Question of Ethics, so to speak....

[TerryD]

I own Craftsman tools, and have Snap-On's at the house. I understand good quality tools and am a little spoiled on them, growing up using dad's Snap-On stuff. I'm not crazy about carrying around $300+ worth of my Craftsman stuff in my XJ, I was wondering how many of you would consider Northern Tool's house brand of stuff?

[shmoken875]

I own Craftsman tools, and have Snap-On's at the house. I understand good quality tools and am a little spoiled on them, growing up using dad's Snap-On stuff. I'm not crazy about carrying around $300+ worth of my Craftsman stuff in my XJ, I was wondering how many of you would consider Northern Tool's house brand of stuff?

We use some northern tool stuff at the quarry everything holds up just fine in as harsh an environment it is. People rag on harbor freight but I've never had anything break, although I'm choosy what I buy from them.

[tsmall07]

Northern's tools are as good as Chraftsman. They also have a lifetime warranty although its not nearly as easy to get your new tools as it is with Chraftsman (I think you have to mail the stuff in to get your new tools).

[jonesy]

stanley ... cheap as poopy flavored lollipops.

[tsmall07]

stanley ... cheap as poopy flavored lollipops.

For a reason...

[Steinberg]

I've broken some HF items: impact sockets, breaker bars, electric impact wrench. Don't know about Northern.

[hklvette]

i don't know about NTE either, but have used advance's junk without problems so far.

[Andrew]

Craftsmen isn't all that expensive. You can good trail set for ~$100.

Husky from HD are actually serviceable sometimes. I think Stanley makes it but... I've found some of the Husky stuff to be better than Craftsmen.

I got a huge kit from Walmart of Stanley stuff on clearance. It was so cheap I couldn't resist. All three of the ratchets didn't work out of the box. They are currently used as drifts. However, the sockets are curious. They have a habit of removing bolt/nuts that other things have stripped. The box made some claims about special designed such that they grip in a certain way. Seems to work.

I've used to have bad luck with Ampro. Not anymore (because I don't buy it).

Kobalt seems decent.
Snapon is a rip off. I'll use their ratchets, but otherwise.

[Trailduster79]

for my home set it is all craftsman.

Most of my wrenches and sockets for my trail sets are also craftsman. If you watch the sale flyers you can get them pretty cheap.

The companion stuff that Sears sells is the same stuff as the craftsman, just no warranty, and most of the time they are pretty cheap.

[YJ]

I have a little bit of everything from cheap to hight end that people have left in vehicles and never come back to pick up. Obviously, a 19.95 generic set from Wal-Mart may not do the trick, but so far, I've had no problems out of the NT stuff I've bought. I;ve actually never had any problems out of the HF stuff I bought either, but it's mostly been small electric and air tools from there. Though NT might be a little harder to get replaced, the Craftsmen stuff I've went and picked up at the store has been refurbished and didn't last very long.

[Rockn4x4]

I've used Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky, Stanley, HF, and NT. Like said previously you can get Craftsman stuff on sale, especially during the Christmas season. I have been satisfied with all of my tools. Most of my tools are Craftsman and Kobalt. Don't know if it is true or not but I have heard that Snap-On makes either Kobalt or Husky. I can't remember which it was.

[Andrew]

Found this on the net. Have no idea how reliable a source it is.

Anybody tried Sear's "new" ratchets? The mechanism feels good.

Here is something interesting I found as I was looking for tool chests.

Kobalt too boxes and chests are made by Snap On at their Snap On tool box manufacturing facility in Algona, Iowa. Snap On also makes the Kobalt tools. The Kobalt brand uses different forgings than the Snap On as well as different materials and heat treatments.

There are three major tool manufacturers in the US; Stanley, Danaher, and Snap On. Each of these sells tools under a variety of names.

Home Depot's line, Husky, is made by Stanley Works. Stanley also makes the line of MAC tools and Proto Tools in the same plants with the same forgings.

Sears brand, Craftsman, is made by Danaher Tools. Craftsman, prior to 1994, was made by Stanley but was beat out that year by Danaher. Danaher also makes MatCo tools.

Now S-K was purchased by FACOM several years ago. Many of the FACOM tools are actually stamped with S-K. FACOM, once noted to be one of Europe's finest tool manufacturers is using much of the old S-K line now and simply rebadged them. The S-K "pro" screwdrivers are now FACOM "ergotwist" screwdrivers. There are other examples too.

Now I am really wondering about just how many toolbox manufacturers there are.

[BadnewsCJ]

we have mostly snap-on tools at work but when we need something quick we always go with kobalt from lowes.

honest to god never had any problems with kobalts hand tools, and ive broken two snap on screwdrivers(boss = not happy).

all my personal tools are craftsman, some snap on hand me downs from my grandfather. i just pull em out of my box and put what i need in a tool bag when i go wheeling. i bought a companion tool set to keep in my jeep but i lost the whole damn thing. never even really used it to be able to comment.

[tsmall07]

The companion stuff that Sears sells is the same stuff as the craftsman, just no warranty

Thats not true. I confirmed this with the tools manager at sears. (I also work at sears so he wasn't just trying to sell to me. If you look at them side by side you can tell a difference.)

[jonesy]

The companion stuff that Sears sells is the same stuff as the craftsman, just no warranty

Thats not true. I confirmed this with the tools manager at sears. (I also work at sears so he wasn't just trying to sell to me. If you look at them side by side you can tell a difference.)

get me a part time job there ... hows the discount? i need tools and i need money ... but i need money more than i need the tools that cost the money i need to make ....

im confused.