Items you upgraded after realizing how much you used them

[W_KY]

Most of the time when I make a purchase, it is a decision weighing cost vs how often I'll use it vs the utility gained by spending more. What items have you upgraded after realizing you used it alot more than expected and its worth spending the extra money. I'm sure I have several but these are the ones that struck me over the weekend.

1. Safety glasses. Mine are ok and provide protection but when wearing them all day, comfort is important as well

2. Screwdrivers. I hate hate hate camming out a screw

3. Plastic sawhorses. I have a nice set of trojan sawhorses that I get out for big projects but those plastic sawhorses are just so convenient I find myself pulling them out way more often than I expect. I'll throw them under a old hollow core door I have for an instant work table

 

[dirtydogintex]

screwdrivers:
plain ol' CM genuine Robertsons to replace poser 'square' drive bits and drivers

better (Williams/SO) replacing ok (CM plain)... CM Pro don't count because of availiability issues

should've done both years ago!

 

[cundifc]

Cheap wrenches to snap ons. I realized I value the skin on my knuckles!

 

[sberry]

battery drills/tool/light system.

 

[Subyroo651]

Worklight(s) and a good vibrant pen light for inspections.. Indispensable.

 

[sberry]

I will agree worklight has to be high on the list, so widely used and so many people work in the dark, dont even realize they cant see. In fact may be a factor in stripping/rounding bolts with a cheap wrench, cant see a boogered head to start with.

 

[cundifc]

Yeah I hear ya. I like my streamlight alot and just ordered a magnetic holder for it so that will be really nice.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Air compressor

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers. Level and alignment tools.

 

[ert01]

I agree on safety glasses. Our company always provided eyewear but I was never content with the glasses they'd buy us. They would scratch easily, fog easily, fall off easily or break randomly.

I ended up buying myself a set of Oakley M frames and I absolutely love them. I wear them for 8-12 hours everyday of the week and they are WAY better than the Uvex's that the company would supply us.

One set of clear lenses lasts me over a year. Replacements can be had for $40 or so online.

 

[RalphInCA]

Wife

Just kidding. Have had the same one for thirty years. Will never desire another.

 

[dink]

I guess I am to the point of first I get rid of each and everything I don't use and the "might" use and when those things that finally break then I will replace with a better quality said item if it is warranted financially to buy a better quality product. If I break something I rarely use there is 100% chance I will "buy up". Most likely I won't replace it period.

 

[ddo]

Instrument / precision screwdrivers - the smaller it is, the more quality matters. Nothing more frustrating than twisting the head of a small screwdriver removing an "electrician tight" screw from a panel. Haven't found anything better than Wiha yet.

Pliers and pipe wrenches - all are not created equal. Quick easy adjustment and strength of teeth make work a breeze. Pliers wrench, cobras, Bahco reversable adjustable wrench pipe wrench combo, and Rigid Aluminum pipe wrenches.

 

[toolstools]

Socket holders. Plastic peg is so much quicker then socket rails

 

[shocksandstrutz]

just about everything, when i was in college i could only afford some of the cheaper tools, ive been going back and buying name brand quality tools. been happy ever since

 

[rwelch]

Bearing packer, before I would repack bearings by hand and what a mess. I purchased a mac bearing packer and it saves so much time and almost eliminates the mess of grease everywhere. Next is the shop scan tool. Our first scanner was an otc pegisys, had it about 2 years and it wouldn't work correctly the whole time. Finally upgraded to a snap on verdict and what a difference the scanner is so much better and we only payed 2500 after some trade ins. Not an upgrade to my tools but one I use.

 

[richfinn]

I,m slowly upgrading stuff all the time when I spot a bargain. I just relegated my Snap-On pliers (not bad but but annoying slip joint type) to the service van as I got a deal on some new NWS combis. I also retired my 23 year old Snap-On ratchet screwdriver to the van for a new comfort handled version with the different length shanks. I also got a deal on a dual pressure/vac Mityvac and donated my old leaky no name POS to one of the local lads at the garage

 

[#1SomeGuy]

Haven't done too many upgrades yet, but getting there...some items it's nice to have two of, so buying the higher quality ones second time around. So some of these are upgrades because I use them a lot, and some of these are for versitility, better quality and being able to swap faster. Some that I can think of off the top of my head:

Pliers - Mastercraft -> Channellock
Cordless Drills - Mastercraft -> Dewalt
Grinder - Mastercraft -> Dewalt
Air Compressor (this year sometime) - Husky -> ??? Probably Quincy or IR
Air Hammer - CH -> IR
Ratchets - Mix of craftsman/mastercraft/powerfist -> Gearwrench

 

[Capt Chrysler]

In 1984. Every Craftman 3/8 and 1/4 inch in my tool box. Went Snap On and never looked back!

Capt. Chrysler

 

[DocsMachine]

Damn near everything in my shop, depending on what you mean by "tool" and how far back you want to go.

Like the bench grinder. I started with one of those old style cheap plastic-bodied Craftsman bench grinders. I got tired of the noise and vibration and replaced it with a Wissota. I started using the Wissota for buffing as well as grinding, and so much so that I eventually replaced it (as a buffer) with a real Baldor extended-shaft buffing motor. But the Wissota as a grinder still didn't always have enough power, so I eventually replaced it with an 8" Baldor.

Or welders: I started out years ago with one of those Hobart 120V suitcase welders, which worked great for what it was, but eventually upgraded to a big Lincoln SP machine.

