[Bhavesh]

In the past, I've worked on items until I was in dire need of a new tool (ie. torque wrench), of which I'd run to any major shop that was open on a sunday (like napa) and pay top dollar for a mediocre product (that manual lever torque wrench was $35...and it's a piece of crap).

Instead of buying each part separately, and at top dollar, I want to buy parts together, at discounted prices.

An example: that crappy torque wrench I bought was $35 at NAPA, and it just has a sticker that lines up with a needle to indicate torque. I could've gotten a CLICKER torque wrench for $20 at harborfreight.com.

Anyone else got tips for this sort of thing?

Where should I start when building a tool set?

[hessogood]

harbor freight does not sell quality tools for the most part. A good way to do it is get a starting set, like sockets/wrenches/ stuff like that then build off with the stuff you need. Honestly you can take a whole bike apart with at most 20 tools.

[Punjistick]

Originally posted by hessogood
Honestly you can take a whole bike apart with at most 20 tools.

Jay's right ask me how I know Like he said, I'd start with a socket, wrench, screwdriver, and hex key set and build from there.

I got a medium sized Huskey socket set that has metric and SAE for xmas once. I picked up a no name wrench set from Pep Boys that has a range of sizes and both metric and SAE. I also got a stanley screwdriver set with a range of sizes and lengths in both strightblade and philips from Pep Boys for cheap money. They are not the best tools out there by any means but they have worked for me numerous times over the past few years. Other tools are nice to have but not mandatory such as needle nose pliers and that tool that is like a flexible rod that can grab stuff. Whatever that's called. It's great for when you drop bolts in places too small for your hands. Luckily my dad has every tool imaginable but the problem is I can never find them when I need them.

[R7]

I've got one of those craftsman 150 peice wrench and socket set kits and I can do just about all my own basic shit on the bikes/quads. You may have to buy an oversized socket or even a specialty tool as needed. I certainly wouldn't go out and buy some huge tool chest and try and fill it with tools just for basic repair stuff, if you do it for a living, I can see it but that's it

[R7]

And if you're going to shop at harbor frieght, save yourself the time and shipping costs and just go to wallmart, they usually sell the same trash

[bigred875]

yard sales

[RandyO]

there is no such thing as discout tools

best deal is to be in the right place at the right time, like visiting the snap-on man right after he has reposessed a set

or what R7 said, go to walmart, buy Stanley & Popular Mechanics tool sets, there not the quality of snap-on, cornwell or mac, but not as expensive either and for the most part they get the job done

Craftsman it seems has 2 grades of tools now days, cheape that isn't any better than walmart stuff, but more expensive, and professional grade that cost almost as much as it's snap-on counterpart

[theothersean]

Craigs list
E bay
flee markets
estate sales
yard sales

Alot of folks that have collected tools over the years that end up not needing them sell them off , you get top quality stuff at a discount.

Granted its time consuming but if you are tight on money thats the way to go.

Or like mark said buy a craftsman ratchet/ wrench set and build to it as needed a little at a time.

[richw]

Its hard to find but home depot has entire tool kits
like 250... they work

[brewmaster]

I bought a 150 pc or something like that from craftsman back in high school that I still use today. I have added on as I needed certain tool for a job and now have a decent tool box full. If you use the correct tool for the job it will usually save you money in the long run due to lack of damage and/or time saved. As my grandfather always said "money spent on right tools is always worth it".

Oh yeah I have also learned to NEVER loan tools out! They will not come back or you will forget that you loaned them. I now only let people come and use them at my house(or at the track). That way they do not grow legs. Nothing sucks like needing that certain tool in a crunch and not being able to find it.

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by bigred875
yard sales

& pawn shops. at both places even if you pay $3 for a broken torque wrench by craftsman or snap on you can get it replaced for free

[number9]

If you're either gonna use it once or break it (or both), Harbor Freight is your friend. If you can afford it being cheap and nasty (e.g. screwdrivers), go Harbor Freight.

If it's important (e.g. torque wrenches) spend the money to get a good one. If you want it to last a long time (i.e. ratcheting wrenches, air wrenches) then ditto.

[wylee]

Originally posted by R7
And if you're going to shop at harbor frieght, save yourself the time and shipping costs and just go to wallmart, they usually sell the same trash

...almost.

I say throw the money you were gonna give to harbor freight in the trash. You'll come out farther ahead...you'll have save the 3 weeks time it takes to get the shit from them and the frustration of breaking the tools the first time ya use 'em. The end result is the same...thinner wallet and no tools.

I would trust the NAPA beam torque wrench a whole lot more then the Pittsburg clicker from harbor freight.

Signup with Craftsmen club, buy a basic tool set that's on sale during the club saver days. Sears sale price - 10% club discount = good value.

[Doc]

I stick with Craftsman. If I break it I get a new one free!

[OreoGitorio]

Originally posted by brewmaster
Oh yeah I have also learned to NEVER loan tools out!

