HELP, what tool set to buy

[Bruno240]

I dont know what tool set to buy to work on my car. Im tired of spending a half hour going through my dads tools to find out i have to go home depot to buy the tool i need. So what tool sets do you guys recomend that will pretty much cover any job i do on the car.

My spending limit is $150-$200.

Thanks

[PoorManQ45]

I recommend sockets:

8mm through 20mm. Also, get a 1/4 ratchet. 3/8in ratchet, 1/2in ratchet. 3/8in breaker bar, 1/2in breaker bar. with extensions.

Allen wrenches:4mm through 10mm. Try to get the ones with the long shaft.

Adjustable(crecent) wrenches.

Needle Nose Pliers. Get two of them: one small for tight spaces, and one large comercial grade for everything else.

Side/end cutter: for cutting wires.

Wire stripper: Get the one that the strippers are at the end, not in the middle.

Channel Lock pliers

Screw drivers: both phillips and standard. Get three of each. One large, medium, and small.

You may need a torques set. Similar to allen wrenchs, but with more points.

[PoorManQ45]

Do you have a Biglots near you? If so, go there and see if they have any of the tools you are looking for. They are dirt cheap.

[Bruno240]

yeah, i should go to biglots,

i think i do need some torque wrenches, but do they come in tool sets?

i also need one of those big tool boxes that like roll around.

[SeVa-S13]

i also need one of those big tool boxes that like roll around.

No ya don't...unless you get some absolutely amazing deal on a decent one. Your soon-to-be, modest collection is easily kept in one of the handy compartmented black/yellow craftsman toolboxes that can be had at Sear's for like 25 bucks.It'll save you alot of money, hold all your tool, and have you ever tried to just grab one of those over-sized roller dealies and toss it in your pasenger seat? Not so simple...

[Bruno240]

good pointthanks for the tip seva

im just tired of not having the right tool and jobs are getting a lot harder than they should be.

[Jesda]

Go to Sears. Craftsman is the BEST quality bang for the buck. But yeah, if youre looking for something ridiculous dirt cheap (theres a risk of breaking the tools, but hey, its cheap), its hard to beat Big Lots.

[PhaneSoul]

well i spent 155$ on 2 sets of toolboxes, 82 peice for 50$ and a 52 peice for 39$, i got like 4mm-19mm sockets, at least 2 of each, all the way up to 7 of a couple mm's, as well as inch sockets too, i got regular sockets and deep sockets, i got a small 1/2inch breaker bar, a long 1/2 breaker bar, 3 wrenches, 6 screwdrivers, 3 philips, 3 flathead, 1 6in extention, 2 3in extentions, a 3/8ths to 1/2in socket thingy, all for 155$ at autozone, all tools come w/ lifetime warrantee, so u can break as many as u want and ur not outta the money u spent on it. the only things i forgot to get was a 1/2in to 3/8thsin converter thingy, and i couldnt find a 3/8ths in breaker bar.

[SeVa-S13]

If you start getting into heavier jobs too, invest in a quality breaker bar and impact sockets for your personally most common sizes. I've broken too many sockets/extensions (even quality bits) on say, rusted Skyline suspension? It's really furstrating cuz you hear this loud snap, and you think you've broken the bolt/nut loose, when in fact there's a giant fissure running down your nice, new craftsman socket. =\

[PhaneSoul]

u can also use the other 50$ on pliers, wire cutters, good allen wrenches, and i would suggest a 1/2in adjustable (bends at the neck)socket wrench, and a 3/8ths one, very handy 4 clutch changes

[fiznat]

Just pony up and get craftsman, dont go to friggin biglots-- please! Not only are the tools very high quality, but the lifetime no-questions-asked replacement just cant be beat. You walk in, say "this is broke" and they hand you a new one. No fuss, no problems. Nothing can beat that as far as I'm concerned. I tend to use the wrong tool for the job often (and you will too, having a limited set of tools)-- it helps to not have to worry about replacement costs if/when you break stuff.

[SeVa-S13]

Get a hammer too, a larger metal, mallet style. VERY handy in certain situations that require special...finesse.

[Chingon]

there's a 220 pc craftsman set at my local pawnshop for 60 bux.

[Mr1der]

you could always go to sears, they have nice craftsman sets on sale all the time...plenty of sockets for most of the basic tasks. and they come in annoying plastic cases that let the sockets fall out of place at times!

[Touchdown038]

Totally, Craftsman is the way to go. Lifetime warranty is just about the best reassurance ever, and believe me, cheap tools don't last if you use them lots. I've broken too many cheap sockets and learned my lesson the hard way.

[PoorManQ45]

Just pony up and get craftsman, dont go to friggin biglots-- please! Not only are the tools very high quality, but the lifetime no-questions-asked replacement just cant be beat. You walk in, say "this is broke" and they hand you a new one. No fuss, no problems. Nothing can beat that as far as I'm concerned. I tend to use the wrong tool for the job often (and you will too, having a limited set of tools)-- it helps to not have to worry about replacement costs if/when you break stuff.

Hey!!!

I got my tools from BigLots. And guess what brand they are. Craftsman! BigLots gets things that other stores are discontinuing. So don't you dare disrespect them

[IvoryJ30t]

you could always go to sears, they have nice craftsman sets on sale all the time...plenty of sockets for most of the basic tasks. and they come in annoying plastic cases that let the sockets fall out of place at times!

isnt that the best when you get good and pissed, and you jam the drawer closed and everything shifts out of place?!?!

the craftsman sets in the plastic case with the drawers are great, and priced nice. i have the black one with the 4 red drawers, and its great when your doing work outside.

