Starting tool collection need advice

[Ranch]

Iv been following this forum for awhile now but now i need some advice.

Iv decided to start my own tool collection as im sick of having to borrow stuff from the old man all the time. Im strictly a DIY and weekend warrior and i am by no means a professional. So i believe that craftsman will be just fine for me. Thats were im going to start unless someone has a better idea (I would like to buy made in USA when possible) So heres my first question, i currently have a small 127 pc.craftsman set that I bought back in high shcool, should i build off of that or should I buy a bigger set and move the small set into my truck. Im leaning towards buying a new set, the 255 pc. craftsman set that i can get on sale for about $150 with free shipping. Good/Bad idea?

Now ive never been a huge fan of craftsman RP wrenches, nothing wrong with them but its just a personal preference. They will be fine to start but i would like to upgrade to a nice SK set. With that being said how many wrenches is enough? do i need two 15 pc. sets or will a 18 pc combo metric and fractional set be enough? (If it matters most of my wrenching will be on a '97 silverado)

thanks for the input

here's the set im considering

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-255-...p-00935255000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[shoturtle]

It will be cheaper to buy a new master set then building. You can always add the rp wrenches if you need bigger the 17mm or 3/4. All you really need is a 10-12pc set of sae and metric for the US.

I would skip the sk ratchet and get the armstrong 88 form harry epstien.

And move the smaller set to the truck.

 

[pipsters]

In 2011 I bought a LOT of tools at Sears because they were the "cheapest" decent quality US made tools out there.

I have that exact same set you linked to and have done a **** load of work on my cars with it.

Working on cars and your house you pretty much need a 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" set of sockets, ratchets, a breaker car, some specialty sockets like torx and hex, and wrenches to say 22mm and 1-1/4" give or take.

The 1/2" sockets could probably be all impact without issue.

IMO that set probably wouldn't do much for you because it doesn't add that much.

I basically was in your position (but with the 255 pc set). I ended up buying a lot of Craftsman "complete" sets. Went completely overboard.

 

[rsanter]

IMO...
start with the basic set from sears. that will give you the basis of what you need to get going.
after that I would look at getting gently used stuff and got the best quality stuff you can for the least money.
sometimes you can get a great set of proto or even snap on is you are in the right place at the right time

bob

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Get the biggest set from Sears that fits your budget.

Go to flea markets, pawn shops and swap meets for extras and specialty tools.

And Craigslist.

 

[KenS]

Quit while you can!

 

[ajchien]

Quit while you can!

Perhaps the best advice I've seen in a while. Too bad it'll be ignored.

 

[franzdom]

Quit while you can!

He made it here, it's too late

 

[shoturtle]

Quit while you can!

+1 it will get expensive over time.

 

[shoturtle]

Get the biggest set from Sears that fits your budget.

Go to flea markets, pawn shops and swap meets for extras and specialty tools.

And Craigslist.

+1 this will give you allot of what you will need at the low cost to you.

 

[Link-Belt]

IMO...
start with the basic set from sears. that will give you the basis of what you need to get going.
after that I would look at getting gently used stuff and got the best quality stuff you can for the least money.
sometimes you can get a great set of proto or even snap on is you are in the right place at the right time

bob

This is exactly what I started doing about two months ago and have already had to upgrade to a larger box once and am now considering a top box for it. I started with the Craftsman 309 PC. set if you don't like the RPs this is the set for you it comes with 9 metric and 9 SAE full polished ratchet wrenches. If I were starting fresh I wouldn't even bother buying a box any smaller then the HF 44" after being here anything smaller is a waste of money. Good luck and remember the first step is admitting you have a problem.

sent from my Go F@!k Yourself using tapatalk 2

 

[shoturtle]

I would not go that far, he is mainly a diy. And will not need some of the tools you have added as you used them for work. Very seldom do you need the large size wrenches for a diy of over 19mm.

He most likely can get away with a 36inch box if he does not get caught up in buy for the sake of collecting, but really use the tools for what he intended. And just adding a good assortment of hand tools to a 255 or 309 set.

