Got in a situation a few years back was going through a divorce and I quit working on cars. Sold all my tools. So now I'm looking for a new tool set to get me started on cars again. I mainly need the sockets, wrenches, screw drivers, and box. I'm looking at purchasing this Crafts man 283 pc kit with the box. What do you guys think of this set? I will also be purchasing a few things seperate, such as pliers, jacks, breaker bar, etc. I like craftsman because I don't usually even need a receipt and sears replaces them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-283-pc-Mechanics-Tool-Set-with-Metal-Chest-/221068752698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3378b9773a#ht_500wt_1413

That looks like a very nice selction of tools. I would buy that. I have that tool box for all my stuff.

That's a nice set a tools! Might have to pick em up a set!

Wow...a nice set to get started with
Then just accumulate as you go [thumb]

I'd make sure you get metric tools. Gear wrenches & flex handle rachets & electric 1/4 & 3/8 drive impacts. A tool cart works great too. & of course a desent light weight impact wrench= no CP's aka CP earthquake's by harbor freight, etc.

make sure you check the craftsman website first. same set is $315 with $32 s/h
that way you could save some cash for more tools:) plus i'm sure there is a store near you and you could save shipping all together!
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-283-pc-mechanics-tool-set-with-tool/p-00935283000P?&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=L1

You would get more bang for your buck at Harbor Freight if you have one in your area.
You can have it shipped also. http://www.harborfreight.com/clearance/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-45951.html

You would get more bang for your buck at Harbor Freight if you have one in your area.
You can have it shipped also. http://www.harborfreight.com/clearance/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-45951.html

I made the mistake of buying some tools from Harbor Freight before and they are ALL junk. There are some things it just doesn't pay to go cheap on and tools are one of them -- just my opinion of course...

For me it's hard to beat Craftsman for quality tools. They are not cheap and they are not cheapy -- you get what you pay for.

I have a Craftsman tool kit with both SAE and Metric sockets. In addition, it has SAE and Metric allen bits as well as TorX bits. See link below...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00932820000P?mv=rr

This set, with the addition of some screw drivers, adjustable wrenches, small hammer, combo tool, razor knife, tire repair kit and pump will be all you should need for 95% or all work you could do and probably 99% of emergency repairs on the road.


Brian

You would get more bang for your buck at Harbor Freight if you have one in your area.
You can have it shipped also. http://www.harborfreight.com/clearance/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-45951.html

Stay far away!! Harbor Freight is for tools you need but are only going to use once or twice. Not for something that will need to last you.

Snap On are Professional quality tools. Mac are Professional quality tools. Craftsman are home owner quality tools. So are Pittsburg (Harbor Freight) and Husky etc.
Craftsman can't be cheerfully exchanged as was true in the past.

My craftsman set has served me well!

Snap On are Professional quality tools. Mac are Professional quality tools. Craftsman are home owner quality tools. So are Pittsburg (Harbor Freight) and Husky etc.
Craftsman can't be cheerfully exchanged as was true in the past.


Putting aside YOUR attribution of Craftsman as "home owner quality" versus the pro tools of Snap On and Mac, there is simply no comparison between Craftsman and Harbor Freight. Now, there are crappy tools sold at Sears and the Evolve series stuff is about the same as Harbor Freight crap -- THEY ARE BOTH CRAP!

True Craftsman tools are excellent tools and you don't have to flag down one of those trucks to get them either...


Brian

i started out with this set..clicky (http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-263-piece-mechanic-s-tool-set-with-3/p-00927032000P?vName=Hand+Tools&cName=Tools+Sets&sName=Mechanics+Tool+Sets&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=L1). has served me GREAT these past few years,and ive put them through hell. lol.

Snap On are Professional quality tools. Mac are Professional quality tools. Craftsman are home owner quality tools. So are Pittsburg (Harbor Freight) and Husky etc.
Craftsman can't be cheerfully exchanged as was true in the past.

If by professional quality (Snap On) you mean cracked sockets, bent wrenches, and broken screwdriver blades then sure [thumb]

Ive never had any problem with my Craftsman tools other then the cheaper ratchets. Never had any hold ups on the warranty either. Took 2 ratchets in last week. Took them to the counter the guy said grab new ones off the self and have a good day. Snap On warranty you either have to wait for the truck or pay for shipping both ways and wait 2 weeks.

