What tools do I need

Meh, they're still perfectly fine tools for 99% of people. Hell, Harbor Freight makes some decent tools (usually the ones without moving parts).

People seem to think that you slap a "made in USA" stamp on it and it commands a premium price or that means it's automatically nicer. We don't have any magic manufacturing techniques that china doesn't have, they just pay their employees less, like, a lot less.

That phone in most people's pockets was likely made in a factory with suicide nets, but the phone itself is the best of the best, and we all continue to buy them.

I've had this no-name crap brand ratchet set I got at the auto parts store more than 20 years ago. I've had 3-4' cheater bars on it. Still works perfectly fine. The switch on the ratchet finally broke a few months ago after dropping it for the 11,000th time.

 

My statement came not from a blind 'made in USA good; made elsewhere bad' mindset. It comes from the perspective of a daily user of tools. Today's CM is not your daddy's CM. Your 'no-name' ratchet from 20 years ago probably blows the doors off of today's CM. There is a whole thread (actually several) on garagejournal on this topic if you have time on your hands and desire a deep dive.

I take it the OP is a younger guy getting into DYI stuff. I suggest spending a few more dollars as tools really are an investment that should last several generations. You don't need $$$ Snap On. SK, Proto, etc. are very good. Husky I don't know about as I have not used them.

 

Maybe a just a few. For example, their floor jack is the only one out there that has enough throw to handle my lifted Tacoma without a bunch of 4x4's.

 

How much of a lift do you have? Tires?

I guess if you're jacking from the frame you need a huge one. I don't think mine is abnormally large, it's just a 3 ton floor jack. For the rear I always jack on the axle, and then support the frame with HF 12 ton (needed for the height) jack stands if I need to remove the wheels or suspension. For the front, just jack on the crossmember, or on the control arm.

 

If we are being honest, they really weren’t all that great 20 years ago (or more). In reality, the ratchets sucked, the chrome sockets broke easily and nothing else was special in anyway.

People liked them because they had a no questions asked replacement policy. They were more affordable and got the job done for most people. When they didn’t, you could get a free replacement.

That said, I have a bunch of Craftsman stuff that was passed down to me. I use a good majority of it. I’ve broken some stuff, but it’s served me well enough. The ratchets are terrible though.

 

Most companies of today aren't my daddy's company of yesteryear. I think that's a good thing for the most part. As Joe said, Craftsman wasn't really that "nice" of a tool to begin with, but it had a good warranty, and it was pretty much the only game in town for a VERY long time. Now-a-days there are a lot more companies out there to compete with, and I bet they all use the same 4 factories, lol... They were also probably finding out that the lifetime warranty thing wasn't paying off for them.

Honestly, I think even Snap-On is overrated. They definitely have a bunch of trucks that drive around to all the shops and race teams though. I can't say if they're the "best" since that's a subjective term anyway. My 20 year old $20 ratchet set has certainly lasted. That's a $1 a year, lol.

People should buy the tools that fit their budget and what they intend to do with them.

Yeah, I thought I remember back in highschool (late 90's) that they weren't doing the lifetime replacements anymore, or something like that. I swear I remember my dad trying to return something. My memory is so bad, that could just as well been last week, tho, lol...

It really always seemed like a marketing ploy. Sell everyone on the warranty, and hope that not very many people end up collecting on it. Those that did break stuff still like the tools because it had a guarantee. Even though they still had a tool that broke.

You could say the same about Harbor Freight tools. They have a pretty decent replacement guarantee, at least for some stuff, and I'm willing to bet most of them don't break anything.

 

If you're just starting out, I'd pick up one of those 100 or 200 piece "automotive" all in one kits and then add tools to your tool kit as you go and realize what else you need. Watch videos and read write ups for each job you tackle that you're not familiar with and it'll let you know what tools you need for that job.

I do think a breaker bar will work for most things but if you are doing CV axles (axle nut), carrier bearing (stake nut), or other high torque fasteners then a 1/2" impact wrench makes life way easier. Get a couple sized Pitman pullers for doing ball joints/tie rods.

Get a good pair of mechanics gloves too and a torque wrench. Floor jack, some 6 ton jack stands, wheel chocks, etc. Moving blankets are nice to put down so you aren't sitting/kneeling on concrete

 

+1 - The drivers fit so precisely into JIS screws that its like plugging a driver into a socket. As shown in the pictures below, the driver will stay positioned in the screw without being held.

 

I'm not sure what it's like now but when Craftsman and Sears were still a thing they stopped replacing Lifetime parts with new and that's when I stopped buying from them.

 

Exactly. I knew guys that would stop at Sears every Friday to replace tools they broke during the week at work. Seemed like a pain in the ass when you could get something better for a few bucks more. You can put a guarantee on a box of manure, but it’s still a piece of shit.

I don’t use much HF stuff cause a lot of it is junk. I’ll still pick up something from there if I know it’s something I know I’ll only need once. But I haven’t had good luck at all with their power tools, so I generally stay away from them.

 

My rule of thumb is if it has moving parts or electricity, it’s probably junk.

Other stuff I buy as a single use item, and any more uses is a free bonus.

I actually still have a 14” abrasive chop saw that I’ve had for 4ish years, and, while loud, still cuts steel. I keep waiting for it to die so I can get a nicer one, but that $60 pos just won’t die. My welding mask lasted 3 or 4 years, too, and what finally failed was the head band.

 

We use ridgid impacts and battery drills for doing electrical work. But we bought a Milwaukee hole hawg and it surpasses any ridgid tool we have bought, the batteries last longer and it has more power as well. They are pricey though.

 

do you have a good link for those exact tool assortment? i remember getting one of the ratcheting vessel tools earlier this year but it did not come with the JIS bits!

 

That sounds like my first Craftsmen set I got 20 years ago. The ratchets all work great still and the sockets as well. Ive lost prolly 4 or 5 of the 10mm 3/8 drive though and replaced
But seen lots and LOTS of use and never gives me issues. They're mechanical. There really shouldn't be issues with hand tools besides tolerances to sizes maybe and stuff like that.

 

Yeah, those 10mm are like socks in the drier. I've lost 2 or 3 of them myself.

 

Yea it’s pretty damn annoying.

 

If you are looking for reasonably priced electric impacts ryobi is hard to beat (they are owned by ridgid) they make lots of other handy tools that fit the same battery for around the house. They have the best led spotlight/ flashlight ive ever used. The impacts they make usually won't break bolts, they don't have as much power as contractor grade tool. But sometimes that's not a bad thing. I would add 3/8 wobble extension set, they have enough flex if you don't have a straight shot, but you will need around 30inches if combined length. It's handy doing the passenger side spark plugs in a 3.4

 

2nd that on the Ryobi drills. I've had one of mine for probably 10 years. It was one of the first 18v ones (the green ones). My neighbor had a 4.5" circular saw that he didn't have any batteries for and gave it to me. I have a corded Rigid that's WAY nicer, but having a cordless is nice for those times where you just need 1 or 2 cuts. I've got a few other Ryobi tools, too. They're really not too bad. Just like with my harbor freight chop saw, I keep waiting for them to die so I can "upgrade".

 

Let me find it when I get home tonight. Somebody posted a nice setup that I need to look up. The later be addition was the stubby that I ordered for the TPS. That little tool is very handy.

 

Message seconded... again.