HF Master Tool Set?

[Boyd]

I swear I remember seeing a Harbor Freight ad a year or so ago for a "master" tool set. It included a roller chest (I believe it was the 26" 8 drawer roller cabinet with 8 drawer top chest) and an impressive selection of hand tools - sockets, wrenches, ratchets, screw drivers, pliers, etc. I recall (unless I'm crazy) the price being somewhere around $1500 for the package. But I've searched their site and can't find anything even remotely close.

Here's why I'm asking. I'll soon be leasing a 30x55 shop (thread & pics to come once I get the keys). I plan on using it to operate a new business I'm about to launch (will most likely do a thread on that, too).

One of the small issues I can't seem to make up my mind on is tools. I'll need a full set of mechanic tools at the shop. I do have a decent set at home that I could move to the shop, but then I'll either need to buy a new set for the home garage or carry a big load of them home every time I have a home project and hope that I brought everything I'll need.

One of the things I'm considering is purchasing some HF tools and then deciding if I want to use them at the shop or at the house.

And while I would love to use this opportunity as an excuse to go purchase $5k + in new tools, it simply wouldn't be prudent to spend that kind of coin at the start-up of the business. I've worked long and hard to save up the money I'll be using to fund the business and I don't want to have to borrow a dime to make it work, so "frugal" is the key word in this conversation.

Am I mistaken for even thinking they sold such a package or did they stop selling it?

Any ideas on a solution?

Thanks in advance.

 

[concealer404]

I don't recall ever seeing that whole package... maybe it was just at one store?

My suggestion would be to grab the 44" for $350, then maybe the 301 piece set, and the Pittsburgh Pro screwdrivers and pliers.

With the rest of your leftover money (assuming your original number of $1500 is still good), start a "specialty tool fund" and buy nice tools as you run into jobs that need them. Then as the business takes off, start replacing what you find you don't like out of your initial purchase with other things.

That's just how i would do it if i had to quickly and cheaply outfit myself for that sort of work.

 

[Conor]

Good luck with your business venture! Before you get those who poo poo all over the HF stuff and tell you spend 10x your budget. I think what you are doing is great, tools make you money, you shouldnt be working to pay off your tools.

I 2nd what concealer404 recommends....do the 44" wide box, and a starter 300pc set (maybe from craftsman?)

 

[concealer404]

Good luck with your business venture! Before you get those who poo poo all over the HF stuff and tell you spend 10x your budget. I think what you are doing is great, tools make you money, you shouldnt be working to pay off your tools.

I 2nd what concealer404 recommends....do the 44" wide box, and a starter 300pc set (maybe from craftsman?)

I'd honestly do the 301 from HF for the price before the Craftsman. If you wait for the HF set to go on sale and then use a 20% coupon on it, you can get it for around $160. I haven't seen the 309 piece from CM for anywhere near that price (I paid $250 for mine) and i don't think i'd pay the extra $100 or more if trying to get moving for as little outlay as possible.

The first priority would be making sure you can do any job, THEN making sure you can do any job with awesome tools that you love to use every day.

Basic stuff from HF, get your specialties, go back and get nice things to replace HF stuff. (Though honestly, i have HF sockets i abuse the hell out of in my junkyard set that just will not break.)

 

[cascivic]

im no expert or professional.... but i have not broken one tool from there. I think what the issue is i stick to non hard use of hand tools. anything electric i have i get a better brand name (dewalt milwaukee etc) though ive never used a hf electric tool for it to die on me.
good luck check out this thread alot of reading but very interesting

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67850&highlight=harbor+investment

 

[nsherman2006]

Craftsman 33300 has been a great starter set for me, very little filler, and I've stocked a HF 13 drawer pretty well with it, Channellock pliers, better ratchets, HF socket sets for hex/torx/etc, some electrical stuff, some hammers and chisels, Gearwrenches, vice grips, some miscellaneous stuff, and a good angle grinder. Probably have about 2k in the box now and it's very well stocked for any of my needs

 

[BajaBound]

I would do the Cman 33300

 

[concealer404]

44" box: http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...d-industrial-uality-roller-cabinet-68784.html

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

8 piece Professional screwdriver set: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

22 piece wrench set (the 301 piece doesn't have enough wrenches): http://www.harborfreight.com/22-piece-metric-sae-combination-wrench-set-47467.html

3 piece vice grips: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-curved-jaw-locking-pliers-set-91684.html

6 piece mini pliers (i use these all the time): http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-mini-pliers-set-94931.html

All the pliers you want, make sure they're this style, they're entirely decent: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-offset-diagonal-cutter-66277.html


You get all that, and you're out about $650. That leaves a lot of money for specialty tools or filling out the couple other basic things you might find yourself wanting.

