Well the family is looking for ideas on what to get me. I've got mostly everything I need for working on my X, but it would be nice to have a big box/container to hold everything.

I'm looking for like 150+ piece set, but I dont want a bunch of silly tools that nobody ever really uses. (It seems that Sears comes out with a new tool that is all hype once a week).

Craftsman tools are probably a good option, as my fam can just head to sears and buy them. Ordering online is easy too, so that opens up my options. Looking at about the 100 price range. I know this wont get me Snap On, but as long as it has a lifetime warranty I have no problem snapping sockets and returning them for years.

Recommendations would be great, thanks.

I've seen a few craftsman sets for around that maybe just abit more (like 120 or so) that I would love to get. I'd like to have a nice full set too, right now everything i have is just pieced together from one kit and many trips to menads haha

i've always liked craftsman tools, mostly because thats what my dad uses, and they stand behind there tool,

yeah i like crafstman too because everything i have broken of craftsman they have replaced free

I noticed a Sears ad yesterday that had a 155 pc. socket set for $99. It was probably one of the better ones I've seen since I don't need all the extra little screwdriver sockets nor all the wrenches. Dremel also has the XPR tools that if you get one before January you can mail in for a free Dremel engraving tool. A $19.99 value. I've already put it on my wish list. For the model 4/70 kit it's $99.99 at Home Depot. 4 attachments and 70 accessories.

for the weekend warrior, Craftsman cant be beat for the money.

I like Craftsman becuase of their warrantee and availability. It is far easier to run to Sears vs trying to replace a tool from Snap on etc... Most sets come with a mix of 6 and 12pt sockets... IMO I would opt to get a set that had more of the 6pts as most automotive fasteners (at least on the Explorer) are not 12pt... both the 6 and 12 will work, but the 6pt will help prevent you from rounding the fastener...

I like the 260 odd piece set they have on sale usually for around $199. It should have about 99% of the wrenches you will ever need to do just about anything on your explorer. Grab a wheelbearing socket, hammer,snapring pliers and a few others and you should beable to do just about any mantiance issue on your explorer. It seems like it comes with the most deep sockets of any of the sets I have seen which is nice.

Whatever you do, don't go for Gear-ratchet brand, or whatever it's called. It has its advantages, but for working on a vehicle, I ruined the ratchet within about 6 months of use. For just basic use they are handy, and I think I may try and replace the ratchet that I have under warranty and use it in travel case, but for more serious use it's really not worth it. I a set a couple years ago, when I needed some simple sockets, but they do not hold up. Of course most people must know that Sears replacement of tools is superior, just bring the tool in, drop it in a box and you can walk out with a brand new tool a few minutes later. I started collecting tools about 8 years ago, when I was about 14 and wish I would have gone for the best I could get rather than outgrowing them a year later. I guess it's my advice to anyone who is starting their tool collection to not settle and going for more than what you think you need because you'll realize later that it's not enough. It even sucks when you're sent out to pick out a toolset for your brother who doesn't need as good of tools, and you eventually have to start using his because you picked out a better set than your own. A small complaint of mine.

Those of you with the Craftsman sets- Did you find any weird tools you dont ever really use? Pictures on their site are kinda hard to see, but it looks like some of those kits have their new "lastest and greatest" creations that I find all hype. I just want a nice set of drivers, wrenches and sockets. That 155 piece set looked nice. Maybe I'll just head to Sears to find one I like and write it down for the family.

Thanks guys.

i got a nice 120 piece craftsman set lsat year for my b-day and love it....everything i have needed is in htere...all the torx bits and other good stuff for working on the truck.

the only thing i wish it had is soemthing to get the 18mm socket out of my body bold access hole after i droped in doing my body lift. it rattles constantly, really starting to get annoying :D

You might even try to find a used set on ebay for cheap.
sears honored warranty on a broken swivel ratchet I found in a convenience store parking lot. I now have a new one

i got a nice 120 piece craftsman set lsat year for my b-day and love it....everything i have needed is in htere...all the torx bits and other good stuff for working on the truck.

the only thing i wish it had is soemthing to get the 18mm socket out of my body bold access hole after i droped in doing my body lift. it rattles constantly, really starting to get annoying :D

