For the last few months, I have been stuck with the need, want, desire, and necessity to have tools for my Subie. I had recently put on the exhaust all by myself and was imprested by my ability to do such a task. Yes, I know its just two bolts... so what. My friends and I just recently bought cars, plus I would like to know more about car so there goes a strong reason to buy tools right? Well for me it is and so I went to the local Home Depot, and found these selections: 104 tools set which contained a 3/8, ½, I think a ¾ ratchet, Allen wrenches, and regular wrenches. While the 93 and the 64 leave out the ¾ ratchet set, the Allen wrenches and the a few regular wrenches, that’s pretty much separates them. What you do? Also, Home Depot and Husky are joined together or I’m going nuts, would you say they are a reliable brand as compared to Snap-On or Craftsman? Craftsman has a lifetime warranty and I’m not too sure about Snap-On but Husky too offers a lifetime warranty. Now what would you do? In addition in looking in Home Depot I walked into Wal-Mart, I know it’s not the right place to look for tools or anything automotive but I have to say they really cut some prices. But going back to the subject Wal-Mart offered a 64-piece tool set for 50 from Stanley which had pretty much the same contents as the Husky, but no lifetime warranty.
I haven’t looked in Sear yet but from my knowledge Craftsman and Snap-On are somewhat expensive. At this point of the game money is no really issue but if I can save a few dollars here and there why not.
My goals in buying these tool set is to learn more about automobiles, like changing oil, or what not. I am really interested in starting a tool collection so that I won’t have to either ask or go to the mechanic for a problem. This also goes for helping my friends with their cars. Thanks for your help and constructive opinions

oops! I forgot the prices, the 104 tool set is going for $100 the 93 is $60 and the 64 $57. The Stanley tool set goes for $50. As for the Craftsman and the Snap-On, I have no clue on the price or where in fact to buy Snap-On tools. Once again Thanks for the help.

I have a $3,000 dollar tool box(snap-on) http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif. And 1 set of wrenches I have cost me $320, thats 10 wrenches (snap-on). hehe I win..http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif Then again I fix cars for living sooo I guess I dont count http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/frown.gif hehe
Buying tools is fun http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif but costly.

Your really dont need to go spend tons of money on snap-on and mac tools for doing the stuff you plan on doing, stick with craftsman, the majority of my tools are still craftsfam, great stuff and you cant beat the price.

Jay McDade
Auto Tech--Lincoln/Mercury/Jaguar
www.homtown.aol.com/impreza25rs2000 (http://www.homtown.aol.com/impreza25rs2000)

[This message has been edited by McDade (edited May 29, 2001).]

hmm.. all I can really add is GET A TORQUE WRENCH!!! Don't have much info on good ones tho. Just be sure you have plenty of metric wrenches and sockets.

So, Jay, what are your opinions on the all in one socket sets Deznuts was describing? I bought a few hundred piece Craftsman set a year or so ago, and find I'm constantly needing to supplement it. But when I look at sets that have other pieces I need, there's always overlap with what I already have. Unfortunately, buying sockets one at a time costs 2-3x as much as buying a set.

Deznuts--my one bit of advice is that you need as many wobbles, extensions, spinners and other misc bits as you do actual sockets. Lots of the bolts are very hard to get to, even if you have the right socket.

As someone who bought a few tools in his life, i can tell you this. " You get what you pay for" when it comes to tools. Snap-on and Mac are some of the best tools you can buy but you gonna pay out the wazooo for them. If you use tool for a living they are what you want. Those kinda tools are ment to last for generations. A lot goes into a simple wrench. From the grades of steel, the quality of the finish and tolerance of the working ends. And you pay for it with those brands. But for the average Joe Brands like Husky and Craftsman do the job well and will save you some cash. They have lifetime warrenties to cover them incase you break them as well. If your gonna really get into working on cars buy the best you can afford otherwise get a good quality tool set (i.e. Craftsman) and know that they will last you your lifetime.

Problem with most sets is that they are almost always combo sets (metric and SAE). Craftsmen has some metric only sets, which are a nice starting point, but I have yet to find a nice all-in-one set that has everything I want, so I have been supplementing my kit with the actual tools I want.

Philip

Well you can never have to many sockets!

I havent been in the business very long bout 2 years, but one thing I learned and learned quickly is, you can never have too many tools. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Its always good to have spares

As for the sets he decribed, Husky is good stuff, probably costs the same as Crafstman, both carry a lifetime warrenty, as does snap-on, mac, SK, Matco...

The thing I like about crafstman is, they carry a proffesinal series set of tools wich are pretty nice for the money, as compared to snap on.

