Starter tool set for a teen recommendations (not craftsman)

HoosierBuddy · Nov 27, 2012

Hey guys,

My 17 year old is due to get a set of basic mechanic's tools for Christmas this year. What would you guys recommend in the $150ish price range?

I'd like to stay away from Craftsman because I don't want to get them mixed up with my tools (about half are c-man) or his older brother's tools (all craftsman).

Are those Crescent brand sets any good? Any other ideas?

Phil

carterbeauford · Nov 27, 2012

GW 165 piece set $125, I'm not familiar with Crescent but the wrenches/sockets/ratchets you get are more than nice enough for a teen user.

http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-80932.aspx

missing pliers but at that price you could throw in this set for $39

http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-82104.aspx

Hephaestus29 · Nov 27, 2012

Sorry but I just bought my nephew a craftsman set of ratchets & sockets about 59.00 & a screwdriver set half off at 17.00. The whole time I was walking through the store I was thinking about them being made in china now. I was looking at some of the wrenches and the quality looks really crappy.

hickmlg09 · Nov 27, 2012

Maybe GW??

jjjrmx5 · Nov 27, 2012

Duralast or Kobalt Taiwanese sets.

C'man is still, by far, the best quality bang for the buck when buying sets as long as you can get the USA sets.

Buy an engraver and mark and color code.

I worked on a mfgr floor with 100 employees with everyone having tool boxes and tools of all makes yet nothing got mixed 99.9% of the time. You're telling me you can't do it with 3 people.

I'm not buying it.
Lazy and lame.

Get the C'man and figure out a marking system.

If race teams can do it, I bet you can too.

:thumbup:

HoosierBuddy · Nov 27, 2012

I have to admit, the GW set looks like it fits the bill! Any naysayers out there before I pull the trigger?

Phil

carterbeauford · Nov 27, 2012

also if you ever break a GW tool they send you a new one in the mail no questions asked, just need a part number.

NWphotog · Nov 27, 2012

I think Gearwrench it Duralast would be excellent choices!

Ft.ValloniaStreaker · Nov 27, 2012

I bought a set of Gearwrenches at Advance Auto Parts on Saturday. I had a cross threaded spark plug on a Subaru and one valve cover bolt drove me crazy! They had a 10mm for $11 or a set of 8 for $31.99, 1/2 price!.....MONEY WELL SPENT! Now did i need another wrench, well you all know the answer to that! Anyway I was impressed with them, and yes I'd buy my kid some.

Mickey O · Nov 27, 2012

Armstrong (ebay or here in the classfieds), S-K, Proto (ebay or here in the classfieds), Menards USA made Master Force or any of the quality USA made tools available at great prices on ebay or here in the classifieds.

For example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-29016...542?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aebadfb9e

dandan111 · Nov 27, 2012

Nice used stuff. USA 3/8 and 1/4 sockets. I not sure what you are looking for in your basic set. GW is nice but in 20 years will it still be?

mayhemman · Nov 27, 2012

you can also get good deals on usa sets of craftsman online yet, also ebay and the sears outlet website.

i wouldn't give up on the good qaulity stuff. if its in a case already its easy to seperate from others. just a thought.

i have a cresent brand kit i keep in my firebird, its a nice set but i can't remember if they were USA at that time. i like it does the job for small stuff, i know they have bigger sets that i look just as nice and im sure work fine.

chrenan · Nov 27, 2012

Gearwrench is a great choice, I love their ratcheting wrenches, good value.

If I was starting over fresh, with no tools, I'd likely buy everything I could from Toptul. I recently bought one of their wrench sets and I was blown away with the quality provided at the price.

ShadowRuleZ · Nov 27, 2012

I'd take a look at NAPA from Cripe.

betcd · Nov 27, 2012

I have you of these for small home repairs or going to help someone it pretty nice set http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200223524_200223524 or for little more money this is not a bad stater set for someone just started plus it has more options then the crescent set http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog/product/view/id/1343/category/427/

jjjrmx5 · Nov 27, 2012

ShadowRuleZ said:
I'd take a look at NAPA from Cripe.

The older (pre summer 2012) NAPA sets are just GW re-brands/re-labels as I own several sets from 1/4" to 1/2".

Awesome sets in either GW or NAPA form.
But still the same tool mfgr. with just a few differences as to what comes in each set.

I forgot about GW sets since I own the NAPA rebrands. Good choice.
:thumbup:

IndyGarage · Nov 27, 2012

I used Stanley tools from Walmart on a couple of occasions when I didn't have any tools with me. They work great
.

Dieselbutterfly · Nov 27, 2012

buy the best and you will never be sorry,even if it has to be used to fit the price range

ishiboo · Nov 27, 2012

All great suggestions so far.

