I just wanted to share this new deal Craftsman had to offer. I happened to stumble across it last night and went to Sears this morning and bought myself a set. It's a 200pc tool set and it comes with the molded carrying box. It's basically .50 cents for each tool piece. Plus, Craftsman has a lifetime guarantee for all their hand tools. It's still a lot of money but it's a good investment. I know us mechs loves tools so yea. Just wanted to share this. My total came out to be about $107.45 after California Taxes.

Here's the Sears link: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-200-pc-mech.../p-00933200000P

I was interested in this once too. But I decided not to get it because it just has too many redundant tools and not enough of what I would use. I'm not knocking your purchase, but I personally don't need a lot of the pieces that fluff the total piece count.
For reference, here's a quick breakdown based on the parts list
65 pc 1/4" drive set
56 pc 3/8" drive set
11 pc 1/2" drive set
6 pc combination wrenches
1 pc magnetic handle
9 pc screwdriver bits
12 pc nut driver bits
40 pc hex keys

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Yea I actually had second thoughts too but I'm new to the mech world so I myself have no tools. I've been using my dad's tools and they are all tools from AutoZone and he only have basic tools since he's not a mech or handy man. He has the common house tools only. So I just decided to get it as a good first tool kit for me.

Thats a good price on a nice starter set of tools.

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Don't even think twice about it. That kit will do 90% of all repairs on your car.
The only thing I don't like is that they give you both metric and standard tools. That might be great for a mechanic that works on all types of cars, but not so useful for the person that just owns an import car... but even that is not a big deal.

Get yourself a good breaker bar to go along with that kit and you will be all set.

^^THIS. I wish i would have seen this before i went to lowes and got that damn TASK FORCE 100+ piece set! got damn socket wont stay on the ratchet now! and i only got it like 2-3
months ago!

bought it

It has too many sockets and allen keys. Now enough wrenches.

looks good. My dad has most everything in this set and his tools are almost as old as he is. I've never had any trouble with them.





lol, funny story, one of my uncles found a broken craftsman wrench in the trash, took it to Sears or wherever and got a brand new one because of lifetime warranty.

Have this set also, was lucky at found it on sale at Sam's Club for even less than $99. Has been an excellent set.

All you need is metric sockets 12 or 6 point in 3/8" and 1/2" along with the ratchets, a breaker bar, and a set of metric wrenches... Of which I prefer a set of closed-end ratcheting wrenches. Maybe a set of pliers for clamps and cotter pins.

Anything else one time job specific I would rent and return.

I know its not a craftsman set or professional quality tools, but about 5 years ago my dad picked up a Crescent tool set for about the same price. He keeps it in his truck for those random times when you need a tool. Its a little more of a general tool set with more wrenches, pliers, screw drivers, etc. but less sockets. Plus his favorite part about it is "you can easily see what tools you're missing"

I would recommend that set to anyone just starting out.

Looks like a pretty good deal, my 106 pc was $65 if I remember right. Mine is 3/8 and 1/4, no wrenches no 1/2 in drive.
I did notice the 1/2 in drive stuff is pretty limited in that set, most of the sizes should be handled by a 3/8 drive, but the ratchet
is a good item to have.

I have a 1/2 in drive metric pittsburg set that is not the greatest, but has almost all the bigger stuff I need. I bought an extra 1/2 in drive rachet that is better quality than the set came with. It works fine for just about anything I have needed, and goes up to 28mm. I bought a good quality 31mm
for axle nuts.

I have a 1/4 in drive craftsman metric set I use more than anything, it is small, and has standard and deep sockets.
I have way more stuff than I use all the time, but it is nice to have it when I need it. I have good stuff and cheap stuff, it sucks to have
one set of wrenches, and realize you need 2 of the same size when there is no room for a rachet.

This post has been edited by 97lestyousay: Jun 13, 2012 - 9:30 AM

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Yeah, that looks like a great most-in-one. I'd take this over OP's.

The craftsman set has the same type of case it just isn't shown opened with tools in it, and is much better quality,
not to mention guarenteed(sp) for life.

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Yeah I don't know what you guys are smoking but there is a big quality difference between the craftsman and the other set.

Agreed, and gimme some.lol

this is how my 106 pc is layed out I assume this set is similar




or you could go with the snap-on $99 set

>Yeah there's a quality difference. I even started with "I know this isn't a professional quality set". And I just said as someone just starting out, this may be a better catch-all, general purpose set. The pliers, channel locks, and crescent wrench will generally get a lot more everyday use than the extra 1/4" drive stuff.

