Speaking of tools...

...okay, no one is speaking of tools. I'm putting together a set of reasonably prices DIY tools for a second garage. My experience looking at used online online has been a waste of time, so just going new during sales/deals. I'm a Craftsman guy, having my lifetime set that I got decades ago as a teen. Staying out of the Snap-On realm...just regular stuff that'll likely last me the rest of my lifetime. 

My track day kit is nearly all Pittsburg from Harbor Freight and only one tool has ever broken all of these years...so that's hard to ignore (It was being overused by a friend!). There are some cool one offs that I plan to get, and I already ordered a few things on sale...and waiting for sales on others. 

So...what do you guys recommend for stores, brands, specific items/sets?

Recently ordered:

Smoking deal at $130 https://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-8-8221-dr-25-250-in-lb-torque-wrench-24t/p-A102532187

I needed these for home anyway, so I ordered two. https://www.sears.com/cm-18pc-sas-12pt-3/p-A011811263

Total impulse buy...but they should be great for thin heads. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKHD1891?ref_=pe_125775000_1044873430_t_fed_asin_title&th=1

Decent basic starter. One thing I don't like about my Craftsman sockets is that they're hard to read. https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/MIL49667009

On the list when I see big sales/coupons:

I have one now and it is one of my favorite tools. https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

And the little brother. https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-dual-head-ratchet-67993.html

One biggie on my list is a set of ratcheting wrenches, perhaps with a pivot head...and perhaps instead of traditional wrenches. Colors make them easy to grab, but want them to work forever...and in a wider range of sizes. 

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-metric-color-combo-wrench-set-66054.html

1/3 off of the Gearwrench site. https://www.homedepot.com/pep/GEARWRENCH-SAE-Metric-72-Tooth-Combination-Ratcheting-Wrench-Tool-Set-32-Piece-39327/302992020 I have a set of metric wrenches from them that I got as a gift and they're nice...but HUGE. 

Love to hear about tools that you love and where to find deals. 

I got these for my son when he moved from NC to CO.

Was hard not to buy them at basically $100 each. Then got me the Kobalt set as spares for myself.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-KBLT-297PC-MECH-TOOL-SET-3-drive-set-SAE-MM/5015031681

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-159PC-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463527

This one pops up also for the Craftsman box... https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-VERSASTACK-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463547

Past few weeks I hit some yard sales looking for home gym equipment and was also able to score tons of wrenches, sockets and such for cheap.

All the Craftsman stuff is made in Chi-nuh now likely in the same factory as many other "brands". Don't overlook the Icon stuff at HFT. I've got a few things that seem to be significantly better quality than the Pittsburg stuff. I have a lot of old Craftsman tools that go back to the '30s. Hard to beat if you can find 'em at estate/yard sales.

Tools in general can be a deep rabbit hole to go down.....

A couple things I have that make wrenching on the bikes easier is my Kobalt cordless screwdriver, and my Milwaukee 1/4" cordless ratchet.

MBrane, 10/24/2025 at 9:36 AM

Tools in general can be a deep rabbit hole to go down.....

Your not kidding there.. I am such a tool junkie.. If I am working on a bike, that gives me an excuse to buy more tools...

("Oh, if I had one of these, it would work better in this spot.")

I'm a huge fan of YT - Torque Test Channel, along with Project Farm......

TTC turned me on to TEKTON tools..based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan

https://www.tekton.com/

Recently have bought 3 rachets, a socket set, a ball end hex key set. and  Torx set...All high quality pieces.... 

The rachets are jewels, 90 tooth gear, love this thing...

https://www.tekton.com/3-8-inch-drive-x-8-inch-quick-release-ratchet-srh11108

Somewhat pricey, but my guess is shipping is embedded in the cost.. (its free shipping) and they give points credit for $ off on future purchases.. 

Some tools are USA made, but quite a few are Taiwan made... (I find generally that Taiwan made tools are better quality than China made.) 

They are my goto now for anything I might need... HUGE Fan and addicted.. Super nice quality tools.. .

Another set of wrenches I should add are these extra long box end wrenches.... great for tight spots where a socket wrench wont fit, I use these quite a lot. They are awesome!

https://www.carnagetools.com/collections/hand-tools/products/extra-long-double-ring-box-end-wrenches-metric

I bought 2 or 3 at a time, but they do have sets....

https://www.carnagetools.com/products/extra-long-offset-box-end-wrench-set-metric?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=a8abdb4af&pr_rec_pid=5748294320290&pr_ref_pid=5748097450146&pr_seq=uniform

Also excellent quality pieces... 

Yup, definately a tool junkie..  :tongue:

5 hours ago, VeeEffArah

I got these for my son when he moved from NC to CO.

Was hard not to buy them at basically $100 each. Then got me the Kobalt set as spares for myself.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-KBLT-297PC-MECH-TOOL-SET-3-drive-set-SAE-MM/5015031681

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-159PC-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463527

This one pops up also for the Craftsman box... https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-VERSASTACK-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463547

Past few weeks I hit some yard sales looking for home gym equipment and was also able to score tons of wrenches, sockets and such for cheap.

