[ QUOTE ]
There is only one problem...You can't always get the right angle to get a six point socket/wrench on.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with that about the wrench but disagree with the socket. If you are using a ratchet, that is no problem. If you are using a breaker bar and the socket won't line up, you can take the socket off the breaker bar and rotate it 90*. That would put it in the same position as if it was a 12 point.

 

A 6 point set will never fail to get the job done. Thicker walls on wrenches and sockets make them stronger. More contact area makes them less likely to slip. There is only one problem...You can't always get the right angle to get a six point socket/wrench on. Buy both, buy doubles of both if yu can. It is always better to have tools you dont use than to need tools you don't have. While you can remove a distributor hold down with a socket/flex/extension/ratchet a distributor wrench is faster and easier. If you can buy a cheap oxy-acetaline torch you can bend cheap swap meet wrenches into custom "how do I get at that?" wrenches.

 

A 6 point set will never fail to get the job done. Thicker walls on wrenches and sockets make them stronger. More contact area makes them less likely to slip. There is only one problem...You can't always get the right angle to get a six point socket/wrench on. Buy both, buy doubles of both if yu can. It is always better to have tools you dont use than to need tools you don't have. While you can remove a distributor hold down with a socket/flex/extension/ratchet a distributor wrench is faster and easier. If you can buy a cheap oxy-acetaline torch you can bend cheap swap meet wrenches into custom "how do I get at that?" wrenches.

 

WOW, what a great website.....thanks..

 

I have the basic craftsman set with 1/4-1/2" and about 20 wrenches. I've had it for probably 4 years now and it's served me well for the most part. I upgraded to craftsman pro ratchets that still suck. I've also added a set of hex bits, torx bits, craftsman pry bars, 2lb hammer, flare nut wrenches, extensions, craftsman pro screw drivers (new ones are kinda nice) lots of little stuff. I have the oppertunity to get a bunch of snapon at 50% off and plan on getting snapon ratchets (1/4-1/2, maybe a 3/8 flex head too), torx bits, torque wrench, screw drivers, flank drive wrenches (6pt 1/4-1" and 7mm-19m, allready have 12pt. craftsman). I also plan on adding a carftsman 95 piece impact socket set to replace the sockets i've lost over time.

Right now i have some budie's craftsman and CH 1/2" impacts sitting in my shop, they are allright but some times i have to bust out the breaker bar. My air compressor is part of the problem but i should have a 2 stage sanborne sitting in my shop pretty soon. When cash allows i'll add an IR thunder gun, IR 3/8" air ratchet, IR straight and angled die grinders.

The craftsman set is a great start to work on jeeps. You get to the point when you figure out what keeps breaking and what lasts. Now i try and only buy good tools that will last instead of cheep ones, i have enough to do almost anything but still there's those tools that will make it easier and hold up a ton better.

 

we can put u together a custom set of tools


12pt socket is on the t-case in order to get it apart 10 mm
also the wheel bearings on the front of a yj/tj/xj/zj/wj are all 12 pt 13mm or 1/2" depending on the number of times a front axle has broken and hit them some front caliper bolts 10 mm 12pt
there are a few others on most jeeps but that is the first few to come to mind
if u can not find what u want on our site then drop me a pm at the site and i will price anything u could ever need. as a professional mechanic i suggest quality over quanity but i work with my tools to make a living.
the right tool for the job takes the work out of most projects.
we are able to get just about anything but snap-on and the like. I use to be a Snap-on dealer and i decided to use the discounts that i got as a tool dealer to help out my fellow four wheelers.

 

Hah you guys are going to laugh but over the years I have inherited or bought or flat out given to me so many tools.

Last count from my wife said I have 32 ratchet wrenches (1/4"-3/4"drive), 230 Sockets(Metric, English, Witworth, 12,8,6, and 5 point and some that don't fit anything), 110 wrenches, 13 hammers, 76 screwdrivers and nut drivers, 5 torque wrenches, only 4 spanners but 12 Cresent or adjustable wrenches, 6 pipe wrenches, 10 vice grips, 47 pliers. Needless to say I don't get tools on Fathers day anymore.

