Non-professional socket and wrench sets

[Court_in_Dallas]

Group:

I am a weekend warrior and need (want) to buy a comprehensive socket and wrench set. I don't need (at least I don't think I need) a ton of little extras that are thrown in with the standard tool sets. For example, I don't need any more hex keys, hammers, ignition wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.

What I do want is a new set of sockets that is as complete as possible. I will be just doing small engine repair, recreational vehicle repair, small outboard repair, etc.

I have a little cash at the moment and would like to buy something of decent quality but I can't exactly justify the expense of the really good stuff. I am thinking along the lines of Husky from Home Depot, or Craftsman from Sears.

The kits that I have found that seem to get close to what I am looking for are:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-189-...lerId=Sears&prdNo=28&blockNo=28&blockType=G28

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-233-pc-field-tehnician-s-mechanics-tool-set/p-00934233000P

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-299-piece-ultimate-easy-read-socket-set/p-00935299000P


I wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions as to brand, or specific sets. As I said, I don't mind spending a little extra for better quality, within relative reason.

Thanks for your help.

Courtney

 

[Loscaldazar]

Buy some tekton sets off amazon

 

[SkinnyG]

I keep this set from GearWrench in my truck. You might be able to find it cheaper, but in my opinion it's worth the price in the link. I got mine from ToolTopia in a sale 5 or so years ago for about $180 (their current price is a lot more).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MVB7HM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used to be an auto mechanic and still do small side jobs fairly often. I don't use the ratchets in the set very often (I keep others in the truck that I'm more partial to) but I rarely find myself needing a socket that's not there. The box makes it easy to keep everything together too.

 

[M6erfan]

I wouldnt recommend any of the sets that you link to. They are overkill IMO, I.E; do you really need 1/2" drive? From what you describe, probably not. You'll probably use 1/4" drive sockets 80% of the time, if not more...

I'd recommend taking a look at Tekton, they are an excellent value with lifetime warranty and outstanding customer service...

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-13101-8-Inch-6-Point-16-Inch/dp/B01MDO6L90?th=1

If you do need screwdrivers, this Harbor Freight screwdriver set gets lots of love around here, it's $10 with lifetime warranty...

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

And for wrenches, these Dewalt's get very good reviews...

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWMT73810-Metric-Combination-Wrench/dp/B01LOK31VE/ref=bdl_pop_ttl_B00PQXNG0M?th=1

All of the above is probably all you need and comes in for less than the kits you linked to...

Good Luck

 

[slow]

The gearwrench sets for 1/4 and 3/8 are what I would look into if I was purchasing tools from scratch. This is a pretty complete 3/8" setup with a good 120 tooth ratchet with bonus 1/4" set

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=KDT80550P

I hardly use 1/2" stuff, and have some craftsman and a Kobalt set that I picked up for $12 a couple years ago.

 

[bob15]

Small engine work is typically 1/4 & 3/8 drive sockets. Do you know if you are using SAE or are you also using metric?

I personally would spend a bit more and buy these 2 SK sets which have pretty much every SAE and metric socket you would ever need for anything:

http://www.cpooutlets.com/sk-hand-tool-91848-48-piece-1-4-in--drive-6-point-sae-metric-standard-deep-socket-set-with-pro-ratchet-and-universal-joint/sktn91848,default,pd.html?ref=pla&zmam=31282435&zmas=47&zmac=722&zmap=sktn91848&gclid=CMOK6d6a8tACFciCswodR2MAvg

http://www.niftyinterior.com/157_page_1175122.htm


As for wrenches, I like Wright (I really prefer Bonney but they are no longer in business).

Why I don't recommend nor like craftsman:

No longer made in the USA

If Sears goes under and doesn't sell the CM name/rights, there would be no warranty (if you are the type that cannot live without tools having a warranty). And if they do sell it, there is no guarantee they will honor or replace the older tools.

I think there are better companies out there....including SK & Wright

Another option is to check the GJ classifieds, ebay, pawn shops, flea markets and swap meets for tool sets. If you don't mind used, there are a lot of options out there for better quality tools than CM or GW.

 

[M6erfan]

Oh yeah, of course you'll need at least 1 of these...http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

Welcome to GJ!

 

[PJNJ]

Buy this 3/8 Gearwrench set that comes with a free 1/4 set. Great sets with very good ratchets. All for $113.00.

https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.c...P232371.aspx?gclid=CIWK1sCd8tACFcOEswodAAAHfw

Then buy this Tekton 1/2 set which will cover you up to 32mm.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYZ2IJ5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Derek420]

If I were you I'd go Tekton as they are good quality and have awesome warranty and customer service. They treat you well as I have dealt with them and they impressed me. Idk where you live but Miejers sells Tekton it's a store like a wlmart but better I think. You can check out the tools in store and they are cheaper than Amazon and have deals, on black Friday they had a bogo on all tekton tools and that was a smoking deal. I got the 18" 3/8 ratchet and USA screwdriver set and love them. Also Toptul is an excellent choice.

