So, let’s see what you need to consider when getting a tool kit. The saying "use the right tool for the job" is the first principle when choosing a tool box. It’s all about getting the tools you’re going to need without going overboard. Don't be fooled by many shiny things in a box – lots of kits contain duplicates to boost the numbers and trick you into buying a big box that you think will contain all you need, but really doesn't. Also, consider the number of tools you have against the available space on your
tool belt.
Another major consideration is where you’ll use your tools. If you plan on using them outside, you’ll naturally want tools with some form of weather resistance – a chrome or silver plating, for instance. In case of precipitation, this will keep your tools in mint condition. If you’re going to use tools inside your home or garage, then they don’t have to have much weather resistance. However, this isn’t that much of a problem, as most tools have some form of plating. Also, consider what you are going to use the tools for. Heavier duty work requires sturdier tools. If you’re planning on using the tools for some hard work, choose high-quality tools made of heat-treated steel and steel alloys for extra strength.
Lastly, you’ll need to put your tools away at some time, so having a sturdy case is a must. Usually, tool boxes are made of blow molded plastic, which is pretty sturdy, but the cases can be of different thicknesses. You’ll want to go for thicker cases, as they will protect your tools better. However, such cases will be much heavier, bigger and bulkier, thus harder to put away. Of course, this is a small price to pay if you don’t want to end up with a bunch of tools strewn about your garage or tool shed. If needed, a tool case can always be replaced by a higher quality
tool bag or a sturdy
tool cabinet.
Price
When it comes to price, tool boxes come in a wide range. However, you can always expect bigger cases with more comprehensive inventories to cost more. Be that as it may, tools of higher quality or from a well-known brand are also going to cost more. Watch out for costly items with huge inventories, as they can contain duplicates. Make sure spending more means you get more useful or better made tools. We avoided excessively cheap tool kits in our research as they were made from weaker materials and represented a false economy.
Features
The selection of tools and accessories almost always differs between manufacturers. However, there are certain crossovers that’ll exist. You can always expect the tool box to contain a hammer, a few screwdrivers, and a measuring tape. Most tools are made of steel alloys and heat treated for extra strength, and they're almost always coated in either silver or chrome to give them resistance against various weather conditions and prolong their service life. Many have duplicate items covering the most common and useful tools.
To sum up all the features, here is a short list:
- The contents are almost always different
- Big boxes contain duplicates
- All of them contain at least a hammer, screwdrivers and measuring tape
- Most tools are heat-treated steel alloy
- Most tools have some kind of plating
- Almost all sets come in blow molded plastic cases
Construction and Design
Most tool cases are made of blow molded plastic, although there are metal boxes – usually for very large collections of tools. The tools are made of steel alloy of some kind and have plating to prolong their service life. The design of the tools depends on what you’re getting. You may get one hammer or two of different sizes, flathead and/or Phillips head screwdrivers. Screwdrivers often have a magnetic tip for easier manipulation of the screws. For more detail on the design of your tools, check on each tool box.
Performance and Ease of Use
Tool performance depends on the quality of the material that’s been used in their construction. Higher quality steel and thicker plating will mean the tool is sturdier and have a better service life. If your box contains power tools, their performance will depend on how well the tool’s constructed and how good a battery it has.
Of course, there are many different products out there, but hopefully our guide’s given you some insight into which features are most important for you to look for in your own purchasing research. Let’s have a look at our five chosen examples to see if any fit the bill.
Features
There’s not been a man born on this earth who hasn’t heard of, owned or used a Black+Decker power tool. This company is 106 years old, founded in 1910, and was the first to produce a handheld power drill with a pistol grip. The company is headquartered in Townson, Maryland, and, in 2010, became a subsidiary company of Stanley Works. Throughout its history, Black+Decker has been a leading manufacturer of tools and home improvement products worldwide.
As a result, it’s only natural we’ll include a Black+Decker product in our tool kits list. The product we’re presenting is the LDX120PK kit with a 20V Drill, plus all the drill bits and hand tools you require to deal with your average project. Starting with the drill, this incredible power tool has a superb battery that can hold a charge for up to 18 months. The drill also features an 11-position clutch that prevents overdriving of the screws and stripping, improving the service life of the drill heads.
As for the other tools, you’ll receive several types of pliers, a hammer, a box cutter knife and several screwdrivers. In all, the kit comes with a total of 66 pieces of equipment. All of this is packed in a nice black and orange bag – characteristic colors for Black+Decker. This kit also comes in several iterations, with the drill being exchanged for a circular saw, a jigsaw or a sander.
All in all, you can never go wrong with Black+Decker. This is a trusted company that’s earned its position in the market through innovation, hard work, and amazing craftsmanship. Its products are always top of the line, and you won't be disappointed in them.
