Am I the only one who noticed Husky tools arent good anymore?

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
73
91
Were they good tools at some point?

I was going to ask the same question. I've never consider Husky to be "good". You would think that HD would want to carry and be associated with "quality" tools. I would convider them to be more "value" than quality.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
They used to be considered excellent tools a long time ago. But since I dont keep up with such things I have no idea when that changed. They were considerably better than Harbor Freight and Stanley, and are now worse.

And HD has plenty of good power tools, more than Sears. But Sears has better hand tools.
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
1
81
I was going to ask the same question. I've never consider Husky to be "good". You would think that HD would want to carry and be associated with "quality" tools. I would convider them to be more "value" than quality.
Has anyone noticed that "value" tools aren't good anymore.

At some point the meaning of "value" changed to "cheap".
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,127
781
126
They used to be considered excellent tools a long time ago. But since I dont keep up with such things I have no idea when that changed. They were considerably better than Harbor Freight and Stanley, and are now worse.

And HD has plenty of good power tools, more than Sears. But Sears has better hand tools.
Harbor Freight, Stanley, Great Neck have always been junk.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,529
10,900
126
They used to be considered excellent tools a long time ago. But since I dont keep up with such things I have no idea when that changed. They were considerably better than Harbor Freight and Stanley, and are now worse.

And HD has plenty of good power tools, more than Sears. But Sears has better hand tools.

Harbor Freight, Stanley, Great Neck have always been junk.

I may be misremembering, but I thought Husky made semi-pro tools years ago. I'm talking about the 80s and earlier. Stanley made good tools years ago. They were a solid brand for heavy homeowner use.
 
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
Husky tool quality changes from year to year. They don't manufacture any of them, just buy them from proto or whomever and relabel them. I have some really good low profile husky ratchets from ~10 years ago.
 

spaceman

Lifer
Dec 4, 2000
17,616
183
106
have had a set of husky pro rachets for 10 yrs too
it isnt snap on, but it aint bad either
paid like$100 for set
no complaint or failure in light/med duty
 

zokudu

Diamond Member
Nov 11, 2009
4,364
1
81
What do you guys consider your go to homeowner tool brand nowadays then? Just curious.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
meh for the stuff i do they are fine. i have a husky air compressor and it has done everything i need.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,529
10,900
126
What do you guys consider your go to homeowner tool brand nowadays then? Just curious.

Historically Craftsman, but I've been hearing bad stuff lately. I also liked Stanley for wood oriented tools, but I know they've gone downhill. I try to buy used, and anything 30+ years old will be good, and much cheaper than buying new. I haven't had to buy tools in awhile. I got a good collection years ago, and haven't really needed anything.
 
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
What do you guys consider your go to homeowner tool brand nowadays then? Just curious.


I usually buy from amazon - SK, proto, etc.

Ratchets, commonly used sockets (6mm-12mm) are worth buying 6pt snap-on/matco/mac/tooltruck if you use your tools often.

I am also a fan of cornwell, but it's another tooltruck brand.
 

Jeffg010

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2008
3,435
1
0
Craftsmen for hand tools

Power tools, dewalt Milwaukee, Black and Decker or Makita

Makita for cordless drills

Milwaukee for sawzall

dewalt for table saw
 

Sluggo

Lifer
Jun 12, 2000
15,488
5
81
I have mostly Craftsman stuff, since if there was ever an issue, there is a store 5 minutes from my house. They are now closing that store, so I'm not sure what I'll do. I do have some Ace stores close by, but not sure if they are exchanging broken Craftsman tools.
 

thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2011
4,116
799
126
I think I have a Husky screwdriver set laying around but that's about it. I typically just stick with Craftsman and DeWalt for power tools.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
Historically Craftsman, but I've been hearing bad stuff lately. I also liked Stanley for wood oriented tools, but I know they've gone downhill. I try to buy used, and anything 30+ years old will be good, and much cheaper than buying new. I haven't had to buy tools in awhile. I got a good collection years ago, and haven't really needed anything.

Stanley is the default Walmart & Target brand so you know darn well they arent top notch. But I'd rather have Stanley than Harbor Freight or whatever Green brand is popular in stores at any given time.
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
1
81
I recently moved and got a new set of Husky screwdrivers for small jobs... they are machined very, very poorly. They're definitely just a "cheap" brand. Then again, if you only use them a few times a year, better to pay a few bucks than $20+ for real tools that you'll never use.
 
May 13, 2009
12,333
612
126
I stick with the good cheaper brands craftsman, Armstrong, sk, proto. Every thing snap on I run across I end up reselling for profit.