Middle of the road tools? Craftsman - Tekton - or Other

I might be opening a flood gate here but im in the market for some good middle of the road hand tools for work. About to start a new job and im going to need my own basic tools (sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers ect) nothing crazy but enough to do most jobs. Im not going to be a flat rate mechanic or anything like that but I do want some tools that will last a little while and wont strip out bolts/screws.

Iv already got the box picked out (Homak Pro Series 41in. 11-Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet)   

We use Homak boxes at my current job and I really like them, plus this has a work space on top of the box!

So im graduating from my Ace Hardware tools I have at home and want a good set to use for work. Iv got two kinda picked out in my head but with no experience I thought I would ask around see if you guys own any of these tools.

1st Craftsman 311 Set

This set (along with the other big sets they sell) looks like a strong start with most of what I need all in one go. But iv heard that craftsman now isn't what it was 20 years ago (the tools in my dads box iv used for years and love). I went to the store and held the ratchets in my hand, they feel great but heavy and im not 100% on quality or the lifetime warranty anymore. As well as Sears not as common anymore and now Stanley Black and Decker own the brand who knows whats to come. But for $199 at the local store its a lot for the money

2nd is Tekton tools (list of PN#'s)

1/4 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket Set, 51-Piece

3/8 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket Set, 45-Piece

1/2 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket Set, 58-Piece

Combination Wrench Set, 30-Piece

Tekton comes out at a little under double but it looks like a good set with no skipped sizes. They have mixed but mostly good reviews online and everyone saying there customer service is great. Plus they are all 6 point not the 12 point stuff (don't think I will run into any 12 point bolts). Down fall is no stores really carry them but sounds like if you break a tool they send a new one in about 2 days.

Im on the fence but leaning towards the Tekton stuff seems like they have some good stuff and don't add a lot of fluff like the craftsman kit has. Looks like I will be spending about $400-500 on the bulk of the tools then a bit more at harbor fright buying crow bar screw drivers, chisel screw drivers, and a BFH along with other random stuff.

So anyone else use either of these tool brands?

I have a pretty good collection of both. I started out with a Craftsman set. There is a pretty big quality difference between their professional and basic (economy?) lines. I've run into quite a few issues getting Craftsman tools replaced at my local Sears but that could also be dependent on the manager at each store. Keep in mind that they won't usually offer replacements on tools unless it's their professional line. Only things I've had break were (2) 1/4" ratchets, almost all of my ratcheting wrenches, and a 3/8" swivel head ratchet. 

I've bought a number of Tekton tools now and have been pretty impressed. Pretty good quality and more than excellent customer service. I'm actually much happier with my Tekton stuff than Craftsman tools I've bought lately. Only tool I've had break was a 1/4" torque wrench that just didn't feel right (for lack of a better description) and they sent me a new one right away with zero issues. 

Keep in mind that I'm a DIY garage dweller kind of person; I'm not using these for daily work. The Snap-on crowd will argue with my assessment of both of these brands. However, I do use my tools probably every other night and they serve me well. 

Now that I have about 5 months on my Teckton tools I can report back! Im happy with the tecktons tools overall! Love the socket sets its nice having ever size for once! Everything has been holding up very well so far no issues at all! The ratchets are great but the heads are a bit large but add some lube every other month and they are smooth as butter! Wrenchs are good as well I don’t have the ratcheting set just the full standard sets in SAE and Metric. Wish they went up a bit larger I find myself needing sizes larger then 1” more often now. The screw drivers are ok nothing good or bad to say. The plyers are the same as Mac’s and preform really well. Its funny how much better they are then the cheap ones! 

All that being said if I were to do it again I would buy gearwrench tools. Not that they are better or worse but the fact that im at a shop and a few tool trucks come in every week and some of them have gearwrench tools on them. It would be nice to let them replace a tool rather then mail it off. Also after working with a lot of snap-on tools the one thing I like about them and gearwrench is the tool holders that they come in. Im big on keeping my box organized so that would a plus!

Over the years, I've found all sorts of tools in the middle of the road: Snap-On, Craftsman, Mac, crappy Chinese. Pretty much a grab bag out there...

Baddum-bing!

The Prime Rib's great ... don't forget to tip your server!

Yeah ... I'll see myself out...

Back on subject, really: I'm sorry to see how lousy Craftsman tools have gotten and the crap customer service. We all, those of us who have been using Craftsman tools for years, have stories about the broken tools replaced without a blink of the eye. Now days it seems like the inquisition...

I'll suggest a coupla things with regards to ratchets: First of all, get fine tooth ratchets. The ones in the pitcher are not and they don't work nearly as well for their intended purpose. The fine tooth ones have the direction switch on the axis of the head instead of on the handle. Second of all, if you're breaking a lot of them, use your breaker bar for the heavy work. The BB can take at least double the torque of the ratchet. I haven't broken a single ratchet since The Old Man clued me in. YMMV...

rdcyclist said:

Over the years, I've found all sorts of tools in the middle of the road: Snap-On, Craftsman, Mac, crappy Chinese. Pretty much a grab bag out there...

Baddum-bing!

The Prime Rib's great ... don't forget to tip your server!

Yeah ... I'll see myself out...

