Spend my money for me

[20thGix]

I bought one of these some years ago. Its nice to have just about everything you need all in one spot and portable.

http://www.bridgeportequip.com/product_p/ctk148mp.htm?gclid=CNS75rXjx7UCFe9aMgodw1oAww&utm_source=googleproducts&utm_medium=cpc_feed&utm_campaign=comparison_shopping_feeds

One of the ratchets broke but that was because of a buddy was using it as a hammer when he was changing his brakes on his car. I wasnt to pissed about it because the allen wrench he was beating on flipped up and hit him in the eye. It scratched his eye and had to wear an eye patch. Other than that its a nice set on the cheap. Tool boxes are you get what you pay for.

I buy alot of my tools thru my work. We get sale ads thru our vendors and alot of good deal come up so shop around. Now the tools i use at work are just expensive period.

[max power]

If you pay more than $50 for a FSM, you got robbed.

I prefer socket hex to T handle. T handles are often too big to get into spots where that's needed.

[bowdog]

What the hell is FSM?

[c7fx]

Factory Service Manual.

many are free on line

[bowdog]

Factory Service Manual.

[Bitani]

If you pay more than $50 for a FSM, you got robbed.

I prefer socket hex to T handle. T handles are often too big to get into spots where that's needed.

Kawi wants $75 for the 03 ZX6R manual. Screw that I'll just put it on an iPad for free.

Do you guys know if the Craftsman tool sets are on sale a lot? Trying to decide if I can hold off on buying that set for a few weeks or if I'll get screwed it will go back up to reg. price.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Ziggy]

Sears has specials on tools all the time. Especially Christmas and Father's Day like someone said before. My folks got me a 150+ piece mechanics tool set from Sears when I was 13, and that was really just about all I needed for years. As I got older, and the projects got more complex, I've been able to pick up the stuff I needed, but there are a couple of pieces I consider indispensable now. 1) Gear wrenches - spend a half hour fumbling around with a conventional combination/box end wrench in a space too tight for a socket, and you'll wonder why it took so long for someone to invent them! 2) Hex and Torx (star) sockets - kinda the same deal as the gear wrenches, faster and easier a lot of the time. 3) Good screwdrivers - they're not all the same, I especially like the ones with magnetized tips! 4) A good magnet - needs to be strong enough to pick up heavy stuff, but small enough to get into spaces you can't reach. I've got a telescoping one from Advance Auto Parts that has saved me from hours of teardown to retrieve a dropped nut or bolt. If there is an inconvenient place to drop something, I guarantee you will at some point!

I gave my son his first tool set for Christmas this year (he's 13) and I hope he finds his to be as helpful as I did.

[fox_racing_guy]

Metric 1/4" and 3/8" socket sets

Metric combination wrenches

Quality screwdrivers

Quality T-handle hex drivers

Factory service manual

Any tool box will do' date=' but craftsman can be had for cheap around Father's Day

Loc-Tite, blue and red

Quality torque wrenches. I have ~$1500 in torque wrenches, alone

Quality, dial type tire pressure gauge

Quality front/rear stands

That should get you started...[/quote']

This guy is a real mechanic, follow his advise and pay attention to the "Metric specification"

Some of those Craftsman tool sets linked by others contain many SAE pieces, those will be pretty much worthless today. I also own a 67 Ford F100 and that is the only reason for me to keep my SAE tools. Even more worthless is my BS ( british standard) tool collection but I still know to many geezers that own old british shit boxes that require these.

Sockets I prefer 6 points, less chance of stripping stuff.

Torque wrenches are all Snap-On and are calibrated yearly.

Screwdrivers, look for JIS types like these http://www.ikaswebshop.com/jisphilips.html

trust me, it makes a difference.

[Ziggy]

I had no idea about JIS screwdrivers. I need to get some of those!

[Bitani]

This guy is a real mechanic, follow his advise and pay attention to the "Metric specification"

Some of those Craftsman tool sets linked by others contain many SAE pieces, those will be pretty much worthless today. I also own a 67 Ford F100 and that is the only reason for me to keep my SAE tools. Even more worthless is my BS ( british standard) tool collection but I still know to many geezers that own old british shit boxes that require these.

Sockets I prefer 6 points, less chance of stripping stuff.

Torque wrenches are all Snap-On and are calibrated yearly.

Screwdrivers, look for JIS types like these http://www.ikaswebshop.com/jisphilips.html

trust me, it makes a difference.

What would you recommend as a toolset that will get me pretty close to everything I'll need, excluding the special order-by-itself stuff?

I understand that the 260-pc set might have a lot of SAE stuff, but doesn't it also have all of the other stuff I need mixed in? (I could be wrong.)

[3.504]

What would you recommend as a toolset that will get me pretty close to everything I'll need, excluding the special order-by-itself stuff?

I understand that the 260-pc set might have a lot of SAE stuff, but doesn't it also have all of the other stuff I need mixed in? (I could be wrong.)

yeah usually. also larger SAE stuff crosses to metric

1 1/4 = 32mm

15/16 = 24mm

7/8 = 22mm

13/16 = 21mm... kinda

3/4 = 19mm

5/8 = 16mm kinda

1/2 = 13mm

im sure theres others too.

the benefit to buying the bulk sets is the discount on individual tools and the convenience.

[Al Z. Heimer]

http://www.sears.com/tools/v-1020000?adcell=B1_tools&adCell=WY?sid=ISx20070515x00001a Sears has a sale going on now.. http://www.sears.com/9-drawer-red-ball-bearing-griplatch-combo-limited/p-009CO52821012B?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 Not a bad deal here for about 350 bucks. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics&AutoTools&sName=Mechanics%20Tool%20Setsmv=rr This is a good good deal in my opinion..Just a little over a buck a tool.For home use you will never wear this out and if you do it will be replaced free.

