What About The Tools? - EP.171
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33:09
Car
Chevrolet Sonic
The Chevrolet Sonic is a small car that you can buy for a good price. It's easy to drive and park, making it a great option for people who want something simple and reliable for getting around town.
Company
Sonic tools
Sonic tools is a brand that makes tools for working on cars. They focus on quality and deliver their products directly to customers instead of selling them in stores.
Company
Snap-on
Snap-on is a brand that makes very reliable tools for mechanics and automotive professionals. Many people in the industry trust their products because they are built to last.
Company
Mac
Mac is a brand that makes tools for mechanics. They are similar to Snap-on and Cornwell and are known for making high-quality tools that professionals trust.
Company
Cornwell
Cornwell is a brand that makes tools for car repair, similar to Snap-on. They are known for their quality and are used by many professionals in the automotive field.
Part
impact wrench
An impact wrench is a tool that helps you quickly take off or put on the bolts on your car's wheels. It works much faster than using a regular wrench, making your job easier.
Term
four-way wrench
A four-way wrench is a tool that helps you turn the nuts that hold your car's wheels on. It has four different ends to fit different sizes of nuts, making it useful for many cars.
Part
lock ring
A lock ring is a piece that holds other parts together, like keeping the fuel pump secure in the gas tank so it doesn't come loose.
Part
fuel pump
A fuel pump is a part of the car that moves gasoline from the tank to the engine so the car can run properly.
Term
3D printing
3D printing is a way to make objects by adding layers of material based on a computer design. It's used to create custom tools and parts for cars.
Company
Harbor Freight
Harbor Freight is a store where you can buy tools for fixing things or working on projects. They usually have good prices.
Car
Nissan R34
The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is a fast and powerful car that many people love. It's known for its racing capabilities and cool technology.
LIVE
Hey, and welcome back to the next episode
of the Right Hand Drive Guys podcast.
The podcast for guys who like right hand drives.
I'm Bobby, this is Aaron.
Yo, yo.
And we are here in a garage,
and you know what we have in a garage?
Cars and tools.
Oh, where?
R, R, R, R.
Oh. Yeah.
Tools, yeah.
It's just you and I, dude.
What do you mean?
Oh, shoot.
Yeah, we just got two big tools sitting right at this thing.
So, okay, so we're like, you know,
there's a lot out there for tools,
especially in 2025 slash 2026.
Yes.
There are so many brands, right?
We're not limited to the traditional,
you know, Snap-On or Cornwell or Mac,
you know, we're not like,
especially even actual mechanics that work at a shop,
but like us as consumers,
there were very few choices
just as early as 20 years ago.
It was ran by, you know, craftsmen.
Yeah, I was saying craftsmen always comes to mind,
but I think of like consumer type tools
because like dude, the lifetime warranty dude.
Oh, out of series.
Do you know how many times I snapped that half inch ratchet
because I put a pipe on it and it bent it all to hell
and like ended up snapping the head off of it?
No many times I took that ratchet to the local mall
and went into Sears and just they,
no questions swapped it out.
Yeah, that's so cool.
They had a pile of busted three quarter.
Yeah, it was, well, yeah, dude, it was crazy.
They had like a toolbox behind the register
that like they had their all their common tools for,
like, you know, the sockets, the ratchets, like,
and they would just open it up, grab one,
scan it and give it to me.
Now it's on my way back to breaking it again.
Yeah, exactly.
Like, yeah, which made you feel good, right?
Because especially at that age.
Yeah.
I'm sure we all have a story like that where, you know,
breaking tools and trying to warranty at Sears.
Yeah, or yeah, somewhere like that, right?
I mean, yeah, even, I mean, you worked at a shop.
So, you know, like with Snap-On or whatever,
but you know, same, same type of thing,
maybe a little harder,
cause that guy really doesn't want to give out his,
you know, he doesn't want to swap out,
like his last three quarter in Tratchett,
but like that's still that type of warranty, right?
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
And then same with Snap-On.
I'd do that.
I've snapped all kinds of shit from Snap-On
and Total Truck comes on Wednesday, dude.
I'm out there.
He's waiting on him like.
And yeah, but the thing with those dudes
is that they're a little bit more knowledgeable.
They know that you put a fucking pipe on that ratchet.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They know and, you know, they'll use that to like,
well, hey, Aaron, instead of breaking this half inch,
why don't you step it up to a three quarter?
