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Mechanics tool sets - for the beginner

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madcrisis

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Dec 3, 2013
Messages
216
Ok so everyone knows its the christmas season. Recently my brother got a new jeep and started to fall in love working and upgrading it. Typically this means he calls me ask when I can help then come and use all my tools. Or he just comes to use them when he needs to do something small. Which I dont mind but sometimes he doesnt follow the two golden rules which is put everything back where you found it and in the same or better condition.

So to the point of this thread. I want to get him a decent starter set for christmas. We agreed to spend 50-60 on each other for christmas. Saw the lowes and the stanley sets in the hot deals section. but not really sure what else is out there. The koblat seems to be the better of the two even though its a bit out of the agreed budget. I dont mind spending the extra 20 to have my tools where I leave them. Can anyone reccomend any other general sets for the beginner? I would like them to be in a blow molded case because I'm sure theyre going to stay in his jeep. I will be throwing in some old pliers and maybe a couple screw drivers. Looking for a decent selection of sockets with ratchets and such. If i end up just buying him a cheaper socket set I can get him some accessories from HF wih the left over funds.(such as a 1/2 breaker or torx bit sockets) Either way I will let him know to get a torx collection because jeep loves them. So if i can I dont mind buying a few smaller sets if its more worth the money.

tl;dr Need a mechanics tool set for a beginner with no tools.trying to spend between 60-80.
 
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M

madcrisis

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Tronyadorable said:
Another......etc
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EMKMCG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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Tronyadorable said:
Hey. Aint all bad to get going. Break something and replace with brand $$$ if so desired
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...-12-in-drive-sae-metric-socket-set-67995.html

Some good screwdrivers and pliers could top it up.
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Thats the stanley I was thinking about. Seems like a decent kit and so does the kobalt. A buddy of mine both that HF kit and its surprisingly decent. Maybe that with a breaker bar and torx set will put me right at 60.

Just seeing if theres any other brands that people consider.or what people in similiar situations have done. I ahve been looking myself but havnt seen any better deals than the stanley or the koblat. Thank you for all the links and replies.

Also euromerc that does seem like a decent kit plus its still USA but Im not a member at costco. Do have sams though if anyone saw any decent kits there. Anyone ever use any of the crescent kits?

And again GJ comes through with 5 min I have 6 replies. I love this place:rocker:
 
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madcrisis

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well over double the price of what Im looking to spend but thanks for trying.
 
T

Tronyadorable

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madcrisis said:
Thats the stanley I was thinking about. Seems like a decent kit and so does the kobalt. A buddy of mine both that HF kit and its surprisingly decent. Maybe that with a breaker bar and torx set will put me right at 60.

Just seeing if theres any other brands that people consider.or what people in similiar situations have done. I ahve been looking myself but havnt seen any better deals than the stanley or the koblat. Thank you for all the links and replies.

Also euromerc that does seem like a decent kit plus its still USA but Im not a member at costco. Do have sams though if anyone saw any decent kits there. Anyone ever use any of the crescent kits?

And again GJ comes through with 5 min I have 6 replies. I love this place:rocker:
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Print out some coupons and take a couple buddies to HF with you.
Grab the tools, head to the counter and plop the coupons down. You can get a bag full of trix for your budget.
 
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madcrisis

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Dec 3, 2013
Messages
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Tronyadorable said:
And a subscription with AAA :D
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HAHA but AAA typically doesnt like to venture to where he will be breaking down at haha.

BTW since you guys dont know my brother he is kind of an idiot. Not stupid just lacks some common sense sometimes. His first 4x4 vehicle was a brand new 2014 jeep wrangler. My father and I both tried to explain to him to get a beater for the woods but he wouldnt listen.

Any jeep techs around here? are the fasteners metric now? (I know they should be but many cars seem to have an odd mix) If I could find a decent assortment of sockets im sure I could russle up a wrench set to throw in thst wont cost me anything. Starting to lean towards the HF socket set with some of my extras thrown in, but again since he has nothing itd be nice to get him a few things he can use for other stuff so a mechanics tool set might be better.
 
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CNGsaves

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KS and OK
OP . . . hard to beat above ^ ^ set of Stanley's at Walmart as that was the special Thanksgiving day only deal, that has been re-newed. Your brother who has nothing getting 252 piece set would be nice for only $49 plus tax.

The sets of combination wrenches at Menards would have been nice addition as they were only $9.99 but Black Friday only (Crescent brand 10 pieces - - 8mm to 19mm). I got set of metrics that I'm giving to my son.
 
