Ok I have been thinking of getting some tools of my own. I am 19 and i have a job so i do not need to go extremely cheap on tools. I was messing around on ebay and found they had lots of craftsman 200+ pc mechanics sets on there for a little under 200 which i thought was a great deal compared to what sears wants for them, but after searching here i think i might want to stay away from craftsman and maybe take the next step up. I do have craftsman ratcheting wrenches in SAE and they worked fairly well. I think that they may be getting a little sloppy etc. (or maybe they were always like that and i just never noticed lol) For sure i want a 3/8 drive set with standard and metric sockets in standard length and deep wall too plus extensions etc and also metric wrenches, for now ill just use my craftsman SAE wrenches. What other tools do you think would be a good start? I have been looking at 3 brands really. First of all is blackhawk. I hadnt heard of these but after looking around here they are a step above craftsman but still below snap on, mac and matco right? I found a 3/8 drive set with all the sockets i want and extensions for $70 on ebay. So are they worth it and is that about the avg price for blackhawk tools? 2nd tool brand is SK. They are a step above craftsman but not up to mac matco etc correct? They seem to be a little higher priced than blackhawk i think and there ratchet looks to be more of an "old school" design. 3rd one is one i dont know much about at all which is bahco. They are made by the same company as snap on correct? How is there quality, price etc. The ratchet i saw looked like it had a good design. I am basically a weekend mechanic so i do not need to spend the $ on snap ons thats for sure. I was also thinking maybe going with blackhawk,sk,bahco etc socket set and maybe buy a higher end ratchet. I have really been searching through ebay quite a bit. It is a good place to find deals. So basically any input you guys have on blackhawk, bahco, SK tools or any other brand similiar or anything else in general about tools is welcome and very much appreciated!!!

 

Well i found Bahco 3/8 drive 21 pc set with deep wall and standard SAE sockets, ratchet, and extension for $60. The only thing is i have only found SAE socket sets, no metric sets. Maybe i just need to look harder.

Wow this is my 300th post...

 

Josh, I know there are those who call Craftsman tools Crapsman. I however really like my Craftaman tool sets and use them far more than weekends only. I make part of my living as a mechanic(2-3 days a week) and have not had any problems. The biggest issue seems to be the newer ratchets and screwdrivers. OK, so buy a high dollar ratchet and screwdriver set and save the $$$ on the rest of the tools. BTW I have a 1/2" Craftsman ratchet that is about 16" long and I have used it as a breaker bar many times since 1982....I have not even put a kit in it!!!! A lot of it is how you treat your tools.

 

I've had no issues with my craftsman tools and you can always look at all the comparisons on this forum with the differences, you'll find people on both sides. Now if you are going to get craftsman doing it on ebay is a good deal. I've purchased a few of my sockets sets that way. I've only broken one socket, and i was doing somethign stupid with a 1/4 8mm socket. I broke the newer plastic selector switch on my 1/4 and 3/8's ratchets. As far as the craftsman /snapon/etc debate..well there's another thread on that. My thoughts are, i'd much rather have a better selection of tools and have the right one on hand within my budget then have a small supply of expensive tools. and with my broken stuff, never had a problem walked in got the right one off the shelf walked up to the counter "I broke it." and walked out a minute later.

 

The only complain I have had is the quality of the craftsman ratchets. Everything else is pretty good. If you have a Sears near by, they are the brand to get since it'll be easy to exchange the broken stuff, that is if you are hard on your tools. Buying an air compressor and air tools make it much easier on the hand tools for less chance of breakage.

 

Josh,

Just my 2 cents. Agreeing with those before me, if you are not making your living with your tools and even if you are, Craftsman are fine. Though not a professional I've worked on my own cars, bikes, small engines, etc for over 30 years. From valve jobs on my 69 Fiat in 1974 to an engine swap for my F150 in 2005 I've been using the same Craftsman set my dad got me for Christmas in 1972, with some additions of course. I agree there are better tools out there but for the money and convenience Craftsman do the job. For a backyard mechanic the critical issues are a) taking care of your tools, ie don't let them get wet, keep those that need lube, lubed and keeping them clean. b) Using the right tool for the job ie using a prybar for prying, not a screwdriver, using impact sockets with an impact wrench, not a regular socket, etc... The list goes on but you get the picture.

Finally, may dad made his living with his tools as well as built roadracing cars for years and years and he is still using the same Craftsman tools to maintain his motorcycles today.

If you have the cash and plan to do your own auto work get the biggest Craftsman set you can afford and add to it as you need to and you'll be fine

 

About 10 years ago, I had a Craftsman 21" breaker bar. Well, I got hold of a really stuck nut and put a pipe on the end of it and it snapped.

