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What is the best cheapo home toolset?

J

Jacobson

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Vacation house has crappy scattered incomplete tools. Once in a while, I need them and its a joke. Missing sockets. I'd like a cheapo home tool set.

I don't need ratchets. Mainly a clean set of sockets.

I already have screwdrivers, hammer, ratchet, drill.
Drill bit set is ****.

I have drill bit chuck to 1/4 & 3/8 adapter.
That is good for sockets and drill.

Need Hex allen key set
 
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Old Radar

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Doesn't sound like this is a real time sensitive emergency, so my suggestion is to check out estatesales.net in your area for a sale that has vintage tools and pick up quality 40-80 year old USA made tools that meet your needs--their quality will far exceed anything you can buy at HF and will be less expensive to boot. Most will have the added benefit of outliving you vs. having to replace a HF tool that breaks after the third time you use it. You've got a couple of Yankee ratcheting screwdrivers in your avatar, so I shouldn't have to be telling you this.
 
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CR888

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Maybe just maybe a cheap set of HF sockets is all that an occasional user needs at his holiday house. I mean he could drive around to a bunch of estate sales seeking out odd bits and pieces...for a month or...he could spend less than most would on a lunch & buy everything he needs new, that matches, is not missing anything & that has a warranty. I know buying tools from HF is crazy but in this case it may well be the best idea.
 
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X1 Mike

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Old Radar said:
Doesn't sound like this is a real time sensitive emergency, so my suggestion is to check out estatesales.net in your area for a sale that has vintage tools and pick up quality 40-80 year old USA made tools that meet your needs--their quality will far exceed anything you can buy at HF and will be less expensive to boot. Most will have the added benefit of outliving you vs. having to replace a HF tool that breaks after the third time you use it. You've got a couple of Yankee ratcheting screwdrivers in your avatar, so I shouldn't have to be telling you this.
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Estate sales sounds good but one of the estates you may want to check out is your own. A couple weekends ago I took my camper out and forgot to grab my motorcycle race tool kit. Of course I needed a screwdriver and didn't have one. So last weekend I cleaned out my home boxes a bit and threw a bunch of duplicates in a Makita tool bag. I have Craftsman raised panel wrenches and ratchets that I haven't touched in 20 years so why not have them be possibly used. Bunch of mismatched screwdrivers, mallets, hammers, small wrecking bar among other things. I'll probably go get some socket rails and make up some C-man sockets to keep in the bag with sockets that I have loose in my box.

You would be amazed at how many duplicates that you have picked up over the years.
 
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ItsJustJoe

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If you're not going to be working on anything that might require some force, go ahead with the HF sockets... if you think you might need to apply some force (not even a cheater bar or anything silly), look for a 'special buy' stackout of the Kobalt, Craftsman, or Husky from one of the big boxes. Father's Day is coming up - I'd bet there will be all sorts of special buy tools in stackouts by the registers and such.

A few years ago, I bought a set of tools from HF, to keep in the car I was flipping (2001 Prelude). Had to replace the belts, so I thought I would just use the HF set to try it out... I'm not a huge strong guy, but I snapped the 3/8" extension trying to remove a 12mm bolt. No cheater bar, nothing. I am not a tool snob by any means - I still buy some stuff from HF.
 
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IndyGarage

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I used the heck out of a set of Stanley tools I bought at Walmart. I found myself on vacation with a mechanical job to do and no tools. Less than $75 for an entire set as I remember and they worked great.
 
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Handyandy23

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I'd just grab some cheap-but-not-$6-cheap socket set in the blow molded cases of Husky or Craftsman or something along those lines. Whatever is one step better than worst quality that's on sale or clearance.

I know you said you don't need a ratchet, but for an occasional summer house I think having it all in a little plastic box as a kit makes using it and not losing sockets the easiest.
 
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redragoon

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That Kobalt 227 set usually goes on sale for $99 during the year. I made my dad and brother keep them so I have something to use when I inevitably need to fix something at their house.
 
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MJO

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Best bet is to buy quality used made in USA tools, craig's list, facebook market place or ebay.
 
