Need opinion on tool kit

[turbo_dreams]

hey guys, well i just got my 2nd s13 h/b, but this one's stricly for parts (which are for sale in classifieds)...so i thought i'd invest in some tools, and i needed help deciding, will these do me well?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...+Sets

help a kid out ladies n gents

[heartofaskyline]

just go to a local hardware store and get the cheapest thing you can buy. sears is a ripoff. we have a place called harbor freight that sells tools cheap! im sure theres something like that near you...

[Blown240sx]

Harbor Frieght is ****ing awsome.

[Dattebayo]

Sears is a rip off? Hows that? Generic tools suck, cause they have to be replaced all the time. At least with Craftsman and the other big names you can hand them the broken tool (if it happens) and they most likely give you a new tool! Even the Snap-On guys will do this...

Harbor Freight is great for equipment, but not hand tools. You should use the company as such.

Stay away from "Husky" or other non-sence names like that. Chrome-Vanadium is not your friend...

[heartofaskyline]

Sears is a rip off? Hows that? Generic tools suck, cause they have to be replaced all the time. At least with Craftsman and the other big names you can hand them the broken tool (if it happens) and they most likely give you a new tool! Even the Snap-On guys will do this...

Stay away from "Husky" or other non-sence names like that. Chrome-Vanadium is not your friend...

dude do you realize how many tools you will break...if used correctly, prob 1 or 2 in your life. i work in a shop and have for the last year and half, and have never broken a wrench or socket. your more likely to lose a tool then you are to break it. for the price of that set, you can afford to replace a broken "cheapo" tool like 6X's. and craftsmen ratchets suck. ive busted many a nuckle because they slipped. snap-on is the only way to go with high priced tools

[95silvia14]

i would go with craftsman do to there spectacular warrnty never had a problem replaceing a broke tool from them but now im a cornwell man since i moved in to the shop

[mrzabala]

I have the craftsman magazine. Some great items. Obviously snap on is the way to go, but with the price tag and with our needs it isnt required. Hmm seems like the catalog/online is exclusive and cant get it at a sears store. I would go for #0942140, #0942135 or #0942151. I bought a cheap tool set and its served my purpose (crecent from costco) but if I had craftsman or snap on the job would be faster. Only thing that sucks with this kits= 190 pieces and such is that it has SAE and other tool pieces we will probably never use. I mean great, extra tools but I only been working on imports. It would be great if there was a custom pick were you choose and have it in the kit because buying them seperately cost more.

[cmfireman]

I agree with heartofaskyline, go buy some Stanley sockets,scredrivers,pliers,etc.. and buy a good Snap-On 1/4" ratchet and a good set of metric ratchet wrenches.

You can remove a bolt in 1/2 the turns with a Snap-On because of the way there geared, and ratchet wrenches are the best friggen invention EVER!

[mrzabala]

I used my crecent ratchet for 8 months now (and they been used at least 3 times a week). And its the kit from costco for like $49. Never had a problem with them.

[heartofaskyline]

ratchet wrenches are the best friggen invention EVER!

all the guys in the shop swear by them. i use them all the time, and dont see how i made it with out them.

[hvp014]

Stay away from "Husky" or other non-sence names like that. Chrome-Vanadium is not your friend...

wait a sec... I use husky tools everyday at work, and for 1.2 years I have yet to have a tool break. Thats working M-F, their great if your tight on cash but they till have a lifetime warrenty. I picked up a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ratchet set for 140 bucks and their great.. so don't always bash the little guy

[mrzabala]

Dude, if used correctly than you should be able to keep track of your tools. There is too many other factors that go in such as a friend used a bit and lost it. But the point is I dont get why you tell us to go with generic tools so we can buy if we lose them, at a cheaper price, but then you say snap on is the way to go. Sigh

[Dattebayo]

What was I thinking? Of course you are right. Ive only been tooling for 15 some years. I am so stupid.

Maybe I was thinking that when you are under a car and then the tool snaps, that you should LOVE it when you have to go to the store to get another one and put your project on hold...

