Thinking of buying some tools.

[D TR41N]

So I really don't have tools. I have just been piggy backing off what my dad has. I have a $100 gift card to sears and figured I'd use it on tools. I was looking at this:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00935137000P?adCell=A3

But i was looking for more of a toolbox sort of setup and not a plastic carrying case but idk. What do you guys think?

 

[Justin]

I wouldn't look at sears as a first thought for tools any more considering they dropped their life time warranty on sockets.

I guess since you have a gift card it looks like a nice setup.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I wouldn't look at sears as a first thought for tools any more considering they dropped their life time warranty on sockets.

I guess since you have a gift card it looks like a nice setup.

SHENANIGANS!!!!

I got TWO socket wrenches replaced on the spot at Sears within the last 3 months with no receipt. The wrenches were more than a decade old.

Almost all my stuff is Craftsman and it's been fantastic. I got the 245 piece set IIRC, as well as a set of wobble extensions, a few Torque wrenches (One beam type and one click type), a breaker bar, and a few sockets for the headbolts and ARP studs and I doubt I'll need much more for tools for a long while.

 

[annoyingrob]

Seeing as how you do have access to tools for now, I would have suggested maybe starting out with some slightly more expensive tools that will last you a lot longer, but it's kind of hard to argue with a gift certificate. I say why not, it's not a bad starting socket set. In the future, when you start buying more (and/or better) tools, the craftsman set can always be demoted to the road-side emergency trunk toolkit.

After you buy that set, I would suggest you look at investing in a good set of wrenches. My personal favorite are SK locking adjustable ratcheting wrenches.

http://www.sktools.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=89900

Can be had on ebay for about half retail. Will go a long way to complement your sockets. Plus, you'll never use regular wrenches again. SK also has a lifetime warranty on them.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

Almost all my stuff is Craftsman and it's been fantastic. I got the 245 piece set IIRC, as well as a set of wobble extensions, a few Torque wrenches (One beam type and one click type), a breaker bar, and a few sockets for the headbolts and ARP studs and I doubt I'll need much more for tools for a long while.

yeah. I took like 4 19mm sockets in and walked out with 4 new ones... I've never heard of them dropping the warranty. I think Craftsman is good enough, maybe invest in a set of Snap-On impact sockets, so you can get the hard bolts off w/o breaking all your sockets, as 'damn it... do we have ANOTHER 19 left?' gets to be very annoying.

I would think a plastic case would be a good first set to have. it's organized, has a variety of different tools, and it's ussually cheaper than buying all the stuff seperate. Plus, you'll know how many 10&12mm sockets your missing after working on your car. :icon_bigg

 

[JSHeinrich]

I got almost the same socket set for my first, and I still have it. I broke my 3/8 driver took it back and got a new one no problem about a week ago. I think its a good set

 

[DegreE]

I wouldn't look at sears as a first thought for tools any more considering they dropped their life time warranty on sockets.

No they didn't.

I just returned 2 broken sockets last week.

 

[Scot]

IMO, Craftsman is the best bang for the buck. Put another $100 to your gift card and you can get a really great starter kit. But don't get in a rush, and wait until something goes on sale. I bought my first set with graduation money in 1979, yeah old dude, and still have it today and continute to add as necessary. I just returned a 25 year old swivel rachet and was handed a new one. (try and look for a kit with 6 point sockets)

No doubt Snap-On, MAC, etc is superior, but they break too.... Way expensive!

 

[Justin]

Ya know what, I was wrong. I looked into their site more and they still do have the warranty. Myyyy mistake.

 

[WhtMa71]

I think just about every tool i have is craftsman and ive never broken one thing. And just about the only thing i dont have in my arsenal is some ratcheting wrenches..damn i need to go get some of those.

 

[mkiiSupraMan18]

^ life will never be the same once you get them...

It is honestly one of the few 'how the hell did people get by w/o these?' things that come to mind when I'm working on cars.

I prefer the ones w/ the adjustable heads.

And since you are a Supra owner, may want to invest in a set of something like these... I know my set paid for itself the first time I used it.

http://www.bt-andf.com/products.php <- just googled, this was the first link I found, I have a craftsman set.

 

[Frank Rizzo]

As far as quality I'm not even going to get started. "There is a difference."

Most sets only go up to 19mm and do not come with 16mm or 18mm wrenches or any wrench below 10mm.

Concentrate on getting 20mm-26mm 6 point, 10mm 14mm allen head sockets, 10mm 12mm 14mm flare nut wrenches, mm wrenches below 10mm. And a good set of 12 point american sockets for ARP hardware.

An inch pound torque wrench should be on the list also.

As far as storage, the case MUST have locking slots for sockets. Or just use a bag with socket rails.

Respect your tools, clean them, love them. They are an investment and a wise one at that.

 

[tlo86]

As far as quality I'm not even going to get started. "There is a difference."

Most sets only go up to 19mm and do not come with 16mm or 18mm wrenches or any wrench below 10mm.

Concentrate on getting 20mm-26mm 6 point, 10mm 14mm allen head sockets, 10mm 12mm 14mm flare nut wrenches, mm wrenches below 10mm. And a good set of 12 point american sockets for ARP hardware.

An inch pound torque wrench should be on the list also.

As far as storage, the case MUST have locking slots for sockets. Or just use a bag with socket rails.

Respect your tools, clean them, love them. They are an investment and a wise one at that.

very true! i will argue not all tools have to be expensive. some i find myself cheaping out on because they are just not used for areas i know will require a lot of torque... such as gear wrenches. the 6 point socket is a must!

 

[annoyingrob]

I think just about every tool i have is craftsman and ive never broken one thing. And just about the only thing i dont have in my arsenal is some ratcheting wrenches..damn i need to go get some of those.

Are you using old craftsman equipment, or new stuff? Their old stuff is pretty robust. The new stuff, it's cheaper.

I've broken two craftsman ratchets in the last year. One old one, which admittedly, had lived a long life. It was probably 20 years old. The only thing that broke on it was the little direction adjustment lever too. The ratchet worked perfectly otherwise.

I got it replaced with a new one, which I broke in about 8 months.

I've broken a few of their 1/4" extensions too.

I'm not saying craftsman tools are bad by any means, they're pretty good tools. I'm just saying, for a few dollars more, there are some tools out there that might be a better deal. Ratchets come to mind. Buy cheap sockets, that's fine, but a good ratchet will make any job a lot less stressful.

 

[Scot]

Buy cheap sockets, that's fine, but a good ratchet will make any job a lot less stressful.

True dat