I'm looking into getting me some new tools to work on the car. What are you guys using?

 

Craftsman
Snapon $$$$$$$$$$$

just remember to get a good torque wrench, the kind that clicks and handles a lot of torque.

 

I use Matco tools from the truck. Expensive, but not as expensive as snap-on.
Craftsman tools are ok, they kinda break, but lifetime warranty. A good torque wrench is a plus..

I bought a set of Matco ratcheting wrenches, and I use them alot, 10mm-21mm... They are great.. I think Crafstman has some similar for cheaper. Highly recommended

 

SNAPPIES!

 

Snap-On

 

yes get those ratcheting wrenchs the 10-21mm, wish i had some when my motor went back in my car....

 

Torque wrench is probably most important. Don't get one wrench... you probably need at least two different wrenches for various torque rangegs. I just got Husky stuff from Home Depot. (lifetime warranty as well)

Where do you guys get Snap-On tools? I want their calender/poster.

Also, Dremel is a handy tool to have around for various mods.

Lastly, I'm looking to get some nice race jacks... saw one for $350. ouch!

 

A lot

I use mostly craftsman...torque wrench...and the very convinient <spelling?> moroso crank pulley tool

 

I have a Snap On torque wrench, and everything else is Craftsman...jack, jack stands, tool chest, etc....

craftsman is decent and if you have any probs, lifetime warranty and they usually replace it on the spot at sears...

Plus, snap on is just too damn expensive to buy everything from them...but for torque wrench, I love mine...

 

yeah for us weekend mechanics, I'd say snap on is over kill. I'd still buy it if I were rich though

Craftsman works well, easy to replace if broken (that's if sears doesn't tank...), and if you lose a socket, no biggie, it wasn't a ton of money.

However, I would suggest a SnapOn or Klein screwdrivers... the Craftsman drives I have are somewhat prone to stripping screws. And we all know what a pain stripped screws are.

Oh yeah for the Jack, I'd recommend a this 3 ton jack they sell at Costco, no kidding. Cost me 80 dollars, weighs 100 pounds, and seems to be the same as the lincoln jacks that everybody loves (or used to at least).

Or get a craftsman jack... those are, what 130 or so?

 

hey guys,
is there a huge difference between the 99 dollar floor jacks and the 49 dollar floor jacks from sears, both craftsman? besides the height they can lift, is there anything mechanically different that i should be worried about? this coming from a weekend mechanic that tinkers with stuff. thanks

 

F'k that. Go get the $15 ones from Harbor freight. Had mine for 3 years now, still workin fine.

 

You want the big honking monster of a jack... the 49 dollar one is kinda small and you can pick it up with one hand right? A real jack can't be picked up with one hand and hell, trying both hands should almost induce a hernia.

The extra 50 will be well spent. And I think there is suppose to be another 0 to that 15.

Here are some helpful links:
http://integra.vtec.net/geeser/jacking.html
http://www.hyjacks.com/H2.HTM

 

Just thought I would bring it to you guys' attention... you get what you pay for.
Snap-On. Nothing less. Yes, expensive. A set of 9-19mm Snap-On short and long 3/8" sockets w/ magnetic tray runs almost $300.00... but if you wrench every day it is worth it. The tools pay for themselves in no time.

(To those who actually wrench):

Notice how when your hands are covered in oil, how easy is it to help a Snap-on socket turn on a loose bolt w/ your hand? Easy. The grooves are cut deeper. Craftsman sucks in this aspect. Also, compare a Craftsman open end wrench to a Snap-on Flank Drive. Find a bolt that's extremely tight. Yank on it hard with a Craftsman wrench, and then try it with a Snap-on one. Which one digs into your hand harder? Yeah. I thought so. Craftsman sucks. Also, the Flank drive aspect in itself is worth the cost alone. ($321. for a 9-19mm wrench set).

Snap-on rocks.

 

I wouldn't say craftsman sucks, the tool sets you buy at autoparts stores suck.

