Less Expensive Tools Input Please

Great info here, appreciate all the feedback. I bought a set of the Icon screwdrivers for my trailer toolbox and happy with them so far. I have also been looking at more of this stuff on occasion. We use a lot of Proto at my work but it's mostly bigger stuff. Proto is the industrial line made by Black & Decker. But like all things the devil is in the details. Most of the base Proto line is good quality, made in USA stuff. However, the Proto Blackhawk line is their discount version marketed for the typical DIY garage and is foreign built. I'm not at all suggesting it isn't worth buying. My point is simply that you can't just go by the headline name, you need to ensure that what you are buying will meet your intended use and expectations. 

I was cruising FB Marketplace this past weekend looking for some tools. I came across a big 72" Homak toolbox with a side locker for a really good price. My existing 56" Mac box is full and I've overflowed into an older Craftsman chest I've had for years. The bigger Homak was a good opportunity to allow me to consolidate into one box and get better organized so I bought it. The quality of my Mac box is better for sure but it's not like the Homak is going to fall apart or not fill my needs. And, now that I have a bigger box with more room I can go buy more tools  :classic_biggrin:   This is the box I bought along with a side locker. I paid almost 50% less than the price listed here:

https://homak.com/product/72-rs-pro-combo/

 
Dockmaster said:
Great info here, appreciate all the feedback. I bought a set of the Icon screwdrivers for my trailer toolbox and happy with them so far. I have also been looking at more of this stuff on occasion. We use a lot of Proto at my work but it's mostly bigger stuff. Proto is the industrial line made by Black & Decker. But like all things the devil is in the details. Most of the base Proto line is good quality, made in USA stuff. However, the Proto Blackhawk line is their discount version marketed for the typical DIY garage and is foreign built. I'm not at all suggesting it isn't worth buying. My point is simply that you can't just go by the headline name, you need to ensure that what you are buying will meet your intended use and expectations. 

I was cruising FB Marketplace this past weekend looking for some tools. I came across a big 72" Homak toolbox with a side locker for a really good price. My existing 56" Mac box is full and I've overflowed into an older Craftsman chest I've had for years. The bigger Homak was a good opportunity to allow me to consolidate into one box and get better organized so I bought it. The quality of my Mac box is better for sure but it's not like the Homak is going to fall apart or not fill my needs. And, now that I have a bigger box with more room I can go buy more tools  :classic_biggrin:   This is the box I bought along with a side locker. I paid almost 50% less than the price listed here:

https://homak.com/product/72-rs-pro-combo/
Click to expand...
tekton direct, registered my son who is a student and got a nice big discount.

i keep my personal home set up away from my trailer set up. snap on at home, cheap crap in trailer. I even took and laid them all out on cardboard and spray painted orange on everything, let it dry, flipped it and sprayed other side. easier to find in the sand/dirt and know they are mine. they still walk away lol. 

 
 
dbart said:
For my tool chest at home I bought this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-300-Piece-Standard-SAE-and-Metric-Polished-Chrome-Mechanics-Tool-Set/1000251051?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-tol-_-ggl-_-LIA_TOL_218_Mechanic-Automotive-Tools-_-1000251051-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5ycBhCXARIsAPldzoU_Rcrv7kHZiY_XbR79eDZhhBlTrNucg58o7xIWHb6wPr8lt-e7vtUaAvw2EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Has all the foam inserts to keep everything organized.

I need a tool set for my Can Am...might just do like  @L.R.S. and go to Harbor Freight and piece meal it together...

:thumb:
Click to expand...
I use my road setup to do routine repairs (belt changes, etc) to see what's missing.

 
Rockwood said:
Yeah.  I regret (only a little though) going Makita when I started with 18V stuff.  

Oh well, if I start up a 12V collection, it'll be Milf*ckees.
Click to expand...
What are you guys missing that Makita doesn't make? I  have makita at home and I'll put those tools up against the Milwaukee tools at work any day. For a home gamer, my tools are pretty extensive and I have 18V automotive, construction, and lawn/garden makita tools. I draw the line at the coffee maker though. 

 
Fireballsocal said:
What are you guys missing that Makita doesn't make? I  have makita at home and I'll put those tools up against the Milwaukee tools at work any day. For a home gamer, my tools are pretty extensive and I have 18V automotive, construction, and lawn/garden makita tools. I draw the line at the coffee maker though. 
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same. Before I retired a few years ago I was on a committee that was tasked with picking a vendor for battery operated tools. Up until that point we had a huge mixture of different brands. It came down to Makita and Milwaukee. Makita won the bid based on their variety of tools and willingness to work with us on developing new tools to meet our needs. Each crew received about $35k in all Makita tools and loved them.

Milwaukee had a smoking hot rep working with us and a few on the committee were thinking with the wrong head, but Makita won based on meeting our needs.

 
THD said:
I was thinking the same. Before I retired a few years ago I was on a committee that was tasked with picking a vendor for battery operated tools. Up until that point we had a huge mixture of different brands. It came down to Makita and Milwaukee. Makita won the bid based on their variety of tools and willingness to work with us on developing new tools to meet our needs. Each crew received about $35k in all Makita tools and loved them.

Milwaukee had a smoking hot rep working with us and a few on the committee were thinking with the wrong head, but Makita won based on meeting our needs.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected. Looked back at the line and many of the tools my buddies have that I want have since been released with Makita. 

I’ll tell my wife it was your fault. :biggrin:

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top