Newbie Tool Kit for a 16-year old?

[HoosierBuddy]

Hey guys,

When I was 15 going on 16, my old man bought me my first tools. It was my Christmas present. He got me a metal craftsman tool case, a set of 6 screwdrivers, 2 adjustable wrenches, 1 pair of pliers, 1 set of wire cutters, and a large socket set with 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets and sockets. The sockets were english and metric, standard and deepwell.

The reason I know exactly what tools he got me is, for the most part, I still have every one of them. They've served me well and I still use them regularly. A couple of the screwdrivers are gone. The 3/8 ratchet has been replaced (for free) twice. But other than that...they are still on the job. I'm 45 turning 46 this year...so that makes them 30-year old tools.

So...my 15 year old son turns 16 this year.

I've been looking around at starter tool kits. I'd rather get some decent quality tools rather than a huge quantity. With luck, he'll be using his 30-years from now too. That being said, I don't see buying mechanics grade Snap On tools for him either (heck...If I can't afford Snap On for me...much less for him).

I'm thinking Craftsman. I've also been looking at the Crescent brand kits, which seem to be a real value (although I don't know about the quality).

Does anyone have any ideas here?

Also interested if anyone else still has their first set of tools?

Phil

 

[dustin19]

Hey guys,

When I was 15 going on 16, my old man bought me my first tools. It was my Christmas present. He got me a metal craftsman tool case, a set of 6 screwdrivers, 2 adjustable wrenches, 1 pair of pliers, 1 set of wire cutters, and a large socket set with 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets and sockets. The sockets were english and metric, standard and deepwell.

The reason I know exactly what tools he got me is, for the most part, I still have every one of them. They've served me well and I still use them regularly. A couple of the screwdrivers are gone. The 3/8 ratchet has been replaced (for free) twice. But other than that...they are still on the job. I'm 45 turning 46 this year...so that makes them 30-year old tools.

So...my 15 year old son turns 16 this year.

I've been looking around at starter tool kits. I'd rather get some decent quality tools rather than a huge quantity. With luck, he'll be using his 30-years from now too. That being said, I don't see buying mechanics grade Snap On tools for him either (heck...If I can't afford Snap On for me...much less for him).

I'm thinking Craftsman. I've also been looking at the Crescent brand kits, which seem to be a real value (although I don't know about the quality).

Does anyone have any ideas here?

Also interested if anyone else still has their first set of tools?

Phil

hmm if i were u id go the route my dad did with my tool kit he bought me almost 5years ago when i was 15. buy him a top part of a craftsman box and buy the tools you think he will use the most... can equal to be alot cheaper that way and he gets a nice metal box to put it all in

 

[MotoDave]

I'm the same as you, got a Craftsman mechanics set for my 16th birthday, and am still using 95% of the tools today.

 

[GT89mustang]

Id go the craftsman route, you can get a pretty decent set on sale for a resonable price. My dad has a small 3/8s cresent set in his car, its not a bad set, but Id be worried about trying to get it warrentied, with craftsman he can just go to sears.

 

[jjarrell4]

I'm only 19 but the craftsman tool kit that my pa got me for my 14th birthday has just about everything I have ever needed for light to medium duty mechanic work. As well as general around the house work. Sears has the set on sale a few times a year for about 150$ i believe it is 260 pieces 1/2" 3/8" and 1/4" sockets and ratchets from deep shallow and sae and
metric, it also has a screwdriver and nutdrivers bits and a multi bit 1/4" driver. They also include a good set of sae and metric combo wrenches. All that comes in a plastic tool case that has a bottom drawer that is empty. I would suggest in addition that you get a 3 pack of craftsman pliers, a hammer and the 12 pack of craftsman screwdrivers( Phillips and flat blade).

That right there is what I started with and still use, best thing about it is the lifetime unconditional warranty!

Best of luck

 

[fatfillup]

I'd try to find a set that had a blow molded case to store each tool. Don't know if craftsman has such a thing but my employee has a Husky socket set that has 1/4 and 3/8 metric, standard, deep, shallow ratchets, extensions, a few wrenches in a nice case. Its US made (may not be now) and I think he paid under a hundred for it from Home Depot.

Cman is certainly good for a starter set and I would get him set up with a storage system of some kind so he doesn't loose his tools. If you can't find blow molded set at least some socket rails. That will be a gift he remembers especially if you help him learn how to use them.

 

[momswgn]

Agree with Cman, but I would give him the set your father gave you give or take.

