New Mechanics Tool Set Recommendations

[GopherNation]

After living in apartments throughout college, I'm finally getting my own house and garage. I have a bunch of mismatched, hand me down tools and want to get a 100-200 pc mechanics tool set now that I have the space to have a workshop.

What sets would you recommend? Are there particular brands to avoid? I live right next to a Lowe's and have been looking at their Kobalt sets - does anyone own one of those? Thanks for the help.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

welcome to the forum and congrat on your house.

please search or browse the threads, it's been covered many many times.

 

[Fast LT1]

There aren't any. Personally just buy whatever you want. Most sets ****. I bought the biggest set sears sells online. 550 pc I think? And that set didnt come with a lot of needed tools

 

[Zeroek]

I say Lowes Kobalt stuff is okay. I use a lot of kobalt sockets. Here's what I say you could use. 1/4" ratchet, shallow and deep sockets, 3/8" ratchet with shallow and deeps. Get 6pts. A set of 1/2" impact sockets metric deep. A 1/2" impact gun. Torque sticks if you want. Slip joint pliers, Diaginal pliers, needle nose pliers, Screwdriver set, Extensions 1/4 and 3/8". An Air chuck and air gauge. A ball peen hammer. Oil filter wrench. A good Flash light or drop light and that should be a good starting set of tools.

 

[mudflap]

Steer clear of the truck brands. If your not on their route, dont carry a credit balance with them, etc. You will have a hard time getting them to warranty anything. Snap-on/Mack are giong *********** anyway, Matco always has been. I would go S-K, good professional grade quality, reasonable prices, and 100% USA...Buy from a dealer, not off the internet sites, and keep your recipts, to minimize warranty issues.....

 

[CWP1616L]

Steer clear of the truck brands. If your not on their route, dont carry a credit balance with them, etc. You will have a hard time getting them to warranty anything.

That's why I take good care of my truck brand tools and don't break them.

 

[JJThrasher]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-255-pc-mechanics-tool-set-with-lift/p-00935255000P?prdNo=4

This is a decent starter set IMO. It'll at least get you most of the sockets you'll need for a lot of work. Craftsman ratchets are trash (once again IMO), so I'd be looking into upgrading them. I'd also be looking into a good set of ratcheting wrenches.

 

[Rico.]

Snap-on/Mack are giong *********** anyway,

Sometimes words just fail me.

 

[CWP1616L]

Building a set from scratch I'd go all different brands. A diversified collection of the best from everybody.

 

[Chuck122]

Sometimes words just fail me.

And some simply fail at words

 

[boostedgt]

craftsman sockets, gear wrench or blackhawk ratcheting wrenches, used truck brand ratchets

 

[foreverfalcon40]

Start off with a Sears 255 or the 309 or bigger mechanics tool set. Buy yourself a C Clamp and you can do general maintenance including brakes.

As you get further in your trade or use more often replace the Ratchets for Truck brand aka more teeth and longer handles for leverage!

Good luck

 

[ibedayank]

what you need really depends on what you plan to work on

I find that I personally need metric SAE and whitworth sized tools
In 1/4 3/8s 1/2 and at times 3/4 drive depending on what I am doing
add to this special tools like rear wheel diskbrake tools for the ones that have a ratching caliper that a Cclamp just will not work for

 

[GopherNation]

This is great, thanks for the tips everyone. Excited to get started!

 

[Dave455]

I wouldn't go after a 'set' particularly, unless you get a really good deal!

Buy the best tools you can afford, but buy just what you need!

They don't all need to be of the same quality! Buy the best quality in the items you will use the most! Probably a few popular size wrenches and socket wrenches! This is where to buy A few bits of Snap On or suchlike if you want to! Remember, there are many other good 'top end' manufacturers as well! I'm thinking of firms such as Stahlwille, Hazet and suchlike! You might need to work harder to buy them (I.e. look online) but you will save a lot!

The tools you use less, those bigger socket wrenches for example, or the lesser used wrench sizes, you can buy from a cheaper (but still good) manufacturer! In the U.K. That's Ko ken, King **** and the like! In the U.S. you have makers such as Wright snd S.K. All making good usable tools at fair prices!

When funds get tight you can still buy decently made stuff from European makers such as Beta, and the tools will be much better than Taiwanese stuff for the same price!

Avoid, at all costs, buying Taiwanese tools off the tool trucks! You pay a lot for stuff you can get for much less elsewhere! That's really only a game for the terminally lazy!!

 

[hell_fish_65]

Ebay, craigslist and pawn shops. Figure out what you need/want and get those. Everyone will have different ideas of what you should buy.

I would suggest:
Williams (Amazon) or Craftsman Pro screw driver set(Sears)
GearWrench or Craftsman http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00921028000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1 ratcheting combo wrenches.
1/4 and 3/8 drive socket sets. I like craftsman buy used and use pawn shops to fill hole or expand a few sockets at a time.
Truck brand 1/4 and 3/8 ratchet( < $50 on GJ classifieds)
Hammer or 2 (Harbor Freight or Pawn Shop)
Plier and snips (Cresent, Channellock, etc)
Hand saw (Stanley)
Hacksaw (pawn shop or yardsale) whatever you can find. A nice frame is good, but the blade is the biggest factor

 

[jd_1138]

There aren't any. Personally just buy whatever you want. Most sets ****. I bought the biggest set sears sells online. 550 pc I think? And that set didnt come with a lot of needed tools

A set is a lot of bang for the buck, though. It will get him 60-70% there and then he can add other stuff like hammers, OBD scanner, circuit tester, handsaw, pliers, etc..

But if his budget is not low, it might be best to buy better items from specific manufacturers -- S&K for sockets/wrenches, Channel Lock for pliers, Craftsman Pro for screw drivers, so on.

 

[48548]

Toptul is good for the price if you are looking for good quality.

 

[1950mercury]

personally I would consider reading some mechanics tool set reviews before choosing which one to buy. Compare some of their specifications and characteristics to choose the best match for you. I found this mechanics tool set reviews particularly helpful when was searching for one.

The original post is 4 years old. I'm sure he bought something by now