And I still can't find the right one when I need it.

They are from Snapon, Sears, S&K, Focum, No-names.

The most used are my 3/8 and 1/2" Deep socket and a set of 6 point combination wrenches.

 

Here's a little info on who makes what for who.

http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html

BMB

 

From many years at the dealership level I have accumulated over $25k in tools including a snap on scanner with all software. Some years ago I just sold most of it out and changed over to Metrinch. That was maybe 7 years ago and I have yet to break anything except their cheap ratchets. One size does fit it all also and shortly after Metrinch came about Snap on had their own version called flank drive. I like either Husky or Duracraft for ratchets.

Air tools I have been picky about I will only get Husky ones except for the 1/2 impact which has to be sears, I believe Ingersoll Rand makes it for them. Those cheap air tools like CH just do not hold up to real use for to long.

My recent ultra cheap tool is a Gator Grip I got it free and never thought much about it until I tried it. I will admit it is not that handy as one might think but it did torque up to 190 ft lbs.

 

If you get a set of craftsman in the black case, (this is being nit-picky, I know) get one where the rachets and wrenches fit in slots on the hinge side of the top. I have the one where they are on the opposite side and often the lid for them falls when I open the case.

 

Craftsman, not the cheapie Sears or Champion brand.
A cheap tool can hurt you - you are pulling hard and it breaks - there go your knuckles - or teeth.

Look for quality.

And then you need to be able to find them easily, so a good drawer type tool box really helps.

You never have enough tools!!!!!

You forget the higher price for quality, but you always regret buying junk.
But then, you can overdo it too -- who needs gold or 10 layers of chrome?

 

as for sockets.. go big or dont go at all... once i stepped up to 1/2" drive.. i couldnt tell you the last time i used 3/8"... 1/4" i use a few times a year for those really stupid small things... but other than that.. i only use the half inch... so i would say.. get the biggest set of them.. and dont forget the deep sockets.. as for the big socket sizes.. i buy them as i need them... but as long as you have something from 3/8" to 1" in the half inch drive.. you will love em... also get extentions..
as for wrenchs... also get the biggest set you can.. then for the second set.. get the rachet wrenchs.. and get the ones with the tab to reverse them.. or you will hate having to turn the damn thing around everytime you put it on backwards.. and get craftsman.. dont cheese out on them..
screwdrivers.. get a good set of small, med., and large.. and two of each.. the med size.. i would get three... you always you use them.. and you will beat on them.. and mess one up...
get a good punch and chisel... as for a hammer.. get a bfh and dont look back..

 

cant ever have too many tools....so i wont suggest what you need specifically tool wise...

But as for brands....i've had Excellent luck with DURA-CRAFT from Blains Farm and fleet....... comes with a warentee just like craftsman and i believe are a lil less $$, built very solid and precise.

I had stanley from walmart for a few things and they seemed to work well...but i didnt like the feel of thier ratchets....didnt seem high quality to me....they worked though

 

Actually Dale, I did mention ratcheting box end wrenches if you read the last paragraph of mine. I got mine at Sears, I think its a 5 wrench set, so it has 10 sizes, and is offset so it'll fit a lot of great places. One of them came in super handy when I was having such a hard time with my axle tubes leaking, I was pulling the backing plate off constantly and I was able to stick that wrench in there behind all the brake hardware and pads and take it all off without touching the brakes. Was a wonder and a half.

 

with sockets, you will be much betetr off with 6 points, as you ca nuse the ratchet for variable postions.
i alwasy go with this theory for primary tools
6 point sockets, 12 point combonation wrenches.

