I have gone to pawn shops and bought tools and have been happy. When I lose a tool, pawn shops are the only way to complete a set again.

Rick

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I'm a pawn shop flea market tool guy also, I had a hand full of offset box end wrenches for a HD clutch adj. walking a flea market 10 yrs ago when my wife started yelling from 50 yrds away to come look at a 3 yr old van, been driving that van 10 yrs now, ladders...Yard sale $1800 genie lift for $750 in new cond...etc.:thumbsup:

 

Used or Harbor Freight for me.

 

I shop "Vintage Craftsman Tools" on eBay. Some lots are bargains, many are not. Look for well-used sets offered by sellers that solicit offers. I have found that some will all but give serviceable old socket and wrench sets away.

 

Most of my tools are bought used. Yard sales, and pawn shops. I usually go to sears once a year to swap out any craftsman tools that I break during the year. So I do end up with some brand new tools in the mix. Jim

 

I have a few used but most I bought new from Sears.
One of my grandsons in law gets tools almost every Saturday at the Flea Market and some real good deals sometimes.
Most Flea Market tools are probably stolen so they can sell them cheap.

Speaking of trading in broken used Craftsman tools for new;
I knew a guy that worked in a steel mill where all the broken Craftsman tools wound up.
Those guys would grab any tool coming down the belt and take them back to Sears for a second time.

 

shame about a lot of the new craftsman tools, they are made in China. I guess a new chinese tool is a little better than a broken American tool. jim

 

I'm still using my NAPA set that I bought in 1987. I also buy tools at swap meets and garage sales if I see something I could use and if its priced right. I have also found tools on road, in houses we have redone, renters skip out in the night and leave everything behind cause they owe back rent.

 

I used to live in far north east Illinois, not many miles south of Kenosha WI, the home of Snapon. There was a big flea market near there on the weekends. It was amazing how many Snapon tools were at that flea market.
I have gotten some good deals on Ebay and pawn shops over the years. My thoughts are that a top quality tool, old and used is still pretty good. I have bought used Milwaukee power tools thinking that those can be serviced and brought back to life if need be.

 

I bought most of my tools (Craftsman) back in the late 70s early 80s. And have added to that, getting stuff from yard/estate sales, have found lots of good stuff this way. Or when I need something right now, I just get it at Harbor Freight.

 

No.

 

I like Amazon for stiff I don’t use a whole lot. Click a button and it’s in the mailbox a couple days later. Gasket scrapers, wire brushes, etc. Cheap cheap. I hate going out in public and waiting in line. I work with 700 people and avoid seeing others when I can LOL

 

I have a core group of Craftsman tools that I received for Christmas in 1975. I've added over the years, and the frequency of use dictates the quality of the tool. I worked in the dealership business for 37 years, so have a good many tool truck items, like ratchets and combo wrenches, most purchased one at a time. For once a year use items, its Harbor Freight for me. Balancer puller, seal drivers etc. I did not cheap out on the spring compressor, however! I actually kept an AutoZone loaner, only cost $50 and is a seriously heavy piece. When I rented it and paid the deposit, I asked the guy what happens if I don't bring it back, and he said we keep your $50. When I told him I would be keeping it, he went in back and brought out a brand new one and gave it to me in place of the used one that he'd originally given me.

 

You should see my Honda. Yeah, it's a Honda, and it looks like crap and is constantly falling apart, but a couple times a month I take it out and wail on it. It gets more abuse than any car I've owned but it's also way more fun.

 

i hate few things more than a crappy tool. that said you can find used good tools everywhere

 

To the OP it sucks that someone stole your tools, it's happened to me before, they actually stole my work truck and took tools but the truck was recovered, but they're taking food off your table, scum bags that need to suddenly stop breathing, but I love good used U.S.A. tools and have had a HF 9/16th wrench almost put my eye out, I don't bother with their wrench set anymore, dumb things was I had craftsmen & snap ons 10 feet away