Cheap tools v Good ones

[HangOver]

Cheap tools v Good ones

When I was about 16 I bought a socket set from a market stall it cost a whopping 5 pounds, about $12. (All I could afford at the time).
I have used it to fix my vehicles from a Leyland van, Ford Escort to the Falcon I have now.

Over the years I have bought/acquired a Draper Expert, (UK brand) and a Kamasa socket set to use after my $12 ratchet gives up the ghost.

I started using the other sets last year when I got my Rangie.
Because my $12 set is buggered, no, because I wanted to, I had them for about 6 years and never used them, they looked wrong all clean and shiny.

My 20 year old, yes 20 years old ! socket set is still going strong, all I have managed to do is loose one 17mm socket, (what good are they anyway) and broke one case latch.


How’s that for a return on investment. :D



So what cheap tool has gone the distance for you, what was it, how much was it and how long have you had it for ???

Ps it won’t count if it just lays in the draw, you have to use it.

[Blknight.aus]

The tools dad Bought for his rover, and gave to me when he gave me the rover..

He paid squidly for em, they were old and rusty when he got em according to him...

Not an expansive collection just a pair of pliers and the common open enders, the really heavy ones with the wierd offsets to em, and theyre perfect for series bellhousing nuts, propshafts and swivel mounting bolts (the 6 that hold the swivel to the axle housing)

[JDNSW]

Cheap tools v Good ones

When I was about 16 I bought a socket set from a market stall it cost a whopping 5 pounds, about $12. (All I could afford at the time).
I have used it to fix my vehicles from a Leyland van, Ford Escort to the Falcon I have now.

Over the years I have bought/acquired a Draper Expert, (UK brand) and a Kamasa socket set to use after my $12 ratchet gives up the ghost.

I started using the other sets last year when I got my Rangie.
Because my $12 set is buggered, no, because I wanted to, I had them for about 6 years and never used them, they looked wrong all clean and shiny.

My 20 year old, yes 20 years old ! socket set is still going strong, all I have managed to do is loose one 17mm socket, (what good are they anyway) and broke one case latch.


How’s that for a return on investment. :D



So what cheap tool has gone the distance for you, what was it, how much was it and how long have you had it for ???

Ps it won’t count if it just lays in the draw, you have to use it.

17mm fits the oil filter on the County!
I have several cheap sets of ring - open end Chinese spanners that I have used for years - occasionally I break one, but most things are not ridiculously tight anyway, and if you look after your gear they don't get rusted up. And if it IS tight, use a socket anyway. My sockets are a weird collection of mostly good quality collected from garage sales, clearing sales and op shops. But the ring open enders get lost more often than broken, plus having cheap ones I can have one set in each vehicle, one in the workshop and one in the house - these are the spanners you mostly use, and a lot better on the nuts and bolt heads than using a shifter.
John

[Pedro_The_Swift]

My mum and dad gave me a Fuller Toolbox for chrissy the year I started my apprenticship,,
only recently replaced the ratchet,,
all sockets doing well:D
not many originals spanners left now though,,,


couldnt count the number of things a 17mm socket has fitted over the years,,
isnt the sump plug on the D2 17mm??:D

[dobbo]

isnt the sump plug on the D2 17mm??:D

Yes it is


So guys whats the conclusion?

To me all will do the job but, do you spend a couple of hundred on the tools now and replace in a couple of years time or spend the big biccies now and have a nice set to loose, then still have to replace them in a couple of years.

[hiline]

i have a Ozito cordless drill

that i bought about 5yrs ago and still going strong :D

it came with all the fancy little drill bits and stuff and 2 batteries with indicator lights on the batteries to tell you how much charge is left:D

18volt power as well and the grand total of $40 with carry case

[Phoenix]

It kinda depends if you ask me. I had a supercheap socket set, which did ok, but I snapped 3 sockets in simple stuff, spon the lug on the ratchet handle around and the sockets themselves were only just the right size. Recently I saved up and got a sidchrome set, and haven't looked back.