 

[rsanter]

I see 2 options

1
you give him the actual tools that your father gave you and let him know where they came from.
then go buy youtself some replacements

2
go get one of their $200 250 pc sets and that should do him for quite some time

look at it this way. if you spend $200 on tools to give to him, that is about the same money that you might spend on a video game system, except that the tools will not be obsolete in a few years

bob

 

[HoosierBuddy]

No go on giving him my tools.

1. I have 2 more younger sons to think about in the future.
2. What if he lost them?
3. I'm still using them.

Craftsman 260 piece set Item# 00934260000 is on sale $100 off for $160. According to the online reviews, the included tool box is a plastic nightmare, but the tools are good.

http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/0...n=1&qlt=90,0&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0

I COULD give him those tools in the metal chest style box my Dad gave me. It would be really loaded down, but at least it isn't made out of cheap plastic. I don't use that box anymore. It was very handy when I was younger because I could haul the box in my car easily. I haven't used that box since I bought a roll around.

Phil

 

[jjarrell4]

Ya that's a good option beings that the tools themselves are a good deal for 260

 

[jjarrell4]

Just get a few socket rails instead of loose sockets

 

[arkangel06]

I still have my frist set of tools Its getting too big for my 26'' roll cab though I need to move into somthing bigger


Get him a nice craftsman set but more importantly teach him how to use them!!!

 

[MotoDave]

My old roommate had that tool kit, and like you read the box is sort of a pain to deal with. Mine came in a case like this:

I found it pretty handy to store tools in, I could stash it away in the closet when not in use, and when folded open it gave good access to the tools.

 

[Chief]

I Still have the first c-man ratchet set. very small starter kit. a gift from mom and dad. everytime i see it when i reach for a tool, i know its the first building block of my tool collection. ill never get rid of it.

 

[pjcforpres2020]

I have that 260pc c-man set... excellent deal, and I think the plastic case isn't half bad. Not ideal, but not horrible either. They also have a set for a little bit more that comes with a metal case...

Either way, everything in that 260pc services a good useful purpose. I used it to take the head off my Volvo 240 in under 20 minutes.

I would get him some different ratchets, though... the one's in the set are really, really, really bad. 2 of the 3 in my set had to go back right away on warranty, and the replacements weren't much better.

It also doesn' thave any screw drivers or pliers... get him a set of the c-man clear handles, they will serve him just fine, and a 5pc plier set. These will store away in the top bin of the plastic case just fine.

The only things I didn't like about that set is tha they are not the laser etch sockets, but if you break one that is what you will get to replace it, it doesn't give you 6pt 1/2" drive sockets, only 12pt there, and the ratchets ****.

 

[Merkava_4]

Get him the 618 piece Armstrong master set.

 

[BB26]

Get him the 618 piece Armstrong master set.

I got a good chuckle out of this.

On a more serious note, there is a lot of good advice in this thread. pjcforpres is right on the mark.

 

[scottmlew]

I have a set that looks very similar to the Cman set in the black case. I think it's a good set to start, and I find the case very well done -- great to take with you in the car or bring to a remote location in the house for a project. You will need to add screwdrivers and pliers, as mentioned. Oh, and mine has all 6 point sockets, and has deep and shallow SAE and metric for 1/4 and 3/8 drive, but only shallow (also SAE and metric) for 1/2 drive.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=65845&group_ID=2297&store=&dir=catalog

Start him out right!...(burst out laughing) Sound like a sales rep. This was about the size of the set I stated with. Was a craftsman one here in Canada but I lost most of it Years ago. sadly. Still though Having that roller and top chest all done up makes you fell mighty fine at the end of the day and if you can teach them to take care of it it lasts a life time.

 

[arkangel06]

My god Merk/diesel My Father gave me a few of his old chicrap rusted wrenches and your talking about getting this guy $11,246.00 worth of tools to start him out!?!?!?!







Do you want to adopt?

 

[GDA]

You surely can't go wrong with one of the 200+ Cman sets. I've seen some of the 300+ sets show up on Ebay too so you might be able to score a bigger set if you are patient.

However, budget options might allow you to pick up an entire toolbox and tools off your local CL for anywhere between $250 and on up.

 

[Jay H 237]

I still have the 118 piece Cman set my father bought me plus some other Cman tools in the early 90s (90-93).

I would definitely go the Cman route for value vs. quality. For the average weekend mechanic it will do fine and who knows, he may not want to work on cars much and may not use the tools often. The Cman set would be a great start and if he chooses let him upgrade or buy more of the same if he wants.

With 3 kids it would get expensive quick buying top end tools for all of them........and there's no garauntee that they will take care of them or even want to tinker.

Now you just have to buy more Mustangs to hand down to the kids...... That reminds me, I have to go see if I can get on the VMF, had trouble this morning with the new software.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Now you just have to buy more Mustangs to hand down to the kids...... That reminds me, I have to go see if I can get on the VMF, had trouble this morning with the new software.

