Starting (almost) from scratch

[Balog]

A few years back I sold almost all of my tools as we were selling our house and planning to move long distance. Plans didn't work, and I'm once again back in a house and have a garage where I can work on stuff. I have a few things (allen set, deadblows, misc screwdrivers, older cordless drill and impact) but I need to start rebuilding. Here's my plan, let me know what you think.

My mot immediate needs are more complete socket sets (I have a random assortment but no organization) and combination wrenches. I was looking at the Tekton 6 point set in 3/8 drive and the 12 point set in 1/4 drive. My thinking was that with the smaller wrench I'm less likely to beefing on it so hard it'll mangle fasteners so the 12 point would be fine, and I'd stick to the 6 point for the bigger set. For combo wrenches, I don't have any huge preferences right off the bat. I was thinking of the Tektons just because I'd already be ordering the socket sets there, but I'm not married to the idea if there's a better-quality-at-the-same-price or better-price-at-the-same-quality alternative out there.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Personally I think about 6 and 12 point the other way around.

You need the best fit possible with smaller fasteners because there's so little metal there that coming in at a bad angle or applying a little too much force will round them. On the other hand when you start getting up to the larger sizes, the forces involved are greater but the fastener is also more able to withstand a little abuse. And tolerances start mattering less. I've put 90ftlbs through a wrench at 32mm when it was a size off... Actually I think it was the other way. I had a 32mm and the fastener was a non standard 31 or something?

Of course in general I don't see a point in 12 point tools. I have some but I treat them the same as things like XZN. You use them as needed and only on their specific fasteners.

I have some tekton stuff and for the price it's unbeatable and their sets are actually complete unlike most brands.

Having said that I recently got a 1/4" set of sockets and a ratchet from the Koken zeal line and they are very much in a class above common tools. I especially love their ratchet with the little thumb pad that lets you provide resistance while ratcheting so you can fully loosen or tighten things.

Edit: actually I say get the Koken zeal for sure at 1/4" where you want the most precise tools possible. Tekton for 3/8 and 1/2.

 

[The Fall]

I only use(d) 12-point sockets for 12-point bolts. That wasn't often. The flank-drive comes on all new sockets, so 6-points are even better than before.

When I was younger, I used a 12-point socket to loosen a tight oil drain plug. It got stuck in the socket upon removal. I only used it cuz I didn't have 6 points. The shop veteran said, "Always use 6-point unless you can't." It stuck with me.

6 points on sockets. 12 point on wrenches. 6-point wrenches are handy when you can't get a socket on something and you need to beat the wrench with a dead blow to loosen it.

My go-to on ALL of this stuff is SK, Williams (USA) and Proto. SK long-pattern wrenches are excellent.

You're in a situation where a DeLorean and a bolt of lightning back to 2005 would solve almost all of your problems: Sears USA party-pack socket set, plus their PRO wrenches or search for used tool truck ones. Nowadays, you've gotta spend money to get quality tools. The price should be dictated by how much and hard you use them. The industrial tool brands have the quality at a decent price.

I do like Tekton's USA-made screwdrivers.

 

[MagnusM4]

Tekton is an awesome place to start. Make sure to order from their website and you’ll get 10% back in rewards for Tekton. I’ve been happy with all my sockets, wrenches and other tools from them.

I agree with the others that you should get the 6pt preferably, especially in 1/4” drive to avoid rounding.

 

[seber]

For 1/4" drive I always go for six point. Even the slightest corrosion on a small fastener will make a twelve point useless. I have twelve points but can't remember the last time I used any of them.

 

[snickers muncher]

Just a thought....AutoZone for the past few years have put a 40ish piece 1/4 set on sale for $15 for black friday. Taiwan made 6 point metric and SAE in regular and deep sizes. It comes with a 72 tooth ratchet with short and long extensions. For puttering around at home you won't find a better bang for your buck in 1/4.

I've got one in each car and one in the house. They're actually quite decent. Tekton does free shipping, so if you have to order their 1/4 later you won't be out any extra for shipping.

I've got Tekton metric wrenches and am happy with them.

