other What brand of tools do you like?

[avoirdupois]

Very expensive ball peen hammer (Blue Point brand) purchased from a MAC tools truck about 1986 is still my favorite.

.

 

I always thought Blue-Point was affiliated with Snap-On brand.

 

 

Facom  has served me well, but like most treasured tools, I often grab for the tool I care least about, lest it get lost or broken.  And by the way, those slip joint pliers found in most '70s BMW tool kits was (for me) all show and no go.  Box wrenches and screwdrivers were fine.     

 

Not looking for endorsements but is it clear from watching the tele what brand Edd China uses  -  at least on camera?

 

 

 

 

 

NWS,  Heyco, Gedore, Felo, Ruko, Knipex, Rennsteig, Witte, Wera, Stahlwille, BMI and Martor.

 

Rigid, AEG, Hilti, Fein, Festool, Makita, Bosch, Porter Cable.

 

The lists are long and many expensive.  But at the end of the day, whatever gets the job done. 

Edited January 27, 2016 by avoirdupois

[lilmo]

 

Oh, and a little picture because why not (Snap-On 1/2 box end with about 900lb of downward force on it, it started close to horizontal)

 

 

You may not need the strongest tool out there, but much better that it bends and doesn't break.  

[roadhog0]

You may not need the strongest tool out there, but much better that it bends and doesn't break.  

This was my thought! Much safer this way. Both of the Craftsman tools (USA and China made) snapped rather violently.

['76mintgrün'02]

How straight was the Snap-on wrench after that test?

[TobyB]

Aren't SP Australian?

 

 

Snap on flank drive sockets

Please!  No porn! 

 

I have 2 of these, and IF I could justify it, I'd have more.

But the SK's cost as much for the set as 2 $nap on sockets do...

 

 

I have the Pittsburg auto tool mega box (thingy) from Harbor Freight

 

That's what the junkyard scrounging bag is mostly made up of.  It's impressive for what it is, and I don't mind losing/lending it.

I have only ever broken one, and I was standing on a 3' bar on a 13mm wrench when I broke it. 

Value for money, this stuff, despite it's rather questionable provenance.

 

Hazet makes wrenches?  This, I might try.

 

t

[Redtail]

 

Not looking for endorsements but is it clear from watching the tele what brand Edd China uses  -  at least on camera?

 

 

Edd uses Teng Tools. I have heard mixed reviews on them, apparently the surface is not polished and can be hard to clean. Really good price point though.

[avoirdupois]

Edd uses Teng Tools. I have heard mixed reviews on them, apparently the surface is not polished and can be hard to clean. Really good price point though.

 

 

Interesting.    Since I am not terribly familiar with the show is there a credit listed for these tools at the end, or is the brand merely obvious to most viewers?    Bonus points if you know the brand of spanner favored by Bicycle Repairman!   And are they all Whitworth standard? 

 

I suspect that most shows that clearly make use of tools, would endorse most tools (regardless of quality) with the appropriate remuneration.  Would you happen to know what tools some of the other pseudo-reality "build" shows use?

 

 

[Redtail]

Interesting.    Since I am not terribly familiar with the show is there a credit listed for these tools at the end, or is the brand merely obvious to most viewers?    Bonus points if you know the brand of spanner favored by Bicycle Repairman!   And are they all Whitworth standard? 

Britool???

 

Wheeler Dealers is really the only reality TV automotive show I watch so I couldn't answer about any other shows. Edd never talks about the brand of tools but there is a huge Teng Tools logo on the inside lid of his box. If he's smart (which he is) he probably has a sponsorship but just doesn't push it too hard. 

[TobyB]

Really?  You wanna use the tools of the stars?  There has GOT to be a sick joke in there, but I'm not coming up with it...

 

I have found that anything automotive on television is anywhere from mildly pointless to offensively wrong.

Even Junkyard Wars was 'seeded'....

 

Although Stacey whatsisname isn't too bad- at least he gets dirty.

 

t

[Stevenc22]

Craftman socket set is my main socket set. Almost everything else is harbor freight. Have some really nice pliers from Kobolt.

 

There is nothing better than a good core set of tools HOWEVER i think you main tools should be complimented with a huge selection of misc tools from harbor freight. I cant tell you how many times i have need a weird tool and i just happen to own that weird tool because i got it cheap from harbor freight. In a pinch i would rather have a cheap tool than no tool at all.

[Redtail]

I have found that anything automotive on television is anywhere from mildly pointless to offensively wrong.

Even Junkyard Wars was 'seeded'....

