As many of you have probably experience before, whats up with all the **** tools out latley. You used to be able to buy a socket set for $80 and it was top notch stuff, lasted for years on end. Well story goes, i thought id pick myself up a cheap, but not bottom range tool set up from supercheap as i cant get my snap-ons in the shed in QLD till chrissy. Anyway, in the week ive owned them, ive managed to snap a screwdriver, split and morph 5 sockets, bend pliers, completey snap in half a socket connector and the wire cutters!, not even sharp enough to cut hay let along f*ckin thin as f*ck wire! Why is it that only 10 years ago eveything seemed to last forever? Is it just me or does the quality of stuff go down and the price goes up on tools every year?
Not really? How about you? Yeah no ****? But what i was saying is things have changed for the price you pay. 10 Years ago there was only marginal differences in tools worth $100 a set to $250 a set, now theres that much **** out you do know whats what. Now its just big brands making the same cheap stuff they did a decade ago and cheap brands making play sets for infants.
What brand? Got a snap-on set and they seem to be good i just dont like there rachets, bit flimsy, especially under load.
your just gonna have to get wither sid-chrome, kingchrome or snap-on's. its really the only way to go that will last.
metal cost more now than it did 10 years ago. labour cost more than 10 years ago. transporting cost more than 10 years ago the list goes on. If you want some good quality tools that are very reasonably priced then have a look at Craftsman tools. American made, no B.S, heavy duty tools. Lifetime warranty - no questions asked replacement. You break it - they replace it, even if you were using the tool in a way it wasnt intended to be used. Craftsman | America's Most Trusted Tool Brand | Top-Selling Lawn & Garden Brand | Garage & Storage You can also order them from www.sears.com/shoptools you can view the entire catalogue by clicking the catalogue or use the menu. Pretty sure they ship to Australia too. When i order tools i have it sent to my dad in L.A and he ships it to me (he gets free postage with his work). If you want tools you can get locally then have a look at Bahco Tools. With just one socket set (1/2 drive and a few 1/4 drives) i wrecked a whole Celica and didnt have a single tool fail in anyway. Bunnings have a couple of kits but Thomas Warburton have more inventory. They are also online if you want to view their catalogue
There was a lot less tools made in China ten years ago as well. If you buy cheap tools, then all I can say is expect breakages! Repco have a good range of quality tools as well if you are still looking for quality. Stahlwillie (spelling?) is possibly the best there is, although I haven't seen it around now for some time. Good brand names I know of are as follows: Snap-on; MAG; Sidchrome; Cresent and Kingchrome just to name a few. All are available locally
I bought a socket set for $4.99 nothing has broken yet? but I never use it. I have crescent tool set, in a plastic box, has 3 ratchets, sockets from 4mm - 19mm, multiples of some for different size ratchets, 5 screw drivers, 10 spanners, etc etc... cost about $120? and its perfect for making trips to the self serve wreckers! and it doesn't rattle because everything "clips" into place, so its great for keeping in the car..
On top of metal and labour costing more as davway mentioned, inflation means money is worth less too. I got one of these sets about 4-5 years ago, cost a little over $250 (the RRP quoted is wayyyy off), it's a great set, does everything it says on the box and I expect it to last at least another 10-15 years no sweat. Assuming it goes the distance it will have cost me $10-15 a year (less if it last longer). Pretty fair price IMO.
thats a really good way of looking at it, pay a bit more now but it will probally be cheaper than buying a few cheap sets of tools over the years!
yeah, I looked at the kincrome stuff, and ended up buying a "supatool" branded one, because the quality was almost exactly the same, but it was a fair bit cheaper. I haven't broken anything in it yet... even putting a 4 foot bar over the breaker bar and jumping on it. also undone crankshaft pulley bolts using the starter motor twice now, once again, nothing broken!
snap on is massively overpriced you can get decent tools pretty cheap if you look around KC and stanley still make decent tools for a good price
