I wasn't sure where to post this, but I figure the FD guys will be interested .

An acquaintance (and ex-FD guy) recently took over his family's tool business and in an effort to gain brand recognition is offering the tools on his site at 50% off of the lowest listed price. I purchased a set of both 6-24mm sockets and 6-24mm deep sockets along with a set of 10-19mm gear wrenches and 10-19mm stubby wrenches for around 150 bucks.

They are quality pieces, vanadium steel w/lifetime warranty. My father (who is very critical when it comes to things automotive) used them on his FD and was very impressed. I recently used them to help a friend pull and strip a motor and was happy with them. For the price you can't beat them.

Here is a link to the website, use coupon code "ltf" in the coupon code section at the bottom of the page when you initially check out for the 50% off.

http://www.toptul-usa.com/catalog/home.php

Disclaimer: I have never met the owner personally, just have an 'internet' relationship with him going back about 4 years, when i purchased a power fc from him. This isnt a promotion, and I stand to gain nada from this post. I am simply passing along a great deal in order to help out my homies in the rotary community

 

Coupon code doesn't work. I was interested in the gear wrenches.

 

not bad although shipping is a bitch for me, me being in Hawaii (espeically the way I go thru tools). I guess I'll stick with sears (they got a pretty good return/warrenty police)

 

I dunno, it worked for me! Thanks Rich, I've been meaning to get a set of these!

-Rob

 

I put in a "1" instead of an "l"

Thanks Rich. I ordered the gear wrenches. Been wanting a set for a while.

 

Not working for me. =/
j/k works for me now.

 

hey thanks man, always good to have more of this stuff around

 

will this offer stand for a while? i need to wait for my paycheck

 

Wow, the 50% discount makes the prices almost reasonable.

Actually, the gear wrenches are a pretty good deal, and if I didn't already have both SAE and metric Craftsman ratcheting wrenches, I'd be tempted. With the size adapters and extended sizes, though, it's still tempting. I think I need a 3rd tool chest.

Some of the other stuff is pretty pricey, though, even with the discount. For anyone looking for a decent comprehensive set of sockets and ratchets for a reasonable price, you can't go far wrong with the Pittsburgh 204-piece socket set from Harbor Freight for $99 with free shipping.

I had that set for my "back-up" set (hey, sometimes you need a socket on both sides of an operation) until Crafstman came out with the laser etched sockets and I just couldn't resist replacing brand new stuff with more brand new cooler stuff.

 

It should be available for a while, yeah

 

Hey Jim,

I am very familiar with Harbor Freight, and these tools are worlds better, closer to snap-on quality in my opinion. I own and have used Harbor Freight stuff, and there is a good reason why it is so cheap.

Pass this info on to your friends as well guys, the more the merrier!

 

Does a 10mm bolt care how much you spent on the tool used to remove it?

Personally, in 20 years of wrenching on cars, I've never once been in a situation where a Craftsman tool (or Pittsburgh, for that matter) wouldn't do the job just as readily as one from Mac or Snap-On. Maybe moving parts like ratchets might wear out sooner, but for someone who isn't a professional mechanic, is that really a valid concern? My chests are full of Craftsman tools, not Snap-On, and that wasn't a budget-based decision.

Yeah, it's made in a f'arn country.

No offense, but for someone who says they have no interest in this, you certainly seem defensive and appear to be steering people towards these tools rather than just looking out for the best deal for those who may be on a budget. Something to think about...

 

craftman makes great stuff. however, i have seen and experienced harbor freight's "quality." Bottom line up front, I want people to understand that there is a definite difference between these tools and harbor freight's.

you're certainly entitled to your opinion, as are we all. I'm not even going to respond to your last paragraph.

later on,
Rich

 

Perhaps, but I wouldn't push someone towards inferior quality equipment, and while some of the stuff that Harbor Freight sells certainly qualifies as crap, I don't believe the Pittsburgh hand tools do. For 99% of people, they'll do just fine.

Smart man.

 

Nah, just one who values his time

 

Ive had several harbor frieght wrenches snap on me in high torque situations.

 

Ummm, OK. What exactly do you consider a "high torque application" and were you using the correct tool for the job at the time?

 

Times where an air wrench or the proper tool wouldnt fit. Anything usually around the engine bay.

 

And I always figured JimLab for a Snap-on man...

Oh well - I'm still sorting thru my latest $400 Harbor Freight order - got one of those $20 ball joint presses to do my pillow ball bushings - woo hoo!

I've seen good, bad, and ugly HF stuff - the Chinese seem to be getting better - at least what I get now is better than it was 8 - 10 years ago - still remember the handle on my sandblaster tank that snapped off in my hand the first time I used it - that was probably a 10 year ago purchase.

If you get the slightly better HF stuff (the pro or whatever they call it)- it is made in Taiwan - and is pretty decent stuff. My HVLP spray gun is Taiwanese - and it ain't too bad.

But Hand tools - it's sears all the way baby.

And Jim Lab, replacing some new/unused with something newer and better - man thats not you AT ALL !!!!

 

I can only think of one thing in the engine bay that might break a wrench, and if you were trying to remove it with anything but an impact gun and a torch, it's no wonder you broke tools.

 

For the most part, Harbor Freight stuff works well. One of their wrenches broke on me as well as a breaker bar and a socket adapter over the years I've owned HF stuff. I guess it depends on your luck. Even craftsman stuff breaks. I've had more good experiences than bad with Pittsburg tools, Companion tools and Craftsman stuff.

 

Flywheel nut?

 

I to have a bunch of Harbor freight stuff - Since I live less than 20 miles from their Headquarters Warehouse/Retail store, I get to examine all the stuff before purchasing - The quality does range from really good (Pro stuff like the high end Ingersol Rand Air tools) to truly Horrible (no-name generics from Korea and mainland China) My HF Aluminum Racing Jack (3000# Silver) is actually much nicer than the compact Craftsman it replaced but after examining their larger floor jacks I would never even consider using one, let alone buying one.

 

I recently broke my breaker bar and socket adapter from Harbor Freight but that's understandable. The impact sockets however have held up really well. You can tell when you get a cheap or better product from them.

Just make sure wherever you get your tools from has a good warranty or if it's cheap enough you can throw it away without feeling ripped off.

 

Good advice. lifetime replacement is always a positive.