MasterForce would give you the same Made in USA by Danaher tools as the former Craftsman USA, and if you're near a Menards they are fantastic and usually are dominating their areas... I have actually never seen a Menards store close permanently, not to say it won't happen, but usually they close because they built a bigger one

Kobalt and GearWrench are also great options - GearWrench is Made in China but overall the same quality (abiet perhaps slightly less quality control) as Kobalt. I believe GearWrench has the most parts of the three, definitely the most wrenches for sure.

Personally, I have Kobalt sockets/ratchets/basic wrenches/etc., GearWrench ratcheting and long pattern wrenches as well as pass-through sockets. The only thing I've had to return were 3 of the GearWrench components which were busted right out of the box brand new - two sockets with huge gouges in them which were chrome plated over, and the ratchet was DOA.

Personally... I would have bought the $99 Kobalt (now twice the price) set on Black Friday (strange as this deal ran well into the new year last year) and used the remaining money for adding the necessary missing wrenches.

Mickey O · Nov 27, 2012

To sum things up, I think we have a consensus here, why buy third world made "tools" when you can get high quality USA made tools for less money. Tools that will last a lifetime and then some, tools you can be proud to own and give to your son.

I was just looking at Cripe, looks like you can get everything you need in USA made quality tools for a great price, including a nice Armstrong 8pc. screwdriver set for $18. They have everything from USA made sockets to screwdrivers and everything in between, USA made Napa, Armstrong, USA made Kobalt and others, put together a list and get to shopping.

The only thing you might have a little trouble find in USA made might be ratcheting wrenches but you can find Armstrong, older USA Kobalt and older USA Craftsman on ebay.

creativecars · Nov 27, 2012

The Harbor Freight 301 pc tool set. For around 150.00 you have enough tools to actually get some work done, as far as sockets, ratchets, and some pliers go. I would also add a 22pc polished wrench set as the 6 wrenches included are not enough. After some lowlife took my box out of the back of my truck. I replaced it with a set of these and I highly recommend them.
http://www.harborfreight.com/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-45951.html

Vinci · Nov 27, 2012

Dieselbutterfly said:
buy the best and you will never be sorry,even if it has to be used to fit the price range

I agree with this. Buy a smaller set if you have to, but buying good stuff means not having to buy it twice.

OHMS LAW · Nov 27, 2012

Get him the craftsman but get Urself an engraver and different color tool boxes

Super Scout · Nov 27, 2012

I have the Crescent 144 piece tool set I leave in my Scout year round for Offroad repairs. I tore the entire front end out my Scout with that set and never broke a thing. They are shockingly decent tools. However I bought that set, cheap knowing it could be lost or destroyed in the woods or rollover or something. I would buy as many quality tools as you can for the 150 bucks and build off it. That way in a few years time he will have a really really nice set of tools.

carterbeauford · Nov 27, 2012

Mickey O said:
To sum things up, I think we have a consensus here, why buy third world made "tools" when you can get high quality USA made tools for less money.

I don't think of GW as 3rd world tools when I work with them. The IMF classifies Taiwan as an economically advanced, developed country. 3rd world is a term of semantics and not relevant to your argument.

I used a lot of GW to restore an old tractor and they are on par with Snap-On, without the ******* customer service. hardly "tools"

I suggested a quality set that any kid should be thrilled to own and stand by my suggestion. I hope the kid spends time using them and not arguing about COO.

stratman977 · Nov 27, 2012

Mickey O said:
I was just looking at Cripe, looks like you can get everything you need in USA made quality tools for a great price, including a nice Armstrong 8pc. screwdriver set for $18.

No offense but that Armstrong screwdriver set is marginal. About on par with the standard craftsman screwdrivers. It would be ok for a starter set but its nothing to get excited over.

Really you want to get you kid a matching set of something. At a young age the shiner the tool the better and a nice case to keep everything from getting lost would be top priority. I still have my starter set and I don't use it anymore but I still smile when I see it a remember my dad got it for me.

Mickey O · Nov 27, 2012

carterbeauford said:
I used a lot of GW to restore an old tractor and they are on par with Snap-On, without the ******* customer service. hardly "tools"

That's the funniest thing I've heard in a while. I think the Yugo is on par with the BMW 7 series but with out the snooty customer service. I think a lot of BMW owners are trading them in on used Yugo's.

Mickey O · Nov 27, 2012

stratman977 said:
No offense but that Armstrong screwdriver set is marginal. About on par with the standard craftsman screwdrivers. It would be ok for a starter set but its nothing to get excited over.

Really you want to get you kid a matching set of something. At a young age the shiner the tool the better and a nice case to keep everything from getting lost would be top priority. I still have my starter set and I don't use it anymore but I still smile when I see it a remember my dad got it for me.

