More Tool Talk

[TexasT]

Re: More Tool Talk

Like many others, I started out with Craftsman and still have what I didn't lose over the years. When you have to make a living with them buying the best is hard to argue. Especially when service comes with it. The craftsman guy doesn't stop by my place. But the Matco, SnapOn, and Mac guy did when I was working. The main thing is to be on a good rapore with whoever you buy from. I even know the guys at the Sears as I frequent there often while the wife shops. This can make worlds of difference when getting replacements.

Also at my sears they have a special endcap that they put the discontinued stuff. Check it out. I make it my first stop when I go in. They had jigsaw blades for .99 cents a pack regularly 2.99. They also had screw drivers about 66% off. They even had a few 'professional' handled ones and some stainless steel ones that I snapped up for gifts(My brother loved them).

I've bought a few things off ebay but watch out for the wording in the ads. I love my flank drive pus wrenches like these( http://cgi.ebay.com/SNAP-ON-Tools-FL...QQcmdZViewItem ) they tend to tear up fasteners but don't let go so you save you knuckles. Just don't get caught up in the bidding and over pay(They still have to be shipped to you).

Also ask your tool guy if he has used trade in stuff. Again this is when you need to have a good relationship as he will hopefully get you a good deal on used stuff and warranty it too(I bought a bunch of stuff like this). One of the guys I worked with got a great Matco taco wagon from the Snappy guy as He was trying to unload it quick(He even financed it for him(remember the good relationship point)).

Bottom line is buy what you are comfortable with. Save the receipts(My guys used to keep track for me and give me a print out for tax purposes at the end of the year) as these are business expenses if you are doing it for a living but consult you tax professional if not familiar with the rules. Have fun. I love the search for a bargain.

Rich

[Woodward_Dreams]

Re: More Tool Talk

Alright guys.... i picked them up. Its just a 283 piece set so most of you wont consider it all that big of a deal, but im pretty excited. After laying all of it out in my room, i realize why you guys recomend my buyin a box as soon as possible.... and believe me, i am. but i feel like i picked a decent set for 50 bucks off and i still have money left for the box. now i dont have to do all my wrenchin at school.

BTW thanks for all the opinions and thoughts


Bill

[72_Ventura]

Re: More Tool Talk

Congratulations.
You done good. I wish I had bought a set like that at 18. You can't go wrong with craftsman as far as hand tools go. You'll probably have those (the ones that your kids don't lose or steal) for the rest of you life.
Looks like you've got all the wrenches and sockets you'll need for 99% of your jobs. I'd still say next should be a good screwdriver set, along with torx drivers.
Congratulations again.

[DanStokes]

Re: More Tool Talk

Darn good starter set! Enjoy and have fun!

Mom will likely NEVER get it! Mine's 87, and she still doesn't understand, but she was thrilled when some years back I traded for a Chevy Celebrity and painted it bright red base-clear for her. She's still driving it and brags on me regularly.

One of my favorite stories was when I was about your age and ordered a box of nuts and bolts from Monkey Wards. They arrived and I was all excited - just mixed stuff so I would have some fasteners in stock if I needed them. Mom never could understand why ANYONE would want such a thing - still doesn't.

Later
Dan

[Fordplay0621]

Re: More Tool Talk

We have to shadow all of our tools in our tool box, It looks great and you can tell when something is missing. My Brother-in-Law saw my Toolbox and now all of his Mechanics are required to do the same.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: More Tool Talk

You're in the Air Force aren't you? I just had to do that with my tools in my Lab for our ORI.... sucked doing tool control.

[Fordplay0621]

Re: More Tool Talk

Craftsman is always a good route to go, you can always find a Sears.
Snap-On, MAC, Matco tools are great, a bit expensive, and you have to wait for the truck guy to come around. Buy the Smaller sets Like Screwdrivers, Vise grips, Pliers, and Wrenches. When you buy them individually it comes out almost the same. I bought the Mechanics Set and I only use about half of the Tools (EVER). get a seperate set of Metrics.
If you go to Sears right after the Holidays you can usually find some good deals on the Floor Model Tool Boxes. I Got a Rollaway Stackup and Top Box for $75 Because it had a Small scratch on the side. My Aviation stickers covered that little problem fairly easy.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: More Tool Talk

I love my Precision torque wrenches. They are the same people who make the Snap-Ons and don't cost near as much. My 50-250 is top notch.

[Lobucrod]

Re: More Tool Talk

even if you have a good tool box you will benefit by getting wrench and socket organizers. I like the socket organizers with the magnets on them. It only takes one hand to get a socket where the tight fitting kind take two hands. Get the wrench organizers that the wrenches just lay in not clip in for the same reason. With them you can tell at a glance if a wrench is missing then go find it before it takes a ride down the road on a fender well to be relocated at parts unknown.

[PYSCHOWard]

Re: More Tool Talk

Buying your 1st Tool set is a memorable event in a gearheads's life. As stated buy the best you can afford, not nessecarily, the biggest name brand. No brand is of the SAME Quality as yrs ago.
Rounded bolt heads, Stripped screws SUCK, along with Busted knuckles, also remember GOOD safety glasses and mechanic's gloves.

NEVER,EVER forget to return a Borrowed tool.

[shaun callaway]

Re: More Tool Talk

craftsman is good quality, 98% of my tools are craftsman, my airtools are blue point which are really nice a little pricey but worth it. my torque wrench is a digital snap on (well worth the 400 bucks i paid).

i look at it this way if a craftsman tool breaks you can exchange it 7 days a week, with snap on and the like they only come around if you owe them money (usually once a week) if you dont owe them money good luck trying to find one.

just my 2 cents

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: More Tool Talk

Just thought of something this morning while I was packing up my crankshaft to take to the machineshop. Don't count out crappy tiawan tools in a pinch. I don't have a set of stubbies but I've found that the crappy wrenches in my "trunk set" are the perfect length for getting to the various bolts that are burried in tight spots on my Riviera. Seriously, my Craftsman wrenches aren't useable on the distributor hold down bolt on the back of the nailhead, got to use the trunk set. You never know when the crappy stuff will save you life.

[Ron Ward]

Re: More Tool Talk

Rounded bolt heads, Stripped screws SUCK, along with Busted knuckles, also remember GOOD safety glasses and mechanic's gloves.

NEVER,EVER forget to return a Borrowed tool.

Busted knuckles, cuts, abrasions..... Man, I have never had so many injuries as I have when I've worked on Fords. Those things will cut you to ribbons! ;D

[The Chief]

Re: More Tool Talk

Tools can get addictive and those tool vans are the worst lol

I started buying a few bits from the vans MAC,SNAPON and an Independant guy before i knew it i had 3 rollcabs. I hate not having a tool to do a job i think i pretty much have most things covered apart from the odd specialist jobs but if i know i have to do something i will try and get the right tools.

I even have seperate shop and house tools lol

I was on the MAC truck one day and the guy had a small Foose limited edition set so i got it for the house, it lives in the lounge and is used as a coffee table as well as a tool box. The guy called me about a week later asking if i could bring just the box back in as he needed to have something checked on it or so i thought. Turns out that Foose was coming to the UK and he got the box signed for me 8)

[Woodward_Dreams]

Re: More Tool Talk

Thanks for the helpful tip guys. My friends and i always joke about how we want to be the guy who drives the snap-on truck.