Please recommend a basic tool set ... Perhaps Sears Craftsman or Lowe's ?

The essentials for a home tool kit for me are:

Screw drivers from Klein/Craftsman/Husky
Pliers/Vice grips/wire cutters from Irwin/greenlee
Wrenches from Kobalt/Craftsman
Sockets/Ratchets from Craftsman/Kobalt/Husky
Multimeter from Fluke
Hammer from Eastwing
Staple gun from Arrow
Wrecker bar from Stanley
Selection of various screws, wire nuts, electrical tape from 3M, duct tape, liquid nails for small projects, Alex Plus 25 year silicon caulk, etc.
 
HorseloverFat said:
A manager at a HD recommended this set : http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-185-Piece-H185MTSN/203203976

However , I don't know where it was made or if 185 tools would really be essential for a first set.
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That's what my first paragraph was talking about, the automotive tools. That looks like a pretty decent set, as in: it covers your bases of 12 point, deep, bit sockets, extensions, nut drivers, wrenches, and the three major drive sizes. The only thing I see missing from that is 12 point deep and maybe ratcheting wrenches, but those are sort of specialty. Technically, bit sockets are a specialty item too, but they come in handy. Mechanic's tool sets, or MTS's, are what you need if you plan on doing consistent automotive work.

Like I said before, pick a budget, prioritize how much you're investing in it by how much you'll actually be using it, and then stick to that budget. If $150 seems like a good amount to get under the hood or take something apart, then yes, that's a good set to start with. If you feel like that's a little too much money for something you're going to pull out three times a year when you're feeling mechanically adventurous, then no, a $50-100 set would probably be a little more "essential" for you.

Aside from some furniture assembly and miscellaneous bolt or screw tightening/loosening, that set isn't going to touch the "around the house" work.

And probably China, but like others have said, not necessarily a deal-breaker, if it's not a moral problem for you. Maybe Taiwan if you're lucky.
 
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A ball park budget would help.

I worked part time at Home Depot for two years when the economy crashed 7-8 years ago. Nothing wrong with Husky but Lowes and Sears do a much better job at putting their stuff on sale during the year. The best benefit to Husky from HD is that there are more HDs in the US then Lowes (or Sears), so if something does go wrong, you have a better chance of having a HD store close vs the other two. Quality wise, they are all pretty similar. Yes, most are made in China, which is true about most items in a box store nowadays. Sad but true.

Some suggestions for a basic set.

Basic socket set + screwdriver bits. $40 You could definitely buy a bigger set. http://www.lowes.com/pd_573359-22328-86771_1z0wcfv__?productId=50200821&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1

Screwdriver set. Honestly, the driver bits you get in the above set are probably good enough for now. Standard slotted and Phillips will be used most.

Combo wrench set. HD has a good one, 28 pcs SAE and metric for $20. Part of their Fathers Day special buys. I just bought one.

10 pc set of Plier + Adj wrench. $40.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_464642-16878-55753___?productId=50029436&pl=1&Ntt=10+pc+house+tool+set

Basic claw hammer. $10 or less

Basic Multimeter. $23 Klein MM100 from HD. Otherwise you can find something for same price range. Everyone should learn the basics of a multimeter.

Tape measure $5
Utility knife $5
Plastic tool box $20

Total $163.

Optional tools. A non contact voltage tester, stud finder, and wire stripper come to mind.
 
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Craftsman universal tool set. Goto the Sears website they always have good sales going on. Their warranty is hard to beat too. In my opinion that is the best way to go.
 
I wouldn't personally get the HD set you linked unless they really are going to be big in automotive repair. Otherwise, most of that stuff will never or very seldom get used. The basic stuff mentioned by RevDevil pretty much covers it.

I prefer regular screw drivers. Try opening paint cans with the ratchet type (Have both actually). Get the wide opening cresent wrenches (probably two sizes-small and medium), small pipe wrench for plumbing repairs, wire cutters/pliers, needle nosed pliers (probably two-smallish and medium sized), a couple channel lock pliers, plus my robogrip pliers.

Tape measure (like the combination metric and english as I use metric for some things), utility knife, small sledge hammer, bubble level (maybe 24"). I have multiple lengths up to 5 feet, but I keep a small on in my home tool bag for little jobs, and the 24" gets used more than any other.

You can buy a bunch of tools all at once any really spend quite a bit of money, or you get the basics and build from there as the need arises. That is pretty much what I've done. Put together a basic tool box right out of college to keep in my car, and home repairs. A volt meter is handy if you are messing with electrical stuff, but the type with the little light work too.

A small hammer (claw type) is useful around the house for hanging pictures, and basic low powered work.

Stuff I seldom use... wrenches that come is specific sizes (open and boxed ends). Usually grab a cresent wrench for those needs.
 
Sears hand tools labeled Craftsman should be mostly all US made. The last Craftsman socket set I got were not that great. Still using them but need to have a few pieces replaced,an extension that sticks and both ratchets. They skip teeth bad. I am going to be trying to replace most of my hand tools (at least the ones I can) with Wiha. They are the best quality tools I have seen lately but are pricey.
 
Bob W said:
Craftsman hand tools like wrenches and screwdrivers are still made in the USA. At least some of them. Have to watch the labels and avoid their low-end product lines.

How "young" of a young man? A boy in elementary school could be called a young man, but so could someone who just finished college and needs their first tool set for a paying job...
My "young man" started getting tools when he was 3 or 4 years old. A wrench here, a hammer there; tape measure on one trip to the hardware store, pliers the next. We've been jumping around brands, looking for good quality and preferably USA-made. ChannelLock, Crescent... We've also found some great store-brand products, particularly Ace.

Myself, I don't mind Craftsman wrenches. But for sockets, I look for SK or similar. Screwdrivers, I have piles of them for everyday use, mostly Craftsman, and they work OK; Klein screwdrivers, pliers, and electrical tools are much better but they're also much more expensive so I only buy them when I need a single specific tool.
Power tools, I wasn't happy with the most recent Craftsman, although the old table saw from them is excellent. I still like DeWalt for being affordable and functional, but I've recently begun shifting to Makita more. I stay well clear of Black and Decker or other low end brands sold at certain discount department stores.

Hope this all helps!
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Thank you ,this help me as well .
 
gazz98 said:
Optional tools...
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Wood saw, hack saw with metal blade, powered circular saw
Cordless drill and set of metal bits and wood bits

Screwdrivers- my most used screwdriver around the house is a screwdriver that interchanges 2 different bits to give 2 sizes of straight slot and 2 sizes of philips. Pull a bit out, turn it around, push it back in and you have a different bit. Pull the center shaft out, turn it around, put it back in and you have a different screwdriver. You can even buy these on sale at Harbor Freight for $2.
BUT when I was working in a garage I used a lot of different screwdrivers- short ones, long ones, fatter blades, etc. A single handle with a lot of interchangeable bits wouldn't perform the same functionality. Of course you can buy a set of different length blades for not much money.
 
For a young man who is not using his tools to make a living and does not already know what to buy I would 100% recommend Harbor Frieght. I use everything from Snap On and Mac to Harbor Freight and Craftsman but my junkyard box mainly consists of HF junk and I don't cry when I drop a wrench and it disappears into an engine bay.

Yeah, Snap On screwdrivers are awesome and worth the money, but you can buy an entire tool set from HF for what one set of SO screwdrivers cost.
 
Wouldn't DeWalt be the choice for US made tools? At least, that's the brand that's always sold out when I'm looking for power tools.
 
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