Well, I agree with you guys in that if you can find a good deal on used US-made tools, thats a good way to go. I've found great buys at a couple of pawn shops, but most want new prices for their tools.
But it isn't as simple as "only buy Snap-On, Mac, whatever". First, as Phat so astutely pointed out, much of the big $$ name truck tools are either imported and/or outsourced. In that case you are much better off to go to the source.
A case in point - take a look at Ingersoll-Rand impact guns. Made in USA - NOT! Reportedly, the Harbor-Freight "Professional" line of guns are internally identical. The HF sells for around $75, I-R better than $150. Its your money, so takes yer choice.
Also, I believe most of the impact sockets are now Taiwan-sourced. Mark KW says he hasn't found any manufacturer's impact sockets that work or last better than Harbor Freight. And if you lose one, who cares? Buy another set, they are cheap.
Some people swear that anything less than Snap-On is inadequate even for emergency tools to keep in the truck in case of a breakdown. Personaly, I think you have to look at the intended use, how often the use will occur, what is the risk of loss through theft, misplacement, or bad environment in the workplace. H-F combo wrenches won't win any beauty awards, but they will get the job done on the roadside, and if they are stolen, no big deal. I have no problem with those who insist on Snap-On, but I can't afford them for the most part. I do have some Snappy engine specialty tools.
Some of the H-F specialty tools are really decent for the money. For example, their disc brake service tool (includes the spanners for rear brake caliper retraction). I've used theirs ($40) and Blue Point ($100 plus, I think). The Blue Point is clearly superior, but not so much that I could justify buying it for the occasional brake jobs that I do. If I did them for a living, no question which one I'd rather have, but I don't have a bunch of money tied up in something that isn't making me money.
Phat, again I agree with you that Craftsman is hard to beat on a bang-for-the-buck on most hand tools. I'm not crazy about their power tools.
BTW, are you guys aware of the Craftsman Club? You can sign up at Sears web site, and about 6-8 times per year you get a flyer with special deals, plus 10% off other Craftman items.
Matco is owned by Danaher Corporation, which also makes Allen, K-D, Easco (formerly), most Craftsman ratchets and sockets, and some others. I can't see paying more for the Matco or Allen brand when the Craftsmans are essentially the same tools.
Stanley now owns Mac (a shadow of its former self) and has gutted their former independent tool truck rep system. They also make Proto, Proto/Challenger, Blackhawk, Stanley Professional (natch) and most of the Husky tools sold at Home Depot (Stanley owns the brand name but has licensed it to H-D exclusively). If you look at the Husky socket line, they are identical to the Challenger and Stanley items except for the brand and stock number.
Apparently Stanley also made the Taiwan-sourced Popular Mechanics ratchets and sockets for Wal-Mart. They have phased out that brand, but otherwise identical wrenches are now branded Stanley (still from Taiwan). They are decent wrenches for the money.
I've also had good luck with the Taiwanese K-Mart Benchtop sockets, but haven't tried any of the ratchets.
S-K, now owned by Facom (French), has a very good line of tools that can be had online for good prices. A bit more than Craftsman but not as much as Snappy, Mac and Matco.
Another quality tool, although made in Mexico, is the Urrea. This company was formerly Proto of Mexico in the pre-Stanley days. Now employee owned. Styling, as you might expect, is exactly like Proto but their prices are considerably less.
Let the flames begin
---> Bill
