Canadian Tire(Same Lifetime warranty as Snap on or Craftsman). Same style as Snap On.
As for Screwdrivers mostly Lee Valley with the Gracies seperated in the tool cabinet! For use on the Brass screws only! Do have a few cheap open ends for use on special tools, like the shaper collets and drill press table.
 
#12 ·
Current Craftsman are so-so. Just do not buy a ratchet handle from them. I have had two Craftsman ratchets pop lose almost braking my hand once. I have a few Snap On and don't find them anything special except the price. I have had very good luck with Kobalt, though my very favorite 3/8 ratchet is a $7 plastic one from HF. Husky seems fine too.

Snap-ON, Mac, etc are in business as they drive up to a shop and give as much credit as needed. You are paying for credit and service. Tools are good, but do you need to drop 10K to get started and have it financed?

Look for wrenches and sockets that have the round lobe design, not sharp corners. Used to be only Snap-On and Bonney. Patients finally ended so everyone has them. They put the force further back on the nut so don't round them off. Most of my wrenches are 6 point, but I find I need 12 point more often. I sure like the push button socket release. It was a Sears unique until the pattents came off.

I also have the ratchet combo wrenches from HF. Use them all the time, more than the nice long handle Craftsman right next to them. I have pulled way to hard with them on rusty junk and never had an issue.

Besides the house and woodshop, I also restore old British cars for fun. ( Yea, I'm really sick)

For screw drivers I have almost completely converted to 1/4 inch insert bits. The better ones ( read the reviews, they do differ) have more grip and the flats are hollow ground so far better for wood screws. I avoid slots actually, using mostly Philips and Torx, but of course in woodworking, with a Kreg we have to use square too. I use power when I can, so buy bits in bulk.

I like my Kobalt tool boxes much better than my Craftsman ones.

Everyone has their favorites. Some almost religious dedication. I just look at each tool and make up my mind. One company makes their combo wrenches with a 90 degree offset. Some smoth, some rough, some colored.
 
#14 ·
I have many tools-wat too many tools! Why? Gifts, gifts and more gifts. Anyhow, nearly 50 years ago, I bought 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" SK Wayne socket sets, simply superb. My father, who passed in 2004, bought me the same sizes in Craftsmen, and they're old enough to be decent.

I have a bang around set of Harbor Freight socket sets and box end wrenches (not the real cheap ones), and they're a real value, well finished and have yet to break or round over. Amazon sells Tekton, and these not only have a lifetime warranty, they are American made.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a Craftsman socket set that I have had for 35 years or so. These have never failed me. I have a Huskey socket set for limited use. The rest of my hand tools are a combination ranging from things my dad had that will never die to some Pittsburgh stuff that I use on occasion. For what it's worth I thought Huskey was going the lifetime warranty route. The most important thing to is figure out how much and what kind of use you'll put these tools to. Every day use versus every once in a blue moon makes a big difference.
 
#16 ·
I've bought craftsman metric and standard sets of wrenches, etc. But…......I've got SK sets,etc. If I was doing it again I would buy Pittsburg. They have been compared on I believe it's called the Garage network or something and has had great reviews in comparison…I bought the ICON torque wrench and it wa compared to SK with great results…

If your making money with tools you pay for the best you can afford. When your just supplying tools to do DIY you still buy the best you can afford but within reason.When you get old tools become a one time usage…....
 
#17 ·
If I can offer an idea, watch for tools at garage sales. Sometimes you can find good deals. Personally I'm not a mechanic but I use my tools a lot (restoring a Corvette and a T-bird for two). I have some Craftsman tools I bought 40-50 years ago and are still going strong. I watch what the warranty is on tools before buying as most come from the Pacific Rim currently, regard less of the brand. About the only socket I've broken in the last 10 years was a deep 1/4" drive socket from Ace Hardware, which they gave me another in place of it.
Power tools on the other hard are harder to pick out good ones IMO. Even HF has some jems, just not as many as other brands though most to all come from China now days.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
At my old job we replaced all of our old wore out craftsman tools with kobalts…... the rockets were fine. The ratchets sucked in comparison but I'm talking about 30 year old quality craftsman tools.
I personally have a mixture craftsman, great neck, Stanley and crescent. I personally like the crescent better than any of the other. Not sure where they are made tho. I think some Stanley tools are still made in America so they are worth checking out
Also for screwdrivers I'd suggest grace brand
 
#20 ·
Over the years I've bought cheap and I've bought better. I settled on Craftsman hand tools, sockets and wrenches. One thing I did and I recommend, is using Ernest tool holders. I've got my tools hanging on a peg board. The Ernest holders keep my tools nicely organized. All of them, sockets and wrenches.

