Tier 1, 1.5, or even Tier 2 tools thread

[Whiskey_Bravo]

Well, I fucked that up

Ordered the Bosch set.

You will not be disappointed with these either I think. You could have done much worse.

[vcdgrips]

I initially went with the 3/8 drive 6pt Tekton set with ratchet and cheater bar. Metric/SAE, std and deep.

Those came today looking good so I added a 12 pt set in the smaller drive size (1/4) to cover the waterfront. Between the two sets I will have 4mm to 24 mm/ 5/32 to One inch. Std and deep.Cheater bar, extensions and ratchet assisted screwdriver style driver.

That covers my “tool of the month” purchases for Sept and Oct.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TBH736Z...p_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RT6PCR8..._kJmKFbQD2KTSY

[Whiskey_Bravo]

If you're using your screwdriver as a screwdriver, not a pry bar, get the Snap On ratcheting bit holders. Get the long and short handles and the long, medium and short shafts. Then invest in a good battery operated screw gun/drill motor. I like the DeWalt.

I remove and install screws everyday. With the exception of small screws and specialty fasteners like Torx, I ditched the fixed style screwdrivers years ago and won't go back.

Excellent advice right here. Applications like this are where compact cordless drivers are worth their weight in gold. I use the Makita 18V sub compact line as well as the Milwaukee M12 compact line. They are both beyond capable in a very compact package. Plus now we see the industry moving towards more and more specialty application offerings. For instance, Milwaukee's M12 line offers sub compact 1/4" standard impact driver, 1/4" SURGE hydraulic impact driver, multi head installation driver, 1/2" hammer drill, 1/2" drill/driver, 1/2" or 5/8" SDS rotary hammer drill, as well as 1/4" and 3/8" impact wrenches. On top of everything else on the platform.

It's staggering the advancement we are seeing.

[LittleLebowski]

If you're using your screwdriver as a screwdriver, not a pry bar, get the Snap On ratcheting bit holders. Get the long and short handles and the long, medium and short shafts. Then invest in a good battery operated screw gun/drill motor. I like the DeWalt.

I remove and install screws everyday. With the exception of small screws and specialty fasteners like Torx, I ditched the fixed style screwdrivers years ago and won't go back.

I appreciate that, but what's the SnapOn equivalent sans visiting the tool truck?

[MistWolf]

I appreciate that, but what's the SnapOn equivalent sans visiting the tool truck?

Snap-On Online. Sign up for an account and they'll ship the tools to you. Free shipping for orders over $199.99. If you're building up a kit, need a box etc., it can be worth it developing a relationship with your local truck for better prices on used items. (If you're looking for a roll around box, go to Harbor Freight or Home Despot.)

Complete set- https://shop.snapon.com/product/Ratc...e)/SGDMRC108AO

Broken down to each piece- https://shop.snapon.com/product-memb...e)/SGDMRC108AO

The drivers are not cheap, but constant use over the last 20 years has shown they're worth every penny.

I think the bit set is over priced, but Snap On will replace worn & broken bits.

[LittleLebowski]

Snap-On Online. Sign up for an account and they'll ship the tools to you. Free shipping for orders over $199.99. If you're building up a kit, need a box etc., it can be worth it developing a relationship with your local truck for better prices on used items. (If you're looking for a roll around box, go to Harbor Freight or Home Despot.)

Complete set- https://shop.snapon.com/product/Ratc...e)/SGDMRC108AO

Broken down to each piece- https://shop.snapon.com/product-memb...e)/SGDMRC108AO

The drivers are not cheap, but constant use over the last 20 years has shown they're worth every penny.

I think the bit set is over priced, but Snap On will replace worn & broken bits.

I appreciate the advice, I'm looking at this Wera for price and convenience.

https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Kraftfor...dp/B004VMWYCU/

[Balisong]

I appreciate the advice, I'm looking at this Wera for price and convenience.

https://www.amazon.com/Wera-Kraftfor...dp/B004VMWYCU/

I've just added this, as well as the one @randyho linked in post 17 to my Christmas list. I don't know if it would actually be useful to have both or not, but probably can't hurt.

[RevolverRob]

I think I'm not at that point in my life where I use my tools enough to wear out the various ones I have. But I'd love to see some side-by-sides between the various mid-level Wiha/Wera/SK/Wright/Tekton and the high end Snap-On and Matco lines.

I suspect for wrenches and sockets the gaps aren't that big between performance and reliability.

It's the drill bits/driver bits/ratchets that would be interesting to really see. I have two or three busted Craftsman ratchets in my box and I'm debating whether to take them to Lowe's or Ace and have them replaced. Or throw them in the trash and buy something higher end. I'm disgusted by the fact that I have Made in the USA ratchets I bought less than 15 years ago, that mainly sat in a tool box, that have stripped teeth or self reverse after maybe two or three dozen uses.

[OlongJohnson]

Made in the USA ratchets I bought less than 15 years ago

That's waaaay after the quality cutoff. I still have Craftsman my dad bought me in early high school. By the time I was in college, when I went into Sears and looked at the Craftsman tools, they were obviously crappier than my stuff. By the early 2000s, I knew a guy whose shop got sponsored by Craftsman. He had a box of broken stuff on the back of a bench that he'd go get replaced for free at Sears from time to time. That was just part of the deal.

[NEPAKevin]

The Shockwave is Milwaukee. Makita doesn't have impact driver drill bits out yet.

Home Depot has some of the Shockwave sets listed as "special buy." I read?saw that there's a coding system for HD's prices, something to do with the last digit in the price, but don't recall the specifics or know if these are good deals or just a marketing thing.