[TheRobb]

Here is what I recommend.
Craftsman are ok.. but if you can afford a CSX, you can afford a little bit better for alot better tools.
Buy SK socket sets.
Purchase 1/4 inch set, 3/8 inch set, and 1/2 inch set.
They come in green blow molded cases, the two smaller sets are under 100 bucks, the 1/2 inch set is 150ish.
You want these because they each come with both metric and standard sizes, as well as deep well, and extensions and ratchets, all in a convenient storage case.
Craftsman do not have these, and the secret to being happy with a socket set, is a good storage case and organizer.
(those sets are sold by companies on Ebay, do a search)

Now your wrenches, you can buy at sears. Get long pattern handle "Craftsman Pro" sets. They are full polished chrome, bout as good a quality as you will find without going to a tool truck (EXPENSIVE!!!!). Get a metric set, and a standard set.
While there, purchase a set of Craftsman Pro "midget wrenches", aka, short pattern wrenches. GEt both metric and standard, but only but the smaller set. I bought their larger set, that goes up to 1 inch wide. But a 1 inch size wrench only 4 inches long, is worthless. You cant get enough torque to use it for anything, cept the fittings on plastic pipe nuts that connect to faucets and stuff.

While at sears, also buy 2 ball peen hammers. Craftsman hammers are made by Vaughn, they are good deals.
Get an 8 ounce hammer and a 16 ounch.
(btw, the craftsman pro wrenches used to be made by SK, but now I think they source them from another company).

Next you need good screwdrivers.
Goto ebay again, and buy the black handled Wiha set.
(sold by at least one or two tool companies)
5 pieces, bout 35 bucks, made in Germany. You wont find better screwdrivers. And for screwdrivers, you always want the best you can get, or you'll be cussing alot. (once you buy quality screwdrivers, you never go back, its that much of a difference)
Make sure you dont buy the miniature set that this one company sells.. priced about the same, but you want the regular size screwdrivers.

Next you need good pliers.
Bite the bullet on this, buy quality.
Get Channellock. Actually get two sizes of their "slip joint pliers", get 2 pairs of needlenose pliers... one big pair, for heavy duty work, like pulling large cotter pins,and one small precision set, for detailed work. Buy a pair of diagonal cutters (dikes). They make 2 kinds. One has handles a couple inches longer, for increased pressure. Get these. (I use Klein, personally, buy harder to find)
If they have Knipex pliers, get 2 pairs of "Aligator" pliers.
These are slip joint pliers, with a V cut in the jaws. The are excellent for grabbing rounded nuts and bolts, and removing them They way the teeth are cut on these, they dig into the material. Its possible to take a big pair of Aligator pliers, grab a round pipe with the tools, since pushing one direction on that hanle "tightens" the tools, with the unique teeth design on aligators, it digs into the metal so well you can literally STAND on the handle and it wont slip off the pipe! These are made in germany too..

Grab a couple pairs of Vise Grip brand locking pliers. Any other locking plier, is basically crap. Get needlenose, and standard locking pliers They make a 4 piece set, thats about 35 bucks. Its worth the price.

Next buy a set of Bondhous brand ball-end Allen wrenches.
Get both metric and standard. these allen wrenches are made of the strongest steel of any allen wrench manufacturer. The ball end, is invaluable. Price? 12ish dollar for both.

While I think about it, you might need a set of Tox wrenches. Since you rarely use these, and since they dont slip, here you can use the ones that come in the cheap "40 screwdrivers for 20 bucks" set of Craftsman brand. Get one of those sets. The Craftsman brand screwdrivers can be used as "beaters", for their warranty and such... thats what I do. I save my good screwdriver for screws only, the craftsman become small crowbars, chisels, paint lid removers, chemical stirrers, etc.

Also buy a high tension hacksaw (cost more, but worth it), blade assortment for hacksaw, drill bit set (made in america), a digital multimeter (Fluke is industry standard, and they make basic models for about 40 bucks), soldering pencil (for light duty stuff), and transformer driven soldering gun (heavyduty stuff, large wire). Weller is the industry standard for soldering irons and guns, but since these arent used much, cheaper brands like Radio Shack stuff will work.

If you buy those tool, put them in your tool box, then you'll have quality tools with lifetime warranties on all them, that will last the rest of your life. Plus, the only person that will ever say anything negative about THAt assortment of tools, is someone that spent 4 times as much on the basically the same level of quality stuff, from Snap-On. FYI.. that SK 1/4 inch socket set... its about 90 bucks. The Snap-on equivelant is 400 bucks. I gaurantee that while the SK set might be twice the quality of the Craftsman, the Snap-On set is NOT 4 times the tool as the SK.

FWIW, I use tools every day, I buy the best I can get at the price I pay, and I've even done tests will tools where I stressed them until they broke, and then checked the torque to see how strong the steel is.

-Robb