Mechanics Tool Sets That Dont ****?

[djcslice]

I am a part of a Chump Car team and we are building a "race car" tool set to save our personal tools from disappearing randomly. The total tool budget is around $500

I have been shopping for the basic sockets/wrenches and it seems that its worth it to buy a "mechanics tool set" but I know many of them either have a ton of overlap/filler or are missing some critical parts (or both).

I am looking for a base kit to start with, ideally with wrenches/ratchets/sockets (or just ratchet/socket) and add the other ancillary tools that we need.

Any suggestions on tool kits that dont ****?

 

[M6erfan]

The problem I've found with kits, is like you've found, they never exactly fit my needs and are missing what I want or have stuff I'd never use...I'd build my own set. You can get great deals on both Gearwrench (BOGO deals) & Tekton (Great value) for example.

SK offers nice 1/4" & 3/8" socket/ratchet sets that will fit within your budget...

Even Harbor Freight has a screwdriver set thats gets respect around here...

Not sure what size range you're looking for Metric & SAE?

Maybe something Like this "kit"? Don't know anything about it but gets decent reviews...

https://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-DWMT73803-Mechanics-Tool-Piece/dp/B00PXN00BS

Honestly, if your worried about tools "walking off", I wouldn't spend a lot of money and stick to mid-range Taiwan sets (new) or scan Craigslist etc. for used stuff. Also, check the classifieds here on GC.

Good luck!

 

[ssdave]

What quality level and what size/assortment do you need?

If Craftsman sets would do what you need, I've got a box that has a 255 piece USA Craftsman assortment in it that is 90% new old stock stuff, with a few pieces being used but good shape. It's got regular and deep, 6 and 12 point, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" sets, metric and SAE, ratchets, extensions, etc, and metric and sae wrenches. I'd sell it for $175, and shipping would be less than $50, particularly if you don't need the plastic blow molded 3 drawer cheap box the set resides in now.

I have a lot of extra socket sets and quite a few extra wrenches in Craftsman, would mix and match/substitute to tailor it more to your needs if that helps you get what you need.

All depends on whether you think that Craftsman ***** or not.

 

[Matthew3901]

I would hit yard sales and estate sales for cheap tools....

 

[LXCam]

Years ago I switched to buying husky tools since all my CM stuff kept growing legs on the job. Back then I guess from what I've learned here is at that time their stuff was made in the U.S. In all the years since I've never busted a wrench or socket. You might try eBay and see what's out there. But if I were going new I'd give tekton a go long before I'd go with CM.

 

[T45]

Husky, Kobalt and alot of ther sockets were pretty decent up until around 2010 or so. I'd say the same with CMAN and Duralast and probably NAPA. These were either USA still or the first generation of taiwan, before they were then all sent over to China PRC for cost cutting.

 

[djcslice]

I was looking for specific sets. The husky set I linked to is of interest but its way more money than I want to spend and it has more sockets than I truly need.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-432-Piece-H432MTS/204602480

 

[Gmonkee]

A good garage sale hand box with carefully chosen filler for the race team needs.

Sae wrench set
metric wrench set
odd screwdrivers and pry bars
basic socket set in 3/8"
car specific needs

its a beater car and if it gets damaged beyond what you can do with this you're done for the night anyway.
Good asain tools in the plastic racks are easy to keep track of and your wallet won't cry if the borrowed out wrench accidentally was not returned.

Keeping costs low and just enough capacity to get all the basics. I use 2 in 1 flipper screwdriver to limit my carry to one short and one long.
It is quite capable for a small kit despite appearances. I work all week with a kit as mentioned.

 

[mcmlvii]

I picked up a practically new 263 pc Craftsman set (current manufacture) on Craigslist for $120 a couple months ago. It had inch/metric 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 sockets/wrenches up to 1", a smattering of ratcheting combo wrenches, and way too many hex wrenches and screwdriver bits. Seemed like a good deal for my needs (spare set for RV).

But then a couple weeks ago I was in Lowes and saw a 250 pc Kobalt set (no blow molded box that the Craftsman set came with). Regular price was $199, on sale for $99. It has the majority of the items in the Craftsman set but without the big plastic box, so I took one to the SCO lane and it rang up at $59-something. Huh?!? I quickly snagged a couple more for gifts or whatever. I even told a kid wandering the tool aisle of the price when I went back for the other sets. He picked one up also.

I guess the moral of the story is, if you have time to look around, look at CL for used sets and the local hardware stores for sales.

 

[Greg85mcss]

Gearwrench makes a 118 pc set that's pretty complete in 1/4 & 3/8. The good is it includes 3 84t ratchets & is in a blow molded case. The bad is 1/2 sockets are limited to sae shallow & the wrench & torx included aren't the most complete but that stuff could be supplemented. I'll second the hf screwdriver set someone mentioned. I've had some crappy sets from there but the 8pc with blue & red handles is excellent. Their big socket set isn't bad either unless you need 12 points.