If i had to start from scratch on a tiny budget, this is exactly how i would do it.

 

[concealer404]

Craftsman 33300 has been a great starter set for me, very little filler, and I've stocked a HF 13 drawer pretty well with it, Channellock pliers, better ratchets, HF socket sets for hex/torx/etc, some electrical stuff, some hammers and chisels, Gearwrenches, vice grips, some miscellaneous stuff, and a good angle grinder. Probably have about 2k in the box now and it's very well stocked for any of my needs

I would do the Cman 33300

Question for you guys...

Am i missing something? http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

The 33300 is over twice as much as that, and you could fill out what the 33300 has that this doesn't, end up with more tools in the end, and spend less.


The one i linked is the one i bought a year or so ago (don't remember it coming with the ratcheting wrenches, though) and it was a nice starter for sure.

 

[shoturtle]

Northern tools has a set with the roller.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345363_200345363

And they also have a top chest with tools also
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200326818_200326818

 

[jjjrmx5]

4

3 piece vice grips: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-curved-jaw-locking-pliers-set-91684.html

I wouldn't waste my money on those piece-of-**** HF vice grips.

I bought a set several years ago and pitched them in the scapper/metal recycler bin the next week they were so usueless and worked so poorly. Total **** of a tool that was so bad I wouldn't give them away for free to my worst ememy.

HF does have some winner tools but I can guarantee not all of it is the "cats pajamas."

No sense buying something twice so you might want to read thru the HF pass/fail thread as well.

 

[concealer404]

Northern tools has a set with the roller.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345363_200345363

And they also have a top chest with tools also
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200326818_200326818

My buddy here told me to buy either/both of those sets some time ago. Sometimes i wish i had. I like that everything it comes with is already modular and has a place. (Appeals to my OCD.)

 

[concealer404]

I wouldn't waste my money on those piece-of-**** HF vice grips.

I bought a set several years ago and pitched them in the scapper/metal recycler bin the next week they were so usueless and worked so poorly. Total **** of a tool that was so bad I wouldn't give them away for free to my worst ememy.

HF does have some winner tools but I can guarantee not all of it is the "cats pajamas."

No sense buying something twice so you might want to read thru the HF pass/fail thread as well.

I haven't had a problem with those yet, but the ones without the rubber grips are TERRIBLE.

If you want to spend a little more, the red/black "Professional" ones are a big step up, though.

I just bought the orange ones for junkyard use. I have a set of Craftsman black rubber handles for home use that i don't love, but they work.


I'll vouch for these: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-1-2-half-inch-professional-long-nose-locking-pliers-94284.html

 

[shoturtle]

The only problem I have with some of these big master set, is they all keys and torx key they provide. Not very good and to short allot of times. You can get much better keys with ball ends and longer lengths. So if you factor out the 40 or so keys you get, the set is really a 260 pc set.

 

[cascivic]

yeah even though you get a ton of stuff in the set....sometimes buying (with coupons) selectively to step up to the "pittsburgh pro" line of stuff is def worth it. I also would take into account how far away you are from sears or hf and if your gonna be doing any work away from the home base if you know what i mean.

A la carte is usually not nearly as good a deal...but being selective ( and using coupons/sales to your advantage) will overall lead to having a better quality tools.

 

[Boyd]

Wow! Thanks for the responses so far.

I guess I should clarify...I won't be opening a mechanic shop or offering services to the public.

For the last 7 years I've worked in or around car auctions and I've been saving up to get in on the buy and sell side. I'll be buying cars at auction, making cost effective improvements to them, and either whole selling them at a different auction or selling them to the public.

It's something I've always wanted to do but never had enough money to feel comfortable stepping out on my own. Now I do. I've learned a lot in the business and feel like I have a good understanding of what it will take to make a comfortable living doing it.

