Tools

[dubbs]

Hey I've been searching around a little.. I bought my house a little while ago and my uncle has been "storing" his full 10 drawer box with every tool I could possibly need in it. He has since found his own house w/ a garage and is obviously taking what's his, so I'm in need of a whole new set.

I basically just work on cars n bikes with it. I need the normal screw drivers, pliers, allen keys, rachets, sockets, hammers, torx. Basically all that good stuff.

I was wondering if you guys knew where I could find a full box included w/ all of the tools that came with organization trays?

I'm looking to spend less than a grand for the whole setup.. thanks! :rockwoot:

[shmike]

Check at Sears.

They have some pretty decent sets to be had for a few hundred dollars.

Add another few hundred for a box and you're well on your way. :dthumb:

[azoomm]

I'm looking to spend less than a grand for the whole setup.. thanks! :rockwoot:

That's going to be a problem...

[shmike]

That's going to be a problem...

Not necessarily.

I've torn down and rebuilt entire race bikes with a $99 "briefcase"-type tool set, a few extra sockets from Pep Boys and a set of "T" handles.

You'll never get everything you want for $1k or $2k or even $3k. Hell, you can't even get a decent Snap-On or Matco box for $1k.

Still, unless you are rebuilding transmissions or doing a frame-off on your Model A, there is no need to have a $15,000 tool box. :idk:

[Rangerscott]

Ive never had agproblem with my stanley socket sets. I only buy craftsman when its on sale.

[dubbs]

Not necessarily.

I've torn down and rebuilt entire race bikes with a $99 "briefcase"-type tool set, a few extra sockets from Pep Boys and a set of "T" handles.

You'll never get everything you want for $1k or $2k or even $3k. Hell, you can't even get a decent Snap-On or Matco box for $1k.

Still, unless you are rebuilding transmissions or doing a frame-off on your Model A, there is no need to have a $15,000 tool box. :idk:

I think my uncle got his from mastercraft (canadian tire company) for about 700$ filled with tools..

I've checked with sears and they have those mechanics sets for about 250$ with a small shitty toolbox. Other than that they just sell the tools w/o a matching box. The only way I'll be able to keep them organized is if I get tools that go in a certain box with plastic cutouts or w/e..

[shmike]

I think my uncle got his from mastercraft (canadian tire company) for about 700$ filled with tools..

I've checked with sears and they have those mechanics sets for about 250$ with a small shitty toolbox. Other than that they just sell the tools w/o a matching box. The only way I'll be able to keep them organized is if I get tools that go in a certain box with plastic cutouts or w/e..

You can get a pretty decent budget box for $200 - $500. If you spend $200 - $400 on tools you'll still have money left over for some drawer organizers.

http://foamfittools.com/graphics/FoamToolOrganizerBlueYellow.jpg

[goof2]

Not necessarily.

I've torn down and rebuilt entire race bikes with a $99 "briefcase"-type tool set, a few extra sockets from Pep Boys and a set of "T" handles.

You'll never get everything you want for $1k or $2k or even $3k. Hell, you can't even get a decent Snap-On or Matco box for $1k.

Still, unless you are rebuilding transmissions or doing a frame-off on your Model A, there is no need to have a $15,000 tool box. :idk:

I agree.

I have a 260+ piece Craftsman ratchet set I got for under $200 that has had almost everything I need for sockets. I have had to add a couple for $10 or $20 each for things like the nut on my rear axle, but the price for a set that included them would have been well over $500. You can get a screwdriver set there as well with just about everything needed for not too much. A decent Craftsman roll away shouldn't be any more than $250.

Get that stuff and you will have most of your bases covered while still having $500 left to get any specialty tools you may need later.

[wildchild]

so go to sears pick up a decent box and a good starter set, that should be well under $1000 then later as you need things go pick them up.

that has worked well for me anyway.

[OneSickPsycho]

I think my uncle got his from mastercraft (canadian tire company) for about 700$ filled with tools..

I've checked with sears and they have those mechanics sets for about 250$ with a small shitty toolbox. Other than that they just sell the tools w/o a matching box. The only way I'll be able to keep them organized is if I get tools that go in a certain box with plastic cutouts or w/e..

ONSSP bought me one of those sets last year.. I pulled the shitty plastic drawers out and trimmed them to fit in my toolbox drawers - perfect organization.

