Question for pro mechanics/techs regarding tools for home.

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

I'm a golf course equipment mechanic. My tools at work consist of mainly Snap On, and USA made Craftsman. Lately I've been wanting to be able to work on my motorcycles and stuff without having to lug tools back and forth from home and work. I've got more craftsman stuff at home, but none of it feels comfortable to me. It's almost like I need two sets of the tools I have at work to bring home. Anyone else that works with their tools professionally experience this? Maybe I'm just a weirdo?

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I have experienced that same thing. I have Craftsman at home and can't stand using the wrenches or the ratchets after working with Snap On all day. I just bring home now if I need to. Not gonna spend the money on Snap On stuff at home.


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[ToolmakerCT]

Yep, have that problem too. Instead of Snap On it's Starrett for me thou, haha.

 

[blown94conv]

Work is work to me. Once I started using the "good stuff", I replaced the "other stuff" at home. Once I didn't need tools for work, I found myself with about 9 sets of 1/4 metric sockets at home. Sold some, kept most.

 

[Ponchoguy]

I'm a golf course equipment mechanic. My tools at work consist of mainly Snap On, and USA made Craftsman. Lately I've been wanting to be able to work on my motorcycles and stuff without having to lug tools back and forth from home and work. I've got more craftsman stuff at home, but none of it feels comfortable to me. It's almost like I need two sets of the tools I have at work to bring home. Anyone else that works with their tools professionally experience this? Maybe I'm just a weirdo?

I duplicate my tools at both of my properties, USA Craftsman for the most part on both. It works out for me and money wise, I get the job done (and then some) at a reasonable cost.

 

[bobcatdan]

I built my home tool set by upgrading what I had work. I had reasonably decent tools when I started professionally. Overtime I bought larger socket sets, better wrenches, screwdrivers, ect. Taking tools home that I was already use to made it more comfortable at home. Also I found it easier to buy say a big punch and chisels set for work and take my old set home then to justify spending on a halfway decent set for home.

 

[gsingh]

Most of my sockets and some ratchets are craftsman at home. I did upgrade my ratchets to SO. Wrenches are also SO at home. For impacts I have SK. Sometimes it feels weird because I am not used to it, but it gets the job done.

 

[Xmoonstompx]

I'm in the same boat. I've been slowly replacing my home stuff with ebay finds and truck trade-ins.

 

[abvw]

I was planning to cheap out and get the Williams USA sockets for home use.

 

[crewchief888]

I built my home tool set by upgrading what I had work. I had reasonably decent tools when I started professionally. Overtime I bought larger socket sets, better wrenches, screwdrivers, ect. Taking tools home that I was already use to made it more comfortable at home. Also I found it easier to buy say a big punch and chisels set for work and take my old set home then to justify spending on a halfway decent set for home.

^^^

did pretty much the same thing.
as my "working" tool selection expanded, i started taking stuff home.
i had tools scattered in several places, in my truck, at home,(apartment), at a friends place, and some stored at my moms house.
mom decided to sell her house, and move a couple states away, and about the same time we started seriously looking for a house. after we moved in, it took a few months to get all my "non working" tools in one place.
i rarely have to bring anything home, and if i do, my service truck is parked in front of the house.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I'm holding out till I become a field mechanic and have my toolbox come home each night.

 

[Eastsidetech]

I am somewhat the same, although I can deal with using craftsman, etc at home. I did have to bring a Cornwell and snapon ratchet home 1/4 and 3/8. Also nabbed a few repo's and such. While I don't like my non pro wrenches at home including the Mac precision torque(which are **** even compared to craftsman raised panel if you ask me). The big thing for me is bringing home stuff that makes life easier since I have it, even when it is not "needed" to complete the job.

 

[one9gt]

equipment manager here as well, what course?

 

[jrobb316]

Tools from work got upgraded and became my home set. Then I quit the flat ****/auto mechanic game and got an industrial job. Now my work set became my home set, half my home set became my work set, and the other half is being sold little by little.

 

[zmotorsports]

Lugging tools back and forth does ****, but what ***** worse is using a tool at home and it not being up to par with what you are used to using at work during the day.

I vowed to myself that I would never buy sub-standard tools for work or home and therefore it can get quite costly to have double sets of everything for home and work. I started hitting pawn shops and purchased quite a few MAC, Proto, Cornwell, Matco and Snap-On for my home shop and many were in like new condition for pennies on the dollar.

Also, keep in mind that most of us have acquired the tools that we have over many, many years, not just a few purchases and bingo you have a full set at home. That is something I don't think people take into consideration when they look at a tool collection someone has and is working with.

Mike.

 

[jsaw]

Some stuff at home is craftsman, some of it is a duplicate of what I have at work. When you are used to using quality tools at work, it is hard to use lower quality tools at home.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Any tool that I dislike goes in a junk drawer; and will get used no place.... My Road Chest that is used for work has many tools that are cloned in my Main Shop.. Snap On and ProTo are the dominators, but there are Armstrong, "some USA Craftsman", Sk, and a host of other brands such as Cornwell, Master Force, some HF impact sockets(eeek). USA Kobalt, Allen, and KD that were bought on Cripes.. Several sets of Gear Wrench ratcheting wrenches, Mac, Wright, Williams, Vaughan hammers, Enderes punches and chisels.. Definitely a mix... My vehicle tool sets and back shop are pretty much under the same guideline: If I don't like using it, it ain't gonna be there... So I do have some cheapo tools mixed in, but they have to be OK tools or they will end up in the junk drawer..

 

[stikman56]

Long as the tools still do the job without a bunch of hassle it don't make any difference to me.

 

[TNToy]

I got lucky and ended up in a union / government job after 10 years in car dealerships. They now supply all of our tools (it's PROTO and half of what we should actually have cut to budget battles and politics)...

But that meant all of my SnapOn and Matco came home, including the big two bay Cornwell box.

Like I said, lucky.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

equipment manager here as well, what course?

Relatively new private course in North West NJ called Black Oak. I've been there from the start five years ago. 90% Toro fleet, nothing too outrageously old. We've got a Toro Groundmaster 4500 that's getting up there hour wise, but the majority of our equipment is newer. That's not to say we didn't have some real ratty pieces of **** during the grow in period early on. Where are you at?

 

[crewchief888]

I'm holding out till I become a field mechanic and have my toolbox come home each night.

yep, definitely a benefit having a toolbox on 6 wheels at home...

 

[Finky198]

Relatively new private course in North West NJ called Black Oak. I've been there from the start five years ago. 90% Toro fleet, nothing too outrageously old. We've got a Toro Groundmaster 4500 that's getting up there hour wise, but the majority of our equipment is newer. That's not to say we didn't have some real ratty pieces of **** during the grow in period early on. Where are you at?

Lol We're neighbors I'm up near the Morris Sussex border

But back to the question I tend to just bring home what ever I need for a project using a craftsman canvas tool bag...

I do keep a small set of tools at the house a set CM RP wrenches, channel locks, a few hammers, snappy ratcheting screw driver, a pipe wrench and 2 adjustable wrenches.

 

[rattlesnake436]

I use whatever that works I do buy SNAP-on tools from pawn shops and I do most of my work at home I work out of a 3 draw huskey toolbox

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