This under-$100 tool set has almost everything you need to handle household repairs yourself

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• Whether it's to assemble overly complicated Ikea furniture, make repairs to your home, or perform basic maintenance on your vehicle, a good tool set is a must for just about everybody.

• One of the most popular tool makers on Amazon is Crescent, a member of the Apex Tool Group, which manages dozens of brands sold throughout the world.

• I liked the Crescent 170-Piece Tool Set because the tools are durable, the socket set made many jobs easy, and it features a heavy-duty plastic case that keeps items in their place
• Though the Crescent CTK170CMP2 Mechanics Tool Set is more expensive than many of the basic tool sets out there (currently $78.25 on Amazon), it has a lot more applications than other sets and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Years ago, when moving to a new home, I had to take apart and reassemble a bed frame. The task required unscrewing eight nuts from eight long bolts. I had a wrench, pliers, and very little room to work with. We got the laborious job done, but it probably would have gone much faster if I'd gone to a hardware store and purchased a socket set. I share this story because having the right tools for the job saves time and makes the experience much more pleasant. Plus, it may inspire you to get more projects done.

The Crescent 170-Piece Mechanics Tool Set (model # CTK170CMP2) would have come in handy all those years ago. My new home is a fixer-upper, and Apex Tool Group sent me a set to test out as I got settled. Here's what I thought.

My first experiences with the Crescent Tool Set

Out of the box, the set weighs about 20 pounds, and all of the tools are stored in a rugged plastic case that can stand upright or lay on its side. The set comes with:

• 67 sockets: ¼", 3/8", ½" 6-point and 3/8" 12-point
• 40 driver bits: hex, Torx, slotted, and Phillips
• 24 Hex keys
• 12 combination wrenches
• 3 quick-release ratchets: ¼", 3/8", and ½" drives
• 4 ratchet extensions
• 1 3/8" female x ¼" male adapter
• An 8" adjustable wrench
• 8" long-nose cutting pliers
• 10" tongue and groove pliers
• 2 slotted magnetic screwdrivers
• 2 Phillips magnetic screwdrivers
• A magnetic bit driver

If you're keeping score at home, you may notice that this doesn't add up to 170 pieces. More on that later. For now, I'll just say not all of the pieces are tools.

Many of the tools are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. The only parts not covered are the carrying case, accessory bits, and consumable products.

How the Crescent Tool Set performed

I have used this tool set for about four months. In that time, we moved into an old house that was in the middle of being renovated. We did some of the work on our own, but mostly, I used the tool set to assemble and install a variety of different items as we tried to make the house a home. It was easy to grab the case, open it up, and access to just about anything I would need to complete my project. I love the ratchets and sockets included in the kit. It made several jobs go a lot faster, and the extensions helped reach tight spots.

I never knew when a particular driver bit might come in handy. For instance, I was installing a doorbell that was supposed to come with a T5 Torx (six-pointed star shape) screwdriver. Well, it didn't. Fortunately, the Crescent Tool Set had a T5 driver bit.

Many of the products you order online that require assembly come with junky little tools that are a pain to use. With this set, it was glad I could toss the crap tool aside and get the job done faster and better with higher quality tools.

The Crescent Tool Set has a 4.5-star customer rating on Amazon. There are some complaints of rusty tools, but that has not been my experience. After four months of use, they show very little wear. I recommend taking good care of your tools and storing them properly to avoid corrosion.

Some concerns about the tool set

Unfortunately, the set does not include everything you will need to perform basic home repairs. For instance, there isn't a hammer, level, tape measure, or a utility knife. These are easy enough to find on their own, but it would be nice to have an all-inclusive tool kit that you can grab without needing extra items.

Be wary of any tool set that advertises how many "pieces" it has. For example, the Crescent says there are 170 pieces in the set, but 131 of those pieces are driver bits, sockets, or hex keys. 11 more of the pieces aren't even tools. Included in the 170 number are the holders for the bits and hex keys, the case itself, and the clasps on the case. I haven't used every tool in the set, and I'm not sure if I ever will, but despite the number padding, it's nice to have non-standard bits and sockets around if the situation arises.

I would have appreciated a magnetic socket bit or any other tool that would allow me to use the driver bits with the ratchets more easily. There were several occasions when this would have come in handy. And, when I tried to use a bit with a socket, the bit would keep falling out.

I had a hard time taking some of the tools out and putting them back in. But, overall, I appreciated that the tools stayed put in the case.

Lastly, I found how the case opens and closes to be mildly annoying. The top clasps are not easy to access because of the handle. You have to reach behind the top to unclasp it. Then, when you want to close the case, you must make sure to close the right side first, or it won't clasp.

Bottom line

A good tool set is a must for anyone. It makes completing projects much easier and more enjoyable. And, while the Crescent Mechanics Tool Set doesn't have everything you will need, it does have plenty of useful options for an array of applications. Plus, it is backed by a lifetime warranty. I strongly recommend this set for beginners tasked with household repairs, installations, assemblies, and maintenance.

Buy the Crescent Mechanics Tool Set (170 Piece) on Amazon for $78.25

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