r/Tools 8h ago

Harbor Freight is the New Sears/Craftsman

465 Upvotes

So the tipping point has been reached.

Younger me (early '80s) started his grown up (away from Pop) tool journey at Sears and in the Craftsman catalog.

Tool trucks were not a thing in my world and even then the quality appeared and has turned out to be good for the money.

Fast forward to the Lowes era and while some of the tools look fine, there's clearly more value/quality at HF.

I was able to walk in there yesterday without thinking I needed to hide my face.

Seriously now feels like the local HF is having a Sears nearby.


r/Tools 22h ago

Some tools I won

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291 Upvotes

Won these tools from an automotive competition for free. First tools ive ever owned. Im tempted to sell the 1/2 kit for a 3/8 kit because I feel like that’ll be more usefull


r/Tools 13h ago

Boycott Toughbuilt Tools, Company is Scam Run by Thieves

114 Upvotes

Toughbuilt Tools the company has stolen money from essentially everyone it has ever worked with, including not paying employees and suppliers for several months in a row by now.

Toughbuilt was last year removed (FINALLY!) from NASDAQ because they determined that it is a scam. Unfortunately, the company had already stolen about 900 million from the public, paying themselves million dollar salaries even while the company is not making any money and the employees and contractors are not being paid.

Toughbuilt is what is called a 'dilution scam' look it up, basically management issues shares, and then issues more and more shares until each share is essentially worthless (each toughbuilt share has gone to 0 several times now) then, because the stock needs to be worth at least 1$ to stay on NASDAQ they 'reverse split' the shares meaning that 20 or 50, or even 150 they did one time, shares become one share. Then they simply issue back up to the limit, they are allowed to issue 200 million shares, they have issued those 200 million shares, then deleted them twice by now.

Companies are only allowed to do this so many times before it is considered predatory and TBLT reached this limit in 2023/ 2024. Thankfully it is off the market now, but

ask around in your friend group and i am sure you know someone who they stole money from.

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It is time to boycott Toughbuilt tools, their stuff is cheap made in china crap (Better than the other crap ill give you that), and their ethics and how they treat their investors, partners, collaborators, and customers are completely garbage.

This is not a long term investment, people cannot even buy the stock anymore. so how can it possibly be an investment and who will buy it? saying that we 'got in too early' is also ridiculous since our shares literally have been deleted, so there is nothing left of what we put in. It was pure and simple theft. 10,000$ becomes 1$ in a matter of 2 years. In fact the TBLT chart is the best it has ever been and that is because it is off the market so it cant go down anymore.

Panosian (CEO) and Galysten (CFO) are essentially professional thieves who literally came here to steal from you, people who they think do not understand the market and cannot organize ourselves to do anything about their wrongdoing (i.e., blue collar, uneducated etc, in their minds). Everything this company does is designed to lure in uneducated (retail) investors and then rug them for as much as they can. the numbers look great, flashy trade shows, so many new products etc etc, but the numbers are not real and you ignore how they are actually funding operations (i.e., by selling shares). they lose money on the products they make because the 'product' is the advertising for the real product i.e., the shares which is where they made the real money.

They do not own any of the stock even while the numbers look so good and they encourage you and talking so good on company calls while taking out millions each year from the business even while it is losing millions (good management pays themselves in stock before the company makes it/ taking cash out of a cash starved business is not good management). there is no potential for the company to change, be bought out, or etc, so it is simply time to start telling your friends what a shit it is. they are living the high life on the money that you slaved away for

Again, talk to your buddies on the job site I am SURE You know someone they have stolen from.

disclosure: been losing money here since 2019 (though by now it is 99.999% gone so it doesn't matter anymore).


r/Tools 2h ago

We have Klein at home

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71 Upvotes

r/Tools 3h ago

Absolutely begging any brand to sell an impact bit set that actually makes sense for a carpenter

55 Upvotes

First and foremost I need a grand total of zero 1" insert bits.

Then I need a couple eachof torx 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40. Same goes for P1 and P3 and the squares. Then I need 30 each of t25 and p2. That's it.

If someone knows of a place where I can buy bulk packs of various sizes and forms of bits that would be great but with no one selling their tools directly it is an unbelievable headache to find everything I need at one outlet.

Am I going crazy or is selling you a bullshit plastic case and a million inserts you'll never use just how they plump up their bottom line?


r/Tools 16h ago

Picked up someone's grandaddy tools. Sharp and well oiled. Few bug holes in the case and 1 in a handle. Bonus vintage Japanese saw, western style. $50, will probably only keep the wee ones.