 

biggest problem i've had with ratcheting box ends is getting them to fit into places...if it fits, usually the socket does too...my RBEs don't see a lot of use - i'd put them on a list of secondary "nice to have" tools...

offset box end wrenches (or double offset - bend at the end and another just up the shaft so it makes a -\_ profile from the side) can come in handy though...again, on the "nice to have list"...

my toolbox consists of a 96 piece socket set (metric, imperial, torx, mainly shallow, a few common deep, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive plus a couple of extensions), two (metric and imperial) 9-pc wrench sets, a variable tip magnetic screwdriver, and anything else i've needed, as needed...i've got a few more torx bits, pliers, hammers, butane soldering gun....and on and on...

a pretty basic kit, but it's done the trick 90% of the time...

 

[ QUOTE ]
or torquing down something.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a point, if you are a ham fisted kind a guy, get yourself some torque wrenches. It is easy to strip threads and if you plan to work on the more delicate stuff like the internals of engines, gearboxes etc, you can't live without one.

A good breaker bar can come in quite handy too. I bought one that has a slide extension so you can adjust to the amount of room you have when trying to get something undone.

Me, I only have Snap On, Gedore, Facom, Stahwille and Britool tools mainly because my trade made it easy to get hold of them either for free or cheap. I still buy stuff off the Snap On van but mainly second hand stuff now. The guy on the van sells new kits to garages and buys their old tools off them. Some of them are only 6 months to a year old and he then sells them on cheap. I do however have cheap tools as well mainly bought from an autoparts store here in Great Britain called Halfords. They do a professional range which carries a lifetime warranty but at low prices and I must say they have lasted well, even in my hands. I mean I break anything as I often tend to use tools for purposes they are not designed for (read lazyness) like using a ratchet as a hammer, tin snips to cut steel wire, screwdrivers as prybars or chisels etc.

To cap it, I don't think top of the range tools are worth the money if you don't wrench day and night and if you have to buy hem for the full price. If, like me, you can get them cheaply, go for it otherwise stick to the mainstream tools that nowadays also carry a lifetime warranty.

As for sizes; I think you got it well covered although a lot of car manufacturers tend to throw in the odd size bolt you won'y find in a standard set like metric 12mm or 16mm but you can always buy them as and when you come across one of them.

Hope this helps.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Used a wrench that came in REAL handy up at wbcarvers teh other day. box ended and 12 point on both ends. look closer and the points on one end were slighty rotated. that gave you an additional range of positions in a tight spot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very kewl, I want a set... Who makes those?

No one has mentioned racheting box ends, great for situations as described above but I'm always afraid to use them when braking loose or torquing down something.

Dale

 

more hammers

 

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure why they make 12 point sockets.

[/ QUOTE ] maybe just a rehtorical question, but ofr those that might not understand

6 point wrench only allow you to get on the bolt head from 6 positions, i.e. every 60º... 12 point get's 30º adn 12 postions. Used a wrench that came in REAL handy up at wbcarvers teh other day. box ended and 12 point on both ends. look closer and the points on one end were slighty rotated. that gave you an additional range of positions in a tight spot. and I was in just that tight spot pulling the T-case out of my ZJ the other weekend. granted that's where a gear wrench would have really shown it's worth! And those are something to be considered if you're buying wrenchs for the first time.

 

I think the Sears kits are a great starter and are usually priced a lot lower than you could piece them together yourself. Doesn't hurt to have some redundency. You may need to hold both ends of a fastener and appreciate it. I think the Craftsman tools are a good blend of quality and price. I've found mine to be tough tools that last and don't let me down. I've since bought other brands in their professional series and find them higher quality, but those kind of wrenches were not around at a price I could afford 20 years ago. Its nice to have some high quality, thin walled wrenches and sockets. Sometimes its a tight fit and you need them thin and strong. I also like wrenches with a fully polished finish. Makes them nice to handle and easy to clean up. Not the old bead blasted finish they used to use. Can't wipe those clean very easily.

Not sure why they make 12 point sockets. Don't think they would grip a hex head as well as a six point, but then again its the six pointers that I've snapped / split, the 12 pointers strip the head before they break. Is that intentional?

 

I've got a Husky tool set sold by Home Depot that has been perfect for my needs.

