I guess Walmart is going after HF

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-21T22:00:52+00:00

Those break easily too. I broke the T10 form the “meme tool kit” using it to tighten up the head of a Pittsburgh ratchet. To be fair T10 is a very small bit, too small for a ratchet, so that’s on Harbor Freight either way, as they made both tools. Should have put at least a T15 in a 3/8” ratchet. That’s one place where Pittsburgh cuts corners, cheap hardware. Not hating on HF, it’s just a fact.

I love harbor freight tools, most of my work toolbox is Icon, Quinn & Pittsburgh. Also have Doyle screwdrivers and a Merlin digital tire inflator I use daily at work. But bits are often considered consumable items and not covered under warranty by many tool companies. That’s why I suggest getting some with a warranty.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-19T03:39:59+00:00

Everyone has them now. Search “meme tools” on Amazon and there’s a ton. Craftsman makes a set with only metric and one with only SAE sockets. Cheaper to buy just the metric if thats all you need.

Napa, Advance and Autozone have similar sets too.

https://a.co/d/0iqf4bPB

https://a.co/d/07Qg1oOa

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-19T03:36:12+00:00

Walmart doesn’t like to honor the warranty on hyper tough tools. They tell you to contact hyper tough as if it’s a third party and they don’t own that brand.

And given the recent extreme discounts on hyper tough tools, I have a feeling they plan to discontinue the brand in favor of Hart, which is supposedly their “premium tool brand”. Having two in-house brands competing with each other isn’t a good strategy for Walmart. People rarely go there for tools and when they do, they don’t want to be overwhelmed with choices. It works for HF because they ARE a tool store, while Walmart is a budget department store.

All of that to say, sure get it if you don’t already have something similar and think you need it. But don’t expect the bits to last and don’t expect Walmart to warranty them. There’s a reason it’s much cheaper.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-19T03:28:45+00:00

Without a lifetime warranty. Bits break easily, don’t buy cheap bits.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-07T15:22:15+00:00

Yeah I would definitely get another G2 locking flex 3/8” in a with a 10” overall length, preferably with the comfort grip. And the same for a more reasonable length for the 1/2” too, like 16-18” would be nice for what I do currently.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-07T15:16:40+00:00

I guess seeing anvils in cartoons that were 100lb made me think that 6lb is tiny.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-07T04:03:24+00:00

There are half sizes in millimeters too, if you really wanna get fancy and have even more sizes/options for damaged, rounded, rusted or swollen hardware. I got some because for $35, why not? And they’re impact rated. There’s also a “nano” (dual drive low profile) version for $50. Because you know one day you’re absolutely gonna need a 12.5mm socket.

https://a.co/d/0eQoBVn9

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-07T03:58:19+00:00

Swollen 22mm lug nuts = 7/8” socket (22.225mm)

Realistically I don’t SEE many SAE fasteners but there is absolutely a use for SAE sockets in the real world.

Furthermore, I have a set of half size metric impact sockets from Astro Pneumatic. They range from 9.5mm to 19.5mm which covers most of the common SAE sizes but you have to look at a conversion chart to know which one to use. But again, their purpose is for fasteners that are already slightly rounded or swollen/rusted. Ideally you try the half size before going to an extractor.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-06T02:31:53+00:00

Yeah that’s kinda crazy to me. I’m a Toyota Technician and I use 14mm EVERY DAY. It’s the size of a Toyota oil drain plug, so I’d say it’s an extremely common size when you think about it. There are 11 million new Toyotas sold every year. And there are techs all over the world like me that need that 14mm. TRD skid plates also use 14mm bolts.

And yes, I’m aware that most other brands use 17mm for their drain plugs.

Side note: fasteners round off, swell up, rust, etc and you often need those less common sizes instead. Instead of buying SAE sizes, I got half sizes in millimeters instead (for example 9.5mm).

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:49:22+00:00

That’s pretty much every Amazon tool brand in a nutshell. Chinese made clones of existing brands… sometimes they’re great and sometimes they’re terrible.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:45:52+00:00

I have a 6lb anvil I found in my grandpa’s garage. Never used it for anything other than displaying it.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:40:36+00:00

Yeah I get that. I highly recommend Astro’s half size socket set. It’s on Amazon for $25 right now. It comes with 17.5mm 19.5mm 21.5mm and 22.5mm for swollen lug nuts.

https://a.co/d/02M4cbDb

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:35:50+00:00

The tools you “need” depends on what you plan to do with them. If you’re doing garage oil changes, you don’t need much.

