Why Do You Buy Tools (Sockets, Wrenches, Bits, Screwdrivers, Hex Sockets) In Sets?

[pstemari]

That's easy to do with a wrench rack, though.

I'm quite curious about what you're finding to use the odd sizes on. Is it fasteners or custom parts that are machined to scroll a wrench?

The odd sizes would be 9mm, 11mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 20mm, 22mm, 23mm, 25mm, 26mm. Those are all in the standard sets for Sears, etc, but I can't find any standard or semi-standard fasteners in Machinery's that use them.

The closer nut on an ER-16 collet is 25mm, so that's a data point.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[bixxjs]

At work I have a 11 mm wrench that I use for dissasembly of nozzle tip bodies!

 

[77Mini]

This seems like a stupid question to me. If you plan on only working on 1 vehicle or machine forever then you might only need a few sizes. If you are like a normal person and work on lots of different things over the next 30 years your likely to need a variety.

 

[pi_guy]

I can not say that I use ever size every day but the range varies. One lesson I learned years ago what you do not have you will need.
Outside of having sockets in different drive sizes and heights which make it possible to fit something on the fastener, they really come in handy as press tools.
I work on a range of things from machinery to electronics and race cars and gearboxes so I see great diversity.

 

[MN_Runner]

If you are like a normal person and work on lots of different things over the next 30 years your likely to need a variety.

I guess I am not that normal or young. Most likely I will be in a nursing home in 20 years or less. You must be very young and strategic to plan for the next 30 years.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

What are your reasons for buying tools in sets?

In My Profession, there is a justifiable need for complete tool sets without skips.

If I was a Professional Golfer, I would most likely have a justifiable need for a full set of premium golf clubs.

In Your case; if You are neither a Professional Auto Technician or Golfer, Your needs for complete sets of tools or golf clubs would be unlikely.

Dime stores like Sears sell golf club and tool sets to cover the basic needs of amateurs. The majority of people fall into this group, and Sears markets these sets to fill these basic needs.

SnapOn is marketed for Professional use, and they do not enter into the dollar per socket pricing of Dime store discount tool sets.

Don't waste too much time overthinking this stuff

 

[scissorman]

As most people have said buying a complete set versus a handful of what you "know" you need is usually a cost advantage to you. I'm of the old school thinking that i'd rather have what I don't need than need what I don't have. .

 

[Sugarfryz]

When I worked at Honda just about all the sizes I ever needed were 8,10,12,14,17,19,22. That was it. All the old guys that worked there that's all they had, just about every tech had a toolbox the size of a larger tool cart, and honestly still had room. That's the joy of working at a Honda dealer.


Now that I worked in an independent shop, all my sockets get used, sae more rarely, but I have them because I never know what's coming through the door. The sizes I never thought I'd use get used all the time now.

 

[derosa]

Bicycles use 9mm for cable fixing nuts or bolts, actually a bicycle will use everything from 6-19mm and even 20 and 22 if you get into eternal geared hubs. Old Schwinn's and Peugeots may rarely need 25mm for headset adjustment.

 

[drink]

Some people have not realized that some tool companies have sold sets with storage. From what I understand the set they sell with the storage is designed to fit inside the storage box. This way you should not have to worry about buying the wrong size tool box and end up with way too much room or not enough room.

However, there are pros and cons to buying some sets. Even though the set in the picture is really nice (feast your eyes) it is an SAE tool set. If you need to add to it the box may or may not have room to add more tools. These sets were typically made up from a variety of smaller sets and shipped in a big box. If you bought all of the small sets such as sockets, screwdrivers, nut drivers, wrenches, etc. you would likely pay a lot more. The set in the picture was sold without storage years ago for about $1700 with free shipping.

 

[drink]

Some people have discussed set building in the past. A lot of people pointed out how you can buy several small sets of pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, etc. and piece together a big set with all the bells and whistles you want. This way you would possibly be able to rid yourself of buying all the missing pieces that were left out of some sets like Craftsman had on the market.

As far as I am concerned it seems like I always end up needing some sort of tool regardless of how complete of a set I have. I have bought complete sets and pieced some sets together myself. When assembling a set it can be a challenge to figure out what size and type of storage will be necessary.

 

[drink]

Currently I have been using a lot of SAE tools to work on old garden tractors and other SAE stuff. My pieced together set of SAE/metric Craftsman tool in my workshop does the job. Some engines have metric fasteners and some have SAE. My Craftsman SAE tools range in size from 3/16" thru 1-7/8" and so far I have used most of them up to 1-7/16".

