Posted: 8/8/2016 5:46:18 AM EDT
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ARFCOM guys and gals, Question for you. When I was young I remember looking at a Sears catalog with some excellent tool sets. These sometimes had 1000 pc sets. My question is: What are the best tools companies that have large sets now? 500pc 1000 pc etc... Kobalt? MAC? Snap-On? Made in USA if possible. Thanks in advance... Kongo |
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In a related question can anyone suggest a good solid complete drill bit set ... Like a complete set, wire gauge, standard etc? Norseman/CTD makes quality drills. I have three different sets. Be sure to use the correct speed and pressure for the material you're drilling, and they'll last a very long time. |
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Don't buy a set, especially one of the big ones. You'll get crap you'll never use. Buy the basics. A socket set, a wrench set, some screwdrivers, and a pair of medium size channel locks and vice grips. Get the rest as you need them. This +1. Best to build a set based on personal preferences and actual needs. And don't even look at Craftsman. You can get quality tools from many other sources. KD/Gearwrench is my current favorite, although I have Snap On, SK and older Craftsman. Make sure you can buy or warranty that one item you break or lose. A lot of the low-end brands only sell sets of wrenches, sockets, torx drivers, etc.. |
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How much money are you trying to spend? first post as always. Craftsman quality has really gone to shit lately. The Advance auto tools are far better quality now and they are still cheap Chinese junk. ETA: Over the years most of my tools have become Snap-On and MAC. |
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Don't buy a set with plain box end wrenches. What you want are the wrenches that are open on one end and have a ratcheting closed end on the other. Dating myself but I've been wrenching for 40+ years. The ratcheting box end wrenches have very limited use, IMO. I bought a set (Gearwrench) because they looked cool and all the techs in the shop had them. I've used them exactly twice. Most of the time; the ratcheting head is too fat to get on the fastener and I end up using a conventional box end wrench or a socket. And I won't hesitate to take a brass hammer or cheater pipe to a regular wrench. |
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Don't buy a set, especially one of the big ones. You'll get crap you'll never use. Buy the basics. A socket set, a wrench set, some screwdrivers, and a pair of medium size channel locks and vice grips. Get the rest as you need them. This. In one of those 500pc kits, 150pcs will be screwdriver bits and allen wrenches 
Last I remember, while Craftsman was going Chinese with their small kits and single pieces...their large kits (200+ pcs) were still made in USA. Gearwrench is great for the money. Kobalt is too (as long as both are Taiwan) S-K makes good stuff. Snap-on/MAC....you're paying 87% more for the name stamped on the side. If you don't want to pay for the name...check these out: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120 |
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That is the truth! Wtf is up with 10mm sockets? Mine always disappear at 3am and leave me in a jam. Quoted:
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dont get a huge set-lots of junk you will never use unless you make money with them, craftsman or kobalt will do get extra 10/12/14mm wrenches/sockets 
That is the truth! Wtf is up with 10mm sockets? Mine always disappear at 3am and leave me in a jam. I would add 8/13/17mm if you work on cars. |
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That is the truth! Wtf is up with 10mm sockets? Mine always disappear at 3am and leave me in a jam. Quoted:
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dont get a huge set-lots of junk you will never use unless you make money with them, craftsman or kobalt will do get extra 10/12/14mm wrenches/sockets
That is the truth! Wtf is up with 10mm sockets? Mine always disappear at 3am and leave me in a jam. Amateurs! Good mechanics don't lose many tools. |
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Amateurs! Good mechanics don't lose many tools. Quoted:
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dont get a huge set-lots of junk you will never use unless you make money with them, craftsman or kobalt will do get extra 10/12/14mm wrenches/sockets
That is the truth! Wtf is up with 10mm sockets? Mine always disappear at 3am and leave me in a jam. Amateurs! Good mechanics don't lose many tools. Shit is too expensive to lose. |
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Dating myself but I've been wrenching for 40+ years. The ratcheting box end wrenches have very limited use, IMO. I bought a set (Gearwrench) because they looked cool and all the techs in the shop had them. I've used them exactly twice. Most of the time; the ratcheting head is too fat to get on the fastener and I end up using a conventional box end wrench or a socket. And I won't hesitate to take a brass hammer or cheater pipe to a regular wrench. Quoted:
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Don't buy a set with plain box end wrenches. What you want are the wrenches that are open on one end and have a ratcheting closed end on the other. Dating myself but I've been wrenching for 40+ years. The ratcheting box end wrenches have very limited use, IMO. I bought a set (Gearwrench) because they looked cool and all the techs in the shop had them. I've used them exactly twice. Most of the time; the ratcheting head is too fat to get on the fastener and I end up using a conventional box end wrench or a socket. And I won't hesitate to take a brass hammer or cheater pipe to a regular wrench. I like the Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches and they can be very useful.....but....My first set of wrenches would be regular open/closed end wrenches. There are lots of bolts/nuts that can't be accessed by ratcheting wrenches. |
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I got one of those Husky 400 piece sets when it was 75% off. Like everyone says about 150 pieces are screwdriver bits and allen wrenches.