Same problem with my cheapie pliers, wouldn't cut things cleanly, wouldn't grip things properly. Got some stanley ones and they work on everything from car bits to pulling up carpet and floors. Mind you, some things that I have are cheapie tools that will probably last forever. But whereas untill I started doing a bit of mechanical work, I figured that the cheapies will do, now I save up and get at least middle of the range.

Power tools seem to be an exception though, the cheapie oens seem to last as long as the regular ones. That reminds me, I must look at how much it is for a small grider. Dad snapped the handle on his the other day and I need one to use for some cleaning up of some rust on Grover. I guess i'd better check my account.

[EchiDna]

I bought a torque wrench on special at K-Mart as store damaged goods(torn cardboard box over the plastic case) - only cost about $45... it was only later when I got home that I found someone (not me!) had swapped the contents of the cheap packaging for a kinchrome wrench worth a few hundred... not quite cheap, but the purchase price was!

socket sets - well I bought cheap and nasty from McEwans many, many moons ago and have so far replaced the ratchet and the 12mm and 14mm as they are the most heavily used and the only ones to have become damaged.

I took the recommendation of an old metalurgist friend who tested these things to failure and his words were to buy from big chain stores as they must test things like tools, trolley jacks etc according to Aussie standards and they must pass to be allowed on sale... those that fail end up in markets or landfill! (note I aint talking about electrical tools here, just those mechanical items like spanners, sockets etc)

[HangOver]

i have a Ozito cordless drill

that i bought about 5yrs ago and still going strong :D

it came with all the fancy little drill bits and stuff and 2 batteries with indicator lights on the batteries to tell you how much charge is left:D

18volt power as well and the grand total of $40 with carry case

I got one of those, (not cordless) with a 2 or 3 year warranty, I used it for a year then tried to drill through my towbar.
I burned the motor out in seconds and got an exchange on warranty from bunnings. I burned that one out as well the same day.
I took it back and paid a bit more and got the 'Daddy' Ozito drill :twisted:

It weights ton, drills, hammers, chisels and went throught the towbar like butter.
I don't think I'll be wearing this one out in a hurry.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Steve
Yet another top post,you are the man.!!!!!!
OK divide it into mechanical and power tools as I have 2 totally opposite ideas.
Electrical,GO GMC cheap crud they arent that bad BUY IT NEW,HEAPS cheaper than the big brands but with a warranty to match.Buy and abuse them and replace em if you need to undrew warantty.
Mechanical tools,TOTALY the opposite,you pay for what you get,sechondhand is the go,the good brands are good no matter how old,my trick is haunt the "cash converters from stolen goods" shops,offer them 1/2 the advertised price an its yours
Andrew

[DeeJay]

I bought a brand x metal cutoff saw ( with a swing arm) for $129.00 approx 4 years ago. The alternatives were all brand names for $350 or more.
That damn thing has cut heaps of steel- up to 150mm beams. I made a carport and did the framework for my under house garage-gone thru around 20 blades, and I put a Diamond blade on it then cut 1800 40 mm pavers, some 3 times.
Its still going strong :D :D

[tombraider]

The black and decker 2 speed power drill that my father purchased for $5.00 brand new back 33 years ago.

It finally gave up the ghost boring some holes in an alloy bash plate on the weekend...

UNACCEPTABLE I SAY!!!!:mad:

I expect warranty and/or a full refund.

:wasntme:

[cewilson]

Hi Steve
Yet another top post,you are the man.!!!!!!
OK divide it into mechanical and power tools as I have 2 totally opposite ideas.
Electrical,GO GMC cheap crud they arent that bad BUY IT NEW,HEAPS cheaper than the big brands but with a warranty to match.Buy and abuse them and replace em if you need to undrew warantty.
Mechanical tools,TOTALY the opposite,you pay for what you get,sechondhand is the go,the good brands are good no matter how old,my trick is haunt the "cash converters from stolen goods" shops,offer them 1/2 the advertised price an its yours
Andrew

I do a very similar thing. Garage sales are great for the old Sidchrome tools, and they just keep going strong. I haven't managed to break very many at all - and it's my trade! :cool:

[Ace]

I have never skimped on power tools, thats a different ball game to hand tools, generally cheap power tools are what you pay for them, cheap.

