Newbie looking to get mechanics tool set

[blarf]

This set looks way better with the black Friday pricing of 200

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?sid=I0084400010000100600&aff=Y

For someone with no domestic or older vehicles it doesn't look very good to me. $200 and you have **** ratchets, a bunch of SAE tools you'll never use, bulky ratcheting wrenches, a ton of screwdriver bits and Chinese made hex keys that will likely see no use, no locking or quick release extensions, no breaker bars, and no torque wrench.

If Honda actually uses a bunch of hex stuff, that /might/ be a worthwhile set.

I would take the list I made and add:

Craftsman #4250 (universal joints) - $20
Craftsman #41634 (pick set - great for gaskets and such) - $8
PB Swiss #671 (trim tools) - $30 (if they still package them as a set)
Harbor Freight #94162 (magnetic pickup tool, I like the non magnetic ones you can get in the dollar bins at most hardware stores a bit more) - $3
Some sort of inspection mirror ($5-$10)

Call it $300 and you'll be better prepared than one of those bunk kits from Sears.

 

[blarf]

I am a newbie too. Started to do some minor maintenance of my cars 2 months ago. Instead of a Honda, I have a camry and a ford explorer. I would like to list my current tools. I really appreciate if you could give me some advice for the future necessary buy. I don't want to waste money to buy tools that I will never use.

You look pretty well set IMO. What sorts of work do you expect to have trouble with? I'd definitely add some u-joints and extensions (ideally with some sort of locking mechanism). And, given how cheap they are, some cheapie non-ratcheting combo wrenches that you can beat on or use to counterhold something.

 

[stickshift]

Guys, I am overwhelmed by, and very grateful for, your advice and generosity. I hope to pay it forward once I've got some experience under my belt and grease under my nails.

I had figured that I needed a bunch of stuff from a typical mechanics socket set and that buying the pieces I needed individually or in smaller sets would end up costing as much as, or more than, a typical socket set. Using the Craftsman 309pc set for $200 as an example (since it seems the overwhelming majority in this thread favor this set over the Kobalt 227pc set for $100), I was thinking I'd need the 3 ratchets, the extensions, a bunch of metric sockets for each ratchet (shallow and deep), the ratcheting metric combo wrenches and the smaller metric combo wrenches. And I figured it would cost me almost $200 to buy all those, and certainly more time, so why not get the full set, even though the rest of it will just be filler or duplicates of tools I already have.

But it seems this assumption may have been unwarranted, either because I can get the same quality stuff I need for less than the cost of the set, or spend about the same amount, but get better quality stuff that I'll need instead of spending on filler. And I am not at all a stickler about having all my tools come from the same company. But at the same time, if the set works out to about the same as, or only slightly more than, getting the needed components from the set, I'd rather just get the set and save the time of looking for and purchasing individual pieces.

Per 930dreamer's advice, I'll start by taking stock of what I have:
-Kobalt Double Drive ratcheting screwdriver w/ flexible extension, a few nutdriver bits, several screwdriver bits and torx bits
-Kobalt 4pc locking pliers set (haven't opened it yet, but it was only $10)
-2 Craftsman medium flathead screwdrivers
-1 Craftsman medium Phillips head screwdriver
-small hammer
-mallet
-metric hex key set
-SAE hex key set
-small adjustable wrench
-Stanley medium adjustable wrench
-small Craftsman wirecutters
-small Craftsman pliers
-needlenose pliers
-mill ******* file
-wire strippers
-3/8" drive beam-type torque wrench
-1/4" drive beam-type torque wrench
-soldering iron
-Dremel rotary tool

I think that's pretty much everything, aside from (seemingly to me) non-auto related tools like a scraper, mini-hacksaw, and carpenter's square.

Tomorrow, I'll go through the SnapOn Honda list CoryZ linked to (and yes, I understood his intent, and I'm not flagging down a SnapOn truck) and see which tools I'd need, though to be honest, I'm not really sure which tools would be necessary for which jobs, so I'll rely on plierwire's list of tools by task (i.e., oil change, tire rotation, spark plug replacement, etc.) and blarf's list (thank you both very much for taking the time to put those lists together!). To get started, I'm only looking to get the tools necessary for routine maintenance tasks. Anything above and beyond can wait until I actually tackle more complicated jobs, and that will only happen if I can make friends with people in the area (new here) who wouldn't mind me working on my car on their property (maybe I can do routine maintenance on their car as inducement!).

Thanks again for all the input and advice. I'll have to read this thread through a few times to absorb it all.

 

[stickshift]

I hunted around for metric-only socket sets, and found some at HF.
-16 Piece High Visibility 1/2" Drive Metric Socket Set, $30
-20 Piece High Visibility 3/8" Drive Metric Socket Set, $20
-21 Piece High Visibility 1/4" Drive Metric Socket Set, $15

The 1/2" drive set includes a 14" breaker bar. $65 total, and that's regular price, and from what I understand, it's pretty easy to get discounts at HF (never been to one before, but there's one ~5mi from my home). I'll have to crosscheck it against the SnapOn Honda list.

That 309pc Craftsman set for $200 with SAE sockets and all the fillers is starting to look kinda wasteful . . .
Oh noes, what has you people done to me???

 

[blarf]

I hunted around for metric-only socket sets, and found some at HF.
-16 Piece High Visibility 1/2" Drive Metric Socket Set, $30
-20 Piece High Visibility 3/8" Drive Metric Socket Set, $20
-21 Piece High Visibility 1/4" Drive Metric Socket Set, $15

The 1/2" drive set includes a 14" breaker bar. $65 total, and that's regular price, and from what I understand, it's pretty easy to get discounts at HF (never been to one before, but there's one ~5mi from my home). I'll have to crosscheck it against the SnapOn Honda list.

