Not Harbor Freight tools thread

The Napa I work at warrants GearWrench. I've turned in a couple myself. Takes a little time (maybe a week) as they don't stock individuals. Check you local store.

 

Huge Wera fan, I have their hex key sets, tool check plus and joker wrenches. I built up snap-on stuff for years, however now in Australia Wera is half the price of snap-on. Snap-On is just blood money out here.

 

Love wera too! But I'm the type of person who bends crow bars and buys cheap harbor freight sockets to weld onto seized bolts. My Wera tools stay locked up most of the time.

 

Good to know, I'll drop by napa tomorrow.

Get some mayhem dominator prybar, they make the 58 inch one for cornwell, bought mine for $80 and if my norml size craftsman pry bars break I'll replacd them with dominator in a heartbeat.

 

What’s different about this pry bar than others? I had a MAC Tools one that was a “striking” pry bar. I hit it twice and the handle blew apart. I guess it was only rated for baby hits.

 

Ok I'm sold.

 

My cordless stuff is all Makita Brushless LXT and I love it. I also have a 1/2 inch corded Milwaukee impact that I use quite a bit, and a no-name 1/2 air impact and air ratchet. Compressor is an early 2000s Craftsman 175 PSI 25 Gal.

For hand tools I mostly have older Craftsman and Husky stuff (bought a rolling Craftsman toolbox years ago off Craigslist and it was full of that stuff), and some GearWrench ratcheting wrenches. I cannot justify tool truck brands when I am basically just doing brakes and oil changes on vehicles or working on lawn equipment or the ATV.

 

The handle is firm yet comfy, the have a striking cap, though I have yet to use that on the 58 inch one I own, ohh yeah they have one that's 58 inches long, I would rather them over the new snap on ones honestly.
Basically its really nice and I have put the 58 inch one into a trailer hitch and had the fat guy stand on the other end, it flexed some but that's it.
Main reason I bought this brand was since I needed a long ass prybar and I didn't want to pay $200 from a tool truck for what is just a long piece of metal with a handle.

 

I’m sure their nice. Let me know how that striking cap holds up. Like I said, my last pry bar took two hits to destroy it. I’m in need of one that is verified to take more abuse.

 

I do have these craftsman normal size prybars I bought on clearance, I have been very impressed by the beatings they have taken especially when im using my 4lb sled on them. That said the handle is not comfy, its not bad for a minute or two but they start hurting after repeating extensive use. They arent bad enough to replace now but I wont bother even warrantying them due to the handle. And I have never been able to get the handles clean again since its this course plastic, I assume its suppose to keep them from slipping.

 

I've broken snap on ratcheting style wrenches before, yet to break a wera.

 

There are several brands of tools I have not heard of before. I suggest to the OP that there be a list of tool brands and where they are manufactured at the beginning of this thread. A list that can be updated when necessary.
Thanks for starting this discussion!

 

I’ve gotten a lot of use out of these air shims. I have 2, one 500 lb and one 300 lb.

Calculated Industries #1190 Air Shim Inflatable Pry Bar and Leveling Tool; 300 LB Rating; Contractor-Grade Alignment Pump Wedge

$17 Calculated Industries #1190 Air Shim Inflatable Pry Bar and Leveling Tool; 300 LB Rating; Contractor-Grade Alignment Pump Wedge, 1 Piece

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015CJEHZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bGiXEbW7XNEBK

 

Kinda hard to do that by brand because not every brand is made exclusively in one country. Many times it’s a tool by tool country of origin discussion. If we have specific tools are are frequently requested, we can start a list of options made in the USA.

 

I’d be interested in tools made in the USA. However, that list is getting shorter and shorter, even tools that are usually made in the USA like Klein have some tools that are “assembled” in the USA. It might be also useful to make a list of tools NOT made in China, I just used a die made in Japan and it worked great.

 

Some brands have been bringing manufacturing back to the USA for the last 5 years or so. Logistically, it’s easier than in China. It takes too long to ship product from China to the US. Having them made here simplifies and shortens the time to get product into stores.

Would you prefer they just make them in China. Assembled here is the new normal. We just don’t do a lot of stamping and casting here anymore. China has gotten pretty good at manufacturing. The problem is that you need to have a dedication to quality control. It easy to get crap, but also possible to get really good parts if you commit to it.

 

I fucking abhor harbor freight.

I know the topic of discussion for HF is the jack stands right now. These are my goto:

$58 BIG RED T46002A Torin Steel Jack Stands: Double Locking, 6 Ton (12000 lb) Capacity, Red, 1 Pair

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Big-Steel-Jack-Stands/dp/B00026Z3DQ/

I'm a huge fan of my Bahco adjustable wrenches which we use excessively at work. I've used one of their bigger adjustables as a hammer/wrench combo for like 3 years straight and it still works great.

 

Got this bad boy to pump out the tunes while I workout in my barn gym during quarantine. I’m impressed with the sound output.

 

That is part of what I was suggesting, but a more targeted list would be just as great. Maybe I should start doing some research and start a list, ya, I think I'll do that.

 

Ok, so I did a little research, not a lot, and came up with a couple of links and names. These first links are sites that list items made in USA;
https://allamericanreviews.com/tool-brands/
https://www.toolbarn.com/usa-made-tools/
https://www.usalovelist.com/american-made-tools/
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html
https://usatoolsupply.com/index.php/
https://www.harryepstein.com/about-us

I have been doing more reading and I have found that companies are now putting 'made in USA from Global parts' That is code for manufactured over seas and assembled here. Disappointing, but it is what it is.
This is a website that reviews and researches tool of all kinds. This link is from their web site;
https://allamericanreviews.com/tool-brands/


This is a list of Companies in the USA, I know it is incomplete, but it's a start. Not all of these companies make mechanic's tools. Some of these I had not heard of before, I hope this helps.
SK Professional Tools-https://sktools.com/content/sktools/en_US.html
Armstrong Tools, Inc-https://www.armstrongtools.com
Klein Tools- https://www.kleintools.com
Tekton- https://www.tekton.com/ratchets-and-breaker-bars
Craftsman- https://www.craftsman.com/products/hand-tools
DeWalt-socket sets
Eastwing
Leatherman
Council Tool
Channellock- socket sets
Bondhus
Snap-on
Proto
Mac
Milwaukee- socket sets
Stanley-socket sets
CDI Torque wrenches- http://www.cditorque.com
Torin jack stands- http://www.torinjacksusa.com
OTC tools- product-landing
Write Tool-http://www.wrighttool.com/documents/catalog_e.pdf