Back up tool set Harbor Freight ?

[cvcman]

Ok at my home garage I have a large roller box full of all the tools i need,,, all Snapon , Craftsman.Matco, all older stuff..
I have a 28 x40 pole barn 1-1/2 mile away from my home where I keep my truck, tractor and 4 wheeler
Every time I need something I bring it from home .. it’s a pita
I looked at the US General tool cart with 4 or 5 drawers and then sets of sockets wrenches pliers screwdrivers hammers etc so I have some tools at the barn
I’ll end up spending around 400.00 but at least I’ll have tools there
I know they aren’t top quality but any better ideas ?

 

[skulldrinker]

Get the 5 drawer and the 300 pc set. Good start.

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[Professional Tool User]

Getting a US general box is a good idea if you can't find a used tool truck brand box locally for cheap. As for basic hand tools, you do not need to get everything from Harbor Freight. You've got other options like big box store house brands (Home Depot, Lowes etc.), Tekton, Sunex, Gearwrench etc. It's just a matter of you doing your research for each category of tool.

 

[bpjr]

Sound like a good idea to me. I think HF or any of the big box store mechanic sets would be fine.

 

[larry4406]

Following along as I have a similar need. Barn in yard is ~300' from house and seems like I am constantly walking back and forth for tools and leaving them in one location to need them in the other.

 

[bob15]

I would go to a pawn shop, flea market, swap meet or even HJE and get the tools from there. Would be a higher quality tool over HF for probably less money.

In my house, I have 1/4 & 3/8" drive socket sets and a DOE wrench set from Bonney via HJE & e-bay. Those Bonney's are so much nicer than the HF stuff and have that lobular boxed end for off-corner engagement when using it on that rusty IKEA bookshelf bolt .

Also have a DBE Snap-On set I bought at a swap meet along with a couple pairs of pliers and Channellocks. Price was probably about the same as HF, but I will take the US-made stuff over HF any day of the week.

The box I have them in is a Lyon under the bench type toolbox (looks like a Vidmar/Lista, but made by Lyon).

 

[Mr_B]

just research the cheaper mid range brands and hunt out sales/deals on socket rail sets, some ratchets, screwdrivers, wrenches etc.
HF good on some cheap pliers from doyle and bremen, the icon range has 20% off if any hand tools in that you may fancy. Even the Pitts Pro ratchets not bad for very low cost option if you make effort pick best off the display and milk the 5 buck ratchet coupon .
Would try source some decent wrenches as cheaper ones never perform when you really need it, don't over look used options .

 

[dtnel]

Icon wrenches, sockets, ratchets and you'll be set. They have the lifetime warranty and are durable. I have all the truck brands, craftsman (American & Chinese made), Sunex, gearwrench, this, that, this & that. Probably have 10 different brand socket sets and the same goes for wrenches, screwdrivers, ratchets, extensions. I probably have 20 of each all the different brands of 10mm sockets as well because as you know those pesky 10mm sockets are like whodini, there one day then gone the next and back a few days later. You can never have enough 10mm sockets in all drive sizes, 10mm wrenches and anything else 10mm as well. Capri, Sunex, gearwrench, stanley, masterforce, toolshop, Mac, Pittsburgh, Snap-On, Matco, Cornwell, SK, T&S and to many other brands to name and about another 100 chinese brands as they all want to feel like they're big players selling cheap tools which look like their, cousins brother sisters brothers wife's husband's father in laws brand and they all look and feel the same. They must have tool brand stamping parties or sell the molds to a different family each week or two to make it appear as the Chinese make so many brands but in actuality it's just the same molds they're using from when they did a brand run for harbor freight or other brands years prior...... [emoji38][emoji23][emoji38][emoji23]

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[BlackLS2]

I had to pop some small parts off a 60 year old car on the fly the other day, and was near a Harbor Freight, so picked up the Quinn 1/4 metric and SAE socket at ratchet set 64537, and a seperate clear plastic waterproof box for $21 with coupons. I guess that would be their mid grade ratchet between Pittsburgh and ICON. I figured if it sucked I would at least have something leftover for a trunk tool kit. Ended up having to seriously reef on the ratchet with a 9/16 bolt - beyond what one would normally use 1/4 for, if you had access to 3/8 tools....worked great. I would not willingly subject my Snappy or Proto 1/4 stuff to what I did with that Quinn ratchet. I have a Williams 1/4 trunk kit that was about $60. I would pay $21 for just the Quinn ratchet, let alone the high VIS sockets too.

 

[Shane6377]

I have a similar situation as the OP with a site away from my home garage. The building is on farm ground and we mostly store tractors and farm equipment which requires SAE tools. I have a cheap 26" toolbox (Craftsman I think) and filled it with mostly used tools I found at estate sales and auctions. Everything is mismatched brands but I have full sets of sockets and wrenches from good quality brands like Proto, SK, Williams and Armstrong.

Anytime I need metric tools I have to haul them from home and I agree, it's a PITA. I've often thought about getting a cheap set of tools like the Husky 300pc set as the OP suggested.


