Constant drive to complete a set. Evil tool companies!

[amishman]

I tell ya, these tool companies have us by the sacks. Get blokes like me that have a drive to complete sets with some brand loyalty mixed in.

Then come out with something new but slightly different and it all starts over again.

Do any of you feel like you can't quite complete a set before something new comes out and you better buy the older model items now before you can't later.

Then in the end you end up with multiple complete sets of similar tools, and they all work perfectly damn fine...

But the sickness to buy more never ends.



I am a poor SOB so don't have it so bad but do find having started out Craftsman as a kid, and then not having a complete set of such and such, and can't get the missing item anymore, move onto a new design and start collecting those, and then run into the same boat again.

Seems to be a never ending cycle.

I have a nice Craftsman "gear wrench" style set and had most of them. Then one odd-ball size Craftsman did not make so purchase a similar Gearwrench brand, but it is not the same. Is smaller length to it and sticks out in a line-up like it does not belong.

I mean, I use it but is always cool to have complete sets of something.

Yesterday I saw some Husky black colored wrenches. Looked really nice. Thought they would go nicely with a new 41" Husky Toolbox I just purchased. Would be sweet to have ALL Husky brand tools in this box but that ain't gonna happen. Too poor so it will be a mix and match of Craftsman, Pittsburgh, local FLAPS store stuff, a few nicer brands odds n ends I have collected over the years.

But I do like the sleek looks of the all black tools from Husky.

Anyway, just wanted to yap. It's Friday after-all. Weekend is about here!!

TJ

 

[larry_g]

You get your account back and waste it on this nonsense. If I have a tool in the box that gets the job done then the set is complete. I'm not affected by the "have to have latest and all match" syndrome.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Gmonkee]

Try vintage sets from more than fifty years back.

I have most of a set of BB convex, three of six Eagle brand and never got past two on any of the other types or brands of ancient stuff.
My first collector bit of a Armstrong DOE pre 1921 style is still -one- of a set of nine. But i sure got a pile of similar stuff now.

Roll with it friend. Get those cool black wrenches anyway just to enjoy life if nothing else.

 

[PJNJ]

I used to be the same way but not anymore. About 15 years ago, most of my tools were lost in a bad breakup/move. Since then I have purchased tools as I needed them or could afford them. And they are mixed among brands. For example, my main set of wrenches I pieced together with USA Cman professional (Armstrong) when Sears started phasing them out (and discounting the singles). The sizes I couldn't find were filled in with Armstrong, Allen, KD, Wright, Husky and SK. I also have Proto, Facom, Williams, and Snap On wrenches. Most are polished chrome but some are satin. They all work well and are all much, much better than the Cman raised panels they replaced (I still use Cman raised panels in the larger SAE sizes). I have many different brands of ratchets and impact sockets. My chrome sockets are for the most part Cman USA and SK with Snap On, Mac, Wright, and Armstrong mixed in.

All of it works and works well for me. No nut or bolt has ever refused to be turned by them. The different brands don't bother me at all. Actually, I feel better when I see the different brands since I remember I saved a fair amount of money shopping around and buying new and used tools from different brands. That money saved allowed me to buy other tools I needed.

 

[crewchief888]

no single company makes the best of everything, so they all got some of my money.
some more than others...

i probably dont own a "complete" set of anything, i started buying my own tools in '76

 

[drink]

I have put together several sets of tools over the years. When I assembled the sets I wanted to make matching sets with the same brand of tools. After I invested in the brand names the manufacturer would announce they were dropping the brand from production and they would be replaced with a different brand if something broke. I got upset because I had bought the matching storage, and accessories to go with them.

Brand names like Allen and Armstrong were both dropped from production. My Craftsman set was made in USA and Craftsman began being made in China. I did not want offhore tools in my USA sets either. After paying the made in USA price I did not like the thought of replacing a broken USA tool with a non-matching offshore tool either. A few pics show the effort I put into making a nice set of USA Craftsman.

Some recent press releases have said SB&D will be making Craftsman in the USA with warranty so I have my hopes up again of having a good matching set backed by the new mfg.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I am a poor SOB so don't have it so bad but do find having started out Craftsman as a kid, and then not having a complete set of such and such, and can't get the missing item anymore, move onto a new design and start collecting those, and then run into the same boat again.

Too poor so it will be a mix and match of Craftsman, Pittsburgh, local FLAPS store stuff, a few nicer brands odds n ends I have collected over the years.


TJ

Collecting tools can present problems that many of Us Tool USERS don't have to deal with as much. I don't loose much sleep replacing a worn or broken tool with a newer version of the same brand.. I also have sets of SnapOn and ProTo wrenches and sockets that have been expanded with Duro, SK, Armstrong, Allen, and KD additions.

If You are missing a few tools to fill Your collection, I suggest putting a wanted ad if the GJ Classifieds. You are not the Lone Ranger of the Tool Collectors World. Your desire to have complete, matching sets is not an unusual passion.

Simply two different ways of thinking about a tool "assortment" or accumulation. I enjoy discussions from both groups

 

[mbshop]

I hade a similar problem. But as my techs seemed to misplace many of my tools I just replaced them with whatever tool was available. So now I have a lot of mixed so, mac and craftsman. Even other off brands.
I have a nice set of german zebra tools. But one is missing and the company acted like no one ever asked for a replacement tool. Worse customer service ever. So just go with the flow, trying to keep up is just a deep dark hole.

 

[ecotec]

My trick is to keep my tools hastily organized so I don't even notice

Awesome.

I kind of have to agree. I usually buy a tool as I need the tool. None of my tools really match. I have a few sockets that I have NEVER used, though.

Also, no tool brand does everything best...

 

[amishman]

Thanks for all the comments folks.

My set is VERY mix N match... and I am OK with that too.

Was just a fun question is all.

I may have a tad OCD with regards to certain things... checking twice... and so on. Seems if I have an oddball item in the mix... like Seasame Street song... "which one of these things is not like the other" I can't help but find a drive to fix that.

Too each there own.

I have enjoyed this fine Saturday getting my new 41" Husky box setup and starting to load it with my hodge podge of tools.

Have a nice rest of the weekend folks.

TJ

 

[Finky198]

As once said by a master "form follows function". I am a bit OCD and hyper . I almost always perfer sets and complete if possible. 98% of my stuff black, red, yellow, or chrome , but the functionality always outweighs the... I own a miller plasma cutter its blue does it real matter no I'm just glad to have one.

Some of my tools are older 8-10 years, but their well taken care of and/or I bought a quality tool. If it still works then what are you trying to fix...???

It not the man who has the most tools that wins. As I once thought it was.

Its the one that really knows how to use them all that wins in the long run. As you learn you add to the set and you venture off into different areas of tooling depending on what you neeeeeed......

I have a massive amount of tooling and equipment across multiple professions.
As do many of the guys on here , it can take years decades even a lifetime to collect or build what your looking for that's completely up to you and what you want.


Mines is spread out in multiple boxes, carts, cabinets, and shelves across our shop space. It will be a work in progress for as long as I'm walking and talking im roughy 6 years into the tool buying/shop building process.

 

[6PTsocket]

You get your account back and waste it on this nonsense. If I have a tool in the box that gets the job done then the set is complete. I'm not affected by the "have to have latest and all match" syndrome.

lg
no neat sig line

+1

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[6PTsocket]

There is a difference between tool users and tool collectors. Lesser quality is a legitimate concern or a preference for one design over another, but I am happy if I have the size I need for for the job and it has no quality or design issues that make me wish I had something else.

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