Most of my hand tools are Craftsman. I have a Top, middle and bottom Craftsman box that is filled mostly with Craftsman tools. I have a significant amount of hand tools from Harbor Freight also and see no difference in quality on the average (with some exceptions). I have a few Snap On tools- ratchets, screwdrivers and box end wrenches mostly because I got tired of Craftsman tools breaking on me. I have never had a Snap On tool fail me. As far as sockets breaking (which the Craftsman do) I now have Harbor Freight air tool sockets in SAE and metric, deep and shallow and they don't break and are very inexpensive.
I have some Blue Point air tools also because Chicago pneumatic would wear out. I find that Ingersoll Rand air tools hold up better than Chicago pneumatic also. Sears air tools were made by Chicago Pneumatic the last that I knew (but vendors don't remain constant).
I am 60 years old and I bought my Craftsman tools in the 1970's. I don't know how old you Craftsman afficianados were then but I am assuming that I have had my Craftsman tools since before many of you were even born.
Back when Crazy Benzy's (if you remember them) was selling Chinese tools they were as junky as you portray them to be now.
If you need to believe that Craftsman tools are the best, I'm fine with that but I know what my personal experience has been.
As far as Professional quality vs homeowner quality, as an experiment, the next time you are at the Ford Dealership with your Focus, see what brand of tools the mechanics are using there.

I got tired of Craftsman tools breaking on me. I have never had a Snap On tool fail me. As far as sockets breaking (which the Craftsman do) I now have Harbor Freight air tool sockets in SAE and metric, deep and shallow and they don't break and are very inexpensive.
.

Same experience here.
Pictured is a brand new, first time use 18mm socket and combo wrench, the HF tools I used to finish the job didn't break a sweat.
http://i966.photobucket.com/albums/ae148/elsolo427/IMG_20120615_194337.jpg

I have been using the same impact sockets from Harbor Freight for over 2 years no without a failure. I bought the 1/2" drive set and have even used them with my 3/4" snap on gun without a problem. There are some tools to stay away from at harbor freight but honestly some of them work really good when used right. Sockets are good wrenches are good. Half the air tools are good (there 3/4" has lasted longer than my snap on one at 1/3 of the cost. I've had my 3/4" rebuilt once already and the harbor freight one hasn't been rebuilt or lost power yet. With harbor freight if you are not satisfied with the tool you can take it back or if you get the extended warranty (most air tools/electronics) you just take it in and half the time get a brand new one (sometimes they have to call and confirm a few things and get a claim number)

Here is what I think of Harbor Freight [vommit] I thought I would have to give up my first born son in order to return something that wasnt even used. I have never bought sockets or wrenches from them, nor would I. I have snapped sockets, stripped wrenches, and even broke the head off a 3/4" ratchet - all craftsman, BUT all that was with a 3' breaker bar on the end. I also own snap-on and havent broke one yet. If you do light duty work, HF is probably fine. I like craftsman, cant beat the warranty, but it wont hold up to heavy duty stuff. I own a ford e350 cube van - I only use the snap-on tools when working on that. Just my 2 cents.

You can't go wrong with Craftsman, in my opinion. For the most part, I'll only buy Craftsman hand tools, with the exception of some Channellock and ViseGrip branded tools (I sell them at work, so I get them at cost). I've never broken a Craftsman wrench, socket, or screwdriver. I have had a couple of ratchets go bad, but those were probably due more to misuse than anything--sometimes I just need to grab a breaker bar instead of sliding a piece of pipe on the ratchet handle! Drove a mile to Sears, they gave me a new one, no questions asked.

I wasn't out to open a can of worms here. I just felt that the OP could buy the set from Harbor Freight and still have more than a hundred bucks in his pocket to spend on more tools or something else.
I used to feel that the best thing about Craftsman tools was the Guarantee. After K Mart first bought Sears, back when Sears Paint & Hardware outlets still existed, they started making it difficult to return tools. First they limited it to one tool at a time, then if they remembered you returning tools they would deny you saying that you were coming in too much.
That is the time period that I stopped going to Sears and found that Harbor Freight was much less expensive and that the tools were overall just as satisfactory.
Perhaps this policy caused Sears to lose business and they went back to honoring the old guarantee.

Snap On are Professional quality tools. Mac are Professional quality tools. Craftsman are home owner quality tools. So are Pittsburg (Harbor Freight) and Husky etc.
Craftsman can't be cheerfully exchanged as was true in the past.

i trade in tools all the time. i have NEVER had a problem trading in tools at sears, i have used them way beyond the point of what was intended (mostly screwdrivers, wrenches, etc as pry bars or chisels) and they promptly give me new tools! the cool thing with snap-on though is they can bring you new tools if they are in the area:) bunch of ppl at work do it all the time. and harbor freight is CRAP! they are single use at best, i use tools all day. before i bought my CRAFTSMAN set, i used the shop tools. they were harbor freight, they broke, i got in trouble for breaking them:( i guess screwdrivers weren't meant to unscrew things.