They're both good sets, its just that I don't remember the last time I have been wrenching on something hard enough to actually break a tool, so I thought that it might be better to get a more versatile set at the cost of a little quality.

It really isn't just about toughness, the higher quality stuff is closer to exact size. I can tell the difference in the way a craftsman fits from my cheaper stuff.
Sometimes a cheap brand will strip where a good tool won't.
Cresent isn't really bad stuff, we had a set where I worked like the one you posted, and it was ok, but for the price and quality, it is pretty tough to beat Craftsman.

The lifetime warranty is why I got Craftsman stuff. I snapped the ratchet mechanism inside one of my 3/8" Craftsman ratchets when doing my V6 swap. Took it into Sears and showed them the problem. The guy handed me a brand new one and sent me on my way. I've done the same with some thin-walled 17 and 19mm 1/2" sockets where I had cracked them. Took them in and had them replaced. In and out in less than 5 minutes.

Sears defends their warranty to the death. I work in heavy underground construction and that's all my mechanics use. They'll break a ratchet and take it back in to Sears with clear evidence where they had been using it as a hammer and beating it to pieces and they still get brand new tools, free of charge. For $100, that set will cover your tools for years to come.

tools are probably the one of the best investments you can buy.
a $100 tool set can save you thousands, maybe more depending on how long you live

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That was my point too, nicely said.

Also, naming is superfluous, as long as the end result is proper.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Jun 13, 2012 - 2:34 PM

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I use my 1/4 in drive stuff 10x more than my 1/2 drive stuff. Pliers, crescent wrenches and channel locks are very useful, if you are a plumber.
They have few places for use on automotive applications unless you enjoy stripping bolt heads.

This post has been edited by 97lestyousay: Jun 14, 2012 - 6:42 AM

>I completely agree about the 1/2" drive stuff. It just doesn't get used that often. And when you need it, you likely need the large stuff (3/4" and bigger) But you also probably use your 3/8" stuff 10x more than your 1/4" stuff as well. Pliers and channel locks are required for those spring style hose clamps as well as other random things around the house. That is why I said that its a great general purpose set. Its awfully short sighted to only buy tools for your car and not for your house.

Its all a matter of personal preference though. I said earlier that my only problem with it was the redundancy. I personally don't need a set of both 6 pt and 12 pt, regular and deep sockets. Just give me 6 or 12 pt sockets. and this frees up a lot of space for more versatile tools to replace it with such as the extra wrenches, the screwdrivers, and pliers. Hell, package it along with a 16oz claw hammer, and you've got yourself a 90% complete general purpose set.

The one thing that both of these sets could use is a universal swivel adapter.

So in the end, its just a matter of preference. I just wanted to share this set for those that might need something a little more general purpose.

^ it really sounds like some of you guys don't do a whole lot of wrenching on your car. What on earth do you need a claw hammer for? Are you building a deck or something? This is about automotive tools, not installing drywall in the house.

3/4th in tools are more for truck use where 500ftlb + is needed. I don't know of anyone using 3/4th on an import car.

1/2 doesn't get used? Since when?
Suspension bolts, subframe bolts, axle nuts, over tightened oil drain bolt, exhaust manifold bolts, etc... anything that requires more leverage to remove gets the 1/2. I even use it to remove my stuck on oil filter.

1/4 is also a MUST HAVE for tight to reach spaces. Try removing you passengers side motor mount bracket when doing a timing belt job with anything else.

12pt vs 6pt.... 12point is nice to have in tight to reach areas where you just want to slip on the socket as quickly as possible. The drawback is that it strips bolts, so 6pt can be used instead. Good to have both, but I agree, if I had to choose id go with all 6pt.

Deep socket vs regular. Obviously there will be times where you can only use one or the other.

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I meant 3/4" sockets and up. not 3/4" drive. Sorry for the vagueness.

My buddy has this set, not bad for the price, but it's more for carrying around in your car. I got a good deal on the 255 pc set. I have probably used almost every tool in there, on my car. Great price and it's craftsman. Can't go wrong.

Link:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-255-pc-mech...mp;blockType=G2

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Our cars use metric sockets. Not standard.

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Yeah I agree. The 255 pc is the one to have if you own a garage and keep all of your tools there, while the 200 and under pc sets a great if you work in a driveway or street or need something portable.

I can't wait for tomorrow! Going to finally pick it up at Fresno Sears since the one in my town was out of stock. This'll be probably the best investment I'll ever make in my mech life. All I need is a breaker bar and a couple pliers and it'll be a perfect rookie mech tool set.