Tool Set for the Weekend Warrior

[HanShotFirst]

I'm not sure Craftsman has gotten worse. The competition has gotten WAY better. The difference between a Dual 80 and a raised panel craftsman is night and day. Almost different tools. I don't think Snap On were that dramatically different years ago when all ratchets had 36 teeth.

I don't mind 36 tooth ratchets at all until I really NEED something finer; which for me is pretty rare. The SO's always felt smoother and more precise to me all else being equal. The Craftsman was always a little sloppy and just got sloppier as you used them; you didn't get that with a Snap On that's for sure.

I'd take a 36 tooth Snap On over 99% of the fine tooth ratchets of other brands. I'm not much of a Snap On fan, I'll admit. I don't think they're the best at everything, but they're either the best or damn good that's for sure. But I will say Snap On makes the best ratchets I've ever put in my hands, and I'd say the same about their combination wrenches. Yet I'm not a fan because of the price. I think they're even a little hard to justify for a pro. As a weekend warrior, they are nothing but a luxury. I'll never need that level of service. As great as SO is, I just never recommend SO for a weekend warrior; very impractical.

The weekend warrior needs quality, but he doesn't need that much quality. And really what you're buying is the service, you won't get that at home so it's wasted money that could go toward other tools.

I'm very impressed with Harbor Freight's SO knock off ratchets, they really are first rate. And I happen to like Taiwan, they're a cool nation that I don't mind supporting...a constant middle finger pointed right at China; I can get behind that.

If I didn't require US made, I just personally think the Pittsburgh Pro ratchets do a really good job of copying Snap On; that would be the ratchet I'd buy.

For someone who just can't handle having something that says Harbor Freight, I'd get one of the other Taiwan made Snap On knock offs; Husky, Stanley, Duralast, Gearwrench, etc... (Actually my Stanley SO knock off has been a favorite for the last 10 years). But it's being supplanted by my HF ratchets, especially the composite 1/4" & 3/8"; those are nice to work with. they're fairly precise, fine tooth, and way stronger than you'd ever think. Plus they're very light weight.

If I were splurging, I'd have a hard time choosing between the Snap On FX80 and the FHNF 100...as good as it gets. But I'd try to get them used.

 

[Ponchoguy]

snap on, all the way... all the craftsman stuff is made in china ****!!

Not all of it. Some of it is still made here, but it's harder to find. I just exchanged 25+ sockets last night at Sears...all replacements were USA made.

 

[Ponchoguy]

I would go the 48-49 piece SK 3/8 set for $150 on Amazon (price fluctuates). Do you really need a bunch of 1/2 or 1/4? I like SK ratchets but some don't, so grab something good used on eBay. Are you always going to just do cars or what about a house? This also depends on what kind of buyer you are:

Pittsburg Pro at HF will prob get you by for a long long time for the least amount.

Craftsman - unless cheap used USA why bother with new China stuff when the HF above is better and cheaper?

SK is good USA made stuff that is what I would call "prosumer."

I've got a bunch of garage sale Vintage CM stuff but I am always contemplating selling and moving to SK - simply because when I have had to replace lost sockets with newer USA CM stuff the quality is poor.


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I've had good luck with all the USA made Craftsman over the years, and I have all series (V, VV, G, G2D, GK, EE, etc).

 

[bfm336]

I've had good luck with all the USA made Craftsman over the years, and I have all series (V, VV, G, G2D, GK, EE, etc).

I literally felt the same until the last 3 times I picked up individual sockets and they either had rust inside or the plating was chipping on the top edge. On the last one I went back to Sears and all 3 had issues. FWIW


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[erty67]

All this ratchet talk. I'll say, for the longest time I only used Craftsman ratchets then I acquired a Stanley 3/8" ratchet (36tooth). I go to it every time. Since then I've picked up some Duralast, Kobalt, Pittsburgh, and SK ratchets. I will say I do like those SK round heads, but my most common grabs are that 36 tooth Stanley and a 36t Duralast 1/4" ratchet. The Craftsmans have fallen to the bottom of the pile.

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[stihlntime]

I bought both of my boys the USA made 263 PC Craftsman sets when they turned 16. The have about everything you need. You still find these nos USA made on ebay for 175 to 225.00. You can't beat it for the money.

 

[kctyphoon]

Not all of it. Some of it is still made here, but it's harder to find. I just exchanged 25+ sockets last night at Sears...all replacements were USA made.

that went over your head..

 

[d.mcfarland]

The best advice is that a tool set is just made of individual tools. Buy the best you can afford and do your research. If you're going to use it often then pony up. If you are going to use it once in a blue moon then get the best value, but still research. It's 2015 and the internet has all kinds of reviews and tests. Use that to your fiscal advantage.

