Favorite brand of cheap tools?

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I know we all do it and shouldn't but whats you favorite brand you go to when you dont have enough cash for the tool you need or are only going to buy it and use it once? i know we should all buy quality tools but sometimes it just isnt feasible
Reply:I don't know what you mean. I only purchase the highest quality Harbor Freight tools!!
Reply:Originally Posted by HenrymacI don't know what you mean. I only purchase the highest quality Harbor Freight tools!!
Reply:As to cheaper wrenches I like Blackhawk and Cobalt okay.  I don't like any cheap end ratchets or sockets really.
Reply:.GrizzlyThat's as "cheap" as I will go.  I've had good luck with them.  They stand behind their stuff too.  I wouldn't buy a welderfrom them however.  I will stick with Lincoln, Miller, Esab,and HTP for that. .Miller MVP 211HTP Invertig 221ESAB PCM-875
Reply:I do not to buy the cheaper tools.  I may not buy the best of the best, but I won't buy the cheaper toolsHey~!! It's a hobby. It's not supposed to make sense~!!
Reply:About 6 months ago my first grinder went out on me. I went to Lowe's and for $30 I got a Skil angle grinder, for an extra $5 I got a 1 year warranty. A few weeks ago, during my certification test, the Skil grinder died and I had to use my friend's for the rest of the day. lol! He's like "dude get a Dewalt like mine. It was $90 but has lasted me since day one." I said "heck no, I'm going back to Lowe's cuz I got the warranty! haha" Got me a new Skil grinder for only $5 because I bought another one year warranty for it too. And unless I have $90 to spend on a Dewalt when my Skil dies, back to returns desk at Lowe's. Lol!!
Reply:I try not to hate cheap tools i had a 90 amp harbor freight flux core machine last me a year and my kawaski chop saw has lasted me since december 2011 i had 2 used hf grinders last months so i apperciate all tools
Reply:Harbor freight. if its a one time type thing. I like the kobalt stuff. its not cheap cheap, but I wouldnt consider it top of the line- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:My favorite brand of cheap tools is Craftsman.  Hands down winner for me.Not pro quality but low price and easy to get replacements.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Any tool branded 'Northern' is cheap made but not cheap to buy.
Reply:MasterForce brand @ Menards are somewhere between the cheapest and the good stuff. I had a 7 amp grinder I took in after 4 years on a 5 year warranty because the switch started to act up, but the motor was still strong. The replacement one came with a shorter warranty, but I have a new grinder with 3 years of warranty. So far the 7 amp MasterForce drill has also been great for a few years.I'm a hobby welderFixing up a 67 CutlassHarbor Freight MIG flux core thingEverlast iTig 200 (I like this one)
Reply:I really like the Kobalt stuff at Lowes. I've got a ton of it... Full sets of USA made standard wrenches, full sets of deep-well impact sockets, flex head ratcheting breaker bar that I really like, and a few socket sets.Never had any issues with any of it, but IDK how I feel about their power tools.the USA made Kobalt tools were made by the same company that made USA craftsman tools, but since these diddnt say "craftsman" they literally cost half as much.Now they're all made in Taiwan but they're the best "imported" hand tools I've ever used. The problem is that now their prices are going WAY up for some reason, so now I just get everything new-in-box on ebay [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Menarde top of the line boxes (not Masterforce) are really nice.  I have one.  Snap-on quality at 1/3 the price.Interestingly, the HF roll around tool cart is the same one that Snap-on (Bluepoint) sells.  Again 1/4 the price but it don't have the plastic 'Bluepoint' logo glued on.Both made in Taiwan (from American scrap shipped overseas....)
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveMy favorite brand of cheap tools is Craftsman.  Hands down winner for me.Not pro quality but low price and easy to get replacements.Dave J.
Reply:I had found an old 3/4" Craftsman ratchet in the dirt at work one day, been buried for no telling how many years and missing the mechanism.  cleaned it up, took it to Sears and they tried for 30 mins to put a new mechanism in it and finally said f@ck it, go get a new one.  for a few mins of me working to clean some, not all the rust/dirt from it and 30 mins of my time at the store landed me a brand new $80 (at the time) 3/4" ratchet
Reply:If I don't have enough cash or am only going to use it once, I'm not picky about what brand tool I borrow."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumIf I don't have enough cash or am only going to use it once, I'm not picky about what brand tool I borrow.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumIf I don't have enough cash or am only going to use it once, I'm not picky about what brand tool I borrow.
Reply:Yeah, Roy, if I can find the right sized flat-rate shipping box.  On hot days, one of my cats sleeps on it (has a blanket).  I think I'll have "Done Gone" engraved on it and use it for my gravestone."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumYeah, Roy, if I can find the right sized flat-rate shipping box.  On hot days, one of my cats sleeps on it (has a blanket).  I think I'll have "Done Gone" engraved on it and use it for my gravestone.