That 309pc Craftsman set for $200 with SAE sockets and all the fillers is starting to look kinda wasteful . . .
Oh noes, what has you people done to me???

I'm not hugely fond of Craftsman, but I'd bet the Cman sockets are higher quality than the HF ones. Plus the Cman ones are $5 for a 3/8" set at ACE for the next couple days if you can find them.

If there's one thing you're going to want to splurge on, IMO, it's the ratchet. They'll be in your hands /all the time/.

Aside from lug nuts (and maybe crank bolt for a timing belt) I don't think you'll need much in the way of 1/2" tools on your Honda. I know with the BMW I don't even have room to get 1/2" tools in there for much of the suspension work.

If you already have a bunch of hex keys, the Sears sets are almost certainly a waste. Ratcheting wrenches are very nice to have, but as you've learned a few threads down aren't suitable for high torque applications... and they will be a bit bulkier than high quality non-racheting wrenches.

Also check the classified forum, there are some nice tools up for grabs at decent prices.

 

[ajchien]

Im also a DIYer and have 2 Hondas. Hondas are really simple when it comes to basic hand tools like someone already listed above. 8,10,12,14,17,19mm bolts. 3/8 female square bolts. P2 and P3 screws, rare allen screws.

If you bought a full 200+ piece set, it'd be awesome, but there would be a lot of stuff that would never touch the car.

There's other stuff you need, like jack, jackstands, wheel chocks, funnels.

Then there a boat load of stuff that's not 'necessary', but sure do make things a lot easier. Like dash trim tools, torque wrenches, push pin pliers, longer (15") breaker bar, oil filter wrench etc. which is rarely found in a set.

If you want to approach it at a minimalistic way, then I would look at the jobs you want to do, and the tools required to do that.

On the other hand, my DIY started with my car, and has exploded into all other sorts of projects - to other people's cars, to house repair/remodeling, refinishing furniture amd antiques etc.

I guess it's hard to predict where things may lead once you start to DIY. I really wouldnt fret too much about it. Although the initial expense of tools is high compared to the savings of the single first project, it'll eventually turn out in your favor.

 

[kippieland]

Im also a DIYer and have 2 Hondas. Hondas are really simple when it comes to basic hand tools like someone already listed above. 8,10,12,14,17,19mm bolts. 3/8 female square bolts. P2 and P3 screws, rare allen screws.

If you bought a full 200+ piece set, it'd be awesome, but there would be a lot of stuff that would never touch the car.

There's other stuff you need, like jack, jackstands, wheel chocks, funnels.

Then there a boat load of stuff that's not 'necessary', but sure do make things a lot easier. Like dash trim tools, torque wrenches, push pin pliers, longer (15") breaker bar, oil filter wrench etc. which is rarely found in a set.

If you want to approach it at a minimalistic way, then I would look at the jobs you want to do, and the tools required to do that.

On the other hand, my DIY started with my car, and has exploded into all other sorts of projects - to other people's cars, to house repair/remodeling, refinishing furniture amd antiques etc.

I guess it's hard to predict where things may lead once you start to DIY. I really wouldnt fret too much about it. Although the initial expense of tools is high compared to the savings of the single first project, it'll eventually turn out in your favor.

You just described me as well. I started off with a small 7 pieces Craftsman set and a bunch of crappy tools my dad gave me. I got a small Craftsman set and box for . So I started doing some basic Car care to save money...each year I started doing more and more...Finally after doing some work on my old Nissan truck brake system, I needed a 21mm 1/2 inch drive and all I had was 22, I started looking into adding peices...which turned into a new set.

I don't use SAE very much at all and I had the basic of sizes. I found when working on things like my Lawn Mower etc. I just didn't have what I needed. At least I will have it now.

I think you will find your skills will grow and you will start to try more and more thinks...which could lead to needing more tools. I started working on Dirt Bikes which use only 8,10,12,14,17,19,22,27,32mm bolts for the whole bike and now I am just starting to do more on my Cars because of my confidence has grown. Just something to think about.

 

[ajchien]

Im also a DIYer and have 2 Hondas. Hondas are really simple when it comes to basic hand tools like someone already listed above. 8,10,12,14,17,19mm bolts. 3/8 female square bolts. P2 and P3 screws, rare allen screws.

I guess it's hard to predict where things may lead once you start to DIY. I really wouldnt fret too much about it. Although the initial expense of tools is high compared to the savings of the single first project, it'll eventually turn out in your favor.

edit: I installed side steps on a Honda element today, and it required 13 and 18mm bolts. First time I've ever used those sized sockets on a Honda!

Of note, one of the 18mm bolts was located in such a confined space that none of my ratchets would fit.. I was cursing myself because my gearwrench set has 17 and 19mm, skipping 18mm. had to unbolt and move a few things before my thinnest ratchet and a universal would let me be at it. Guess what I'm saying is that the more I DIY, the happier I am having tools I don't need yet, rather than needing to get the tool when I need it. Did that make any sense?

 

[930dreamer]

Stickshift, here is a pic of the tools I've sent. I included a misc bag of metric sockets also.

 

[stickshift]

Stickshift, here is a pic of the tools I've sent. I included a misc bag of metric sockets also.

You are too kind, sir. Thank you very much for your generosity. I hope to pay it forward to a GJ newbie once I'm a bit more experienced.

I might need to get a bigger tool box than I was originally anticipating.

 

[85camaro]

My advice would be to chase the Snap on truck down immediately!!!

In all seriousness, if you haven't made up your mind yet, if you have an Autozone near by then the Duralast sets have everything you need to get started. I think they're on sale this weekend too.