Begining Tool Collection

[bjysierra]

Hello!

Im new to this forum and am excited to learn new things on how to work on general house repairs and cars. Last week, my Dad and I went through my tool box (which was filled with hand-me-downs) and got rid of a lot of junk. I am now ready to begin a Tool Collection that I can call my own. My Dad is a great handy-man, but I want to get various opinions. My tools will be just for general house fixing - I do not mind spending some money to get a good quality brand if it will last me a long time, but I do not want to break the bank. I know many will tell me to get the tools as time goes along and when I need them, but I want to begin to get the essentials. I do not care if I have a matching set of all my tools or if they are mixed. I want a good, durable, reliable, and long-lasting tool collection.

I have a hammer, rubber mallet. I also have Irwin Vice Grips (2 pliers)

Power Tools - Last Christmas I got a set of Ryobi Circular Saw, Power Drill, and Saw's All. I love them, they have worked great for me.

Screwdrivers- This past weekend I purchased a 20 piece set of Kobalt from Lowes. It seems nice - did I make a smart purchase or should I return it and get something else. Snap- On? Craftsman? Stanley? Others I am missing?

Pliers Sets- Who makes the best? I have heard many things. Craftsman, Kobalt, or even Channellock.

Wrenches - Same as above

Measuring Tape/Level/Square- Please name some suggestions

Tool Box- ???

Thank You so much for the future help. I appreciate it.

 

[buco]

Hi, and welcome. I'm new here as well.. If you need tool advice this is the best place.

screwdrivers =- this place seems to like wera, and snap on. I myself like klein.

Pliers - from what i read seems to be between Knipex and nws. both German. i have knipex and adore them. never had nws.

Wrench's - best bang for the buck and proven leader - wright

Tape - something american made. i believe starrett makes a few that are 100% usa made.

Tool box - I'm partial to sps international because they are Canadian. Kennedy makes great stuff in the states.

best of luck!

 

[dieselmike]

i like the craftsman and pratt read acetate handled screw drivers

 

[jeffmoss26]

Craftsman screwdrivers and pliers are decent, I also like channellock pliers. Not sure if Crescent still makes their adjustable wrenches in the US, but I have several old ones that I love. Craftsman combination wrenches have served me well but I don't use them a whole lot.
I also have lots of Klein tools for electrical and telecom work.
As far as storage goes, I prefer bags for work in the field, and I have a Craftsman chest and rollaway in my basement shop.

 

[kxxr]

You might consider a tour of your local pawn shops. Many of them don't consider American brands other than Craftsman or Snap-On to be of much value. You can find a lot of good old well made tools this way for a great price. Be careful, it's tempting to offer too much, which they will take. Remember, if they thought they were valuable, they'd have them behind the counter or under glass with the 'truck brands' and the gold.

 

[Jim C.]

You'll get a ton of opinions here. If you don't want to break the bank, stay away from the "tool truck" brands. You can occasionally find that stuff in pretty good used condition, but it can still be a little pricey. I like Channellock pliers. They're reasonably priced and mostly made in the USA. As for all the other tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc.) it's just a matter of personal preference. I've got a lot of older Craftsman tools and they've been great over the years. I try to avoid Craftsman tools that were made overseas. There's tons of great deals to be had on used, USA made, Craftsman tools, at garage sales, flea markets, ebay, car show vendors, etc. Good luck with your purchases and welcome aboard.

Jim C.

 

[BHH]

I would look for gently used top brands like Snap On. It will take you a lot longer to build your collection but you can get insane deals off sites like Ebay if you wait long enough, especially if you are not stuck on getting specific colors like the green, reds, blues...

Just figure out what you want and then keep checking all the time you will be shocked what kind of deals you will be able to get.

 

[fivespdcat]

I've bought a lot of tool lots on eBay that come with the basics but if youre looking for new i will suggest:

Screwdrivers: get on the Wiha deal, $25 for awesome heavy duty striker screwdrivers, probably never need another set.
Pliers: hard to argue with channel locks, plus a medium sized crescent wrench
Wrenches: I started with craftsman raised panels, but if you want to step up it will cost you. I ended up with sk's but you can get a 14 or 15 piece Allen Chrome cripedistributing for like $30
Tape measure: Stanley fat max 25 ft
Level: for general housework a small torpedo level works great. If you want bigger I like older Johnson or any of the new Empire branded ones.

You will definitely begin to accumulate more as you start doing more work. And if I can throw in some more advice, don't buy the cheap electrical tape, it's never worth it!

 

[85camaro]

What!? No Snap on? Just kidding. Your kobalt screwdrivers are fine. Really, any of those brands you mentioned are good enough quality for the price if they're only to be used once in a while around the house.

