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18th birthday suggestions.

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Piece-it Pete

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Cleveland. We rock.
My nephew's turning 18 soon and I'm debating a present.

Thinking around $100 or so give or take depending on what I find.

All he's got tool wise is a 150 pc +/- cheapie mech tool set I gave him, a smattering of other cheap tools, a Thorsen 1/2 ratchet but no metric sockets my dad gave him, and a Park toolbox (that my dad gave me when I was 18 :)) with another smattering of again mostly cheapie tools I'm about to give him.

He's got a cheap jack too. He's very mechanically inclined (I think more natural talent than I) and plans to fix up his clean but worn 1st gen Supra while driving a newer car he's looking for now.

$100 isn't going to change his hand tool life :) I'm thinking either a floor jack or used tool cabinet.

I can keep an eye out for a nice used jack until near up to his birthday, and if I can't find something decent get him maybe the 2 ton lo-pro steel one from HF.

Or I can certainly find a not mint heavy duty or fancy but serviceable smaller chest on cabinet toolbox off craigslist.

Or I can get him a nice 3/8" ratchet, then head to HF and spend the rest on their better thought of and useful stuff I know he'll use, like their 1/2" breaker, 1/2" metric impact sockets, etc.

Or goodness knows what else :) Thoughts and ideas? I'm all ears.

Pete
 
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xbeatles4x

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My vote would be a craigslist Craftsman tool chest for $50 ish. HF Breaker Bar, Craftsman RP metric and SAE wrenches in a nice variety. HF socket rails, and something like this for the wrenches. I would pick and choose what you want to get.

For reference I am 19 and have been working on my personal project car since around 15 ish and all have been quite valuable from starting with nothing. At least now I have worked my way up to some decent tools.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ZIS8QU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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bcradio

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Does he still live with the parentals? If so, I'd check with them before getting any sizable tool cabinets, etc. My mom would have been ticked if I brought home a huge tool cabinet for the garage at that age.

My vote is for a good corded drill and/or a corded grinder.
 
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IOWNJUNK

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758
A day at any decent flea market and $100 will get you more tools than he can carry.
 
OP
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Piece-it Pete

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This is all awesome, thanks guys.

More details: lives with parents for now but I'm Uncle Pete, they don't dare say no :) No compressor. Has a job (yay). Already has a manual for his Supra (I also thought of parts but he's really into it and will pick his own). He's got a phone smarter than me. I want it to be something tangible, that he'll have for a fair amount of time, something more 'mucho' than the simple $100 if you follow me. Batches of tools or other are great but I'd still want a standout item.

Many good suggestions that have me looking! Keep'em coming :thumbup:

Pete
 
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Zeke

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Well, they make code readers for phones. I hate getting money or gift cards. That indicates something incomplete. I won't go into it. How about a nice cordless driver with some socket extensions? Other than tire and suspension work, these are the go to tool. Plus it's not a dedicated automotive tool.
 
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Piece-it Pete

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Cleveland. We rock.
Thanks again guys. Amazing how much it helps to talk it out and get comments.

The list:

My original thoughts:
Jack
Chest
Misc tools with a good ratchet

Suggestions:
Good stands
Welder
Manual & readers
Cheaper box with tools / flea market
A few said electric impacts
iphone
Grinder
Leatherman wave
Prostitute
Body tools (not yet)

----------------------------------

It's an awesome list :eek:

Since I tend to buy used I still can't give a straight decision because I'm unsure of what I'll find. A mess of smaller stuff is ranking higher because the more I think about it, he is just so short on the basics. Looking around craigslist I may be able to pick up a 3 drawer portable box and stock it a little with used metric craftsman wrenches & 3/8 sockets off ebay and/or here, a set of 1/2 impacts from HF, AND some heavy duty jack stands (there's a pair of '6 ton' locally - 3 ton per probably right? - and a pair of old welded plate ones).

Who knows? I'll post. Still open :)

Pete
 
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carcajou

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Dec 7, 2012
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879
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SW Alberta
I like the flea market idea. Spend a few hrs with him; show him what to look for in quality tools and get his input on whatever you buy him. He will definitely remember that day for years to come.
 
C

cuog

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RVA
Torque Wrench. Something nice, if he takes care of it should have it the rest of his life.

If he's going to get serious working on the supra he's going to eventually be doing some engine work and will need it.
 
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mrborohachi

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Mar 27, 2013
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841
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Berdoo Route 66
^^Zeke's right about a FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL for his Supra. look up Faxon Auto Literature online and get him the main mechanical manual and the supplemental electrical wiring book
 
G

gearhead1

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carcajou said:
I like the flea market idea. Spend a few hrs with him; show him what to look for in quality tools and get his input on whatever you buy him. He will definitely remember that day for years to come.
Click to expand...

I built my tool set from picking up aluminum cans, selling them, then going to the flea market when I was a kid. I was at one about 3 weeks ago and this guy had a huge table with Craftsman USA sockets for $1 each. My vote would be for basics first. Without the basics, you have nothing. He's got to have a complete set of 3/8 drive SAE and Metric short and deep for starters. Then I'd work on the same for 1/4 drive, then work on 1/2 drive last.

If he's mechanically inclined, then I'd give him every opportunity I possibly could to expose him to something 'gearhead' related. When you get someone in a field which is their passion, the sky is truly the limit. A lot of people want to do something different than what they're doing. They don't have a passion for it and they go through life that way. Those who work in a field that is their passion tend to do pretty well because they're into it. My passion for things mechanical coupled with guidance from parents yielded a mechanical engineering degree. I don't just have a basic set of tools now, I have three of everything, air compressor, welders, tire machine, milling machine, lathe, etc. I can make or fix about anything mechanical and it started from a basic set of tools and my uncles enabling/encouraging me when I was young. If mechanical things are his passion, and he is encouraged, who knows where he will end up. He needs your nudge like you're doing.....
 