When I work on my car I use a small set of metric to do what I do. Usually my small Allen set of SAE/metric sockets along with a few small metric wrenches does what I need to do on my car.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

The smallest thing I've worked on was a 1/64 scale car. The biggest thing was a lifted F250 diesel extended cab. Quite a few odd things in between.

Buying a full set and filling in with odd sockets was cheaper.

I haven't used the 15/32 or 17/32 sockets yet...

 

[Sugarfryz]

Has anyone else noticed at work, when you borrow a certain tool from a guy all the time, then you finally buy it, you end up never having to use it again. It's a running joke at work

 

[thatguysb]

i rarely buy stuff in a kit mostly buy what i need for my job within reason.

i wont go and buy various sockets when i could just grab a master kit and cover all what i need.

but i wont go and buy a full hex kit when i just need a 10mm to pull a nissan cylinder head.

i guess it depends on what is it and how often i would need it. i wrench on 99% of Asian vehicles so my stuff is pretty limited but covers whatever i may need.

 

[Thumper68]

I would consider myself to be a high end shop guy, and there are very few tools I have bought in sets that have not been used at some point either in my personal shop or at work.

As I do more work on modern vehicles I have been adding sets of things like torx, internal torx etc...

I could just buy the tools that I need but it is cheaper to buy the set and know that I have it covered then to hold up a job because I don't have the right tool.

 

[bdelmar2]

That's easy to do with a wrench rack, though.

I'm quite curious about what you're finding to use the odd sizes on. Is it fasteners or custom parts that are machined to scroll a wrench?

The odd sizes would be 9mm, 11mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 20mm, 22mm, 23mm, 25mm, 26mm. Those are all in the standard sets for Sears, etc, but I can't find any standard or semi-standard fasteners in Machinery's that use them.

The closer nut on an ER-16 collet is 25mm, so that's a data point.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Well, like I said, 9mm is an odd bird, don't use it enough I can think of anything off the top of my head.

11mm is used on mopar products, though they may actually still be 7/16" but I believe 11 and 7/16 are a direct interchange.

12 is used a lot on Asian Transmissions, as is the 14. 14mm is actually quite common and I've found them all over various vehicles.

17 and 19 mm are used on transmission line fittings - the part that screws into the trans, also some sensors.

I believe Audi uses 20mm for their large front suspension bolts, but may be Volvo, possibly both, I don't remember for sure.

Mainly I have been rebuilding transmissions for the last couple years so those are what pop into my head right off.

The larger sockets are used on shaft nuts, but I use those much less than the smaller common sizes so I can't name which goes where right off the top of my head.

Another common use I have for the larger sockets is to press bearings into place and install seals. I don't really pay close attention to what sizes I use, but quite a few for sure.

I have a set of bushing installers that cover trans bushings pretty well, but still find a socket works better in some cases.

We also have the control arm bushing driver and add on sleeve set, but that's a hassle to dig out especially when you don't find the one you need anyway and end up using a socket.

We also have a seal installer set or two, but a lot of times a socket fits better.

 

[byoungblood]

Like it has been said, it is better to have it on hand and have it available when you need it, instead of having to stop everything you're doing to have to go buy the tool.

It may be less expensive in the short term to buy only the sizes you need, but once you have to buy a couple more single sizes (particularly on larger wrenches) you'll probably be at the cost of a set.

 

[DakotaMan]

And here I am with a random assortment of metric and SAE on the same vehicle.

 

[bczygan]

I am serious. For a DIY mechanic like myself with very specific Japanese cars, I don't really need tools in sets. I think for you and other professionals who make living perhaps you must have tools in sets since you will have to fix all cars and trucks.

Is that the only car you will ever own?

And what level of work do you do on it?

If all you do is empty the ashtray, your tool list can be short.

I'm not a mechanic. Am only starting to work on my wife's and my vehicles. But the deeper I go, the more tools I need, to have just the right tool for every task. Some sets need to be multiples too.

Just talked to my brother, who has sets for work, barn, garage, work truck and hangar.

Bill

 

[Gmonkee]

Don't go nuts to the wall on possible things Bill, stay on this idea.

Otherwise you are just setting up the widow for a garage sale of obsolete unused specialty tools.

Been there, still weeding out stuff I forgot I had.

 

[Greg85mcss]

Has anyone else noticed at work, when you borrow a certain tool from a guy all the time, then you finally buy it, you end up never having to use it again. It's a running joke at work

I got to use a triple square the first day I had the set. Thought they'd never get used.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jacked_72]

I am serious. For a DIY mechanic like myself with very specific Japanese cars, I don't really need tools in sets. I think for you and other professionals who make living perhaps you must have tools in sets since you will have to fix all cars and trucks.

