/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif To be perfectly frank about this, Tim, FOR GENERAL PURPOSE USE, you would be just fine with CRAFTSMAN. They are durable and well-made; have a great guarantee; and are affordable. I have worked in shops and off a service truck. I have owned Proto, Snap-On, and New Britain, and Craftsman. There are CERTAIN ITEMS that you HAVE to buy from Snap-On(the other brands are junk)....like allen sockets....and some other specialized stuff like universal sockets. BUT ALL THE REST can be Craftsman. And one more thing.....Snap-On will have to fill in some holes in you set; like a 1/4" drive 5/8" socket for example./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Tracs modified While-U-Wait by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Quadra-Trac Team./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

JUst remember that whatever you buy make sure it has a lifetime warrenty. A guy can spend a small fortune buying cheap tools breaking them and then buying more cheap tools. IF it has a life time warrenty you only have to buy everything once.IF you use your 3/8 in ratchet with a 4 foot cheater bar to pry off rusted wheel nuts and you snap it in half(IF it has a LT warrenty) you just take it back and they give you a new one free, not to say I have done this,heh.I personally like Mastercraft. Good hunting.

I need to get a girlfriend I'm getting to close to my jeep.

 

Craftsman is a good choice! There is a Sears in every mall across America. That way when you are on a wheelin' trip and break your only spindle nut socket, you can bum a ride to the nearest Sears. Now I know alot of people will say that if you had purchased the Snap-On it wouldn't have broke in the first place.
I alway respond "if I had purchased the Snap-On, I would be sober right now!"/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

Common sense is genius dressed in working clothes.
http://www.austinjeeper.com

 

I got my tools from the Home Depot (Husky brand). They have a lifetime warranty, in fact it was explained to me that they'll even take broken craftsman tools and replace them with husky if you bring them in there as well as broken husky brand for replacements. Husky's ratchets are far more comfortable and better fitting for hands than the craftsman ones are. Plus, the quality seems to be equal or slightly better than the craftsman. My dad has a set of the craftsman ones, and I won't touch the things. Just don't feel "right". Reasonable prices. I've had my set for several years, and have yet to break any piece.

When it's time for airtools spend the extra $$ and get some impact sockets, the chrome ones just won't hold up to the abuse of an impact wrench. I use my chrome ones with the air ratchet and haven't experienced a problem though. /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

Just my $0.02.

Tim "Sandman"

ORC Land Use columnist:
My November article on ORC

 

I just got a big craftsman for christmass, 241 peice I think, it's got a sh!t load of sockets, 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" std. & metric some deep wells and all, nut drives, allens, complete set of wrenches, std and metric, I could have used these for my bumper install. I'm like you jeepless, it sucks. this set also included a 4 drawer. Added to a 6 piece craftsman pro screw driver set, 3 pc. plier set, a hammer, hacksaw, and some other stuff. Now all I need is a jeep, well I've got dad's xj. some of my stuff is good and some sucks, Had an altrade set, it pretty much sucked, Like the craftsman, also I hear good about popular mechanics from wallmart, guess they are the same way as craftsman and also walmart is open to 11 or 24 hours around here so they are easier to get than craftsman.
BarrelRoll

'95 YJ Totaled!
Now All I have is an insurance Claim

 

i agree with the CRAFTSMAN tools thoughts posted. the first thing you will probably need is a socket set. they have some really good ones for around $200. next, you will probably want to get the TORX set, i think it comes with 6 or 7 bit/sockets and around $30-$40. something else is to ask the cashier for the Craftsman club flyer. you sign up and about every 60 days they send out a sale flyer. extremely good prices on some things and usually everything else 10% off. definitely worth the ten minutes it takes to fill out the form! hope this helps and good luck! matt

 

I will go looking at brands sat. What tools exactly do you think i will need. Im not very good with the names of tools but i should get a big set of sockets (probally 1/2 inch right?) and a long wrench since i wont have power. I have a drill so a nice set of drill bits... What else do i need? I am a little lost. Hopefully in the summer i will be rich enough to get air (impact, grinder, nice drill)I dont want to buy anything twice and hopefully every thing that i by will be interchangeable.

How about a tool box? I hate lossing my stuff but somehow always manage to do so. should i try to get one of those metal ones on wheels like i see in shops or go with more of a pick up and go type. thanks- tim

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!

 

one more thought: since im only working on jeeps i would only need standard sizes right?... but then again i do have a honda and that would be metric right again? would i be better off getting both or just going with standard?

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!