When I went to Sears, the guy looked at it and asked how long the pipe was I used... I told him 2' and he laughed and said it should have taken at least 4' to snap it... He replaced it without a problem...

I love my Craftsman tools, and have never really had problems with them

 

I probably have too many tools, NAH.
The standard Craftsman ratchets are good if you use breaker bars, or when you have resistance go with the next drive size up. Otherwise I would look at their thin pro line (hurting Snap~on's sales locally) or their older style, that is catalog only, finer tooth with the built in knurled speeder. Most of the regular ratchets fail due to neglect and abuse. They aren't maintence free, you need to clean them after use and regrease them on occassion. They normally fail because gunk got under the snap ring and into the grease, and thickens it up.

 

Josh, try going by your local Pawn shops. They always have deals on tools. Be it Snap-on, Mac, Matco and Craftsman. My advise to You is get what You can AFFORD. All the brands of tools have good and bad qualities. I have mentioned this before in other tool threads but, check Your local paper in the classifieds and look for "estate sales" You can also get really good deals through those sales too. Had a buddy get a complete Snap-on set with boxes for a $500.00 bid ...... when all was said and done he got over $20 grand in tools for that $500.00 bid. Good Luck.

Mason

 

OK well now i am leaning back towards craftsman mechanic sets off ebay. I have found some 283 pc and 263 pc sets for about the same ammount. Which do you guys think is better? Seems the 283 has more sockets but the 263 has more "specialty tools". I wonder what they consider "specialty"

well i compared the lists and i think i am leaning towards the 283 pc set. I think it has a better ratchet than the 263 pc right? i am also going to get a stubby ratchet maybe a flex head ratchet and possibly different extensions flex joints etc. depending on what kit i get.

 

I think Mason 55 has a good suggestion. Older tools like Craftsman were made in the USA with far superior steel and workmanship as the foreign tools mostly sold today. I stopped buying Craftsman when they went to manufacturers in China and Tiawan. I needed a drill a couple months ago and got an industrial duty DeWalt at a flea market for $37.00. Starting out you may prefer all shiney new but foreign stuff gets old quick. I would guess the large sets on E-Bay are foreign made... I haven't bought name brand hand tools for a few years so I don't know if they went foreign or not...... Happy shopping..

 

Don't judge a tool set on the number of pieces. "Specialty" refers to the 20 some ignition wrenches that you will probably never use and the full sets of hex L wrenches that are $9.00 on sale at Sears.

Search E-Bay for "used craftsman" and you will find complete sets of just sockets. The Sears metric box sets are usually missing 2 or 3 sockets that you will actually need, and you will end up paying as much for those few "missing" sockets as you do for the whole set. As said before, check your local pawn shops, and don't be afraid to offer less than what they are asking. I have bought lots of Mac, Snap-on, and Matco sets for 75% off new, and if it is missing a socket or two, point it out to them and buy it for less, then hit their "loose socket bins" to find the missing sizes. A few hours on a week-end can be priceless when hunting for tool bargains.

 

Well i have spent quite a bit of time on ebay searching and i live in a small town so the pawn shop idea isnt quite as easy if i lived somewhere else. There are a lot of good deals for craftsman,snap on, macto etc tool boxes, and tool boxes full of tools that would be great for someone owning a shop or going to be a mechanic. Quite a few things that are going to cost well over 5 thousand that you can get for around 1k or so. If i was going to be a mechanic i would definately do this but i dont think im going to be, right now i am in carpentry. I think i will pry end up getting complete socket sets seperately off ebay. Start w/ 3/8 drive and get standard and metric in deep and normal depths. I will pry get nice used snap on ratchets off ebay (quite a few good deals really). Plus wrenches of course. Anyone have anything to say about bahco tools by snap on? They look like good pieces but that dont mean anything i suppose. I am also thinking of getting more of a "basic" new craftsman tool set. Just get one with sockets i will need and maybe wrenches. I will be spending a fair ammount of my free time searching ebay. Anyone know of any other good places to get used tools or good deals on new ones?

 

Bahco is common in industrial settings and has a lifetime warranty. If you are in a small town I would stay with what you can get serviced, IE Craftsman, S-K, Snap-On, Mac. Check your local stores and see what they handle for a tool line and then shop accordingly.

 

Well i live in a town of about 3k, and they do not carry much for craftsman, sk, snap on, mac etc. tools. Snap on truck does come through though i am fairly sure of. I am going to search for good deals on socket sets on ebay for sure and if anyone knows of any other good sites please chime in. I really appreciate all your input guys!!