No but I almost did this past Monday. It was on sale I probably have $5,000.00 min on the Chicago tool brand, and they are still going strong. Here's a list of just big tools I bought there in the past 2 years
4x8 Trailer
There biggest Electric concrete jack hammer
Auto Dark welders helmet
banding tools
Air roofing nailer's
Air hoses
Couple of Batt drills
Concrete vibrator with 12 long 1 1/4 shaft vib shaft
10 ton 20' chain
AC 1200 lb hoist with remote switch
Full Kit hydraulic pump to jack over building walls.
Transmission jack that goes on the reg hydraulic floor wheeled jacks.
Ect Ect
On average I spend $1,500.00 on tools there a year
I'm a contractor for 30 years and also have heavy equipment and 2,400 sq shop just for repairs on the heavy equipment and do ALL the repairs with me and My guys.
Tools are my constant expenses. I ruffly spent over $100,000.00 of HAND tools while in business the past 30 years I do Major renovations and I don't sub out so that explains the tool line for ALL trades. So trust me Chicago has been a good tool for the money and they make A LOT of tools for all trades. I do buy tools at the big box too. Watch for specials on tools at harbor freight and they constantly have GOOD sales there every week. Get on the mailing list and they send it out twice a month here. Hears how the last big savings. E;electric jack reg $599.00 that's been on sale every week for $459.00 I got the sale price and on top of that had a 10 percent coupon they LET me use on the sale price. How often does a store let you do that? They also have great house tools there also. Get on the mail list and go check it out. Any other tool question just post.
I will let you in on a little secret. I go to My big tool rental company's and ask them which tool they rent out for which trade. They try to buy a tool that's cost effective for them to rent and holds up the longest. It's a god trick I learned. Like the best concrete demo hammers is Bosch. Best sawzall is Milwaukee etc
I don't know if you have a chain saw but check out harbor Freight chain saw sharpener for $ 30.00 on sale I have been using there's for years. I cut a lot of tress to clear land and feed the Asplund gas 6cyl wood chippers. For 30 bucks to sharpen the chainsaw blades can't be beat. They come out almost 100% factory sharp. Look at what it cost to get 5 blades sharpened and the gas and time to go back and forth $30.00 is cheap and quick.
I had a bet with a John Deere lover of Equipmwnt and "I Now have John Deere hoes and crawlers" I took him to a John Deere dealer. While I was there I made the coment to the salesmen That FORD backhoes were stronger pound for pound in hydrloics than Deere. He says No Way. I took him back to his Own shop and said look at all of your repair shop and what they use to lift booms and things. All FORD rubber tire loaders with welded rigs for lifting the heavy parts hear at a factory John Deere heavy Equipment Dealer
BINGO just like the rental company research.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93213