 

check this stuff out!:

http://www.sears.com/jsp-scripts/fr...cie.0&targetPage=/product/summary/productsummary.jsp&vertical=TOOL&pid=00933841

http://www.sears.com/jsp-scripts/fr...cie.0&targetPage=/product/summary/productsummary.jsp&vertical=TOOL&pid=00965783

or check out www.craftsman.com. go to Tool Territory. they also have info on the craftsman club at the top. hope this helps! matt

 

/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif There is a set offered by Craftsman which is both Metric and Std....comes in a case with spots for each socket so if one spot is empty you GO LOOK for the socket, has 1/4" and 3/8" drive, and is about fifty bucks as I recall. I have one and I USE THE HECK out of it. I added a set of MM combo wrenches in the top section of the case.....a couple of U-Joints, an extension or two and it is a VERY handy set. Oh, yeah, I also added the TorX drivers. This is a handy addition or starting place for ANY tool array. I have a 10-drawer with a four drawer add-on below and it is sitting on one of those roll around dollies that you get at Harbor Freight. Those boxes were in my service truck at one time, but I converted them for shop use with the dolly. I have 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4" drive, plus all the allen drivers up to 5/8" and sockets to 3" Std. One big drawer is:"Things that will cut" another is bars, big screwdrivers, special vise grips, chain wrenches, etc. The lower drawer is the power tools. Below in the four drawer the top drawer is all kinds of permatex and glues, special tools like torx drivers, rivit tools, and tube fitting tools. The next drawer is all chisels, punches, drivers and assorted welding fixtures, the next one is pullers of ALL kinds. the bottom is pipe wrenches from 10" to 24". I have NO IDEA how much this all weighs. I also have a "Jeepable" 6-drawer that has a "general" set of tools that can be easily transported; and a hip-roof carry box with socket sets and general stuff to take with me on short notice./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif I have been "cleaned out" twice, can you imagine how many tools I'd have if it weren't for that? I even have some WWII sockets and wrenches that were my Dad's which came without chrome because they needed chrome to fight the war way back then./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Tracs modified While-U-Wait by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Quadra-Trac Team./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

There was a very long thread on this subject a couple months ago, you might want to check it out. A lot of input on Snap-On, Mac, Craftsman, etc.

Brad
ORC Land Use Section Editor
http://www.off-road.com/land
Vice-Pres. Rock Garden 4 Wheelers, Farmington, NM

 

ok one more thought. if i plan on using air tools in the future wouldn't it be better to go with impact sockets now instead of the std. crome ones. of course i could always use the crome ones with the air tools and just replace them when they break. what do you guys think?

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!

 

get both, std and metric, the new ones have lots and you never know you could end up helping your friend w/ a toy. As for a chest, I have a 4 drawer with a top compartment. It's got a handle on the top, will in the back of a swb jeep easily, then 5 drawer roll away, the stuff I don't use much, deep wells, nut drivers, spare sockets and the like. Also for torx don't by lisle (sp?) they are at autoparts stores, red and white package, they suck, kill was too many bolts with them, get a nice craftsman set, not cheep but worth it.
BarrelRoll

'95 YJ Totaled!
Now All I have is an insurance Claim

 

I've had better luck with the Husky Torx bits. Craftsman seems to strip easier, where Husky eventually breaks with the points intact. Most of the rest of my tools are Craftsman, mostly because of their selection, price and availability. Check out one of the all in one sets that come in a plastic carry case. That's what I started out with and I managed with it for a long time. I think some of the sets are 175+ tools, which would be more than adequate to get started. Now I have a fortune in tools! It's like a drug, you get addicted and feel that you always need more.

Also something interesting; I was at Lowe's today and there was a sign up in the Kobalt tool section that said "Kobalt tools by Snap-On". Not a huge selection for Kobalts, and the price is more than Craftsman, but not quite as high as Matco or Snap-on. The tools feel good in the hand though. Anyone tried the Kobalts?

Greg J.

 

Lots of tools have lifetime warranties, but I have the most confidence in Sears being able and willing to honor their warranty in the long run. The local Walmart had a huge assortment of Popular Mechanics tools on clearence last year, so I got a pretty complete set of tools dirt cheap (now I don't have to worry about loosing my Craftsman tools in the junk yard). After a year of use, I can say they hold up every bit as good Craftsman, I'm just not convinced that if my 3/8" ratchet breaks in a few years that I won't have trouble convincing the customer service counter that even though I don't have a receipt, they are still supposed to replace it (or was I supposed to keep the receipt?).

I have started buying my sons tools for Christmas and birthday presents as soon as they start driving. With 2 down, 4 to go, I've been buying quite a few tools lately. If you want to get the best bang (or wrench) for the buck and your local Walmart doesn't have everything on clearence, start watching the Sears ads for their 2 day 50% off specials. They frequently will have plier, vice grip, screw driver and wrench sets 50% off. The larger sockets sets usually aren't 50% off, but they often have some pretty good deals. Over the period of a few months, you can get just about everything you need 50% off. Just take your time and buy the right (big enough) socket set, you don't want to have buy individual sockets later on.

Get standard and metric.

Impact sockets are very expensive, I wouldn't buy them till you need them. Plus they have thick walls and won't work were you have tight clearence.

If you want to haul your tools in your jeep, make sure you get a tool box that fits in the jeep. After I installed an Instatrunck, I couldn't get my tool box in the jeep anymore. I finally found the right one at Sears (for 50% off).

jerry

 

i went looking for tools this morning. Went to sears, gonna go to home depot this afternoon. Most of the big "all in one" kits contain nut drivers. Do i really need these? They seems pretty worthless to me...