Or, you know, why don't you step it up to this next series?
So you're not fucking having to put a pipe on this
and break it and, you know,
giving me hell for no reason.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, he's like, hey, Aaron, why don't you just stop?
Yeah, dude, just stop, period.
And so, you know, we were like,
why not just do a quick little episode on like tools
and in 2025, 26, whatever,
what are the best bets?
Like who is kind of leading,
like at least the consumer side of things, right?
Neither of us are in an active garage anymore.
So when it comes to that type of stuff, not sure.
What I will say is, I feel like the trucks
are fading to an extent, right?
I feel like, and I'm not in there to know,
but what I do know is how many that you used to see.
You used to always see the snap on guy.
Dude, yeah, in the big old bread trucks.
Yeah, you used to always see the Cornwall guy.
The cool graphics on the side,
they got their name on the door.
Like a lift gate on the thing.
Yeah. Like you walk in and it's like a showroom.
It's pretty crazy.
Even on the ceiling is all of this stuff.
Yeah. If you guys have never worked in a shop
and have never had the opportunity to
that too, never had the opportunity to step onto a tool truck.
Dude, it it's just like one of those indescribable feelings.
Dude, you you walk on there and dude, there's just like
everywhere you look, there's some type of tools,
whether it be like a case under the shelf or like
just cases everywhere, everywhere. Yeah.
And then, dude, shelves everywhere.
There's toolboxes shoved away in the back.
There's stuff hanging from the ceiling.
Yes, it's the ceilings, dude.
They had the little straps that would, you know,
they would hold the screwdrivers or pry bars or whatever it might be up top.
Like, dude, they chalk those trucks so full of frigging tools.
It's insane. Yeah.
And there must be like there must have been some study done
or something where they're like, yeah, just throw the tools everywhere.
That'll make the guys just sign their life away for these things,
you know, because that's another thing.
They'll they'll let you make payments on those things.
Yeah, they and, you know, they're kind of expensive.
And, you know, me, my personal experience as a 19 year old kid,
I'm kid in a candy store, right?
Like I'm a kid in a candy store.
Snap on man pulls up.
I jump on that truck, dude.
I need a new impact. I need sockets.
I need, dude, I need everything.
Yeah, dude, within a year, I was fully built out and in debt, 30 grand.
Yes, exactly.
Isn't that crazy?
Yeah. And he comes around every week and wants that payment.
Oh, yeah, he does. Or else he's taking that stuff back.
Yeah. Well, yeah, one way or another.
One way or another. Yeah.
Don't pull it out of your ass, depending on the guy.
Yeah. And like, think about this, right?
So we're talking like early, mid 2000s, right?
This is before a lot of things on the internet.
And the reason why I say I think these trucks are dying
is because they really had a grip on the market,
like the professional market, right?
Like they're not stopping by your house and trying to sell you tools.
They're there. Maybe they should.
Maybe they should, especially now, please don't because
now you have a firm and all of these different online lenders, right?
With lower interest rates than what Snap-on was charging you, right?
You didn't even know what the interest rate was.
Well, yeah, actually, anything that was financed on the truck was no interest.
Oh, it was interest rate.
Yeah, it was all interest free, which is, I mean, it's in the price.
Yeah, dude, to mark up on it, like your first weekly payment is going to pay for the tool.
Well, not really, but you know, you get it, like he's making his money for sure.
Yeah, so like the zero percent financing, like no big deal.
No big deal to them, right?
And then he's coming by literally every single week.
And unless you lose your job, he's going to be seeing you every single week.
Yeah, and he's going to be collecting.
And so, you know, I had a similar experience.
I was working in Colorado Springs at a performance shop.
And I was just borrowing tools, right?
Which, as you know, mechanics hate.
Yeah, mechanics hate when you borrow their tools,
especially if you do not put it back correctly.
Right. And I'm like a 21 year old dude.
I'm not putting shit.
Especially professionals.
I would always hear the thing is, well, that's one less dollar I can make off my tool.
Like, right?
That one time that you're going to use is going to take away their time
that they could use it to make their money.
Yeah, that's so true.
I would hear that all the time, you know, and they would always say,
if you have to borrow it twice, you got to buy it.
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. And you're like, dang, really?
