TOOLBOX...choosing tools

On my late night garage quest I remembered that one of my boxes wasn't a Craftsman. I picked up this Task Force tool box from Lowes, it was the last model and was already assembled. It even included the drawer mats because it was the display model. It is a very nice box for the price, I recommend it to anyone looking for a good priced product.

Please excuse the clutter, I also accidentally slid over the plastic guard on the top drawer:

 

my work box KRL1033

 

This is my tools box after having to leave for a Funeral and miss a day of work.
To say the least I did deserve it, after making a bet with a co-worker that the "victim" wouldn't notice until the next day. I sealed every drawer of his tool box while he was on the shop computer looking away. The top of drawers were taped so you could only see the tape when the drawer was opened. He did notice until the next day but then he got even. That co-worker used an entire large sized roll of duct tape... lol
I don't really have a tool brand of choice, but I do have some favorites, sockets as long as they're from a quality tool brand and offer a lifetime warranty (Sears/Canadian Tire) are often more than enough even for daily use. My favorite ratchets are the Soft Grip Flexhead Dual 80's from Snap On, the grip fits my hand perfectly and they are very smooth and they don't require much movement in restrictive areas. Wrenches are the same as sockets for the most parts but some that use daily at work (think Toyota's common sizes, 10,12,14... the Snap-On again feel more comfortable after a day's 8-12 hour shift) Specialty tools I often buy Mac for the Price and function, Can't go wrong there, when they come on sale the prices are often very reasonable! For air tools, I stick with Ingersoll Rand, great value for a powerful quality tool.
And the cheap tools from places like Harbor Freight or Princess auto for us Canadians, there is some excellent prices on things like filter wrenches and trouble lights.

 

I have mostly craftsman with a few snap-on; work with snap-on and mac at work.

 

Harbor Freight shit at home, Snap-On at work. However, I have seen Cornwell 1/2" drive ratchets perform feats of incredible strength. They also have the most powerful 3/4" drive impact wrench. I will be buying Cornhole tools for future purchases...

 

I have MasterCraft mainly, some from Princess Auto, and the a small tool set from Liquidation World.

 

Only snap on or craftsman for me. Snap on and IR air tools.

 

Not brand loyal at all myself. I have in my boxes everything from Snap-On to Matco, Cornwell, SK, Mac, Craftsman...You get the idea. Most of my $60k in hand tools that I have collected over the years has been mostly based on which truck came in when I decided to get something. lol. Craftsman though is where I get my screwdrivers. The tool trucks want way too much for the simple things, and Craftsman does make some dang good tools. Shop equipment I have mostly gotten from Matco though, but not all of those are actually Matco brands, just that was the truck I got them from. Oh yeah, my toolbox is a triple bank Matco box, one tool cart is a Mountain, and the other is a basic roll around from HF.

 

For the most part Craftsman. Reasonably priced, and lifetime warranty.

 

Interestingly enough, Much of Craftsman tools are no longer made in the USA. Sad, Sad times.

 

Indeed,
Snap-on for ratchets/screwdrivers
Matco Wrenches
JH williams(US made set) for sockets,
NWS/Proto for pliers..(made in germany/spain..)
IR W7150 electric impact(best $400 tool ever)
Just replaced craftsman hammer with Estwing

 

Snap on, Mac, matco cornwell, some husky and stanly craftsman, some duralast "i work part time at autozone" And loads of hf junk I'm slowly replacing with better tools. I just started as a apprentice at a shop a couple months ago so I'm slowly building my box. This is it for now

 

I bought the same one from Lowe's. Not a bad box, big enough for all of my stuff and it keeps the wife happy since my tools aren't scattered around the garage anymore

 

My Snappy at work

 

My box at home. HF special.


And my carts at work

 

I have snap-on, matco, Mac, and a couple SK. My box is a Matco 2 bay with lift top box. Traded down from a 3 bay with hutch when I moved, now I wish I hadn't since I now have to keep my specialty tools in a Rubbermaid box.

 

*cringe*

I hope your cheap ass box keeps em out.

 

Channellock for pliers, Estwing for hammers, Craftsman for just about everything else.

 

I have 20 years of brands, have purchased a few things from the Snappy guy, but most of my Snappy was purchased used, my main brands are Proto and SK, have a lot of older craftsman =v= stuff as well as cman industrial. Some matco, Cornwell, Armstrong and wright. In the past year i have purchased some knipex and NWS stuff as well.
Not married to any brand and do not buy into the hype of the ridiculously priced snap on stuff. flame suit on.

 

I like knipex pliers and "channel locks" - seems stupid to say you like channel locks by another company but