- Joined
- Feb 9, 2017
- Messages
- 5,292
When I was in the trades my first set was a Proto mechanics top box. I got used to the feel of them and everything except Mac and SnapOn just didn’t feel right. So all my hand tools are those three. I bought a nice SnapOn bar type two jaw puller which I still have in 1985 and I’m sure it was not over $200. It has been bulletproof. I also have a 3jaw Proto puller I rescued out of a rust bucket that has been wonderful. But literally 95% of everything else in my overstuffed garage is HF and the majority of the machines were used so even cheaper. Many are things they don’t sell anymore. Some good riddance, some I have no clue why they quit.
Personally my worst experiences were with their little cheap gadgets they used to sell. I knew they were junk when I bought them but were so cheap I thought why not? Some went in the trash, others got repurposed. So I can see the viewpoint it’s junk but the vast majority of those old HF tools I bought in the late ‘70’s I still have and use. If you are watching the economic news in China it’s bad and getting worse so several factors like their government not doing price supports like they used to and co’s going under for lack of orders is causing distributors here to read the writing on the wall and jacking up their prices before their suppliers dry up IMHO.
Personally my worst experiences were with their little cheap gadgets they used to sell. I knew they were junk when I bought them but were so cheap I thought why not? Some went in the trash, others got repurposed. So I can see the viewpoint it’s junk but the vast majority of those old HF tools I bought in the late ‘70’s I still have and use. If you are watching the economic news in China it’s bad and getting worse so several factors like their government not doing price supports like they used to and co’s going under for lack of orders is causing distributors here to read the writing on the wall and jacking up their prices before their suppliers dry up IMHO.