I agree. If you use it and it works well enough, and never breaks, then it's worth the savings. If you use it and it breaks or just doesn't cut it, then you /need/ the nicer/better/stronger version.

This is actually brilliant advice!

I totally agree. I was a mechanic at a dealership for 5 years and only replaced broken tools with higher quality ones (Matco is my preferred brand) when they broke

100%!! I've done this since my first set of tools in '08!

I’m with you for 98% the tools. The main exception is buy one nice 3/8 ratchet because that’ll be what you use for almost everything.

LMAO!

Not much else use for them 😂

They work soo well with almonds, slip pliers serve me well every Christmas when some nuts need busting, I call mine 'the wife' ,lol

The Wizard has spoken!

If only he knew someone with a helpful list of tools that can be used in a shop, on some kind of website where he could order them? That person could even get some sort of financial compensation for creating that list to help people buy useful tools...

My mother worked in the Sears Hardware department back in the 1980's and early 1990's (down in Renton, WA. I would suggest she could have crushed your socket and wrench set box, but that was a little too early.) In those days, there was the idea that Craftsman tools were for life and that you could always take your Wrench back to Sears if something happened. The name meant something. It looks like the wrenches will outlast Sears.

god damnit i miss sears

@@indyfist9466 The Sears where I live is still open but the last time I was in it, about two-years ago, they were in the process of consolidating their shrinking inventory into different parts of the store. Since they offshored all the Craftsman tools I don't have any reason reason to shop there anymore. Their parking lot is always empty and they have a big banner hanging on the building stating "We are still open." It's sad, but the only reason I shopped there was for tools and power equipment, and I no longer trust their quality.

That was a hell of a dope deal shit i miss sears.

When they went offshore they had the 250 to 300 ish piece usa sets 75% off. Great way to get all the stuff you need from time to time like sae and 12 points

I agree with the replace with better if it breaks, otherwise work with what you got...I'm sure most, if not all of us would love to go buy everything off a tool truck if we had the funds to do so, but most of us don't, and most of us turn wrenches occasionally rather than all day long, so for that reason it makes no sense to buy tool truck stuff, unless you got those few tools that you use all the time then, maybe its worth it for those specific tools, but to buy a $20k+ tool chest for your house isn't necessary, and quite frankly a major waste of money...US General, and Icon make some really good tool storage units for a heck of a lot cheaper....my US General 44" combo unit has been on my carport that is open weather for going on 18 years, other than being dusty and dirty that tool chest combo works great, just need a larger one as I've somehow managed to fill it up LOL...the trouble I've ran into is you have to go to a very large tool chest combo in order to get several deep storage drawers...or purchase the end lockers....which don't work on my old 44" unit as they've changed the size of the new ones, they're much deeper than the old ones unfortunately...but an upgrade would be nice anyways at some point in the future. I have tools scattered everywhere because many of them don't fit in the smaller drawers is what I've ran into...and even those fancy expensive tool truck tool chests aren't any better for bulky tool storage....again you have to get the end cabinets for that type of stuff.

I agree with this. I still have some cheap tools that have survived that are about 30+ years old. The quality is indeed day and night difference. Most people think a $40 pair of needle nose pliers are somehow better than a $10 pair.

A chap I know is a professional truck mechanic of over 20 years. That is exactly the way he started, with a cheapish all-in-one kit, and anything he broke he replaced with snap-on or Mac. It is a bit weird to see his socket rack mostly full of budget sockets and 5 snap-on sockets.

not true for germany, I bought some cheap stuff decades ago and it they are really good tools, nothing to compare with the cheap trash stuff from china today

Agreed! And you can always find name brand used tools if you don't want to drop the cash for new.

@@oliverroedel1111 you guys always do it right the first time, here in the us harbor freight sells unsharpened spade bits

I noticed this too and it bugged me to the end.

I thought every mechanic would know that.

Do they make this in a 24 inch deep model?