I

IOWNJUNK

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Joined
May 22, 2013
Messages
758
Do they have to be new? For $50 I can put a killer tool set together in a few weekends hitting yardsales (maybe not in the North this time of year). Maybe hit a flea market. If you have to pick up after him then you should already know what tools he needs.

Agree with the torx bits and AAA.
 
7

79silverado

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Sep 21, 2013
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Location
Emporia,KS
Try to find a crescent 170 piece(the one with needle nose) i have had that set for 6 years and never broke anything I highly recomend it

sent from my HTC ONE using tapatalk
 
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madcrisis

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OK guys Thanks I guess ill have to scope out some deals and see what I can get.
 
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unclebadger

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Nov 30, 2014
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Your local ace might have some USA made craftsman sets...mine did. They usually put something on sale this time of year that would fit the budget.
 
R

Red996

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Dec 2, 2014
Messages
25
Probably get flamed for this but there are distinct advantages to craftsman tools beyond the tool itself if you have a Sears around. Instant warranty, no need to show a receipt or mail it in and wait for weeks. Almost every tool can be purchased separately. Tools get lost more often then they break, just replace the missing piece.

My first set was craftsman, a lot of people bash on the quality but I still use the very first socket set I bought 15 years ago. Rarely one breaks but it's never really a problem because of the great warranty. I understand they're made in China now instead of the U.S., that's a bummer but I don't think it affects the useability.
 
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nicksnothereman

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In the Mojave
Stanley black nickel old stock are the best **** tools in this price bracket or lower (besides kobalt). Kobalt would be easier to warranty. Pittsburgh Pro (taiwan) also good. Realistically speaking here...beginner assumes you are somewhat careful with how you work and oversize the drive if there's a doubt at a torque level.

I can work with (what's considered) "lower quality" tools without any issues but not for everyone. You have to work with them for a while before you can identify what's quality and what's not. All else fails go taiwan on the import stuff (the cheaper import stuff). I'm not that impressed with the fit & finish of the taiwanese screwdrivers though (seem to be a recent development at home depot) but that doesn't mean they're not well built; they probably are.

Some of the craftsman china are decent enough for most guys. The 1/2 is definitely reliable; I know the impact is, the non-impact looks well made to me. But not cheap enough to consider at this point.
 
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RAYJAY

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May 29, 2006
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Location
UNION DALE PA
Herod said:
30 dollar harbor fright tool kit.

Read this forum, you'll find it's better than snap on.
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8e28d158-7daa-446b-b738-67d29898dc06




THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE ......
 
S

SquareLJ

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Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Messages
86
Give him a $60 gift card and make him put that towards a large tool set. Jeeps are just rolling money pits and break down often. I was spending as much on maintenance every month to equal the car payment of my new truck.
 
T

thebeerbaron

New member
Joined
Nov 23, 2014
Messages
3
If he's just starting and his only victim is a Jeep, find out what the fastener sizes are on that thing and target your shopping. With 10, 12, & 14mm sockets, I could disassemble quite a bit of my "toy" car. Add 17, 19, and 21mm and about the only things that won't come off are the hubs.

Dig around on the Jeep forums, check out their "how to" guides and make a list of the most commonly encountered sizes. You might surprise yourself how little variety there is there and this could stretch your budget much further.
 
E

expfcwintergreen

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Joined
Oct 16, 2011
Messages
157
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002O18Z8C/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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JH Williams 3/8 drive metric socket set: 7 3/4 inch ratchet; 8-19mm shallow sockets; 3 and 6 inch extensions. $34.73
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VMRCNU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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JH Williams 3/8 Drive Metric Deep Sockets 6-19mm. $46.14
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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005VMV8OE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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This one is a great buy but also has SAE sizes which your brother probably won't need for his jeep.
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All have 2 day free shipping with Amazon Prime.
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You can do a search on the Snap-on Industrial web site using the product number to download a pdf document to see the contents of these sets.
 
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T

Tronyadorable

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Messages
1,170
SquareLJ said:
Give him a $60 gift card and make him put that towards a large tool set. Jeeps are just rolling money pits and break down often. I was spending as much on maintenance every month to equal the car payment of my new truck.
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Agreed. I was dumb enough to buy a new 95 Grand Chuckakey and got stuck with a 99 which came with my house.It died in an electrical fire.
Absolute Junk.
OOoo Jeep tough !
My EZ-go has bigger drums.
DSC01646.jpg
 
G

gungatim

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Jan 8, 2013
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Location
west mich
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