-1/4 drive 6pt sockets 5/32 to 1/2
-1/4 deep 6pt 3/16 to 1/2
-3/8 drive 6pt 3/8 to 13/16
-3/8 deep 6pt 3/8 to 7/8
-1/2 drive 12pt 1/2 to 1 1/4
Metric
-1/4 4mm to 13mm
-1/4 deep 4mm to 14mm
-3/8 9mm to 19mm
-3/8 deep 9mm to 16mm
-1/2 12pt 15mm to 32mm

Of course its got a drive ratchet for each, a few extensions, a crappy screwdriver and bits, and then combo wrenches standard from 5/16 to 3/4 and metric 9mm to 16mm. All that and a handy carry case that I think is quite nice. Then on my own I bought a swivel for each drive ratchet, a set of ratcheting box end wrenches(which is such a great tool!!!), a set of torx bits for my 3/8 drive, and a set of 8 screwdrivers.

 

You are going to be getting a lot of imput on this subject....good question and there are a lot of guys out there who have been getting their hands greasy for a long time...hence, they have a lot of experience....

First off, you are headed in the right direction....Sears is a good choice...lifetime warranty....not as good as Snap-on.....but they get the job done.

I actually have two sets of everything....a toolbox full and then a set that is a lot more portable.

I like the plastic kits (black plastic case that has a spot for all of the sockets)....they have one for 1/4" and 3/8". You can grap the case and set it on the engine....the good part is that you can tell real quick if your missing a socket.....like most guys (and gals), I loose it before I break it....

6 Point sockets are stronger....

Screwdrivers - get a good stub nose Phillips and one with about a 10" shank...otherwise, get a screwdriver with replacable bits. A worn bit will screw up more screws than anything else....and the bits are cheap by comparison....
You will also want a couple of flat blade screw drivers for prying on things....I get a lot of use out of my 12" and 18" screwdrivers..

Wrenches - 10 of each should cover the range...as long as one end is box end...
You will also need a couple of tubbing wrenches...typically for brake lines...buys these as you need them.

Extensions...you never have enough....You will get more use out of a 12" and 24" extension than you can imagine....they are the same for both standard and metric...

1/2" Breaker Bar, extensions and 1/2" sockets. If you buy impact sockets now, you will be able to use them if you ever get an air impact wrench.

You should also get an impact screw driver....You whack it with a hammer to loosen screws....it can save your buttttt.

Voltmeter - an often overlooked tool....

BFH - Big F$%%#$# Hammer

Vise Grips

LARGE Channel Locks and a small one. The Large one needs to have at least a 5" opening....they do a great job of compressing disk brake pistons...they also make great oil filter wrenches....

In a nut shell....many of the kits have a lot of tools you will never use. Get the basics and then build it up as you find the need.

 

I turned wrenches for 3 years rebuilding machinery and working in a die room, I have always had craftsman and Have never regreted it.

As for redundancy. I like 6 point sockets, but have some of the 12 point because there are 12 point bolt heads out there. But like Leve said sometimes you need two sockets of the same size to remove a bolt, Sometimes you need two deepwell sockets to remove a bolt and nut. I have one socket set that I work out of 90%of the time. When I need more I go to the rollaround and get them.

As for craftsman. I run regular sockets on my impact mostly because I am too cheap to buy a set of Impact sockets. I broke a socket and tool it in. It was obvious what had happened and the old guy just laughed. I asked him about it and he said they would replace it as long as I had the piece that said craftsman on it!!

Leve with your views I am shocked to see you holding up/promoting Walmart... What about the little guy??

 

Leve I thought about that last night, my thing is I am kind of getting sick of Wal-Mart. We have 2 super walmarts in my town now and they are less than 10 minutes apart (east side, west side). I do shop there alot, though they are about to be on my list. But there prices on Stanley didn't seem much better than Sears, and they don't have a very big selection. I have no tools so it seemed I would save money this way and be able to get everything, but maybe not. I also didn't know that Sears stuff (Craftsman cordless tools) are made in China. Oh well, guess there isn't anything we can do about that. But it did kind of surprise/upset me to learn that.