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[Radio Flyer]

I did the same thing. Bought a set of HF metric combination wrenches for home/garage use.

Until one day I was working on my daughters car. Couldn't find a wrench that fit a bolt. Turns out the 17 MM was so poorly made that it didn't fit the bolt on the box end, but OK on the open end.

Out of frustration, I threw them all out, and bought a used craftsman set for home use.

 

[99LeCouch]

Bought a cheap set for our NTU camper. Should be fine for quick fixes.

 

[iamrfixit]

My fully equipped shop is 5 blocks away from my house so i have all the same issues. Struggled for years with a couple handful of tools at home. Couple years ago i bought a cheap tool cart and loaded it with some of the extra tools i had. Caught a dewalt 192 piece socket set on Black Friday for $99. I added a couple sets of tekton wrenches.

Along with screwdrivers, pliers and other extra stuff i already had at the house I can at least get by with most simple projects. They’re not like using my snap on stuff but beats running back and forth to do every little job.

Few months ago I got a huge cornwell roller for my shop and moved the old craftsman pro down to the house, clearly going to need more tools now. The cart was jam packed but now that the craftsman is there it looks empty.

 

[Fedwrench]

the Harbor Freight five drawer cart and their US General series two boxes sound like a great deal. For the back up tools though, i would go with Tekton.

 

[ez-duzit]

Ok at my home garage I have a large roller box full of all the tools i need...

Your problem is the rollaway cabinet. If your tools were instead stored in handy, portable tool bags, you would not need to spend more money on an extra set of sub-standard tools.

Combination wrenches in a tool roll. Sockets on a strip. Etc.

 

[richfinn]

Your problem is the rollaway cabinet. If your tools were instead stored in handy, portable tool bags, you would not need to spend more money on an extra set of sub-standard tools.

Combination wrenches in a tool roll. Sockets on a strip. Etc.

This is the best way, buy a really good tool tote to organize a selection of your most popular tools and
use the good tools you have

 

[iamrfixit]

I wouldn’t even consider loading up my snap on stuff and hauling it around in a bag or tote. Working out of a small box or bag you end up unloading the whole bag looking for one tool. It’s easy to misplace expensive tools when everything doesn’t have a specific place to go back in.

That’s not even considering you may actually be doing field work out in an actual field, pasture or other site where tools just disappear into the surroundings. Using expensive tools outside the shop is risky.

Sure you could organize a pack out or tough system setup but it will probably cost more than a set of more sacrificial tools. Those plastic boxes don’t really take much weight either

 

[cvcman]

Your problem is the rollaway cabinet. If your tools were instead stored in handy, portable tool bags, you would not need to spend more money on an extra set of sub-standard tools.

Combination wrenches in a tool roll. Sockets on a strip. Etc.

Yea I don’t like that idea, too much screwing around emptying the bag to get something,,,
I like a box with drawers ...the cart I can roll right to my truck, tractor etc

 

[sberry]

It wouldn't have to be hf but extra tools are good. Cheaper to have than haul back and forth, that gets old fast.

 

[The Fall]

the Harbor Freight five drawer cart and their US General series two boxes sound like a great deal. For the back up tools though, i would go with Tekton.

Solid advice above.

 

[lardy1]

If it was me, I'd also follow that advice. That HF cart is a deal, in my opinion. Tekton, generally speaking, is a good place for wrenches, sockets & drive tools, screwdrivers, etc. Click it and three days later it's at your door. Build on that.

 

[richfinn]

Are you going to be loading the tool cart in and out of a vehicle or leaving it at one location??

 

[Gurp]

Get the 5 drawer and the 300 pc set. Good start.

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Great plan.
As a DIY guy I worked out of a 301pc set for about 2 years. add a set of tekton wrenches and it does pretty well.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Cheap tool cart idea is fine, but I'd move away from HF tools. Husky, Kobalt, Tekton, and the like will provide better performance at a reasonable price, especially when on sale. But I'm admittedly a little biased, as I dislike HF tools.

There was a time when I purchased a lot of HF tools by fiscal necessity. Most performed fine, but some were immediately useless due to manufacturing defects and substandard QC. Others failed, usually in spectacular fashion. The last straw came while using a Pittsburg breaker bar that snapped, sending a chunk of metal into my face, just missing my left eye. The scar remains. That was the day I started wearing eye protection, even for mundane tasks. It was also the day I stopped buying from Harbor Freight.

 

[EZ_Garage]

I'm just a weekend wrencher and you would find that my primary hand tools tools are a mix of Pittsburgh Pro, Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman, Tekton and Gearwrench. For me I just research prior to purchasing and look for the best bang for your buck. There are gems and duds in all brands so, I'm not too brand loyal.

 

[bczygan]

Ok at my home garage I have a large roller box full of all the tools i need,,, all Snapon , Craftsman.Matco, all older stuff..
I have a 28 x40 pole barn 1-1/2 mile away from my home where I keep my truck, tractor and 4 wheeler
Every time I need something I bring it from home .. it’s a pita
I looked at the US General tool cart with 4 or 5 drawers and then sets of sockets wrenches pliers screwdrivers hammers etc so I have some tools at the barn
I’ll end up spending around 400.00 but at least I’ll have tools there
I know they aren’t top quality but any better ideas ?

