The first thing anyone who’s interested in performing their own auto maintenance needs to know is that your standard homeowner’s tool set is typically about as useful as a dedicated screwdriver or wrench set. That’s because mechanics tool sets are built differently. They’re centered around a hopefully deep and varied collection of sturdy sockets and ratchets to help you extract fasteners of all shapes and sizes from tight spaces, as well as generate more torque than other tools.

I spent several weeks testing the Craftsman 159-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, using it to work various fasteners in my truck and lawnmower. I also spent time using the wrenches and sockets to turn lag bolts in lumber to see how they performed outside of the garage.

After running it through its paces, I thought it offered a lot of value. Craftsman’s set is very well-suited to meet the needs of the home mechanic without requiring you to add too much else to get your auto maintenance or repair work done right.

How many pieces a tool set has printed on its packaging doesn’t mean a whole lot if you find yourself having to look elsewhere for the correctly sized socket or wrench for the project at hand. You don’t have to do that with this tool set, which is one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen.

First, it features a broad range of socket sizes, from 4 to 22 mm on the metric side and from 5/32 to 15/16 inches on the SAE end. This meant I was covered with any size fastener I could find on my truck and lawnmower, as well as in my stock of nuts and bolts. The kit also comes with three ratchet sizes to support that broad range of sockets. (Most other kits only include two.)

This is also one of the only sets I’ve seen to include both six-point sockets, which are helpful when you need max torque for a stubborn bolt, and 12-point sockets, which are required for the 12-point fasteners you often find on engines and driveshafts and are also useful for working six-point fasteners in tight spots.

If that’s not enough, the tool set also comes with duplicates of common socket sizes for both 1/4- and 3/8-inch drivers. These duplicates are designed to fit different ratchets. For example, there are two 11mm sockets—one that fits the 1/4-inch ratchet (better for tight spaces), and another that fits the 3/8-inch ratchet (better for generating more leverage when turning).

In short, you’d be hard-pressed to find a nut, bolt, or screw that you can’t turn with this set.

One thing I learned in testing more than a dozen tool sets over the last year or so is that many skimp on build quality. Sometimes that’s true across the board, while other sets feature one or two really solid tools alongside an assortment of poorly designed ones. The Craftsman mechanics set, however, is solid and thoughtfully designed from piece No. 1 to piece No. 159.

I really liked the shorter swing arc and smoother feel of the set’s 90-tooth ratchets. These qualities allowed me to work fasteners located in tighter spots inside my truck’s engine bay. The ratchets have other nice features, too, including locking mechanisms that prevent the sockets from pulling off the heads and direction change switches that are easy to operate with a thumb.

Radius corners kept the sockets locked to the bolt heads, even when I was pulling hard to free a few stubborn fasteners. There’s also knurling on each socket, which made it easier to grip and spin them when hand-tightening fasteners. Finally, I appreciated that each bolt has large etched labels that make it easy to see what size you’re choosing, even in dim garage lighting.

While sockets may be the main event in this 159-piece set, there are other tools included that I found quite useful. There are 12 combination wrenches (most kits of this size only come with eight) and a bit driver with a set of 20 bits of all shapes, including Torx, Phillips, square drive, and flat-head.

The combination wrenches have thicker bodies that give them a sturdy feel, and their box ends fit snugly over fasteners. The wrenches are about an inch shorter than the combination wrenches in other sets I’ve tested. This was helpful when it came to fitting them in tighter spaces, which makes sense for a set designed for auto maintenance first and foremost. But it also meant I produced less leverage with them, which made it harder to break stubborn bolts.

The bit driver has a large, over-molded handle that feels comfortable. But I didn’t love that the handle is perfectly round, which meant the tool rolled away on some occasions when I set it down.

The sockets and ratchets are among some of the highest quality I’ve tested. Plus, the kit comes with other useful tools, including a full set of combination wrenches and a bit driver with bits.

I haven’t said anything about the case, but that’s because it’s merely serviceable. The latches keep it securely closed, but they are difficult to work with. Each piece snaps into its own spot inside the case, but removing smaller sockets from their spots is hard on the fingers, and some pieces tend to work loose during transit.

If you’re after a tool set designed for general home repairs, this isn’t the one. You won’t find a hammer, sets of pliers, or a tape measure in this kit. Those looking for a more general-use tool set to tackle odd jobs around the house should consider the Crescent 180-Piece Professional Tool Set, which was the best and most complete homeowner’s tool set I tested. There’s also the Kobalt household tool set, which I recommend as a great value pick, or the WorkPro home tool set, which is incredibly versatile. That said, if you’re someone who spends weekends working on your car, the Craftsman 159-piece tool set is the right one for the job.

Shop Craftsman 159-Piece Mechanics Tool Set