Hand tools now thats a different story, i bought a 50 or 60 piece spanner set with some screw drivers and pliers from supercrap ages ago for $90 and they are still going strong, i havent busted any but i bent a couple of the ring spanners. The pliers are buggers, the side cutters took a chunk out of the head the first time i used them but the spanners are great.

I have a cheap $20 socket set i bought when i was in high school and whilst a few of the sockets are missing the ratchets are still going strong 10yrs later, the 3/8 ratchet is permanently assigned to the oil filter remover i bought.

I have slowly been working on building up my quality tools collection, such as Kingchrome socket set (1/2in drive), smaller sidchrome socket set (1/4 and 3/8 drive), kingchrome torque wrench, kingchrome ratchet spanners (imperial, hoping to get the metric ones for xmas), got a rolling tool chest for my birthday, plus a few other bits and bobs. Next thing on the list is an extensive set of kingchrome spanners..

Matt

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks:)

Have had my ETC industrial A/F combination spanner & Socket set for about 25 years now(EH and Sidchromes stolen) and the only thing that has 1/2 died (only works 1 way) is the ratchet,(killed it removing the shackle bolts on the 2a):( my favourite shopping spots are Swap Meets,or the Sunday markets, I shop by brand now, Sidchrome(over 20yr old) Daniel-Forge, Dowidat, Dufor, Stawylie,Snap-on,or any good UK or USA manufactured brands, I have a fair range of A/F(SAE), Whitworth,BSF,and common Metric(german). the swap meets are best as you can usually haggle the price, got a 12inch knuckle head ratchet "Daniel Forge" for $10:D just needed a clean with steelwool, and the garden-hose handle cover replaced;)
cheers.

[dungarover]

When I first got into LR's I bought cheap tools (on apprentice wages that's all I could afford), some bits stood up and i still have then now, but others fell to pieces after a few uses (sockets mainly, cheap sockets are shyte :mad: :mad: :mad: )

I since bought better tools and now I have a few $$$ I can afford to fork out on Sidchrome, etc.. I bought a 1/2 drive socket set about 2 years ago and I broke the stubby extension, but was replace reluctantly by Glenfords who tried to weasel there way out of it, but replaced it no q's asked.

Also got a good set of Kingchrome 3/8 drive socket set, so far so good.

Air tools, Supacheap ones get the job done. Rattle gun was $39, 3/8 air rachet was about the same price, die grinder was about $50 with all the bits (used once). Air compressor was about $120 on special (equivelent to a $80 one now) and although it runs out a bit quick 4 years later it's still hammering along nicely.

Trav

[HangOver]

The black and decker 2 speed power drill that my father purchased for $5.00 brand new back 33 years ago.

It finally gave up the ghost boring some holes in an alloy bash plate on the weekend...

UNACCEPTABLE I SAY!!!!:mad:

I expect warranty and/or a full refund.

:wasntme:

I bought one of the old metal B&D drills from a swap meet for 2 pounds I had to put a plug on it, (50 pence). I must have used it for about 5 years then sold it again on a swap meet before coming to Oz, I got 2 pounds for it, Damn I'm out of pocket 50pence :(

[George130]

My tools are a mixture of ultra cheap and expensive. I have found some of the cheap power tools can take a punishment. Also with a $20 cordless drill who cares when you slip and drop it from the roof. Do that with an expensive one and its annoying.
I started with a cheap socket set and as I find I can't do a job with it I then get the bits I need so that over time it grows with better tools all the time. The one tool I spent up big the first time on was my big compressor. Started with one that was given to me that none of the guages worked on, The safty cut of also didn't work so once you got it going it would just keep pomping till the pressure forced the motor to stop. So when doing the house I bought a farm one that should last my lifetime.

