hgoodman

Well I'm about to embark upon buying my first set of "good" tools, like a 250-piece mechanics set or something along those lines for working on the Audi... what would you guys/gals recommend? I'm interested in positive/negative experiences with Craftsman, Stanley, Chinese/Taiwan imports, etc. Price is probably up there for me in importance; I mean I'd buy all Snap-On if price was no limit, but I'm willing to spend two or three hundred for a decent set. Thanks, if anyone has opinions.

Chris in VA

Definitely get Sears. I've broken a couple tools, and all you do is take it in and get a new one, no questions asked. They're high quality too. You'll need metric of course. I find the extension bar set and a long handle ratchet to be invaluable, as well as good allen wrenches. Also check out this Vise Grip clamping wrench that locks down on nuts/bolts...definitely a useful tool. A cheap magnetic telescoping pickup doodad for $1.99 was worth every penny.

audinutt

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i've bought cheepo auto parts store wrench sets so i could not worry if i broke them, but get a craftsman set too, the stubby wrenches can come in very handy. you want a reasonable 1/2 drive ratchet that you can put a pipe over if needed. Used tools is another option, sometimes you can get real bargains, but you need to check out prices. get some socket racks to keep them organized, the magnetic ones are nice. snapon make a really nice true-swivel ratchet, it cost me almost $80 but i love it and it's 3/8 drive and makes a lot of jobs much easier. get a set of allen sockets. the triple squares are nice to have. these are for cv axles. i've found that the Ridgid screwdrivers from home depot actually grip better than similar snapon and craftsman screwdrivers. these are a recommended buy

you don't want a pos ratchet, you break that and it will ruin your day, a socket cracking isn't as big of deal, i've found buying extra used and open items you can have a pair of about every size which makes life a lot easier.

it really helps sometimes to buy a cheaper set with a few nice items.

HTH!
rich
'86 4kq

BTW, if you're looking cheap cheap, you can always look at harbor freight, these are the type of wrenches i'll grind on and make a tool out of.

Dwight V.

I'd ditto the Craftsman vote. I've used a lot of different tools very hard, and they are consistently good to very good condition. The ability to get replacements quickly and easily is important.
I started my wrenching using a K-Mart Taiwain socket set and Dad's old screwdrivers. While I did get more than my money's worth out of the Taiwan tools, they WILL break when you need them most.
The difference between Craftsman and the likes of Snap-On and the others is quality and comfort. The high end tools are nicely finished and more pleasant to use on an every day basis. You will pay at least 5x more than Sears, and you'll only be able to get them when the vendor truck comes to visit, which is about never unless you're in the repair business. For the home mechanic, they really aren't worth the difference (and I've purchased some over the years).
Good quality tools are a good investment. You'll never be sorry you bought them.

Christopher Judd

I agree on the Craftsman - generally good quality and excellent support. You'll not go wrong there - get their higher grade tools on sale and you'll be set. I have recently picked up a snap-on ratchet and it seems to have a finer grade between ratchet clicks than the Craftsman and a smaller head- good for tight spaces. I grabbed it second hand in very good shape off of Ebay for MUCH less than new ($25, I think) - there are some bargains there, but be careful, there are bidding wars to avoid, too. Know what to pay and bail out when the bidding goes too high. Snap-on has a good site - you can look up prices. I have some S-K sockets, screw drivers, and pliers that I like, too - somewhat more expensive than Craftsman and well made, but nowhere near the cost of new snap-on. Good luck!

eMKay (BFLO)

Can't go wrong with craftsman

eehokie

Their warranty is awesome. I've broken a couple of ratchets and you just walk up, give them the broken one, and they give you a new one. No questions asked.

if you break a 13mm socket (a must have for a VW/Audi mechanic) you would have to go buy another if not warrantied, Sears are almost everywhere so it's nice to know you can just walk in and pick on up for free. People like Snap-on and I do have some of their tools, but when it breaks although warrantied like the rest where do you go to replace it? Great tool don't get me wrong, but it's hard to find a Snap-on truck or a sales office!

hgoodman

Thanks so much for your input... that certainly makes my decision easier. Craftsman it is and I'll watch for a good sale at Sears. Thanks again!

jayway11

Lifetime warranty and no hassle replacement...same as Sears, except there are many more Canadian Tire stores than Sears...better selection too. All the Mastercraft tools I own have been through a lot of abuse and I haven't had to replace one yet. My favourite is my automatic torque wrench...it clicks once the desired torque is reached...very cool.

Tylerb929

Best thing is you can do the stupidest things with your tools and they'll give you a new one when the old one is broken. You could strap fireworks to it just to watch it explode, and they wouldn't ask you a question.

i was using a 9 in 1 screw driver to take off one of my freinds performance exhaust after he had been in an accident. We broke atleast half of the 9 screw drivers trying to pry his exhaust off. They just snapped, so you can just walk in and get a new one.