Your Favorite Tools

jlawles2

Well-known member
Jan 28, 2010
1,059
40
48
Danbury, TX
The OLD craftsman ratchets. My dad had the ones with the twist direction change and the push button release. Those 3 lasted over 20 years that I know of. The replacements are good for paperweights, but where else can you take a ratchet on friday at 6pm and be back in business the same night. Yes, I do own 2 of each ratchet 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. If one breaks, grab the one from the truck or the adapters to use another size.

Breaker bars are your friend and should be used for breaking things (loose that is).

Impacts are for taking things apart only.

Pliers, I have several. The NAPA ones are holding strong after 15 years. The craftsman ones are OK. For anything related to electrical work, I use the Klein's. 9" Journeyman lineman are my favorite.

Screwdrivers, craftsman. I have 2 sets. My 2 favorite are the 1/4" flat (do not know the length, but it is about 10" now), and the #2 Phillips that is about 14" (works great for removing screws in tight places).

And my 10" 5hp Powermatic Table saw.
 

SmokeShow

Well-known member
Nov 30, 2006
6,818
34
48
43
Lawrenceburg, KY
can I get a pic of those needle noses you're talking about mighty?

I've posted this on a local diesel site and a guy commented that he like the snap-on sockets best because they are 5-thou tighter thus round of fewer nuts/bolts. Interesting and certainly worth while reason. Dag gone those traveling truck tools are high dollar though - mac, snap-on, etc.

Most likely everything I'll get will be craftsman with the occassional deviation. However, I've seen retiring mechanics selling full tool boxes of top quality tools for pennies on the dollar. If time comes to make a purchase and one of those kicks up, I might luck into some high-dollar tools. Even the prof. series craftsman stuff is a good bit more exp. than their standard "hobbiest" level stuff.


I keep hearing about swivel head ratchet. Guess I'm just gonna hafta try one and see what the hype is about. :D A lot of folks swear by them!


C-ya
 

TeaBagger2006

Im a Garrett Nut Swinger
May 11, 2008
3,123
15
38
Bis ND
I JUST RE-READ THE TITLE!!!!

FAVORITE TOOL BY FAR IS MY STIHL 14" CUT-OFF SAW...i think its the TS-740......ilove that thing,if something needs to be hacked i bust it out and wake up the neighbors:D
 

JMK777

16's, but i keep em clean
Mar 20, 2008
1,433
5
38
Moss Beach
My favorite tool is one That I use almost every day its a Milwaukee 9" angle grinder with a 12"x3/32" cutting wheel on it (watch your hands) cuts stainless like butter, fast , clean and straight.
 

mytmousemalibu

Cut your ride, sissy!
Apr 12, 2008
2,230
0
0
Kansas
can I get a pic of those needle noses you're talking about mighty?


I keep hearing about swivel head ratchet. Guess I'm just gonna hafta try one and see what the hype is about. :D A lot of folks swear by them!


C-ya

Here they are mitch! :thumb: Ive tried to bend/break them, they may be cheapass brand but there good tools, use the crap out of them, couldnt live without these now! http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37909

Heres my power screwdriver i love!
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=19915&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

This is the new dual80 version of my ratchet, mines not the fine tooth like this. Looks this one superceeds mine. But that aside, same one, mines been used religiously everyday for 6yrs, thats alot of use since im a tech. Still the same gearset and all in mine. Its even been a welding rod a couple of times. Beat on, jerked on, used when i shoulda grabed the 1/2. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=20864&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
 