 

[M6erfan]

Also, you can buy the Tekton and Dewalt sets I linked to above through Home Depot if you want to go through them

 

[sberry]

If you don't have a 1/2 drive you may need one and at Sears pricing a guy isn't out much if it isn't used, That is really a plus, so you get some trinkets, so what, the meat is what you are after. Its what makes some of these so good like the 309, so many many pieces used to sell 5 and 10$ as singles, yes 100 pcs of hex and more wont hurt but near 200 other real good hardline pieces a guy can use.
If there is something he doesn't use its not much parked. Leaves some cash left over to buy something as needed.

 

[B_Bimmer]

... "Wife collects tiny tools"

That made me laugh.

Anyway, none of the suggestions are bad that you have been given or are likely to get here, but they are all just someone's opinion. I highly recommend if you aren't in a hurry to just spend some time here reading about others experiences and developing your own opinion. Try some of each, including the really good stuff, rather than just assuming if it is the same basic shape that it'll do any job just as well. If you put your time in you can get many high quality tools on ebay and locally for the same or less than cheap ****, and a lot of it is a joy to use. Personally I went with harbor fright and other discount brands when I was young and spent a lot of money there, it's remarkable how much time and energy I wasted trying to make some of that stuff work, and even more remarkable how little of it has survived this long. The good stuff just works, and when it breaks you've got something to work with.

 

[sberry]

You don't see many busted Stanley socket stories here, that stuff is tuff. If you need some tools to get something done none of those are robbing the public especially sale sets. Any cheaper and they would need to pay to carry them out.
I sposed I should be more impressed with a 30$ socket but it really amazes me to see a 250# guy with a long HF bar and a Walmart socket and snap a couple wheel studs right off. I don't know what "professional" and non professional mean but I see a lot of cheap stuff in a bad environment do so much more than we would have ever expected when we started with some of it, it was somewhat by accident and will but soon some of it got mixed, didn't break, lasted a long time and take the abuse, often more than a single operator may give it.

 

[sberry]

I am a fan boy of buy it today if you need it, shop later.

 

[Moose97]

Which tool to buy can be a heated topic here at GJ. I personally think the 299 piece set from Craftsman is a nice set for a DIY'er. It should cover most of your needs now and 20 years from now.

If you need something fast and cheap and since you are in the DFW area I saw a set at Walmart of Stanley sockets bundled together for a believe $35.00. It was a 3/8 and 1/4 set. Since it's Christmas time you might give that a go for a few years. When you upgrade you could use these in a travel box. Of the 3 you mentioned I'd go with the 299 piece.

 

[four.cycle]

Small engine work is typically 1/4 & 3/8 drive sockets. Do you know if you are using SAE or are you also using metric?

^ True.
I generally only drag out a 1/2" drive breaker, a short extension, and a 15/16" socket to pull the flywheel nut off a Briggs & Stratton engine. Now and then I'll have to resort to 1/2" drive to remove rusted axle brackets from decks.
Otherwise it's all 1/4" drive. (I do rotary walk-behind mowers only. Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh only.)

Those S-K (91844, 91848) sets cited above can be had on Ebay (used) for about $100-$130 if you watch the prices.
Unless your heart is set on new, check CL, Ebay, and the classifieds here.

Wrenches: if you're working on small engines you'll need a decent assortment of double-end offset box wrenches. If you're working on old Tecumseh engines find a pair of 3/8" and a 7/16" "obstruction" wrenches. Like this:

 

[Kenskip1]

How about a trip to "Harbor Freight" For what you mentioned a set like this may just the ticket.Ken read the reviews.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...pc-professional-mechanics-tool-set-69312.html

 

[MrGiggles]

Tekton or Gearwrench. Gearwrench has BOGO deals pretty often.

 

[Al Borland]

Make sure whatever you get has real sockets, not those asinine "Universal" sockets.

 

[Parrothead]

Personally if I were in that situation I'd go with Tekton, absolutely. They're fantastic with customer service and I have been very pleased with the quality of the product. It's excellent and would probably be the route I would go if I had to start over.

 

[jeeper46]

Get a Craftsman set with the 1/2" drive ratchet included. You may seldom use it, but sooner or later, you will, and you'll already have it.