[mrzabala]

There fools. Theres a reason why there made in Asia Inland. And to make it more interesting, would you buy a generic seat made in china or some other part of asia with brackets that looked cool and cost cheap. Sure heck I could buy more seats and brackets if mine breaks. Wait a second generic seats and brackets+ break = replace again. Replace again +hmm what happens to the person sitting on the seat= all bad things.

[heartofaskyline]

i was just saying that "IF" you were going to shell out the bucks for tools, then go with snap-on instead of craftsman. and judging by the way this guy talks, he's not going to become a pro mechanic like some of us. if he breaks a tool, then he can just go buy a new one. he doesnt have to worry about tying up a bay or not having a car done on time. cheap tools dont break unless you misuse them... or at least thats the way everyone i know experiences have gone...

[hvp014]

Well as I was saying, I have yet to break any Husky tools. I've even tried to break them, A 3/8 ratchet into a diff drain plug with a torch heating the ratchet and diff, a 2 foot pipe on a ratchet, ect. And I can't, I allways nspect my tools tho. But if you treat them well they treat you well. ha I've broken more snap on tools then I have husky. So If you have the cash go big, if not its okay to stay with a good small brand.

[teddy]

Just buy what you can afford. Better to have tools that may or may not break, than to have no tools at all.

I bought a 150 piece craftsman kit from Sears for a reasonable price that got me through a lot of work. It breaks, I get a new one for free. But I've also bought some generic wrenches from Harbor Freight that I absolutely love.

[mrzabala]

usually if someone is investing in tools, you want to help them out and not tell them to go a cheap route and having to go drive to the place and buy another more times than having a well built tool like craftsman and snap on where you dont have to go everytime if you break them because its a waste of time, gas and more maintenance work on your car you drive everytime you travel to replace.. And besides the more expensive they are the more responsible you become. And dont give me **** that thats not true lol.

[heartofaskyline]

usually if someone is investing in tools, you want to help them out and not tell them to go a cheap route and having to go drive to the place and buy another more times than having a well built tool like craftsman and snap on where you dont have to go everytime if you break them because its a waste of time, gas and more maintenance work on your car you drive everytime you travel to replace.. And besides the more expensive they are the more responsible you become. And dont give me **** that thats not true lol.

are you even listening to us. if you would stop and read what were writing, the cheapo tools we talk about hardly break on us. so stop acting like there gonna snap the second you start torquing on them.

[mrzabala]

Yes i read everything and honestly its the same thing but twisted everytime. And why you conclude with me acting like there "gonna" snap the second you start torquing on them? I think you havent read what Ive typed. To add on, I dont see the point of you rambling on about cheap tools. This guy wants to invest in tools (like I mentioned earlier). Theres a difference between investing and just buying tools. You want quality, ect.Add some more, Its great to buy snap on tools but all you really need is there 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets because there prices are high. I dont own any snap on tools yet but Im pretty sure they come to you and replace your tool.

[Dattebayo]

Wow, its getting hot in here

Chill, fellas. When you do alot of work regularly, the cheapies DO break. They also dont fit as tight to the bolt head as the expensive calibrated tools do. ou will eventually curse this the day you round off the head of some important bolt deep inside the motor. If you even do that kinda work.

I say invest in the goods because it should be manlaw among the Miller drinkers in here:

Never buy the same tool twice!

[heartofaskyline]

usually if someone is investing in tools, you want to help them out and not tell them to go a cheap route and having to go drive to the place and buy another more times than having a well built tool like craftsman and snap on where you dont have to go everytime if you break them because its a waste of time, gas and more maintenance work on your car you drive everytime you travel to replace.. And besides the more expensive they are the more responsible you become. And dont give me **** that thats not true lol.

ya you insinuated that they would break more than once in this comment. last time i checked "more times" means more than once, and i dare say he wont break the same tool more than once. im not telling him what to do, i was just making a good suggestion that could be an alternative to what he was thinking of.

[Bumnah]

i haven't read any posts, but here are my $0.02

I'm big into name brand tools. If I could afford it, I'd buy Snap On, but they're out of my price range. I'm always buying craftsman, and I usually will only buy craftsman. I pick up craftsman Professional if the tool is had in that series.