[Bigbjorn]

My hand tools are all name brands aside from a few items purchased for one-off jobs. Sidchrome, Proto, Britool, Armstrong, Allen, Blue Point, Dowidat, Stahlwille, Beta, Crescent, Unbrako.

Daniel Forge were Sidchrome's price leader for the discounting hardware chains, made in Taiwan.

Snap On, in my opinion, are just an average tool deliberately made with a pretty face, heavily marketed, and expensive by virtue of their pyramid franchising scheme.

The best all-round severe service industrial quality hand tools I have used in almost fifty years since apprenticed are Armstrong, not pretty, but everlasting (Armstrong Bros. Chicago). They also make the best and strongest lathe tool holders I have come across.

[dungarover]

Snap On, in my opinion, are just an average tool deliberately made with a pretty face, heavily marketed, and expensive by virtue of their pyramid franchising scheme.

They sound like typicpl Yank crap. All bling and no substance like most American products are.

Trav

[Reads90]

Cheap tools v Good ones

When I was about 16 I bought a socket set from a market stall it cost a whopping 5 pounds, about $12. (All I could afford at the time).
I have used it to fix my vehicles from a Leyland van, Ford Escort to the Falcon I have now.

Over the years I have bought/acquired a Draper Expert, (UK brand) and a Kamasa socket set to use after my $12 ratchet gives up the ghost.

I started using the other sets last year when I got my Rangie.
Because my $12 set is buggered, no, because I wanted to, I had them for about 6 years and never used them, they looked wrong all clean and shiny.

My 20 year old, yes 20 years old ! socket set is still going strong, all I have managed to do is loose one 17mm socket, (what good are they anyway) and broke one case latch.


How’s that for a return on investment. :D



So what cheap tool has gone the distance for you, what was it, how much was it and how long have you had it for ???

Ps it won’t count if it just lays in the draw, you have to use it.

I have bought cheap tools over the years mainly because i am ruff on tools and lose them before i break them. so never really wanted to spend a fortune on expensive ones. But the best tool i have bought is an extention bar for sockets. Very usefull on Landies, also a draper 1" socket aset, great for taking radius arms and stuff like that. But also another usefull tool is a prop shaft tool so you can use racket on you prop bolts. Make life alot easer
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I have alot of draper stuff. which i bought with me from the Uk. Good stuff. (Now for the name droping ) main reason i have draper stuff is i went to school with the people who now own draper (their grandparnets owned it and left it to the 4 granchildern when they died, they were about 16 at the time.). My cousin married one of them too. Me and my brother were sponsered by them (well brother still is) used to just go around the factory (which is in Chandlers ford , where i used to live) and just load up with tools.

[Bigbjorn]

They sound like typicpl Yank crap. All bling and no substance like most American products are.

Trav

You are quite wrong there, aquarangie. The American makers of small tools lead the world in quality and variety. Armstrong, Proto, Allen, Starrett, Brown & Sharp, Blue Point, all American and all top shelf. Most of the advances & innovations in machine tools have come from the USA. Brown & Sharp and Gleason virtually wrote the book on gear cutting. Brown & Sharp & Starrett on precision measurement. The capstan & turret lathe came from USA industry in the 1800's, probably by Brown & Sharp or Pratt & Whitney, historians differ. Pratt & Whitney developed the jig borer. NC & CNC machine tools were US innovations and they still make the best in spite of the Asian cost advantage. GM, Ford, and Chrysler in conjunction with their suppliers developed mass production thin wall foundry technology. GM solved the problems with high volume large complex aluminium castings and made the mass produced modern auto engine possible and affordable.

Get a couple of the readily available catalogues from Travers Tool, or Machine Shop Discount Supply and others and be gobsmacked at the variety and the great prices.