 

[Revtach]

Get the Pittsburgh 301 piece mechanics tool set from harbor Freight. It's the most complete set of tools you are going to get for your money and the quality is honestly really good. Lifetime warranty and harbor freight has great customer service. You can get the Tekton stuff but if something breaks on you in the middle of a project I'm not sure if you can get it replaced same day like you can with Harbor Freight.

 

[Citation]

A few suggestions:
1. The biggest reason not to get most CMan sets is the old 36 tooth ratchets. Mine are 20 years old and still work but I don't like them much but they do work. If the rest of the set (sockets etc) is good then I wouldn't stress out too much about the ratchets. Pick up a set of these Crescent roto head ratchets for ~$25 new off ebay (linking to Amazon so that I'm not promoting any ebay sellers)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YP1ZI4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
These are good ratchets and if you look you will find they are the same tool as the Gearwrench roto head ones (and a few other companies.) Since getting them they are now my go to ratchets.

Look at HD stuff. The HD 72 tooth ratchets are basically the same thing as the Gearwrench 84 tooth ratchet (the difference in teeth isn't worth worrying about) except they have a quick release button. Net result, I like the Husky ratchets better than GW. I don't prefer the 120 tooth GW (100 tooth Husky) vs the lower profile 84/72T versions. The 120/100T models are dual pawl and end up being taller and having more back drag. Neither of those make the extra teeth worth it. No idea what deals HD is running on sets.

3. The 3/8"+1/4" GW set that someone was mentioning is really good since it comes with a great 3/8" deep socket set. I use deeps allot so I want 1/4 deep through 14mm and 3/8" deep starting as low as 10-12mm. My first Sears set started the 3/8" deep at 15mm. I broke a few 1/4 ratchets with a cheater bar and 14mm 1/4" deep socket because it was the only combination that fit! After the second time I went ahead an bought a 14mm socket. Haven't broken the 1/4 since.

4. This Stanley set is a pretty good 1/4+3/8 socket set for under $60. It's just the sockets but unlike most sub $100 sets it has a basically complete 3/8" deep set
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KE6E1U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

5. I ended up rarely using my 1/2 sockets that came with my set. Instead I typically will use my Walmart/Stanley 1/2 impact sockets. They are a bit chunky on things like 15mm bolts but I just find they are more often more useful vs the shallow 1/2" that came with my set.

6. Don't feel you need to get everything in one set.

7. I have mixed feelings about the HF stuff. I find the fit and finish to be poor even by the standards of much of my Cman stuff. Still, it's mostly just important that the stuff works. The plastic handled wratchets are the same as the plastic Tektons and a good value. Much of the HF stuff really is. Same with NothernTool if you have one around.

 

[oldldh]

Here you go...

Tekton...#13001 and 13101, both from Amazon for the grand total of $85.26!!!

Biggest bang for the buck...

And, if you need it...

Tekton #13203 1/2" Drive 84 piece for $199.00...

Or...

Everything you'll ever need for LESS than three bills...

If you email Tekton a photo of the broken tool, they'll FedEx you a replacement...Now that's a warranty!!!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Like Bob, I am partial to SK and Wright. That said, if you are on a budget and are not using tools professionally, The Tekton tools that have been previously mentioned should be more than adequate (Both socket sets and wrenches)

As to screwdrivers, I am partial to my SO hard handles(no longer made), In your case, SnapOn will be a bit price prohibitive. The HF sets for about $10 or even the big set of CM screwdrivers should do you fine. While the screwdrivers come with a warranty, at those prices, they can almost be considered disposable.

Welcome to the forum

 

[njric71]

Although I have complete sets of 1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" shallow and deep sockets all USA made craftsman, when I just need to do something quick I find that I grab for this set alot:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00062Z3MM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I picked it up at an Autozone I think it was, several years back for probably about the same $20 on sale. It's been very handy to have. I haven't had any problems with it, but most things I'd use a 1/4" set for are pretty low toque anyway.

For 1/2" because you probably won't use it much you're probably OK with Harbor Freight if you find you must have 1/2" Just make sure you buy yourself a loose 18MM socket somewhere because the HF sets skip sizes and that's one of the important ones their sets seem to skip.

On the 3/8" I'd probably skip the Craftsman. Their ratchets are pretty poor. even before they started making them in China. Plus I'm a little worried about Sears going away and if a new distributor will honor the warranty. I've heard very good things about the Husky and they are made by Stanley last I heard.

 

[retDAC]

... I've heard very good things about the Husky and they are made by Stanley last I heard.

The original HD Husky tools were made by Stanley. For several years now, Gearwrench (Apex Tool Group) has been the supplier.

