User Panel
I try not to cheap out on any tools. I spent a decent chunk of change on a full metric set of Wright combination wrenches and they have been worth it. The open end doesn’t flex and doesn’t let go. Seriously impressed with them. I don’t use them often since I like to use sockets with my 1/4” or 3/8” Milwaukee impact but sometimes the space is too tight and I need a combination wrench.
Wright Grip wrenches are the best. |
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Quoted: https://i.ibb.co/KKRc7Sw/20190731-150803.jpg No tuning, no struggling, no cursing. Take them out of the box, put a micro bevel hone on the blade, and get to work. View Quote Gorgeous |
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Quoted: My ancient Millrite easily out-performs any modern Chinese milling machines. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1087/CK_Millrite-573779.jpg View Quote I have that same machine but with the wheel quill feed. It is a really sold piece of equipment. |
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Quoted: I try not to cheap out on any tools. I spent a decent chunk of change on a full metric set of Wright combination wrenches and they have been worth it. The open end doesn’t flex and doesn’t let go. Seriously impressed with them. I don’t use them often since I like to use sockets with my 1/4” or 3/8” Milwaukee impact but sometimes the space is too tight and I need a combination wrench. Wright Grip wrenches are the best. View Quote Weird. 39s apart. I swear I don't know this guy. lol He is 100% correct though |
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I have a bunch of Swiss cut pillar files made by Grobet that I'll never give up, they're worth every cent.
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Dewalt for power tools for me.
All hand tools are Craftsman or any other cheap ones. Hand tools all work the same for me in my situations. Fir what i do, even harbor freight garbage works. |
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METRINCH (fit both inch and metric) are the best ratchet sets and most used.
My dad gave his 3 sons each a set for Xmas many years ago. They are worth their weight in gold. Look them up… |
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Quoted: This MFer, right here, is basically my index finger. The pic quality kinda sucks, the scale does not suck. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/145430/16558534065577977007661664928866_jpg-2426196.JPG And my Haimer 3D, but it's somewhere in the carousel. View Quote I have one just like that. |
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Quoted: Dewalt for power tools for me. All hand tools are Craftsman or any other cheap ones. Hand tools all work the same for me in my situations. Fir what i do, even harbor freight garbage works. View Quote All the major brands will perform the same. DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, etc. Just pick your favorite color. It's all the same otherwise. Hand tools though, there's usually only one or two brands for a specific tool. |
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Quoted: A lot of people at work cringe when I say I spent $80 on my Sheffield scissors, but then they always come by to borrow them. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/193868/20220622_065506_jpg-2426718.JPG View Quote |
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Quoted: Agreed! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/478694/FBCAA154-824F-48F9-9F84-4FFB21EE5F22-2426192.jpg View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Simple little hex / allen key wrenches. I have gotten so many (now) rounded-out keys that came with products that get thrown away because they strip the bolt heads. That's a buy-once-cry-once proposition that doesn't cost too much but makes a difference. Agreed! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/478694/FBCAA154-824F-48F9-9F84-4FFB21EE5F22-2426192.jpg Thanks, I just ordered a set of these. I didn't even know I needed them. My vote for quality tools that make a difference are steel files. |
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Quoted: I have a mix of older cordless tools but the newer Milwaukee Fuel series is tits. View Quote I’m a dewalt guy. Although it’s been hard. I use impacts a lot, and they just sat back as big red dominated. Thankfully maybe that’s changing. Both their mid and compact are killing it over them right now, and their big guy should as well. Their mid is considerably more powerful than Milwaukees year old release. They have finally started to make some updates. |
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Quoted: I have a mix of older cordless tools but the newer Milwaukee Fuel series is tits. View Quote I just received some father's day gifts to myself. An M18 Fuel 1/2" impact and a M18 FUEL 3/8" compact impact (both brushless) and I have to say they are pretty nice. I can't wait to use them. |
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Torque wrenches
For some reason everyone seems to believe a torque wrench is a torque wrench. I dont understand what the lack of knowledge or care is. Maybe people think because its suppose to be a precision tool they assume all of them are accurate. Thats NOT the case at all. Unless a torque tool comes with a valid certificate of calibration that thing could be anywhere along the range you select. Hell even properly calibrated tools, the best ones, have a 3% +/- accuracy rating. That harbor freight special could EASILY be off by 20ft lbs and you wouldnt even know it without verifying first. Or twisting your fastner in half. In 3 pages no ones mention torque tools, lol. See what I mean? |
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Woodworking cutting tools. Chisels, saw blades, joiners, planers, routers, etc. Tool quality in woodworking makes a huge difference.
