Maggie’s Tool help

[Bryan W M]

For work I need to get a 3/8 drive inch pound torque wrench and a die grinder.

I thought about getting mac or snap on but money is tight and I need a few other tools.
Use will be a few times a week.

Should I bite the bullet and by once cry once or is there a better option.
Thank you

 

[Nodakplowboy]

I've had a Sears Craftsman since forever, has always worked well. Tested against the Borka set, it's spot on. It says made in USA, couldn't tell if it is. They show up on Ebay a lot.

My first die grinder was also a Sears, P.O.S. Now running a Ingersoll Rand 3101G, right angle 1/4" collet. It's a beast.

My suggestion? Go good used on the torque wrench, best you can afford on the die grinder. Grinders take a lot of abuse.

 

[jbuck88]

I was going to reccomend the same as above. I have a craftsman angle die grinder and a straight snap on die grinder. I don't think you could tell the difference in performance after 10-12 years.

I would spend money on a torque wrench. I have a proto torque wrench that works pretty decent.

 

[Slash0311]

You might look at Grizzly tools. Ive had good luck with their power tools. Might be a good option till over this hump then drop bigger bucks on Mac or Snap-on.

I stay away from Crafstman any more. Their old stuff was grear but newer stuff is junk in my opinion.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Bicycle guys use inch pound torque wrenches. Alsonsome nice digital ones.

I just use my wheeler fat wrench.

Unless your using it for hours at time I prefer a cordless 18v grinder. We use Makita at work and they seem to last.

 

[Jscb1b]

Talk to your snap on and mac dealers about trade ins on the torque wrench. The die grinder, is it electric or pneumatic? Can you use a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench instead? My snap on digital goes down to 10 ftlbs.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I would highly recommend Precision Instrument click style torque wrench. I have been using them right next to my snap on and Matco torque wrenches and they are top quality for the money.

Precision Instruments (PREC2FR600H) 3/8" Dr Split Beam Click Wrench 120-600"/lbs

Details3/8" Drive Flex Head Split Beam Click Wrench 120 to 600 in./lbs.

www.tooltopia.com

As far as die grinders, I would look into Air Cat. I have been using there 1/4 and 3/8 air ratchets for 12 years and they have been great. They make super quiet air tools that are high quality for a killer price.

Grinders - Aircat

aircat.com

 

[346ci]

I would highly recommend Precision Instrument click style torque wrench. I have been using them right next to my snap on and Matco torque wrenches and they are top quality for the money.

Precision Instruments (PREC2FR600H) 3/8" Dr Split Beam Click Wrench 120-600"/lbs

Details3/8" Drive Flex Head Split Beam Click Wrench 120 to 600 in./lbs.

www.tooltopia.com

Those are good wrenches for the $$.

My air die grinder is a Cornwell. I'd look for a nice one if using a few times a week.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

Those are good wrenches for the $$.

My air die grinder is a Cornwell. I'd look for a nice one if using a few times a week.

Yeah they are excellent wrenches, I have put a lot of Diesel engine together with there wrenches and never had a failure.

I have a couple Cornwell and the are not the best out there. Had them fail so many timeI took them home. At work I use all snap on air and electric tools. Had one impact fail in 15 years, broke the shaft on the vain motor.
The air cat stuff I have used has been great stuff. I wore out a couple 1/4 air ratchets over the years but love how quite they are.

 

[Jscb1b]

Something else is talk to your dealers about a truck account or your boss about taking some your pay every week to hold for tools.

 

[357Max]

I'd go snap on for the torque wrench. Get the twist handle version since it will torque both directions.
I have 3 different snap on's that I used daily for 15 years. Went back for calibration a few times, but never any issues.

Snap used to let you run a tab and make weekly payments, don't know if they still do?

 

[Jscb1b]

Our dealers do. Mac and snap on. You can do a truck account or get company credit for tool boxes and bigger stuff.

