Pittsburgh -- Good quality tools?

Taiden · 05-12-2007, 12:07 PM

I am looking to totally revamp my garage space over the summer, and harbor freight will probably be where I buy most if not all of my tools.

Every ratchet/socket/wrench I have picked so far is Pittsburgh or Pittsburgh Professional made. I am curious if anyone has had any experience with this company.

Thanks,
Luke

honkeybizkit · 05-12-2007, 03:07 PM

For weekend garage tools, they will get you buy. For the sockets, I would only buy the heavy duty impact sockets. I have bought some Harbor Freight tools, some good some bad. I have not had an issue with this one set. I have bought 2, watch for a good sale, I caught these on a good deal and only paid about $16-18 each. Harbor Freight ALWAYS has deals. If you have a local HF (I do) check the tools out in person, its pretty obvious what is of "better" quality.

I wouldn't use these tools frequently, or as your whole tool collection, but they work in a pinch and decent for the weekend warrior. These are good tools for when a bunch of people are working on a (or your) car because most everyone has Craftsman and they are easily distinguished or if they are lost/broken it isn't a big deal or issue. They are also warrantied so you can take them back for replacement. Personally, Craftsman or Kobalt (Lowes) would be an upgrade and a good budget tool.

FWIW Father's Day is the best time to buy tools, Its the tool-shoppers Christmas. Sears/Craftsman on Father's Day FTW.

honkeybizkit · 05-12-2007, 03:14 PM

BTW my tools are composed of Snap-on, Mac, Blue-Point, Craftsman and Harbor Freight, in that order. Best tools for me are GOOD ratchets, (ultra bling) SnapOn Flank Drive Ratcheting Box Wrenches (Reversible AND Flex Head) and thin profile Mac Combination Wrenches. I also have a set of Flex Head GearWrenches, but their sets are not as complete.

stealthaltima · 05-15-2007, 12:24 PM

a big thing i have noticed with harbor freight stuff is quality consistency. Even with in the same bunch of tool on the shelf you will notice some of them are better than others.

btw, my father told me his da used to have a fairly large collection of pittsburgh tools when my father was a kid. they were built in pittsburgh and fairly popular in the area.

classicaddict · 05-15-2007, 10:33 PM

ok. i work at a nissan dealer ship........i work with people who spend 1,000's upon 1000's of $$ a year on snap on and mac and matco tools....... i work with 3 people in my immediate area, 2 spend $$$$$$$ on tools and have really impressive snap on boxes, the other dude buys nearly all harbor freight tools and has a beater craftsmen box (he buys snap on specialty tools ***...you have to) all 3 have been there for 3 years and all 3 are really freakin good at what they do.

all his air tools are harbor freight, die grinder, cut off wheel, (air gun is a used matco) all his wrenches is Pittsburgh. he has never broken a tool...ever. we use our tools ALOT more than you guys do too. not trying to put you down, but 40 hours a week on many differant cars is alot differant that mostly working on only sentras useing mostly only 10mm 12mm and 14mm's

also, him being flat rate meens he has to get "creative" with tools to make him faster instead of swapping for a differant tool all the time. say your taking off a brake caliper on a titan (22mm caliper braket bolt) and the caliper just dosent want to come off........pry it off with the wrench!

i can garuntee all of you will be happy with harbor freight tools. but spent alittle more cash of ratcheting wrenches and sockets and ratchets, those take a being and are kinda fragile

Taiden · 05-15-2007, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicaddict

ok. i work at a nissan dealer ship........i work with people who spend 1,000's upon 1000's of $$ a year on snap on and mac and matco tools....... i work with 3 people in my immediate area, 2 spend $$$$$$$ on tools and have really impressive snap on boxes, the other dude buys nearly all harbor freight tools and has a beater craftsmen box (he buys snap on specialty tools ***...you have to) all 3 have been there for 3 years and all 3 are really freakin good at what they do.

all his air tools are harbor freight, die grinder, cut off wheel, (air gun is a used matco) all his wrenches is Pittsburgh. he has never broken a tool...ever. we use our tools ALOT more than you guys do too. not trying to put you down, but 40 hours a week on many differant cars is alot differant that mostly working on only sentras useing mostly only 10mm 12mm and 14mm's

also, him being flat rate meens he has to get "creative" with tools to make him faster instead of swapping for a differant tool all the time. say your taking off a brake caliper on a titan (22mm caliper braket bolt) and the caliper just dosent want to come off........pry it off with the wrench!

i can garuntee all of you will be happy with harbor freight tools. but spent alittle more cash of ratcheting wrenches and sockets and ratchets, those take a being and are kinda fragile

If it's good enough for someone making a living off working flat rate jobs at a garage, it's good enough for me.

B13 junkie · 05-16-2007, 12:29 AM

I agree I use their sockets and combo wrenches at work also. Their ratchets are fragile and they usually dont last to long. They are a good bang for the buck.

Rockwood · 05-16-2007, 12:44 AM

The best thing would be to get quality stuff for the tools you use all the time (ratchets, sockets, wrenches) and Harbor Freight for the tools you don't use as often. In addition, if you ever buy some snap ring pliers, make sure to buy a Snap-On or Matco one. I've found out the hard way that anything cheaper than these won't even break one snap ring loose before bending.

BTW, the "Earthquake" is the best bang for the buck tool evAR! $69.99 for 700+ft-lbs of nut busting torque FTW!

camarok · 05-18-2007, 02:53 AM

but really you can't beat craftsman! Break it, and you bring it in no questions asked and you get a free one! ( hand tools )

BUT now if you heard of HUSKEY ( seen at home depot ) they claim to have the same type of thing going on, with a smaller price.
NOW I didn't really look tooooo hard into it, not sure what to do if you brake a ratchet if you can bring it in to HD, but I'll ask next time I'm there.

Taiden · 05-18-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camarok

but really you can't beat craftsman! Break it, and you bring it in no questions asked and you get a free one! ( hand tools )

BUT now if you heard of HUSKEY ( seen at home depot ) they claim to have the same type of thing going on, with a smaller price.
NOW I didn't really look tooooo hard into it, not sure what to do if you brake a ratchet if you can bring it in to HD, but I'll ask next time I'm there.

I don't really take this as a strong point anymore regarding Craftsman. That's because basically any tool maker does this now.

camarok · 05-18-2007, 11:31 AM

I didn't know that till now!

coach · 05-18-2007, 01:13 PM

I have a TON Of those pittsburg tool brand wrenches and love them. I haven't had any of them break yet, from the stubby to the long handle to the standard combination wrenches. They are great. I have their impact sockets also, nothing wrong yet! I recommend them!

Brent

Taiden · 05-18-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coach

I have a TON Of those pittsburg tool brand wrenches and love them. I haven't had any of them break yet, from the stubby to the long handle to the standard combination wrenches. They are great. I have their impact sockets also, nothing wrong yet! I recommend them!

Brent

Thanks Brent! It's good to hear positive first hand experience.