I rarely use standard sockets on my car, so I'd recommending piecing a collection together. Get 3 size rachets 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2". Pick up sockets for all three sizes 1/4 7-14mm. 3/8 10-20 mm, 1/2 12-whatever mm.

Pick up some nice extensions. I'd get a variety. Socket trays that are number for the sockets. Make sure you get deep and standard sockets. I usually go for the 6 point sockets if possible. Pick up a universal joint for atleast the 3/8. That's a good starting point, and then add as you need.
Modified by Bumnah at 10:16 PM 11/10/2006

[mrzabala]

Lol, good alternative-> is buying cheap tools compared to? You should read the one where I type about cheap tools and cheap seats. Its on the same level.

Wow, its getting hot in here

Chill, fellas. When you do alot of work regularly, the cheapies DO break. They also dont fit as tight to the bolt head as the expensive calibrated tools do. ou will eventually curse this the day you round off the head of some important bolt deep inside the motor. If you even do that kinda work.

I say invest in the goods because it should be manlaw among the Miller drinkers in here:

Never buy the same tool twice!

Now that you mention it, Im doubting they ever tried that kind of work. I mentioned I owned crecent tools that are cheap and served me well. But they were never used in the engine the engine and transmission for very good reasons. Only when removing the engine and transmission from the car I used them and somewhat rounded the bolts (on the motor mount), and brackets. Shows just how far they can go. Also tried to to unbolt everything on an automatic transmission so I can check the gears inside, I was dumb back then thinking I removed the bolt but ended up with the transmission sitting with grade 6-10 (i think) rounded bolts and a twisted crecent tools that I still use.

[mrzabala]

This is my plan but with snap on 1/4 3/8 1/2 ratchets. Great advice Bumnah.

[yessir240]

hearofaskyline i have to disagree sears is not a rip off because craftsman makes great tools and i have only broke 2 of them in my life and both were incorrectly used ie on a impact gun ... i dont wanna be let down on the job so i dont buy cheap tools. and its simple you break a craftsman you take it to sears they replace it with a new one (not always a new one but one in working order) no questions asked... now on the other hand i have broken many off brand tools like "greatneck" and husky tools my friend broke a "chomoly" great neck breaker bar

[crash n burn]

craftsman is great..i'd live by them..i've never ever had a problem

i guess im lucky that my dad is a gearhead too(ex navy jet mechanic )..so he bought me full standard and deep 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive sets for my birthday not too long ago (mans only as good as the tools he works with)

all rachets, wrenches, and my torque wrench that i bought are snap on, best way to go, sockets are sockets in my eyes, as long as they're not generic..i got universals for all of them along with 4 piece extensions for each size

overkill maybe..but after working on the last 2 cars i've owned and now this 240..i can say i've used them at least once

i'd just buy a 200 piece set..then get more tools as you need them

[s13rb25det]

I have never used harbor freight tools, only name brand stuff. craftsman,snap on, cornwell,mac,etc, the reason is because my dealership does not allow any thing else!! and there probably is a reason why.

[yessir240]

i agree on the snap on ratchets .. man they are sexy haha

[chicos240]

Ok, we can debate about tools all we want all day along about craftsmanship and warranties, and design and slippage and contact points. We all know that you get what you pay for. I am new to car wrenching. Yet I understand value, and good value means something reliable at a good price point. More than likely your average garage mechanic or n00b may want to start with a good set of commonly used metric wrenches and sockets. Build from there, buy some less expensive fringe tools, like say flat blades or pliers, tools you will not use extremely often or where the quality is not as important to you. Same goes for say an impact wrench, go to harbor freight, buy the 39.99 wrench, youll be ok. When you have the budget to move up to a nice wrench, if the harbor freight fails one you do so. You learned an inexpensive lesson, as long as you keep safety in mind, using sockets not meant for impact with a cheap impact wrench = losing an eye. The key is investing in value that is worth it to you. Get the juice out of your dollar, while remembering to keep value in mind.