I wasn't out to open a can of worms here. I just felt that the OP could buy the set from Harbor Freight and still have more than a hundred bucks in his pocket to spend on more tools or something else.
I used to feel that the best thing about Craftsman tools was the Guarantee. After K Mart first bought Sears, back when Sears Paint & Hardware outlets still existed, they started making it difficult to return tools. First they limited it to one tool at a time, then if they remembered you returning tools they would deny you saying that you were coming in too much.
That is the time period that I stopped going to Sears and found that Harbor Freight was much less expensive and that the tools were overall just as satisfactory.
Perhaps this policy caused Sears to lose business and they went back to honoring the old guarantee.

did you try to take them to a sears store (like in a mall) thats what i do. most of the kmarts by me are gone or being closed out. i'm also lucky to have several sears p&h still around me:)

most of my tools are snap on or blue point, but I do have quite a few craftsman tools as well. I can't stand the feel of their wrenches or ratchets, and that's where the snap-on comes into play (like that wrench pictured earlier, I hate it. gotta have smooth and strong, and ratchets need to be ultra fine toothed) Otherwise, I hate to admit it but I'm starting to like cornwell quite a bit as well. Then again maybe after losing two snap on guys and the Mac guy feeling too important to ever stop by, my reasoning may make sense.

One thing to note, I like the look and quality of the GM performance and performance tool (I get performance tool wrenches to cut so I can have a custom length sometimes. It's just needed once in a while) wrenches and the ratchets look nice too but I can't stand the "fine teeth" they claim. too far apart.

The above mentioned tools can be found at most parts stores oddly enough. I almost bought a set of GM performance wrenches before I ended up with snap on sets.

Craftsman socket ratchet handles CAN be cheerfully exchanged, at least at my local (Bangor) Sears store. But, the fact that they NEED to be exchanged doesn't speak well for the (diminished) quality of current Craftsman tools. I have some 40 year old Craftsman tools made here in the USA that still look and perform as new. If you plan to keep and use your tools for many years, get the best you can afford. As was said previously, you get what you pay for!

oh yeah that's another thing I guess...... the old craftsman tools were awesome, the new ones I hear are lacking in quality.

One more anecdote on Harbor Freight...

A few years ago the contractor we hired to install a large automation system we make had to layout the anchor holes in concrete. The system was about 500 feet long and the tolerances are pretty tight. Well, the contractor didn't have a long enough tape measure to lay it out and also didn't have a total station so they went to Harbor Freight and got one of there long tape rolls to layout the anchor holes. I noticed something didn't look right so I used my laser distance meter to double check and found they'd run about 40mm too long.

How did this happen? Well, the tape they used wasn't an expensive steel tape, but was fiberglass or something. As you got out a hundred feet or so you could alter the reading by inches by how hard you tugged on it!

So, the contractor saved maybe a hundred dollars going with Harbor Freight but in the end they lost about $25K fixing the f'ing problem and I lost 3-4 days on my project schedule.

Harbor Freight -- no f'ing way!


Brian

I wouldn't buy cheap chinese measuring tools, but their impact sockets are decent.
Screwdrivers, get PB Swiss.

I've broke many tools in my day and very few were craftsman. Other than the quarter inch ratchet handle I can't recall breaking my craftsman.

I've worked as a diesel mechanic for about 12 years, and I was a shadetree mechanic for at least a decade before I got into the industry. I've bought or at least used most of the major tool brands.

Generally speaking, any of the tool truck brands are better than Craftsman. They also cost two or three times as much. Really, it depends on which specific tools you are comparing. There is A LOT of re-branding in the tool industry. I have bought identical filter wrenches that were branded Matco and Craftsman. I once bought a Mac air drill, then a few days later I saw an identical Central Pneumatic (Harbor Freight) one. I made the Mac guy refund my $200 and I went and bought the Harbor Freight drill. I can't remember, but I think it was about $60. That was about ten years ago, and it still works fine.

I still use my original set of Craftsman wrenches every day at work. They're not as good as Snap-On, but they're good enough and I'm too cheap to replace them. I have broken a few of my Craftsman sockets over the years, but they're a lot better than Harbor Freight sockets. That is, with one exception. My Craftsman 3/8 drive allen bit sockets are CRAP. They break easily. I bought a set from Harbor Freight to use at home, and I've found that they are a lot stronger. So I brought them to work and I use them there.