[dungarover]

You are quite wrong there, aquarangie. The American makers of small tools lead the world in quality and variety. Armstrong, Proto, Allen, Starrett, Brown & Sharp, Blue Point, all American and all top shelf. Most of the advances & innovations in machine tools have come from the USA. Brown & Sharp and Gleason virtually wrote the book on gear cutting. Brown & Sharp & Starrett on precision measurement. The capstan & turret lathe came from USA industry in the 1800's, probably by Brown & Sharp or Pratt & Whitney, historians differ. Pratt & Whitney developed the jig borer. NC & CNC machine tools were US innovations and they still make the best in spite of the Asian cost advantage. GM, Ford, and Chrysler in conjunction with their suppliers developed mass production thin wall foundry technology. GM solved the problems with high volume large complex aluminium castings and made the mass produced modern auto engine possible and affordable.

Get a couple of the readily available catalogues from Travers Tool, or Machine Shop Discount Supply and others and be gobsmacked at the variety and the great prices.

Travers tools, good name and spelt as it should be (that's how my full name is spelt:D :D )

Maybe I should have been a bit more specific. If something American isn't done right, they usually cover it up with great marketing, Rancho shocks come to this point and by the sounds of it, Snap-on do the same.

I don't claim to be a tool expert, just my observations. I have been accused of being one at some stage in my life though :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Trav

[Utemad]

They sound like typicpl Yank crap. All bling and no substance like most American products are.

Trav

The only Snap-on stuff I've got is three screwdrivers and two (different types) ratchet screwdrivers. Plus a Blue Point torx bit tool (like a swiss army knife). Plus a pair of small electronics side cutters

They are the best screw drivers I've ever used. Not cheap though.

I thought Snap-on and Blue Point were the same? Well at least the Snap-on man sold Blue Point from his van.

I have two Sidchrome socket sets (1/4 and 1/2 inch AF and metric) plus a set each of AF and metric open ended and ring spanners.

I have a DeWalt 12v drill. It needs a new battery but it has copped a flogging and still works fine.

I have some cheap stuff left over from my earlier years but I have broken most of it.

It is amazing how much easier doing a job can be when you have good quality tools.

[rick130]

Blue Point is Snap On stuff not actually manufactured by them.
Used to use a Blue Point tyre pressure gauge for the race car. It was the cheapest good quality 20psi max. bleed off gauge I could get. :D

Qantas apprentices used to be encouraged to buy Snap On. They obviously had a deal going, plus they are less likely to have their chrome flake.
Have a 1/4" drive Snap On socket set and a few wobble drive extensions, etc. Bought them when they were the only ones making them.
Wanted a Stahlwille 1/4" set at the time, but it was nearly $250 more than the Snap On one, and this was 14 years ago :o

Can you still get Proto here ? (It is Stanleys top of the range stuff)
Have a few ring spanners and they are really nice to use and very nicely made.

[rick130]

<snip>
It is amazing how much easier doing a job can be when you have good quality tools.

yep, like my Hilti hammer drill. Makes my Makita look like a toy. Really like my little Metabo 12v drill. got it on special paired with a Sortimo metal parts case when Bunnings were offloading all their Metabo stuff. Was a toss up between De Walt and Metabo and the tool bloke (left over from BBC Hardware days) reckoned he'd had less (as in none) comebacks with batteries on the Metabo's over the years.

[1103.9TDI]

Snap On are excellent quality hand tools, used extensively in the aviation industry, but are expensive. Snap On also have a lifetime replacement warranty. Great tools, but overkill for a landy. The best handtools are secondhand Bahco, old Sidchrome, Gedore, Proto, Stahlwille, Metrinch, Kinchrome, etc if you can find them!. Otherwise buy the odd socket or spanner new, you know it'll last.
My first set was Kmart, the thin walled, soft sockets broke, extensions bent, I took it back and bought four good quality sockets and a ratchet, for the same price, still got them.
Same goes for power tools, if you're always at home and have lots of time to go back and forth, halfway through a job, swapping cheap stuff that could cause you an injury, go ahead buy the cheapest available. Let alone the waste this creates. I reckon now is the time to buy good gear while it's at a good price, because you won't be able to once these quality manufacturers are driven out of business by crook quality Chinese/Indian carpetbaggers.:mad:

[Bytemrk]

G'day Folks:)

Have had my ETC industrial A/F combination spanner & Socket set for about 25 years now(EH and Sidchromes stolen) and the only thing that has 1/2 died (only works 1 way) is the ratchet,


Hey UncleHo, I have an ETC set ... similar age... and the only thing wrong.. is the ratchet is a bit dodgey..lol


Think we could get a warranty claim:p.. we could point out it's obviously a common fault!...


