Buying Tools

[Mooseman]

I didn't know where to put this since it isnt a dragracing topic . I am wanting to buy my first set of tools and have no idea what tools to by . So fellow forum users , share your vast wisdom and tell what brands of tools are good and what I should stay away from .

 

[Kelly]

What are you looking for? General automotive?

 

[Kelly Andersen]

Cant go wrong with craftsman, you break it, take it back they give you a new one no questions asked.

 

[Outlaw Eric]

Cant go wrong with craftsman, you break it, take it back they give you a new one no questions asked.

Agreed.

I recommend that you go with Craftsman unless you are a professional mechanic.

EDB

 

[vegasnitro]

Cant go wrong with craftsman, you break it, take it back they give you a new one no questions asked.

This is for hand tools ONLY ... my buddy busted an electric drill and took it back ... he was mystified why they wouldn't give him a new one.

 

[Mooseman]

oh sorry I should have stated in first post . I am training to be a mechanic . I am hopfully going to try and get an apprenticeship later this year

 

[Kelly Andersen]

I believe if your going to school sears programs for students also. If you brought a drill back and sears didnt give you another one you got hosed, I take back 5-6 grinders a year I use for buffing aluminum on big trucks, never had a problem yet. they fill up with fuzz from the buffing pads and they are toast. My buddy owns a polishing bus. and he goes through 25-30 of them, never had a problem with a return.

 

[cstarns]

I didn't know where to put this since it isnt a dragracing topic . I am wanting to buy my first set of tools and have no idea what tools to by . So fellow forum users , share your vast wisdom and tell what brands of tools are good and what I should stay away from .

You will probably get alot of people telling you that you should buy Snap On, Mac or Matco because they are the best. They are, but not necessarily the best value. You can not go wrong with Craftsman hand tools. Good quality at a low price with a great warranty. Lifetime. There will be some specialty tools like offset wrenchs etc that you will probably Have to buy from Snap On etc.
If you use a torque wrench on a regular basis, you might want to consider a Sanp On (or equivalent). To start out, buy the basic sets from Craftsman and take it from there.
PS: Craftsman rollaway and top boxes are a great value too!

 

[sharkman]

I was a Professional Mechanic for 15yrs, I have all kinds of hand tools, the best are Snap-on VERY pricey, Mac and Matco are good also pricey, Craftsman are good and the best value, also Kobalt from Lowes are good and a great value. I stopped at the Snap-on truck the other day to have a Torx head socket replaced, while there, I was going to purchase a 3/8 drive 3/8 deep socket to replace one that was missing in my set......I almost choked when He said it would be 13 dollars and change.....for one deep socket, I lucked out later and found it hiding in my toolbox.

 

[rocketman]

I use and recommend Craftsman. They are good, and easy to return if they do break.

 

[Joker]

We use them all but Craftsmen is what I would suggest along with everyone else here for the most part. Especially for hand tools.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

You've gotten some excellent advice here. There are a few other things to consider when you purchase. Security is a very touchy issue with hand tools beyond your own personal shop since they have a tendency to grow legs from time to time until or unless you have a very well controlled environment. Get a good secure locking box! You will also occasionally be replacing a single wrench, socket, ratchet, etc. Price of the big three pro tool companies will make this more painful of a loss each time your socket rack has an empty spot. That's one more argument for Craftsman. I'm taking a 1/2 inch drive ratchet back today in fact.

Another thing, when and as you accumulate your tools, take pictures or video of each drawer once or twice a year in case you are ever cleaned out. I have had a number of complete boxes stolen and although I'm insured well, I always forget to account for the specialty items I keep in the box. No insurance man in the country will argue with a videotape of every drawer with an explanation of what each tool is when it comes time to replace it. It also removes any doubt about insurance theft since this is one of their most openly abused areas where homeowners and mechanics alike overstate exactly what they had. Videotapes don't lie and they are very cheap and helpful the day after a major theft. Oh, keep the tape in a safe place far away from your tools!

 

[Outlaw Eric]

Another thing, when and as you accumulate your tools, take pictures or video of each drawer once or twice a year in case you are ever cleaned out. I have had a number of complete boxes stolen and although I'm insured well, I always forget to account for the specialty items I keep in the box. No insurance man in the country will argue with a videotape of every drawer with an explanation of what each tool is when it comes time to replace it. It also removes any doubt about insurance theft since this is one of their most openly abused areas where homeowners and mechanics alike overstate exactly what they had. Videotapes don't lie and they are very cheap and helpful the day after a major theft. Oh, keep the tape in a safe place far away from your tools!

