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I have a toolbox that full of found and inherited tools -- incomplete sets of things, broken and worn out stuff... just a lot of stuff that needs to be replaced.

Top of the list is a new socket set. I want something that is made in USA, high quality (buy it ONCE), and hopefully not too ridiculously expensive.

I've been looking at this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MANQCW

Any thoughts, or suggestions for something else? Again, has to be made in USA.

(Next on the list is a new set of screwdrivers, if anyone has thoughts on that, too.)

Thanks!

The companies that come to mind that have stood the test of time are (in no particular order) Craftsman, Snap-On, SK and Mac.

I purchase Craftsman because an Ace hardware and a small Sears home store are the closest to where I live, and they run great ads at various times during the year, and I believe the "lifetime" warranty still applies to the main line hand tools.

Now...following will be a great debate on which is best, which has the best warranty, good and bad experience stories, etc. Your mileage will vary. They are all good companies.

The problem with Americans and hand tools is that we want to use them for things they are not designed for: wrenches as hammers, screwdrivers as pry bars, etc. Worse, when a fastener is seized, instead of taking the time for proper procedures (penetrating oil, heat, etc., depending on the situation - because we get in a hurry and want to get the job done quickly) many persons over-torque the tool and that causes either failure of the tool or damage to the head of the fastener.

That SK set you linked to is a nice set and one that I would be happy to own. If you want NEW and US made, that's probably the way to go for a reasonably priced (for new) set that is high quality.

My strategy, which is not unique and is probably something you already thought of, is to buy USED high end tools for my own use. I look for Snap-On, Mac, Matco, and Cornwell primarily - the "tool truck" brands, but also for VINTAGE Craftsman tools or Craftsman Professional Line tools and some other brands like Blackhawk, SK, and some Armstrong. There are plenty of other old US made brands too...way too many to list here. As long as they're not worn out, they're worth a shot, too.

Skip the new Craftsman stuff - it's almost all made in China now (except for some of their Professional Line stuff). Sears is still honoring Craftsman warranties, but they'll replace your broken or worn out US made tool with a new one from China Sometimes there is still old stock US made Craftsman stuff on the shelf, but mostly not. As far as Craftsman Professional goes, you won't buy it by accident. It's way more expensive than most Craftsman stuff and they make sure you know it's US made and "professional." US made Craftsman stuff is plentiful and tends to go pretty cheap on ebay as Craftsman stuff, for whatever reason, is apparently looked down upon by professional mechanics (and they don't have tool trucks that service the shops so they must suck, right?).

I have purchased quite a few of my "tool truck brand" tools on ebay. A lot of mechanics that retire seem to unload their tool collections there and a lot of young mechanics that get in trouble with extreme debt or have a change of heart, career wise, seem to cash out on ebay also. It does require carefully picking through offerings to make sure that what you're getting isn't just beat to s***, and there are no absolute steals (ie, other folks are also looking for the same stuff, so prices can get run up), but if you are patient, there are deals to be found. My best deals on high end tools are usually found with Cornwell tools. They don't seem to be as big of a deal as Snap On and their tool truck network seems to be much smaller, so I guess (???) they're less popular...less folks looking for them on ebay makes them less expensive for me to own.

It should also be said that most of these major brands offer better quality imported tools for less money than their US made stuff. Usually the COO is Taiwan, but some tools come out of China as well. Snap On has Blue Point, Matco offers imported items under the Matco brand, and Cornwell has the Blue Power line. I have some tools from all of these lines and they're excellent, quite honestly...mostly the stuff that is (for me) cost prohibitive to buy high-quality US versions of such as impact socket sets for my pneumatic tools which tend to be very expensive. As a hobbyist, for the amount I use them and what I use them for, they'll last forever.

Thank you all for your help, this is all great, and far more than I expected -- or can reasonably reply to.

I ordered the SK set.

I completely agree that either eBay, pawn shops, or other scrounging might have saved me a few dollars (or more), but I don't really have the time or capacity right now to make a good effort at that, plus I actually have a need for the tool right now.

bloke wrote:#LetSomeoneElseTakeTheRetailNewHit

I guess I'm somebody else's "someone else."

Craftsman - you can't ever go wrong. With that said I have found myself with my daily use tool bag full of Kobalt ( Lowes brand ) tools . Kobalt has improved its quality and has a very good return/exchange policy as well . They are price well also. The reason I don't have Craftsman is simply because Sears stores are getting harder to find and their tools are a little more expensive. Lowes are almost everywhere .
I have two sets of small ratchet/socket (1/4 drive) sets that I have been using for over 5 years without any problem . Believe me they get a good work out too !

To touch on a couple of bloke items...