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[T45]

I was looking for specific sets. The husky set I linked to is of interest but its way more money than I want to spend and it has more sockets than I truly need.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-432-Piece-H432MTS/204602480

Absent tool control, I think alot of people would suggest build your own. EG do you need SAE, Pozi-drive, JIS, torx, allens stuff? What about torque control? That stuff can easily be $250 of your budget if you need them. Its very important to actually build a spreadsheet. Otherwise you waste money on stuff you don't need.

That being said, you can buy a decent kit and a rally box for $500 without alot or brain damage.

 

[Hagatronics]

What sort of car is it?

 

[M6erfan]

Boom!

http://www.fastwaytools.com/gearwrench-80550d-57-piece-3-8-and-80300p-51-piece-1-4-drive-6-point-sae-metric-socket-sets-with-standard-and-deep-sockets.html

Found this in the "Hot Deals" forum. You're welcome...

 

[M6erfan]

Or there's this "set"...

http://www.cpooutlets.com/gearwrench-80942-239-piece-sae-metric-mechanics-tool-set/kdtn80942,default,pd.html?cgid=automotive-hand-tools-sockets-ratchets-drive

Jeez man, there's a ton of options out there!

 

[bobcatdan]

Thing I noticed with "complete " kits is there is always **** you'll never use and missing stuff I need now. I think it's a trap to get you to buy more. Why do so many kits including 20 nut drivers, but no pliers or screwdrivers. I'd much rather piece a set together.

 

[T45]

Thing I noticed with "complete " kits is there is always **** you'll never use and missing stuff I need now. I think it's a trap to get you to buy more. Why do so many kits including 20 nut drivers, but no pliers or screwdrivers. I'd much rather piece a set together.

Yep, you need something more like this

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ar...tric-basic-tool-set-77-pc-w-hand-box-usa.html

 

[T45]

Otherwise,

Yeah, those GW sets are where I would start as well. Some of the prices are pretty good, here is another one

https://www.pricefalls.com/product/...xp-saemetric-standarddeep-socket-set/58823704

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GearWren...Wrench-Set-with-Roll-22-Piece-81916/204618634

http://www.sears.com/gearwrench-32pc-combination-stubby-ratcheting-wrench-set-sae-mm/p-00939327000P

http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-1-4-1-in-Combination-Wrench-Set-15-Piece-18772/205730838

http://www.cripedistributing.com/hand-tools/pliers/sets/armstrong-3pc-locking-pliers-set-67-404.html

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ha...hn7-3pc-heavy-duty-solid-joint-plier-set.html

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ar...on-standard-phillips-screwdriver-set-usa.html

 

[Adam.C]

I know a guy who wrenches for amateur race car owners. The trick is bringing as few tools as possible. He brings Gearwrench ratchet wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, stuff like that.

I'd be inclined to add some basic ratchets, locking extensions, and impact sockets, possibly painted yellow.

 

[DaveIRL]

may want to paint the tools a color that no one want for instance if the tools were pink, the walking would lesson similer to prisons where prisoners wear pink cloths

 

[kctyphoon]

If you can live without a 1/2" drive set, gearwrench has a deal where if you buy the complete 6 point 3/8" socket set, you get the complete 6 point 1/4" drive set too.. It's every size, without skipping anything, in both metric and Sae, with both deep and shallow sockets for about $109.. It's a pretty insane deal, the best and cheapest I could find for what you get. I bought one myself and have picture posted in the hot deals forum. The 3/8 comes with two 84 tooth ratchets, the 1/4" kit comes with one 120xp ratchet and a thumb wheel ratchet (if that's what you call it) I'll post a link. I seriously doubt you'll find anything better for the money. It's basically 2 complete sets for $50 each. - which is what you pay almost for just the ratchets alone in the 3/8 set. The 1/4 kit alone sells for over $100 separately..

Gearwrench deal with pics of the sets - $109
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321931


For combo wrenches, your best vs cheapest option will probably be from Tekton. You can get their larger wrench kit on the HD website.

15 piece Tekton Sae wrench set $41 - http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-1-4-1-in-Combination-Wrench-Set-15-Piece-18772/205730838

15 piece Tekton metric wrench set $42 - http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-8-22-mm-Combination-Wrench-Set-15-Piece-18792/205730842
( for some stupid reason it's cheaper to buy them seperately then they are together at $100)

As someone else posted - the HF professional screwdriver sets can't be beat for the money.

8 piece professional screwdriver set - $10
http://t.harborfreight.com/8-piece-...607.html?utm_referrer=https://www.google.com/

For pliers sets, you can go with a few from channellock at very reasonable prices, or just buy the HF professional pliers sets.. For the money (considering) they are not bad from what I've read. That said, you can get channellock for not much more and you can get away with probably 4 or 5 pliers to do 99% of what you'd need.

For everything I posted you be about $300 into it, without skipping any sizes, and including pliers.. That leaves plenty of money for some other stuff too. A $100 HF Jack might be a worthy investment too.