 

[BrandoJames]

A good starting point is the Truck Tool Equivalents thread (link below). A lot of professional tools are rebranded and marked up, so reading through the thread below can save you a lot of cash. You can also pick up a lot of used professional tools on eBay for reasonable prices. Be careful with your money, but I'd recommend splurging on a couple of professional grade fine-tooth flex ratchets, like a Snap-on Dual 80 and Matco 88 in different lengths.

As far as DIY brands, Tekton is an excellent choice--I own their ratcheting flex box wrench set as well as their 1/2" torque wrench. For sockets, go to Snap-on's site and check out the Blue-Point 3/8" chrome sockets (6 pt, Taiwan made). The Blue-Point sockets are sold individually for only $3 to $4 bucks a pop. I built an entire set for around $50 bucks. I also recommend Vessel screwdrivers, which are JIS standard if you own any asian vehicles. Good luck.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120

 

[TheLoamRanger]

I have some Tekton stuff, and it is definitely decent for the money. That's one of the first brands I look at if I want a value-oriented tool (i.e., something I won't use daily/weekly).

I echo the above statements though. I strongly prefer 6 point sockets for any hex bolts/nuts over 12 point sockets, especially in the smaller sizes.
My 1/2" ratchet set I bought the 12 point version - thinking I'd have more indexing options with a breaker bar. Wrong thought process for me. The fit is never as good as a 6 point set and I have rounded off stubborn fasteners as a result. I use my cheaper 6 point impact sockets more often than my nice 12 points because of this.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Tekton, Sunex, Kobalt, SK, Williams is who I go with also old Craftsman and Gearwrench also Duralast and Carlyle and Pittsburgh Pro are really nice as well. I use all those brands professionally and they work absolutely fine.


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[Lucid Moments]

I am another Tekton fan. Their products are excellent quality and the price is hard to beat. Sure there is better stuff out there, but the price goes up faster than the quality once you get past a certain point.

I don't see any point in 12 point sockets unless you have to deal with 12 point fasteners. With the high tooth count ratchets that are common you don't really gain any ease of access which is the main benefit of 12 point over 6.

 

[ssdave]

I'm with the others on 6 point in 1/4" drive. It seems to matter most on the small stuff, and some of the small bolts and nuts seem to have real bad dimensional tolerances anyway. I use 12 points almost exclusively on larger stuff, even though I have both 6 and 12 in both 3/8" and 1/2" drive. Mine are Snap-on and Proto, and I have no problems with rounding off with them.

However, most of the import tool owners report a strong preference for 6 point, and report rounding off issues with 12 point. So, since you're looking at Tekton, and the Tekton owners are recommending 6 point, I'd go with that recommendation, because it's specific to the situation you're in. The 6 point appear to be performing okay from the recommendations they're getting.

My rounding off problems went away when I went to modern, better quality sockets. YMMV, there's a lot of people on here that have rounding off problems with 12 point. I attribute that to the different sockets they are using, but I don't know for sure, and I sure as hell am not interested in downgrading sockets to experiment when mine are working. Particularly when the problems I was experiencing went away when I upgraded to what I have now.

On your general choice of brand, I think you're on the right track. If your uses are such that you could get by without tools for several years, a middle of the road import tool set will probably meet your needs well. Others in the same medium quality level that you might compare prices on are Taiwan made Williams, Carlyle from NAPA, and Proto Blackhawk.

 

[visionguru]

$100, Gearwrench 3/8" master set with free 1/4" master set seems a very good start for OP
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-321931.html

 

[m6z]

Gearwrench and Tekton both offer good values. Seems like Gearwrench runs better sales.

Sunex for Impacts.

SK steals and deals & their socket of the month club is a good way to add a little at a time for not a lot of money.

I'd probably buy a big set of ratcheting combo wrenches if I was starting over too.

Edit: Holiday sales will be starting soon, so you might want to wait for those deals to be announced.

 

[Balog]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the feedback. Looks like 6pt is the way to go.

$100, Gearwrench 3/8" master set with free 1/4" master set seems a very good start for OP
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-321931.html

Not sure it's still available at that price, the best I could find from that thread was $183. I may have missed the link though?