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Quoted: Torque wrenches For some reason everyone seems to believe a torque wrench is a torque wrench. I dont understand what the lack of knowledge or care is. Maybe people think because its suppose to be a precision tool they assume all of them are accurate. Thats NOT the case at all. Unless a torque tool comes with a valid certificate of calibration that thing could be anywhere along the range you select. Hell even properly calibrated tools, the best ones, have a 3% +/- accuracy rating. That harbor freight special could EASILY be off by 20ft lbs and you wouldnt even know it without verifying first. Or twisting your fastner in half. In 3 pages no ones mention torque tools, lol. See what I mean? View Quote I have the harbor freight ones, I have built several engines with them, I always verify their accuracy with a beam wrench. They have always been dead on. |
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Knipex hand pruners. I've used a lot of them and the Knipex ones last and work easier and better. The blade is still razor sharp after a lot of use.
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Dewalt power tools. Milwaukee is probably better but for anybody not using their tools regularly Dewalt tools last a long time. I've had a circular saw, a drill, and and an air tool that runs off a battery for inflating tires. Also have two different battery chargers, each for different dewalt tools I have. Never needed to have anything I"ve bought from Dewalt repaired or replaced.
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Saw posted on first page, but will just agree and say hex wrenches. I finally got a set of Bondhus ones a couple months back and they've been worth more than I paid already.
Punches too. Starrett just murders the old set of Stanleys I have. Wish I'd bought the full Starrett set right off the bat. |
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Quoted: Torque wrenches For some reason everyone seems to believe a torque wrench is a torque wrench. I dont understand what the lack of knowledge or care is. Maybe people think because its suppose to be a precision tool they assume all of them are accurate. Thats NOT the case at all. Unless a torque tool comes with a valid certificate of calibration that thing could be anywhere along the range you select. Hell even properly calibrated tools, the best ones, have a 3% +/- accuracy rating. That harbor freight special could EASILY be off by 20ft lbs and you wouldnt even know it without verifying first. Or twisting your fastner in half. In 3 pages no ones mention torque tools, lol. See what I mean? View Quote |
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Quoted: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/231568/11FB51B6-E3AA-4F39-BF9A-1E31FA369FFB-2426191.jpg Edit: beat by almost a minute View Quote Off to order. |
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Quoted: Knipex hand pruners. I've used a lot of them and the Knipex ones last and work easier and better. The blade is still razor sharp after a lot of use. View Quote The ergonomics of the F7s are amazing and meld to your hand. They even make a left handed version. |
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You jerks have cost me $500 in Wera stuff in this thread so far.
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WTF? How is that even possible? |
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Quoted: The new snap on vice grips are AMAZING.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0lXnWlEvkU Also snap on knocked it out of the park with the new needle nose slip joint pliers. They are crazy good. https://preview.redd.it/gxyt5f31jl791.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=20c374607ef1ff345bf2b019002e8a01d0766e34 The Knipex pliers wrench and the twin grip pliers are in each of my vehicles and both tool boxes. View Quote The Snap-On vise grip in that video looks to actually be the Malco Eagle Grip. Malco took over the original Vise Grip plant in Dewitt, Nebraska when Vise Grip manufacturing went to China. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924QDF47?tag=arfcom00-20 |
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Quoted: Fluke multimeters Wiha, Wera, and Bondhus bits Carothers Performance Knives Glock handguns Milwaukee power tools Estwing hand tools View Quote Love my Estwing hammers. I have the 16oz claw, deadblow, rubber mallet, and double face soft hammer. My framing hammer, however, is a Vaughan (Made in U.S.A., as well). I've beat many nails with that thing and it's never let me down. The handle shows no signs of cracking or splitting. It's comfortable and the perfect weight for me to get a good, solid hit each time. Yes, I own a pneumatic framing nailer, but sometimes I just like using my Vaughan hammer to get the job done. I tend to search for Made in U.S.A. tools, or tools that I know are of higher quality. I'm willing to pay more for better quality as it usually means I'm paying for the tool only once. I have both my grandads' and my dad's tools, along with mine, in my shop. I have so many sockets, ratchets, wrenches, extensions, and screwdrivers that are older than I am that I'll never want for another one probably as long as I live unless it's a specialty version. And they're all chugging right along like they were just out of the box. The points on the screwdrivers are a bit worn, but that's to be expected for a tool that's been used for the better part of 6 decades. But they still bite into a screw, bolt, or nut and turn it, no problem. And I'll reach for those just about any time I need a socket, ratchet, wrench, or screwdriver. |
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Bought a Milwaukee 11/32 drill bit from Home Depot for around $10 for a very specific job that I needed a very specific sized bit.
