Need some help with basic tools...

SilverLexus

SilverLexus

Super Enthusiast
Hi friends,



I was wondering what brands or sets people would suggest for basic tools for my house and garage. I got some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket. I just want basics like pliers, screwdrivers, simple socket gear, etc.



Also, is there a good tool web site that suggests a starter set of gear?



Many Thanks.
 
I got a Craftsman 122 piece mechanic's tool set for Chrismas (basically an 84 piece socket set with a few other things and 3 ratchets). It's my first set of tools, and I hope to build my collection off of it. Craftsman.com has a bunch of tool sets that range in price from $70 to $1100. These are the mechanic's tool sets.



Personally, I would like to have an all Snap-On set :drool. But the reality is, they're just too dang expensive unless you have access to the financial cut that professionals have. The quality of my new Craftsman set is o.k. The sockets are fine, but the ratchets are just crappy. You can tell by the grainy texture that they're not the best. Snap-On, Mac, Matco, and a few other professional brands are much better. Although, Kobalt is really impressive stuff, plus it's cheaper and comes with the same warranty as Craftsman.



I'm trying to decide what to do with my Christmas money this year too by the way. :p



edit: One more thing, Costco sells S-K tools on their website (not sure about availability in stores). They are really high quality, and the set comes with a neat tool box with a neat top.This is the set. A little expensive though.
 
I have a set of craftsman tools my dad gave to me 22 years ago yesterday. They still work as well today as the day they were brand new. One of the ratchets started getting loose about 10 years ago because I used the hell out of it. Sears gave me a kit to repair it (for free) and it's been fine ever since.
 
Just for fun, my wife got me a set of Facom screwdrivers. I think these are supposed be a european equivalent to Snap-On.



Unfortunately, I used the big philips to drive about 30 drywall screws, and the tip is already showing signs of wear! Now I know drywalls are really tough, but this is ridiculous.



In this case, buying "premium" wasn't worth it. I would hope Snap-On screwdrivers would be better, but who knows?
 
Get a good brand, even if it means you get less tools, especially with things like drill bits, sockets, etc. The quality will be much better and last longer. For stuff you don't plan on using often, an off-brand is okay.



Craftsman is great b/c they have a lifetime guarantee. I broke a set of wire cutters and took them back, no receipt or anything, and they give me a brand new pair. Plus, you can find Craftsman in Sears, which are just about everywhere.
 
Can't go wrong with any name brand tools, but Craftsman are exceptional. They are available at any Sears, and make a good all around starter set. Besides, once you start looking at all their tools, it just makes ya want more of em.
 
I have to also recommend Craftsman. You can buy nicer tools, no doubt, but you get a lot for your money from the Craftsman packages, they have a great warranty, and they are nice tools.
 
I have used craftsman for years. You can find everything under one roof or online. Even the guys Sears has working in the stores have a little knowledge of tools to point you in the right direction
 
For many years I made my living with multiple 10's of thousands of dollars in hand tools. If there is a brand out there I've probably have some of their tools in my collection. If you're a professional Snap On would be my first choice followed by MAC, SK, and Matco. For several years I was able to declare my Snap On Tool dealer as a leagal dependant when filing my taxes. :D Having said that I sincerely believe that no one manufacturer makes the best of all tools. For the average to moderate tool user you will be hard pressed to find any better value (cost/warranty/availability) than good old Craftsman. When it comes to pliers Craftsman, Vise Grip and Channel Lock would beat out any of the other brands I named. Screwdrivers it's tough to beat a Snap On though you can break many Craftsman Screwdrivers and have them replaced for the price of one of Snap Ons. Snap On and I/R make some of the best air tools available. CP makes air tools that won't make you go to the bank in order to own them. Make sure it feels good in your hand and has a good warranty you won't go wrong if it meets this criteria.
 
I've had just awful luck with Craftsman, must've replaced a half-dozen 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets (which always fail at the exact worst time). And I had a 3/8" drive breaker bar fracture at the "U" with a piece of it hitting the floor hard enough to chip the concrete (sure glad it didn't hit *me* instead). I actually saved that one rather than have it replaced, just a "show and tell" about "Craftsman Quality" :rolleyes: And no, I wasn't using a cheater pipe, or otherwise abusing it- just my bare hands.



