What hand tool brands are the best quality?
I'm speaking mostly about hand tools for home and auto repair. Although power tools are somewhat included, I'm mostly speaking of non-power hand tools.
When I buy hand tools I want something that is well made and will last. I use my tools regularly and I dont want to buy "one time use" cheaply made junk from some foreign country. I learned years ago that those cheap tools are no bargain. Not only are they a waste of money, but they can be dangerous. For example, if one of those tools break when I apply pressure, my hand ends up getting smashed, or some other injury, or damage to my project. On top of that it can delay completion of a job, and cause a lot of frustraion, especially if it occurs on a weekend or late at night, when there is no place to buy a replacement tool.
At the same time, I refuse to pay the price for some of the over-priced tools that are good quality, but extremely expensive. For example, a lot of auto service garages get SK Tools. I know they are good quality, but they are VERY expensive, even if the company does come to the service garage to deliver them.
My personal favorites have been Craftsman tools. I think their tools were better some years ago, but they are still good, and they still have their lifetime warranty. Another favorite is Diamond tools. They are limited to metal shears and plyers, etc, but I've been pretty pleased with their tools over the years. Rigid is another brand I consider good, but that's mostly pipe wrenches and similar. Stanley is a well known brand, and I have used plenty of their tools. I rate them lower than the brands I mentioned above, but they still exceed the quality (or lack of) found in the junk tools sold at Harbor Freight, or similar places. I avoid all those H.F. tools, and there are even worse tools made....
If I buy a tool, I am willing to pay more, as long as it's a quality tool. I'll pay double what they cost at H.F. as long as I get a decent tool. I'll pay more, because I want to be using that tool 10 years frm now, not toss it in the trash after one year or less. At the same time, I am not willing to pay 5 times the price for some of those overpriced brands, such as SK tools.
I thought this would be a good topic, since we are in the holiday shopping season and all the stores will be selling those NO-NAME brand junk tools. Maybe you can buy a large set of socket wrenches with driver bits and drill bits and lots more. The set looks impressive and the price is only $39.99. My suggestion is to take that $40 and either flush it down the toilet, or buy a much smaller set of QUALITY tools. You cant give me those junk tools for free. I dont care to bust my knuckles and get all pissed off while doing auto or home repair, because the damn tools are breaking, or are not the right size (sockets that dont fit properly), drill bits that barely drill thru wood, and wont do anything on steel, and so on....
What brands so you consider quality, yet still reasonably priced?