 

[Bryan W M]

I have Milwaukee 18v tools so will look into that.
I have a mac half inch torque wrench 50-250 looking for in lb for the small stuff.
Thanks guys

 

[Major Wader]

Mountz makes the best inch/lb torque drivers. Regularly see them on eBay, as the precision medical folks use them, and it is cheaper for them to replace than re-calibrate.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

I too have one of the older Craftsman 3/8" inch-pound torque wrenches. (about 25ish years old) and still happy with it. I also have C/P pneumatic die grinder, millions of miles on that thing and still good.

And I have the Borka torque wrench, and it works GREAT for what it was designed for. Bought it about 10ish years ago... not sure, but when they first came out.

 

[HeavyAssault]

If you get it calibrated correctly, and on a schedule a $10 TQ wrench is going to be just as good as a $1,000 one. I'd ask about what sort of calibration plan you get if you get a Gucci name tool.

 

[HayStax]

Higher quality air tools typically run more efficiently than cheaper ones. All my air tools are Ingersoll Rand. I do have an AirCat 1” impact and it’s never failed. Most Snap On guys don’t stop at farms so I‘m not tempted to buy, one guy I know had a route for a while and we bought some stuff to help him get going. If any of it breaks it’s gonna be a pain for me to swap it out now that he quit

Snap On and Mac are great if you make a living with them and want to pay for the service that you get from a truck regularly showing up to your shop. I know many guys who have close to $100k in tools from Snap On. Many had a tool account to pay every week for 20 years. They would tell you they would have been money ahead to go with brands like Proto or Wright instead and pocket the difference.

 

[packratt]

The last Crapsman tool I bought 20+ years ago was a torque wrench. The one I had broke 6 hours from home doing a headgasket job for my brother. Sears wouldn't warranty it. Since I didn't have anyone I could borrow one off of I bought one, used it and returned it. You couldn't give me anything Craftsman that's less than 50 years old.

Spend the money and get a good torque wrench. I know a couple people who have the trucks pull up to their shop every week. If I need to warranty something I just leave it with them.

 

[Jscb1b]

Harbor freight is not your friend.

 

[Bryan W M]

Thank you very much guys
Aircat, grey pneumatic, precision instrument and other stuff on order
550 spent and still need to get more from snap on

 

[NCHillbilly]

If you're in a career that requires more than a handful of tools, just get used to spending. I've been buying tools since I was 15 and I'm 50 now and still buying. If it makes a job easier or makes you money (or both), buy decent stuff, take care of it and it will probably last a good while. I can count on two hands the number of tools that I have actually broke in my life, and I've been in the automotive field since I got out of high school. Mechanical and body/paint. Chose wisely, those trucks showing up at work are convenient, but when a set of screwdrivers sets you back $200, you can do better elsewhere. A lot of places carry decent quality stuff these days.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I have been buying off the tool truck for the last 15 years. Like jsbc1b said Harbor freight is not your friend. Between my shop tool boxes and my service truck I have Mac, snap on, Matco, air cat and very few craftsman. I don’t like broken tools. Tools are just like guns and optics, you get what you pay for. For the home hobbyists sure craftsman will get you by but if you’re are working with them every day you understand why we spend 2000 dollars on a set of wrenches.

 

[Jscb1b]

The truck is about convenience not saving money.

 

[Mooseknuckles]

The truck is about convenience not saving money.

I absolutely agree with you on that. Can’t count the times I have need a tool right now and a tool truck happen to show up to only use that tool once or twice a year . But I needed it at that time.

 

[Jscb1b]

They are a way of new wrenches getting started. Just don't get carried away with credit.

 

[NCHillbilly]

I absolutely agree with you on that. Can’t count the times I have need a tool right now and a tool truck happen to show up to only use that tool once or twice a year . But I needed it at that time.