Dont get me wrong snap-on is "the best of the best" but dam dam expensive. Craftsmen socket 6.99, snap on socket 24.99. See what im getting at. I would stick to crafstman tools if I were you. Just for the simple fact that they are the best for the dollar adn they have the "no questions asked warrenty" No matter how you break ie misuse, they replace it. Always good

Oh as for supplementing tools, yea your always gonna need what you dont have and your gonna need it when you really really need it! make sence?

When I break my my craftsman stuff, I try and replace them with snap on or mac tools, because like someone stated, if your in the business you need that kind of quality tool. Then I go to Sears, get the tool replace and add it to my back up set/home tool set. Same with suplementing, yes its costly but I try and buy snap on or mac, even sk.

Youll be able to save some money also since you only are going to work on your scooby and I assume other imports all you need is metric. hehe im not that lucky, Jaguars still use SAE and the old ones are even worse they use british standard units or soemthing..totally different than sae or metric.

You should be able to pick up a fairly descent complete tool set for a good price at Sears.

It should definitly include
1/2 in racthet
3/8 ratchet
1/4 inch ratchet

4mm to 14mm 1/4 sockets deep&shallow
10mm to 19mm 3/8 sockets deep&shallow
10mm to 21mm 1/2 sockets.
1/2 3/8 1/4 swivels
good assortment of 3/8 in extensions and 1/4 extensions.
Oh a good long breaker bar!!! 1/2 inch drive
Wrenches..
Open end...8mm to 22mm
I nice set of vice grips(small,needle nose,medium,large and flat jaw are what I have. (you cant go wrong with vice grips!http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif)

oh Screw drivers!!! lots of screw drivers!!! and torx drivers.

I could do this all night ahha but ill stop, I think thats enough for ya to chomp on hehe http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Jay McDade

You don't need complete sets of wrenches, sockets, etc. The beautiful thing about working on Subarus is they only require a few sizes - 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm (drain plug), 22mm (crank bolt), 30mm (axle nut). Buy individual pieces of the sizes you need and buy quality (Craftsman is fine) and get extra ratchets of differant shape/size, and get extra extensions. 1/4" drive is what I use most (better feel, makes it harder to strip bolts in aluminum), you will also need 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive for the big/tight stuff.

Deznuts:

As previously stated: "you get what you pay for" really holds true for hand tools.
When I was wrenching for a living, I bought Snap-On & Stahlwille ( http://www.stahlwille.com/ ); both have very ergomatic designs that will save your knuckles.
If you deside on Crapsman, at least get the Professional Series wrenches. They are a tad longer, and just feel better.

Ya must be da west coast McDade!(SubyTechMaster)

[This message has been edited by Rick G (edited May 29, 2001).]

Thanks for the advice! As for what car I would be working with, it would be Subies and GMs. My friend recently bought an Old's and my parents have a Buick, whenever it dies they are going to buy a Legacy. As for now I'll be working on my friend's and my car. My other friends own a Nissan and a Honda and I would like to learn and help them out too. My project this summer is to get a Chrysler Conquest up and running and so I think they are using standard... but the my point is what should I get and how do I know what I picked is the right one. The reason being is that when I went to home Depot all I saw was the 1/2 3/4 and 1/4 what does that mean and will that work on both Subies and GM cars? I know that when I did my exhaust it was a 15mm; is that a millimeters for the metric?? Thanks I am obviously new... once again thanks!

wut? http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/confused.gif

bump? anyone?

Pretty hard to go wrong with Craftsman tools for just DIY work around the house or garage. Pretty cheap, warranty on 99% of their stuff, and all you need is a Sears nearby if you need something.

Take a close look at what comes in each set they offer though. Sometimes it's worth the extra money to buy the next bigger kit because of all the extra goodies that get thrown in on the deal.

Snap-On, Mac, etc are excellent tools, but their price makes them kind of a professional only option IMO. I find myself visiting the Snap-On and Mac trucks that come to my work every week and I always buy something! Gives me an excuse to buy yet another "bigger" tool box!! However, because I use them professionally, I don't mind investing the greater amount of money that is involved with them. (My recent tally of receipts for insurance purposes was just over $28000 !!)

Anyway, like I mentioned, look really close at what comes in each kit, and probably one that's a little bigger will be a better deal in the end!

Also, to answer your last post Dez; 1/2, 3/8, 1/4 drive mean the size of the square lug on each ratchet. Sockets will have a matching square hole in one end of them. The bigger the socket - 1/2 inch drive for instance - the stronger they are and thus able to work with larger fasteners.

15mm - yes this means millimetres a la the metric system. Just about all foreign cars use all metric fasteners. Most domestic cars are a mix of both metric and standard sizes.

And the good news is that as long as you have the right size socket or wrench or whatever, it'll work on any nut, bolt, or whatever, regardless of what kind of car you're working on!

Gotta love tools eh!!