My vertical mill started out as an old Jet mill-drill, which I used so much I wore it plumb out. I upgraded to a Bridgeport clone (still an import, but a good quality one) which was better and faster in every respect.

Cutting tools- I used to buy cheap import asian endmills (and still do on occasion for rough work) but after finding out how much better high-quality cutters were, and how much longer they lasted, I now buy the best I can afford.

The list goes on... Bought a Karcher pressure washer, kinda weak and tempermental motor, replaced it with a real live Hotsy. Had an old Craftsman-branded (but imported) drill press, replaced it with a Rockwell vari-drive, then replaced that with an Arboga gear-drive with an X/Y table. I've eventually swapped out almost all my mismatched wrenches and sockets for Craftsman, SK, the occasional Proto and Snap-On, etc. (The mismatched stuff I've set aside in a junkyard box.)

I've upgraded my vise, my soldering iron, the belt grinder, even my hammers. I wore out the plastic-bodied MityVac, replaced it with a rebuildable metal one. When you use tools constantly- and for pay- that's pretty much how it works.

Doc.

 

[pilotman81]

Have upgr'aded most all of my original CM and HF "tools" that I started at the truck stop in '05 with SO. I''ll never go back.

 

[Alan Douglas]

Not just safety glasses, but regular eyeglasses. They get used all day, every day; what better to spend money on?

 

[Chandos]

Another vote for air compressor, but, then, I never replace anything without upgrading it, within reason, of course.

 

[Kev442]

Slip joint pliers. I've had to use some godawful ones and they can ruin your whole day.

 

[countrytech]

Vicegrips (HF & "toolkit" brands upgraded to Kobalt)
Driver bits for my cordless drill (anything I could find upgraded to Craftsman & Dewalt)
Forstner and nailbiter wood boring bits (upgraded from those crappy spade bits)
Table saw (80's Delta upgraded to a Jet)
Safety glasses. Decent ones are more apt to be used.


I need to upgrade my drill bits for drilling metal. Any suggestions?

 

[Rezeppa]

Multimeter, HEX SOCKETS not all are equal. Any bit socket wish I would have always bought the best. I just upgraded my Matco set wish I never bought them. Battery tester actually a down grade but a upgrade in my book. I hate digital battery testers.

 

[Holt]

For me it was the pliers, cutters, and plain jane phillips head screwdriver

 

[Outlawmws]

4-1/2" mini grinder from a thumb button to a paddle. I hated how the thump button ALWAYS gave me a sore/separated thumbnail,

Cutoff saw from Taiwan to Wilton a couple of years ago

Taiwan DP to a vintage Rockwell a couple of months ago. (The last of any cheap Asian import tools I owned on purpose)

The primary tool box parade seems endless, from a small carry box, to home made wood box to a craftsman 10 drawer top to a Kennedy top and intermediate, to a 12 drawer roller, and heading for the next step past that some time...

Ratchets from the basic style to longer and flex head models.

Anytime I can get top grade tools that are better than what I have (About to swap the Craftsman RP wrenches out I've had for 40+ years for Protos...)

 

[machine_punk]

ANY Vice grip in my garage is being upgraded to the CH Hansens AUTOMATIC locking pliers. Once you try them once, you will never go back. I love the build quality of US-made vice grips, but the convenience of automatic locking pliers is unbelievable (and the CH Hansens are a quality product too).

 

[Jason280]

Welding machines, cutting blades, air compressors, and definitely hex/Torx bits. Anyone who's ever wrenched on a Jeep has learned that you cannot cheap out on Torx bits. I imagine its the same on other vehicles, but the windshield and roll bar frame Torx bits on a YJ will make you hate life if you use cheap bits. The first thing I did once I'd gotten all mine removed was promptly replace them with hex head bolts.

 

[bustdknuckle]

I just upgraded my napa torx to snap ons on the promo they are running now the gold torx are the best

 

[Rebelphotog]

Honestly, I just don't buy junk to begin with, whether I can afford it or not. If I need it, I buy it. That being said, I do have cheaper stuff for "beater" use or to throw in the truck toolbox that I find dirt cheap because it hardly ever gets used (like a full set of metric and standard wrenches in stubby, standard, and long pattern that I got for $8 on clearance at Advanced Auto Parts).

But any of my primary tools that live in the tool box in the shed are tools that I'm willing to spend the money on to get exactly what I want so that I don't have to buy again later. Sometimes this means I don't buy something that I really WANT but don't immediately NEED because I just flat out don't have the money. This is where I have to deal with my whole lack of patience

 

[Subyroo651]

I just upgraded my napa torx to snap ons on the promo they are running now the gold torx are the best

Last night I broke my first SO tool, ironically enough, it was a Gold SO torx bit. T-15. Granted it was my brute of a brother using it but I was still surprised. Owell

 

[stapler]

Portable band saw. I bought the HF model to use for about a month and ended up using it for a year and a half. It never broke, but I was tired of putting on ear plugs every time I wanted to make a cut because of the sound the gears made. I also wanted something I could mount in a stand temporarily, I'm sure that will turn into buying a actual vertical band saw at some point.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Snap ring pliers and drill bits. Even using the Proto snap ring pliers was a bit frustrating. Unfortunately I only have a limited size range of my NWS pliers, but they grip those rings so much nicer than anything else I've used.

I find myself mostly drilling steel. I started out with cheap import Ti coated hss bits, then I go nice Ti hss bits, then I went to nice cobalt bits. So much nicer