Back on subject, really: I'm sorry to see how lousy Craftsman tools have gotten and the crap customer service. We all, those of us who have been using Craftsman tools for years, have stories about the broken tools replaced without a blink of the eye. Now days it seems like the inquisition...

I'll suggest a coupla things with regards to ratchets: First of all, get fine tooth ratchets. The ones in the pitcher are not and they don't work nearly as well for their intended purpose. The fine tooth ones have the direction switch on the axis of the head instead of on the handle. Second of all, if you're breaking a lot of them, use your breaker bar for the heavy work. The BB can take at least double the torque of the ratchet. I haven't broken a single ratchet since The Old Man clued me in. YMMV...

I still have never broken a ratchet*, knock on wood, but this is good advice and I'll be taking it. 

*The Harbor Freight ratchet that came as part of a 40 piece set for less than $4 doesn't count. 

I work at a dealership, so my tools get used hard and frequently. I use all Pittsburgh sockets, never broken one yet (meanwhile my Mac impact sockets explode frequently). I use all Kobalt ratchets, they are designed just like a Mac ratchet and have lifetime warranty but without the cushy handle and the exorbitant price. 

An anecdote from my personal experience.

Tekton has an excellent warranty/return policy. Send them a photo of the broken tool and you get another one within a week. 

On the other hand I had to exercise that policy too many times to use Tekton any more.  I had a particular a set of forged snap ring pliers that broke every 3rd use. I gave in and bought a snap on set after 5 returns. The tekton wrenches were also binned after I noticed the 10mm and 15mm regularly rounded off heads that my other wrenches did not. Granted I also had a craftsman 10mm that did the same thing and the sales droid at the sears couldn't see anything wrong with it and wouldn't exchange it.

I've never broken a ratchet, but I've had a couple get loose from wear.

I like GearWrench as well, the quality on them is nice.  I think it's a step up from the Tekton, similar to the Craftsman stuff I used to buy 20 years ago.  That's become my go-to brand these days.

As a note, we had a meeting at work with folks from Stanley Black & Decker, they said they bought Craftsmen just for the name, and plan on using none of the tooling and making something decent out of it. I don't know when that takes place though.

I don’t think I’d ever heard of Tekton until yesterday, when I noticed they appear to have replaced Stanley (or someone else) in the hardware section at the local Meijer.  Didn’t stop to take a look, just noticed the new display.  Based on this thread, maybe I’ll check them out next time I’m in the store.

I like using cheap wrenches and sockets because I don't feel bad when I have to sacrifice one and tack weld it to a stubborn bolt.  I have some Tekton and quite a lot of Husky stuff, my problem with Craftsman isn't the receding quality but rather how rare Sears are getting nowadays.  I don't see the point in spending the crazy money on the big name hand tools, my  power tools though I am quite biased to the red ones.

I have been on the line for 25+ years and the best advice I can give you is to make sure you can get tools replaced/ serviced quickly. Time is money, money is time. Look for a good tool dealer that is reliable and trustworthy this will serve you well. 

As to the six point Vs. twelve point issue, some cars use both so you should plan on buying both sets at some point.

Last word of advice. Get OUT NOW!!!

There are better paying jobs with a fraction of the nonsense.

Paul B

I am a tech for a living, my box is mostly Snapon/Matco ratchets and Pittsburg sockets in 6 and 12 point variants in sae and metric. 

All my torques bits and tripple square ect are all Matco. 

I buy most of my nicer and specialty tools used on ebay. 

I sold off all my Craftsman stuff off a few years ago due to my local store being hard to warranty stuff out. 

Speaking of Snap-on:

For Dad's day (yeah, that used to be everyday around my house), the family pitched in and bought me a full set of Snap-on combo wrenches from 8mm to 19mm. Up until that point I used old Craftsman combos for years. Lemme tell you, they are worth every penny. These are about 10 years old and have NEVER rounded off a bolt/nut on either the closed or open end. The open end has some kind of funny feature machined into it and they grip bolts differently than regular smooth open ends.

The only problem has been I lost the 19mm and it cost me 60 bucks to replace it, but replace it I did.

I've had two sets of Snap-on 3/8 drive 12 point sockets for about 20 years. Other than losing a couple, work way better than the old Industro and Craftsman ones I used before them; very rarely rounding a bolt/nut and the thinner walls gets them into places the other thickwall sockets won't go. I liked them enough that I sprung for several sets of Snap-on impacts in 3/8 and 1/2. Never blown any of those up; not for lack of trying...

So yeah, they're ridiculously expensive but when you're depending on the tool to work, the price becomes less of an issue and reliability comes to the fore. IMHO, of course...

After 6-7 months I rounded off the #2 Phillips from teckton. They were my least favorite tool iv gotten from them so I thought it would be the case. For kicks I took a pic and sent it to them and within 2 hours I had an email saying they were sending me a new one and had the tracking number by the next morning. 

After using the Snapon ratchets for a bit I have found I don't care for them, I like the button on the back to let go of the sockets and to put my thumb on to help spin off loose bolts.

Not saying snapon is bad (some stuff is to die for) but after breaking a flat head screw driver and asking the snapon guy to replace it and getting a ear full about not buying stuff but having it replaced (i broke my bosses tool) im kinda turned off by tool trucks.