Tool Discussion Thread

[wtcii]

I have always used my Dad's tools, and I have decided that I need my own. Sears is currently having a Father's Day Sale and their ratchet sets are 50% off. This made me decide that I need to go buy some. He has had the same set of craftsman tools since he was fresh out of college. They currently have this set of tools on sale for $99.99, which I think is a good deal. Can anyone provide any insight on on the tools they use and if you think that this is a good deal and a good place to start my tool collection.

[Abailey4]

Looks like a good buy and start to me.  You dont want your collection ot get too big though because of whenever you move. I've got a basic set like that, air compressor and going to be picking up a few air tools as well.

[wtcii]

Yeah I think that would be fine for hand tools. This is the tool box that I think that I want, so if I can contain my tools within a box that size, I think that I will be ok. Really the only thing I could think of other than that would be air tools. To run air tools such as an impact driver, do I need a big tank to run the tools. I doubt something like a pancake compressor could run it, maybe it could, but I dont really know.

[Abailey4]

You dont need a huge tank. I think mine is 3 gallon and the only reason I went with it is because it had wheels. Most of the air tools require 2-3hp so that's really the only thing you have to watch for. The other thing you may wanna get is a torque wrench. I picked one up from Pep Boys about a month ago for about $45. You turn the handle til you get to the desired torque and when you are torqueing something it stops and clicks by itself once it's reached the setting you set. Great for using on lug nuts.

[Mike]

That's a good set to bad my local sears is sold out.

[exelr8]

I agree with Derrick on this one start out with your basic tools and work your way up. I have a 6 drawer Snap-on box with a complete set of Snap-on tools and I love them but there are tools in my box I have yet to use and I have had the set for a year now. As far as air tools go, I love them, But air tools are like hand tools in the sence that you do not buy a dirt cheap off brand wrench and expect it to handle a bolt that has been rusted for 10 years and not break. Be sure to keep them oiled lol. and one thing that has always come in handy for me I picked up a set of breaker bars i know you can accomplish the same thing with a long pipe but it is much easier for me to grab my breaker bar out of my box than it is to look around for a pipe

[wtcii]

I forgot about the torque wrench, I have been wanting one because I am always afraid that I am going to over tighten some like my oil drain plug or transmission or under tighten my lug nuts. I found a Kobalt one for about $60.00. I was thinking about picking one of those up when I do the rest. I need to do some more research on the air tools, but I think that I amgoing to go ahead and get this ratchet set.

[wtcii]

That's a good set to bad my local sears is sold out.

Free shipping on orders 99.99 and up

what are the breaker bars for?

[Mike]

Said "Not available for shipping" I tried.

[Abailey4]

That's a good set to bad my local sears is sold out.

Free shipping on orders 99.99 and up

what are the breaker bars for?

Breaker bars are for stuck bolts. The breaker bar gives you more leverage to "break"(hence the name)the bolt loose. Like Big Mike #2 stated you can put a pipe over the end of a wrench and it'll do the same thing but who keeps a perfectly cut piece of pipe laying around.

[wtcii]

That's a good set to bad my local sears is sold out.

Free shipping on orders 99.99 and up

what are the breaker bars for?

Breaker bars are for stuck bolts. The breaker bar gives you more leverage to "break"(hence the name)the bolt loose. Like Big Mike #2 stated you can put a pipe over the end of a wrench and it'll do the same thing but who keeps a perfectly cut piece of pipe laying around.

Ahhh, I think that my Dad may have a set of those or maybe it was just a really long ratchet. Ill have to look into a set of those.

Said "Not available for shipping" I tried.

I would buy it and ship it to you but after tax and freight charges it wouldn't be worth it.

[exelr8]

When rocket starter and I installed my Ingalls ETD we spent a good 15 minutes looking for something that we could use to get the motor mounts broke loose. I am more of a hard work kind of person but the breakers bars have always kinda helped me work smarter not harder as they say haha

[NVA-AV6]

Make sure to get sets of 6 point sockets, they help alot to prevent stripping the heads on bolts, also a long flex handle 3/8 ratchet is a real good investment.

[wtcii]

I believe the set that I am looking at comes with a variety of both 6pt. and 12 pt sockets. Are there any disadvantages of having 6pt. rather than all 12pt.?

[hondaguy214]

i have alot of snap-on and matco tools
but i do have craftsman stuff. its not bad. for a do it yourselfer they are good. but vigerous use you will need to get quality stuff. i like ingersoll impact guns.