Inexpensive tool set

Every once in a while you see a tool kit for cheap, and think maybe I'll buy one for the car, etc. When I was a kid, sears sold starter sets that were great for working on cars. They sold them for about $((.00, best that I can remember. I still have my first Craftsman set, and use it daily. Along the way I've picked up a ton of stuff, but they still get used all the time.
Today I found this 105 piece set at Harbor Freight for 39.99 on sale, and though it doesn't have every tool size I'd want, it's pretty darn good, for an emergency kit for the car. Just thought I'd post it here for anyone on a tight budget, or someone looking for a nicely packaged trunk set. Here is the link
105 Piece Tool Kit

Steve.Here In Roch,NY HF is running a three day sale that ends up today.I would think it is nation wide.Today is 70% off and the stores are still open if anyone was to go look.Some of a specialty odd ball stuff that you might only use once is worth having in the shop I think.I just bought a 13 pc deep well metric impact set because I didn't have a 18mm.I would rarely use that,but with that set missing only one socket,I only paid $15.00 bucks.At that price I honestly don't care is over time I end up breaking all of them and I do have my doubts that will happen given they are a very thick wall.Only thing I noticed using the 18mm was it wasn't the greatest of fit and on each nut I had to take off the socket to get the nut out.Kind of small potato's when I could have spent $15.00 for just one 18mm.

I should take a page from your game plan and have a tool kit in my D.D.It just makes sense.

I started buying tools at around 16 A lesson I learned real early was just how bad do you want to mess up your hands..My dad told me cheap tools will get you hurt, and they do. If I'm turning a wrench I don't want it to slip or break. I abuse my stuff sometimes putting a cheater on the breaker bar or on a box wrench... I've even used 3/4 drive impact with 1/2" drive thinwall sockets. What ever it takes to get it done. The only brand you'll find in my tool box is Craftsman. NOW don't go getting all American made on me cause I know some Craftsman stuff is made in China. I just got a pair of there vicegrips in trade that were made in China We'll have to see how long they last.

Charlie I hear yah, I'm just thinking for a car tool kit for emergencies it seemed pretty good. They also guarantee the tool set for life. But I decided to search on and found a great deal on this Craftsman set too. It's a 106 piece set, and though it doesn't have pliers, etc.., it has a nice assortment of sockets. They normally sell this one for $99.99, but there is a coupon sale for $45.83 here right now. Craftsman 106 pc. Mechanics Tool Set $45.83 Deal

Well I went back and tried six times, but you can't get the Craftsman set for less than 69 bucks. So I started thinking what would be a good small portable set for most cars, that covers emergencies. We have like three different sets in the main commuters and they are a hodge podge of stuff. I found this kit at Target and thought it has just about everything you need in a small kit, for a good price.
Apollo Travel/ Auto Kit - Red (64 Pc) : Target

Snap On has a simiilar set for $43,987.88.

Craftsmen and Stanley are owned by Danaher and produced on the same lines. I like Stanley sets, there available at Walmart and other stores for a good price. Decent set will run $50.. I have never broke 1, and I use cheater bars ect.. I actually have a couple sets in my tool box. The Rotator ratchet works good for spark plugs

Robot - Your making me laugh! Snapon is usually too rich for my blood, but they do make some nice specialty tools.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robot

Snap On has a simiilar set for $43,987.88.

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Oh, I didn't know Snap On was having a SALE !!!:eek::LOL::LOL:

Everytime I was tempted to visit the Snap On truck when he came to my job, I just signed my paycheck over to him.:(


Don

You get what you pay for.

I don't remember what they called it or part number but sears did (6-7 yrs ago have a tool set that had smallest sockets 1/4 dr, med 3/8 and larger 1/2 dr----so you didn't have 3 complete sets of sockets--also had assortment of wrenches--got it for my youngest son who worked a job as a service man for factory cleaning( floor scrubbers, etc up to the drive around sweepers) and he didn't have to carry huge tool set around inside factories on service calls----

Some things at Snap On, Mac, etc are expensive but I have a kit for checking cooling systems pressure leak, temperature etc that would solve 95 % of the cooling problems guys post about on here and Club Cobra, but seems like they would rather go thru changing radiators, shrouds, fans, etc instead of a $7 temp sender!!!