Because I don't even have a tool chest to let alone, like, you know, like.
And so that's where they get you for 15 grand is your tool chest, right?
Or even more.
And so, yeah, it was it was the same thing.
I'm borrowing them.
And then all of a sudden the the tool guy comes by.
Yeah. And in like, I see the other
mechanics watching me like I the tool truck.
And then as soon as soon as I make my first step on it,
they all start cheering, giving it a snap on guy of high fives and stuff.
And I'm like, what the hell is going on?
And I step up in there and I'm like, oh,
you know, it's just like, dude, what the hell is going on in here?
All of a sudden, yeah, I'm throwing impacts and drivers
and all of these things on their stack in the boxes.
And I'm like, yeah.
And then he's like, OK, so that's going to be $387 weekly.
And I'm like, what?
Yeah, you make 320 weekly.
Yes, yes, exactly.
And I'm like, dude, what, you know?
And so, you know, as cool as those experiences were,
I end up paying on tools a decent amount of my paycheck every single week.
Right. You know, which again, those tools like make you money.
But in my position, I wasn't like necessarily a full time tech like you were.
I was like part time, like scratching the itch type thing.
Like and so, yeah, did not make sense for me to be purchasing all these tools
at these places. Well, when I started collecting tools, I wasn't.
I was a lube tech.
I was getting paid hourly.
They did not like I didn't have to buy tools, but there was a certain occasions
where I was like having to work on my own car at the shop and I needed tools.
And I had to borrow from a tech or whatever it might be.
And they were like, you know, get get get on the truck.
Yeah. Get on the truck.
But there was always I don't know if that in the shop you worked at,
but there's always that one guy that never stepped foot on the truck, dude.
And he frickin despised him.
Yeah. You know, but his box was, you know, whatever,
probably paid for 10 years ago.
Everything in it had been paid for time and time over again.
He thinks it's a scam.
Yeah. Yeah. He's like, you're wasting your damn money.
Like go to go to Sears, dude.
Yeah. Get some crassmanship, dude.
Get an anger assault impact, you know, like whatever it might be.
But yeah, that that's just one of those things, one of those experiences.
But like the tools though, I still have today. Yeah.
I still have the whole rack of them over there.
I still got my box at my dad's house in Tennessee.
Like I don't get to necessarily use it, but it's still there.
Yeah. And it's like, right.
And that I will say is, you know, until like maybe the past few years,
like, yeah, my my little mini driver died because it was 15 years old.
Yeah. You know, my three quarter inch ratchet finally started like skipping,
you know, like, but we're talking 15 years of use
and probably improper use, you know, just all that stuff.
So, dude, yeah, great quality tools, but they're overcharging them.
And so, right, you put you almost paid for the convenience.
That's what I always said.
You're paying for the convenience for them to come to the shop
and you just walk on there. Right. Yeah.
You don't have to go anywhere.
But like nowadays, there's other types of convenience with crazy.
You know, I mean, I mean, I hate to say, but even just Amazon, dude,
like I've I've purchased tools off of Amazon.
Yeah. And in like and not just Amazon, even there are super reputable
you know, tool companies that are internet based.
Like, for example, now what I use is Sonic tools.
And those are not something that you're buying inside of a local store
at Lowe's or whatever, there's no truck. Right.
But they're quality tools from America that you get shipped to your door.
Right. And so me as a consumer, I'm not the only one noticing this.
These professionals are also noticing that they can get because let's be real,
like most things that are awesome get copied. Right.
So if if Snap-on has this really awesome tool,
it's probably going to get copied in some form or fashion. Right.
So you can get more than likely Snap-on quality or Cornwell or Mac quality
on the internet for cheaper and you can still finance it through all of these
different companies. Correct. Yeah.
You just don't get to walk on and pick up the tool. But and with warranty,
warranty is also with warranty. Yes.
But in 2025, a lot of times you're you are used to purchasing
something on the internet and waiting for it. So that's not even as much of a
necessity anymore, unless you needed the tool that day to complete that task.
Right. You know, and so and there's probably 25 other companies like Sonic
that create really nice tools. There's another company called Boxo
that creates really nice tools that you get on the internet.
And so I could see that these trucks are starting to like grasp.
And I had noticed that there are a lot of lawsuits against Snap-on.
Oh, really? Yeah. By their franchisees.
