Someone once told me that I should get a good tool kit, because you never know what you'll need and at least you'll probably have it when you need it.
Sears was around back then. Craftsman tool sets were always on sale. You get over 100 different bits, sockets, extensions, etc. I got a set for the trunk of the car. A set of tools to keep in the garage. Et cetera.
My Dad told me tool sets and kits were a waste of money. You buy a bunch of stuff that you are not using, may never use, and you'll probably lose pieces. And the worst part is, the piece that got lost is going to be the one that you need. Dad gave me knowledge based on his lifetime of mistakes. I didn't listen. I had to make those mistakes on my own.
To this day, I still have kits with missing pieces, and I don't use the pieces that didn't get lost.
Dad said to buy the tools as you need them, then slowly acquire only tools that you use. Dad also said to buy 6 point sockets for 6 point nuts and bolts.
Now as I look at my 629,000 piece Craftsman "mechanic's" tool set - to realize that most of the sockets were in sizes I never needed or used. And for every size I never used, I had it in a 12 point socket, a 12 point deep socket, or a 12 point wrench.
I learned that most torx sets do not come with T27. Odd. Since I use T27 to work on Fords and Harleys. Harleys, Dodge, and other European brands use Oetiker clamps and a special tool from Germany. Harley Davidson, and other fine Japanese imports, use Japanese Industrial Standard screws. I've also had to buy 6 point spark plug sockets with magnets & rubber boots, with different types of swivels and extensions - because the "mechanics toolset" only had thin wall, deep sockets without magnets & rubber boots. Don't even mention all of the other dozens of tools that didn't come in the kit, that I had to buy.
Harbor Freight is okay. Some things are better than others. I did manage to break a socket once. I brought it back. They gave me a new one. Good warranty. But I would rather have a good tool that didn't break. I buy Harbor Freight tools for things that I know I won't use often. The $10 angle grinder for the 3 times in 10 years that I might grind or cut-off metal. The $20 oscillating tool for the 1 time in 10 years where I will use it for cutting MDF. Look through their open stock pliers and you'll find things like long nose pliers, hose clamp pliers, angled pliers with long handles - all of those things for a special purpose job you'll only do once every 5 years. A few guys I know bought motorcycle lifts from Harbor Freight. Home use. Not shop use. Everything there will work. Some things are better than others. Just remember that you are buying cheap tools, so don't expect the best tool in the world for those prices.
1 hand tool that I do like, and suggest that you own, is an extendable ratchet. For a homeowner doing small jobs, you can extend the handle for a little added reach, and/or leverage for breaking torque. I love being able to have the handle short for feel and control, then sliding it out for that final tightening.
Air tools are great. Every shop has shop air, and the technicians have great air tools. The homeowner is lucky to have an air compressor. A very small air compressor, which takes forever to fill up the air tank, and the tank runs out of air faster than it takes to fill the tank. At home, I have found a couple of electric tools that I really like. An electric hammer. Yes, there is such a thing. And an electric ratchet. Saves your wrist from carpal tunnel.