 

[brownbagg]

stanley

 

[sonvolt]

My suggestion is go for a mechanics tool kit from the closest big box store. Kobalt, Husky, or Cman. Something close by in case you need a replacement in a pinch, like 4pm on a Sunday. My .02 is look for a Cman USA set.

 

[CNGsaves]

Ultimate bargain will be buying Army Mechanics Tool Set at
http://www.govliquidation.com/

They will likely be Armstrong or similar quality tools . . . thus good.

Likely will be a few missing pieces, but you can fill those in.
. . . . AND . . . wait for it . . . . those fill-ins can come from the MULTIPLE sets that you'll likely buy in the LOT !! You may be bidding on 3 or 4 sets !!

Right now, you need to jump on the Sunex 3/8" master set (part # 3580) impact sockets that is $200 less $100 rebate. Deal is over end of August 2015 so don't dilly-dally. See GJ thread that has all the details.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=295887&showall=1

Good luck and YES . . . you'll have blend of MANY brands to build up enough tools to get you by, so you won't have to make 1 hr drive back to dad's house.

 

[AndyCBR]

OP-I'll second the USA craftsman starter set if you can find one. I'm not a fan of the overseas craftsman stuff as they lowered the quality and didn't lower the price point (of course). I would prefer a used USA set over a new overseas set. Good news you can find the used stuff from a lot of sources.

I started out the same way in college and quickly learned the more projects I tackled, the more I was able to tackle. In the process I learned a lot and became much more self reliant and capable to perform my own repairs and maintenance.

I recently performed about $5k worth of preventative maintenance/service on my wife's minivan for under $1,500 in parts and my time over a holiday. The tools are an investment that can and will pay you back.

My $.02

1) You can justify spending money on good ratchets since you will use them so much. I like Snap On and my 1/4" flex head is indispensable for MC work. These can be upgrades to your starter set.

2) Same for a good set of screwdrivers-again I have a Snap-On and they will remove screws that other screwdrivers will round off.

3) You'll eventually spend a lot of money on other hand tools too. Punch, Chisel, hammer, carpentry tools, layout, pliers, diagnostic, etc.

 

[kctyphoon]

its all a matter of how much you wanna spend.. heres a good deal right now - and if you want more that this, people can give better suggestions

craftsman 263 piece mechaics tool kit, with 3 drawer portable storage case. reg $299, on sale for $172, and you get another $15 back in points..

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-263-...p-00940263000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

they have a very similar model also on sale for $159, but it doesnt organize the wrenchs as well, and is a 258 piece kit..

if you want bigger, and more - id suggest looking into the craftsman ultimate socket set with extensions.. its 299 sockets, with just a couple extensions.. you can fill in with whatever ratchets and wrenchs you see fit. maybe grab some channellock pliers, screwdrivers, and a few odds and ends, and you'd be looking at a pretty formidable set of hand tools.. you may wanna leave some room in the budget for some Milwaukee power tools though.

also - if you want a toolbox for the house, you really cant beat the HF models.. many people here, myself included, swear by the 44" model tool box.

http://t.harborfreight.com/44-in-13...8784.html?utm_referrer=http://www.google.com/


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[Adam.C]

its all a matter of how much you wanna spend.. heres a good deal right now - and if you want more that this, people can give better suggestions

craftsman 263 piece mechanics tool kit, with 3 drawer portable storage case. reg $299, on sale for $172, and you get another $15 back in points..

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-263-...p-00940263000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

That set is a great example of what I was saying earlier. Do you really need 8pt sockets? 6 and 12pt 1/4" drive SAE sockets? If you are working on aircraft, you will need 12pt 1/4" SAE. Otherwise, you don't.

I'm not saying the tools are **** here. I may say that later, but right now, its just the tools included aren't particularly helpful for auto repair. That set is low cost but it isn't a good value.

If I were putting together a basic set of auto repair tools, just the minimum, it would probably look like this:
=========================
Shallow sockets 3/8" drive 8-19mm
3", 6" wobble plus extension (or plain wobbles)
super long ratchet, stubby ratchet (optional)

Ratcheting screwdriver set with allen, torx, pzi and screwdriver tips (get highest possible quality)

Duck bill or needle nose pliers, Channel locks, diagonal cutters

Cheap dead blow hammer
Ball peen hammer, assorted drifts/punches

Pry bars, plastic prybars (these can be homemade from windshield ice scrapers, old credit cards are also handy).

Wrench set-8-19mm (get used Snap On FDP if possible, or Wright grip or something with a kick *** open end)

Good quality torx bit sockets T27-T50 or so.
Good quality allen keys (Old, long pattern Craftsman industrial were good, Old craftsman gray and red tee handles were Ehlkind, same as old Snap On??.)