Oh, I see. Because Snap-on would give them this territory that
the franchisee had no clue, but Snap-on knew traditionally
produced like almost no sales. Yeah.
And so these franchisees that thought they were getting into something that
was going to be awesome are now suing them because they've gone into bankruptcy,
financial hardship, you know, all that stuff because they're driving around to these places
that aren't buying anything because they're all broke. Right.
And now this guy's broke. Yeah, they're in deep with buying the truck,
buying all the tools to store in it like to sell. And yeah, it's a lot of money.
It's a lot of money. Yeah. And so and there's contractual stuff where like the franchisees
can't sue them. So the franchisees, wives are suing them.
It's that bad. Yeah. So what?
You know, and it's one of those things Snap-on got greedy.
And you know, I think the coolest thing about Snap-on nowadays is their nostalgic stuff,
like their old school stuff, you know, like now it's not even like as cool.
Yeah. No, dude, I have like a pretty much brand new jacket I got from them.
I think whenever I bought my toolbox, it was included, but I never wore it.
It was sat in the plastic in the bottom of the box. And then I came across it and I'm like,
wow, this is cool. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. To what, you know, whatever,
20, 15 years ago, I was like, yeah, this shit's kind of lame.
Yeah. Now I'm like, hey, this jacket's actually pretty sick.
Yeah. For sure. I'm going to put on this jacket and head to Tokyo Auto Salon. What's up?
Right. Right. And that's nothing. Like their, their like merch and stuff is,
is like super popular or like sought after, I guess, not even the tools necessarily.
Like the coveralls that they have is a Snap-on and almost like a cursive type thing.
So cool. Yeah. So that is like, what?
Old logo. Yeah. Old logo. Yeah.
And so, you know, that stuff is cool, but like tools bang for the buck, like so many more options,
you know, even in something I would love to see and, and I tried to get as much as I could
while we're in Japan reasonably is the tone, like tone tools, you know, that's a Japanese brand.
It's T-O-N-E and they create really nice quality tools, you know, over there in Japan and they
sponsor most major events. Yeah. I'm sure you've seen the logo on some race cars and stuff.
Yeah. For sure. It's, it's pretty cool. And, and so it's like now you even have options from
out of the country that you're exposed to because of the internet. Whereas, you know,
whatever in the year 2000, these mechanics that even worked on Japanese cars had no access to like
Japanese tools. Right.
You know what I mean? So, you know, I think that's pretty cool that we're not like pigeonholed into
just these few brands anymore. And, you know, it's, it's really kind of crazy because even
other well-known brands for other things are coming into the tool market. And, you know,
we're talking Milwaukee, DeWalt, you know, and then of course all of the under brands
that you can find at these places, but they're coming out with big boy, you know,
half inch impacts, even bigger impacts like Milwaukee has a one inch impact. Yeah. Like
and, you know, so I'll focus here on Milwaukee because that's what, what I personally use for
these things. Yeah. But dude, they're like, so I had a snap on and this is the thing with
early snap on tools, right? Like you had that like battery powered, those battery powered,
did you have any snap on? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. I had the three eighths and the
half inch electric and yeah, I got a secret about that or something about those, but I'll
let you go on. Okay. I can drop it right now. Okay. Oh, I have a secret about those. Okay.
Back in the day, those were technically from what I heard, those were technically made by
Milwaukee or made in the same factory as Milwaukee back in like whatever, 2007, eight, nine,
that's who is producing them. So also something to also think about with these
higher end tools like snap on or whatever, they don't make everything like their electric tools,
like they're, they're not making that that's made in a factory somewhere else. Right. Of course.
Yeah. So you can also like do a little bit of research and dig it around to find,
you know, what factor, what else is made in that factory? What else uses that type of
the same type of battery, the same hammer inside of the impact, whatever it might be,
to get that same quality tool for a cheaper price and, you know, not have to hunt down a
tool truck for it. Yeah. Yeah. That's like, I mean, and so basically what you're saying is like
Milwaukee or snap on took cues from each other in order to create that?
Well, no, they remain the same factory from what I understood that the, I don't know if it's still
like that nowadays, but back then the snap on electric impacts were made right next to the
Milwaukee's. Yeah. I think that happens with a decent amount of stuff that we wouldn't even realize.
Yeah. And probably other brands too, but yeah, that was like the main one that I saw.
