Good tools cheap vs cheap tools

[willie]

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.

X2!
I couldn't have described it better myself.

 

[Allie]

I tapped into the slots on a couple of the screws to straighten them out a little after mauling them with a non JIS driver. Once you get a good fit in the slot with a JIS bit you're set, it will not slip. Tapping can also jar loose the odd spot of corrosion in the threads.

 

[1980GS1000E]

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.

My thoughts, exactly. I have never used or needed an impact driver. And I have worked on many bikes over the years.

 

[Crankthat]

Whats that old saying?
You get what you pay for.
Not always true.
I own a lot of craftsman tools and napa tools.
The napa are shiner.
Craftsman not looking so attractive to me anymore as I am really trying to watch where what I buy is made.
It can be a difficult decision between prices though!
Most of the wrenches I own over a inch and metric equivalent are cheaper brands, If it fits snug and the quality is good...
I have visited harbor freight a few times, some things looked great and some things not so.
I am more of a hands on type of person when purchasing most things, with tools I like to feel the weight and play the action before purchasing.
There goes the alarm, time to make the ponchikis.

 

[tkent02]

My thoughts, exactly. I have never used or needed an impact driver. And I have worked on many bikes over the years.

I can't go a day without needing one. Best tool in the shop.

 

[Guest]

An impact driver is a life saver when you finally need one, I've needed one several times and not just for the bike.

 

[bluewool]

Snap ring pliers are another serious, "you get what you pay for"

Tapping is fine if theres no corrosion, no salt, little rust, and someone hasn't already been there with their #2 on the #3 bolt/screw head.

 

[bwringer]

Whats that old saying?
You get what you pay for.
Not always true.
I own a lot of craftsman tools and napa tools.
The napa are shiner.
Craftsman not looking so attractive to me anymore as I am really trying to watch where what I buy is made.
It can be a difficult decision between prices though!
Most of the wrenches I own over a inch and metric equivalent are cheaper brands, If it fits snug and the quality is good...
I have visited harbor freight a few times, some things looked great and some things not so.
I am more of a hands on type of person when purchasing most things, with tools I like to feel the weight and play the action before purchasing.
There goes the alarm, time to make the ponchikis.

The ponchkis. We must know more. Delicious pics, please...

 

[Crankthat]

The ponchkis. We must know more. Delicious pics, please...

So sorry to disappoint!
It would just make you hungry anyways!
Was just making a reference to the dunkin doughnuts guy commercials as I needed to go to work.
Was curious if anyone would catch that

 

[koolaid_kid]

I have been collecting tools since the 70s. My first real set of metric wrenches are in a wrapped pouch that I purchased from the back of a van in a convenience store parking lot. Unbranded, from size 6mm to 32mm. I use them to this day when I need large sizes. I still have every wrench in the set, although I admit to being a bit anal about replacing every wrench in the set after using them.
I have lots of Craftsman tools and I like them. Good quality, lifetime guarantee, although you have to be careful these days. A lot more of their mix is now from China and no better than anything else on the market.
My impact driver is a Snap-On and is great. I used it to remove the JIS screws from my carbs when I rebuilt them.
I'll buy Harbor Freight tools if they have the lifetime guarantee (lots of their tools have this now) or if they are a one-time use item. I cracked a HF impact socket and took the set into HF. They gave me a new set with no questions asked.

 

[bigskybldr]

I picked up a cheap impact driver at O'Reilly Auto, it worked for maybe a half dozen screws. Now it won't rotate in either direction, so I'll do a little research before buying another. I've always liked Craftsman tools but as others here have pointed out, some are made in China now and they don't like to warranty them as well.
If you like snap-on tools you can buy New Holland tools, snap-on makes them for New Holland and their alot cheaper.

 

[cableguy]

It's hard to always know what kind of quality you're getting when shopping for lowest price, but eventually you learn what to always avoid, and what will be fine for occasional use, and when it makes more sense to pony up the extra dough for a quality piece that has a good warrantee. I have HF stuff but only the Pittsburg brand, or items like jack stands, spring compressors, (no moving parts) I have had good luck lately with Kobalt, they have a lifetime guarantee and lowes is known for good service. I'm not going to refit my whole box with Kobalt but they're close by and when I broke a flat screwdriver after trying to use it as a pry bar they didn't ask questions just told me grab another. Good enough for me!

 

[1980GS1000E]

An impact driver is a life saver when you finally need one, I've needed one several times and not just for the bike.

OK, if what you are working on has been buggered up beyond recognition, yes. But, I have had excellent results just using the proper bit, a small smack, and a careful twist.

 

[bluewool]

OK, if what you are working on has been buggered up beyond recognition, yes. But, I have had excellent results just using the proper bit, a small smack, and a careful twist.

That doesn't surprise me; you live in a desert.

 

[1980GS1000E]

Oh, yeah. You have this thing called rust.

 

[MadCapsule]

I have a cheap-o tool set from Harbor Freight that has worked just fine for my occasional use. I even used the ratchet extension as an extension on my impact driver and then beat on it mercilessly with a 3 lb mini sledge when I was in a pinch. It gave me no guff.

The ratchet itself seems like it is cheaply made, but I've cranked down on it with a two ft. breaker bar and it's still going strong.

The impact driver I have is a no-name Taiwanese model I picked up at Menards. It came in a blue tin case that just says "IMPACT DRIVER" on it. It's saved the day on some seriously boogered-up screws more than once.

You're rolling the dice with HF tools, for sure. But it's worked in my favor, and within my budget, so far.

 

[Guest]

OK, if what you are working on has been buggered up beyond recognition, yes. But, I have had excellent results just using the proper bit, a small smack, and a careful twist.

And no just not on fasteners that have been buggered up. I've come across fasteners on farm equipment where a proper bit, a small smack and a careful twist wouldn't even begin to touch it. Though where an impact driver with the proper bit and good hard hit does work.

 

[koolaid_kid]

HF has a lifetime guarantee on a lot of their tools now. And they stand behind it; I cracked an impact socket and they replaced the set no questions asked.

 

[1980GS1000E]

There was a store that sold good tools and the cheap stuff as well. The good tools had a 100% warranty for life. The cheap tools had what the guy called a 50/50 warranty. I asked what that meant and his reply was, "You use it, it breaks in half, you keep both pieces."

 

[snicrep5]

i have a set of "crescent" tools, the 99 dollar one. the wrenches are a little short but strong. the screw drivers are good rubber handles as long as you dont use them as a chisel. pliers are ****. I like the ratchets tho, better than craftsman. They have the button release and are comfortable in your hand. They are made in taiwan with a lifetime warranty but I dont know how one would claim it.
the majority of stuff at HF is supect. dont get anything complex there.