Howdy All!

My kid has moved to her own place and is starting to build her own collection of hand tools (sockets, wrenches, small power tools, etc).

It's been a long time since I got my first tool set so I'm looking for recommendations for brand names of good tools.

Thanks in advance!

Tekton are great for the price!

Honestly? Hazard Fraught Harbor Freight's middle of the road tools aren't any worse than anyone else's. You're going to have a hard time finding stuff that isn't made in China from most places so you can at least get a good deal.

Reasonably nice screwdrivers, sockets, allen/hex keys and pliers are really nice to have around. They have a reasonably good knipex clone. If any of this stuff breaks from use, you can upgrade them to higher end brands.

I start out buying the absolute cheapest tools I can find. Then I replace stuff that breaks. Think I've only ever replaced one socket. As long as you don't use a screw driver as a chisel, even cheap hand tools are hard to break.

If you aren't building engines in your garage, my vote is to go cheap.

Ridgid is a quality brand for basic homeowner power tools. Their lifetime service agreement is hard to beat. A battery goes out...send it in and they send you a new one. Tool stops working...send it in and they repair it for free.

Kobalt is the Lowes brand is you shop the blue box. Same quality range as Ridgid but don't get the LSA.

IMO Craftsman hand tools are great for the price. I'm not a mechanic so I can't justify owning Cornwell or Snap-on. Reality is...Harbor Freight is great for tools without moving parts (i.e. hammers, saws, combo wrench, etc). If it moves (i.e crescent wrench, sockets, etc.), typically better off in the long run to spend a bit more at Home Depot or Lowes.

HD has a nice Gear Wrench socket set on sale. I'm a fan of their hand tools for moderate use. Also like Stanley sockets and ratchets. Personally never liked Craftsman ratchets.

I saw the project farm guy's video on the mechanics tool set and almost bought that Gearwrench tool set from NAPA as they have a great price on it. I say get her that and a good screwdriver set for Christmas.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/APX80972?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google_monthly-special_202311&campaign=GSC-Promos&campaign_id=6478906937&adgroup_id=78844950918&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7Qwlq26E3XqB5OWjBLqmmnqYVuLPp1yaKc-cDY3tPPQHiAuV9XjUlk5MaAhioEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1

I'm a fan of Wera screwdrivers. They have some really nice ratcheting sets.

Have alot of hand tools here. Mostly Craftsman and SK.

https://texags.com/forums/50/topics/3427526

I started with a Craftsman mechanics set. I wish they were still US made and had the easy Sears exchange policy. That's what made them great. They're no different than many of the other bottom tier tools these days.

Spent a lot of years going to garage sales to look for tools with my father-in-law. That was a lot of fun and we still get to do it, but less frequently. You have to hit the right neighborhoods to find the right tools. I've got a ton of tools from doing this, enough to start a collection for all 3 boys.

But lately, I'm finding excuses to add a Knipex here and a Wera there, etc.

I like gear wrench and husky. Kobalt and lowes stuff just doesn't stack up. I drive a lot and am a big "road find" kinda dude. I've taken WRECKED husky hand tools that I found on the road and Home Depot asks no questions. Took swap for new, easy peasy. That is the kind of warranty I think a quality tool should have. I have full sets of Craftsman which have served me well but they are from the 70s to 90s vintage. I love those but Husky is my hand tool preference now if I need it priced right. A full 200 piece mechanics set was on sale for 99 bucks last year and I saw it again this year. Watch for that. It's a good price.

I've used this little flexible drill/screwdriver extension more than any other tool I own. It's amazing how often this comes in handy.

Flexible Shaft Electronic Screwdriver Extension 1/4" Extension Screwdriver Flexible Shaft Bit Holder Connecting Link - Walmart.com

Also, get one of these for every car you own and put it in the trunk. Most tire leaks are slow, so instead of F'ing around with changing a tire in a parking lot, you just fill it up and drive to the tire store.

Ifanze Tire Inflator, Portable Air Compressor for Car, Auto Air Pump with LED Light Gauge 12V DC, 150PSI Tire Pump Electric Air Pump Tire Inflator for Car, Bicycle, Motorcycle,Balls,Balloons, Black - Walmart.com

I'm usually a buy once, cry once guy, but my dad bought me a Stanley socket set when I left for college in 2010.

13 years later, it's seen a quite a bit of use including working on my trucks, jeep, and Landcruiser. Everything still works, and the only piece I've lost over that time is one little allen key (yes, I still have my 10mm).

Go get a pair (or two) of Malco Eagle Grip locking pliers from Amazon. Pricey, but I don't believe they are being made anymore and will not be available forever. Made in USA! These ooze quality and will last a lifetime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0924QSHLF
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0924QDF47


I like big bits and I cannot lie. Get a set of hex bits instead of individual t-handle wrenches:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086RJW49Q
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086RH936F
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086T3BL2D


Some of my favorite bit holders:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E62NIC
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KRSLJ3W
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GDIT2E



A few of my other favorite hand tools:


Vessell ball grip screwdrivers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095L48MJ4

Knipex twin grip pliers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097C98LCT

Knipex cobra pliers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X4PU80

Engineer pliers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L6HJAA

Wright wrenches are excellent, but pricey. This is the metric polished set. I have metric in polished and imperial in brushed finish:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051VCU74

What is the primary need? I did a lot of construction growing up, and I have a lot of tools for building stuff. When my son got into autos, I realized I had some gaps.


For home/diy:

Estwing hammer
Klein screwdrivers
klein electrical pliers
channel lock pliers
levels (various)
drill / driver
hand saws


For mechanics:

Gearwench set from above
Gearwrench pliers set
Tekton screwdriver set (USA)
knipex pliers
mayhew pry bars

I would check FB marketplace and find estate and garage sales selling tools and boxes. If you're patient, you might find something with far more items for what you'd spend new on the suggestions here. Just stick with the brands mentioned and you'll be fine. Most of the brands sold today, even the ones at Harbor Freight, are solid for homeowner use. Its the Chinese no-name brand junk or the no-warranty stuff that I'd stay away from, but if you get a whole bunch of everything, you can ditch that crap and buy the stuff you need when you need it.

I've been buying tools now for 40 years, along with gifts from my parents in the early years, and while my set doesn't look quite like a mechanic's, it isn't that far off (though mostly consumer brands like Craftsman). I don't have the specialty tools (except for bike work) but she won't need those. I might even thin my collection out at my next garage sale, but I'm not sure what I will unload or what I can spare.