Not to hijack the thread. I remember reading something about this. Where ever it is, why can't you take a hole saw attachment that goes on a regular hand drill and drill a 2" hole. Just as long as it's not where you can see it. If it's laying somewhere on bare metal and you can't see it, just start banging untill locate it by ratteling, then drill away. This sounds like a fun thing to do as long as it's not on mine LOL

...the only thing i wish it had is soemthing to get the 18mm socket out of my body bold access hole after i droped in doing my body lift. it rattles constantly, really starting to get annoying :D

Maybe use one of those flexible magnetic pickup tools... I also have several mirrors that I can use to help get a better look at stuff...

I have the 155 piece craftsman (for $99 dollars last year) I don't use the interchangeable screwdriver, and plan on investing in a new container if you use them alot. the blow mold plastic worked for me for about 4-5 months, and it stretched the hinge to where the tools don't stay in place (this will happen to any large toolset since its heavy)

I find them relatively hard to break, but the free replacement is nice. if I were to do it again, I would pay for the laser etched large print, since they can be hard to read under the cars but they don't work any different!!

I do have some harbor freight sockets and wrenches, I loan them to friends :-), they work well, haven't broke under normal use, but don't offer the free replacement (but since the store is close they can be gotten dirt cheap. they are considered throw away tools. If they loose them I won't have to beat anyone)

one thing everyone needs is a good set of channel locks, a large crescent wrench (get a good set of both of these so they don't break/give/stretch under load), and an array of screwdrivers (I get the type you can put a wrench on to get the extra power when needed)

Dman- You can buy a new 18 mm socket cheap (couple of bucks), if you can't get it out with hook and wire or magnet stick or coat hanger(s), pour a little paint or glue down the hole and forget it!!

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?keyword=18+mm+socket&gobutton.x=17&sortAttribute=price&verticalFullName=&sortOrder=asc&gobutton.y=20&displayTarget=searchresults&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=SEARS

edit here:
or park on a steep hill and jump up and down on the bumper till its where you can get it!

I bought a 125pcs set of sockets from lowes made by a company called Task Force. They offer the lifetime guarantee but I think the catch was that you had to mail the tool to them or some stupid crap like that for the replacement.

I only paid 45.99 for that set and have not broken anything in it. I keep it in my Ex at all times.The thing I like the most is that it has 1/4,3/8 and 1/2 drives all in the same set.

Here is a set similar to mine:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=96556-1074-81160&lpage=none

Looks pretty nice, I just dont like shopping at the big box stores. I'll prob just have somebody get me a gift card to Sears and go pick up what I want.

Craftsman is pretty good for general use, I have some husky and stanley tools that seem to be on the same level as the craftsman.

I think Stanley has a lifetime warrenty as well they just don't advertise it like Craftsman does...

One tool that is pretty good is the self adjusting Robo-Grip pliers. A similar tool is the self adjusting LockJaw pliers that are similar to a vice grip, but are easier to use. These have a lifetime warranty. Ridgid tool company has a lifetime warranty on their tools which even cover the rechargeable batteries. This is pretty good, since you could expect to replace the batteries every 3-6 years depending upon use. I do have a very old cordless Craftsman set that I had to buy two replacement batteries for. Those batteries cost over $60 a piece, which is more than what the tool is worth now. I saw a new tool set out from Milwaukee that is called the V28, because it has a 28 volt battery pack. This is super expensive @ $729, but is not the highest voltage out there. Hilti has a 36 volt drill out for a while, but is also very expensive. Another useful tool is the new Black & Decker automatic tape measure. They have two models. One automatically extends at the push of a button, and the other model automatically extends, and retracts. Cordless impact guns are very useful, but Jocobs makes an impact adapter for a regular drill. Booster packs are also very handy, especially the ones with a light, air compressor, and inverter. I use them all of the time. If you are doing work on cars that can't start, and have room to move them around, they make wheel dollies that slip under the wheels of the car, and have 4 castors each. For working on Suvs, and vans, they make a special ladder that slips under the front of it, and lets you go over the engine compartment at an angle to make it easier to work on it. It's kind of expensive. I think it's $275, but I'm not sure. I once saw it advertised. I also have a small LED flashlight that has a crank handle to recharge it. It doesn't use any batteries. They also make a more expensive model that even has a radio built into it. A few companies have a universal battery charger for a specific brand of cordless tool with a radio too. ZipWrench makes a battery powered adjustable wrench, which saves time. Great Neck tools came out with a universal two sided open end CurveLock wrench that looks like a box wrench, but replaces 22 different sizes! Not bad for $4.99. They also have a cheaper version of laser engraved sockets that are similar to the Craftsman sockets. These come in handy after you have your sockets for a while, and can't read what size is written on them anymore. Laser levels have come a long way, since they also project a grid pattern, besides a dot, or a line. I have one that also has an LED light built into it for seeing what you are working on. One tool that is also recommended is an electric jack that pumps up the car at the push of a button. You don't have to struggle taking off the wheels with one of these, and an impact gun that both plug into your cigarette lighter. I keep both of them with me everyday, along with my booster pack.