As far as Snap on, they aren't available to the general public anyways unless you order on-line. Cornwell doesn't offer on-line sales. In most cases you would need to chase down a truck, and then the dealer probably won't even let you on the truck.

 

[Outlawmws]

I think a hand drill is needed on your list; if not used often a corded one might be better than the frustration of dead batteries when you need it. For homeowner use, a small set of twist drills will do fine for 99% of what you will see. Say 12-15 in the set? I do like the hex sharked sets for use around the house, however they will be more costly. Add other sizes and styles as you need them.

Get a set of driver bits. you can use them with most regular corded hand drills, but need to be a little careful not to snap things.

Hand saw: look around and find a good Japanese saw, typically they are two sided, and you want fine and and bit less fine for finish work a circular saw is not right for. Japaneses saws are different then the typical European/American saw in that you pull to cut, instead of push. Once you get used to it is amazing what they will do.

Tool box: If new it's hard to stay out of Asian imports here, without getting pretty expensive. I'd suggest a used box, maybe an older Craftsman, Powr Kraft or Kennedy, with at least 4 drawers. All drawers is ideal IMO, and even if it needs repainted, that is a good easy restore unless things are broken like slides/structure. A lot of boxes get cast off simply because the casters are toast. That is an easy no brainier fix.

Personally I hate top boxes, they waste a lot of work surface area. A roller holds more and can be rolled to nearby jobs. and has a built in work surface.

How big the box needs to be is driven by how many tools you have, but too big is a self solving problem. if you stop getting tools, and still have empty drawers you can use it up and spare parts, nails, bolts and such.

Get a medium sized vise, and put a 3/4" plywood top on the roller, and bolt the vise through both the ply and metal top. You won't believe how much use you will get from a "third hand"


For getting the tools to jobs away from the box, you can go with a simple plastic tray, or a tool belt and just take what you need.

 

[woody 73]

Welcome to the GJ, if I was in your shoes I would run(not walk) to your local Sears store and buy up the last sets of made in the USA tools as you can. They are in the process of phasing out most of their old stock and bringing in new stock from China; we here at the GJ refer it as "THE K-MART MENTALITY".

 

[american lockpicker]

You might consider a tour of your local pawn shops. Many of them don't consider American brands other than Craftsman or Snap-On to be of much value. You can find a lot of good old well made tools this way for a great price. Be careful, it's tempting to offer too much, which they will take. Remember, if they thought they were valuable, they'd have them behind the counter or under glass with the 'truck brands' and the gold.

This is a good tip also don't forget flea markets. Craftsman is decent tools for a beginner if you want new.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Look here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/cripedistri...089&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&_trksid=p4340.l2562

Buy up the Kobalt USA stuff. It was made by Williams tools a Snap on subsidary. Phenomonal value for this price point (give away) their new stuff (kobalt) are offshore manufacture.


Concerning your "who make the best..." question. Why Snap-on of course

 

[powertrip]

At the stage of tool buying you are at, I would avoid snap on unless you find a used incredibly cheap deal. Buy craftsman, channelock, kobalt and some harbor freight. You have tapped into a wealth of advice on this forum but sadly the advice from most is buy snap on when you really dont need that level of quality or price markup unless you are a pro. Probably going to piss some members off but thats the truth. I really hate it when a new member asks for tool buying advice and get suggestions to buy the most expensive tools made.

 

[Outlawmws]

At the stage of tool buying you are at, I would avoid snap on unless you find a used incredibly cheap deal. Buy craftsman, channelock, kobalt and some harbor freight. You have tapped into a wealth of advice on this forum but sadly the advice from most is buy snap on when you really dont need that level of quality or price markup unless you are a pro. Probably going to piss some members off but thats the truth. I really hate it when a new member asks for tool buying advice and get suggestions to buy the most expensive tools made.

Agreed in principal. Tool truck tools are simple overkill for the homeowner. I disagree that "Most" of the advice here in this thread has gone that route however.

 

[Craftsman_88]

Well If your strictly asking for opinions. For all hand tools I love Craftsman. They may or may not be made in America anymore, but have a lifetime warranty. What I like about Craftsman is they are stronger in my opinion than Harbor frieght, and the grips are comfortable. I do feel the kobalt screwdrivers are not as comfortable as Craftsman, and the same for the pliers. As long as they warrantied for life, a homeowner should be just fine with any brand I would think. Really I just like my Craftsman tools and for my weekend warrior needs have yet to have any issues.

 

[powertrip]

Agreed in principal. Tool truck tools are simple overkill for the homeowner. I disagree that "Most" of the advice here in this thread has gone that route however.

I stated on this forum (overall), not particulary on this thread.