Good plan.

A variety of tools helps.

Look at my tool list.

Bill

 

[cvcman]

Are you going to be loading the tool cart in and out of a vehicle or leaving it at one location??

Leaving it in my pole barn

 

[P7M8]

I am in the same situation. I have a nice tool collection at my house. Most of my repairs to equipment was either done at my storage lot or on a job site. I got tired of loading tools into a bag and inevitably forgetting something. I am gradually buying Tekton tool sets because they don’t skip sizes and come in decent cases or rolls.

Is your pole barn secure? I store the tools at my storage lot in a fortified sea container.


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[bpjr]

I carried tools 200' out to my shed a few yrs and it was a hassle. Putting a small chest out there with spare tools made a big difference for mostly lawn equipment maintenance. If I didn't already have spares to leave out there I would buy a $99 mechanics set and be done with it.

 

[larry4406]

I carried tools 200' out to my shed a few yrs and it was a hassle. Putting a small chest out there with spare tools made a big difference for mostly lawn equipment maintenance. If I didn't already have spares to leave out there I would buy a $99 mechanics set and be done with it.

My thoughts as well as my barn will be storage for all yard and non-auto hobby equipment.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Unfortunately, you don't have a Menard's in your area. They are constantly having small tool sets marked down and clearanced out. I'd probably try and find a few smaller sets and put something together with those if it were me.

So you buy two sets and now have two 3/8" ratchets, who doesn't use multiple ratchets.

Link to Menard's, just food for thought of buying smaller sets, possibly as you need them.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/...htm?sortby=priceAsc&queryType=allItems&page=1

 

[mrjaw14]

I'll just share this: wrenches from HFT are no bueno unless they are the icon ones. I have a set of the cheap Pittsburgh ones for a truck set for emergencies or helping family. I decided to reef on them to see what they'd do. The box end rounded off a bolt...easily. I wanted a cheap set, but darn it, it needs to not makes things worse in a pinch when i need it to work.

 

[ericm]

I have a barn where the tractor and attachments are stored and where I work on the tractor. It's only 200 ft from the house garage/shop where my tools are but I got tired of walking back and forth 10 times during a job on the tractor. And I needed larger sockets and wrenches than I owned for working on cars and bikes. I got a HF roller cart and a selection of HF tools. Their tools keep getting better. Not even their Icon stuff, just the regular lines. What I got is perfectly fine for working on a tractor.

 

[icthruu74]

I e done similar. I have an old ‘stack on’ chest that I was given in the shed with mostly HF tools to support my lawn & garden equipment. I’m also putting together a ‘travel kit’ as I’m finding myself spending more and more time going to parents and in-laws to help with projects. Mostly things I’ve picked up on clearance- channel lock pliers, Tekton wrench sets (in rolls), Chinese CM sockets, etc.

 

[lardy1]

We have three properties and there are mowers, motorcycles, scooters, garden machines as well as building maintenance going on just about all the time. I no longer count on cheap *** tools to be "good enough" to leave at the places or carry between them. I've had enough of being miles from my good tools and having inferior **** not perform and either have to stop and go buy something or put the project off until I bring better tools.

We have a "house box" that we keep in the basement so we don't have to run to the shop for everything. I've expanded that with old Craftsman and other decent quality tools that can be just grabbed and go. I also carry a Bucket Boss when I anticipate needing tools rather than buying more garbage to get mad at and frustrate the job.

I try not to bash HF but I'm damn sure not about to put myself in a position of having to depend on that kind of thing.

 

[sreeb]

I'll just share this: wrenches from HFT are no bueno unless they are the icon ones. I have a set of the cheap Pittsburgh ones for a truck set for emergencies or helping family. I decided to reef on them to see what they'd do. The box end rounded off a bolt...easily. I wanted a cheap set, but darn it, it needs to not makes things worse in a pinch when i need it to work.

For whatever reason, there are no Pittsburg Pro wrenches and the plain Pittsburg ones disappoint. I have SK wrenches at my main house and Tekton at my remote garage. Tekton's aren't as nice but I don't feel like I am in the penalty box.

 

[Mr_B]

Yeh wrenches get something decent
Hard to get useless socketry ratchets pliers screwdrivers etc these days unless you really input no effort or due diligence .
HF has a few worthwhile lines and a lot worth avoiding, it not hard sort what worth having.
I've used Pitts pro GW Husky and taiwan brands Toptul, Premier, Japan Style, Werkzueg, Infar, Carlyle in daily auto repair for years and it works and lasts fine.
Some of the Toptul wrench sockets grips/pliers and screwdrivers equal tool truck easily and some design points can be advantageous in use, the icon ratchet wrenches are pretty decent product and fairly good value with 20% coupon, I been using long pattern set hard and they fine, actually better than most other mid range offerings of known brands .
You got choose the tool based on tool alone, price and brand don't mean as much these days ...