 

 

Same here but Wheeler Dealers is actually pretty good, or at least the part where Edd works on the cars is. He's a really personable guy. Anyhow that's certainly not enough to make me buy the brand of tools he uses.

 

Based on recommendations here I just bought a 22 piece Gearwrench ratcheting wrench set. Fully polished and wrenches from 6-32mm for $130. Seems like a pretty good deal for some quality tools.

[KFunk]

Same here but Wheeler Dealers is actually pretty good, or at least the part where Edd works on the cars is. He's a really personable guy. Anyhow that's certainly not enough to make me buy the brand of tools he uses.

 

Based on recommendations here I just bought a 22 piece Gearwrench ratcheting wrench set. Fully polished and wrenches from 6-32mm for $130. Seems like a pretty good deal for some quality tools.

 

Sounds good.  Recently (with some coaching) my wife boughtt me a Gearwrench tap and die set for Christmas.  It just seemed like a good step up in quality from the Craftsman and Harbor Freight, without being waaaay more expensive.  The handle also looks and feels much nicer than the usual cheap little ones, and has the ratcheting mechanism.

Now as with most tap and die sets, I hope to never have to use it.

 

Also related, at the body shop they finally found my 10mm flex/ratcheting Gearwrench that was lodged somewhere in the nose of the 02.  I've been looking for it for years!   

[avoirdupois]

Really?  You wanna use the tools of the stars?  There has GOT to be a sick joke in there, but I'm not coming up with it...

 

I have found that anything automotive on television is anywhere from mildly pointless to offensively wrong.

Even Junkyard Wars was 'seeded'....

 

Although Stacey whatsisname isn't too bad- at least he gets dirty.

 

t

 

 

No one, especially me, said they want to use celebrity automotive accessories.  (You thought I would say celebrities' tools?)  The thread's focus seemed to drift toward celebrity sponsorships.  But since you mentioned it, I suppose it would depend on the celebrity*  - even if the celebrity was a tool.    Or - the stand-alone quality of the automotive tools, themseves.

 

Another star/celebrity who used tools is Jonny.  I would probably sterilize them before use and still wear two pair of gloves.

 

 

 

 

Even the best tool is prone to breakage if pushed to the max.    Snap-on, Proto, Mac, Craftsman, I have broken or sheered all of them and have the scars and Tommy-bars to prove it.    And there are the uses that are not recommended, but seem necessary due to ill-timed extenuating circumstances.    Maybe things are different in the Alamo State  (from what I have read on this board )  but screwdrivers do no make for great pry-bars or chisels, and small drive 12 pt. sockets don't last long with an impact wrench.  Unless you are a trained professional , like Jonny, with gobs of insurance, wear protection!  

 

 

 

 

*Politicians can qualify as "stars" too.  (If Toby is on the ballot - he has my vote!  )

Edited January 27, 2016 by avoirdupois

[bob02]

Over the years, I have found the Heyco/ Hazet tools from an 80's era trunk tool kit to be very handy. The small combo 8/10, 10/13, 12/13 are in use here all the time. The compactness can be very helpful. They have a grainy texture that helps prevent them from slipping out of your hand, like the typical chrome plated stuff. Notice you won't find many chrome plated tools manufactured in Germany... Also, I like screwdrivers that have a provision incorporated into the shank that allows you to use a wrench to assist in turning it.

[DaHose]

Like many other, I have a mix of tools.  I do think they fall into categories, though.

 

OLD Craftsman, MAC and SnapOn ratchets and sockets.  The current stuff really is crap.

 

Current Harbor Freight, Pittsburgh line of hand tools.  Really well made with lifetime warranty.  I have used standard duty sockets on 450 ft/lb guns to see if they will shatter.  Couldn't break anything.  Even down to a #10 with a reducing impact adapter.  The one thing I have taken in for replacement was a fiberglass handled ball pein hammer that I messed up trying to drift something out of an axle.  They didn't blink.  Told me to grab one from a set and bring the rest to front for inventory adjustment.  I absolutely love all my Pittsburgh line hand tools.  THE best ratchet wrench I have ever had is the HF dual flex head (3/8 and 1/4) ratchet.  That is an absolute must have.

 

 

 

 

Gearwrench makes fantastic digital and split-beam torque wrenches at great prices.  Get one of each type if you have the scratch.

 

Believe it or not, ACDelco is making a really powerful line of lithium electric ratchets and impact guns right now.  I have a 3/8 electric ratchet that is FRIGGIN AWESOME!!!!!

 

Other power tools can be a toss up, but Ryobi has a line of lithium tools that are a really good value.

 

Jose