 

[impactims]

At the stage of tool buying you are at, I would avoid snap on unless you find a used incredibly cheap deal. Buy craftsman, channelock, kobalt and some harbor freight. You have tapped into a wealth of advice on this forum but sadly the advice from most is buy snap on when you really dont need that level of quality or price markup unless you are a pro. Probably going to piss some members off but thats the truth. I really hate it when a new member asks for tool buying advice and get suggestions to buy the most expensive tools made.

In order to know that snap-on tools are not the way to go due to their price tag you would have to know how much money the buyer makes as well as the cost of their living expenses. If you don't know all of this how could you "hate it" when Snap-on is suggested?

 

[Outlawmws]

In order to know that snap-on tools are not the way to go due to their price tag you would have to know how much money the buyer makes as well as the cost of their living expenses. If you don't know all of this how could you "hate it" when Snap-on is suggested?

I do not mind spending some money to get a good quality brand if it will last me a long time, but I do not want to break the bank.

Seems pretty clear to me...

 

[impactims]

Seems pretty clear to me...

I do not mind spending some money to get a good quality brand if it will last me a long time, but I do not want to break the bank

It takes X amount of dollars for him to break his bank

It takes Y amount of dollars for Bill Gates to break his bank

It takes Z amount of dollars for a burger flipper to break his/her bank

In order to know what it takes for someone to "break the bank" you must first know the income and expenses of said individual, as I have been trying to say.

Surely you understand what I am saying....

 

[Outlawmws]

It takes X amount of dollars for him to break his bank

It takes Y amount of dollars for Bill Gates to break his bank

It takes Z amount of dollars for a burger flipper to break his/her bank

In order to know what it takes for someone to "break the bank" you must first know the income and expenses of said individual, as I have been trying to say.

Surely you understand what I am saying....

I understand what you are saying, did you read his (Whole) post and get any clue that he was either Bill Gates or a burger flipper? lets not be obtuse...

 

[impactims]

I understand what you are saying, did you read his (Whole) post and get any clue that he was either Bill Gates or a burger flipper? lets not be obtuse...

I was using extreems to make a point, not because I really think he falls into those categories.

And yes I did read his whole post and he never gave any indicator as to his wealth, only that he does not want to brake the bank. BUT, we don't know how deep that bank account is nor do we know anything about his financial status and thus, it is not fair to say that Snap-on prices are unrealistic or out of his budget. More info is needed to make that judgement.

 

[Outlawmws]

His buying Kobalt screwdrivers wasn't a clue? I know what you are saying, but advising a homeowner, who is apparently not a heavy duty car guy, to buy "only the best" meaning truck tools, makes no sense at all.

I have quite a number of Snap-On Proto, Mac class tools along with a lot of Craftsman/ Thornsen class tools. I've been deeply into wrenching since I was in the third grade, and used to pit and crew chief on race cars, some of which I built. For that level of "hobby" wrenching, it makes sense that better tools might be needed. A guy that only wrenches to change oil and do homeowner upkeep and some work fixing up the house as described? Lets be realistic...

 

[impactims]

His buying Kobalt screwdrivers wasn't a clue? I

Screwdrivers- This past weekend I purchased a 20 piece set of Kobalt from Lowes. It seems nice - did I make a smart purchase or should I return it and get something else. Snap- On?

Yeah, but then he is clearly pondering the idea of going for Snap-on.

I am not suggesting he buy anything. I am simply stating that we don't know his financial situation.

 

[Notwerk]

Pliers - Channellock. USA-made, affordable, tough and easily available.

Screwdrivers - Wiha, Wera, and Felo are all good euro brands. Husky (Home Depot)/Craftsman are made in the USA by Western Forge and are a good value. SK also now uses Western Forge for their drivers (SK and Western Forge are both owned by Ideal). Klein is often the preference of many electricians.

Adjustable wrenches - Many like Channellock here, too. Made in Spain by Irega. Crescent brand adjustables are still USA-made and are decent. Craftsman adjustables are made by Western Forge and are very nice for the money. I like Craftsman myself.

Locking pliers - Those Irwins will do fine, but if you ever need to replace them, I recommend Grip-on (not to be confused with Grip, which uses a fist logo and is made in Asia. These are often mislabled as Grip-on, so be careful). Grip-on is practically the only source for quality locking pliers these days. Made in Spain. They OEM for many expensive brands, including Snap-on. They're available on Amazon.

Ratchets - My preference is Williams, a division of Snap-on. However, some Williams stuff is Taiwan-made. I prefer the USA Williams stuff, such as the B-52 and S-52 ratchets (M-52 is so-so. I recommend SK for 1/4 inch). Higher-end Craftsman ratchets are nice (and mechanically similar to some Matco/Armstrong ratchets), but they are being outsourced presently. SK and Wright are also very high quality brands. Blackhawk ratchets (USA assembled, global components) are well-made and good looking, but not as smooth as some of the other options (roughly an 8-10 degree arc; their advertising is incorrect). Still, I have no doubt they'll last a very long time. Many, many opinions exist on ratchets, and preferences vary widely. My order of preference is Williams USA, Wright, and SK.