And so well, okay. So back then though, uh, like these were the beginning of like
nickel metal hydra or whatever and I am H batteries. We're starting at main and dude,
that was my biggest issue with the snap on stuff. The batteries would die.
They were trash, dude. Like they, yeah, they would get over used. Like you used it till the
very end of the battery and then that thing's like smoked, right? Or like, or from there on out
struggles. And that was, I would say the turning point for me where I was like, yeah, I'm not like
going to do the snap on thing anymore because I pay this much. I can only access it by a truck
and these batteries shit the bed. Right. And you're having to wait on the guy to come back
around to get a new battery or if you moved, you don't even know the guy. You got to like
hang around these shops and ask them like who their dude is and get his number and,
and like you're not on his route and he didn't, you know, so it's, it's kind of hard. But
so then, you know, from there, I was like, okay, well, that one died. I couldn't find any batteries
on the internet for it. That made sense. Yeah. So I purchased a DeWall and I'm like, you know,
whatever this is over at Lowe's or whatever this, I'm sure this will work fine. I'm just removing,
you know, lug nuts and doing stupid shit. Yeah. And so I bought a DeWall and this is back in like
2010 or 11. And dude, I still got that DeWall. Did I give it to you yet?
I got one in there for you. But yeah, the DeWall, the batteries still work from back then.
The, the thing still works dude. Like I didn't have that issue whatsoever. And
so that was a turning point for me where I kind of like left snap on in the dust, I would say.
When I realized that like, okay, by this point, these other people's people have figured this
out. And they already have all these other battery operated tools. And so they've also figured out
the battery. So this is what I'm going to stick with, you know, and I bought like a
quarter inch driver from DeWall. And, and so, you know, I'm like, okay, these companies can do
this too. I don't have to spend this extra money now. Right. And then from there, I got the red itch
right for the Milwaukee stuff because I bought something Milwaukee and it like was tough and
worked and the batteries, you know, now they're starting to come out with lithium ion and like
these batteries are lasting forever and they're big. And, and so, you know, I just kind of went
ham there in the sense of buying the, the three eights, the battery operated ratchet and the,
the impact and the smaller impact. And dude, now I've used these for years, had zero problems.
I think I dropped impact and like the battery like casing broke, but I taped it back together,
you know, like, and it's still good. So it's like these other companies that like Milwaukee was
traditionally a like carpentry builders company, right? Like like carpentry tools, like that type
of thing. Right, right. Not necessarily automotive. Right. That I saw and it was right and more like
hardware store. Yeah, I guess you could say. Yeah. If you said Milwaukee to me in 20 years ago,
I would say, okay, I'm not building a house. You know what I mean? And like, because that's like
in my head, like you say Milwaukee and I think of a dude cutting wood, you know, like with a circular
saw or whatever. So I think it's really cool that some of these companies have been able to get into
this, you know, and then, and then if you rewind a little bit when I'm talking about Sonic, you know,
these companies have pushed the envelope a little bit. So, you know, they're offering toolboxes and
like whole garage sets like like snap on, right? But then they're doing their own thing where
the way you order tools from Sonic is by the like flat that fits in your toolbox. I see. So like,
you know, I think you can order onesie twosies of some stuff. But generally you're ordering the
whatever the socket kit, and that's a whole kit that fits in your toolbox with foam completely
labeled everything has a place. And so they're like innovating in that sense, you know, we're not
kind of it's just really cool how we're not stuck to what we're being offered on this truck or at
this store anymore. It's like so broad and expansive. And like you probably can find what
you're looking for. Like, dude, if we got, I mean, we could sit here and talk all day about
specialty tools that solve a problem that we used to have to struggle with. And now they literally
just make a tool that like goes in there and does it, you know, which I mean, that's, that's
what I love tools most for is like saving time on a task. And like, dude, if this tool costs me
100 bucks, and it'll save me over an hour, like save me minutes or hours on a task, then like
all I got to do is use it once or twice and it's paying for itself. So yeah, very true.
That that makes it worth it, right? Like you're like, okay, now I've used this tool over the past
five years, I have saved myself 12 hours of work, right? You know, like, dude, that's worth 100 bucks.
Right. Or just, I mean, dude, it can be as simple as, you know, using an impact to take off your
wheels rather than a four way. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, no doubt. You know, how many times
you have to take off your wheels for that to like pay for itself in the time. And the strength
with the impact or with the four way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, like, it doesn't have to be hard.