Mark

[Utemad]

Can you still get Proto here ? (It is Stanleys top of the range stuff)

My brother bought a Sidchrome socket/spanner set new about 7 years ago and it was full of Proto stuff.

[kie4]

Cheep tools,expensive tools.It all depends on what you use them for.
for your saturday afternoon tinkle cheep tools are the way to go.
If you work with them everyday the best tools are what you need.
When I arrived in WA my tools were still on the boat over from the UK when I started work. Another mechanic let me use his tools, which were cheap and I struggled. For one they were not smooth ie the name of the tool was embossed on the side of the spanner which caused a blister. I lost knuckels using badly fitting spanners and sockets,a rachet with the rachet cogs from Big Ben.screw drivers which rounded out philips screws. Im not even gonna go there with torx bits.
Working with crap tools is like a haidresser doing hair with a dog comb and kitchen scissors you just know what kind of hair cut you would get.
I have all Snap-on and Blue point tools and tool chests.
My top box I bought when I started work 18 years ago, all the draws still roll in and out smoothly. If you can imagine 18 years of opening and closing the draws a couple of dozen times a day with the weight of the tools in them , not bad going dont you think?
I have snapped a few sockets and screwdriver heads but with a life time gaurentee they ware just replaced.
A propper screwdriver will hold a new screw on the end of it horizontally.
etc etc.
I get a bonus at work for earning the company over a certain amount of money, when I got tools my bonus went up by over a third!!!!

Rich

[Utemad]

The only Snap-on stuff I've got is three screwdrivers and two (different types) ratchet screwdrivers. Plus a Blue Point torx bit tool (like a swiss army knife). Plus a pair of small electronics side cutters

Oooh oooh oooh I nearly forgot my Snap-on pick set. Perfect for all those small jobs such as getting wires into fiddly spots, scraping small holes clean or just cleaning your finger nails :)
Plus my Snap-on tool box. It is a carry around one (not drawers). It is the only Snap-on thing I have broken (the shoulder strap).

[rick130]

It is the only Snap-on thing I have broken (the shoulder strap). __________________

destroyed my Snap On 1/2" breaker bar in January after 14 years sterling service, but I believe 300tdi fron crank bolts should use a 3/4" drive......:angel:

Forgot to mention earlier that IMHO shifters are made by Bahco and no one else. :D

[Mudnut]

Being a carpenter, I tend to buy tools that will last. Some are cheap some are expensive. I will hire tools that I only plan to use infrequently, but will buy when I see a need to use them again.
I have a 25 year old set of Craftman sockets. They are going strong, and once when I destroyed a 3/8 ratchet by putting an extension on the handle to get more torque. Took it back to Sears (in the U.S.) to buy a replacement, the sales man gave me an other. When I explained that I misused it, he insisted and said they were guaranteed for life. Sometimes it pays to buy name brands.

Ken;)

[abaddonxi]

Forgot to mention earlier that IMHO shifters are made by Bahco and no one else. :D

Hear, Hear.

:D

Cheers
Simon

[DiscoDan]

My favoured tools are my ETC 1/2' set had it now for 18 years and the ratchet still works however it has been stipped down and rebuilt (by me) a few times. It has also handled having a large pipe swinging off it (not the norm):D

The other is my Metabo 500w 2 speed drill. I bought this second hand 10 years ago and it has enough torque in low gear to hurt me when it grabs (damn near threw me off the roof the bit (13mm)stopped, the drill and I spun)

Most of my had tools are Sidchrome (early stuff) with a spinkling of others, also have a Powerbuilt 1/4' set but the ratchet died (didn't like the pipe:D ) and has been replaced with a Repco one.