 

[PT Doc]

I'd get the 299 socket set. That way you have all the sockets you need when tightening nuts and volts of the same size. The 40 or so hex keys are counted in total piece count but can be had separately.

 

[Outlawmws]

Quit while you can!

Probably cheaper to collect stamps or coins...

But its too late you made a left when you should have made a right and here you are.

IMO...
start with the basic set from sears. that will give you the basis of what you need to get going.
after that I would look at getting gently used stuff and got the best quality stuff you can for the least money.
sometimes you can get a great set of proto or even snap on is you are in the right place at the right time

bob

on this ^^^

Get the biggest set from Sears that fits your budget.

Go to flea markets, pawn shops and swap meets for extras and specialty tools.

And Craigslist.

And on this^^^

Shoot for old stock if you go for Craftsman as they ARE switching over to imports for their tools

If you do go the yard sail flea market route, watch for the older 70's RHFT (Round head fine tooth) Craftsman ratchets (Or same in other brands, ). these are great work horses, although some complain about the handles, (I don't..)

Second on the impacts on the 1/2" drive sockets. Clearances are generally not an issue at that size.

Not sure if the 97 Siverado's were all metric (can someone in the know weigh in here?) , but if so, focus on a relatively complete set for metric, and maybe SAE in 3/8 only, maybe even only in deep.

98% of your SAE will be from 7/16 to 7/8 so consider that when selecting a set.

Again, not sure what Metric ranges there are for the Silverado...

 

[Sparkfarmer]

Take your time and do lots of research before each buy, Garage Journal is a great resource, as is plain old Google. Quality does not always mean coin. No brand excels at everything. Every brand excels at something. Find the right design+quality+price balance. Paying for quality is something you will very rarely regret.
Just my two cents... FWIW... which isn't much...

Good Luck

 

[Ranch]

thanks for the help guys i really appreciate it.

i think im going to pull the trigger on the 255 set it will have the the sockets i need and its half price... and we do a lot of road trips/camping/fishing it will be nice having the over set quickly available in the truck

and it happens to be the biggest kit i can currently afford!

also im not a fan of the SK ratchets, i dont like how they change direction. The ratchet in the kit will be fine, i was hoping to find something better used from the classifieds here, so if anyone has any ratchets they wanna part with

I was looking into the new IDEAL SK wrenches to replace the craftsman ones in the set at some point. i can get this set for about 100$ and was wondering if this would be enough or if i would need more sizes.

http://www.skhandtool.com/products/wrenches/product.aspx?ID=1818&view=view

 

[shoturtle]

That is a good sk wrench set, but I would not replace the rp wrenches with it, there are time xl wrenches are to long.

PS I know, I have long pattern craftsman pros, and proto 6pt asd. And there are time the rp comes out because it is the right length, more levage then my stubby, and short enough still to get in tight places. I have allot of wrenches.

 

[pipsters]

thanks for the help guys i really appreciate it.

i think im going to pull the trigger on the 255 set it will have the the sockets i need and its half price... and we do a lot of road trips/camping/fishing it will be nice having the over set quickly available in the truck

and it happens to be the biggest kit i can currently afford!

also im not a fan of the SK ratchets, i dont like how they change direction. The ratchet in the kit will be fine, i was hoping to find something better used from the classifieds here, so if anyone has any ratchets they wanna part with

I was looking into the new IDEAL SK wrenches to replace the craftsman ones in the set at some point. i can get this set for about 100$ and was wondering if this would be enough or if i would need more sizes.

http://www.skhandtool.com/products/wrenches/product.aspx?ID=1818&view=view

Depends on the application I needed up to 24mm on my car. I bought a nice set of stuff up to 19mm / 3/4" because that is what I use mostly, then the cheapie Craftsman RP sets up to 32mm / 1-5/16" for those random times you need a big *** wrench.

The bigger Craftsman RP wrenches aren't bad and for the $$ they are great bang for the buck.

See, it's already started...