:iws: I don't have many tools at all... I'm always borrowing at the track BUT I NEVER walk far away with a tool. What tools I do have, I've also learned not to loan out. I loaned out my brand new Dremmel tool kit to a certain person whom i never see on this board anymore to do a simple trim on his fender eliminator... I didn't get it back for over 2 months and more than HALF of the cutting wheels, mini wrench and other attachments were missing.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Doc
I stick with Craftsman. If I break it I get a new one free!

I would agree, IF I has a sears store right around the corner

NAPA tools, Husky tools, Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell all carry the same warranty

I used to have craftsman tools, when they broke, (and they did) it wasn't worth my while to drive 60 miles round trip and go thru the hassle at the store to replace them

NAPA on the other hand is 2 miles away and open @ 6am on my way to work

Home Depot is only 6 miles away to get Husky tools replaced

Convenience of replacment is a consideration when buying new

[bigred875]

Originally posted by RandyO
I would agree, IF I has a sears store right around the corner

NAPA tools, Husky tools, Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell all carry the same warranty

I used to have craftsman tools, when they broke, (and they did) it wasn't worth my while to drive 60 miles round trip and go thru the hassle at the store to replace them

NAPA on the other hand is 2 miles away and open @ 6am on my way to work

Home Depot is only 6 miles away to get Husky tools replaced

Convenience of replacment is a consideration when buying new

:iws: i have mostly husky tools....when home depot first came around this area i heard that the same company that makes craftsman also makes husky....

I think Cobalt from Lowe's also offers teh same warantee

[daviid]

another thing to keep in mind is Stanley Works owns the Stanley Tool, Husky, and MAC brands

[benVFR]

If you're not using it on a daily basis do you really need the top shit? A professional mechanic might wear cheap stuff out but those of us who just wrench on our bike 5-6 times a year are not.

Honestly tools are a decent thing to suggest if your family asks you what you want for Xmas, etc.. when I first got out of school quite a few people gave me the smaller craftsman sets like screwdrivers, wrenches, etc..

That said I bought a Husky ratchet set and it's been fine, and it gets quite a bit of use relative to my other tools.

Stupidest thing I've bought was an electric drill.. I've used that like twice. But I guess it will still be fine whenever I buy a house.

There are lots of people who claim the type of torque wrench you bought is better and more accurate then clicker-types as you can tell when they are out of calibration.

[stevecbr900rr]

Craftsman all the way, Something breaks no matter how old the tool they will take it back and give you a new one. I know alot of people who have broken craftsman stuff, sockets, socket wrenches, screw drivers they take them back and give you a new one everytime. Cost a little more but in the long run there worth it.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by benVFR
If you're not using it on a daily basis do you really need the top shit?

sometimes yes, especially with internal engine parts, wheel bearings, many times the cheap tool don't fit... they use a weaker grade of steel that requires that the socket wall be thicker.

recently my son had to buy a cheap socket for the wheel bearings on his bimmer... he had to grind it down around the circumference to make it fit, a snap-on would have a thin enuf wall to fit.. the cap bolts on rods, usually have very little clearance

it's becoming more and more common with compact light weight designs to need thin wall sockets

when your torquing stuff, you also want a socket that catches the flats of the bolt/nut properly and doesn't damage the fastener cause of it's shitty tolerances

[RandyO]

Originally posted by stevecbr900rr
Craftsman all the way, Something breaks no matter how old the tool they will take it back and give you a new one. I know alot of people who have broken craftsman stuff, sockets, socket wrenches, screw drivers they take them back and give you a new one everytime. Cost a little more but in the long run there worth it.

Originally posted by bigred875
:iws: i have mostly husky tools....when home depot first came around this area i heard that the same company that makes craftsman also makes husky....

I think Cobalt from Lowe's also offers teh same warantee

Craftsman is not unique in respect to warranty,

they all offer lifetime replacement warranty, all you need is the tool, no proof of purchase, no time limit

I have replaced broken craftman tools that were 40 years old, and Snapon tools even older, NAPA tools , o questions, snapon tools break less often than craftsman btw

[stevecbr900rr]

i guess that answers that craftsman is the way to go.

[ssg]

I used to be a craftsman fanatic, not anymore. Unless it's specialty I try to go Husky/Stanley.

It seems unless you buy their highend polished ratchets, Craftsman stuff has a great warranty, but you'll get to use it.


I started buying the stanley stuff after I bought the king sized Husky kit and noticed it was about 10% labeled Stanley. For what I do and how often I do it, the Stanley works fine. If I did it every day, I'd have 25k in snap-on's and a supercarrier in my garage.

But I don't.


Back to Bhavesh's answer...If you want new, around this time of year HD and Sears (maybe Lowes?) start having some decent tool sales. I have already noticed the larger kits at HD are on sale...I am guessing that by Christmastime they will be dirt cheap as they are do for a remake of their larger style kits. They redid the smaller ones the past couple years already.

[Bhavesh]

I appreciate for all the tips...I've got a better idea of where to start now, thanks