What brand of tools?

[PiercedTiger]

Ok guys, I'm sick of running out to buy the odd socket size or wrench each time I work on a vehicle. I've spent ALL day today scouring Lowes, Home Depot, Snap On, Mac, Sears, and Stanley's websites. I'm looking for a set that includes damn near every metric and SAE socket and wrench I would need. Too many times I need something like a 16mm wrench only to find I have 15 and 17.

I'd like to spend less than $500 if possible. One box/kit would be nice since I drag around 2-3 to have what I need and still lack some.

What do you guys use or recommend? Anything I haven't mentioned would be great (or even a good kit/great deal). I want a rolling tool box at some point, but something I could toss in the truck bed to take on the road would be nice.

[eyedoc]

http://dealnews.com/Craftsman-Mechan...re/210371.html 154 piece set for $100 with protective case


http://dealnews.com/Craftsman-6-Draw...re/210463.html Rolling tool chest for $255

DEAL ENDS FEBRUARY 2nd!!!!!!!!!!! HURRY!!!!

[mt1961]

Craftsman have a lifetime waranty, if you break or damage one they will replace it free. Here's a set in the price range you were talking about that looks pretty good. My tools are a mixture. Was a pipefitter for 20 years and have all brands.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...nics+Tool+Sets

[PiercedTiger]

Originally Posted by eyedoc

http://dealnews.com/Craftsman-Mechan...re/210371.html 154 piece set for $100 with protective case


http://dealnews.com/Craftsman-6-Draw...re/210463.html Rolling tool chest for $255

DEAL ENDS FEBRUARY 2nd!!!!!!!!!!! HURRY!!!!

Thanks! I think I saw those on sears.com. Too bad it's tomorrow, and I'd like to wait for my tax refund!

Originally Posted by mt1961

Craftsman have a lifetime waranty, if you break or damage one they will replace it free. Here's a set in the price range you were talking about that looks pretty good. My tools are a mixture. Was a pipefitter for 20 years and have all brands.


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...nics+Tool+Sets

That's one of the sets I was leaning towards! I have a mix as well from Wal-Mart, tractor supply, china-made christmas/birthday gifts, and hand-me-downs. Which is why it's so irritating! None of it fits together in anything I can carry, and there always seems to be a size I need missing. The sets are complete, but they just didn't come with the one I end up needing.

The Kobalt ones at Lowes look nice, but they don't seem to sell set as complete as I'd like. I saw a MAC made Jesse James one at Sam's Club a couple years ago that would've been perfect ($399 I think), but I couldn't afford it at the time. Of course now no one has them as it was a limited production run apparently. I'm not a big fan of plastic cases either since I've had too many of them crack.

[RTFM]

you can usually do better by buying a metric set and an sae set separately, and picking carefully

this set is overkill, you don't usually need a 7/16 socket in 3 drive sizes and two different points
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ools&adCell=A3

I like 1/4" drive up to 7/16, 3/8" drive up to 3/4", and 1/2" drive up to 1 1/2" (and metric equivalents. Typically you don't need every size in standard and deep, etc. You can go nuts buying everything, but I don't think I've ever met nuts in 16mm for example.


And I'd buy Craftsman or Snap on. Avoid Sears brand, most every chinese made, great neck, walmart. Not sure about Kobalt, not sure how long they've been around, or will continue to be.

For toolboxes, anything that will hold all your tools will be too big to carry comfortably. I have one box with all my sockets, and wouldn't want to carry it to my truck too often
. Segregate the Metric and SAE, as its rare anything you work on will need both. OF course, then you'll need 2x drivers, extensions,..... I'm not helping much here, think I'll give up before I've spent all your money.

[PiercedTiger]

Originally Posted by RTFM

you can usually do better by buying a metric set and an sae set separately, and picking carefully

this set is overkill, you don't usually need a 7/16 socket in 3 drive sizes and two different points
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ools&adCell=A3

I like 1/4" drive up to 7/16, 3/8" drive up to 3/4", and 1/2" drive up to 1 1/2" (and metric equivalents. Typically you don't need every size in standard and deep, etc. You can go nuts buying everything, but I don't think I've ever met nuts in 16mm for example.


And I'd buy Craftsman or Snap on. Avoid Sears brand, most every chinese made, great neck, walmart. Not sure about Kobalt, not sure how long they've been around, or will continue to be.

For toolboxes, anything that will hold all your tools will be too big to carry comfortably. I have one box with all my sockets, and wouldn't want to carry it to my truck too often
. Segregate the Metric and SAE, as its rare anything you work on will need both. OF course, then you'll need 2x drivers, extensions,..... I'm not helping much here, think I'll give up before I've spent all your money.

Thanks for the advice! Something too heavy to carry around, but able to be lifted into the truck bed to take to a friend's house would be fine.

I've run into metric and SAE on the same car before. That's why I kinda wanted both together. Not sure if they're aftermarket bolts/nuts, or corroded so bad I need a different size to fit them, but I've had to deal with it.Or maybe I just didn't have the right SAE/metric size, and had to find one in the other format that would work.

And I agree that I don't think I need each size in 6 and 12 pt versions for example, but they all seem to do that! They'll skip a size just to include 6 and 12 pt versions of the ones that ARE included.

And it's frustrating as so many kits come with 10 or more 1/4 screw driver bits, but I already have 3 sets of those floating around! And I only use one of them! They other two collect dust as I forget about them in some obscure corner or tool box.

Helping my buddy the last 2 weeks replace the front axle on his 79 Ranger made me wish for more deep sockets. We ended up using a 4-piece 3/8" set I used to put pegs on a BMX bike years ago, and the 1/2" set I got for my impact wrench.

I've never used a 1/4" driver. I've lived with a 3/8" for several years now, and only use 1/2" with my impact until last week. Even then it was a 1/2" ratchet and breaker bar to use my impact set when the impact was useless to get bolts in or out (500lbs torque, and still not enough!). We used a 16mm several times on that truck.

I know I could buy parts separately, but then it looks like 2 sets of sockets, 2 set of wrenches, all with their own plastic cases/holders, and none of that fits nicely in one box to transport.

I suppose I could just get a generic tool box and toss each type in 1 drawer, but I kinda wanted things organized. Sockets lined up, metric and SAE separate, wrenches the same, etc. Makes it easier when I'm looking for one in particular ya know? I'm so sick of hunting around the floor or work bench for the size needed that I know I'd go nuts with the same situation in my tool box.

I thought something like this would be perfect. Small enough to drag to the truck bed, big enough to contain most of what I need, and well organized. However, I can't find it for sale ANYWHERE even if I could afford it. (MAC did a similar setup for Jesse James and it sold at Sam's Club a couple years ago for around $400. Kicking myself now for not figuring out at way to get it!)



http://toolmonger.com/2006/11/10/han...set/#more-1901

I also can not find anything in a similar layout as far as tools included, size, and organization.

Edit:
And I can't seem to locate MAC or Snap-On dealers or distributors in my area! I'd rather not drive around looking for their trucks just to talk to the guy about buying some tools! I know I've seen them, but rarely so I have no idea when/where they are.