which tool set should i get?

[Ayman]

Lol you nuts? Wait until Black Friday!!!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933200000P?sid=IAx20071126x000001&aff=Y

3rd one down... $100

wait, so you're saying those are the prices today? or for black friday?

[AndrewBird]

I like Proto tools above all others. Snap-on quality, but with lower prices. Best thing about all their tools is they are all slim, meaning they are lighter weight and fit into tighter areas.

And Craftsman's lifetime warranty is kinda irrelevant as ANY good tool company has a lifetime warranty on their tools.

My suggestion is to buy the best you can afford. I would also prefer to buy fewer, higher quality tools then many lower quality tools. Start off with a nice 3/8" drive socket set, a good set of screw drivers, a nice assortment of pliers (Channellock is among the best IMO) and then just build slowly from there as you have time. Also, if you have no need for SAE tools, then don't bother buying a set that includes both SAE and metric; your money can be spent elsewhere.

[accident]

I bought the 206 piece or whatever by Stanley from walmart for $80. Other than a few specialty things here and there I haven't really needed anything outside of it for most things.

[drumad]

and where the F are you seeing those tool sets at the marked down prices? i see the 400 dollar tool kit and 100 gear wrench set....

Search for the sear's black friday ads. Like I said, if I were you, I'd save up a little more til black friday, camp out, and see if you can scoop up one of those kits. That's 50% off the original price and has more then enough to get you started with your tool collection.

The convenience with crapsman is that there are sears pretty much everywhere so you can get serviced asap.

I think I may pick up that 309 piece set myself.

Here's the ad http://bfads.net/Ad/Sears-2011/Page4

click the green dot to go to the item's description

[immajackuup]

craftman,snapon,blue point,and matco tool are the only brand i would stick with.

[slammin.e28]

Craftsman when I have to buy tools. I got a free set of Snap On from UTI. Snap On owns Blue Point or vice-versa.

Peruse yard sales too. You can nab some great deals on Snap On shizz from an old mechanic who was hardcore to the brand. Tool boxes, tools, tool sets, carts, etc, etc. Lots of times the guy will be older and just need to get rid of them, or a family will be left with them.

[luckysnafu]

Whatever set you buy, make sure it has ONLY 6-point sockets. 12-point sockets will strip any tight/stuck bolt. Some sets mix and match so be careful of that as well.

[oxymoron]

you can finance snap on

[djjerme]

Depending on your funds available, I would suggest getting what you can afford. My tools are a Hodge-podge of brands and what not. I have had some crap that has broken, and some that have lasted forever. The key pieces to spend money on are the ratchet's, cheap ratchets usually will break, and that annoying as hell.

Socket's you can pretty much get away with anything for normal day-to-day repairs. Same with wrenches (I am not above admitting, I have some Harbor Freight stuff.) For stuff that require heavier torque (larger sockets and wrenches) is where you should pay for quality. You don't want to be trying to torque a socket to 150lbs and then have it break on you!

There has been times in the past where cheap wrenches where nice to have, because I could bend and modify em to fit in weird angles and such. It would have made me cry if I had to torch one of my good wrenches.

Completely agree with checking out garage sales and keep an eye Craigslist, with the economy tanking, other peoples misfortune can be a benefit, and you can grab some awesome deals on Pro-brand stuff.

[Mlarsen]

I like Proto tools above all others. Snap-on quality, but with lower prices. Best thing about all their tools is they are all slim, meaning they are lighter weight and fit into tighter areas.

And Craftsman's lifetime warranty is kinda irrelevant as ANY good tool company has a lifetime warranty on their tools.

My suggestion is to buy the best you can afford. I would also prefer to buy fewer, higher quality tools then many lower quality tools. Start off with a nice 3/8" drive socket set, a good set of screw drivers, a nice assortment of pliers (Channellock is among the best IMO) and then just build slowly from there as you have time. Also, if you have no need for SAE tools, then don't bother buying a set that includes both SAE and metric; your money can be spent elsewhere.

This is some solid advice right here. Honestly, if you buy Craftsman, you'll probably end up replacing it with a Snap on or something. Those big tool sets are a joke. I bet you wont use half of that set.

Start searching c/l on deals. There are lots of out work techs that are selling their tools for the dirt.

[ALYKZANDYR]

Ive used craftsman most of my life , ive also used snapon which are a bit nicer but their rachets without pushbutton release are a pain to detach sockets with oil/grease on your hands.

[Restoman]

Go with Craftsman for wrenches and sockets, their quality is very good and reasonably priced. Put some money into a nice Cornwell, Matco, Snap-On socket wrench. They are usually around $60 for the 3/8" drive styles. This is the one tool that I don't mind putting money into to get a really good tool.

[Vince30]

Ive used craftsman most of my life , ive also used snapon which are a bit nicer but their rachets without pushbutton release are a pain to detach sockets with oil/grease on your hands.

True fuckin story. I am constantly needing a flathead to pop the sockets out when I am done using them. If you are not a professional mechanic, the basic craftsmen tools would suit almost any project you would do in your garage. If you are, there is a craftsman professional series that is almost on snapons level of quality for way cheaper. When I buy tools I stick to craftsmen or matco.

Whatever set you buy, make sure it has ONLY 6-point sockets. 12-point sockets will strip any tight/stuck bolt. Some sets mix and match so be careful of that as well.

Those craftsman kits are going to have a couple 12 points, doesn't mean you shouldn't get the kit, just means you shouldn't use them.

[Eric]

Ive used craftsman most of my life , ive also used snapon which are a bit nicer but their rachets without pushbutton release are a pain to detach sockets with oil/grease on your hands.

Man, I thought I was the only one!


And I'm still glowing about this 1/4 ratchet my wife bought me last month. It feels great in your hand, has great ratcheting feel to it, and it doesn't break like the garbage lower end craftsman stuff

[Ayman]

sear's has layaway options. 5 bucks max for the initiation fee, i'm with it.