[This message has been edited by ArcticWRX (edited May 29, 2001).]

I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago and this what I did and it worked out just fine. Buy a good (Craftsman in my case) metric/english socket set. Mine came with a magnetic driver with different bits (standard, phillips, Torx, etc.) and metric/english combination wrench set. This will get you started and I know Subaru's are metric but you will probably work on lawn mowers, friends cars and around the house so get the metric and english sockets and wrenches. Whenever you have extra money, buy full sets of srewdriver, allen wrenches, pliers etc. The problem with buying tool sets with a couple of wrenches, sockets, screw drivers and pliers is you will have to by the other tools sepretly (spelling) and that will cost more money. Buying full set of srewdrivers for example is a lot more inexpensive then buying a couple of screwdrivers by themselves. Also it is easy for you family/friends to get you birthday presents, you just have to say get me the 4 piece plier set. Hope this helps.

Steve

sears seems to run sales every week or 2 on their craftsman stuff. they just rotate whats on sale, so you're probably not going to have to pay full price.

roger

I got a 205 piece set of tools for my 16th Birthday, Craftsman I have done nothing but used, added, and abused then for the past 6 years. Yeah, there are better tools out there however for the buck I'd have to say Craftsman, NEVER have I been asked how I broke it, even when I brought a socket missing a side in once, oops.
The small tool set that I have, plus a very few add ons have replaced a tranny in an import. Rebuilt an engine, top end, removed the same engine, and transmission, and the replace the said engine transmision.
I have many friends in the bidness of wrenching and running shops, all use Snap-on, but ALL have told me for years for home use get the Craftsman.
Have Fun werenching, and NEVER let the car intimatade you, some one put that piece on, you'll get it off.
Mikey B
BTW, I am not a mechanic, thought about it, but Tug Boats got me...

i use primarily husky tools. they are decent. snap-on is without doubt in a league by themselves, but so are their prices http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif two things i like about husky:
1) they are garrunteed for life. sure, they might break more often, but who cares.
2) in my auto tech classes we had the local snap-on rep come in and try to sell us tools (60% off snap-on is still way more expensive than husky). the tools he compared snap-on too were craftsman and husky. hey, if the snap-on guy brings them up, they must be doing something right!
also, with snap-on you have to order it and wait and wait to get something replaced. far less convieneint then home depot. i also have used craftsman and found i prefered the feel of the huskys better anyway. basically, i have mainly husky with a few smatterings of snap-on for the important or rare stuff, most notebly my way too expensive but damn spiffy torque wrench.

Beware the Snap-On man. He has every tool you could ever possibly want, and even though the price is high, the in-truck credit account gets you every time. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Speaking of Sales at Sears. Keep in mind that Fathers day is coming up soon and Sears ALWAYS has huge tool sales then. It might be a good time to buy a 300+ piece tool set.

One other thing that no ones covered yet is organizers. If your like half the DIY guys i know your tools will be be all over the house or Apt. Take some of that tool budget and get a decent size top box to start out with and organizers for your sockets and wrenches.

Thanks for the support... hehe I think I'm going to try the Husky set and when Father's Day rolls around return the Husky and check out the Craftsman. Apparently everyone, I mean 9/10 people love the Craftsman stuff, is there a reason why it’s like this? Maybe because of advertisements, or is it because they are a household name like Black and Decker, or simply because they are the best things in the market money wise and for reliability? I always wanted to be different from the mass population but if it fall downs to conforming to the best of the best tools and saving some cash and a headache Craftsman here we go, “Will that be cash or credit?” “I’ll put that on my credit, please.”
This is what I have learned and in my own personal opinion, Snap-On seems like a big sinkhole for my wallet and more hassle for a DIY’er or a want to be DIY’er like me. So the moral of the story is that, "Go with something that is reliable while it is easy to be replaced. Buying the most expensive tools is for the Pro's or with people who love tool's more than their wife or girlfriend." Once again thanks for the help; I knew I could rely on my Subie Buddies. THANKS!

With the Husky stuff, does Home Depot do walk-in replacements like Sears?

Chuck

AWDrivin, yes they are just like Sears, I asked the same exact question to the person working back there. I asked "So if I break something I can just walk back here and replace it or do I have to mail it away or somthing like that?" respons "Yes! just come back here show us the broken tool and we will exchange it with you with a new one of the shelf." So that's a yes, just like Sears!
One question for the crowd, can I buy the Husky tool set and return them if I don't like them or otherwise when Father's Day rolls around and replace the Huskys with a set of Craftsmen. What do you think?