Here's the comment I was looking for. I was thinking that's gonna be a pita to steer.

My rule of thumb is start off cheap. If it keeps working, you got a good tool. If it breaks, then you get a more expensive/reputable one.

That's the trap most people end up in... My dad included, they are so fixated with the mindset of "well at least it's cheap" so they end up buying that same cheap stuff multiple times in a row when they could save all that money and buy an actual quality and durable product only once

True. I have a mix of affordable tools and high end tools. The affordable tools have served me well for many years.

The key phrase there is “tiny bit extra”

@Lassi Kinnunen 81 I completely understand that, and if it's for a tool that you won't always use then a cheap one is the best option. No need to overpay for a one use thing. My argument tho is more related to stuff that you will regularly use and abuse and tools you can rely on the long run.

Balding man in a stinky charger

@@rentzusuken He pissed on your shoes or something ?

I second that. Im a semi professional race car driver and amateur tattoo artist that has the Harbor Freight figured out. They have the "Goldilocks principle" of "Good-Better-Best" and I've had in general a 97.25% positive experience buying only the best that mainland China and Taiwan has to offer!!

Yep

Yep

Kitty

Yep

I’m a diesel mechanic and have picked up a number of socket sets and ratchets from icon. They work really well and the deep sockets have the shoulder inside to hold the bolt at the top like Snap-on and other high end sockets. The ratchets are a 90 tooth count but only single pawl still work great with a low swing arc. Also wright wrenches Wright grip plus can be found for about $150 a set and are pretty comparable to the $1200 Snap-on “posi grip” or whatever the hell they are, set.

I'll say, I have a toolbox full of mix of tools, lots of HF stuff in there. I am just a hobbyist working on cars, motorcycles, ATV's also. I have had a few tools from HF that in the middle of trying to use I just pitched right in the trash can. But for the most part, that's not the case. On the flip side, I also have some HF ratchets that I reach for first, because of the quality feel, they have. It's nice to see someone with a professional background be able to validate the mindset, that you DON'T have to have a $400 ratchet to get the job done.

Go all swivel bro

@@pastaalalamborghini Harbor Freight even carries swivel casters. I put those on my Harbor Freight US General tool cart and it was so much better!

I've always put them on diagonally. Front right, rear left.

@@pastaalalamborghini i've found that all swivel casters makes the box hard to control.

Glad I wasn't the only person that noticed!

Yeah I noticed that too, I thought I was crazy for a second. Having the caster set the way he does right now that thing is going to be up b**** to move

Oh thank goodness it wasn't just me that noticed this...

- they’ve held up surprisingly well While other companies were sacrificing quality and going overseas to save a buck, HF was using its money to build better stuff and gain market share. I know they started out selling cheap tools but I'm sure they have much bigger dreams!

I'm honestly surprised he didn't recognize the wood as acacia, it's basically what every cheap "solid wood" piece of furniture is made out of.

Yuppers. I also recognized when that was... Interestingly he did not make that box out of wood.

OLD Craftsman 1/2" drive socket set - $20. And as little as I use them they will last a 'lifetime'. Then there is the $10 air pump that only worked once...

Can we?

@@TJDunaway Around 400 for a set of short and long impact bits.

I bought the Metrinch socket set 20 years ago. $500 bucks and it never let me down, ever. Here's another hint, for tool buying, buy Japanese tools. They make tons of stuff and it never reaches the stores, you have to hunt for it. Specialty tool shops are the best.

I had a small Metrinch socket set many years. Complete junk

buy master sets, you get it all in one Im 20 and have no regrets on what ive bought (ive only bought harbor freight tools using tip money)

Look at used snap on tools as well because they still have the warranty

If you are giving your garage a bit of a make over, I found that if you treat it just like a car build, come up with a design of what you want and layout first then start arranging it and getting the tools you need!