Pawn shops - yep, I've got no qualms about checking in periodically when looking for tools. I bought a really excellent brand-new-in-the-box Sioux 3/8 butterfly impact wrench at a pawn shop a while back for the price of the Harbor Freight version. Excellent tool, unbelievable price. That doesn't happen everyday, but you never know what you'll find.

Ratchets - eventually they'll all wear out as you know, but some fare far better than others and are rebuildable. So far, I've only trashed one Craftsman ratchet - well, not trashed, just plain wore it out. But the thing was more than 30 years old, so I think I did okay on it. I have other ratchets from Mac and Snap-On (and another Craftsman) and so far, so good. One of my favorites is actually a Snap-On 1/4" drive ratchet that I rebuilt with a 3/8" drive system in the 1/4" drive body. Awesome for smaller projects and tight spaces.

Impact Sockets - you're absolutely right about using chrome (regular) sockets with impact wrenches: don't do it. As far as coming up with sizes I don't have, I do the same thing: pawn shop / ebay / flea market used sockets do the trick and are usually cheap even for top brands.

Bort's other question...screwdrivers. There are million choices. Unfortunately, screwdrivers tend to get abused pretty badly (chisels, pry bars, punches) but fortunately the abuse is easy to detect in used screwdrivers. As you probably guessed, my "good" screwdrivers are all used. I have a full set (really, everything they offered) of OLD (like from the 40s and 50s) Snap-On "Octo-Grip" screwdrivers that are great (and were cheap). I've got some US Craftsman screwdrivers and some Ace Hardware branded stuff sprinkled in as well and those are fine, but once you use a really good screwdriver (no joke) you'll realize how crappy most of them really are and you'll wonder why you put up with crap for so long. Magnetic bit screwdrivers are popular, too, and some of them ratchet which can be helpful sometimes. That's handy when you just want one tool to use around the house instead of a bunch. I've got a Blue Point ratcheting one from Snap-On that I got as a gift. It's a nice piece, but the old Snap-On screwdrivers I've got are still better. If you want to buy new, there are SK sets of various configurations available that would match your socket set. I prefer hard handle screwdrivers to the fat cushion grip stuff that's popular now, but to each his own, and SK offers both types.

Tom wrote:...once you use a really good screwdriver (no joke) you'll realize how crappy most of them really are and you'll wonder why you put up with crap for so long...

Tom, I'm really glad you said that... because that's what I had hoped would be true.

I've got a whole collection of mis-matched screwdrivers that were never good to begin with, and are now just plain worn out, stripped, and have handles that are taped-up.

Pliers are next on the list after that. I had to take the trap off of the kitchen sink a few weeks ago with just a regular pair of pliers, and that was a mess. One of these will make the job as easy as it should have been:



Oh, the joys of home ownership...

Thanks again!

Oh, totally...

It's just a matter of balancing cost and quality. It's mildly upsetting to think that over the last 15-20 years, I've received a lot of crappy tools as gifts, which have either broken, wore out prematurely, or just aren't well-made... and go unused. I've owned enough Wal-Mart tools for one lifetime. For all the money that was cumulatively spent on those, I could have had some real tools that would have lasted much longer.

No, I don't need the highest-end tools -- but I do want something that's going to last a very long time and is made in the USA (which again, is just a personal thing).

bloke wrote:(After all, I've privately offered you some of the world's finest tubas, and you've decided against acquiring those.)

Yeah, yeah... It's inevitable though, I'm sure.

At the very worst, Bort Jr. will be ready to play something soon enough... right?

the elephant wrote:http://www.toolbarn.com/usa-made-tools

Exactly what I needed. Thanks Wade!

bloke wrote:DJT or HRC will put him on a wait-list for an instrument of the appropriate quality and usefulness for his needs.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs...

My take for what it's worth:
Buy individual top quality sockets from a good auto parts store as needed. You will find you probably only need a handful of sizes. My Roadmaster wagon has a lot of 10mm and 13mm and the Hondas my wife and I ride use 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, and 17mm. Plus a huge one for the rear axle nut that I can't remember.
I would rather have those sockets with lifetime warranty than 50 tools that break or strip.
Typically, whenever I have a new project or repair I will pick up one or two sockets or open end/box wrenches with it - I now have just about everything. (Well, an Indian Roadmaster to go with the Buick Roadmaster would be nice...)

Quick follow-up -- I got the SK set a few days ago, and have used it on the couple of jobs that I needed to do right away -- my initial impressions are that it's REALLY well-made and just a great tool set. Exactly what I needed. The cheapo and incomplete socket set that I had is going straight in the trash.

It wasn't cheap, but I think I got what I paid for.

bloke wrote:If you throw your other socket set away, what do you plan to do when you need TWO ratchets and TWO of the same size socket at the same time?

Call my father in law?

Maybe I'll hang onto a few of the sockets, but the rest is junk. Actually, it's not even really a socket wrench, as much as it is a ratcheting screwdriver set that also has sockets.