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[jyoukhanna017]

Hi everyone, my name is John and I am 18 years old. I am just graduating from high school. I have more tools than the average 18 year old, or so I like to think. Everything I have is stuff I've paid for except that Black Craftsman tool chest on the right of the HF 42" rollaway (best gift a girlfriend could get) . I work at Sears in the tool department so you can guess what kind of deals I get. The cart in second picture I picked up for $20 I am leaving Sears though because I got a job as a mechanic at my neighbors shop full time. I have been working on cars since 15 and started out pretty much with a 17 mm wrench and an impact driver from Sears so I could do a brake job on my dads Honda. All of my tools are pretty much Craftsman with some HF odds and ends. I do have a Snap on 1/4 dr. 10 mm socket though But I have about a week left of school to get 1/2 off from the Snap On guy and was wondering what I should get. That cart is now full by the way, along with the HF and the Craftsman boxes. By the way I pretty much have all the Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches I could ever need, all of my ratchets, wrenches, and sockets are Craftsman, so are my screwdrivers, and air tools.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Welcome to the board, it sounds like you are off to a great start!..........well perhaps you are a bit beyond a start it sounds like!

 

[krusty the clown]

welcome fellow tool addict........

 

[wrenchr]

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[3/8"indestro]

since most of you're tools are paid off,the only reason I can think of getting something from Snapy is if you have cash burning in your pockets.how about 2 each of the 80 series ratchets,one to keep for yourself and one to unload to e-bay to pay for the ones you are keeping.

 

[jyoukhanna017]

I actually thought of that but I was debating wether its right to do it or not. Any ideas on buying tools 1/2 off and selling them?

 

[krusty the clown]

I actually thought of that but I was debating wether its right to do it or not. Any ideas on buying tools 1/2 off and selling them?

thats how business is done......buy low sell high!

 

[Merkava_4]

What's that red box in the center? It looks like it has a nice side handle.

 

[jyoukhanna017]

That would be the infamous $299 Harbor Freight Box and I love it. Will have to go with a bigger set up soon though (probably at the end of summer), I don't know if I want to get the top chest, or if I want to go with a new set up all together since I will be only taking the HF roll away and the black 2 drawer cart with me to the shop. The black craftsman combo is staying at home.

 

[Merkava_4]

Does that HF box have 4 bolts mounting the side handle on or 2 ?

 

[jyoukhanna017]

It has two bolts holding it on

 

[Kevin54]

But I have about a week left of school to get 1/2 off from the Snap On guy and was wondering what I should get.

Now is the time to go for the bigger box.

 

[eschoendorff]

You got a good thing going.... welcome to the board!

 

[jyoukhanna017]

Even with half off I still couldn't afford to get a box bigger than the one I currently have. Shoot, for $300 I could get ten of them from HF and come out way ahead of a Snap On in terms of storage space. Since, I work at Sears I'm always looking at what I'll buy next but I know for sure it won't be a bigger tool box. They are way to flimsy. The drawers wiggle side to side way to much and this is on all their 41" and above units. The drawers are also made of thinner sheet metal than my HF box. I also love the powedercoating on my current box, the Craftsman finsih just scratches and chips way too easily.

 

[chappys4life]

That would be the infamous $299 Harbor Freight Box and I love it. Will have to go with a bigger set up soon though (probably at the end of summer), I don't know if I want to get the top chest, or if I want to go with a new set up all together since I will be only taking the HF roll away and the black 2 drawer cart with me to the shop. The black craftsman combo is staying at home.

$299 where do I find this deal?

 

[Kevin54]

$299 where do I find this deal?<!-- / message -->

That would be the infamous $299 Harbor Freight Box and I love it.

My guess would be Harbor Freight, but I may be off.

 

[chappys4life]

My guess would be Harbor Freight, but I may be off.

Well I figured that but I don't see that price on their site. So I was curious

 

[GDA]

Welcome! I wish I had had as many tools as you do at the age of 18. You are on the right path young man.

 

[Mike83]

Welcome! If I could get Snappy tools 1/2 off, without breaking the bank, I would go for ratchets, wrenches and pliers (I have the needle nose, slip joint and cutter set and they are some of my favorite tools.) I like the Instinct screwdrivers too, but I am in the minority on that I think. A good number of their other tools, as far as I can see, are other brands labeled as Snap-On and jacked up in price. Just my .02

 

[64merc]

Welcome! If I could get Snappy tools 1/2 off, without breaking the bank, I would go for ratchets, wrenches and pliers (I have the needle nose, slip joint and cutter set and they are some of my favorite tools.) I like the Instinct screwdrivers too, but I am in the minority on that I think. A good number of their other tools, as far as I can see, are other brands labeled as Snap-On and jacked up in price. Just my .02

x2 on this one!!

 

[jyoukhanna017]

Well first off, the box goes on sale for $299 once a while. You have to look for it. They did not have it at the HF I go to so they reserved the next one that came in for me and honored the $299 price which I thought was pretty nice. As for the pliers I'll have to check them out but I will probably be getting those extra long box wrenches. I love those in ten and thirteen mm for tight spots.

 

[T56 Impala]

Welcome to the forum!!!

Nice collection for an 18 yo I must say. Chicago burbs huh? I recently moved south from Naperville. Loved it there but hated the winters. Sounds like I just missed a real bad one!

I would suggest you start maybe getting rid of the HF stuff. Well, not the box. (I feel that these are one of the better Items HF sells!) Pick up a good set of pliers too. The Craftsman stuff you have should serve you well for many years to come. Is it the Pro stuff or he standard raise panel stuff?

Anyway, welcome aboard.

 

[jyoukhanna017]

Well the only harbor freight things I have are some ball peen hammers, magnets, swivel impact sockets, 1/4 in air ratchet, and some locking pliers. Otherwise all my sockets, ratchets, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, elec. stuff (DVOM, Soldering Gun, etc..), and air tools are craftsman. And all of my specialty stuff like: pickle forks, belt tools, flywheel turner, etc... are either kd tools or lisle so I think I'm good for now. I want to upgrade those impact swivels to some Sk's but $20 each for the 3/8 and 1/2 shallow swivel sets were a deal I couldn't pass up. I just don't want to be working this summer and kick myself in the *** for not getting anything from the Snap On guy for 1/2 off, especially if I end up needing it.

 

[T56 Impala]

If you go with anything from HF stay with Pittsburgh Pro stuff only. You should also TRIPLE check the country of manufacture. They do sell some Made In the USA things though they are few and far between.

As you may know quality wise, Taiwan is better than mainland China. China is heads and shoulders above India. Of course USA is better than any of them when it comes to tools. There are a lot of USA only folks here. Some, like me, tend to lean towards the USA stuff but realize that there are quality things that come from over seas too. Hey, Beta and Facom aren't USA tools yet are some of the finest tools in the world. Even the USA only guys will agree to that!

I have several HF items and they are very good. My Stubbies are Pittsburgh Pros and they make the Craftsman Pros look like trash. (Sorry folks, I know I harp on these a lot. I did check the store the other day and they are NOT selling the same set I have anymore.) I have the BP hammers and a few small items also. I hear the ball joint kit is a good one too. I will find out as I am going to pick that set up this weekend.

Its simple, keep your eyes open. If you don't like how it looks or feels then it is likely NOT a quality tool. Cheaper price is good, cheaper quality is not only bad, but could be dangerous!