[derf]

This would be a good starter set

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00935188000P?prdNo=16&blockNo=16&blockType=G16

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00946383000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00946384000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00987643000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942283000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944593000P?prdNo=11&blockNo=11&blockType=G11

this list is missing a ton of easy to find general use tools, files and the like.

and for the box:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009C0526000B?prdNo=19&blockNo=19&blockType=G19

and at the same time you might want to start saving up for a second one too, they fill fast. I have 3 of those filled with tools. I started with a 300 piece craftsman set and just keep adding to it as I need more tools. The worst thing is I still cant find that damn 10 or 12 mm deep socket (I have a dozen of each, but they are all missing). And I also wind up with crazy stuff too that I use once and will never use again, like a 1 9/16" socket


Thats about $750 or $800 right there, and there is a bunch more that you could really use too. Buy some other sockets and wrenches and other stuff that you need as you go.

Stay away from cheap tools too. Craftsman, snap on, and the larger named brands are all cool, but the cheapo no name brands won't last worth a shit. I have a ton of tools from the 50's and 60's (including a few that he stole from the ford mustang plant in NJ that closed back in the 70s) that are as good as the day they were made that were given to me by my father in law when he passed

[TommyHotWheel]

Tool kit:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00933300000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9

Box:http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00983260000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Look on Craigslist, good deals if you are quick and.

[Gas Man]

Honestly, I have had good luck and really like Kobalt tools.

[Amber Lamps]

BION I've been really happy with my HF tool box that I got on sale for $149 plus a coupon discout last year... just sayin'.

http://www.harborfreight.com/11-drawer-roller-cabinet-67421.html

It's $199 now but if you get the 20% coupon out of MC/CW... It's nothing special but the drawers work and it holds tools. More than I can say for the lowend Craftsman toolbox I bought before it that lasted all of 2 years... again, just sayin'.

[Amber Lamps]

BTW this definitely sounds like a black Friday item to me...:idk:

[azoomm]

so go to sears pick up a decent box and a good starter set, that should be well under $1000 then later as you need things go pick them up.

that has worked well for me anyway.

BTW this definitely sounds like a black Friday item to me...:idk:

Both of these.

IMHO, the best tool sets I've seen weren't just shopped for in one afternoon. Buy something that will be a good start to do the basics that you NEED. Then, save the rest of the money for specialty tools you'll need for unique jobs.

[Amber Lamps]

Both of these.

IMHO, the best tool sets I've seen weren't just shopped for in one afternoon. Buy something that will be a good start to do the basics that you NEED. Then, save the rest of the money for specialty tools you'll need for unique jobs.

Exactly right! I don't know what projects you have in mind to be honest, if you only involve Japanese bikes... You'll need maybe about 10 sockets, 10 wrenches, assorted screwdrivers/pliers, allen wrenches, etc. Heck, I keep a t-handle, a socket set I got from Motion Pro-has allen, phillips, metric sockets, a few specialty tools and a bike tool kit in a tool box under the porch which does 90% of everything I need on our bikes...:lol:

[azoomm]

Exactly right! I don't know what projects you have in mind to be honest, if you only involve Japanese bikes... You'll need maybe about 10 sockets, 10 wrenches, assorted screwdrivers/pliers, allen wrenches, etc. Heck, I keep a t-handle, a socket set I got from Motion Pro-has allen, phillips, metric sockets, a few specialty tools and a bike tool kit in a tool box under the porch which does 90% of everything I need on our bikes...:lol:

I mean, I typed a quick reply by my phone, thinking of the money I have into tools. Then sat back and thought about it. I didn't buy all of them in one sitting. My ex-husband tool all my tools when we divorced - so I had to start over a few years ago.... take assessment of what you used day-to-day of your Uncle's tools. Buy that.

[goof2]

BTW this definitely sounds like a black Friday item to me...:idk:

Good point. If not black friday than at least look for the deals. Most tool stuff works the same. The socket set I bought is pretty much always "on sale" at Sears for $200. I followed the ads for a few months until it finally got lowered to $170 for a week and bought it then. I did the same thing (with the same prices) when I bought my Ryobi power tool combo set.

Tools are always "on sale" but if you spend some time looking you will find the real specials. It won't hurt with the holidays coming up either. I'd be surprised if deals weren't readily available this year.

[G-Rex]

IMHO, the best tool sets I've seen weren't just shopped for in one afternoon. Buy something that will be a good start to do the basics that you NEED. Then, save the rest of the money for specialty tools you'll need for unique jobs.

Exactly.

I've got a very well stocked toolbox. I couldn't tell you how much I have invested in it. The only thing I can't do at home right now is change tires. I do have several specialty tools, but mostly, it's just the right combination of sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.

[derf]

You do need this

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944593000P?prdNo=11&blockNo=11&blockType=G11

Really you do.

[Gas Man]

What about hittin up some pawn shops?

[Rangerscott]

I dont see why guys get all boner over Craftsman. The only come back I get is "life time warranty."