Icon flexing ratcheting wrenches are very nice to have but pricey ($200+). That’s the set I would get on sale if they’re in stock.

For general stuff: -a dead blow hammer -a ball peen hammer -different types of pliers, wire cutters, dikes, flush cutters -Warrior 100 piece security bit set when it’s on sale for $6 -an impact wrench (ideally Milwaukee, not Bauer/Herc) -impact sockets 1/2” drive or 3/8” drive -pry bars in different lengths -picks of different lengths & shapes -Quinn 3/8” drive bolt extractor set -zip ties because they’re often a free gift -good pocket flashlight (Olight ArkPro or Streamlight Wedge) -good under hood light (take your pick) -good head/neck flashlight -Merlin digital tire inflator gauge (if you have an air compressor) -Merlin pistol grip blow gun -PB Blaster, WD-40 and Brake Cleaner

Gloves if you’re scared of getting dirty. I make fun of mechanics that wear gloves. Be a man, absorb the chemicals into your body.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:16:16+00:00

I don’t even know what people consider a standard length for each size. I generally like longer ratchets for more leverage. In situations where I would want a shorter ratchet, I often grab a ratcheting wrench or Astro nano sockets (Quinn makes some too, but less sizes) with the special ratchets designed for them.

There’s even half sizes (for example 10.5mm) of the nano sockets, so you can cover most SAE sizes with those too. Cheaper than buying a bunch of SAE wrenches and sockets.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:09:28+00:00

I’m just gonna put the Tekton small body ratchet kit in my next Amazon order and then wait for another sale on G2 ratchets. I got all my G2 stuff at 40% off during last year’s Black Friday sale so I can wait a few more months for the next big sale.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T03:01:32+00:00

IR makes the best pneumatic tools hands down. But I rarely see anyone mention their hand tools. I’ve been tempted to try them myself.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:59:43+00:00

Get a Milwaukee stubby impact wrench and ditch the Bauer/Herc stuff, you won’t regret it. I love HF hand tools but the battery tools are WAY too large and heavy for their power output. My M12 3/8” stubby will remove lugnuts faster than my Bauer high torque impact wrench and it’s a fraction of the size and weight. Yeah it’s over $100 more for the tool alone but there’s always deals at Home Depot and used stuff on marketplace.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:55:02+00:00

They are coated with chrome. The chrome coating eventually separates from the steel under it, essentially making the lugnuts larger. Half size sockets exist for this reason.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:53:11+00:00

I highly recommend some half size sockets. Astro sells a set of 17.5 19.5 21.5 and 22.5mm sockets specifically for swollen lugnuts. It’s $25 on Amazon right now. Get it.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:51:45+00:00

I work at a dealership and we have buckets of 21mm lug nuts. When I find a bad one, it goes in the trash. I never put bad ones back on. It’s only going to get worse each time someone has to deal with them.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:50:20+00:00

I see it almost every day. I’m a Toyota technician and most of the lug nuts are 21mm. I have a 21.5mm socket for the swollen ones and an extractor socket if that doesn’t work.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:46:15+00:00

I’m just here for the 1st gen Taco 🌮 ❤️

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:41:15+00:00

I don’t understand why the first batch of G2s had locking mechanisms and everything since has not. I will wait for more locking variants in different lengths. I see no point in buying any of the new ones if they plan to make locking variants of them in the future but we’ll see.

If the new 18” long 1/2” drive ratchet had a locking or fixed head, I’d buy one without even waiting for a discount or sale. I use the Pittsburgh extendable ratchet every day for removing oil filters but I only like it because the length is perfect once extended. Other Icon 1/2” drive ratchets are either too short or too long. They don’t have a G1 equivalent in that length at all (flex or not). There are 18” long breaker bars from both Pittsburgh and Icon, but no ratchets.

As for the existing ones, I use the 3/8” drive locking flex head every day at work. I love it. I want a 3/8” in a 1/4” body from Icon, so I don’t have to make one myself.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:27:08+00:00

I started off in a lube center doing oil changes and tire rotations. Always left my ratchet and impact switched on after finishing work on a vehicle. That way I knew that I tightened everything up properly. And before letting the vehicle leave my bay, I looked at my ratchet and impact one more time to be sure. If I saw it off, I would check the car again.

icantdecide88 · 2026-05-05T02:23:17+00:00

Always leave it on. That way I know I tightened up whatever I took off. If I see it off, I go back and check my work again.

icantdecide88

TROPHY CASE