planning first real tool set

[bayarea4x4]

Hi Everyone,

I needed opinions on how I should go about planning and buying my first real tool set. I am 23 and have access to the snap-on 50% discount. I plan on using the tools mostly for house projects/random stuff and dabble a little into fixing cars. This set will definiately not be used daily but I want something that will last.

I am trying to first figure out what the heck I should include. Between craftsman and SO they have so many sets, I can figure out what is worth it and what is overkill. I have talked with an SO dealer, and he is even on the fence for selling me a kit even with the discount just because we both know how much more I can get of the craftsman pro line. What is everyone's thoughts on what should be in this kit and for a novice doing general stuff is SO worth it?

thanks,

Josh

BTW first post

 

[larry_g]

Son that is like asking what color to paint your car. You are going to have to give a bit more detail of who you are and what your skills are. When you know your skills then give your aspirations in detail. To me dabbling in the cars could be anything from waxing and polishing to frame off resto of a rig. By your name your a 4x4 guy. Does that mean you aspire to a range rover to traverse back and forth to work or do you aspire to run the wilds in your home built buggy? Just recently here there was a post about the list Popular Mechanics put out on the 50 most needed tools for the home owner. Start there and see how that dovetails with what you are thinking.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Teken]

Josh,

Welcome to GJ . . . My personal views on tools can be split into two basic categories . . .

1. Professional / Full time use: If you're using your tools to make money then its pretty simple given your current discount for SO tools, go that route.

2. Shade Tree Mech / Casual User: Who appreciated fine quality and believes in buying the tool once so as it performs as expected with out the potential down time.

Going the Craftman Pro line or similar you can't beat it in my humble opinion. The value is incredible when there is a sale, and their replacement policy is pretty simple and painless . . .

Comes down to dollar to value for most people . . .

 

[moronmountain]

Hi Everyone,

I needed opinions on how I should go about planning and buying my first real tool set. I am 23 and have access to the snap-on 50% discount. I plan on using the tools mostly for house projects/random stuff and dabble a little into fixing cars. This set will definiately not be used daily but I want something that will last.

I am trying to first figure out what the heck I should include. Between craftsman and SO they have so many sets, I can figure out what is worth it and what is overkill. I have talked with an SO dealer, and he is even on the fence for selling me a kit even with the discount just because we both know how much more I can get of the craftsman pro line. What is everyone's thoughts on what should be in this kit and for a novice doing general stuff is SO worth it?

thanks,

Josh

BTW first post

I'm personally starting with a 3/8 socket set, combination wrenches and screwdrivers. Then I will move on to 1/4 and 1/2 socket sets. I have a couple of the 80 tooth ratchets and they are incredible.

 

[mjozefow]

If you have the discount, buy stuff that is UNIVERSAL. Ratchets instead of sockets for example. You could shell out some hefty change in ratchets alone.

 

[FordF1]

I've made a list of what I think would work for me. I work on my own car and am restoring a truck. The snapon website can be a little daunting at first but its important to realize there are basically no discounts for buying a handle set or other things, so pick and choose exactly what you think you need. I don't use a lot of really big stuff but have larger sizes in Craftsman already. I also took the advice of a member on here to use the screwdriver with different bits (I already have hard handle craftsmans anyways).

Here is what I was looking at getting.

144TMPB 1/4 Metric & SAE Set
F80 3/8 Ratchet
FK80 3/8 Stubby Ratchet
S80 1/2 Ratchet
211SFSY 3/8 SAE Deep 11 pc
212SFSMY 3/8 Metric Deep 12 pc (8-19mm)
212FSMY 3/8 Metric Shal 12 pc (8-19mm)
208AFX 3/8 Extensions 8pc (1.5 -24)
212FUY 3/8 12pt Universal SAE 12pc (5/16-1)
209FUMY 3/8 12pt Universal Metric 9pc (10-19)
FU8A 3/8 Universal
S8 1/2 Universal
313TWMYA 1/2 Metric Shal 13 pc (12-24mm)
313TSMYA 1/2 Metric Deep 13 pc (12-24mm)
313TSYA 1/2 SAE Deep 13 pc (3/8-1 1/8)
313TWYA*@#$*@#$ 1/2 SAE Shal 13 pc (3/8-1 1/8)
OEXM713B Metric 13 pc (10-22mm)
OXIM707SBK Metric 6pt Midget 7 pc (4-9mm)
OEX714K SAE 14 pc (3/8-1 1/4)
OXI709SBK SAE 6pt Midget 9 pc (1/8-3/8)
2007BFB Body hammers and dolly
SDM400A Kit Master Screwdriver Bit
SSDMR4 Ratcheting Screwdriver

 

[tw33k2514]

Whatever you do you must get ratchets and wrenches from snap-on they are seriously amazing, and worth the cost. And really I would look into those SK socket sets. I have them and they are great.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Buy as much as you can, of a quality brand. Dont be suckered into going into debt by that 50% snap-on discount. Whatever you do avoid going into debt like you would avoid ****** with aids...