 

[Al Borland]

For something that's going to be a shared box, low investment kit that will get dragged around and abused, go to Home Depot. Pick up combo wrenches 10 pc. sets for 14.99 either metric or SAE. Get a socket set in the molded cases, 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2". Molded cases will act like shadowed storage so you will know to look for the socket you left on top of the intake. The 72-tooth ratchets are reportedly the same as the older design gearwrench ratchets, and I haven't been able to break one yet. Sockets are plenty strong. Yeah, I know they are Chi-Com. They work well, they are strong, and they are cheap.
Orange handled 6-way screwdrivers they sell for a couple bucks, and are decent. Grab a set of nut-driver bits with a hex-drive, those fit in the orange screwdriver as well.
Hit up Harbor Freight for their inexpensive screwdriver sets, and the 1/2" breaker bars.

 

[torxbit]

I bought the 301 piece Pitts Pro set from HF. Get the Taiwan version which I believe is the latest model. Very high quality. Well, at least the sockets and the ratchets are. I like it. One of the most comprehensive sets I have seen for the $$. It has great reviews as well.

 

[doubleot]

I've had 2 Cresent sets. Still own both, still have all the pieces except the ones I've lost. They offer a lifetime warranty just like craftsman. Snapped the inside gear in a 1/4" rachet called them, mailed it in, got a brand new one in less than a week.

 

[tonyciambrone]

If all you need is metric I would get the socket sets from Dennis schmidt- toptul stuff. Deep and shallow for all drives sizes 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 is like under $150. That leaves a good amount for wrenches, screwgies, hammers, specialty sockets.

 

[jidonsu]

I recently grabbed a set of the 120xp ratchets from Gearwrench. You can get it for $105 here. It includes four ratchets, with two of them being 3/8.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182280728114?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

As mentioned by the person above me, the Toptul sockets are a good option, assuming you only need metric. I got a set when I decided to upgrade. You can get them here.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPTUL-GAAQ...285850?hash=item1c6f0e331a:g:9RYAAOSwHoFXsGWw

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOPTUL-GAAQ...862737?hash=item1a1d212b51:g:zwUAAOSw6n5XsGea

 

[3TV]

I think its pretty safe to say this tool kit "doesn't ****". Too rich for my blood, but it definitely doesn't ****.

http://www.armstrongtools.com/armstrong-sgmtk1-general-mechanics-tool-kit-gmtk.html

 

[Fedwrench]

I don't think there is a decent off the shelf set that will meet your needs and budget. However, you could build a great set from Tekton (get the Taiwan made longer full polished wrench sets, us made pliers & screwdrivers) or hit up the buy one, get one specials from Gearwrench. Harbor freight can provide you a beefy breaker bar, & impact sockets with minimum investment. Since time is critical in racing, I'd want a cordless impact wrench or two.
Now, if you can raise your budget to around $1500 (I know it's a dramatic increase), look at the vocational education sets offered by Gearwrench, SK, Proto, NAPA, and others. These sets might cost a little more but, they're an excellent starting point and pretty complete.

 

[drink]

I am a part of a Chump Car team and we are building a "race car" tool set to save our personal tools from disappearing randomly. The total tool budget is around $500

I have been shopping for the basic sockets/wrenches and it seems that its worth it to buy a "mechanics tool set" but I know many of them either have a ton of overlap/filler or are missing some critical parts (or both).

I am looking for a base kit to start with, ideally with wrenches/ratchets/sockets (or just ratchet/socket) and add the other ancillary tools that we need.

Any suggestions on tool kits that dont ****?

I really don't know what type of tools you need. Have you tried Proto's tool sets?

 

[djcslice]

The price limit is fixed and the tool list is basically all of the hand tools needed to wrench on cars, not necessarily every tool but the basics plus some of the common fubar reducers (hammers/prybars/picks/etc). Its a Lexus so the vast majority is metric but some of the safety equipment is in SAE so inevitably we will need mixed tools. The intent is to have overlap in socket sizes and ratchets so that at least two people can wrench at any given time.

 

[ffemtdisp]

may want to paint the tools a color that no one want for instance if the tools were pink, the walking would lesson similer to prisons where prisoners wear pink cloths

My ambulance chief purchased pink stethoscopes for use on our trucks. They NEVER walked away.

 

[drink]

Have you considered shopping at Cripe Distributing? They have an Armstrong metric tool set with tool chest. The set looks like it will need some 1/4" drive deep sockets added and possibly some 1/2" drive deep sockets added also.

http://www.cripedistributing.com/br...4-021-139pc-metric-standard-tool-cabinet.html

The set cost more than your stated budget but I think Armstrong has some pretty nice tools.

 

[wafrederick]

Look at the content list,most of the cheap sets don't have an 18mm and 15mm socket and wrench in them.Basically they want you to buy them separate.

 

[Citation]

Really, you are going to have to put things together. However, you can probably do OK with cheap tools if you are wise about it. HF would be a good place to start. I think you will have to buy various sets.

Check out this stanley set.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KE6E1U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's nice simply because it's only the 1/4" and 3/8" sockets including a good selection of deep well. If you need 1/2" I would suggest looking at HF or buying just the few sockets you need (or a set of metric impact sockets).

For things like wrenches check out the Crescent brand combination wrenches or some of the long handle wrenches at HF. Again you aren't looking for great just good enough. Happily the cheap stuff is far better now vs the old pot metal wrenches that used to be the cheap ones.