Features
Pittsburgh is, in reality, owned by Harbor Freight Tools. Harbor Freight Tools was founded in 1977 as a small family business, but it grew quickly to its current size. Now, it doesn’t just manufacture, it sells tools direct. Current stock covers about 7000 items. The focus is on high quality tools without breaking the bank.
The Pittsburgh 130 piece tool kit contains only hand tools but is incredibly versatile since it contains so many pieces. Among those, you’ll find pliers, hex wrenches, fasteners, locking pliers, anchors, a tape measure, driver bits, and screwdrivers, as well as a hammer. There’s not a thing you can’t find in this kit – it’s about the most comprehensive collection on our list.
The kit comes with a molded plastic carrying case, which is well designed and filled with sockets for your tools. Of course, with all those tools to accommodate, it’s quite big and very heavy when full, so you might not have the best time moving it around.
In the end, if you need hand tools, and you don’t want to spend more than fifty dollars on them, then your best bet is this Pittsburgh set. It’s got plenty of tools and attachments, and it’s one of the more comprehensive products we have here on our list.
Features
Craftsman was founded in 1927 as part of Sears but was bought by Stanley Black+Decker in March this year. Craftsman has always delivered high-quality products, aimed at DIYers and homeowners across the country. This is why Craftsman tool kits contain just the right tools for jobs around the house.
The product we’re presenting today is a very comprehensive 230-piece kit. This kit contains all the things you’ll ever need for any job you’re doing. The set contains 116 sockets, six combination wrenches and a magnetic screwdriver with 40 bits and 12 nut drivers, in both metric and imperial measurements. All the tools have been made of durable alloy steel, together with a sliver finish. [G16]
Of course, this all comes in a rather large case. Again, it’s modeled plastic, black with a picture of what's inside. Naturally, with this much steel, the case is bound to be heavy and bulky. It's probably a good idea not to store it on the top shelf. On top of that, a set this high in quality and this comprehensive will cost you quite a bit of money too. The product is backed by a lifetime warranty.
In the end, this is an expensive product, but well worth it. If you’re a mechanic, you’ll definitely want a tool kit like this. Not only is it extensive, and not only are the tools high quality, they’re all covered by a lifetime warranty.
Features
Stanley is the company behind both Craftsman and Black+Decker. It was originally founded in 1843 but became known as Stanley after a merger with a company owned by the founder's cousin in 1920. Stanley has a long history of excellent patents and marvelous tools, and was even been a part of the Apollo 11 mission that landed the first men on the Moon.
For homeowners looking to do smaller projects or drive a few nails and screws around the house, there’s Stanley’s 65-piece kit. This kit has been wonderfully pieced together, with the tools you’re most likely to need around the house. The product contains a box cutter knife, a measuring tape, two screwdrivers, a hammer and a screwdriver body with about 30 magnetic screwdriver heads.
As before, this set comes in a plastic blow mold case. The case is sturdy and black with sockets for the tools in its interior. This product boasts some very high-quality tools, but it’s rather inexpensive, costing less than 50 dollars. On top of that, all the tools have been made of very high-quality steel, so wear and tear is not an issue. At this price, this set is a steal.
In the end, if you decide to buy this Stanley kit, you’ll end up with some pretty good tools. This is the perfect homeowner’s kit.
Features
Our last product comes from the esteemed Apollo Tools product line. Apollo Tools is a partner of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and has donated a substantial amount of money toward breast cancer research. Its products are all master-crafted and amazingly durable. They're also very affordable, and can be found in many brick and mortar retail shops as well as online. The office headquarters are in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Florida, but there are production facilities in Hangzhou, China.
The product we’re presenting on our list is also a product dedicated toward breast cancer research, and 50 cents of each purchase goes to the Foundation. This is a small, 39-piece home tool kit. Within it, you will find a pair of scissors, a hammer, box cutter knife, ratchets, two magnetic screwdrivers, a screwdriver body and heads, and a pair of pliers. All of the materials are heat treated steel and feature a chrome finish so they wouldn’t corrode.
The kit comes in a very heavy duty case made of hardened plastic. The tools are rigorously tested, and they all meet ANSI standards. Another great thing about the product is the lifetime warranty against all defects, so you can always replace it if something happens to break. Lastly, this is a very affordable kit, which is sure to appeal to many customers.
In the end, what you’ve got on your hands is a small but well-suited tool kit. It’s got only 39 pieces, the smallest number on our list, but the tools are high quality, and cater perfectly to people looking to fix a few things around their home.
Never let a million lights dazzle you. Pick the tools you need, not the ones you want and/or look cool (we know – it’s difficult!). If our featured products aren’t quite right for you, rest assured these are all trustworthy brands, so have a look at what other options they have to offer.