Yeah...the "new" VMF is going to take some getting used to.

This is the same son that helped me build that EFI 347 stroker for the '65 last winter. We've got a "beater" '89 GT out in the barn for him to drive once he gets his license. It's in good mechanical shape and the interior is nice. The paint's pretty awful. Origninal and looks like the previous owner parked it under a pine tree for about 5-years straight. Maybe I should skip the hand tools and buy him a spray gun? JK

See ya on VMF Jay.

Phil

 

[Wesley B]

Get him the 618 piece Armstrong master set.

Where do you buy that? link?

 

[pjcforpres2020]

sears.com I believe.

 

[shovel]

Phil, Our fathers must have thought alike. I too got my first tool set (Craftsman) when I was 16. I kept adding to it, even spending my high school graduation money to increase the set. Those tools were stolen from my car when I was in college. Dad started me another set that Christmas. I'm still collecting tools, 30+ years later. My kid just turned 16. He coule give a flip less about tools or working on anything. It took me a long time to adjust to the fact that he is wired more like his mother than like me. My Dad passed away last year on Fathers Day. I've got his toolbox and and will supplement those tools to build my kid a good set, wether he wants it or not. He will have a pretty good set of "old" Craftsman V series sockets and wrenches.
If I had to start new or had more than one kid, I believe I'd do as pjcforpres suggested. Anyway, good luck and I'm glad to see you getting them started on the right track.

 

[dieseldodge01]

When I was 10 or 11 my godmother got me a set of craftsman wrenches and a Kennedy 5220 hand box. The next year a tape measure and screwdrivers. My grandma gave me a 3/8 ACE socket set. All for my birthday, still have every tool, some have moved to my big box, more as a sentimental thing than anything. I would recommend the Craftsman set and a metal tool box much like the one I got. The bigger sets will fit good in there with some space to spare, until he is ready to move to a bigger box.

 

[JD6619A]

I never got any tool sets growing up, what I have I bought myself. My parents weren't the giving type. FWIW I dont think i'd give my son any CMAN tools since there warrantee and Customer service **** balls, I'd be more inclined to get him a decent sized set from Canadian tire when I think it's time to start him off with tools then he can decide what he wants next.

 

[ImportTuner]

My god Merk/diesel My Father gave me a few of his old chicrap rusted wrenches and your talking about getting this guy $11,246.00 worth of tools to start him out!?!?!?!







Do you want to adopt?

Merkava is single, so he has money ..

 

[senlow]

The Craftsman kits are probably the best bang for the buck. You get decent quality for a very low price. That's what I would get if I were buying sets of tools for my kids.

I'm currently in the process of setting up my 11 year old son with tools. I bought him a used Cornwell top box for Christmas last year, along with a few other tools. I've continued to buy tools for him, a few pieces at a time, as I find good deals. His tools don't all match, but they are all made in USA and good quality. He has Craftsman raised panel wrenches, Craftsman sockets, Klein and Channellock pliers etc. I even broke down and got him a few green (his favorite color) hard handle Snap-on screwdrivers. He gets excited every time that I bring a tool home for him.

I do have most of the first tools that I first acquired. My dad never gave me any tools. In fact, he didn't have many tools. I always used his tools when I was a kid. I bought my first tools when I was a senior in high school. I got a job as a lube mechanic at a local dealer, and the shop supervisor gave me a list of tools that I should bring to work. So, I bought a small three drawer tool box via the newspaper classifieds. I went to Sears for screwdrivers, socket sets and a set of raised panel wrenches. There was a used tool store a few miles from home where I bought pliers, hammers and a few other tools to round out my set. I still have some of those tools. I did sell all of my original Craftsman stuff to a young man who worked for me. I powder coated my first tool box about 25 years ago, and it now sits on my dresser, filled with some of my "house" tools.

 

[Bolster]

you give him the actual tools that your father gave you and let him know where they came from.
then go buy youtself some replacements

Bingo. That's what I'd do. Keep those heirlooms passing from hand to hand. Go get yourself some Thorsens or Snap-ons or Protos or whatever turns your crank. About the time your boy has his own son, you can give your son your fancy tool set.

PS: Add me to the list of 16-year old kids whose father gifted him a full set of C-man tools on his 16th! Must be a tradition. I never got my hands on my Dad's Snap-ons until after his death.

 

[sk farmer]

Get him the 618 piece Armstrong master set.

i have a lot of nice tools, more than what is there. but,,,, something about all tha nice new virgin chrome. all us made to i will bet. sure would be nice.

 

[Tim Cowan]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....e=&dir=catalog


This is the metric set, what about the need of a 1/2 or 5/8 wrench?