Hell. I rebuilt the engine I put in my vehicle with a HF torque wrench. Over 10k miles and still rolling along. LOL

[tallywacker]

I dont see why guys get all boner over Craftsman. The only come back I get is "life time warranty."

Hell. I rebuilt the engine I put in my vehicle with a HF torque wrench. Over 10k miles and still rolling along. LOL

I've dealt with junk tools and never again. I love craftsman. I don't know why you WOULDN'T like them.

[Rangerscott]

I've dealt with junk tools and never again. I love craftsman. I don't know why you WOULDN'T like them.


Their pricing. I've had my Stanley socket set for almost 8 years. I've used it on everything and it still looks brand new and works like day one. My GearWrench racheting wrenches are the shiz.

[derf]

I've dealt with junk tools and never again. I love craftsman. I don't know why you WOULDN'T like them.

This is a great statement. My junk tools are all crap, and dont last worth a damn.

Short craftman story: A few years ago I had a ratchet my FIL gave me that broke, it wouldnt ratchet any more. I brought it to sears and the guy told me that because of the age they couldnt replace it directly. After some complaining (actually just talking to the tools manager) because none of my sockets would fit correctly with the newer style they replaced the one broken ratchet with a newer style, and asked me to bring a list of all my sockets so they could replace them too. I got to keep all the older style sockets too, and was able to buy an old style ratchet.

I've also had a few very old screw drivers replaced with worn off heads, and broken handles, bent shafts and other damage, and some sockets that have blown apart from being used on an impact gun, a broken hammer, some worn out files, and a broken tourque wrench.

The list of my crap tools that I have broken goes on forever, amny of them from minor light use, the quality tools that I've broken have been misused and abused and are older than me. It's totally worth the $$$ for the good stuff. For the $$$ I've spent on crap tools, and replacing the broken crap tools I could have bought quality stuff and actually used stuff more than once.

That lifetime warranty really is top notch. Snap on does the same thing, and their tools are almost as good or just as good as craftsman. Kobalt tools are better quality but don't offer the lifetime warranty.

[Rangerscott]

Ya'll sound like ya'll don't know how to use tools.

[goof2]

I dont see why guys get all boner over Craftsman. The only come back I get is "life time warranty."

Hell. I rebuilt the engine I put in my vehicle with a HF torque wrench. Over 10k miles and still rolling along. LOL

Like you said, I like Craftsman because they are about the cheapest name brand tools with an easy to use lifetime warranty. I agree with you about some things though. I have Harbor Freight torque wrenches as well. I can get a set of three of them for the price of the Craftsman linked in this thread and have money left over.

About that torque wrench linked earlier, I would hardly get the chance to use it because the range is too low for me. The majority of times I'm using a torque wrench the value I need falls more in the range of this sucker.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944595000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

[tallywacker]

This is a great statement. My junk tools are all crap, and dont last worth a damn.

Short craftman story: A few years ago I had a ratchet my FIL gave me that broke, it wouldnt ratchet any more. I brought it to sears and the guy told me that because of the age they couldnt replace it directly. After some complaining (actually just talking to the tools manager) because none of my sockets would fit correctly with the newer style they replaced the one broken ratchet with a newer style, and asked me to bring a list of all my sockets so they could replace them too. I got to keep all the older style sockets too, and was able to buy an old style ratchet.

I've also had a few very old screw drivers replaced with worn off heads, and broken handles, bent shafts and other damage, and some sockets that have blown apart from being used on an impact gun, a broken hammer, some worn out files, and a broken tourque wrench.

The list of my crap tools that I have broken goes on forever, amny of them from minor light use, the quality tools that I've broken have been misused and abused and are older than me. It's totally worth the $$$ for the good stuff. For the $$$ I've spent on crap tools, and replacing the broken crap tools I could have bought quality stuff and actually used stuff more than once.

That lifetime warranty really is top notch. Snap on does the same thing, and their tools are almost as good or just as good as craftsman. Kobalt tools are better quality but don't offer the lifetime warranty.

Yeah the no questions asked lifetime warranty is money.

[azoomm]

Ya'll sound like ya'll don't know how to use tools.

I get this statement from someone that just doesn't use tools as much as I use tools...

I haven't broken a tool in a while. Not since only buying the good shit :lol: Break a torque wrench sometime, it sucks.

Oh, and you never break a tool at the end of a job; it's right in the middle of it, usually with some random fluid that will leak if you don't tighten/fix what you're doing. And, usually when the stores are closed.