I've bought my share of tools off of those same trucks, and I'm not arguing about the convenience. My point, however, is if you buy decent stuff anywhere and use it as intended, it'll probably last. On the other hand, if you use that $50.00 snap-on screwdriver as a chisel, it'll break just like a pittsburg forge. I have craftsman wrenches that are older than I am, and they'll remove a nut just as well as the high dollar tools. I'm not a fan of newer craftsman products, but their older stuff was decent, as far as garden variety hand tools were concerned. Many specialty tools can only be had from the premium suppliers, and thank god for them, but on principle, I wouldn't pay $200 for screwdrivers any quicker than I would pay $20 for a burger. That's just me.

 

[Jscb1b]

I like the vintage stuff. I've got a 3/4 drive proto ratchet that is older than me. The new craftsman wrenches are made in china.?

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I've bought my share of tools off of those same trucks, and I'm not arguing about the convenience. My point, however, is if you buy decent stuff anywhere and use it as intended, it'll probably last. On the other hand, if you use that $50.00 snap-on screwdriver as a chisel, it'll break just like a pittsburg forge. I have craftsman wrenches that are older than I am, and they'll remove a nut just as well as the high dollar tools. I'm not a fan of newer craftsman products, but their older stuff was decent, as far as garden variety hand tools were concerned. Many specialty tools can only be had from the premium suppliers, and thank god for them, but on principle, I wouldn't pay $200 for screwdrivers any quicker than I would pay $20 for a burger. That's just me.

I agree, if you use the tool as intended it will definitely last. Where is disagree is a craftsman wrench with remove a nuts as well as any high dollars tool. I have proven this time and time again with other mechanics that strip nuts and bolt out. The higher end tools will either not cause this to happen or will remove whatever the cheaper stuff has stripped out.
The specialty tools are great and I am thankful for them making my life easier. But using these tools every day I would definitely pay 200 bucks for a good set of screw drivers as long as the result isn’t a stripped screw.

 

[Jscb1b]

What is the old adage: you get what you pay for?

 

[Major Wader]

Craftsman made in USA were good tools. Now, it's all chinese, and not worth a damn.

Most of my Craftsman stuff was made in USA and is 30-40 years old.

 

[Major Wader]

Regarding screwdrivers, I would rather have some good bits from Brownell's and a few of their bit holders than almost anything else.

 

[Icallem]

For work I need to get a 3/8 drive inch pound torque wrench and a die grinder.

I thought about getting mac or snap on but money is tight and I need a few other tools.
Use will be a few times a week.

Should I bite the bullet and by once cry once or is there a better option.
Thank you

View attachment 7292322

Did you get anything yet?

I'll look this afternoon and see what I have in the tool box as far as a torque wrench is concerned. Years ago in a different life I worked as a mech. at the coal mine. I have not used any torque wrench for years, so long ago I don't even know what is in the box. There are 4-5, in there and I'll see if one of them is something you can use. It will be a snap-on and it will be old enough to vote, but I promise the price will be right.

 

[Bryan W M]

Let me know what you are willing to part with. Thank you.

It looks like I'll have a little extra money.
Looking at only snap on ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8 fine tooth what snap on part numbers should I look at.

Do to co-19 our snap on truck isn't allowed on site. So I'm going to try to grab a few off ebay

 

[Sean the Nailer]

In time, as you progress, get yourself a set of Snap-Off Ratcheting Combination Wrenches. They too have the 'fine tooth' and truly do work well. I still need to get myself a set of Metric ones, though I'm not pulling wrenches near-as-much as I used to, but I'm trying.

 

[Maxduty]

Go buy your torque wrench from a pawn shop. Have the snap on dealer get it calibrated. You can buy some quality brand tools for dimes on the dollar sometimes.

 

[tnichols]

I look at tools as an investment. Money spent for a lifetime of work to be passed on. Absolutely nothing wrong with old Craftsman. However, I bought Snap On and Mac tools on time in my younger years when I didn’t have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. It stung a bit, but I still have and use them all from time to time. My son now uses them and I hope he appreciates them as much as I do. Buy what you can afford and upgrade as funds allow.