 

[wildman1]

I have 4 sons - 19, 20, 22 & 24, so I know what you are looking at

I started each son off with a nice steel tool box, Craftsman 3/8 socket set, 8 piece std & metric wrench set, screwdriver set, with a few HF pliers & digital multimeter thrown in. That was for Christmas when they were 16 - each of them have all of their original tools, and have added several on their own as they needed them.

This year, each of them will be getting some more (can't say exactly what - they might be reading this thread )

I would suggest getting him the essentials - no need to get too extravagant at first. Remember back when a single set of 3/8" or 1/2" sockets, a few pliers, an 8 piece wrench set, a ball pien hammer & a test light put you in business to fix just about anything that could go wrong with your car? It still does .....

Besides, my boys all get a kick at going to swap meets, yard sales, etc. with me and beating the old man to a good deal! Seriously, they all send me emails if they see a good deal on clist or advertised locally - they obviously share in my addiction.

Have fun & enjoy!

 

[Paladin]

Over the course of about 1 or 2 years of hitting the pawn shops and swap meets, I managed to put together an excellent collection of all USA tools for my son. Heck, he at 20 has all C-Man rats, mixed brand sockets sets, both SAE and Metric in 1/4" - 1/2" drives, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.. All good quality stuff and I'll bet I spent a grand total of $50 for all of it. Plus it was fun digging thru the pawn shop bins to find all of the sockets and wrenches. As far as the wife knew, it was for him but all of the good finds (SO, Mac, Cornwell) are in my box!

 

[Mattlt]

My opinion, but I would say forget the blow-molded case. When he wants to add more tools, where will he keep them? Go for a 3-drawer chest or rally box instead.

Also, how about making a set up by yourself instead of buying a pre-mixed set? Don't get me wrong, you save lots of money on the pre-made set, but maybe it would show a little more personality if you made up a set for him like your dad did. A couple of adjustable wrenches, hammers, pliers, etc are a lot more useful than the 30+ allen wrenches and screwdriver bits Sears puts in their sets. (These are necessary tools too, but maybe not so much for a 16 year old.)

 

[tj90]

My father let me use his tools as I was growing up. He emphasized the importance of wiping them down, replacing ones Id lost and NEVER letting the neighborhood kids anywhere near the toolbox!

When I went off to my first job out of state (21 YO), he made up a starter set for me by buying a cheap husky box and putting duplicate tools that he owned from his collection. He also bought some other tools - mixed brands - to augment the set.

When he passed, he willed me his tools and I made us a basic set for my mom and hauled out tools to my house across the country. It brings back great memories when I pick up a tool from his colleciton and use it today.

My grandfather bought me a blow molded metrench set to use about the same time my dad gave me the starter. I still use it to this day as well. The original kit that I got from my dad did not have a wide selection of sockets so the metrench set was nice since it the wrenches and sockets could fit both SAE and metric. I could pretty much fix anything that i was willing to tackle as a weekend warrior and not have to have anything larger than a 3 drawer for the first 5 years living on my own...

Have fun!

 

[HoosierBuddy]

My opinion, but I would say forget the blow-molded case. When he wants to add more tools, where will he keep them? Go for a 3-drawer chest or rally box instead.

Also, how about making a set up by yourself instead of buying a pre-mixed set? Don't get me wrong, you save lots of money on the pre-made set, but maybe it would show a little more personality if you made up a set for him like your dad did. A couple of adjustable wrenches, hammers, pliers, etc are a lot more useful than the 30+ allen wrenches and screwdriver bits Sears puts in their sets. (These are necessary tools too, but maybe not so much for a 16 year old.)

I like how you're thinking Matt!

The family had a school function this evening. I played tired and after they left I went down to the basement and got my old toolbox out. I took it out to the garage and cleaned it all out and then washed it really good. Now it looks like a CLEAN 30-year old tool box.

I'm going to see my Dad at Thanksgiving this year. If I can catch a time when the stores are open, I'll grab him and his wheelchair and we'll go tool shopping. Will Sears be open?

That would be the best Thanksgiving ever.

Phil

 

[supertooljunkie]

My brother bought a set of the Crescent tools from Sam's Club and when he opened the case to use the ratchets, the 1/4 and 3/8 fell apart. The screws came out of the face plates during shipping. Had to send them back and get them warrentied.

 

[srmofo]

I bought my own first set of cman tools when I started working at sears almost 10 years ago. most of them have been replaced in my shop box by professional tools, but they didnt get a new home, I just moved them to my house. I bought the 260 set like described above ( I think it was like 251 though) But it came with all nut drivers and none of the junk driver bits. good deal