A set like this could do many basic tasks like a brake job, a waterpump or alternator, maybe a starter.

optional or asap
1/2" metric impact sockets
1/2" breaker bar (longest available) or Snap On SHLF80A (preferred but expensive)
1/4" drive socket set and smallest possible ratchet
Flare nut wrenches
high performance wrenches, possibly ratcheting wrenches (flex heads?)
High quality screwdriver set, especially PH1,2,3
more extensions
dmm, test light, etc

 

[PJNJ]

OP-I'll second the USA craftsman starter set if you can find one. I'm not a fan of the overseas craftsman stuff as they lowered the quality and didn't lower the price point (of course). I would prefer a used USA set over a new overseas set. Good news you can find the used stuff from a lot of sources.

I started out the same way in college and quickly learned the more projects I tackled, the more I was able to tackle. In the process I learned a lot and became much more self reliant and capable to perform my own repairs and maintenance.

I recently performed about $5k worth of preventative maintenance/service on my wife's minivan for under $1,500 in parts and my time over a holiday. The tools are an investment that can and will pay you back.

My $.02

1) You can justify spending money on good ratchets since you will use them so much. I like Snap On and my 1/4" flex head is indispensable for MC work. These can be upgrades to your starter set.

2) Same for a good set of screwdrivers-again I have a Snap-On and they will remove screws that other screwdrivers will round off.

3) You'll eventually spend a lot of money on other hand tools too. Punch, Chisel, hammer, carpentry tools, layout, pliers, diagnostic, etc.

its all a matter of how much you wanna spend.. heres a good deal right now - and if you want more that this, people can give better suggestions

craftsman 263 piece mechaics tool kit, with 3 drawer portable storage case. reg $299, on sale for $172, and you get another $15 back in points..

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-263-...p-00940263000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4

they have a very similar model also on sale for $159, but it doesnt organize the wrenchs as well, and is a 258 piece kit..

if you want bigger, and more - id suggest looking into the craftsman ultimate socket set with extensions.. its 299 sockets, with just a couple extensions.. you can fill in with whatever ratchets and wrenchs you see fit. maybe grab some channellock pliers, screwdrivers, and a few odds and ends, and you'd be looking at a pretty formidable set of hand tools.. you may wanna leave some room in the budget for some Milwaukee power tools though.

also - if you want a toolbox for the house, you really cant beat the HF models.. many people here, myself included, swear by the 44" model tool box.

http://t.harborfreight.com/44-in-13...8784.html?utm_referrer=http://www.google.com/


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I chime in as a third vote for the Cman starter set. A lot of us started with something like that and added on/moved up as time went by. Are there sockets that you will probably never use - sure. But the price on sale more than makes up for that. Get that or a comparable Kobalt/Husky set; buy some HF ratchets; get some Williams black handle screwdrivers; a HF 24 inch breaker bar along with a Gearwrench 3/8 breaker bar and go to work. When you save some serious cash from the first few jobs you do on your vehicles, treat yourself to an Armstrong 3/8 locking flex ratchet with 88 teeth. After the next round of savings, get some Wrightgrip wrenches. And so on and so on. Pretty soon you'll have a pretty good and complete set of tools to do almost anything you want to do. From the money I've saved over the years I have built a pretty good collection that I am still adding to but I still have the red drawers with the Craftsman sockets in my tool box. And they still get used.

Remember a lot of tools may not be the prettiest; have the best "feel"; have the best chrome; or last the longest but they'll get the job done. That's their purpose. And the above tools will do just that.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[kctyphoon]

That set is a great example of what I was saying earlier. Do you really need 8pt sockets? 6 and 12pt 1/4" drive SAE sockets? If you are working on aircraft, you will need 12pt 1/4" SAE. Otherwise, you don't.

I'm not saying the tools are **** here. I may say that later, but right now, its just the tools included aren't particularly helpful for auto repair. That set is low cost but it isn't a good value.

i think many people here would disagree with this.. the set i posted is a great buy, and comes with something like 150 sockets.. after a closer look at whats included, i would however pick the cheaper set for $159 over the first one i posted. this -

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-258-...p-00931783000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

it comes with 158 sockets, and regular combination wrenches over the ratcheting ones that the other set has.. if i only had one wrench set, id take standard combo wrenchs over the ratcheting - so no worries about them being too big which is not an uncommon issue working on cars.

it boils down to $1 a socket, if you included nothing else that came in that set.. i have a much smaller husky set that i use to work on the cars and get filthy, and its always been enough for like 90 - 95% of what i needed.. whats nice about these too, is you can take an enitre tray (drawer) with you under the car, or to whatever you are working on, without haveing to grab the entire set, or just pick a few sockets.. that set is big enough to do just about anything you would need to do on a car that MOST people would feel comfortable doing, and small enough to fit in a closet.. add a small tool bag with some other things like screwdrivers, and pliers and someone could handle most of what they would want to tackle.