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!

 

If you enjoy working on things I'm sure that somewhere down the line you'll find something to use them on./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif

Donnie

GOD,GUTS and GUNS
MADE AMERICA FREE
I VOTE TO KEEP ALL THREE!!!!!

 

You would be much better off going to Home Depot for your tools. Husky brand tools carry the same warranty as Craftsman but cost around a third less. They will even take a Craftsman in exchange for theirs!!!! Let's see SEARS do that. I've used both and broken both. Home Depot is much easier to do business with. Good luck.

 

On the craftsman v. home depot tool question, ask yourself this...which has more stores in the nation? Which has been around longer? Which faces the best prospect of staying open in the future? I've got tools from my grandpa that are craftsman. Break a 50 year old tool, get a new one free. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I personally think the "feel" of husky v. craftsman is pretty comparable. However, with all the lawsuits that Home Depot is facing, I'm more comfortable getting my tools at Sears. Craftsman has been around forever...and they always honor their warranty. Even if they're a bit more expensive on some tools as compared to husky, you've got piece of mind with the warranty. On the farm here, we've got the "sears" box. It gets all the broken craftsman tools. Generally, once a year or so, something important breaks, and we head in to the store to empty out the box and get the new replacements...

Moneyless, Will weld for jeep accessories.

 

I should probably clarify that the main problem I have with the craftsman tools (the ones I have experience with anyway) are the squared off edges on some of them, such as the ratchets, and some combo wrenches. When applying force to them the corners tend to dig into my hand, which doesn't happen nearly as much with the rounded edges on some other brands. I'm not sure if it's just because my old man bought a cheapo Crafstman kit and their higher end models are better, or what, but those are the ones I know of. Other than mainly that ratchet and the other tools from Craftsman with squared edges (like some of the combo wrenches, etc...), it's good stuff.

On a side note, what's Home Depot being sued for? I don't remember hearing of that. /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

(Thanks for not flaming or otherwise blasting a non-jeep owner (it's not that I don't want one) for posting here. This place is great, lots of info I wouldn't have otherwise came from here.) /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

Tim "Sandman"

ORC Land Use columnist:
My November article on ORC

 

ok went to home depot and to sears. Both brands have about a 250 piece set that looks like it would be good for me. The husky brand did feel a little better. Also the Husky package had some "common" tools that i need. Things like screw drivers and the such. The craftsman tool set had nut drivers and some other tools that i dont think i need. However the craftsman tool set came in a nifty case that i think i might need. AND there is that little thing about sears having been around forever... So considering the options what do you think i should do??? thanks again.

Sold the CJ... Cant wait for the next time around!

 

I think the custom fit tool cases that come with some tool sets are nice to have. Last summer I bought a decent size Sears socket set (the smallest set they had that came with deep 1/2" drive sockets). I found out it was difficult to get all those sockets organized without spending more money on socket holders. So if your looking at a set with a lot of sockets that doesn't have a custom case, check the price of socket holders.



jerry

 

only advice I can give you in my many years of mechanicing. Once you build a good selection of tools your friends will come running to borrow. Build two tool set, one for yours goods and one for your cheapy. No matter how good your friend are they will never return the tools. I know you say I do not lend tools, but they is alway one friend that wiil bugg the piss out of you till you want to wring the scawny neck of the cockroarch that crawl from under the rock, oh sorry, oh where was I..... oh yea give him the kmart brand socket.

I use. Craftman, husky, snap on, bluepoint, and very happy with the ingeall rand Ir 231 impact

brownbagg

 

one the craftsman cases: i had one slide out of the back of a pick-up on the intersate at 65mph (my buddy was driving like a retard!). the box stayed shut and the socket stayed inside! about the nut-drivers. i use them all the time! come in real handy doing ignition work, electrical work, hex head sheet metal screws like what holds the jeep heater boxes together. info on the impact sockets: i would recommend using the chrome ones for hand wrenching and the impacts for impact use. the impacts are heavy and expensive (for good ones). occasionally, you can find a set of air-tools with impact and sockets for a good price. also, all of the cheapo impact socket i have seem to hold up well. just something to consider. i think of tool purchasing this way (actually, it justification to buy cool tools) it is an investment. i do all my own work. without the hydraulic press, i would have spent 3 times as much having a shop do the work. same with the torque wrench, someone else would charge me twice the cost of the wrench to bolt 1 set of heads on a motor. i also use "educational" justification. i learn alot when wrenching, and then education others...hope this helps! matt

 

As a sidenote, home depot is getting sued for injuries and deaths that occured at the stores. You know how they block off aisles so they can use forklifts to put stuff up on the shelves? Well, they never block off the adjacent aisles. It seems as though 58 people have been injured/killed by stuff falling off the shelves--they push a box in on one side of a shelf, and it pushes something off the opposite side, falling on someone and squishing them. Big lawsuits...

Moneyless, Will weld for jeep accessories.