Craftsman is great because they have been around for years. I picked up a bunch of old tools at a yard sale when I was younger. Most of them where old rusted and broken but hey they where craftsman and I brought them all back and got brand new tools. So used craftsman is the best if you can find it.
Joshua
Subaru Salesman

Nah, Skip the craftsman as they suck. I have more than a few crafsman tools, but they are going away with some speed as they just don;t work as well as the others I have. I have some cheap Popular mechanics sockets for the larger metric sizes, and they sure fit better than the craftsman, they are kinda cheaply made, and might not fit in some area's due to the extra wall thichness.

I recently bought that $100 set at home depo, and its without a doubt a world better than you can do with $100 for craftsman tools. The ratchets are kinda poor in comparison, but the rest of the set is hands down better. Its nice having a 14mm socket that is 14mm, as the craftsman 14mm's I have are oversized by a little bit and the 12 pointers round **** all the time.

Ok, so that's a fight... its now 8/10 like Craftsman over the Husky. What's the deal Craftsman people.

As stated before. "you get what you pay for" Yes Craftsman are not the best tools on the planet. however for the cost they are good gereral purpose tools. With an excellent warrenty and many locations to back that warrenty up if you ever do need to. As for rounding bolts with 12 point sockets, my suggestion is to use a 6 point socket for better gripping power. every tool has a purpose http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

All you DIYs out there can have those nickel & dime tools (crapsman & bustky)...leave the real tools for the pros http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

you can complain all you want about having to find a Snap-On truck to replace broken tools too. You'll make far more trips to Sears than you ever will to the Snap-On man. I have bent, broken, snapped, split, stripped and burned my share of craftsman tools but I have never been back to the Snap-on truck to replace anything more than a worn screwdriver.

Then again when you have a $7000 rollcab box with $20k in misc. hand tools inside, you tend to take a little better care of your stuff...

MG
MG Metalworks
Hillsboro, OR

Ummm for all you Craftman vs. Husky people...I worked for The Sears Hardware division for 2 years and this is what I learned.

The majority of Craftsman & Husky hand tools are made by the same factory, Great West.

Certain hand tools are made by other companies, The Professional lines (Wrenches, Screwdrivers, Rachets) are made by S&K. Some other items are made by Kline, Stanley, etc. The only differences are that each company (Sears & Home Depot) specifies the look and appearance of the tools.

By the same token all the Craftsman & Husky toolboxes are made by Waterloo, they are just built to each companies specs.

As far as Snap-On and Matco go, they are great tools...but do you really need to spend that much for tinkering in the garage?

anyone ever seen the ratcheting box wrenches?

i'm looking for a set of those, metric.

i think mac or snap on has them.

like a socket/ratchet, but a wrench with the same type of device, a ratcheting ring incorporated into the end of the box wrench, so you don't have to take the wrench off of whatever you are applying torque to...if you want to go the other way, (clockwise versus counter) you flip it over...

i can't find these anyway, but my buddy in the shop i used to work in had a set of 'em...maybe i'll ask him if nobody here knows...

Ha! I finally made up my mind. I went to Home Depot an hour ago and asked them about their return policy, I have 30 days the with on questions asked. And with that in mind I'm going try them out. And when Father's day's rolls around get the Craftsman.
My friend that came with me brought up a good point, "They are lifetime right? So why not get the bigger set? Its not like they are goin to come out with bigger nuts or bolts." So with that in mind I'll try the Husky's for now then try the Craftsman and which ever one that feels better I'll buy the largest set! What does everyone thing?? bad idea or good idea... Once again its better to have more tools, plus buying them in sets are cheaper... thanks!

McDade = Meet Whore...What's he doin' posting in a non-meet related topic http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif

But really, I went and bought craftsman because Sears is easy to get to and they have that no questions asked warranty...And with the way I use my tools I'll probably be needing it a few times at least http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif

SubyTechMaster, stated "working on Subarus is they only require a few sizes - 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm (drain plug), 22mm (crank bolt), 30mm (axle nut)." is that true a 22mm and 30mm gees that's huge... what's the deal??? my set only goes up to 21. and that's big. help.

nkodemus82, you know what I've never seen them but it sounds like a great idea...
bump?

Ratcheting box wrenches? They're called GearWrenches and they're sold at ACE Hardware.

Just in case noone else mentioned it in this thread, www.harborfreight.com (http://www.harborfreight.com) is a good source for tools and you can get 4 times the number of tools for the same price. Supposedly they've got lifetime warantys too, but you have to mail them back (you can get an entire new set from them for less then the shipping back, I'm sure).

I have only one snap-on tool, and that is a really great ratcheting screwdriver. the action is soooo fine, i have never come across its equal! recently, a guy was telling me he saw the same screwdriver that i have at a hardware store called "Lowes". I was shocked to hear that they would carry snap-on... he claimed that the brand is not advertised as snap-on, but the tools are either manufactured by them or just rebadged. if this were true, it would be a cheap source for awesome tools provided the quality was maintained!