As for Snap-On, I rate then up there with the best if not the best, all tools might fail but their warrenty beats all others.:cool:

Case one, Rubber mallet abused daily. The face of the mallet was chipping off whilst removing a bulldozers gearbox (rusty) replaced no questions

Case two, 3/8 ratchet snapped after being used with 6 foot pipe again (the ratchet mech didn't fail the 3/8' pin twisted off) replaced no questions

Case 3 tool box over loaded and used by mobile tech in back of a ute. The drawers had bowed and slides were sticking, due to the virabrations causing the bearings and dirt to grind together. The tech wanted to upgrade to the next size tool box, so the Snap-On man reduced the price of the new box by the current replacement cost of the old box. This was done even though the box was over 20 years old. Turns out the mechanic had bought the box from the (now) Qld state rep for Snap-on.

In my job now I don't swing spanners any more but the best advice I received was to ensure that the tools were the best you could afford to buy and they have to be light enough to use on the job.

My 1/2 inch gear is really too big for the current run of cars however I worked on Tanks, Heavy road transport, Mining equipment and earth moving equipment (hence the pipe) :twisted:

I should be looking at a new 3/8 socket set but doubt it will be snap-on, more than likely Repco as they are cheap and it has the lifetime warrenty. And yes I do know what R.E.P.C.O stands for.:D

Saying all this the last item I bought was a $49 angle grinder and it came with 150 disks and a 2yr warrenty. So far it hasn't broken.

Danny

[Bigbjorn]

Have a look at this web site. www.msdiscount.com Their entire 800 page catalogue is on it. They take orders by e-mail and credit card and ship promptly by whatever method you specify. I find U.S. Post Office cheapest. Air mail for light stuff and surface for heavy items.

[rick130]

Have a look at this web site. www.msdiscount.com (http://www.msdiscount.com) Their entire 800 page catalogue is on it. They take orders by e-mail and credit card and ship promptly by whatever method you specify. I find U.S. Post Office cheapest. Air mail for light stuff and surface for heavy items.

I must resist clicking on the link, I must resist clicking on the link, I must........ :lol2:

[disco_nex]

Work in the Aviation industry, and I've had some experiences with some tools. The Span-on tools we use are a few years old, so I dont know what the new ones are like, but nothing kills the stuff we have. The Span on stuff is dropped, chiselled, hammered and damaged in some wierd ways. Going to have to buy the Ratchets, i love them! We use Stahlwille in smaller kits, found them good, but arent in the nice design and function as the Snap on, but they are pretty awesome in their own right. Got new Sidchrome on a toolboard and I avoid it as far as possible. It breaks in some jobs it shouldnt and the ratchet design is truly useless for the work i do. Shame, considering the older stuff I have at home is so good. Super cheap auto stuffis breaking on me left, right and centre at home, got to upgrade.....:cool:

[abaddonxi]

Only problem with snap on is the writing on the handle of the shifter.

Not to be used as a hammer or a lever.

It's a shifter, what are you supposed to do with it if you don't use it as a hammer or a lever?

What I like about Bahco - when I bought my first it came with instructions on how to correctly loosen or tighten a nut with a shifter.

:D

Cheers
Simon.

[Bigbjorn]

Only problem with snap on is the writing on the handle of the shifter.

Not to be used as a hammer or a lever.

It's a shifter, what are you supposed to do with it if you don't use it as a hammer or a lever?

What I like about Bahco - when I bought my first it came with instructions on how to correctly loosen or tighten a nut with a shifter.

:D

Cheers
Simon.

The moving jaw should lead. First year apprentice stuff.

There was a fitting and turning teacher at Yeronga TAFE who would not permit apprentices in his machine shop classes to be issued or use shifters. They had to work out the correct size wrench and ask the storeman for it.