GREAT advice!

EDB

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Okay, I'll be the one to fess up even if I'm the only one. I've got a collection of EVERYTHING! Most of the first set of Craftsman I've ever owned, along with a variety of Huskey, Snap-On, Stanley, Ohio Forge (something like that), and several foreign bits and pieces. Bought an entire little cheap set last year just to get one 12 point valve cover nut socket that I couldn't find individually in stock anywhere (for a lot less than Kenny would have had to pay for the one brand name socket).

Whatever brand you get, make sure you get a stubby 3/8" swivel ratchet and stubby wrenches, cuz you spend a lot more time turning stuff than you do breaking it loose or tightening it. Huge time/frustration savers, IMO. (and I often hook two stubby wrenches together for breaking or tightening instead of reaching for a regular)

Was just thinking the other day how I wish they made an electric screwdriver (for compactness and light weight) that was geared up for speed like an electric drill so you could use it when spinning several like fasteners on or off in succession that you'd still break loose or tighten with a hand tool. Now I'll have to see if any gears are reversible in the ones I've got! (like they used to swap old truck transmission gears around for homemade overdrives)

Speaking of, William. How about the fasteners in New Zealand? Mostly metric? Over here the sizes are still predominantly standard when I go into a store, with metric running a close second. What about ratchet drive sizes? Are they still measured in fractions of an inch even in countries where the majority of fasteners are metric? Never even wondered if drive sizes might be metric anywhere in the world.

 

[sharkman]

Everyone here has had Great advice, one thing you look for in hand tools is comfort and realibility, Snap On wrenches weren't the most comfortable but they were the strongest, Craftsman Sockets were easy to use but the weakest, they split with ease, also I've wrenched in the most extreme conditions, from drilling platforms in the North Sea in winter to rigs in the jungle in West Africa, from Brazil to Singapore, Garbage trucks in Cleveland to Busses in El Paso. Your tool box will start out like mine did, My Mom gave me Her Sears card on my 17th birthday to "buy some tools" I spent 250.00 bucks (this was 1978) Most of those tools I still have, But over the years you learn what you can work with and what Really Works. The best advice I can give you is If you take care of your hand tools they will take care of you, You will find certian ones will become your favorites, My SK swivel head ratchet is My best Buddy, I inherited a set of Wright Tools DoubleJointed swivel sockets (they havent been made since 1955) A dream to work with, much better than todays variety, but, un replaceable. Just respect them, store them properly, and they will last a lifetime and beyond. Good Luck

 

[Mooseman]

We use both metric and imperial over here depending on what we are working on and where it was made , sometimes something will have both metric and imperial bolts wich is kind of odd , my interest is v8's and american stuff so I intend on getting alot of imperial sized tools.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Yeah, they mix up a lot of fasteners on semi-trucks over here. The manufacturer of the truck will use mostly or all metric, but then the suppliers of various components will have standard/imperial. Anything to keep you cursing.

Definitely agree with Kenny on Snap On wrenches. I don't know what engineer decided "Let's make the part they push on with their hand shaped like a butterknife blade!"

 

[.]

Add me to the craftsman group. They were my first set of real tools. I still have them and use them regularly. The ratchets eventually locked up or free-wheeled, but they exchanged them no questions asked(a few years ago).
Maybe invest in a matco or snap-on or mac ratchet.

Interesting little slice of demographic info in this thread for the Sears tools people. Maybe they should fund Creasy for a full schedule over here.

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Paul,
Interesting little slice of demographic info in this thread for the Sears tools people. Maybe they should fund Creasy for a full schedule over here.

Their Craftsman sponsorship was no major league deal but it did give them enough money to put the Craftsman stickers on the equipment.
I know, the boys did some carbon-fiber repair for them and they were prompt with their stickers.

 

[Outlaw Eric]

Dollar for dollar, how do Craftsman tools compare when it comes to machinist tools?

I am obviously not a machinist, but I need to pick up some for engine building.

Should I go digital or dial?

Thanks.