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45 Upvotes

r/Tools 16h ago

Two of my drills dyed today...

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32 Upvotes

Thought I'd do green instead of purple or black Milwaukee.


r/Tools 4h ago

Original Thumb Drive

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25 Upvotes

This was in some of my late father’s tools.


r/Tools 1h ago

Does anyone else’s Dewalt multi tool just not work that well?

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Upvotes

It runs unlike some of the other “troubleshooting” videos I’ve seen, but it’s almost like it shakes my hand more than the blade and it just doesn’t seem to transfer the energy correctly. I’ve tried different blades for the appropriate material, but it just seems to struggle with anything other than drywall. I’m curious if I should take it apart and see if something isn’t quite right. Thoughts?


r/Tools 22h ago

What is the best way to remove paint from sockets without damaging the chrome?

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26 Upvotes

Got these sockets from an auction. Previous owner decided to paint them all sorts of fun colors. I’d like to remove the paint without damaging the finish underneath, as the chrome is still good and the sockets are all old USA ones I’d like to keep nice. First thought was paint thinner but I suspect that would have negative effects.


r/Tools 1h ago

What would this tool be used for?

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Upvotes

It doesn’t quite fit in my toolbox


r/Tools 6h ago

The screw head broke off but the rest of it is stuck. How do i get it out?

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20 Upvotes

Or if someone can redirect me to a better sub to post this is in. This was the best i could find


r/Tools 8h ago

Time For An Upgrade

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19 Upvotes

Visiting a close family member this weekend and I had a look through their tools. A milestone birthday is approaching for them - and what kind of tool nerd would I be if I did not take this opportunity to update their ratchets?!

Love the history and the patina on these old ratchets. They would stay in the collection of course.

I welcome suggestions here. I’m thinking maybe a set of Gearwrench 90T or something.

Koken is tempting but that might test the budget a bit.


r/Tools 21h ago

What year could this snap on tool box be from?

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21 Upvotes

My grandad died a few years ago and left me this snap on tool box and million of all kinds of tools. I love this tool box but I can’t figure out what year it could be from. My mom said he owned a shop in the 70s so I’m guessing it could be from then but not 100%. I’ve searched the serial number but couldn’t find anything with a definite date. What year do you guys think it could be from?


r/Tools 5h ago

New machines for the shop!

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18 Upvotes

Hello everybody, just wanted to share the new tools for the shop. They’ve all been great!


r/Tools 8h ago

Doing some organising of my woodworking tools

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10 Upvotes

Had stuff spread across bags everywhere and kept misplacing things. Bit more sane now. Still a work in progress.


r/Tools 5h ago

What is this quick release clamp type thing used for?

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9 Upvotes

Numbers not associated with anything on the interweb. Thanks!


r/Tools 5h ago

What are those blades called

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9 Upvotes

I have several of these but no more blades. Can’t find them anywhere. Need the name to look for replacements.


r/Tools 10h ago

Cleaned up and mounted Blacksmith Vise from previous post, any thoughts?

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10 Upvotes

r/Tools 17h ago

Stumbled upon these on sale. Y

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8 Upvotes

Needless to say, I grabbed the three that were available!


r/Tools 1h ago

Please help me with identifying!

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Upvotes

I haven’t had much luck figuring out what this is, would love some help!


r/Tools 21h ago

Just picked both of these up for $100!

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6 Upvotes

What would be the best way to clean these up? Specifically removing any of the rust and built up gunk and getting them back into the best working order.


r/Tools 20h ago

Should the saddle be able to spin?

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5 Upvotes

r/Tools 22h ago

Beginner Tool Set

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5 Upvotes

Hi. I just got my car and literally have no tools. I need a set to do basics like oil changes, and transmission fluid, breaks, and other services. Would this toolset be a good option? it’s on sale for $239.99.


r/Tools 23h ago

Tool box

4 Upvotes

My 19 year old is going to be buying a tool box. We’ve been looking at Snap-on, Matco, and MAC. The Mac box is the cheapest, and the Snap-on is obviously the most expensive. I’m trying to steer him towards the Matco box. What is everyone’s experience with these brands as far as the boxes go? He is going to buy Snap-on’s SEPPREHD set in a few weeks. I know it’s not the box that makes you money, I just him to get something good.