[Bruno240]

thanks for the help guys.

one more question, how important would a torque wrench be

[andrave]

very. don't get craftsman, the free replacement is great and all but that doesn't make it any easier to fix your car when their goddamn sockets and ratchets break. I've been through so much of their crap. My brother has all snap on and his is what I end up borrowing when my **** breaks and I can't get to sears to return it. I've been buying stanley's professional or contractor stuff for a while now too, and its pretty good, haven't broken anything yet.

torque wrench is pretty important if you ever wanna work on your motor. For just normal taking off bolts and stuff, its not vital. If you are one of those guys that takes his car to the shop for anything between the valve cover and the oilpan, you'll never need a torque wrench.

[BadMojo]

very. don't get craftsman, the free replacement is great and all but that doesn't make it any easier to fix your car when their goddamn sockets and ratchets break. I've been through so much of their crap.

I've had good luck with Craftsman stuff. Both my dad and I have a ton of their tools, and we really haven't had a problem with any of it. Use more PB Blaster.

Snap-On, Mac, etc. are great if you make a living working on cars, but you'd have to be insane or have waaaaaay too much money to buy it just to wrench on your car on the weekends.

I don't have much experience with the Stanley stuff. I've got some of their "Professional" grade screw drivers that I keep in my apartment. That's about it. No complaints, really.

I'd recommend a decent torque wrench no matter what you're working on. Personally, I feel better knowing that stuff on my car is torqued to spec (at least the stuff that I worked on).

I can't comment on the quality of Stanley tools, but I still believe a set of Craftsman stuff is a great way to start a tool collection. Just add on to that core as the need arises.

[s13sr20chris]

i work on cars for a living so most of my tools are snap on. i will say that i worked my way up the ladder with all craftsman stuff and i still have a lot of craftsman sockets that i use frequently. heck, my tools at home are all craftsman as i just brought them home when i upgraded to snap on. if you cant afford the best just get craftsman as it is darn good and still cheap. those bargain tool deals are foolsgold.

[nsrZ32]

Get one of the craftsman sets. For example, today and tomorrow I think they have the 246 piece mechanics tool set for like 150 bucks (normally like 279).

As for the debate between craftsman and snap on, I have both, and have had the best luck with Craftsman tools. I beat the heck out of them and break very very few.

[andrave]

I have plenty of PB Blaster, and I admit to being hard on tools. I break a lot of tools. But when I use cheap crap I break it easy. Craftsman **** isn't hard to break. I have a big *** set of Roto sockets at home though, and I guarantee that you can hammer on them, use the snap on 1200 ft lb torque wrench, use a 3 foot breaker bar, whatever you want, and they are not going to expand, crack, or deform. Tools are not something you should have to baby to keep them intact. Like I said before, its nice to have them replace it no matter what, but its inconvenient when they break in the middle of the project. If you get craftsmen get the best ones they sell. For instance, if you are getting 1/2 sockets (mainly the ones I break regularly) you should get the impact sockets. I have some impact sockets and they have held up well. their regular sockets are too brittle and I've cracked many trying to free up ****ty s13 rusted bolts.

[LaughingBull]

I have used Craftsman most my life and have never had a problem. And I use them quite regularly. Definately get breaker bars cause thats how you end up breaking stuff.I broke my Dads 30 year old ratchet and had no problems exchanging it at sears. If you think rust is bad on a s13, try this project on a 40 year old truck.

[Mr1der]

I think I've only broken a few craftsman sockets....

they've got a warranty though and won't break the bank.

[fiznat]

Damn I dont know how you guys do it, but I've never broken a socket in my life-- and I've done a LOT of wrenching over the years... And yeah I too use huge breaker bars on bolts, force things that shouldnt be forced and sometimes choose power over finesse-- but damn its pretty hard to break a socket in general, nevermind multiple craftsman ones I think.... I donno maybe Ive just been lucky.

I've broken plenty of extensions, plenty of wrenches and screwdrivers-- but never a socket itelf... damn..

[Nathan]

I've never broken a halfway decent socket either...I've sheared off a ton of bolts, but never broken a good socket. I have pretty much all craftsman tools, and one of my ratchets is finally wearing out...I need to TRY to break it so I can get a new one and not worry, but I'm not upset about it. I put that little thing through the wringer. I've also never seen why people need cheater bars, all the bolts I've sheared off I've done so with a less than 14 inch long breaker bar...my torque wrench has been enough to break ANYTHING loose, or just break it off.

[SeVa-S13]

I didn't even have a breaker bar my first time, I was just propped really well and pissed off. Me and an 8" socket wrench cracked the hell out of a 14mm deep well socket. I've also twisted a couple 3" socket extensions with the good old 8 incher and a really good grip. Fun times in the engine swap adventure...

[Mr1der]

upon looking for a Snap On ratchet on ebay....I've discovered people apparently are big into collecting them...

lotta listings for vintage ratchets and the cool gold plated anniversary sets....

[andrave]

I use an 18" breaker bar for my 1/2" drive, and if I need more I slip a jack handle over it for a cheater bar. I try not to break stuck bolts lose with 3/8" because the stuff is much weaker.