HF/pitts pro mechanics 301pc socket set any good?

[stage20]

looks like some decent ratchets in the kit. ive never seen those offered in the store on on the web in singles.

ive got a chance to get a deal on this kit new and also a 4 drawer cart. his asking price is 200, id like to get it for 200 to make it worth my time. i was going to buy another cart anyway.

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

 

[RedneckWelder]

The Taiwan made sockets are good quality, provided that's what this set has. The HF ratchets I own tend to be a little rough but perfectly functional.

Dunno about the rest of the set.

Beware that I've seen more China sourced HF sockets in the store vs. Taiwan, so you gotta watch out for that. I own the smaller socket only sets and the Taiwan made ones in them are great.

 

[outdoorsman310]

no experience with that set, but the other sets seem to have el crappo sockets. I have them in my road kit.

 

[cheechi]

I'd pass hard on that set. Parts of it might be great, but I'd get the cart new for $99 with the coupon. Here's why

wrenches: maybe. I haven't got a wrench from there that broke or bent but I only have a few and what I have are stupid expensive elsewhere (long handle offset for example)

extensions: get the locking ones, impact 1/2", impact wobble. There might be others but there's plenty of real soft ones.

sockets: have to be picky from hf. Impacts are good, others depends on the make.

pliers, allens, : nope.

I wouldn't have those drivers but some of the HF screwdrivers are very good, and very cheap. All of their ratchets are at least functional. Many are very good. Not sure about the ones in the kit.

Overall, I think you could do better buying some HF items outside that kit, and getting the sockets/wrenches elsewhere. Taiwanese Kobalt for example is in similar price range to HF but much nicer.

 

[stage20]

Id throw away the wrenches. I know those are a no go. I really don't need the tools but you can't have enough.

 

[Frosthy]

I bought that set almost two years ago when I was starting out as a (auto) tech.

Sockets- Most of them are 6pt. They aren't as nice as what you get from Lowes (Kobalt - Taiwan) or Craftsman (China or USA), but they're still better than HD (Husky), IMO. They're useful/work better than nothing/pretty damn cheap.

Hex/Torx Bits- Pretty sure it comes with a good varriety of torx, philips, and hex bits. I haven't broken any of them and they pretty much live on my M18 3/8" impact.

Everything else- Throw it all away. Wrenches are garbage, terrible fit/finish/not the correct sizes. Ratchets are okay, but they're like 30-tooth count so it's pretty meh. Pliers are garbage (actually managed to break the jaws on the dykes pulling a nail out of a tire).

With a coupon, it's a great buy just for the sockets and bits.

 

[fitz11]

I bought that set almost two years ago when I was starting out as a (auto) tech.

Sockets- Most of them are 6pt. They aren't as nice as what you get from Lowes (Kobalt - Taiwan) or Craftsman (China or USA), but they're still better than HD (Husky), IMO. They're useful/work better than nothing/pretty damn cheap.

Hex/Torx Bits- Pretty sure it comes with a good varriety of torx, philips, and hex bits. I haven't broken any of them and they pretty much live on my M18 3/8" impact.

Everything else- Throw it all away. Wrenches are garbage, terrible fit/finish/not the correct sizes. Ratchets are okay, but they're like 30-tooth count so it's pretty meh. Pliers are garbage (actually managed to break the jaws on the dykes pulling a nail out of a tire).

With a coupon, it's a great buy just for the sockets and bits.

+1 on what he said the screwdrivers and pliers aren't great but are functional. I use this kit as a travel set, I lubed the ratchets and added a decent wrench set and haven't been disappointed yet.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

You can get a Craftsman 260pc set (Made in USA) at Sears Outlet right now for $149.99; I just picked one up on Friday.

-260pc was $161 out the door
-4pc Channellock pliers set $40 after Sears coupons
-Craftsman adjustable wrench $12

For not a whole heck of a lot of money more, you can get much better quality tools.......and I'm not eve a big fan of Craftsman stuff.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

GW 239 pc set for $205...http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench...OYxqeO-OyP9IiwVnPbNTis4lwwC9VebR7rpJ0hSPw_wcB

Then buy a cart on CL for 50-80 bux and be mucho happier

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

GW 239 pc set for $205...http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench...OYxqeO-OyP9IiwVnPbNTis4lwwC9VebR7rpJ0hSPw_wcB

Then buy a cart on CL for 50-80 bux and be mucho happier

There is no doubt the quality of the GW set is better than the Craftsman, and you get more sockets. I ended up selling the Craftsman wrenches and got a set of Blackhawk for another $30. I considered ditching the ratchets also, but I like how they fit in the trays and I doubt any other ratchet will fit as nice.

 

[jdmstr]

Honestly id pass it does have great reviews but your much better off with a craftsman set or an import jh williams set off amazon. i have 3/8 and 1/4 williams sets amd they are very complete sets with no filler items. ratchets are smooth but i never really use the ratchets bought the sets for the sockets. if you already have a decent set of screwdrivers and pliers and just need a good set of cheap sockets i would recommend the two kits i bought on amazon in the links below. shallow sockets are 6pt deep sockets are 12 pt include sae and metric in both kits.
1/4 set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002O18PLO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

3/8 set
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VMV8OE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
14&keywords=jh+williams+3%2F8+socket+set

3/8 master set

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNOT0A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nicksnothereman]

I don't buy sets so it's going to depend on what the cart is (which one) and what the retail for this stuff is. Might or might not be worth it. I wouldn't spend that much for chinese tools (which these are because they're not "pittsburgh pro" tools) up front. But I can't speak for you. If you're doing simple stuff this might be enough to get it done but a lot of their other (namely: taiwanese) stuff is much better made in my opinion, it also sells a lot better.

If it's a nice cart (new/excellent condition) and you end up getting this for like 50-75 bucks it's probably worth that much for most guys.

 

[monomach]

That set isn't Pittsburgh Pro tools, unfortunately. Only ok for keeping in the trunk for emergency roadside repairs.

They probably ought to make a Pittsburgh Pro set like that. The Taiwan stuff is exactly the same quality as Kobalt or Gearwrench.

 

[stage20]

Sound like id be better off jusst getting the cart. I don't need the sockets I was just looking for a deal. Id fill up the junk drawer for sure with that set.