Gotta get me some tools

[Tail_Gunner]

In case you have heard yet, I'm going back to school in August. I'll be attending the Aircraft Maintenance school at NMU with the goal of getting an A&P license in 2 years. On wednesday, I went to an open house put on jointly by Michigan Works, the Aircraft Maintenance school at NMU and American Eagle Airlines. American Eagle operates a big heavy maintenance facility at the former Air Force base I retired from.

While at the open house, one of the NMU instructors gave us a list of needed tools for the course. He was stressing quality and to think of them as an investment in your future. He said he didn't want to see any made in China or India crap. If he did he was going to toss them out the door and into the parking lot.

I've got a pretty hefty amount of tools already, but they're a hodge podge of stuff acquired over the years. Some are pretty decent, some less so. But I want to get another set of tools for work. I don't want to be working on my truck on my day off and need a tool that's in my box 20 miles away out at the airport.

So what I'm looking for is recommendations & suggestions for professional grade tools, but are as affordable as possible. I know they won't be cheap.

What does anybody know about Kobalt tools at Lowes?

 

[dpantazis]

matco seems to be cheaper than the snapon or mac stuff.
i've always liked proto, but since stanley bought them, ???. cromwell are nice too.

 

[JLDickmon]

Mac is every bit as good as Snap-On and not quite as pricey.

Matco is every bit as good as Mac, but the distributor is most likely only going to carry the promo stuff. They seem to have less specialty tools as well.

Corn(hole)well is like Matco, & good luck finding a distributor.

SK & Proto used to be decent, and used to be carried by NAPA.. not sure if it still is..

Craftsman, well, just don't be in your work uniform when you go to turn in that broken ratchet. And the stuff you'll REALLY need, you'll have to order from the catalog.

 

[T VALK]

Snap on tools are well worth the money for hand tools pawn shops are full of them around here or e-bay.

 

[kingkevindavid]

I am not a professional mechanic but I do use my tools quite a bit. When I was 18 and 19 and trying to build my tool collection while I was working at a RV dealership, I bought all the best stuff (Matco, Snap-on and Mac). I really don't have to much access to a distributor anymore in the 16 years I have been in the Army so I have been buying Craftsman ever since. I do have a sprinkling of DeWalt, SK, Stanley and Kobalt. I really like the Craftsman and the warranty is great. I have had some pretty good luck getting what I need at my local Sears. You may already know but AAFES is a authorized Craftsman distributor now. You won't find much at the BX / PX but should have luck online.
I just bought a new Craftsman box for a killer price over Mothers day weeked. A little over $900 and it is a ball bearing grip latch

 

[carpenter1793]

Hey Kent,

For what its worth I am a union carpenter and much like JLDickmon said don't even think about going in while in your work uniform. I have found this to vary from store to store (some care others don't). I feel Craftsman has one of the best policies one tools well hand tools at least. They are lifetime guarantee, but be careful when you go to exchange a tool as IO have found occasionally they have phased out tools over the years and no longer carry the same tool or it no longer carries a lifetime guarantee. I recently exchanged as tape measure at a sears store only to have the end break off 4 days later, when I went back to exchange it I had the same gentleman help me and said it was not a lifetime warranty and that I as the consumer should have read the warranty when I got the new tool ( the warranty that was on the packaging that the store kept when exchanging it). Just remember that the lifetime warranty only applies to their hand tools not any power tools. As a side note if you find yourself exchanging tools frequently you may want to visit several stores in the area to slow down the sears staff from catching on to your exchanging many old/broken tools. Craftsmen also seems to be widely available in the pawn/hock shop in my area so that could be a very inexpensive way to get new tools on the cheap. One thing I started to do when I got in the carpenters union is engrave my initials and the date I purchased the tool (or exchanged it) on the tool somewhere to Identify it as mine in case of loss?theft or for when they say you cant exchange it its too old. Hope I may have helped to shed a small amount of insight to you and others.

 

[Scooter]

Harbor Freight???


Sometimes I crack myself up and leave others shaking their heads in disbelief.

 

[BamaSixGun]

I have some Kobalt tools and they have held up very nice.

 

[carpenter1793]

Are the Kobalt tools made in the USA? I bought a few pairs of pliers and I thought I saw on them made in china. I could be mistaken though not sure

 

[Tail_Gunner]

harbor freight???


Sometimes i crack myself up and leave others shaking their heads in disbelief.

one of the nmu instructors...said he didn't want to see any made in china or india crap. If he did he was going to toss them out the door and into the parking lot.