[TommyHotWheel]

I shop pawns alot...on principle, I pick up any Snap-On, Dewalt or Mac tools that I come across. You would do well with an inexpensive mechanics tool set, torque wrench, tool box, compresssor and some air tools. All can be had by a good shopper for around $1,000 but that does not include specialty stuff. I bet I have as much in my specialty tools(specialty torque wrenches, star and torx sockets, impact stuff and specialty wrenches) as I do in my regular tool set.

[Rangerscott]

I get this statement from someone that just doesn't use tools as much as I use tools...

I haven't broken a tool in a while. Not since only buying the good shit :lol: Break a torque wrench sometime, it sucks.

Oh, and you never break a tool at the end of a job; it's right in the middle of it, usually with some random fluid that will leak if you don't tighten/fix what you're doing. And, usually when the stores are closed.


I've been in the same boat, but it's usually because I don't have that "special" tool or a flat head screwdriver and duct tape aren't getting the job done.

[Rangerscott]

I shop pawns alot...on principle, I pick up any Snap-On, Dewalt or Mac tools that I come across. You would do well with an inexpensive mechanics tool set, torque wrench, tool box, compresssor and some air tools. All can be had by a good shopper for around $1,000 but that does not include specialty stuff. I bet I have as much in my specialty tools(specialty torque wrenches, star and torx sockets, impact stuff and specialty wrenches) as I do in my regular tool set.


Pawn shops suck ass now. They sell shit at full price and there's hardly any haggling. It's always, "I have to go by what the computer tells me." Fuck that, I'll just pay full price for a NEW item.

[caveman]

I dont see why guys get all boner over Craftsman. The only come back I get is "life time warranty."

Hell. I rebuilt the engine I put in my vehicle with a HF torque wrench. Over 10k miles and still rolling along. LOL

Yeah, I had a broken watch too. It was right twice a day

Their pricing. I've had my Stanley socket set for almost 8 years. I've used it on everything and it still looks brand new and works like day one. My GearWrench racheting wrenches are the shiz.

Not saying that there isn't any good tools out there other than Craftsman, but the warranty speaks for itself and is worth all the money you pay for the tool for.
I have had some cheap HF screw drivers. put in the first screw and the tip practically twisted right off.

Ya'll sound like ya'll don't know how to use tools.

and you sound like a hillbilly redneck

[Rangerscott]

I'm not just talking about HF as an alternative to craftsman. There's a lot more tool companies out there.

[TommyHotWheel]

Pawn shops suck ass now. They sell shit at full price and there's hardly any haggling. It's always, "I have to go by what the computer tells me." Fuck that, I'll just pay full price for a NEW item.

I skip the overpriced shops...last week picked up a Delta scroll saw brand new never assembled for $30 and a Ryobi 18v drill, 2 batteries and a charger for $29 and a dude walked out with a small box of snap on and craftsman sockets and wrenches for $40. Gotta shop right and look hard, plus the shops I go to have different "sales" on different days, friday is tool sale day, my favorite.

[Gas Man]

Hey gents. Kobalt now runs lifetime warranty, done at any lowes. I'd link it but I'm on my phone and that's just too much hassle from bed on my phone. Maybe later on my pc. But they do and they are made on the same line as snap on. But obviously, as advertised, way more comfortable.

[Trip]

Hey gents. Kobalt now runs lifetime warranty, done at any lowes. I'd link it but I'm on my phone and that's just too much hassle from bed on my phone. Maybe later on my pc. But they do and they are made on the same line as snap on. But obviously, as advertised, way more comfortable.

Most tools are lifetime warranty. Husky and Stanley have them too.

You got to watch lowe's, sometimes they won't give you the USA/snap on model of the one you bring to them broken, they will give you a chinese version. Not all Kobalt is made in the states, a lot of it is made in China too.

[Gas Man]

Yeah some of it is made over seas. Just like snap on and I believe craftsman too.

[tommymac]

I picked up a set of kobalt screwdrivers from lowes as well as a set of mini pliers and they both seem prety good. A couple of the screwdrivers I have beaten up so far and are holding up fine

[defector]

Check out the companion line from Sears. I have a kit I keep in the truck that I have used on several occasions. IIrc, it was cheaper than the Craftsman stuff, and comes in a kit setup as well. I have never seen them advertised, but I have seen them at Sears several times.

As far as the heavy duty (professional) stuff, you simply can't get better than the Snap On, Mac, or Matco stuff. They are more expensive, but when you use them all day, everyday, you can't have tools breaking on a regular basis. Add the fact that the tool man comes to you weekly, and will recalibrate your torque wrenches for free, and replace "worn out" tools, the cost doesn't seem that much higher.
Yes, I am a tool snob. :lol: