Walt Goddard wrote:
>
> While Harbor Freight is cheaper, I have learned over many years of buying
> things more than once that the original price is definitely not the biggest
> consideration (assuming a pocket book that will not collapse under
> pressure). Although more money at first, tools like Craftsman, Master
> Mechanic, and the like carry a lifetime guarantee and are quite a bit better
> quality than the really cheap ones, but still not as expensive as the
> "professional mechanic" brands. Also minimizes things like broken sockets,
> rounded-off bolts, trips to the emergency room etc. each one of which could
> end up costing more than the difference in price of the tools.
>
Please don't get me wrong here. I'm very fond of top-quality tools.
However, I try to make a cost/benefit trade-off on ones that I will use
infrequently. The 3/4" drive set was one of those decisions. I found I
could get the entire set for less than the cost of a socket and breaker
bar. We lived in a smallish town at the time and my choices were
somewhat limited.
The tools are very acceptable quality and have performed well enough.
If I were spending a lot of time rebuilding tractors, I probably would
have gotten a better set.
Most of my wrenches, sockets, and ratchets are old Craftsman. I have a
1/2" drive Proto ratchet that is stiffer and stronger than most breaker
bars. My primary phillips screwdrivers are also Proto. That was money
well spent as I have never munged up a good screw with them.
While good tools will make the job easier, it's much more important to
have the right type of tool
Dave "whose 1-5/16 socket only turns the engine now" Ambrose
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