 

[Lucid Moments]

Not sure it's still available at that price, the best I could find from that thread was $183. I may have missed the link though?

4 year old link so probably not still available. Probably a good idea to wait to make an actual purchase until Black Friday or somewhere close to it. You could end up a lot cheaper, or with more tools for the same money.

 

[Balog]

4 year old link so probably not still available. Probably a good idea to wait to make an actual purchase until Black Friday or somewhere close to it. You could end up a lot cheaper, or with more tools for the same money.

Yeah, I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it. Does Tekton usually do a Black Friday sale?

 

[FuzzyTiger]

My rounding off problems went away when I went to modern, better quality sockets. YMMV, there's a lot of people on here that have rounding off problems with 12 point. I attribute that to the different sockets they are using, but I don't know for sure, and I sure as hell am not interested in downgrading sockets to experiment when mine are working. Particularly when the problems I was experiencing went away when I upgraded to what I have now.

I just upgraded from my cheap Stanley sockets to Koken and Nepros and there is a huge difference that I can feel almost immediately. They go on the fasteners a lot more securely and when I'm turning them, I can feel the difference in stiffness in the sockets. The cheap sockets feel like they're trying to come off, the nicer sockets feel like they're a part of the bolt.

 

[1320stang]

most of my stuff is older Craftsman, if it all got stolen and I were replacing, Tekton is probably where I'd go.

 

[dirtbiker109d]

It took me a while to get tools I needed and I still need more.

 

[Mgdoug3]

All of my 1/4 sockets are SK 6 point. Most of my 3/8 is 6 point but I do have a few 12 points for when I run into 12 point nuts. I bought a cheap 1/4 Stanley set from Walmart once that was 12 point. That set turned me off from 12 sockets but it was probably because of a poor design and quality.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I haven’t noticed a difference really in 12 and 6 point but I don’t use knuckle busting sockets anymore either lol if I do use 12 point it’s in low torque situations unless no other one is available all my sockets are nice quality a mix of brands mostly old Craftsman and a lot of Kobalt and Gearwrench none of them I have had problems with rounding off unless the bolt is really tight. Most of my 1/4 are 6 point but I do have some 12 points floating around too.


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[Bighead38]

I haven’t noticed a difference really in 12 and 6 point but I don’t use knuckle busting sockets anymore either lol if I do use 12 point it’s in low torque situations unless no other one is available all my sockets are nice quality a mix of brands mostly old Craftsman and a lot of Kobalt and Gearwrench none of them I have had problems with rounding off unless the bolt is really tight. Most of my 1/4 are 6 point but I do have some 12 points floating around too.


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Your also not in the rust belt. 12 point is almost useless in the rust belt.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Your also not in the rust belt. 12 point is almost useless in the rust belt.

Yep I agree I have friends who live up there and have a Ford Escape that I bought from my aunt not realizing it was from the north everything is rusty on it so it *****.


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[Bighead38]

Yep I agree I have friends who live up there and have a Ford Escape that I bought from my aunt not realizing it was from the north everything is rusty on it so it *****.


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This isn’t even a good example but it’s what I worked on today. All of that rust in the blocks is from just the two caliper brackets.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

This isn’t even a good example but it’s what I worked on today. All of that rust in the blocks is from just the two caliper brackets.

Wow that is more rust than I’ve ever handled bet that took some heat to get off there


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[jonshonda]

My advice is to buy tools "as needed", not buy them to fill up a box. That is how I usually buy, but am also guilty of buying tools that are a good deal on FB or CL.

 

[jonshonda]

Double post

 

[midorix]

Another option if you're just trying to get by until you decide what you really need. $105 at Costco.

I've been using Kirkland brand $80 tool set similar to this one for several years, fixing cars and house stuff. Only recently I got an itch to upgrade a little and get GearWrench and Grey Pneumatic stuff (this was more of a want than a need). I'm also fan of the Vessel screw drivers that I found out about few weeks ago. They work really well on Japanese cars.

I also have Tekton impact sockets and they are good but I seem to always reach for the Kirkland tools first (Tekton impact sockets I have are bit too thick).

Plus this is really no risk proposition. If you don't like it, you can return it. I heard Costco has decent return policy .