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Old Radar

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CR888 said:
Maybe just maybe a cheap set of HF sockets is all that an occasional user needs at his holiday house. I mean he could drive around to a bunch of estate sales seeking out odd bits and pieces...for a month or...he could spend less than most would on a lunch & buy everything he needs new, that matches, is not missing anything & that has a warranty. I know buying tools from HF is crazy but in this case it may well be the best idea.
Click to expand...

Handyandy23 said:
I'd just grab some cheap-but-not-$6-cheap socket set in the blow molded cases of Husky or Craftsman or something along those lines. Whatever is one step better than worst quality that's on sale or clearance.

I know you said you don't need a ratchet, but for an occasional summer house I think having it all in a little plastic box as a kit makes using it and not losing sockets the easiest.
Click to expand...

Yep, those are options.

IMO, "occasional use" and "holiday house" are useless qualifiers. I only use my parachute and my insurance occasionally--but I don't buy low quality because I need to be sure they will support me with no hassle on those occasions when I need them.

A holiday house doesn't know it's a holiday house. **** is going to break just like in any house--the difference is you're not there regularly to maintain it. That means maintenance is likely needed and you're the one on holiday--now you need reliable quality tools that work the first time instead of breaking and forcing you to spend your vacation time and money chasing down replacements.

Don't buy cheap and hope quality won't be needed. Spend your vacation relaxing in the knowledge that if you need to fix something, you have the tools for the job. That's just my philosophy. It's not everyone's. That's why HF is in business. Good Luck.
 
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Downwindtracker 2

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My newest sockets sets are over 30 years old. Canadian and American made. I earned my living with them. You can go and buy better made sockets in any of the kits made in Taiwan, not the Chinese made ones.

I had one of those estate sets stolen out of the back of my truck, I replaced it with a 70% off on sale for $99 set. The ratchets are garbage, but the sockets are OK. Off hunting in northern BC, I've had to use it. Tough working with a bag over your head. At that price, I think they are Chinese.
 
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J

Jacobson

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Jacobson

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Thanks for all the ideas.
It turns out, the wife already picked up an new socket set at the local store.
It was sitting in one of the other drawers, as I was fiddling around trying to organize the pile of random loose sockets.


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M6erfan

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so, you need sockets and a hex key set.

Dude, HF. You're outta there for less than $20 with Quinn 3/8" sockets and a key set.

:headscrat

I mean, you gave no budget and a link to a $6 socket set...
 
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J

Jacobson

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Turns out we do have a complete hex key set
Also have drills bits. I was looking at the old ones.
So, I do have all I need
 
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brownbagg

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i like stanley and great neck for the house, i dont like the craftman all kits because they will tell you 101 pieces but 45 are allen head or werid screw drivers you never used, they even count the box as a piece
 
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finn

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Menards regularly has socket and wrench sets on sale for $69 or less. I picked up a gearwrench / Crescent set for something like $39 a year ago at Black Friday that has metric and same sockets and ratcheting combination wrenches, and a couple of ratchets.

Pretty much everything you need for household type work. It has skips, to be sure, but hasn’t stopped me so far. We originally bought it for the fifth wheel.
 
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Jacobson

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ItsJustJoe said:
That exact set is the garbage set I broke first time out of the box on a 12mm bolt. Only tell people you dislike like to buy those...
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Good to know. Weird that the Pittsburgh name would have such a bad socket quality. All my HF impact sockets have been great. I'll remove the link.
 
C

Coach James

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Jacobson said:
Good to know. Weird that the Pittsburgh name would have such a bad socket quality. All my HF impact sockets have been great. I'll remove the link.
Click to expand...

The HF sockets you see hanging on the hooks in the store are fine. I have some that get a lot of use and have never had a problem. I think the sockets in that $6 are the same sockets in every other junk $6 socket set. I remember them coming in a flimsy metal case, usually green or black.

Coach
 
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Leaflessshadetree

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Don't ask.
Avoid the super cheap stuff at HF.

Get a decent box/cart/bench/cabinet larger enough than what you want in tools.
Organize what you have. Add what you need.
 
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