I'm a bit anal about being organized and keeping my tools in their proper place. I hate searching hours for anything. These tool holders make my life so much more simple.
 
#21 · (Edited by Moderator)
In the 70's & 80's I was a NIASE Certified mechanic. All the tools I still have. A lot of specialty tools for the older vehicles, now obsolete. The cheap sockets and wrenches I bought doubles in case one cracked or snapped. Those cheap tools have lasted as long as my Snap-On quality tools.

My recommendation is on 1/4" sockets get quality, the cheap 1/4" sockets don't fit the bolt heads as well as the quality 1/4" sockets. When it comes to phillips or slotted screw drivers, 'Blue point' aren't any better than the cheap ones. Get several not just one. When get worn just grind it down for a scratch awl, center punch, slotted driver or small pry bar.

I have a mixture of Duro (bought out by S-K in the 70's), S-K, Snap-On, Matco, Mac, Craftsman, Napa, M-K, Ken-Tool, Blue Point, Crest, Husky and other cheap brands. All purchased in the 70's & 80's, and all still good condition.
 
#22 ·
Well, most of what I have is old craftsman. Back when they were still very good tools.
However, I have bought a few newer craftsman in the last year. They still feel good in my hand, and have handled what I have thrown at them so far. Time will tell.
Same goes for Kobalt. The couple Kobalt tools I have bought are holding up well.
The old S-k were great, and Proto too. My tool box has been what I consider complete for many years now.
So I am only adding an occasional tool these days.
So a couple things I find interesting. I work for a construction company here in Las Vegas.
And I have seen our mechanics, who in the past would only have the big names in there boxes. Snap On, Mac, Matco, now using Icon, Craftsman and other tools not sold buy the big tool truck companies.
I had inquired about this about 6 months ago. And discovered that they can't seem to get a tool truck to stop by anymore. The Snap on guy retired, and it seems no one has taken over his route. And calls to others in town have gone unanswered. I do still see Mac every now and then. So just recently, a couple mechanics have purchased new Icon tool boxes. Let me say, Wow. impressive tool box, with a tool truck price tag too. More than I can afford.
I have upgraded in the last year to the largest US General boxes harbor freight sells. 56" top and bottom, and the 72" cabinet. I spent the better part of a year looking at boxes. Would have loved a tool truck brand. But not on my budget. After bouncing store to store, and online. US General won out over Kobalt and Husky. And a couple online brands.
So I did just find the web site, that claims to list tools still made in the USA.
Here is the link to it. http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html
And I will checking into it more this weekend. I have still bought Craftsman, but I see on this web site that S-k is still US made. So maybe a change to S-K in my future.
My woodworking hand tool collection is a good mix of old and new. Been pretty easy to buy quality made in US, Canada, or Europe. In the end though, you have to buy what you can afford. I'm not a pro mechanic. And never have been able to afford all tool truck branded tools. I do have some specialty tools. I have still bought Craftsman, because they still have a good feel to them.
 
#23 ·
Parallel tip screwdrivers like Grace are the best for slot head wood screws or gun screws. Mine even came with a burnisher.

- Foghorn
THis is why I use 1/4 bits, THey are hollow ground, cost pennies and when they polish or deform, toss them. Maybe not a pretty like a $300 gunsmithing set, but function.
I have reground most of my traditional screw drivers to fit standard size screws. Surprisingly, the expensive Snap-On set I was given did not fit slots. So I ground them all to the next size down. 6-8, 10-12, 1/4 etc.
 
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