I try to assess the quality of tool that I'll need for the job, then I make a judgement call on which one to buy. In some cases it's worth buying The Best, but in a lot of cases that's just an unnecessary expense. The way I see it, there are three classes of tools:

Crap: Just about anything made in China or India, including at least half of the stuff Harbor Freight sells. Crap tools usually look like crap, and can be spotted immediately. I'll buy crap if it looks like it will work and I'm only going to use it once or twice.

Not Crap: Moderately priced tools that work fine as long as they aren't abused or used excessively. These include Craftsman, Husky, Popular Mechanics, Cobalt, Blackhawk, Gear Wrench, and lots of other brands made in the USA or Taiwan. In my experience, Taiwan tools are MUCH better than Chinese or Indian tools. In this category, I would also include the moderately priced industrial tools like S-K and Proto.

Professional This includes most tool truck brands like Snap On, Mac, Matco, and Cornwell, as well as some brands that cater to specific industries like Klein Tools (for electricians) or Estwing (for carpenters). These tools are the best that money can buy, which may or may not be necessary depending on what you're doing and how much money you're willing to spend.

I'd like to have a full set of professional quality tools, but I've saved thousands of dollars with my "good enough" tool buying policy. Some guys have a lot of their ego wrapped up in buying a certain brand or class of tools. I think that's really weird, but whatever floats your boat I guess. I say spend the money to get what you need, and not a penny more.

Montag, great post and very helpful.

Yes, there are some Craftsman tools I'm not fond of and there allens are at the top of that list. For allens the Germans and Japanese make great stuff.


Brian

my big thing I don't get is buying the 20k snap on boxes. that money can buy a lot of tools... and the boxes can't make you money.

my big thing I don't get is buying the 20k snap on boxes. that money can buy a lot of tools... and the boxes can't make you money.

They are nice and I'd like to have one. But it's kind of like buying a $50,000 car. It's way better than anybody "needs" and it's really just a status symbol. I have about $600 in my toolbox. I have two Craftsman bottom boxes, a Husky top box, and a two-drawer filing cabinet all bolted together on an angle-iron chassis.

Oh man, where did our OP go....

I never personally bought a big "mechanics" tool set, I don't have space for useless (to me) SAE sized tools :P

Oh man, where did our OP go....

I never personally bought a big "mechanics" tool set, I don't have space for useless (to me) SAE sized tools :P

I'm still here. I'm just monitoring everyone's opinions. I think I'm going to pick up the Craftsman set this weekend. I highly agree, the top brands such as Snap On are nice. But for the price, I'm thinking craftsman will give me the quality I will need for the price. I have a local Sears around here, that says they offer easy exchanges if something does break. My father and my dads father have been using craftsman sense they were kids, so I'm gonna follow the elders. lol Thanks for the input guys. I'm still looking forward to hearing opinions.

And a question to all the guys that are breaking the Craftsman ratchets and wrenches. Are you using the tools properly? When you go to automotive school one of the first things you learn to use is automotive tools. Some people learned to use these tools naturally without proper technique and training.

In an Auto Repair Technician book, it states Reversible ratchets can be broken if not used properly. Sometimes it's hard to reach these bolts and nuts. But a bolt is always suppose to be broken loose with a breaker bar, then the ratchet is used to loosen the bold or nut properly.

And a question to all the guys that are breaking the Craftsman ratchets and wrenches. Are you using the tools properly? When you go to automotive school one of the first things you learn to use is automotive tools. Some people learned to use these tools naturally without proper technique and training.

In an Auto Repair Technician book, it states Reversible ratchets can be broken if not used properly. Sometimes it's hard to reach these bolts and nuts. But a bolt is always suppose to be broken loose with a breaker bar, then the ratchet is used to loosen the bold or nut properly.

When a brand new socket breaks the first use, being turned by a 18" long 3/8" drive ratchet handle in the hand of a skinny weakling, I blame the tool's quality.

My old Craftsman stuff bought in the 80's and early 90's has been abused on impact drivers and held up fine, the new replacements seem like crap.

The absolute best quality brand I have is the PB Baumann swiss, but I only have screwdrivers and allens, they make my Snap-on screwdrivers seem like crap. True parallel tips that can't cam out of slots, good hardness, etc...
Of course, two sets of allens set me back $100 or so, but they are worth it if you have to deal with socket head cap screws on a daily basis at work.
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/Asset/8100.jpg
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/Asset/212.jpg

Craftsman here for years. One broken socket, promptly exchanged. No other problems.