Thanks! I have my eye on that second link. I can't believe that they get "piece" credit for each Allen and bit driver. lol

Well, this thread may end up being costly!  :wink:

Love the old Craftsman tools, and the old Craftsman cabinets, always looking out for good ones.

[image: cabinets.jpeg]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/lets-hear-it-for-the-old-gray-red-sears-craftsman-tool-chests-and-cabinets-60s-70s.289206/

Have an older made in USA Craftsman cabinet that was just stuffed to the gillz.... was looking for a reasonably priced storage solution to unload it some.

Harbor Freight has some good choices and last summer was looking at this Yukon cabinet that was priced at roughly $350, Thats really good compared to Lowes sells it at  $450... 

But then, there was a sale for $299... oh, yeah gotta do that... Very nice cabinet, drawers are on bearings..... one finger pull outs... Quite nice.... 

[image: 20251024_193833-L.jpg][/url

Mine is refrigerator white.. light makes it weird.. There's black, blue, red, white... 

[image: 20251024_190943-L.jpg]

HF makes a lot of adequate and even good stuff. 

I picked up a three unit used black Craftsman set recently to hold this second set of tools. Probably leave one box on a bench or rolling table as it is frackin' tall with all three. It was cheap...but I still likely overpaid (<$400 for all three). I'll do a lot to steer clear of red things. I did get to disassemble and clean/wax it...then I cleaned my primary boxes as they hadn't been cleaned at all since the 80s and started to smell like it. 

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Like every guy, I can't help myself now that I've been researching and shopping. This may be a long post.

Ratchets: My super fancy ones from Craftsman (1985ish), as it turns out...are 36T. I ordered a set of ratchets only last night on what I think is a smoking deal. I don't care that they'll scratch. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-100-Position-Ratchet-Set-5-Piece-H1005PCRAT/305011095 From reviews, they'll require immediate disassembly, clean, and 30W oil...and will then be perfection. I thought about the 144T but having lived with 36T for my whole life...these will be great. Did I mention cheap...and free shipping!

Two of my favorite tools ever are spring hooks. I can't tell you how many times they've saved my bacon...rarely puling springs, but more reaching into holes to retrieve or bend something. I used them the other night down inside of my subwoofer fuse holder to bend the tang back up so that it would make contact, and power again! https://www.zoro.com/moody-tool-heavy-spring-tool-pull-9-12-in-51-1855/i/G0846711/ and https://www.zoro.com/moody-tool-spring-tool-hook-and-lifter-8-12-in-51-1850/i/G0801665

I've been trying to score one of my other favorite tools, but no luck so far on fleabay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/357920387448 I'm not a Snap-On fan, but do love this bad boy. They also make a stubby version and super long version that I don't need. 

Milwaukee boogered up one of my other products and can't get a replacement, so they're sending me this for free. It was on the list anyway! SCORE! https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/48-22-9004

Gave in on the big set of ratcheting wrenches too. Hope to pick these up next week. Seems like a fair deal to me. https://www.northerntool.com/products/gearwrench-ratcheting-wrench-set-sae-and-metric-32-pc-57746

After discovering that I have never used many of my big 1/2" sockets, I decided to hunt for deal on the three I use, 22mm, 24mm, and 32mm. With deals, I found each for almost nothing. https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/45-34-9123 and https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/45-34-9125 and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DK7X2N6?ref_=pe_123509780_1038749300_t_fed_asin_title&th=1

And I realized that I only ever use a 5/8" spark plug wrench and on another deal, picked up: https://www.northerntool.com/products/milwaukee-3-8in-drive-5-8in-magentic-spark-plug-socket-drive-size-5-8-in-model-48-22-9552-6102884 Not worth $20, but worth $10!

Trying to decide on these. I love my old Craftsman set. Thoughts, anyone? https://www.sears.com/craftsman-17-pc-screwdriver-set/p-00931794000P

Discovered that I own two of quite a few things, so will have one in each location, also making some space around here. Leaf blower, Dremel and bits, etc. 

Lastly (for now!), back in the day, tools didn't have cases, hence the toolboxes. Most of these items have their own cases and could just go on a shelf. Did I buy "too much" toolbox? 

This has been fun...

mello dude, 10/24/2025 at 7:27 PM

Have an older made in USA Craftsman cabinet that was just stuffed to the gillz.... was looking for a reasonably priced storage solution to unload it some.

Harbor Freight has some good choices and last summer was looking at this Yukon cabinet that was priced at roughly $350, Thats really good compared to Lowes sells it at  $450... 

But then, there was a sale for $299... oh, yeah gotta do that... Very nice cabinet, drawers are on bearings..... one finger pull outs... Quite nice.... 

[image: 20251024_193833-L.jpg][/url

Mine is refrigerator white.. light makes it weird.. There's black, blue, red, white... 

[image: 20251024_190943-L.jpg]

HF sale on this thing for Black Friday....$299......

 That is a good price for that box. I have enough tool boxes I just need to organize stuff better. Still recovering from moving twice in 2023. Gave away some stuff that I wish I had now, but had nowhere to put it then.