 

[Icallem]

I looked last night and as I was doing that, I remembered loaning it to a neighbor years ago as he wanted to run the overhead on an 855 cummins. I never got it back and I'm not going to ask for it now.

I have gotten older, but still remember when I was in the same boat you are in (don't you wish you could buy a boat that would last that long?) and at that time there was an older farmer that helped me out.

I have read enough on here to know that if 'mooseknuckles' tells you a wrench is alright, then it most likely is.

PM me your info and I will send a check for the amount of the wrench he described. You buy whatever brand you want, and then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, somewhere / sometime down the road, maybe you will get the enjoyment of helping somebody else.

 

[Bryan W M]

Thank you for the offer.
I did send you a pm.
We have a great group of guys on here.

 

[packratt]

In time, as you progress, get yourself a set of Snap-Off Ratcheting Combination Wrenches. They too have the 'fine tooth' and truly do work well. I still need to get myself a set of Metric ones, though I'm not pulling wrenches near-as-much as I used to, but I'm trying.

Not quite Snap-On quality but surprisingly good. Until you can afford the SnapOn ratching wrenches the Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches are very good. I've abused some on old rusted nuts and haven't killed one yet.

 

[Porksboy]

Ive heard good things about Harbour freight. Been reasonably accurate, repeatable and durable for ocassional use. That said Ive never used them. I have 4 Snap-on that I bought in the early mid 80s.

 

[The D]

I’ve been a mechanic for 20 years, mostly in German car dealerships, so take this for what it’s worth. Buy the best precision and high-use tools you can justify. I have really nice ratchets, some sockets, and wrenches. I have decent screwdrivers and some other handled tools. I also have assorted craftsman tools from my very first set that still perform just fine.

In your specific example I’d say, spend the money on at least a Cornwell or Mac torque wrench. If you can swing it, Snap-on sells a techangle torque wrench that is electronic and does metric, sae, and angles. I bought one when they first came out and it’s absolutely awesome. Die grinders can be found relatively inexpensively on fleabay or amazon. Or, if you have a tool guy show up regularly, just start a truck account and pay $20 a week for what you need

 

[mike278]

I'll second the recommendation for the Precision Instruments torque wrench. I can't swear to it, but I believe they used to make them for Snap On. In my former life as a mechanic I used it daily for years. As far as the die grinder, anything rebuildable will work. Don't go Chinese. If money is tight, check out pawn shops and get a quality brand at half price or less. I still have a Mac impact wrench that I gave a quarter of the price the tool truck wanted.

 

[tiger13]

I'll second the recommendation for the Precision Instruments torque wrench. I can't swear to it, but I believe they used to make them for Snap On. In my former life as a mechanic I used it daily for years. As far as the die grinder, anything rebuildable will work. Don't go Chinese. If money is tight, check out pawn shops and get a quality brand at half price or less. I still have a Mac impact wrench that I gave a quarter of the price the tool truck wanted.

Professional mechanic here, this is correct. Precision Instruments makes the Snap On torque wrenches, and you can get them for much less. Try Tooltopia.com.

 

[BikePilot]

I used to be a full time mechanic, now I just play around in the garage. I still find Snap On to be my go-to for hand tools (wrenches, ratchets, screw drivers, sockets, etc.) as they just work so well and last almost forever. For pneumatic tools, I'm less picky. I use them very little on my own stuff as I'm not on the clock and trying to bang out a bunch of jobs quickly. I generally buy Ingersol Rand when I do pick up air tools now. I always used Snap on Torque wrenches, but I imagine that there are many good options. I also really like Motion Pro T-handle wrenches for working on a motorcycle.

 

[Pbgt]

Side note: when my kid was hatched, instead of buying Mickey mouse dressers and all that shit, I bought craftsman boxes for his dressers....every other year or so...he kept clothes and toys in them, growing up. Fastforward, he is 30 now, took the boxes with him when he moved out and has some good quality boxes. The new craftsman boxes are probably 22 ga, where his stuff was 14-16ga..what a difference in quality/weight 20+ years makes.