 

[jetmech09]

http://www.searsoutlet.com/348-pc-M...ct_details.jsp?md=ct_md&pid=15667&mode=seeAll

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/craftsman-462-pc-mechanics-tool-set-9-33256-p-18731.aspx

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...ural&cm_cat=netconcepts&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=

I would start off with one of those, then add or replace things you don't like with different companies.
I remember in school I started off with a nice set from snap-on for 1,200 that included a box and a whole bunch of tools, so maybe see if you could get a connection with a local school?

 

[Harwinton]

When it comes to being frugal, that's my real talent. If you want a good toolbox/workbench to put your new tools in for low/no cost, go to schools in your area and look for old steel teacher's desks.

I'm serious! These desks are VERY strong, sturdy, and well built. They are also easy to disassemble and move. I use one in my basement shop. The drawers are 3'x1'x6", can each hold 200 pounds of weight without any trouble, and open and close very smoothly. If you can find multiple desks, you can also take out the drawer units and use them for tool chests. Probably the best free toolboxes anybody can find!

 

[Tony N.]

You missed out. Craftsman had a 309 pcs set for $189 last week. Check if they still have it. You gotta be craftsman club member I think. It was on slickdeals.

 

[Boyd]

I don't recall ever seeing that whole package... maybe it was just at one store?

My suggestion would be to grab the 44" for $350, then maybe the 301 piece set, and the Pittsburgh Pro screwdrivers and pliers.

With the rest of your leftover money (assuming your original number of $1500 is still good), start a "specialty tool fund" and buy nice tools as you run into jobs that need them. Then as the business takes off, start replacing what you find you don't like out of your initial purchase with other things.

That's just how i would do it if i had to quickly and cheaply outfit myself for that sort of work.

Solid advice. Most likely what I will be doing. I can definitely order everything I need individually...just liked the idea of a set to minimize duplicate tools. (although at HF prices, it's not that big of a deal).

Good luck with your business venture! Before you get those who poo poo all over the HF stuff and tell you spend 10x your budget. I think what you are doing is great, tools make you money, you shouldnt be working to pay off your tools.

I 2nd what concealer404 recommends....do the 44" wide box, and a starter 300pc set (maybe from craftsman?)

Appreciate it.

im no expert or professional.... but i have not broken one tool from there. I think what the issue is i stick to non hard use of hand tools. anything electric i have i get a better brand name (dewalt milwaukee etc) though ive never used a hf electric tool for it to die on me.
good luck check out this thread alot of reading but very interesting

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67850&highlight=harbor+investment

Thanks for that link. Will read.

Craftsman 33300 has been a great starter set for me, very little filler, and I've stocked a HF 13 drawer pretty well with it, Channellock pliers, better ratchets, HF socket sets for hex/torx/etc, some electrical stuff, some hammers and chisels, Gearwrenches, vice grips, some miscellaneous stuff, and a good angle grinder. Probably have about 2k in the box now and it's very well stocked for any of my needs

I would do the Cman 33300

This is actually what I started with for my home garage kit several years ago and it's held up great.

Northern tools has a set with the roller.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345363_200345363

And they also have a top chest with tools also
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200326818_200326818

Thanks for the links. This is definitely not the kit I remember seeing, but it's nice to know there is an "all in one" available.

 

[RECox286]

Nothing wrong with going for HF tools to start. Just pick and choose

which tools you want to buy, and of course stay away from anything

that really looks like it belongs in a "Handy-Andy" toolbox. HF is getting

into the ball game with lifetime warrantee, at least for sockets. ( I don't

know about some of the other hand tools. ) An attempt to take business

away from the bigger names, I should imagine. They also have sockets

by the piece (open stock) now, where you don't have to buy sets.

Uncle Bob

 

[StevePgh]

Here is a pretty good 'today only' deal on a Craftsman socket. I have not had any issues with HF sockets. If the prices are similar enough, look for replacement convenience and the (remote) possibility that SOME of the Craftsman MAY be USA made in whole or part.

Today only (as in Tuesday, 5/1/2012), Sears offers the Craftsman 299-Piece Socket Set, model no. 35299, for $499.99. Activate this 5% off link and proceed to checkout to drop it to $237.49
Via DealNews