 

[ravenzfusion]

ive been disappointed with USA craftsman lately. Heres some comparisons of newer husky , Stanley and older g craftsman. The pi of the single socket is a newer g2 craftsman from a USA 250 PC set bought last year. Horrible chrome on the inside of it

 

[kctyphoon]

ive been disappointed with USA craftsman lately. Heres some comparisons of newer husky , Stanley and older g craftsman. The pi of the single socket is a newer g2 craftsman from a USA 250 PC set bought last year. Horrible chrome on the inside of it

the real difference between the husky and craftsman is when you get into the deep sockets. the broaching on the husky is only deep enough to accept one fastener before it bottoms out, the rest of the socket just accomodates a long stud. on a socket with a deeper broach the nut being loosened can travel up inside the socket without "pushing" the deep well socket up with it - but thats exactly the opposite what will happen with a husky. can make things difficult trying to fit into a tight spot.

 

[Cato]

Well, first, ask yourself what kind of guy are you.

If you really are the type that prefers to "cry once" and wants the best (or at least the most popular), then pony up for Snap On. It costs a fortune, but if you are good at going on Craigslist, then you'll be in good shape.

If you just need good tools, then go with Husky from Home Depot. Buy your stuff slowly when you see sales.

 

[Brownsfan]

All things being equal. Husky and Craftsman both made in China and by the same company. The Husky sets come with MUCH better ratchets. And are lower priced. The sockets are made VERY similar to Gearwrench sockets. Almost identical actually. Also Kobalt sets at Lowe's when on sale can be a great value. I have a 3/8 set in my service van. Again the ratchets are MUCH better than the ones that come In the Craftsman sets. Also look at some Armstrong sets in the Napa real deals flier. They have some pretty good prices on them. USA made and come with some of the nicest ratchets available. They also have some good deals on the Carlyle stuff.

 

[kctyphoon]

All things being equal. Husky and Craftsman both made in China and by the same company. The Husky sets come with MUCH better ratchets. And are lower priced. The sockets are made VERY similar to Gearwrench sockets. Almost identical actually. Also Kobalt sets at Lowe's when on sale can be a great value. I have a 3/8 set in my service van. Again the ratchets are MUCH better than the ones that come In the Craftsman sets. Also look at some Armstrong sets in the Napa real deals flier. They have some pretty good prices on them. USA made and come with some of the nicest ratchets available. They also have some good deals on the Carlyle stuff.

my craftsman and husky sockets are nothing alike.

 

[Brownsfan]

I know. I said they are made by the same company and Husky is similar to Gearwrench. Never said craftsman and husky were alike just they were made by the same company. What they do have in common is they are made by Apex and made in China.

 

[On-Wheel]

I was just schooled on snap on prices at an auction.Socket sets went for 70$,I was thinking the guy was paying about half price.Got home looked up set prices,geez over $500,maybe another 10 bucks a set and I'd have won the bidding.Six socket sets at $70 and a bunch more.Probably 10K retail for $1200. To 1 guy.Been kicking my **** all week for not bidding higher.Just a heads up to look for auctions .

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Sears have some good starter sets and reasonable... If it breaks hassle free warranty at any local Sears.. Kobalt warranty is pain in the ****...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a ToolAholic, Sometimesi regret it, especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit

 

[hautpot]

I was just schooled on snap on prices at an auction.Socket sets went for 70$,I was thinking the guy was paying about half price.Got home looked up set prices,geez over $500,maybe another 10 bucks a set and I'd have won the bidding.Six socket sets at $70 and a bunch more.Probably 10K retail for $1200. To 1 guy.Been kicking my **** all week for not bidding higher.Just a heads up to look for auctions .

Yup, never underestimate the value of the highly desirable Snap-on tools. Those chaps are likely to flip all that stuff online.

 

[HanShotFirst]

If you want to buy sets, and you're not looking at US, then I'd buy one of each Harbor Freight socket sets, they're as good as you're going to find in an import brand. The ratchets are first rate, and the sockets are tough. Plus, look at the finish quality, there are nearly no tool marks, and the chrome plating is done very well; really amazing quality.

I would not buy Harbor Freight wrenches, they're ****. Here's where it's time to drop some real coin. Get the Wrightgrip wrenches in METRIC. Then shop for a used set of good US made SAE wrenches on Craigslist or Ebay from the usual big names (Armstrong, Proto, SK, Mac, Wright, Williams, Snap On, Matco, etc.)

You will save a TON of money buying what you need vs. buying a set of tools. The sets often include stuff you'll never use. They makers do this to keep the production lines moving on the less common tools, but you really don't need them. I have sockets from my 1980's purchased Craftsman set that still haven't been used; seriously! 110% wasted money.

Buy what you need first, the best you can afford. Then you can upgrade as time goes by with higher quality tools (or you may learn what you have is doing the job just fine).