Vrabel

TOYAHOLIC
May 22, 2008
3,434
0
0
57
Hewitt, NJ
Here's a tip for ratchets and gear wrenches every once and a while fill a coffee can with a few inches of atf, soak heads of ratchets/wrenches over night. after you wipe them down spin 'em a bit and see the crud work out. keeps them clean and lubed. :thumb:
 

deHuncho

New member
Jun 18, 2009
76
0
0
SW Va.
Mitutoyo measuring tools (any), Wera screwdrivers (awesome), Bondus allen wrenches, Stihl 110 or 100 trimmers or any of their equipment for that matter, and the nearest hammer. I like the AR-15 idea too, I might have to try it out;)
 

bullfrogjohnson

Big Girl!
Nov 20, 2006
4,167
1
0
39
Locust, NC
95% or better of my stuff is Snap-On, price is usually the only crappy part. But as an automotive tech, gotta have good tools. I use my 3/8 flex head ratchet like nobodys business! Just the standard toothed, normal handle, sealed head ratchet, goin on 6yrs use, same original parts inside! I do occationally tear my tools down, clean and relube them, once a yr or so. I use alot of them everyday, hard to pick the best out.

One of my faves is my Snappy cordless power driver, Very tough, used the daylights out of it! Like my Snappy air hammer too. Its power is undefeated! Like my large picks.

Harbor freight loop-end needle nose plier set, cheap and very handy on hoses.

So many tools!:D

Dude, you need to bust that old ratchet and get your snap on guy to put 80 tooth stuff in it. I just bought all new 1/4",3/8",1/2" long handled snap on fine tooth ratchets. They replaced my old 36 tooth Mac ratchets, they just collect dust now.:D

Most of the stuff in my box is either Mac, Snap on, Matco, or GP. Heavy equipment is hard on tools.
 

mytmousemalibu

Cut your ride, sissy!
Apr 12, 2008
2,230
0
0
Kansas
Dude, you need to bust that old ratchet and get your snap on guy to put 80 tooth stuff in it. I just bought all new 1/4",3/8",1/2" long handled snap on fine tooth ratchets. They replaced my old 36 tooth Mac ratchets, they just collect dust now.:D

Most of the stuff in my box is either Mac, Snap on, Matco, or GP. Heavy equipment is hard on tools.

:rofl: I would if it would fit! I ask bout it when the 80 came out, the head is a tad bit differnat and special to the dual 80's. Oh well! Ill use mine till it finally gives or i just have to have more degrees.

One one i loved was my Mac Microtuff 1/4 but after a bit they broke.

Knipix Cobras, very nice fast adjuting channel lock plier. Nice grips and they bite hard! Has directionl teeth to really grip what your twisting.
 

whitetrash21

put on da damn helmet day
Apr 29, 2008
4,929
0
36
Vegas
I JUST RE-READ THE TITLE!!!!

FAVORITE TOOL BY FAR IS MY STIHL 14" CUT-OFF SAW...i think its the TS-740......ilove that thing,if something needs to be hacked i bust it out and wake up the neighbors:D

lol. you would.... :rofl:

EFI-Live

15 lb sledge hammer

AR-15 rifle

:D


That was gonna be mine.... 24lb wedge-end. Wipe out a countertop or a cast iron tub in one swing.... :D
 

maxaholic

Active member
Dec 6, 2008
1,876
0
36
40
Central, Texas
My favorite is the $400 Matco rollcart I bought. It has a top tray with a lockable cover, a single drawer, and a screwdriver holder thingy. Oh yeah and it was pre loaded with matco snapon and grey pneumatic tools.

After that it's my dewalt cordless impact.
 

BombDocDiesel

Army Bomb Squad
May 20, 2009
368
0
0
Belcamp, MD
DeWalt 18V cordless impact, stays in the truck with a DeWalt 12v charger.
SK wrenches, allens and torx bits/drivers.
Any Snap-On tools I can get my hands on when I can afford them. I'm slowly replacing all of the Craftsman I have.
 

mytmousemalibu

Cut your ride, sissy!
Apr 12, 2008
2,230
0
0
Kansas
58" Mayhew Dominator, curved end prybar:eek: That my friends is like 15lb worth of cold hardned steel, prybar! Pretty sure you can remove cylinder heads without taking head bolts out with that sucker:rofl: I used it to "press" in some rear subframe bushings on an old 528i......Pretty much lifted the whole car off the back lift pads:eek::spit: Kinda scary! Its taller than 2 of my coworkers:spit:

Love that thing, when its services are called on, it WILL get the job done:D