I think Stanley has a lifetime warrenty as well they just don't advertise it like Craftsman does...
But where are you going to swap a Stanley ratchet? You'd probably have to send it in.

Some companies that offer a lifetime warranty, like Truecraft went out of business years ago. Just because a product has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean that the tool, or the manufacturer will be around for a lifetime! It's always a good idea to stick with a company that branches, like Sears. K-Mart also has a warranty on their products, but I never had a good experience returning things to them. They are now part of Sears. I wonder if that will improve the quality of their tools, and return policy. I haven't bought anything from them since they became part of Sears.

Almost all of my tools are craftsman. yes...I have broken a few, but the warranty is good. Mine were not a huge set bought at once.

I bought sets of wrenches or sockets or whatever as I needed them and they came on sale. I do not have any of the gimmick stuff they usually stick in the "sets" they sell.

When I was 16 I bought a 3 drawer tool box from them as well. I still have it in the back of my X. Its a little beat up, but works fine. I now have a huge box from them (5'-3") and an off-brand lower cabinet fill of tools.

Join the "craftsman club"! Its free and you get a 10% discount on special items once a month. A catalog arrives in the mail every month. :D :D :D

Gotta love tool catalogs!

Ace hardware also has a lifetime warranty on their metal tool boxes. I don't think Sears offers that on their boxes. Maybe on some types, but I can't say for sure. The Ace brand comes with a label saying that they offer free replacement. I know it's on the bigger red colored tool boxes.

I think what everyone is saying (over and over) is to buy good tools to start with. Cheap stuff will get you hurt and damage the parts you are trying to repair. From the snap-on reference...you already know that though. :)

As far as boxes.....the sky is the limit on how much you spend. The 3 drawer one I have had for 24 years is well made and costs about $50 now (I think). It was much cheaper then.

My big box is not a serious mechanics one with roller drawer slides and all that, but it was around $300 (on sale). I am not familiar with the ACE brand at all. I was told that husky is a decent box.


Then you can go on up to the huge snap-on boxes and tools that are an absolute fortune. If you were making a living with your tools, thats the way to go.

One shop owner recently told me that each of his mechanics have over $60,000 in their boxes and tools. They are all snap-on and they keep covers (like car covers) on the boxes when not in use. Each tool is wiped down before being put away in its drawer. Its fun to watch those guys. Just don't ask to borrow a tool. :eek:


My larger box:

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/500/33011tool1-med.jpg

I do not have a pic of my smaller one. It looks like this only red and a little more beat up:

I also would look at used snapon, cornwell, mac, matco, sk, blue point, williams etc. Most of my stuff I inherited and the quality of my old (1950s?)cornwell box is much much better than the new craftsmans that I have looked at.

Brian please,,,,,,,,,,,
Dont start a tool box battle :P

Mine costs more than some of the Explorers on this web site.

No battle. He asked about boxes as well in his pfirst statement. Just throwing out ideas. Whatever he decides, a box is a good idea to keep up with his tools that he already has and will get over time.

We all know that professional boxes are well built and expensive. Especially when loaded with quality tools. Thats how professionals make their living. Most of us will never spend that kind of money on tools. Nor do we need to.