So here is my questions:
Why buy 12-point sockets, when you could have all 6-point? Is their a reason to use 12-point sockets vs 6-point sockets? I understand how a 12-point wrench could be better then a 6-point when working in tight spots, But for sockets I don’t see a good reason the use 12 point sockets. Am I missing something about 12-point sockets?

Question two:
Can impact sockets also be used with a ratchet as well? This question goes with the first question. Since Ive got to buy new sockets anyway, Im thinking I will just buy one very good set of 3/8″ & 1/2″ impact sockets and use them with hand ratchets when needed. instead of buying a set of impact and normal sockets. But since ive never realy used impact sockets with a ratchet I dont know if their are any downsides or not. I guess what I realy want to know is, Will an impact socket porform just as good as a normal reguler socket?

Question three: Anyone have any input on northern tool’s brand “Titan”?
I had a nice set of blue-point ratchet wrench sets that where stolen that took me 3 years to get.
A few years ago I got a small set of the Gearwrench’s for christmas, Not needing them, I only used them when I had a hard bolt to break loose and did not want to damage my blue-point wrenchs (I know blue-point is lifetime also, But the truck is so hard to track down) And to my surprise they held up very well. I never had one break ever. When I went to northern tool to pick up my new air compressor, I was looking at the gearwrench brand to replace my stolen blue-point’s and I found the Titan brand to offer a very nice complete sets of 13, vs only 8pc for grearwrench. I looked over and they look nice, they feel nice and for $120 for a 13pc SAE set and $89 for the 13pc metric set, the price is fair. Anyone ever used them? How do they hold up? and issues when returning broke one’s?

That about does it for now, Thanks for taking the time and helping me out!

To get that motivating gift, a shopper would do well to visit Payless Merchandise, an online discount retailer.  Specializing in discount hand tools, Payless Merchandise seeks out the lowest possible prices on common products. They offer a wide variety of items at sharply discounted rates, from computer equipment to automotive accessories, from jewelry to small appliances. Products on Payless Merchandise retail for much less than the original price and are often discounted by as much as 70%.  Get 47% off the retail price for a Stanley SharpTooth heavy duty saw; pay only half the original price for a Stanley six-inch adjustable wrench; purchase a Sterling Tools magnetic screwdriver set for less than half the regular price. With such excellent savings on discount hand tools, a thrifty individual can get the tools he or she needs to finish a household project before the decade is up.

The savings don’t end with discount hand tools. Payless Merchandise offers hundreds of discounted products which can make holiday shopping a breeze. Shop online for discounted gifts for the music lover on your list, such as Apple’s 2GB second generation iPod Nano for an amazing 75% off, or Altec Lansing’s black digital speaker sound system for iPod for half the normal retail price. A hot item this year, the Apple 80GB iPod, is available for two thirds the regular retail price at Payless Merchandise.

Some household chores inherently offer little motivation to begin, but with the right discount hand tools for the job, starting – and finishing – them can be that much easier. Payless Merchandise has designed their website so that shoppers can efficiently search for the tools they need to get their chores done.  Items are sorted into logical categories and listed with a notice of the exact discounted price. The first step in getting a chore done couldn’t be easier to complete!

Payless Merchandise has further sweetened their deals by selling some of their discount hand tools with free shipping. Shoppers can access the search category “Free Shipping Items” to browse through all the merchandise that may be purchased at a discount and then shipped for free. A better, more hassle-free shopping experience cannot be had for those who value their time, their money and the thrill of a good sale.

For more information or to shop online for discount hand tools, visit PaylessMerchandise.

In order to change your tires, you will need a jack for lifting your car (forget the one that came with your car – hydraulic jacks are best) and a lug wrench for getting the tires off and securing them again. Other special wrenches you will need are a spark-plug wrench and an oil-filter wrench. You will also need a set of adjustable wrenches and a socket set for loosening and tightening various nuts and bolts. As you may have to unscrew things from your car’s frame, you will want a set of screwdrivers.

For checking and adjusting your fluid levels, you will need funnels, hand degreaser, rags or paper towels and rubber gloves (depending on how much dirt you want on you from your engine). Many people actually choose not to cover their hands when they work because it is easier to feel what you’re and also because it looks silly. There is pride in having dirty hands.

You will need jumper cables for boosting your car, a continuity tester for testing electrical circuits, pliers for loosening and tightening things you can’t loosen and tighten with your wrenches, a stiff, non-wire brush for cleaning battery contacts, a utility knife for cutting rubber belts and tubes and a tire pressure gauge for checking the air pressure in your tires. For knocking at stuck parts, use a rubber mallet and not your best wrench. It is best not to abuse your tools, although many people do.

You should be able to assemble a good basic tool set for under $300. That may sound like a lot of money, but if you get into the habit of calling someone every time you have a flat tire or need to change a hose, then you will wind up spending a lot more money in the end.

