Good tools cheap vs cheap tools

[Guest]

I had a good reminder recently of the difference between cheap tools, and good tools that aren't too expensive. I wanted an impact driver to remove the stubborn phillips screws on the clutch cover and other covers.

I found one on Harbor Freight by Pittsburgh for only $4.99! Yes, it was too good to be true. It removed 2-3 screws, and then jammed. I got a couple more off by forcing it back into position with pliers and a vise, and then it completely jammed and was useless.

I found another one on Amazon for $30 by Lisle. It works so much better. And you can clearly see the difference in the picture of them:



Can you tell which was the cheapie?

Lesson learned. Buy good tools.

Glen

[tkent02]

You're not using the right size tools. The tiny one is great for tiny screws. The big ones are great for bigger screws. Even the big HF one is OK except the tips shatter too easily.
Sears sell good tips cheaply.

[bwringer]

HF tools are definitely a mixed bag. Some stuff is great, and some stuff, like that cheeseball impact driver, is... not so great.

Read the online reviews and you'll get a good idea of what works and what doesn't.

FWIW, Sears sells a very nice impact driver that looks just like that Lisle.

[almarconi]

Nothing wrong with HF tools but like bwringer says they can be a mixed bag. I have had good luck with their pittsburgh sockets and ratchets. Haven't broken one yet. Their transmission jacks, jack stands and engine hoists seem to work fine. Some of their 2 and 3 jaw pullers are cheaply made, I've had a couple of them break. Most of their air tools are OK, I've broken a couple of them. I have tools from HF but also SnapOn, Ingersol Rand, Husky, Mac and some Craftsman tools. Guess it depends on what you can afford. If money was unlimited I'd probably go with SnapOn stuff.

[Allie]

Craftsman seems to make really good tools for homeowners, probably some find their way into pro's tool boxes as well. The lifetime guarantee is certainly nice. I recently blew a 3/4 Blackhawk socket apart, I wish it had been a Craftsman. I guess it's time to get some new 1/2" drive sockets.

I've tried tools from JC Whitney before, now THAT'S cheap!

[Griffin]

I've had the identical impact driver to the Lisle in my toolbox for over twenty years. It says Craftsman on it though. I inherited it when my grandfather died in '91. I have no idea how old it is, or how may times it's been used (I've used it a couple hundred times I imagine), and it's still good as new.

I get the bits at Sears. I've never broken one but have lost a few over the years.

[Allie]

I've lost an impact bit or two . By the way a JIS bit with a small breaker bar or ratchet works like magic on engine cases.

[Griffin]

I've lost an impact bit or two . By the way a JIS bit with a small breaker bar or ratchet works like magic on engine cases.

I like to tap the bit into the bolt head with a hammer, then put the ratchet on it and "poof"!, off the bolt comes.

[wacky941]

I only buy Harbor Freight tools if it's something I know will be a one time use, I've found that that's about as long as they last!

I use many different type tools in my line of work and have found that I prefer to buy either Craftsman or Kobalt (Lowes) tools because if you break one, theres always a Sears or Lowes somewhere nearby. I do really like Snap On, Mac, Matco, Proto and even Cornwell tools, the problem is finding a truck to swap your tools when you break one.

If you can't afford Craftsman tools or Kobalt for that matter, rather than waste your money on Harbor Freight, find a Northern Tools store, they have a large selection of tools for a good price and the quality is much much better than Harbor Freight.

[bluewool]

I have no problem with a lot of harbor freight stuff. My FWD bearing kit is awesome, my vw caliper compressor is great too.
I have broken every major brand impact driver( highly corroded- often stainless - often large, remote and before cordless impact wrenches)with the exception of Snap On.

[tkent02]

I have no problem with a lot of harbor freight stuff.

This. If you can't tell junk tools before you buy, it's your fault.
Some of their stuff is good, some is almost as bad as the Chinese stuff they sell in England, completely useless.
You have to look at it before you buy.

[Road Rash]

I have mostly Craftsman with some HF stuff. If I know I won't need the tool alot, or in a bind, I'll be snag the HF tool, but I certainly don't expect a long lifespan. The Craftsman warranty is nice.....IF you deal with the right people. I've gotten the runaround on some stuff, and it has been documented online that plenty of others have, also. I actually keep an E-copy of the warranty on my cellphone now, to produce when I get another stupid gumchewer.

[glenwill]

Agreed. I also have some good HF stuff. I just should have known better than to buy something that looked too cheap in both price and appearance. I figured I wasn't going to use it a lot, since I am replacing the phillips bolts with allen bolts. But anything that is going to take a beating needs to be well made, even for occasional use.

[bluewool]

But anything that is going to take a beating needs to be well made, even for occasional use.

True, that being said anyone ever use a HF dead blow hammer?

[bwringer]

True, that being said anyone ever use a HF dead blow hammer?

Yep. Mine works fine, even though I've beat the snot out of it probably far beyond what it's designed for.

A deadblow hammer is, admittedly, a pretty simple device and hard to screw up.

I have something like 12 hammers for various mechanical tasks. One of the coolest is a copper sledge I inherited from my Dad. I've never even seen one for sale, but the head is a 4 or 5 pound chunk of copper, and it's just incredible when you need to thwack a piece of steel without marring, like seating bearing races. The copper is hard enough to apply a goodly amount of force, but soft enough that it can't damage the steel.

I have a couple of claw hammers somewhere, but I detest woodworking.