Auto tech tool help

[79silverado]

I need cheap but good quality tools must have a lifetime warranty preferably american made snap on is too pricey and not harbor freight

 

[jd_1138]

What's your budget? I guess the cheapest would be Craftsman stuff. A complete basic set would be about $500-$600. Harbor Freight's boxes are solid values for the money. You can supplement the CM set with better brands as you go along/can afford it.

 

[CWP1616L]

The cheapest American made tools you're gonna find is SK.

Forget about Craftsman, they're on their way to China.

You might also consider:

- PROTO
- Wright
- Williams
- Armstrong
- Klein
- Channellock
- Wilde
- Western Forge
- Ideal
- Mayhew
- Wilton

 

[creativecars]

Well,
cheap, quality, lifetime warranty, American made- you might try the Unobtanium Tool Corp. They are the only ones that fit that criteria. Are you new to the tool world? Look around here and check out what you have locally. There is no magic bullet when it comes to tools. Do look at what others have written, but I speak the truth.

 

[Zeroek]

I decided to go kinda cheaper on my tools. For Sockets I have Kobalt 1/2" deep and shallow impact sockets. Kobalt chrome shallow 3/8" metric. Gearwrench 3/8" chrome deep metrics. Pitsburgh pro 1/4 deep and shallow metric sockets. Titan 1/4" and 3/8" torx bits with sockets. I bought craftsman evolv extensions along with some random duralast and kobalt ones. Snap on 3/8" ratchets. Crafsman evolv 1/4" ratchet and pitsburgh pro 1/4" roto head ratchet. Craftsman Pro Wrenches in metric. 7 different sets of Channellock pliers. Creasent double X long needle nose pliers. Gearwrench Screwdrivers. Mayhew and titan scrapers. Milwaulkee 3/8" cordless ratchet. Mac Tools 1/2" impact, Sanborn angle grinder. Snap on Torque sticks. Snap on 32 oz hammer. Harbor freight radiator pick set. Stanley pick set. Harbor freight trim tools. I have more stuff but I'm using this stuff daily and it's a cheaper route than going with Tool Truck stuff. Just go shop around at Menards, Home Depot, Sears, Lowes, Rural King, Tractor Supply, different Auto Parts stores and you will find stuff that you can use.

 

[Zeroek]

If you shop online some brands that make some good stuff from my experience would be Mayhew, Armstrong, Titan, Gray Pneumatic, VIM, Astro Pneumatic, Trusty Cook, S&K. I chose to buy some good ratchets from snap on so if they break he can put new parts in them for me. I plan to do most my shopping from here on out on tooltopia or northerntool.

 

[79silverado]

I have a lot of channellock and american made crafstman but the only sockets i have are 9 standard not deep i've heard about cresent but not about thier warranty

 

[Davefr]

I need cheap but good quality tools must have a lifetime warranty preferably american made snap on is too pricey and not harbor freight

You can only get 3 out of your 4. Prioritize them.

If you want quality, warranty and US go SK.

If you want warranty, quality and price go Kobalt or GW

If you want price, quality and US then look for used.

 

[Umclemrbig]

Williams-Really stout.

 

[otis66]

SK Tools.

 

[jd_1138]

I wonder if Craftsman Industrial might be a good fit? I have no experience with CI, but have heard good things about them. Maybe some others on GJ know more about them than I do. Zoro Tools has either a 255 or a 273 piece Craftsman Industrial Master Set for $550/$850 respectively.

 

[joebiodiesel]

Remember that Craftsmen does not warranty tools if used professionally. There is an easy way around that, but you probably won't get your tools replaced if you are dressed in your work clothes.

Joe

 

[Big Gus]

If I were just starting out, I'd purchase this set from Craftsman. You'll have to order online but hopefully by doing so you will still get USA made tools.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...?prdNo=7&blockNo=31&blockType=L31#reviewsWrap

 

[rusty65]

My vote would be for Williams. Williams is not dirt cheap by any means but is super good quality and is basically Snap On with out some of the added bells and whistles. You can find Williams at Toolsdelivered.com they have fast shipping and the best prices on Williams tools I have found so far.


Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[FiendFX]

You cant go wrong with gear wrench

 

[79silverado]

Not cheap just affordable

 

[jd_1138]

Not cheap just affordable budget is around $8000 to $12000 for it all

Here's a 680 piece WIlliams Maxxum set for about 5k delivered. Seems like a great deal. Buying this stuff separately would probably cost way more than 5K.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSC-680-Hand-Tools-Master-Tool-Sets

It'd be like Christmas getting all this at your door and unboxing it all. They have other sets with even more tools included.