Not everybody can afford to pay 300 dollars for sockets. The same sockets would probally cost 50-100 dollars at sears. And that's for sockets alone.

Add in everything and you can probally get a complete craftsman set for 300-400 with everything you need. The same thing would cost you 3-4k through snap-on.

With snap-on, your also paying for the name as well. Like I said, if I could afford it, snap-on all the way, but if I could afford it, I'd be driving a McLaren F1 too, cause well... Honda's suck. By comparison

 

Actually, I beg to differ there. I pit for a race team that use those sexy aluminium jacks that Nascar guys use... Three pumps and it's fully extended and one hand portable (though a little awkward for just one hand...). That's a REAL jack. Now if only I had the $1000 to put one in my garage and another $1000 to put one in my shop.

Oh yeah and it's primarily Snap-On at work... There's nothing like 'em... With the exception of air tools. Snappy air tools suck. (I know, it's all just personal preference!) Ingersoll Rand Impact guns (the plastic ones Gawd they're strong and light, the Type R of impact guns) Mac Air hammer, CP air ratchets and grinder (CP's 1/4" air ratchet, the plastic one is the best I've ever used.)

Though as a caveat, Facom (See JohnnyBoy's post) make some pretty fine tools. They are the ones that made the titanium tools found in the McLaren F1's toolkit (I've been trying to get some of these but can't) I have a couple of Facom hand ratchets and the 1/4" 72 tooth is even better than my Snappy.

And yes, Hallusin8.com Snap-On have a lifetime warranty on most of their stuff and of course the difference if you have a shop is that he comes to you to replace your broken bits.


[Modified by Its_real&its_spectacular, 1:11 PM 8/12/2001]

 

My Local Snap On dealer. Now I wonder how he got the nickname "Snappy" Hmmmm?

But I agree with Mike K If you use the tools everyday trust me they are worth the $$$

 

near my friends house, there's this guy who owns a snap-on truck. im guessing its sorta like a franchise sorta deal, and you get your own area or something. hes always parked there. is that how it works with snap-on?

 

I'll drink to a Snap-On Garage too

Ouch, Crapsman? ahahah... well, funny how everybody seems to be ragging on them. I guess I'm too used to the Autoparts tools my dad used to always buy cause he was too cheap to buy real tools.

But hey, it gets the job done, although I have broken a couple of ratchets...

What would be nice would be a lift though.... I talked to this shop and theirs cost them 5000... or was it 10000

 

I want these bad boys! http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_2000

 

What tools do i own? I work at a toyota dealer as a tech. What tools don't i own?

Sad thing is that you will never have all the tools. They always come out with something better.

Anyway Snap-on, Mac, Matco.
Recommendations(sp?)...IR 1/2 drive impact...black plastic, Snap-on 3/8 drive impact, IR 3/8 air rachet, Matco 1/4 air rachet(small but very fast). oh yeah..Snap-on cordless 3/8 impact.

 

best tools i ever invested in was a valve adjustment tool..

 

I have a mix of Craftsman and Kobalt (Lowe's in-store brand). I'm becoming more and more partial to the Kobalt tools the more I use them. While I have a Craftsman torque wrench, I read on the box that the Kobalt actually has a lifetime guarantee, like the rest of their tools. Interesting to find that on a torque wrench.

Also, I've been told by several sources that Snap-On makes Kobalt tools. Wouldn't be surprised if that were true - the quality is there. The cost is about comparable to Craftsman, but they always have sets on sale.

As far as the jack goes - you can almost always find the black Craftsman 3-ton jack + jackstands on sale right around $100. I got mine for $89. Just the right height for a stock Type R. Lowered cars may have clearance problems in the front.

 

Until I can flag down a Snap on truck from my driveway, i'll stick to craftsman. sure the quality has gone to chit in the last 30years but the $$ to buy snapon could be spent on beer and chips.......plus, you can return anything at sears.

 

matco are good too. i heard they are stronger than snap on's.