And tools are a very good way to make things easier for you. So yeah, definitely keep that in mind
whenever you go to tackle any task with your car. Like what tool can I use to make this easier?
Because I don't know. We're kind of getting old. We're not spring chickens no more. No, I mean,
so anything that I can make easier on myself and on my body, like I'll absolutely pay money for.
Yeah, for sure. I agree because that's the point of the tool. Yeah, literally. And it makes like,
yeah, we're not in a professional setting anymore, but like, it makes just working on my car that
much more enjoyable because I'm not sitting there struggling, cussing, busting my knuckles,
and just beating up my body when I have this tool that can do it.
Yeah. Yeah, that's true. And when you are a young gun, you know, I remember these days when
you just kind of did it, right? Like, dude, ever using a four way besides an emergency in my life
seems like I wasted so much time like spinning that thing, you know, like, dude, come on, I'm
and then trying to crank it in, you got the arm torque, like, yeah, standing on it to try to get
it to loosen, dude, like, dude, yeah, we don't need to be doing that. You just need to pull the trigger
and call it good. And, you know, and what's really cool is now with 3D printing and stuff like that,
like custom tools and whatnot are so much, dude, so much more readily available to us. Like,
for example, I saw, I can't remember who it was. It might have been Frenchie. And he's selling
a, he created for the top of the 34 gas tank, I guess there's this lock ring that locks in
whatever the fuel pump and stuff. And so he 3D printed and then produced a pretty much like
a filter wrench that goes on top of that, that grabs it for you and whereas before you're trying
to fit. No, before that's a specialty tool that you have to get like from Nissan, they probably
don't even sell it. Yeah. So then like what you're having to use the hammer and screwdriver.
Yo, for sure. Beat it off and then like you're right above a fuel tank, you're just, I don't
know, it's not, it's not the correct. And now like, yeah, you're scarring up the ring. And yeah,
so again, like just the fact that now you can 3D print tools that are good, like good quality,
you know what I mean? I think that's kind of a game changer in itself for, for whatever,
whether it's at home mechanics or professional mechanics, you know, like,
probably what you're looking for has been thought up and created. Yeah. And if not,
you can probably find somebody to create it. Right, right, right. For sure. So, okay,
to end this out, right? What is your favorite tool period? If you had to take one tool to the grave,
I'm listening, I'll put it in there for you. If you had to take one tool to the grave that
probably saved your knuckles, your butt, whatever it is so many times. Dude,
maybe not one single tool because it's different sizes, but like the set of the brand is Easy Red
wrenches I have, the long ones with the little extension, the ratcheting ones. Dude, those I've
used, I don't know how many times over and over and over again, and like they've saved me so much
time being able to reach a bolt that I wouldn't be able to reach otherwise, like those wrenches
would probably it. Dang, yeah, you even got, I even bought a pair because I borrowed one when
I'm trying to fit manifold or something and like it literally was like longer than my arm and when
rate up where I needed it to go and handled it and like literally I went and bought a set like
that day. Yeah, they now have a, which I don't know how, like why it took us so long to mention
Harbor Freight on this episode. Yeah, Harbor Freight. Don't roll your eyes when I say Harbor
Freight. What the hell? Dude, come on dude, Harbor Freight, they need their flowers because dude,
Harbor Freight has came so far in the last even 10 years, dude. They actually have some pretty
sick tools. Yeah, I agree. Like back in the day, Harbor Freight, they were the tools were like,
yeah, kind of disposable like stand, like really weird like cheapo tools. And now, yes, I agree.
They have stepped up their manufacturing and their product offering to make it so that,
yeah, dude, if you're a budget mechanic, which hey, who isn't nowadays? Yeah. I mean,
that's where I bought those long wrenches from, right? Like, I have no problem with Harbor Freight
tools on things that make sense. Like power tools, I'm not sold on them. But like hand tools,
if you need them and it's not something that you necessarily like, like, yeah, they're good,
dude, they're fine. Right? I think right. I mean, if you're not using it every single day,
you know, if you're just using it for hobby stuff, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, dude, why not? Like,
save yourself some money. Like, no, absolutely. Like, dude, like, listen, if like your buddy
comes into your garage, right, and you got Harbor Freight tools and he starts ragging on you and
talking shit, dude, just brush him off, right? Because we're asking to bring his.
