Suggestions for Basic Tools, Please
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/
Visit this forum for a wealth of information on tools. I have been using tools professionally for over 20 years and I find tons of great info on this forum. When I have new installers asking me what tools to get I give them some advice that I will give you as well. Craftsman sockets are by far the best deal. Their quality has gone down significantly, but I do believe the sockets are still the best value, especially on sale. Once you buy a kit, throw away the ratchets or keep them as back up. The ratchets included with their kits are absolute junk. Now I know some people will say they have had them and used them successfully, but they did not use them daily. I would invest in Snap on or Mac ratchets, but on a budget, Believe it or not, the 88 tooth Harbor Freight ratchets are much better and really cheap. Look into it at the above forum. Lots and lots of tests have been done on ratchets their and the HF ones perform very well.
I also really like Gear Wrenches. They are a decent value, not as cheap as they used to be, and come in super handy. I use my Gear Wrench wrenches way more than I use my super pricey Mac Macsimizer or Matco wrenches. Just remember that the ratcheting ends are NOT designed for breaking things loose. Screw drivers are highly personal. I love Snap-on's new styled handles the best, other prefer the old style. The point is to get screwdrivers that are comfortable in the hand, and quality. Craftsman screw drivers suck. Bang for your buck, I real like the Napa screwdrivers. They are made by Wiite in Germany, same as Matco.
Speaking of Gear Wrench, I have a tone of screwdriver and bit kits and the Gear Wrench is my favorite and much cheaper than the Matco, Snap-on, and Mac kits I have purchased over the years. Get that even before screwdrivers as it will give you screwdriver bits, torx bits, allen bits, and 1/4" sockets.
Pliers, I would get the Craftsman/Nitpex Cobra pliers from sears. The craftsman one are a steal as they are made by Nitplex, another German Company, and are much cheaper than buying the Nitplex branded pliers. I have both and they are virtually identical, the Craftsman's seem to have slightly thinner handles. Get whatever needle nose pliers you like, you don't use much torque on them so they will all be ok. I like Snap-on but primarily due to the handles. Get a quality pair of dykes/wire cutters, again I like Snap-on and Nitplex.
Some Misc. stuff that Craftsman is good for, Ball peen Hammers, Dead Blows, Mirrors, pry bars, grabber (trust me super handy), picks, Allen keys tons of others I am forgetting.
Thats a lot of info so I will stop. Let me know if you have other questions on anything else but these are some basic suggestions to get you started.
P.s. Don't get sucked into a debate about a Sample of one. That kind of advise is almost worthless. Thats why I gave you the Garage forum to check out. Tons of info. For example the Harbor freight Breaker bars are an absolute steal. I know someone here says they broke one. I don't doubt this person, as any tool can break. The flip side is hundreds of guys in the trades use them including me and I have yet to here about one breaking ,except on forums not in person, and everyone swears by them. I have literally beat on mine and it has never failed. They are the best deal around. HF was junk and much still is, but much of it is really good. You just need to research which is which. Another example is I think their aluminum jacks are absolute garbage. But I have talked to, and read hundred of post, about people who love them. I'll use my Snap-on jack thank you very much. Internet advise is worth what you paid for it.
Visit this forum for a wealth of information on tools. I have been using tools professionally for over 20 years and I find tons of great info on this forum. When I have new installers asking me what tools to get I give them some advice that I will give you as well. Craftsman sockets are by far the best deal. Their quality has gone down significantly, but I do believe the sockets are still the best value, especially on sale. Once you buy a kit, throw away the ratchets or keep them as back up. The ratchets included with their kits are absolute junk. Now I know some people will say they have had them and used them successfully, but they did not use them daily. I would invest in Snap on or Mac ratchets, but on a budget, Believe it or not, the 88 tooth Harbor Freight ratchets are much better and really cheap. Look into it at the above forum. Lots and lots of tests have been done on ratchets their and the HF ones perform very well.
I also really like Gear Wrenches. They are a decent value, not as cheap as they used to be, and come in super handy. I use my Gear Wrench wrenches way more than I use my super pricey Mac Macsimizer or Matco wrenches. Just remember that the ratcheting ends are NOT designed for breaking things loose. Screw drivers are highly personal. I love Snap-on's new styled handles the best, other prefer the old style. The point is to get screwdrivers that are comfortable in the hand, and quality. Craftsman screw drivers suck. Bang for your buck, I real like the Napa screwdrivers. They are made by Wiite in Germany, same as Matco.
Speaking of Gear Wrench, I have a tone of screwdriver and bit kits and the Gear Wrench is my favorite and much cheaper than the Matco, Snap-on, and Mac kits I have purchased over the years. Get that even before screwdrivers as it will give you screwdriver bits, torx bits, allen bits, and 1/4" sockets.
Pliers, I would get the Craftsman/Nitpex Cobra pliers from sears. The craftsman one are a steal as they are made by Nitplex, another German Company, and are much cheaper than buying the Nitplex branded pliers. I have both and they are virtually identical, the Craftsman's seem to have slightly thinner handles. Get whatever needle nose pliers you like, you don't use much torque on them so they will all be ok. I like Snap-on but primarily due to the handles. Get a quality pair of dykes/wire cutters, again I like Snap-on and Nitplex.
Some Misc. stuff that Craftsman is good for, Ball peen Hammers, Dead Blows, Mirrors, pry bars, grabber (trust me super handy), picks, Allen keys tons of others I am forgetting.
Thats a lot of info so I will stop. Let me know if you have other questions on anything else but these are some basic suggestions to get you started.
P.s. Don't get sucked into a debate about a Sample of one. That kind of advise is almost worthless. Thats why I gave you the Garage forum to check out. Tons of info. For example the Harbor freight Breaker bars are an absolute steal. I know someone here says they broke one. I don't doubt this person, as any tool can break. The flip side is hundreds of guys in the trades use them including me and I have yet to here about one breaking ,except on forums not in person, and everyone swears by them. I have literally beat on mine and it has never failed. They are the best deal around. HF was junk and much still is, but much of it is really good. You just need to research which is which. Another example is I think their aluminum jacks are absolute garbage. But I have talked to, and read hundred of post, about people who love them. I'll use my Snap-on jack thank you very much. Internet advise is worth what you paid for it.
Last edited by Juan A; Nov 15, 2013 at 09:13 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 546
Likes: 5
From: Tucson
Times are hard all over, worth your time to visit a few pawn shops or second hand stores - might be able to buy professional grade equipment that some mechanic put together. Compared to the China made crap these days, any 20-30 year old pro set might last you a lot longer.
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