Well, that information adds a lot into the question. If you're doing Toyota a 10, 12, 14, 17, 21 and 22 will be about all you need. But like everyone says, when you need something else, you're stuck going to the store. And you're probably better off buying pricewise if you buy the whole set. And if you should buy a chevy or a Ford, then you've got to get SAE and a number of more sizes. I guess its like why you might want to buy a 1/2" set over just having 3/8ths. And if all you ever do is change oil on a toyota, a 14mm box wrench is all you'll ever need. So, its about how much work you do and what Make of vehicles you work on. But that seems pretty obvious.

 

[MN_Runner]

Is that the only car you will ever own?
Bill

Thank you for thoughtful questions. I currently own and maintain 2 Toyotas (Camry and 4Runner) and 2 Hondas (Accord and Civic). I doubt I will buy any other brands. I have fixed a few cars (Audi, BMW, Buick, Grand Am, Toyota, Volvo, Mazda) for my special friends but Honda/Toyota are easiest to fix. However, for the sake of completeness, I have been buying tools in sets in case I make new friends.

 

[Greg85mcss]

Op you should get the snap on 14/17 double box wrench. One tool that covers half the bolts on them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HaroRider]

I am a pretty avid DIYer and worked on everything. But if you plan on working on just Jap your logic is fine.

I work on everything, including German and small engines. Having the 299 piece craftsman set supplemented with some larger axle nut sockets and a good torx set pretty much covers me. I can probably work on larger pickups with what I have, but never have.

 

[openwheelracing88]

because I can't sleep well if there is a missing wrench........or plier.....

 

[amason3]

Because there is nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a project that you have to have completed the next morning/day, but you don't have the tool you need and the stores are well past closed.

And, sets typically just make life easier. Technically, you could probably do a majority of repairs with some pliers/vice-grips and various sized adjustable wrenches...but it would take forever, and probably result in numerous screwed up fasteners along with busted knuckles.

 

[amason3]

because I can't sleep well if there is a missing wrench........or plier.....

and most importantly....that.

 

[Cf mtn]

i have to add this. i volunteered to do a starter job on my sisters lincoln years ago. things where going swimmingly until i came to a mounting bolt. wobblers, universals, nothing was going to work. i had 24" extension the i bought years earlier for a trans job and haven't used until i came across this. remove L fr wheel add another shorter exten, viola. it's good to have it when you need it.

 

[derosa]

i have to add this. i volunteered to do a starter job on my sisters lincoln years ago. things where going swimmingly until i came to a mounting bolt. wobblers, universals, nothing was going to work. i had 24" extension the i bought years earlier for a trans job and haven't used until i came across this. remove L fr wheel add another shorter exten, viola. it's good to have it when you need it.

Had to do a flywheel position sensor on a volvo, it was either a buy a couple of 10" and a shorter or a 36" and save a couple bucks in the process. 10 years later I had to attach a custom 34" snout to the bottom of a new chimney liner which uses a worm clamp. Saved me a lot of hassle and effort not having to hold a bunch of pieced together extensions and get them on a worm clamp which used that random 5mm I never need otherwise.

 

[Cf mtn]

hi derosa, you just never know when that lonely tool will be needed? but your sure glad it's there.

 

[Wamsutta]

I buy sets of sockets because I like the clips and rails they come on.

I buy sets of extensions because I like the plastic trays.

I buy sets of wrenches for their plastic trays too.

 

[ssdave]

Incomplete sets are just not right. I remember when I broke the 5/16" deep socket from my Snap-on set. It was a while before I could catch the Snap-on truck. When it was quiet (mostly late at night) you could hear all the other pieces in the set crying and asking "where's 5/16"? What happened to 5/16"?" Was a happy day when I got a new one and reunited the entire set!

I buy complete sets when I can because it's frustrating and time consuming to try to find matching missing pieces for incomplete sets. I don't keep track of what I use and what I don't, but I know I rarely go to the box for a tool and don't have the right size.

 

[FigureItOut]

When it was quiet (mostly late at night) you could hear all the other pieces in the set crying and asking "where's 5/16"? What happened to 5/16"?" Was a happy day when I got a new one and reunited the entire set!

That's funny right there and I know the feeling. I recently lost an SK T25 driver, the rest of the set is very upset. I tried to tell em there's at least a half dozen other tools to drive a T25, but they want the big brown truck to bring a new one, so I complied.

 

[pstemari]

... I tried to tell em there's at least a half dozen other tools to drive a T25, ....

None of the other have as long a shank.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Socket Pounder]

I buy sets because when I'm in the middle of something I want to finish, not go shopping.