 

[Teken]

Buy as much as you can, of a quality brand. Dont be suckered into going into debt by that 50% snap-on discount. Whatever you do avoid going into debt like you would avoid ****** with aids...

I dunno man . . . Isn't the short term fantastic ******** worth the long term ails?

 

[Skin]

whatever brand basic stuff is

1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 socket sets both metric and SAE
1/4, 3/8, 1/2 ratchets throw a 3/8 or 1/2 flex and a 1/2 breaker bar in there for automotive
1/2 impact wrench and sockets SAE and Metric [GP/Sunex socket sets are best bang/buck]

A 3/8 and/or 1/2 split beam torque wrench in ft/lbs for automotive

vise grips and some channelock pliers/wrenches

A good set of screw drivers

Mayhew punches and chisels as well as a set of picks

a couple of good basic hammers

dead blow/plastic hammer

Full SAE/Metric Wrench sets

a decent pistol/pocket screwdriver and some nut driver/screw driver attachments. I use one of these a lot for around the house things. Something like the new Bosch PS21-2A is great though sears also sells a very basic and cheap [not nearly as powerful as the Bosch] 4.8 pistol screw [p/n 315.10165] driver thats extremely handy.

Full ratcheting wrench sets both SAE and Metric. Theres a lot out there, i and a lot of others like GearWrench in this department. They make all types and sizes.



Theres a LOT of other things but i think that would make for a good start. I agree Snap-On probably isnt the way to go for a weekend warrior but that 50% discout is pretty damn good. Compare prices and dont be afraid to mix and match. For things like combo wrenches and socket sets i'd go for whats cheaper but still has quality.

 

[FordF1]

Like others have said wrenches and ratchets should be first. I've also found screwdrivers work when nothing else would. The universal sockets are also alot better than the craftsman but very expensive.

 

[rsanter]

first off, the tools you will use the most you want to get the best that you can

wrenches
cman pro at a minimum, SO is better
ratchets, get snap on and a set of the profile cman as backups
sockets, get snap on as the base sizes and fill in with cman on the ones you dont use as much

bob

 

[Indy_500]

i'm a young kid but man, if i every get the chance to get that 50% discount, i would take out a loan and buy a ton of tools because you'll never get them for those prices ever.

 

[Indy_500]

first off, the tools you will use the most you want to get the best that you can

wrenches
cman pro at a minimum, SO is better
ratchets, get snap on and a set of the profile cman as backups
sockets, get snap on as the base sizes and fill in with cman on the ones you dont use as much

bob

sounds like a good answer to me

 

[gc11090]

With the snapon student account you are can get minimum of $1000 worth of tools financed, and at 50% off. As soon as I clear up my finnancial situation, I am going to have a nice big list for my rep. He said payments of about $50 a month. I am going to look further in depth at the details when the time arises. But what I would do is go snap on for ratchets, wrenches, and anything that you find is only a few $ more than the comparable craftsman. Also don't forget about blue point! Sockets are around craftsman prices after our discount.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

i'm a young kid but man, if i every get the chance to get that 50% discount, i would take out a loan and buy a ton of tools because you'll never get them for those prices ever.

NO NO NO NO NO!

You're 15. If you want to buy SO tools by the time you make it tech school, do what you can to save the money. Put whatever you can save into an interest bearing savings account and pay cash for those tools. Consumer credit is satan's tool to take you down to consumer credit hell. Take from a guy trying to claw his way out - dont finance tools.

 

[Indy_500]

NO NO NO NO NO!

You're 15. If you want to buy SO tools by the time you make it tech school, do what you can to save the money. Put whatever you can save into an interest bearing savings account and pay cash for those tools. Consumer credit is satan's tool to take you down to consumer credit hell. Take from a guy trying to claw his way out - dont finance tools.

lol i can dream can't i?

 

[moparmuscle88]

the 6pt flank drive sockets are irreplaceable, there is nothing like them period, and they are worth every penny


like most have said, a ratchet and socket set are the first thing to get, and high quality is what you need since they will be used the most

secondly, the blue point (snap on doesnt make any) combination ratcheting flex wrenches, they are one of my most used tools as well

thirdly, is you focus, will you be working on mostly metric or SAE stuff? i do mostly old cars and mainly domestic, so i have tons of standard tools and only enough metric to do general service work on newer cars