[QUOTE] "Your statement about your local sources being better really suprises me. Have you taken a look at The Tool Warehouse? If you are buying off brand stuff, other than Mac, Matco, or Snappy, you really owe it to yourself to take a look. Not only do they offer a much better selection than the average tool truck but their pricing, especially on their sale items, is awesome" ...

No question they are better than tool trucks. It is not the local stores that I bought from, but rather stores that also have Internet sites and I end up mail ordering from them. With local stores I have to watch for sales.

"I realize every man's situation is different but there are no really good tool stores in my area. There are well stocked ones but there are no breaks on the pricing unless you want cheap Chinese stuff (Harbor Freight). There are some good deals to be had at the Warehouse on stuff from OTC, SK, Gear Wrench, etc."

Yeah that China stuff is a real nightmare. Even the Crapsman can beat them, but I also found that those Ace and True Value brand tools are junk too. When you are buy a brand that is 100% outsourced you got to look real close at what your buying - and that takes experience. Btw, my Proto stuff is pre-stanley too.

I did get a few good items of recent vintage: I have a 1/2 dr, 16" long ratchet that is just the ticket for turning a crank pulley or torqing off a stubborn fastener (the gears are larger than anyones and will take more torque); I like proto sockets because they are easy to read but I dislike the "common chasis" thing that they do (everyone does, except Snappy and SK), so, I will nto be buying them again. Proto has a nice combo indexable head/flex head ratchet, but I rarely use it anyway. Proto has a few decent breaker bars, and their ASD wrenches look decent. I have a set of the Snapon flank drive plus design from 10-19 mm; but they are too much $$$ in large sizes, so I have to use Proto if I want that open end grip design. No one else is doing it. Since the Grainger near me wont stock the Proto ASD, the best choice left is the standard Craftsman raised panel that have been around forever. On large size nuts the clearance seems to be ok, but when I am working on the 10-19 stuff, it Snap-on always.

Not sure what Stahlwillie or the other Europeans do in that regard, wish I did though, but I cant afford to order a set just to find out. But most of the Euro sockets look crudely forged or cast with no finish to them. Stahlwillie, Facom, and Hazet look the best from pictures. Gedore looks like crap, except for their aluminum hammer selection. However, I think the Euros got much better drivers and pliers though.

I think it is Shameful what DeWalt did to Emglo and Porter Cable. Milwaukee is not a lifetime guarantee anymore. Williams line has been diminished. Armstrong quality control is lousy. Wright doesn;t have enough metric selection or innovation. Its not easy finding the right tool. Often I have to modify what I buy and say the heck with the warranty, if I want the tool to perform better.

Do you know anything about welding tools? I need to get some and have no clue what brands to get or which ones to avoid.


diyer