Just call me MechANNE
This review was created as part of a paid affiliate program with the Home Depot.
My first order of business with this and every product review is a disclaimer: I am not a professional contractor or mechanic. I am a farmer and a fine furniture maker. When it comes to construction and renovation, and vehicle and machine projects, I’m a DIYer and weekend warrior. That said, I doubt many professional contractors will be reading my tool reviews. My goal in reviewing tools and products is to provide honest feedback based on my own use and experience with these tools to other regular folks like me- wanting to get their hands dirty, try new things, and get the best value for their hard earned dollars.
I have always loved tinkering with machines and motors. I spent a very good portion of my childhood trying to build the perfect go-kart. We were broke and I had no real understanding of how vehicles worked, so I never really got very far, but I spent untold thousands of hours taking lawn mowers apart, fiddling with wagons and bikes and scooters. My dad didn’t have many tools, but when I got to go to my Grandpa’s, I was in heaven- he had every tool known to man, and the knowhow to use them. He and I always talked about how we would one day restore an old truck together, and I’d drive it around doing farm chores on the farm I’d been dreaming about since I was five years old. By some miracle, today I have that farm and a shop with more tools than even Grandpa had. Sadly though, he didn’t live long enough to see it. Much of who I am and what I do today has a whole lot to do with my grandpa and his investment in my young life. So when I had the chance to buy a 1953 Chevy 3100 farm truck to restore in his honor, you better believe I jumped at the chance.
A few years ago, I restored a 65 Mustang in my buddy’s shop, but I still barely know what I’m doing when it comes to working on my cars, machines and tractor. I spend a whole lot of time wishing I could just call up grandpa and ask him all my questions, but I spend a lot of time googling things and calling my friends instead. And as well equipped as my woodshop is, I’ve got some building up to do when it comes to my mechanical tools.
I’ve been using a very similar Husky Mechanic’s set for the last 5 years. I’ve used that little set a LOT, probably a whole lot more than most homeowners would ever use a ratchet set, and still, found it to be more than enough for what I needed to assemble and perform basic maintenance on all my woodworking machines and equipment, work on my truck and tractor, repair my mowers and weedwhacker, tinker around on the mini-bike I built a couple years ago.
I’m no mechanic, but I use my mechanic’s tools more than your average homeowner. This set has a nice variety of tools, and while they aren’t Snap-On quality, Husky has a lifetime warranty and I’ve yet to need to replace any of mine. One really great thing about this particular set is the selection of Torx and Allen heads which you’ll find on a lot of small machines and can be very specialized. The set also has a spark plug socket, which my first Husky set did not, and seeing as I have to take the spark plug out of my lawn mower every single time I start it, it’s nice to have it right there.
Another thing to look out for with this set is that with the wide variety of deep sockets in this set, my first thought was pulling out my impact gun. These aren’t rated for impact use, and while the lifetime warranty might entice me to tempt fate, there is a remote danger that the heat buildup and strain of using these bits in an impact gun could cause them to explode, so just be aware of that.
The one thing I found to be really frustrating both on my old set of Husky tools and this one was the fact that the box they come in doesn’t keep the tools in their proper slots. When I first opened the box, the tools were everywhere, and, figuring they’d just gotten jostled in shipping, I put them back and closed the box. When I carried it outside to the truck and opened it again, the tools were once again scattered about inside. While this isn’t a reflection of the tools themselves, the most likely end-user for these tools is homeowners and contractors, both of whom would be very likely to want to store the tools in their original box for the lifetime of the set. I am a bit of a tool chest fanatic, so that won’t be a longterm frustration for me as I’ll be migrating the set to my chest, but it’s certainly something to be considered.
Manufacturer Messaging:
· 72 tooth quick release ratchet
· includes 100 sockets, 67 accessories, 15 wrenches, 3 ratchets
· Lifetime Warranty
Awesome Features:
· More than adequate tool selection for a contractor or homeowner
· Great selection of Torx
· Spark plug socket
· 72 tooth ratchets make for more efficient turning in tight spaces
· Good value for the money
Things I wish were better/different:
· The original box doesn’t keep tools organized well
· The indented area under the ratchet head is a collection point for grease and grime which could easily migrate into the ratcheting mechanism
This set retails for $149.00. Would I buy it?
I doubt you’ll find this toolset in a mechanic’s tool chest, but this set is a good value and nice variety for the price with a lifetime warranty. I bought a very similar set from Husky five years ago and it has served me well.
*I acknowledge that the Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the Prospective 2018 Campaign. As part of the program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.