Boxster Charlie- You might find out where your wife got the FACOM screwdrivers and get a replacement.



I like FACOM stuff, but I still think Snap-On is the best. I have Snap-On tools that are a lot older than I am and they're still working like new.
 
I've had good luck with Craftsman for my limited use.

My friend, who does very serious work on cars and bikes, says that the only tool brand that he did NOT manage to break was Husky. Supposedly they also have lifetime warranty.
 
We've had the debate over what brand of tools to buy on another forum that I'm on. I own mostly Craftsman tools but I also have tools from Snap-On, Mac, and almost every other tool manufacturer.



If you have limited funds, or even if you don't, I would buy Craftsman. If you purchase only Snap-On tools you will have only about half the tools in your tool chest than if your purchased Craftsman. What good does it do if you have spent all your money on the most expensive tools but don't have a tap and die set, snap ring pliers, gear pullers, etc when you need them.



Craftsman has a lifetime guarantee on their tools and it is a lot easier for me to take a broken tool back to a Sears store than it is to chase down a tool truck. You can easily get replacement of a broken Craftsman tool on a weekend , after hours, or even out of town. Try call a Snap-On guy at 7:00 p.m. on a Sunday.



If you have a particular Craftsman tool that you use a lot and it breaks a lot, I would buy that tool made by Snap-On, Mac, etc. I have not had this problem however. I have read that impact sockets made by Snap-On are not covered by their lifetime warranty. I was in Harbor Freight Tools the other day and a guy brought back a broken impact socket and the store replaced it no questions asked.



Don't get me wrong, Snap-On tools are made very well but a lot of the money that you pay for them goes to the high overhead to pay a salesman, to insure the tool truck, fuel the tool truck, and market the tools. I still have some Craftsman sockets and wrenches that my grandfather bought in the sixties, that he used a lot, and are still going strong.



Listed below are links to hand tool manufacturers and distributors that you might want to look at.



http://www.armstrongtools.com/

http://www.sears.com/craftsman

http://www.harborfreight.com/

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/special_items.jsp?select=NE

http://www.snapon.com/

http://www.mactools.com/home.aspx

http://www.stanleyproto.com/
 
I was at Home Depot not to long ago and they had some nice sets on sale. To bad I didn't have the money to get them. For tools you will be using a lot or that take abuse get the good stuff. The cheap stuff breaks and the good stuff bends. I took an engine rebuilding course and the teacher was showing tools that failed. He had a cheap socket that broke. There was about a third of it that was gone. If that hit you in the eye. :eek: He also has a high end one that broke. It split but stayed together. Drill bits are really important. I had a cheap one break on me. wasn't happy. It went flying. I don't mine bending the good ones but when a piece of metal starts flying around the room I get pissed. Get the good stuff it is well worth it in the end. OR just get the cheap stuff and use the savings to by more saftey gear for went the cheap stuff breaks. :p



James
 
Wow. What great responses...



Question: how do you find a Snap-On truck? Can you make an appointment? do they have regular routes and you meet em at a mechanics shop on the route?



I will probably go Craftsman but I have had some problems with the brand in the past...I would like to buy a few Snap-Ons just to try the brand.



I have already decided on a Kobalt tool chest tower at Lowes for storage...



What should I have in my tool kit. I just want the basics:



I did invest in a quality DeWalt drill bit set (learned the hard way that you never save money buying cheap drill bits :( )



Screwdrivers, pliers, socket set, what else might be handy for a well-equipped garage (but one oriented more toward car care than full mechanical work)?
 
To fill in the tool kit



hacksaw

combination wrenches, metric or sae depending on your car

flare wreches for brakes and fuel line

impact set

deep sockets

safety goggles

pry bars

mechanics gloves

hammers
 
Maybe some pry bars. Stubby screwdrives. Hand cleaner. Multi meter. Solder gun. I know it was added but I'll add it again because they are important. Safty glasses. Telescopic megnetic tool. That can save you many headaches. :D Holders for your wrenches and sockets to keep things neat in your tool box. Tools are no good if you can't find them. Electrical tape. socket extentions. Shop light.



Thats every thing I can think of right now off of the top of my head.



James
 
Don't forget the 2LB sledge hammer. Often useful to beat things into submission when the other tools at your disposal won't cut it. Or at the very least it will make you fell beter to pound on that non-yielding part.
 
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