MJSpeed

I need a little help here, I'm looking into investing in a new tool set and was wondering what some of you are using, what would you recommend and why??

Bill Gregory

You might want to do a search on tools, as this has been discussed previously in one or more threads. Interestingly, tools is a topic that polarizes some people towards, or away from, certain brands.

jetskied

Depends on how much money do you want to spend? If you are gonna be cheap I suggest going for Craftsman over all of the other lower price stuff (Home Depot, Lowes, Powerbuilt ect.) as they have a no hassel waranty and the quality is good. Of the high price stuff I would buy Snap On. Most of the professional mechanics I know likes them and the cost of other brands like Facom and Mac are the same price. Its not the others are inferior, but I just would go buy what the majority of the pros use as they can't be wrong.

MJSpeed

jetskied,

Thanks for the input that's what I was leaning towards (Craftsman or Snap on)...thanks!!!

shonuf

tools'
take a look at stahlwille and at hazet, which are both german and include "no hassle warranties." facom are french with a good warranty. all 3 types are of the highest quality.

GUMBALL

Just a thought, do a search on ebay under "Mechanics Tools".....occasionally, you can find a complete tool box....................

jim911

To work on a porsche use porsche tech preferred, hazet

ltc

Performance Products sells a very nice and very complete set of Hazet tools with or without a Porsche tool chest.

http://www.performanceproducts.com/P...producttype=10

You can also seel some Hazet tools here:
http://www.samstagsales.com/hazet.htm
I especially like the portable tool rollaround:
http://www.samstagsales.com/hz166c.htm

http://mdmetric.com/prod/hazet/hazetpix.htm

I like these a LOT for working on my son's kart:
http://www.betatoolsusa.com/product/index_02.php
Very high quality stuff. T handle hex wrenches are fantastic.

GUMBALL

Here's an example of "tools on ebay"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...349992618&rd=1

John Brown

IHMO:

My son (a professional auto mechanic) and I like to think of ourselves as 'value concious' and frugal.

The son uses a goodly portion of SnapOn. More than I need as he works with them all day every day. The SnapOn is for the stuff where the additional quality is a must or the tool just can't be sourced from cheaper lines. (Craftsman for example does not offer the 'triple-square' bit for the CV bolts.) Around here SnapOn beats MAC at least as much because of the superior local SnapOn rep as any difference in the tools. Finally, fellows working in a shop can't be bothered taking time out of the day to go to Sears for the free replacement; SnapOn delivers. The son's SnapOn 3/8 drive universal socket set is worth every very expensive penny - but only after you already have a full set of someone elses much cheaper standard sockets and find a need for the universals.

I have some SnapOn too at the house. Mostly stuff, as mentioned, that Craftsman/SK/Husky doesn't make or doesn't make in enough sizes or strength (snap-ring plyers come to mind). But Craftsman/SK wrenchs seem quite adequate; the son uses them also - his set is the Craftsman 'Professional' line which is thinner and easier to keep clean. We both have some SnapOn wrenches in special sizes or shapes.

Harbor Freight stuff has never disappointed for the price. $15 for a seal driver set. Not as good as a set from SnapOn but functional and LOTS cheaper.

Have some Facom and bits and pieces of SK and Husky. Note that I think SK may be the same forgings as either Facom or SnapOn for some items??!!

SnapOn, MAC, et al are nice. If you have the funds and just want bragging rights then go for it. If value and budget counts those top line brands are way overkill. But a frugal toolbox will have some of each.

Juan Lopez

I think you'd paying too much for brand if you only go with Facom. I have some Facom (very little), a lot of Craftsman and some Snap on.

No regrets !

GUMBALL

The bottom line for tools..??? If you are going to "use them for a living" (as a shop or race mechanic) then Snap-On is the best - the tools are better quality, the wrenches and sockets are easier to "get into places" than most other brands. Snap-On also make more "specialty tools" than most other manufacturers.
Having said that, if one is to work on Porsche, BMW or Mercedes, then some Hazet tools are a must, as they the only ones that make some of the special tools for these marks. And Hazet quality is also very good.
If one is not "making their living" with their tools, then there are many brands (most of them relatively inexpensive) that will work very well....which is why I originally suggested ebay.
As example, in my tool box (or boxes) all ratchets, extensions, torque wrenches, ratchet wrenches, standard wrenches and sockets are Snap-On.
My collection of metric wrenches, metric sockets, screwdrivers, are mainly Hazet, with only a few being Snap-On.

Hope this helps in making your decisions..................