Holy shit there’s a lot of difference in that bit and the cheap ones I bought a dozen bits for $10 |
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most auto tools, cheap shit breaks first use so often. mid range or top range is best. I mean you can break them too but you have to be trying to break them or using them for something not designed for.
wire strippers. I try to find old tools, because so much of the new stuff is outsourced and sucks ass. or costs 5 times more than it did. bought a old ass US made vise for cheaper than a new chinese shit vise. |
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went in hot and she turned on ya! hate when then that happens. |
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Quoted: Agreed! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/478694/FBCAA154-824F-48F9-9F84-4FFB21EE5F22-2426192.jpg View Quote Bondhus is really good for the money and all almost anyone will ever need... However PB Swiss are perfection. The story of the eagle grips is very interesting and heartwarming. Irwin destroyed a dewit ND and malco is resurrecting it. |
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Quoted: Vise grips have to be IRWIN, anything else sucks. I can't tell you how many times my Irwin vise grips out performed snap on/matco, and I have ALOT of snap on/ matco tools View Quote I assume you have the old Peterson vise grips not the Chinese garbage Irwin replaced them with while keeping the brand name. Strap on uses the eagle grips now, which are the best in the world, they used to use grip on, which are really nice too(I have grip-ons, have used Peterson and Chinese irwins, and have fondled the eagle grips and bollemann seltzer (knipex OEM) as well) |
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Quoted: While not doubting you, and I love knipex, as a professional I think Felco are the tits. I have used everything else (except knipex) and nothing compares. They are on my hip every single day. They are $60-$70, but cheap when youndont have to think about replacement cost. Every piece is replaceable and the steel they use is outstanding. I cut things daily that hand pruners just aren't "supposed " to cut. The ergonomics of the F7s are amazing and meld to your hand. They even make a left handed version. View Quote Ever use original lowë or Berger tools? Both are German and look very similar to felco. Also the French Arno brand looks interesting. |
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Quoted: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/231568/11FB51B6-E3AA-4F39-BF9A-1E31FA369FFB-2426191.jpg Edit: beat by almost a minute View Quote Nah, he posted the miniature one, you're all good. |
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Quoted: Drill bits Edit to include taps / dies View Quote Life is too short for cheap taps and it's not even like good ones are expensive. Using cheap taps is some sort of self flagellation of wasted time and ruined parts. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that is purgatory for machinists. Dude finds himself stood at a work bench, part full of holes clamped in the bench vice, Starrett 91B on the bench. This doesn't seem so bad. Then he sees the blue plastic tray full of shitty taps... |
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Quoted: Also snap on knocked it out of the park with the new needle nose slip joint pliers. They are crazy good. https://preview.redd.it/gxyt5f31jl791.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=20c374607ef1ff345bf2b019002e8a01d0766e34 View Quote |
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Quoted: I use a lot of cheap tools... build engines and do lots of auto work... Can't really think of a time a cheap tool hasn't done the job for me. I have some nicer stuff, but lots of harbor freight as well just not their jack stands...lol https://i.postimg.cc/W4kgX9GW/cheaptools.jpg View Quote Toolbox on the floor with no wheels for midget helper? |
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Quoted: Toolbox on the floor with no wheels for midget helper? View Quote I buy used shit cheap when the opportunity presents itself. Each section of tool storage was bought individually over time. The ones on the floor were both bought used most recently. As soon as I find another 26” craftsman bottom cabinet with rollers cheap I’ll buy that too. I’m sitting on money waiting for the recession used tool sales lol. |
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Quality tools are always worth it. Saves me many many cuss words.
The only exception for me is if I think the tool will be of limited or one off use. Then I might cheap out on some Harbor Freight BS. |
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