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nicksnothereman

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In the Mojave
Piece-it Pete said:
My nephew's turning 18 soon and I'm debating a present.

Thinking around $100 or so give or take depending on what I find.

All he's got tool wise is a 150 pc +/- cheapie mech tool set I gave him, a smattering of other cheap tools, a Thorsen 1/2 ratchet but no metric sockets my dad gave him, and a Park toolbox (that my dad gave me when I was 18 :)) with another smattering of again mostly cheapie tools I'm about to give him.

He's got a cheap jack too. He's very mechanically inclined (I think more natural talent than I) and plans to fix up his clean but worn 1st gen Supra while driving a newer car he's looking for now.

$100 isn't going to change his hand tool life :) I'm thinking either a floor jack or used tool cabinet.

I can keep an eye out for a nice used jack until near up to his birthday, and if I can't find something decent get him maybe the 2 ton lo-pro steel one from HF.

Or I can certainly find a not mint heavy duty or fancy but serviceable smaller chest on cabinet toolbox off craigslist.

Or I can get him a nice 3/8" ratchet, then head to HF and spend the rest on their better thought of and useful stuff I know he'll use, like their 1/2" breaker, 1/2" metric impact sockets, etc.

Or goodness knows what else :) Thoughts and ideas? I'm all ears.

Pete
Click to expand...

At that age he probably would want the cash more than the tool equivalent. Just saying. :dunno:

Otherwise with older vehicles you get seized bolts so...gonna need better quality stuff and a heat gun. There's a bunch of decent quality metric stuff running around craigslist and ebay new so look at some of those brands if you decide to get him tools.
 
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Piece-it Pete

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Cleveland. We rock.
Yeah 18 with two cars, lucky kid :) He does work hard though.

Wandering the flea market with him is an awesome idea. I'm going to make that another thing, thanks.

I found out he's made a couple bucks on the side doing his bosses brakes. For some reason it makes me very happy. The big problem I see is, none of his friends wrench. So he enjoys it, he wants to do it, but the only person who can help is writing this post. I don't mind but a fond memory of my youth is hanging out at garages with friends drinking beer and telling people what they're doing wrong :) I wish he'd come across someone his age to share with is all I guess. I'm afraid his skill may not develop.

Anyway, I had a look at his tools and it's more worser :eek: than I thought. The set is Stanley and does have deepwells so I can ignore 3/8 and 1/4. BUT he's only got a smattering of craptacular wrenches. He's got a Thorsen 1/2 SAE only set from my dad.

I think I'm going to scrap the base cabinet/box idea and just get a box. I found a cleanish 3 drawer Craftsman for $25 'firm' (we'll see about that!). With my old Park regular toolbox he should be set for a while boxwise.

What I've got to give:
My mostly complete backup sets of metric and SAE sockets reg and deepwell, so he'll have two of everything (cheapies though).
My backup old Craftsman raised panel 3/8 ratchet.
An old Proto 1/2 swivel, a Snapon 6" 1/2 extention, and a HF 1/2 to 3/8 reducer.
A couple noname pliers, slipjoint & needlenose etc.
Junk new snapring plier set
HF metric and SAE allen wrench set
A round and a flat medium file
Various organizing bits
Other stuff I can't remember

So the $80-90 at HF, I'm thinking:
Metric wrench set, 14 pc raised panel? Polished? $20-25
1/2" metric impact socket set, I think reg not deep? $25
1/2 breaker bar $13
Sandpaper assortment $4
A bunch of other **** I'll have to buy from walking around the store :)

Sound about right? Ideas?

Pete
 
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Sureshot

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Bridge Creek, OK
I would go with a high quality tool that will last forever. I would take one quality tool over ten that won't last. While I am not a SO fan I have a couple items. Getting him an SO or other high end ratchet, screwdrivers, etc will be something he will have for the next 60 yrs. I have my share of HF stuff but it is not expected to last and is much more expendable than my better stuff.
 
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Piece-it Pete

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Good gravy no wonder everyone hates craigslist. What's it take to get a response? I think I got two out of about 12-14 requests.

Anyway, took Friday off with a short list of garage sales that said tool chest cabinet whatever.

Get to the first one when it opens and, wala'! Same as this one but a bit more beatup, and bigger chrome 'SK TOOLS' logos instead of stickers. Still has the removable tray.

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k524/elsberry/8de9002d.jpg

And it had a lot of tools in it, some good. Thanks to here I know it's a Waterloo box (and got the pic).

So I had 3 days to clean and lube the box, and clean lube and sort tools. What a great weekend :D

Bought new locks and one drawer slide clip (thanks again GJ). Used walmart drawer liner to, um, line the drawers. More and pics when I'm done, next couple days.

Pete
 
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theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
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SE MI
A GOOD full size floor jack "changed my life" when I bought it ! I was around 20, and it was the best investment I ever made !! (Green 1½ ton Sears)

I still have it and use it frequently, many, MANY years later.


Sadly, I don't know if there is a GOOD full sized jack that you can buy new for under $150-$200.
 
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JKennedy

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Sep 9, 2014
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Fort Worth, Texas
Catch stuff at Sears on sale. Get him a package of regular craftsman USA screwdrivers for around $30 and see if they have their pry bars on sale ( I just got the USA red handles for $18.99 in a 3 pack). If you can find any USA wrenches they usually have a set for $30.
Also the dead blows from harbor freight are excellent. Very inexpensive.
 
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