Tool set recommendations
#22
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Originally Posted by alininger2001
Craftsman sells an all metric kit online only. You don't need any sae tools for the Z. The all metric kit is massive and has all kinds of tools, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, deep sockets, 12 and six points, wrenches, allen wrenches, nut drivers etc. I would spend the rest on some good torque wrenches myself, those come in handy if you want to do some serious mods.
It doesn't seems like a hard decision. Craftsman standard tools are near or in some cases, at par with their Snap On counterparts...and can cost 1/10 of certain higher price tools Plus, a pretty much unbeatable warranty.
alininger what torque wrench(es) do you use for the Z? I have an antiquated line and rule torque wrench at the house. Not very accurate. Only ever used it for spark plugs and lug nuts though. What other aspects of mods/disassembly/assembly require torque for the Z?
#23
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Originally Posted by jackwhale
I've never had trouble with Sears-Craftsman tools. They are cast and polished. Easy to find as your local Sears store. You can get both 3/8" and 1/2" drive socket sets because of the lower cost.
Snap-on are forged and polished They are beautiful but probably overkill for the average mechanic. [imho]
Snap-on are forged and polished They are beautiful but probably overkill for the average mechanic. [imho]
Matter of fact I had to fix the washer today with the same tools I worked on my first car with. With Craftsman you'll get more tools for your money. With Craftsman you'll still have to worry about your buddies walking off with the tool in their back pocket but, if you break it you can get a quick replacement at your local store. I haven't broken a craftman tool yet. I have hammered on the wrenches with 3lb sledges to get rusted off nuts and they don't round out. But, it is nice to know they will honor it if I ever break or damage one.
I will say if you are going to be using the tools 6 days a week, and at least 8 hours a day you might want to go for the snap-on tools. Most of the guys like the feel better. I actually like the feel of a craftsman tool better. They feel thicker and heavier. I have pretty big hands so they fit me better.
Make your choice wisely, either the Snap-on set or Craftman set will be with you for a long, long time.
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Originally Posted by alininger2001
Here's a link to the set......
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...0&tab=des#tabs
Here's what's in it......
http://www.sears.com/download/misc/33941DOC.pdf
You will need sockets and wrenches to work on your car the snap on sets you listed don't have much of either. I have this set with some pliers and some extra extensions. I have installed all the mods in my sig with this kit, some torque wrenches, and maybe $100 of additional tools that I needed here and there.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...0&tab=des#tabs
Here's what's in it......
http://www.sears.com/download/misc/33941DOC.pdf
You will need sockets and wrenches to work on your car the snap on sets you listed don't have much of either. I have this set with some pliers and some extra extensions. I have installed all the mods in my sig with this kit, some torque wrenches, and maybe $100 of additional tools that I needed here and there.
#25
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Originally Posted by jackwhale
resolute: thanks for the info. I always thought the huge cost for professional tools was because they were forged.
Will
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If you worked with your tools professionally i can see Snap on, but for home use i thinks thats OVERKILL. I worked in a bike shop, and it was nice to have the guy come by and deliver stuff , give a credit line and what not (snap on). I use craftsman at home, and like someone said earlier i even use some harbor freight.
#27
harbor freight: in an emergency and single use applications. aka. they'll break eventually. use them for like allen wrenches and screw driver bits.
i've been extremely happy with my metric and sae box set from craftsman i got like.. wow.. 8 years ago? still going.. the laser etched series are alot better nowadays. really all you need on the Z is like a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and a pivot joint. 22mm for the o2 sensors deep socket o2 variant..
craftsman came out with these flex head racheting, with mirco adjustment angled wrenches. woo i want these..
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...ubcat=Wrenches
i've been extremely happy with my metric and sae box set from craftsman i got like.. wow.. 8 years ago? still going.. the laser etched series are alot better nowadays. really all you need on the Z is like a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and a pivot joint. 22mm for the o2 sensors deep socket o2 variant..
craftsman came out with these flex head racheting, with mirco adjustment angled wrenches. woo i want these..