All of the other stuff is pretty decent but I only seem to use the same sockets and wrenches and the rest take up space in the chest. You are better off buying a bunch of smaller sets of items that you will actually use. |
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Craftsman quality has really gone to shit lately. I like my older Craftsman tools but today's offerings from them are Hecho In China. I do love my long handled Snap-On 3/8" flex head ratchet but it always seems to flex at the wrong time. I should have sprung for the one with detent head angle positions. |
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Back in the early 80's I bought a Craftsman mechanic's set and my Dad got me a roll around tool box for our garage. I REALLY didn't want to go into debt to the Snap On guy. I still have it. It's made me a fair amount of money over the years. I have one broken socket that a buddy destroyed working on a trailer hitch. My ratchet handles have held up well but I have multiples of each size. The specialty and odd ball stuff I bought as needed. Right now I need a new impact wrench. Since I'm not doing it for a living any more I'll probably just go to Harbor Freight for that. If I were doing it for a living I'd go to Harbor Freight and buy two. My Dad had a mix of Snap On, Mac, and Craftsman. We gave his away and as far as I know it's all still going strong. We made quite a few "custom" things over the years. Buy a basic set from the supplier of your choice but don't go overboard. Then you just have to add to it as needed. Everyone winds up with a little bit different before it's done. |
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For screwdrivers, I would go buy a Klein set. The same goes for pliers. As far as ratchets and box wrenches, I ended up with some Craftsman years ago. I have slowly started to regret the purchase.
The new ratchets are utter crap. In a tight space you will learn to hate them. You'll be needing just one click to turn the fastener, and the ratchet will be ~that~ close to making it happen but ultimately won't give it to you. A Snap-On or other higher quality tool will perform the task. My second complaint about the Craftsman ratchet is the reversing mechanism, it will often kick into "neutral" accidentally and feels like it could easily break if you give it too much torque. Then there are the extensions. I had the ball bearing fall out of the end making it basically useless since a socket will no longer stay attached unless you put some tape on it. Yeah, I could exchange it, but then I would end up with yet another crap extension that will break randomly just like the one before it. I was looking for a smaller set to leave in my vehicle and considering my growing hatred of Craftsman I started looking elsewhere. Eventually I discovered this set. Crescent Tool Set 
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Quoted: Dating myself but I've been wrenching for 40+ years. The ratcheting box end wrenches have very limited use, IMO. I bought a set (Gearwrench) because they looked cool and all the techs in the shop had them. I've used them exactly twice. Most of the time; the ratcheting head is too fat to get on the fastener and I end up using a conventional box end wrench or a socket. And I won't hesitate to take a brass hammer or cheater pipe to a regular wrench. Quoted: Quoted: Don't buy a set with plain box end wrenches. What you want are the wrenches that are open on one end and have a ratcheting closed end on the other. Dating myself but I've been wrenching for 40+ years. The ratcheting box end wrenches have very limited use, IMO. I bought a set (Gearwrench) because they looked cool and all the techs in the shop had them. I've used them exactly twice. Most of the time; the ratcheting head is too fat to get on the fastener and I end up using a conventional box end wrench or a socket. And I won't hesitate to take a brass hammer or cheater pipe to a regular wrench. Yes, they need to invent a lower profile ratcheting box end. |