Many of these tools have quite a price range. You can pick up a set of adjustable wrenches, for instance, for anywhere from $10 to $40. The continuity tester has an even wider range, running from $3 all the way up to $40. You can pick up a tire pressure gauge for $5 up to $35, and a utility knife runs from $3 to however much you want to pay for this tool.

Many small repairs and maintenance tasks you can do for yourself will help you keep your car in tip-top shape for less money, so having a basic tool set is a great investment. In addition, you will also be a more confident driver if you learn about how to repair your car.

• Sets & Kits do not have warranty/ see individual pcs for details

Product Description
SK TOOL – SKT89480 – 5PC STUBBY DBL BX MET SET… More >>

SK Hand Tool 89480 5 Piece Stubby Flexible Double Box Locking Flex G-Pro Metric Wrench Set

SK Hand Tool 1/2 x 9/16in. Hi Polish Open End Wrench

Product Description
SK TOOL – SKT89450 – 5PC METRIC DBL BOX OFFSET… More >>

SK Hand Tool 89450 75-Degree Offset Double Box Spline G-Pro Metric Wrench Set, 5-Piece

Product Description
SK TOOL – SKT89430 – 4PC STIBBU DBL BX G-PRO SAE ST… More >>

SK Hand Tool 89430 4 Piece Stubby Flexible Double Box Locking Flex G-Pro Metric Wrench Set

One day Will used a screwdriver instead of a pry bar to rip boards off an old deck. When the screwdriver snapped under the strain, he fell and broke his two front teeth. That’s genius?

There is a right way and a wrong way to use hand tools, but a lot of people don’t seem to know it. In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year more than 100,000 injuries require hospital treatment due to misuse of hand tools.

First Steps To A Quality Job

* Buy the best tool you can afford. Cheap tools are more likely to break, and more difficult to use. Buy several versions or sizes of the same tool to assure you have the right tool for the right job.

* Use a hand tool for the job it was manufactured to perform.

* Inspect tools for cracks, chips, mushrooming, and wear. Discard damaged tools promptly.

* Be sure handles are fixed firmly into a tool’s working end.

* Plan your job before you start.

* Check for hidden hazards, e.g., electric wires in a wall.

* Shut the current off when working near electricity.

* Organize the tools in a toolbox.

* Position your body securely while working with the tool. Wear eye protection.

* Concentrate! No matter how trivial the task seems.

Striking And Struck Tools

* Wear safety goggles any time you’re using one of these tools.

* A hammer head should be at least 3/8″ larger in diameter than the striking surface of a chisel, punch, wedge or other struck tools.

* Strike a hammer with the face parallel to the surface being struck. Glancing, off-center blows can throw dangerous splinters into the air.

* Use the right hammer for the job.

* Do not use one hammer to strike another hammer or a hatchet.

* Never use a striking tool with a loose or damaged handle.

* Pull nails or pry wood away from your face.

* Sharpen struck tools before use. Aim the blow or cut away from your body.

Screwdrivers

* The blade tip should fit a slotted screw, without hanging over.

* For many jobs, you’ll need to drill a hole first.

* Do not strike a screwdriver handle with a hammer. It could splinter and shatter.

* Never use the handle as a striking tool.

* Do not use them as pry bars, scrapers, lid removers, punches or chisels.

* Don’t hold work in one hand while using a screwdriver in the other. If the blade slips, you could get hurt.

* Screws are designed to be driven with the proper type of screwdriver. If you fail to take the time to match the screw with the screwdriver, the tool’s blade can slip out of the screw’s slot, resulting in an injury.

* Use insulated screwdrivers when working around electricity, but also turn off the power.

Wrenches

* For better control, pull the wrench toward you; don’t push it away from you. On high-torque jobs, stand firmly.

* Replace wrenches when the teeth become marred or worn.

* Do not substitute pliers for work a wrench should do.

* Never hammer with a wrench.

* Never put your face or head level with a wrench handle.

* Never use a handle extender while turning a wrench. Switch to a wrench with a longer handle or one designed to withstand more force. Homemade handle extenders can slip off and break.

* Use a box or socket wrench to free a tight or frozen nut.

* Make sure the wrench fits a nut or bolt exactly. Limit your use of adjustable wrenches.

Cordless Tools

* Read and thoroughly understand the instruction manual.

* Do not operate cordless tools in or near flammable liquids, or in explosive atmospheres.

* Keep the tool and the recharging unit in an area not accessible to children.

* Remove batteries or lock the switch in its “OFF” position before changing accessories, adjusting or cleaning the tool.

* When cutting, drilling or driving into walls, floors, or wherever live electrical wires may be encountered, hold the tool only by the insulated gripping surfaces.

* Do not touch the drill bit, blade or cutter immediately after operation. It may be extremely hot.