Mega 960 set for 9k:

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSC-960-Hand-Tools-Master-Tool-Sets

Here's the Mammoth set (I believe). This is **** for me. I may have to look into Williams and relegate the C-Man to my travelling box.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Remember that Craftsmen does not warranty tools if used professionally. There is an easy way around that, but you probably won't get your tools replaced if you are dressed in your work clothes.

Joe

I've swapped many a Craftsman tool wearing my work clothes, including my shop shirt. I've heard that they don't warranty tools used by mechanics more from people on the internet than from Sears employees, by a ratio of about 10:0. Though I wouldn't buy a complement of Craftsman tools if I had to do it again... they sure can ruin a brand in just 2 years.

 

[creativecars]

Here's a 680 piece WIlliams Maxxum set for about 5k delivered. Seems like a great deal. Buying this stuff separately would probably cost way more than 5K.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSC-680-Hand-Tools-Master-Tool-Sets

It'd be like Christmas getting all this at your door and unboxing it all. They have other sets with even more tools included.

Mega 960 set for 9k:

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSC-960-Hand-Tools-Master-Tool-Sets
Here's the Mammoth set (I believe). This is **** for me. I may have to look into Williams and relegate the C-Man to my travelling box.

Wow, that is a pretty set up...

To the OP do you have the 8 to 12K to purchase out right? You definitely get more bang for your buck that way.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i just bought a 255 piece set for playing around the house; it was on close out fo 179$
i hihgly recommend mixing and matching tools; nobody makes the best of everything
i have some of everybody, except mac and cornwell....they must have no market share

 

[Big Gus]

OP: When you said cheap, I was thinking you wanted to spend hundreds of dollars, not thousands of dollars. If you have thousands of dollars to spend on tools, I'd skip the Craftsman stuff and get Proto, Wright, SK, Williams, etc. Much better quality of tools than Craftsman.

Also, are you in tech school? If so, take advantage of the tool truck company deals for students. When I was in school 15 years ago Mac offered 55% off of anything on the truck for the most part and Snap-on offered a similar deal for tool sets. I'd take advantage of these deals if you have them available to you.

 

[79silverado]

I will be in school soon my high school is paying the tuition for it but i still need the tool i have decided to get a HF box if i can't find a good used one

 

[Davefr]

Not cheap just affordable budget is around $8000 to $12000 for it all

Don't spend that kind of money if you're just starting out/going to school. Get the basics and add slowly as needed.

 

[srmofo]

Here's a 680 piece WIlliams Maxxum set for about 5k delivered. Seems like a great deal. Buying this stuff separately would probably cost way more than 5K.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-WSC-680-Hand-Tools-Master-Tool-Sets

It'd be like Christmas getting all this at your door and unboxing it all. They have other sets with even more tools included.

snipMG]

Thats a solid deal for sure....but lets be honest for minute.

You are going to need a right angle die grinder, impact, 1/2 metric impact sockets 15mm to 22mm, very basic metric 3/8 socket set, wrenches from 8mm to 22mm, and a bunch of goddamn oil change tools because thats all you are going to be doing for the first year or 2.

With that said, if you are committed to this profession (very few seem to actually be at your stage), are true to your word, and are being 100% honest with yourself about the previous 2 statements then by all means buy a large hoard of tools all at once....otherwise Ill be happy to buy them from you at a fraction of what you paid when you flake out like so many "auto-tech" students seem to do


also why are there so many saws included in that set

 

[Moose97]

If you are about to graduate high school and then go to trade school I wouldn't spend that kind of money on tools (unless your folks are loaded!). You can get the Craftsman 540 piece set for anywhere from $1000 to $1300. You can get the HF 44" box and the top box that goes with it for under $800. That's less that $2100 and you're set. After you finish school and are working full time you can add better quality tools as you can pay for them. Chances are you will love what you do but what if it's not for you? This way you don't have a $12,000 investment in a hobby.

 

[4BT]

Craigslist for a toolbox and tools. The turnover rate of new "techs" makes for some good deals.

 

[Moose97]

Just saw this today.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00936540000P
Hard to beat that price!

 

[Super Sport]

Just saw this today.
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_00936540000P
Hard to beat that price!

That's a great set. I've seen it available for around $500 twice. Once was a local ad deal earlier this summer, and the other was one on clearance at my local store. Talk about a deal!

The 348pc set is a good deal too, right now you can get it for around $300 using a coupon. Should still be USA-made.

 

[kythri]

Remember that Craftsmen does not warranty tools if used professionally. There is an easy way around that, but you probably won't get your tools replaced if you are dressed in your work clothes.

Joe

I'm not advocating purchase of import Craftsman, but I will say, there is no clause whatsoever in the warranty about "professional" use of the tools or any such use invalidating the warranty.

Any store that gives you that nonsense is violating the warranty, and should be reported to corporate.

http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082#point2a