One prevoc. class, at year's end party made him a gift of a tiepin made from a toy 2" shifter.

He was a bit of a stuffy pr**k. He was taking an adult evening group in fitting & machining and had them following the curriculum and doing the apprentice exercises, to much grumbling. The senior teacher had to have a word with him, and tell him that most of the mature age students were there to use the machines on their own projects and some of them had twenty years service up. The college did not mind this as it kept up the numbers and kept the course open for those who wished to learn.

[abaddonxi]

Did my 'apprenticeship' as a grip.

That training only takes you as far as, 'use a shifter as a hammer or a lever'.

Cheers
Simon

[abaddonxi]

Just to show the respect that some hold for Snap On tool.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270059825718&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1

Cheers
Simon

[rick130]

The moving jaw should lead. First year apprentice stuff.

Bahco are guaranteed both ways, or at least used to be :D

[HangOver]

Just to show the respect that some hold for Snap On tool.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270059825718&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:AU:1

Cheers
Simon
$100 for a shifter!
How much are they new??

[lokka]

G'day all i brought my first tool sidchrome set when i ws 18 from david jones with voutchers i scored for my 18th b day and still have most of them and they have had a hard life and still go strong only ratchet is a bit worn that was when my rides were old holdens then i brougt my first japer and needed metric tools so i brought cheep stuff and had em bend or break so i would look for second hand stuff wenever i was about at markets and stuff and made up a mixture of stuff to go with my older set now the set has slimed down thanx to lending them to friends and family so it now has only the basics 4 the rangie and lives under my seat in an ammo box and i purchased a new kit for major work i wanted sidchrome but was told not to cause there now crap and kincrome didnt have the kit i wanted and couldent afford a bigger kit and the salesman talked me into eurotech stuff he praised it and said it was g/teed for life so i brought it and i think it's as good or beter than old sidchrome as for power tools migomag 260's cant go past em cig transtig 141's are superbe and a mix of cheep n nasty but loooong waranty power tools like grinders,drills,sanders,etcetra are great flog em,breakem, they replace em no problem but every one to there own i think snapon are overrated and same with kinchrome thats my 2 bob's worth anyway

[rick130]

$100 for a shifter!
How much are they new??
if you have to ask "how much...." :lol2:

[Bushie]

The black and decker 2 speed power drill that my father purchased for $5.00 brand new back 33 years ago.

It finally gave up the ghost boring some holes in an alloy bash plate on the weekend...

UNACCEPTABLE I SAY!!!!:mad:

I expect warranty and/or a full refund.

:wasntme:
If it was the orange and black one, thats disgraceful, the one my father bought in the late 60's is still going strong - gearbox gets very hot though when worked hard (maybe I should lubricate it;))


Martyn

[isuzurover]

I usually only buy good quality tools, but the other day I bought a supercheap cordless drill because I needed it for a quick job (and it had a 2yr warranty so I thought what the hell). I unpacked it and the charger didn't work!!! So I had to take it back for warranty replacement before I even got to use it. Will be interesting to see how long the actual drill lasts...

The only other cheap tools I have ever bought was a set of spanners (5 years ago). So far two have broken but the others are still going well, and have been well and truly used and abused...

[Quiggers]

I think my tool boxes are well duplicated and mostly full of cheapy stuff.

Which is great when I need to cut down some thing to 'get in there'.

Or mod a screwdriver for a custom fit to some silly bloody security head....

But, depends on your usage.

The most expensive thing in the elecronics box is a crimping tool, does nothing more than crimp BNC type connectors to coax cable -$135 well spent.

But cheap rachets for sockets are a bit sus, get several cheapies or one good one.

Love my torque wrench! Best $50 I've ever spent! (Garage sale, but as new).

GQ

[Quiggers]

Just a following note: Having had enough of screwdrivers which hurt, I spent $30 on a set of 10 Stanleys, they're great! (and I even got a CD of great driving tracks, according to Stanley.........hmmmmmm, stick to screwdrivers boys!)

GQ