For the most part the $8 wrench will turn a bolt as good as a $20 wrench

Husky has a master set aswell but I'm thinking this one is probably more cost effective

Talking about Home Depot. Since Robert was on will we see a growing collection of Ryobi in Jared's boxes?

@@jayhom5385 even tho Ryobi is a brand under Milwaukee.. i really dont enjoy using their tools. And i work in construction( carpentry)

@@jayhom5385 @projectfarm just did another great review of battery powered ratchets, and Ryobi tested in at the best value for DIY'ers! 😉

@@musikdrengen02 yeah, my neighbor has all their tools, and the worst part seems to be the battery size and ergonomics. Milwaukee took a podium spot with @projectfarm testing, and I love my Milwaukees..

@@jayhom5385 oh. And hopefully he at least picks the Homr Depot Rigid brand! My Rigids are going on 12 years old and the batteries are still doing great!

they use short bits of wood, is a good thing to not waste any, makes an OK top

Also easier to get a flat surface when mass manufacturing than using longer planks that can warp. It'll be real wood, but probably a fairly soft wood that'll mark easily.

The finger joints are not a problem if they're done properly with proper sealing , coming from a woodworker with lots of years experience.

They're very nice panels to work with, as they're much more resistant to warp than solid wood, and you don't need huge trees to get a big panel, but with the benefit of it still being solid wood and not just pressed sawdust or laminated cardboard hollowcore. They make 'em in a variety of wood types, but this one will no doubt be some kind of softwood. I actually really like the aesthetic, kind of the same vibe as a chopping block?

Their Doyle pliers are actually very nice and pretty cheap

Lol that's what I thought when he did that!

i bought a good amount of tekton sockets when i started working at a shop, still have some of them and ive never had an issue with them

The Tekton socket sets, either regular or impact are very good at a very reasonable price. The other hand tools like the adjustable wrenches are junk

There's a lot of great Cr-Mo socket sets on Amazon too. Sunex are my favorite, but there's cheaper options as well. I have the Tekton wrenches up to 32mm so far. Great wrenches.

I personally like tekton and gearwrench

This is also great advice! Some of my tools came second hand and they are just as good for what I need them for.

I agree, I bought used Snap-on which is still Snap-on with a lifetime warranty - there is no way I could have afforded new Snap-on, but used - it's a fraction of the new cost, and awesome to use.

I bought a box that was over a third full of snap on tools, with the rest being Mac, Matco, SK, OTC, etc., for less than the value of the box. Guy was a retired mechanic, and was moving into a condo, and wanted it gone NOW. Snap on warrantied about $4k worth of the tools. I have a few that I have to find the mac truck for, etc. Problem was that I now need a bigger box.

Thats the one i was looking for before typing the same thing, haha!

I was very surprised by ICON. That's the real deal, hands down. The fit and finish is better than 1990's Craftsman tools from Sears when that used to be THE THING most guys bought. Not a diss on Craftsman either. We used them in the Marines to repair/rebuild engines and transmissions for military vehicles all day long and they worked well.

I bought the Icon sockets and when torquing a bolt to 25 in-lbs I had the 13mm round off inside. The other ones have held up fine. I need to take it back. I'm hoping it is just a fluke since the other ones in the same pack have been fine.

This is true of course. Though there are many types of tools where the cheap one isn't really any different than a expensive one.

The Snap On boxes prices are a rip off.

No different than a shopping cart

That drove me crazy. I'd have the casters reversed so I could maneuver the chest tight to a corner. That's something you don't do with a shopping cart.

@@Bac0n3510 The spacing on shopping cart wheels is wider on the fixed casters at the back wheels, which gives you more leverage. Since toolboxes have the same wheel spacing on both sides, not only you have no leverage, you'll also won't be able to turn it if you have more weight where the fixed casters and handle are. The vast majority of toolboxes are designed to be pulled, not pushed.

It is preference on wheels, I like them on that side as generally it makes it easier to put along a wall