[c7fx]

Another tool that is well worth getting an impact screwdriver.

Try getting those phillips head bolts off an old bikes case cover and you will understand

[fox_racing_guy]

Here is a all metric set for $270.00 http://www.sears.com/craftsman-201-pc-all-metric-mechanics-tool-set/p-00983096000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1&PDP_REDIRECT=false&s_tnt=39869:3:0

That tool chest combo Mr Heimer posted looks like a solid deal.

[Bitani]

http://www.sears.com/tools/v-1020000?adcell=B1_tools&adCell=WY?sid=ISx20070515x00001a Sears has a sale going on now.. http://www.sears.com/9-drawer-red-ball-bearing-griplatch-combo-limited/p-009CO52821012B?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 Not a bad deal here for about 350 bucks. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics&AutoTools&sName=Mechanics%20Tool%20Setsmv=rr This is a good good deal in my opinion..Just a little over a buck a tool.For home use you will never wear this out and if you do it will be replaced free.

What does the 309 piece offer that is worth double the price of the 260 pc ( http://www.sears.com/craftsman-260-pc-mechanics-tool-set-with-3/p-00936260000P#reviewsWrap )? I tried looking through the sheet of tools in it, but as you can tell I'm.. not exactly mechanically inclined as of yet. They all just say "socket, socket, screwdriver" to me. For like 20% more tools it's 100% more price.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Bitani

[Al Z. Heimer]

http://c.shld.net/assets/misc/IL36260.pdf

http://c.shld.net/assets/misc/spin_prod_540682101.pdf

More stuff. Probably more than you will ever need but believe me considering tool truck prices this is cheap without being poor quality. I bought 1 socket Friday off a tool truck a 9/16" swivel impact. 43 dollars and change. Whichever set you choose they will last your lifetime. Craftsman sets are reasonable. When you start a tool at a time the expense goes up big time. One more thing grasshopper---Learn how to use them and they pay for themselves.

[max power]

http://www.sears.com/tools/v-1020000?adcell=B1_tools&adCell=WY?sid=ISx20070515x00001a Sears has a sale going on now.. http://www.sears.com/9-drawer-red-ball-bearing-griplatch-combo-limited/p-009CO52821012B?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 Not a bad deal here for about 350 bucks. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics&AutoTools&sName=Mechanics%20Tool%20Setsmv=rr This is a good good deal in my opinion..Just a little over a buck a tool.For home use you will never wear this out and if you do it will be replaced free.

As long as Sears is still in business in a few years. Kmart is doing its best to destroy the reputation that Sears built up over the last hundred years. The company is going down hill fast.

[Bitani]

http://www.sears.com/tools/v-1020000?adcell=B1_tools&adCell=WY?sid=ISx20070515x00001a Sears has a sale going on now.. http://www.sears.com/9-drawer-red-ball-bearing-griplatch-combo-limited/p-009CO52821012B?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2 Not a bad deal here for about 350 bucks. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics&AutoTools&sName=Mechanics%20Tool%20Setsmv=rr This is a good good deal in my opinion..Just a little over a buck a tool.For home use you will never wear this out and if you do it will be replaced free.

The 309-pc set just went down to $199.99. I can't rationalize NOT buying it at this point.

So.. if I get that chest set too, do I need to buy anything extra to keep these organized? Any trays to put in them? I'm assuming that, since the 309-pc doesn't come with a box that the chest is pretty much a necessity. Not that I wouldn't buy one later down the line anyways.

And I promise I'm not just trying to be spoonfed. I hate that. But I have never, not once had mechanic-type stuff introduced to me. So I'm basically goin' from scratch.

Edited February 24, 2013 by Bitani

[max power]

That's a nice kit, but its a shitload of sockets (a good thing) 36 wrenches, gear wrenches (good thing) 6 extensions and 3 ratchets. All good. 22 pieces of it are screwdriver bits from what I read. Not so good.

You will still need some metric hex sockets for working on bikes. You'll need some good screwdrivers too.

[82packer]

I know I'll get shit over this but I like the nicer (smoother finish, not cheap cast crap) Harbor Freight stuff. I have been a factory line mechanic for over 25 years and the HF wrenches have never failed me. I can leave them hanging on a machine for hours sometimes overnight and they NEVER grow legs. In the late 80's I had only Craftsman and one by one they started to walk off. Today at work I use only Snap-on because that is what our new owners (Nestle) requires, all mechanics must carry same tools (they call it the WOW factor). While in my garage I use everything from HF to SK to Craftsman they all seem to get the job done.

[Bitani]

That's a nice kit, but its a shitload of sockets (a good thing) 36 wrenches, gear wrenches (good thing) 6 extensions and 3 ratchets. All good. 22 pieces of it are screwdriver bits from what I read. Not so good.

You will still need some metric hex sockets for working on bikes. You'll need some good screwdrivers too.

Difference in uses from hex sockets to just getting T-handle hex wrenches?

And I ended up buying that 309-pc set and the 2 chests. With extra discounts applied (found a $35 coupon for over $300), total came out to be $461 excluding tax.

[HeavyDuty]

I ended up buying that 309-pc set and the 2 chests. With extra discounts applied (found a $35 coupon for over $300), total came out to be $461 excluding tax.

Never Mind

Edited February 26, 2013 by HeavyDuty

[max power]

Difference in uses from hex sockets to just getting T-handle hex wrenches?

And I ended up buying that 309-pc set and the 2 chests. With extra discounts applied (found a $35 coupon for over $300), total came out to be $461 excluding tax.

T handles can't get in spots where sockets can. On the flip side, there are times where t handles can reach deep narrow spots that sockets are too fat to get to, but that instance is pretty rare.