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...ubcat=Wrenches
Last edited by Chebosto; 12-07-2005 at 10:09 AM.
#28
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Originally Posted by Chebosto
harbor freight: in an emergency and single use applications. aka. they'll break eventually. use them for like allen wrenches and screw driver bits.
i've been extremely happy with my metric and sae box set from craftsman i got like.. wow.. 8 years ago? still going.. the laser etched series are alot better nowadays. really all you need on the Z is like a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and a pivot joint.
craftsman came out with these flex head racheting, with mirco adjustment angled wrenches. woo i want these..
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...ubcat=Wrenches
i've been extremely happy with my metric and sae box set from craftsman i got like.. wow.. 8 years ago? still going.. the laser etched series are alot better nowadays. really all you need on the Z is like a 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and a pivot joint.
craftsman came out with these flex head racheting, with mirco adjustment angled wrenches. woo i want these..
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...ubcat=Wrenches
Will
#29
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Being a tool addict for almost 40 years , I'll add a few points. I started with Craftsman, and way back they were very good tools, then about 20 years ago they turned to cr*p.....look inside their sockets of that period. Their current tools look a LOT better! I've only broken a few......using a 6 foot pipe extension sometimes exceeds their yield strength! But they have been replaced at no cost.
Buy 6 point sockets over 12 points.
Flank drive sockets are great for not stripping nuts/bolts.
Proto also made/makes great tools. I bought a bunch of their metric wrenches for 80% off when I worked for Ingersoll Rand.
Don't know what to say about the new 6 point Craftsman combo wrenches. Buy only if you already have 12 points.
I'll suggest you to buy Craftsman to start, then, when they don't offer the specific tool you need, look into one of the companies that have vans. (But you can buy on-line.)
AND, finally, buy the best torque wrenches you can afford.
Buy 6 point sockets over 12 points.
Flank drive sockets are great for not stripping nuts/bolts.
Proto also made/makes great tools. I bought a bunch of their metric wrenches for 80% off when I worked for Ingersoll Rand.
Don't know what to say about the new 6 point Craftsman combo wrenches. Buy only if you already have 12 points.
I'll suggest you to buy Craftsman to start, then, when they don't offer the specific tool you need, look into one of the companies that have vans. (But you can buy on-line.)
AND, finally, buy the best torque wrenches you can afford.
#31
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I actually have harbor freight torque wrenches, they are not the best out there by any means but I very rarely use them, the intake plenum is a good reason to have a 1/4 in torque wrench, a pully upgrade and torquing down lug nuts is a good reason to have a 1/2. I have a 3/8 torque wrench and hardly ever use it. I mostly use 3/8 sockets when I work on my car, but for some reason the 3/8 torque wrench is either too big or too small.
#32
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Originally Posted by Lancaster
k, I'm over my brief Snap On fixation. Thanks for bearing with me The shiny red boxes are hypnotic! I think it was the $1500 dollars for a single set of combo metric wrenches that woke me up...
It doesn't seems like a hard decision. Craftsman standard tools are near or in some cases, at par with their Snap On counterparts...and can cost 1/10 of certain higher price tools Plus, a pretty much unbeatable warranty.
alininger what torque wrench(es) do you use for the Z? I have an antiquated line and rule torque wrench at the house. Not very accurate. Only ever used it for spark plugs and lug nuts though. What other aspects of mods/disassembly/assembly require torque for the Z?
It doesn't seems like a hard decision. Craftsman standard tools are near or in some cases, at par with their Snap On counterparts...and can cost 1/10 of certain higher price tools Plus, a pretty much unbeatable warranty.
alininger what torque wrench(es) do you use for the Z? I have an antiquated line and rule torque wrench at the house. Not very accurate. Only ever used it for spark plugs and lug nuts though. What other aspects of mods/disassembly/assembly require torque for the Z?
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