Yeah, I'm going to bring his, roll his snap on box in here. Yeah. But like, dude,
if you're a hobbyist, yes, I agree. Nothing wrong with Harbor Freight tools. They're going to get
you to the goal. They're going to get you past the finish line, right? If you got the money and
you want to spend it on something else, cool. But again, like, I'm not trading in my Milwaukee
battery powered tools for anything at Harbor Freight any day of the week. I don't care.
I'm just not like, yeah. And then like, you know, what's really easy, like my Milwaukee battery
dies, I can get one at a bunch of different stores. Right, right. And it's probably,
that's the big thing is their battery powered tools. I'm not completely sold on. Like, but
everything else, dude, yeah, if it's not in like a commercial industrial situation, like, use it up,
dude, like save your 40% and put it into your car. Right. Absolutely. So wait, what's your tool
that you're taking to the grave? Let's hear it. Three eights impact. Three eights impact. Yeah,
I can always, yeah, yeah, yeah, my Milwaukee one, because I could step that up to a half inch or down
to a quarter and like I can do most it'll take off my lug nuts, it'll do most things that I want.
Yeah. I can put some extensions on there and get up inside, you know, that thing I think is my
most versatile tool because I can, I can make it work for multiple things. I can't take my half
inch and step it down to a quarter, not happening, you know, but my three eights I can go up, I can
go down, I can, I can twist that adapter rate off of there, you know, you know, whatever I need to
do. Right. So that for me, that that's going to be the one, you know, and give me the big boy
battery on it. I don't care how heavy it is and send me to the grave, dude. Take the trigger
going and just lower me down in. Yeah, one other thing I want to mention, I've seen a lot of tool
companies nowadays or not tool companies, but aftermarket companies having like these converters
where you can use the Milwaukee batteries on the DeWalt and you can use like the Milwaukee
batteries on your Dyson vacuum. You can use the Milwaukee batteries on your hot wheel or whatever
your power wheels. Yeah. Milwaukee batteries are hot. I mean, all of them are right. Right.
Because they're actual quality batteries. Yeah. But you can buy these conversion things for
pretty much anything electric. It seems like it's wild. I know. Pretty crazy. You're strapping
your Milwaukee battery on your Dyson and vacuuming around the house. Take it off and go and take off
your lug nuts. Take it off. Go let your kid go ride his power wheels. Take it off the
leaves. Yeah, seriously. Yeah. And I mean, you could have a whole episode on Milwaukee and the
insane amount of tools that they offer nowadays. But you know, you can go figure that out yourself.
Let us know in the comments like what's the superior tool company. Would you ever work on
your R34 GTR with Harbor Freight tools? And what tool are you taking to the grave? That's what we
want to know. Yeah, but you can always find us on the internet, of course, at our HD GUIS.
Share the episode with some friends. Send it to your Snap-on guy. We don't care. Yeah. For this
episode, I'm Bobby. This is Aaron. See ya. Peace.
About this episode
A lively discussion about the evolution of automotive tools and the changing landscape of tool brands. Bobby and Aaron reminisce about their experiences with tool trucks like Snap-On and the convenience they provided, while also exploring the rise of online tool retailers and new brands like Sonic Tools. They debate the merits of various brands, including Milwaukee and Harbor Freight, and share personal stories about their favorite tools and the impact of technology like 3D printing on tool availability. The episode is filled with humor and nostalgia, making it relatable for both hobbyists and professionals.
Original notes
In this episode of the Right Hand Drive Guys Podcast, we step away from cars for a minute and dig into the tool world β and how dramatically the landscape has changed over the last 20 years. What used to be locked behind tool trucks and professional shops is now widely available to everyday enthusiasts, DIYers, and home-garage builders.
We talk about legacy brands like Snap-on, MAC Tools, Cornwell Tools, and Craftsman, along with Japanese favorites like TONE. We compare quality, price, accessibility, and how social media, online retail, and global manufacturing have reshaped what it means to build a serious toolbox today.
From tool-truck loyalty to modern consumer access, this episode is about how the barrier to entry has changed β and what actually matters when choosing tools in 2025.
ποΈ More access, more options, and more opinions β the tool game isnβt what it used to be.
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