Reply:I'm Canadian not sure if there's princess auto in the states but i actually like their pro point tools. But the powerfist  are garbage
Reply:As for cheap electric tools ryobis seem pretty decent. Have to agree on craftsman stuff, pretty decent stuff. Will do about anything short of a pro auto mechanic work. Ive got hand tools that see daily use I bought new 30yrs ago. Not many things will last more than 5yrs anymore.
Reply:30 to 40 years ago, if it said made in "JAPAN" it was first rate quality, if it said made in "TAIWAN" it was second rate quality, if it said made in INDIA/CHINA/WHEREVER, you didn't bother to buy it unless you ABSOLUTELY needed it for an on road repair.Now it is hard to tell what is any good as almost all tools seem to be made offshore.
Reply:About 8 years ago I was given Home Depot air tools  for Christmas.I would never have bought them for myself as I like my U.S. made tools.The impact and air rachet are Kobalt and cut-off wheel and diegrinder are Husky.The stuff works and is holding up so far,being used several times a week at my job.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion EliteIf the OP is talking about hand tools, I prefer used. There is a second-hand store near my home and the owner usually has a wrench or two. I like Miller, S&K,  Husky, pre Asian Snap-on and Craftsman, Bonney, Channellock, Estwing, Williams. Rigid, Greenlee, Pexto, Vise-Grip, Plomb, Proto, Challenger and so on. I also frequent swap meets and garage sales and I'll buy any tool that is available if it's not broken and the proce is right. As to new offshore, the hand tools sold by Home Depot (Cobalt) are OK as are the ones sold by Ace Hardware and Lowes, but I'd never buy any of them. I've got an eclectic set of American made hand tools that I've collected for all of my adult life. They don't match, but each one could tell you a story if they could talk.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Cheaper stuff? I like anything that Danaher Tools produces. That includes much of craftsman, K-D, gearwrench, some matco, armstrong, i think cresent, and some others. There headquarters used to be a few miles north of my shop and my matco dealer got me into some focus groups/ research meetings that we were given a great selection of tools afterwards for our time.
Reply:Vanadam is vanadaium right?  Who cares if it's Chinese.
Reply:Craftsman, Husky (Home Depot) or Cobalt (Lowes).    Actually, the three above are lower in price than my favorite ( Snap on or Hilti), but they are all QUALITY TOOLS!!!  For the home owner, all three are perfectly fine.  However, for the professional, that's another story.  An aircraft mechanic once told me that a mechanic is "judged by his tools."  If one walks into a hanger with Craftsman tools, he's judged as inferior.  Snap-on and a very few Matco tools are the ONLY tools I see my aircraft (turbine guys) A&P mechanics with.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:My standard go-to brand for non-power tools (wrenches, sockets, etc.)  is good ol' Craftsman.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveMy favorite brand of cheap tools is Craftsman.  Hands down winner for me.Not pro quality but low price and easy to get replacements.Dave J.
Reply:I don't believe in being cheap with the tools one uses to make their living.  There's a lot of Snap-on in my box with a sprinkling of Craftsman.Lifetime warranties are great, if you don't value your time.  If I have to stop what i'm doing to go exchange a tool, it's costing me money.Beck's Welding and Fabrication, Inc.-Misc. Metals Fabrication & Installation-
Reply:None of them!
Reply:Jonnesway. The rest id bowlacheet.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I can't buy the vanadium garbage from China.  I have a bunch of Snap-On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, S-K, Old Proto and Craftsman.  Slowly Ive been swapping out older worn craftsman with Snap-on.  I love the feel of them is my main reason.
Reply:Cheap power tools I love my 18v ryobi stuffTorchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:99% of my impact sockets are h/f and work fine. I have destroyed plenty of the standard chromed sockets but the impacts hold upmost my end-wrenches and ratchets are craftsman. I have destroyed h/f ratchets, but not their end-wrenches yetmy screwdrivers rarely drive screws so I go as cheap as I can with those. h/fanything powered I have to have brand-made. hilti for my cordless stuff (1/2" impact took a dump on me after 3 yrs. drill, roto-hammer, and sawzall are running fine on the same two 3+ year old batteries) I like my Makita grinders, had a metabo hand-me-down I retired after god-knows how long, and I have a dewalt that makes a bunch of noise but still does the job after 1 yearbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:shouldn't this be in the "Tools" sub-forum??   1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleCheap power tools I love my 18v ryobi stuff
Reply:Originally Posted by SidecarFlipVanadam is vanadaium right?  Who cares if it's Chinese.