Wrenches - Craftsman raised panels are a good baseline, but given the recent streak of outsourcing, I hesitate to recommend them. Like ratchets, opinions vary here. Williams USA, Blackhawk, Wright and SK are all excellent. Cripe and Epstein had been stocking a lot of Kobalt USA, KD USA and Allen USA wrenches on close-out. All of those are exactly the same as Craftsman raised panels and are an excellent bargain if still available.

Sockets - Various German and Japanese brands are well liked (Koken, Hazet, Gedore). SK, Wright, and Williams USA are all excellent. I'd steer clear of craftsman as quality control seems lacking of late and outsourcing is on the horizon.

Hex keys - Bondhus. Made in USA, affordable and really well-made. Amazon has good prices.

Toolboxes - If you get something with drawers, make sure it has ball bearing slides. It can be tough to find something with ball bearing slides that's affordable, but Craftsman might be the best bet. If you're OK with a non-drawer setup, I recommend looking on Amazon for "Excel" brand cantilever boxes. Get the biggest one you can afford. Plenty of room, built well for the price and will be very inexpensive ($30 or so?). I think everything that's affordable here is Asian-made. If you have a Northern tool in your neck of the woods, they stock a smallish selection of Excel drawer boxes, and if you find something with ball bearing slides (they do make a few models), they'll be fine. Also pick up some toolbox drawer liner as most boxes aren't lined. It protects the surface of the box and keeps your tools from sliding around. Harbor Freight is a good source, but liner is also available at Sears and most tool dealers. 3M spray adhesive is good for keeping it in place.

Kobalt is now an import line, but of solid quality. If you don't mind the Taiwanese manufacture, they'll be fine. To correct a statement made earlier in this thread, much of the USA Kobalt at Cripe and other clearance houses is made by Danaher, the conglomerate that is behind Craftsman. The Kobalt USA tools are essentially rebranded Craftsman tools. KD and Allen USA are also Danaher-made Craftsman siblings. Williams once made Kobalt's tools, but that was a long time ago. You aren't likely to find any new Williams-made Kobalt tools out there. KD was sacrificed/outsourced to shift resources to Gearwrench, another Danaher brand. Allen was outsourced as well.

As far as imports go, Harbor Freight breaker bars are good, and I'd pick up a 3/8 and a 1/2 if you intend to do any mechanical work. HF "Pro" (made in Taiwan, not China) ratchets and sockets also get the job done, but I'd stay far away from their wrenches and pliers. Use coupons where possible.

Edit: Cleaned up the pad grammar for readability. Autocorrect is sooo annoying. Hope it helps. Also added a bit to it.

 

[camarotoolman]

The 10 piece plier sent at Lowes 30.00 would cover you. Its China but a good warrenty.Good ext. cord, eastwing hammer, tool belt. onr of those tool holders for a bucket, speed square, i wouldn't go crazy at first, but as you need stuff. cl, feebay, pawn shops, yard sales, are all good for deals. Stay off tool trucks, they are for pros.

 

[bczygan]

I am also relatively new to having a complete set of tools. I don't have enough experience to recommend particular tool choices. But I will recommend that you go slowly and deliberately in your search. Make a master list of the tool categories you want to acquire. Then, with one tool type at a time, research it online both here, and on other forums. Go look at and handle the tool in a store. Finally, search out the best deal. Shop CL and resale and flea markets. Check the hot deals thread on this forum. Most of all, enjoy the process. It's fun!

 

[powertrip]

His buying Kobalt screwdrivers wasn't a clue? I know what you are saying, but advising a homeowner, who is apparently not a heavy duty car guy, to buy "only the best" meaning truck tools, makes no sense at all.

I have quite a number of Snap-On Proto, Mac class tools along with a lot of Craftsman/ Thornsen class tools. I've been deeply into wrenching since I was in the third grade, and used to pit and crew chief on race cars, some of which I built. For that level of "hobby" wrenching, it makes sense that better tools might be needed. A guy that only wrenches to change oil and do homeowner upkeep and some work fixing up the house as described? Lets be realistic...

My point exactly

 

[Outlawmws]

Yeah, but then he is clearly pondering the idea of going for Snap-on.

I am not suggesting he buy anything. I am simply stating that we don't know his financial situation.

Yeah, we don't know other than what he posted in one post. You are free to interpret it how you want, and I and others are free to interpret it how we want, until he clarifies his position. I think I'm on his wave length, but won't know until or if he responds...