 

[dnschmidt]

This is the deal of a lifetime. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3ZY4Y0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They even give you $10.00 off. For $47 you get a complete set of metric and SAE sockets and the through drive nature makes deep sockets unnecessary. Can't beat it.

 

[retDAC]

This is the deal of a lifetime. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3ZY4Y0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They even give you $10.00 off. For $47 you get a complete set of metric and SAE sockets and the through drive nature makes deep sockets unnecessary. Can't beat it.

Those sockets/ratchets are the equivalent of 3/8" and 1/2" drive. Appear to be well made and I believe Hi Five is the maker.

Through holes seem biggest of the three major styles, though the outside diameter is a little bigger than GearWrench.

Through hole diameter sometimes is critical for the larger size fasteners.

 

[Moparman390]

I find the Craftsman 258 piece (I bought it last year) and 311 piece sets to be of excellent value. The 311 has 75 tooth ratchets and ratcheting wrenches. Whatever you are looking at compare the sets by subtracting the screwdriver bits and Allen wrenches (40 of those is fairly common) from the piece count. Both the sets I listed have low screwdriver bit counts meaning more real pieces.

 

[Know Wosad]

Gawd I really, really, really hate to say this. Ya. Go to Harbor Freight and load up a cart.
It simply makes good financial sense for a homeowner/amateur.Their ratchets are fantastic and everything else is OK....It'll likely serve you just fine.
The only rule at HF is if it has a cord ? RUN !
Stole that from Troy ;-)

 

[Know Wosad]

If you have a few extra bucks to blow the Tekton Co(Michigan importers) is a bunch of really good folks and many of their tools are indeed a step above the HF stuff.

 

[Loscaldazar]

If you have a few extra bucks to blow the Tekton Co(Michigan importers) is a bunch of really good folks and many of their tools are indeed a step above the HF stuff.

Many of their tools are probably the same/similar as the Pittsburgh Pro stuff from harbor freight, just larger sets and more complete

 

[jamraw]

I think the Gearwrench sets would be a good buy for weekend/home use. They have a good warranty. I've broke several things and have had hassle free warranty service at Advance Auto and Fastenal. Just like Sears, hand over broken tool and walk out with new no questions, no receipt. Plus they have some high tooth count ratchets which are nice too.

 

[pedrodagr8]

If you have a Costco membership, Costco has a Dewalt ratchet, wrench, etc. set for $110. Seems like a well rounded set for a homegamer. It has their hassle-free lifetime warranty (if something breaks, call them up and they will send you are replacement no receipt needed).

 

[T45]

A comprehensive toolkit really only needs about 165-175 pieces in terms of sockets and wrenches. The $6K SEP toolkits have something like 205 pieces including pliers, hammers, torque and line wrenches, and essential inspection tools.

Keep this in mind. The parts count is a very poor way to judge what is in a kit or what the value of the pieces are.

 

[Moose97]

So OP, what did you decide?

 

[Greg85mcss]

I'm partial to gearwrench but have a few different brands. Best bang for your buck will be tekton or Pittsburgh. I have the 1/4 tekton set in my car and it's a great little set. It would be very convenient to get the boxed sets for each drive size. The ratchets that come with them are nice too. If you're looking to organize them in a tool box the Pittsburgh 301 piece is very complete and doesn't have a bunch of filler. Only issue is they don't have a lot of individual sockets so I'm not sure what happens if you break one. I've broken a couple things like extensions and screwdrivers. They have you return the whole set for a new one but I wouldn't want to do that with a big set like that one. Sometimes you get an employee that has the common sense to take a piece out of a set they have there but no guarantees. Wrenches I'd either go with tekton or step up to the sk price range. Also I buy my tekton stuff from Home Depot's website for store pickup. Some of the best prices and my old *** is still wary about online retailers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[M6erfan]

A comprehensive toolkit really only needs about 165-175 pieces in terms of sockets and wrenches. The $6K SEP toolkits have something like 205 pieces including pliers, hammers, torque and line wrenches, and essential inspection tools.

Keep this in mind. The parts count is a very poor way to judge what is in a kit or what the value of the pieces are.

+1 re: parts count...

The parts list for that kit would make a great checklist for people looking to start an automotive/general tool set. Snap-On or not...

 

[Parrothead]

Many of their tools are probably the same/similar as the Pittsburgh Pro stuff from harbor freight, just larger sets and more complete

Not quite. There are a few things that are the same, but as an example the combination wrenches are worlds apart. The fit and finish of the Tekton is WAY better than their Pittsburgh counterparts. Heck, I think the Tekton combo wrenches are better than what's currently offered by Lowe's or Home Depot. The Tektons are made in Taiwan while the Pittsburghs are made in India. You can't go wrong with the Tektons.