When a brand new socket breaks the first use, being turned by a 18" long 3/8" drive ratchet handle in the hand of a skinny weakling, I blame the tool's quality.

My old Craftsman stuff bought in the 80's and early 90's has been abused on impact drivers and held up fine, the new replacements seem like crap.

The absolute best quality brand I have is the PB Baumann swiss, but I only have screwdrivers and allens, they make my Snap-on screwdrivers seem like crap. True parallel tips that can't cam out of slots, good hardness, etc...
Of course, two sets of allens set me back $100 or so, but they are worth it if you have to deal with socket head cap screws on a daily basis at work.
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/Asset/8100.jpg
http://pbtoolsus.thomasnet.com/Asset/212.jpg


Those Swiss tools look really nice and since my job requires frequent use of metric allens having a good set is really important. I haven't ordered a set online yet so I've use the Craftsman and Husky sets and they are meh in my view. I really need to order a good set like that. It's nice to have a set of allens and also a set of allen driver bits for 3/8.


Brian

I have a fair share of each brand of tools at work. (4 sets of wrenches Northern, Craftsman and Bluepoint) Honestly when working i prefer the Northern or Bluepoint set over the craftsman set. The Craftsman ones seem to slip a lot more than my cheaper set from Northern (Almost identical to craftsman look wise) I also have a lot of tools from Snap On (reason why i owe them 17k now) Biggest thing is if you use them all the time buy quality. If you use them every once in awhile buy something quality but not overly cheap.

I have a fair share of each brand of tools at work. (4 sets of wrenches Northern, Craftsman and Bluepoint) Honestly when working i prefer the Northern or Bluepoint set over the craftsman set. The Craftsman ones seem to slip a lot more than my cheaper set from Northern (Almost identical to craftsman look wise) I also have a lot of tools from Snap On (reason why i owe them 17k now) Biggest thing is if you use them all the time buy quality. If you use them every once in awhile buy something quality but not overly cheap.

Yeah, that pretty much is my feeling -- if it's something of a daily use on a professional basis then spare no expense, but if it more occasional use Craftsman or similar is just fine. There is few situations I can see wasting money on the cheap crap...


Brian

Yesterday I went to jack up my car and my craftsman floor jack won't hold pressure. It just slowly lowers the vehicle back down. It's less than a year old.

Yesterday I went to jack up my car and my craftsman floor jack won't hold pressure. It just slowly lowers the vehicle back down. It's less than a year old.


It does seem that the newer craftsman stuff has really gone down hill though. I have broken a lot of screwdrivers and sockets on simple little stuff. My set of snapon screwdrivers i have only broken 1 of them 4 times in the past 2 years i have had them and gotten them repaired easily and free. I do have an older craftsman jack thought that still works really good when i can get it under my car.

My old craftsman tools are still going strong with no issues, i bought a brand new craftsman socket set and it actually stripped somehow? It was odd, i went and got it replaced but it was still kinda surprising..

My dad said the same thing about quality going downhill when he bought me my first socket set for Christmas.

His older jack leaks a bit but it still works whereas my jack never leaked and doesn't work.
I'll take it back and get a new one.

I like my craftsman stuff simply because for the amount of time and type of work I do with them they work great. Also if anything breaks (I broke a 1/2 breaker bar by attaching a 3' long pipe trying to unbolt something that probably should have been cut off...) I walked into Sears and they swapped it out without any questions asked. If I could afford a full set of snap-on tools I'd love to buy them, but they're more than I can justify spending for the work I do and amount of times I use them.

My dad said the same thing about quality going downhill when he bought me my first socket set for Christmas.

His older jack leaks a bit but it still works whereas my jack never leaked and doesn't work.
I'll take it back and get a new one.

i dont believe the lifetime warrenty applies to the jacks. my dad got me one for christmas and i think the paper said it had a one year ? warranty.

Lifetime warranty is only for most of their hand tools. Everything else is one year. I think tool boxes are 2 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_(tools)#Warranty

Regardless it's been less than 1 year. I don't have the receipt though...

One thing to note about the cheaper quality of new tools. The prices really haven't gone up over the years. My floor jack is a sears brand made in Japan. I bought it in 1980 at a 50 percent off sale. It was originally $400 dollars and I got it for 200. It still works like it did when new. It also weigh's over 100 pounds. My first craftsman socket set also bought in 1980 was $200 for a 150 piece set with no tool box included.