I have the Armstrong screwdrivers (do you?), they are better than marginal and if you need one to remove or install a screw and have one you'll be exited that you do.

zmotorsports · Nov 27, 2012

My son started wanting tools for Christmas/birthday's etc. when he was around 16/17 years old. I didn't want to get him junk but couldn't justify all new Snap-On/Matco/Cornwell. The wife and I bought him a used Snap-On toolbox locally and started to get him tools to fill it.

The first year we got him a starter set from NAPA with some Gearwrench thrown in there. Over the next several years we added some other items as holidays/birthdays came about. We hit a few pawn shops and he has a pretty awesome collection of tools now at 21 years of age, a lot nicer than I had at that age that's for sure.

Mike.

carterbeauford · Nov 27, 2012

Mickey O said:
That's the funniest thing I've heard in a while. I think the Yugo is on par with the BMW 7 series but with out the snooty customer service. I think a lot of BMW owners are trading them in on used Yugo's.

I meant in terms of fit and finish and user experience. I own equal amounts of both brands of hand tools. I am not the first person to make this observation. your analogy is inaccurate.

creativecars · Nov 27, 2012

All the projects I have worked on don't give a **** about what name is stamped into the side or the COO in which it is made. Bottom line, does it fit properly and is it strong enough to do the task. Years ago the only tool companies that used descent metals were the big name brands, but then many smaller companies started using better metal mixtures (chrome vanadium, ect…) and started making some pretty tough tools. Even the infamous flank drive became open to the world. Now some of the cheaper tools may not be as pretty as others, but they can get the job done. I get satisfaction from completing a quality job, not overcompensating :lol:

by what’s in my tool box. I can get way more done with a variety of less expensive tools, than one set of combination wrenches…

Subyroo651 · Nov 27, 2012

Kobalt is worth a mention as well. Good Quality Taiwan stuff, warranty is pretty painless.

These two come to mind, the latter was just on sale for $99(ended last night)
Kobalt 138pc.
Kobalt 227Pc.

phansen39 · Nov 27, 2012

Give him your Craftsman set and get yourself a Snap On set. :thumbup:

joecon · Nov 27, 2012

When I started buying tools I was younger than that and I bought SK and was
more than happy with them and didn't replace them with the armstrongs I have
now for mabe ten years of working as a mechanic.

stratman977 · Nov 27, 2012

Mickey O said:
I have the Armstrong screwdrivers (do you?), they are better than marginal and if you need one to remove or install a screw and have one you'll be exited that you do.

Yes I do have that set. And I'll reiterate, there mediocre at best. I like Armstrong tools but those screwdrivers are run of the mill danaher junk.

Sorry for getting off topic on this thread.

TinKnocker · Nov 27, 2012

carterbeauford said:
The IMF classifies Taiwan as an economically advanced, developed country.

use google maps and take a stroll around taiwan. :dunno:

its no where i would want to live.

bimmerZ5 · Nov 27, 2012

Mickey O said:
To sum things up, I think we have a consensus here, why buy third world made "tools" when you can get high quality USA made tools for less money. Tools that will last a lifetime and then some, tools you can be proud to own and give to your son.

I was just looking at Cripe, looks like you can get everything you need in USA made quality tools for a great price, including a nice Armstrong 8pc. screwdriver set for $18. They have everything from USA made sockets to screwdrivers and everything in between, USA made Napa, Armstrong, USA made Kobalt and others, put together a list and get to shopping.

The only thing you might have a little trouble find in USA made might be ratcheting wrenches but you can find Armstrong, older USA Kobalt and older USA Craftsman on ebay.

Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro all the way!!!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-45951.html

they kick ***!!! and on top of that, they are made in China... or maybe Taiwan...

nanofrog · Nov 27, 2012

Anyone have experience with KT Pro?

I'm interested in them myself (sockets), and figured it might be another consideration for the OP if the value is there (decent quality without paying an arm+leg).

bimmerZ5 · Nov 27, 2012

carterbeauford said:
I don't think of GW as 3rd world tools when I work with them. The IMF classifies Taiwan as an economically advanced, developed country. 3rd world is a term of semantics and not relevant to your argument.

I used a lot of GW to restore an old tractor and they are on par with Snap-On, without the ******* customer service. hardly "tools"

I love Gearwrench stuff... mainly the made in Taiwan always seem very high quality. I have a few sets that are made in China, but I haven't used them that much yet.

I agree with you, I think GW > SO. Just see this video:

It's on the internet, it must be all true... Matco > GW > SO. but price wise, GW is most reasonable.

oilfieldtrash4 · Nov 27, 2012

No offense OP but it'd be foolish to not buy a set from sears outlet. You can't even touch comparable sets made in China for the price. Hell the Kobalt set is like $200. I picked up the 338PC set from Sears outlet and im happy as heck and take pride in the fact my box is full of American made tools. Thing was like $160. I've added some things since such as some large USA wrenches and what not.

Starter tool set for a teen recommendations (not craftsman)

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