I just saw a kinda neat rachet at Advance Auto a couple of weeks ago. It worked with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch sockets, so it would eliminate the need to carry 3 separate rachets in your emergency kit. It isn't something you might want to use in your garage, but on the road it might come in handy.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but those spare tire inflators/sealers in a can are good to carry with you too.

Don

Don a friend told me she used spare air/fix a flat on her car when her tire was flat to get it to the store. When she brought the car in to fix it, they told her she would need a new tire, because that stuff makes it impossible to patch. Have you ever heard this? I carry a can, since I'd rather be mobile than stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal, but just curious if this is true, or someone took advantage of a nice lady!

I also carry a spare tire in a can, and kinda felt bad doing it, but never had a tire guy complain, I am sure it is messy and i always tell the tech ahead of time, they have always patched the repair.I can remember way back when that the cans carried a sticker to place on the wheel to alert the tech. can only assume it was the propellent that was flammable.

I didn't know they even put patches inside tires any more, I thought they just put a plug in the hole. When the construction boom was big in Florida, work trucks were dropping nails all over the place. It was common to pick up a nail every week, no joke. I carried one of those kits to open up the hole and put a plug in it, and I can't ever remember one of those plugs leaking.

I think I heard that radial tires need to be plugged instead of inside patched because the wire in the tire could poke back through the patch. But I don't know if that is true or not.

As for that spare tire in a can being messy, yes it is. I have dismounted tires that I used it on and it is in liquid form when you remove the tire.

Don

I did a little research and both slime and fix a flat state easily cleaned up with water and don't effect repair. I think the jerks hosed her. Makes me mad, as she is single, on dialysis, works her #$%# off to pay for her way, insurance, etc., and has been on a klidney donor list for ten yerars that I have known her. She said right after buying a new set of tires, she picked up a nail in one. She used fix a flat and the tire guys told her it ruined the tire so it couldn't be repaired, and she had to buy a new tire! Jerks!

On a different note I went to HF my favorite alternative tool stores web sight and put together a tool kit for the new car.
12ft jumper cables(15.99)
6" rubber krypton bulb flash light(.79)
tire gauge(3.99)
6/12 volt circuit tester(1.99)
duct tape(4.19)
electrical tape(.79)
130 piece tool kit(27.99)
3 ton tow strap(7.99)
With coupons before tax 63.72. I have a can of fix a flat and a spare vise grip so, makes a nice kit at a affordable price. My wife will make a little tote and a fleece blacket for it too, and we have emergency food and first aid stuff, so over all not too bad.

It does sound like your lady friend got taken from what you say, Steve. I hate it when garages try to take advantage of people, especially women who are sometimes not as knowledgable as a man might be. (Except for our Barb :LOL:)

Transmission shops seem to be the worst because how many of us really understand automatic transmissions? Years ago I took my ex wife's Buick in for one of those $29.95 filter and transmission fluid specials. I was in the bay when the mechanic pulled the pan and as he looked into it he said, "Looks pretty good, no real problems that I see." A few minutes later the owners Son (a real piece of work:rolleyes:) comes into the shop with his clipboard, looks into the same pan and says "Oh boy, I see some real problems here !" The mechanic turned around from what he was doing and gave me a look as if to say "What an idiot !"

I told him everything was fine and he tried the old "You don't want your wife driving around in a car that might fail, do you ?" He went on to say he would bet the transmission would fail within a month. I told him to button it up and do the $ 29.95 special, so he got in a huff and stormed off. 3 years later, when we sold the car, the transmission was still working great. :LOL:

Oh, that same shop was on the news a while later where the cops were taking the owner and his Son out in handcuffs for defrauding people and charging for work they never did. Yes, there is a God in Heaven. :D


Don

thanks don :3dSMILE:

Yep some mechanics are not very nice. Well my tool kit turned out pretty nice, they were selling a canvas tool bag and a few other small items I thought of, so it came to 96 bucks all said and done, I decided to buy two socket holders, since the tool box wouldn't fit in the trunk, but the soft tool bag would. I think the trunk under your seat had more room Don, than the one behind my seat in the MR2! :) Trunk is a loose term, large glove box might be more accurate! Out to test it all out with a day trip to Clear Lake to visit some friends.

Steve..its a Toyota..You shouldnt have to carry any tools with you ..:D

Yah never know mate!