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$200 what to buy...

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Mazdaspeed

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Dec 7, 2013
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I happened upon the lucky situation where I have to spend up to $200 on basically whatever I want (a perk from work). Tools would be a good option but I've already got pretty much every sub $200 tool I could possibly want (I think)...I turn to the GJ people to suggest some neat/cool/useful tools that I could potentially buy.

Keep in mind I'm in Canada and don't have tool truck access, so will slightly limit the options. I'm also just a home user, not doing this professionally.
 
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beatcad

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with a name like mazdaspeed I assume yer a car guy.

home use and you have most hand tools?

drill press.
bench grinder
bench grinder equipped w/ wire wheels(damn handy)
bench buffer.
oxy/act kit


I dunno whatcha got, so i'm just tossin' ideas out there.
 
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Hpozzuoli

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Dec 11, 2013
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Rhode Island
A nice carhartt suit with overalls and jacket for the winter. Nice work boots. Nice dewalt impact driver. Weedwacker, blower, chainsaw, or other yard equip. We need more details so we can spend your money.
 
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colin39

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Beer? And thanks boss. And a adjustable spanner and maybe a hammer if ya wanna be posh
 
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M

Mazdaspeed

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Line of work is software development, hobbies are garage/cars/building stuff. I don't do much computer related stuff at home anymore because it's my full time job.

Already have a drill press, bench grinders, jackets, work boots, impact drivers, impact wrenches (ingersoll rand air and 18v dewalt), got weedwacker and lawn mowers and yard equipment. I feel bad saying it, but generally anything under a couple hundred dollars that I want I can afford and already have. The outstanding items I want are $1000+ (new compressor, welder, lift, etc) so doesn't quite work.

My backup plan if I can't figure out a toy for myself is just to take me and the gf out for a good dinner or something. That said, our relationship is such that she would encourage me to spoil myself with something.

Keep the suggestions coming though...any frivolous or specialty tools?
 
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youngridge

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Dec 15, 2013
Messages
140
A few things that have made my life phenomenally easier
beer
the 65 piece gear wrench tap and die
northern tools gearless ratchet
an awesome magnetic flash light
a drill bit sharpener
irwins internal and external easy outs (today made me a true believer in them)
 
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M

Mazdaspeed

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Dec 7, 2013
Messages
180
Have:
Two tap and die sets (different sizes)
Plenty of ratchets and ratcheting combo wrenches
Awesome flashlights/worklights
Easy outs and bolt extractors of various types
Code Reader
Wobble Extensions
Jump Pack no, but I have a battery charger with jump start capability.

Don't have a drill bit sharpener (will scope that out)
I have gearwrench 84 tooth ratchets, so the snap on's are a bit redundant. Although wouldn't mind some of their flex heads (have various cheaper flex head ratchets, mastercraft, etc)

Engine hoist I don't have...I'd like, but most up here north of the border are $300ish unless on sale :(

I have all the air compressor accessories I need. If I was getting a welder in the near future I'd be buying a mask or something, but I don't know when the welder thing would happen so I don't want to jump the gun.

Car parts - my car is basically as modded as I want, next step is big turbo which is wayyy out of budget lol
 
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Haveblue

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Feb 8, 2013
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kansas
If you want a toy for yourself, with plenty of cash left, get a Syma helicopter...they are a great hobby! Hang on to the rest..an idea will come to you as soon as you are in the middle of a project and discover you dont have what you need..then buy that tool! Do you have a slide hammer?
 
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OxJaw

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May 27, 2012
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Medina, Ohio
I know you said you have ratchets covered and that you have the gearwrench 84 tooth ones but I would seriously consider a dual 80. They are very nice and definitely a step above anything gearwrench. You've got money to burn so why not? An SL80 or maybe an FLL80 or a TLL72, I'd probably go with the TLL72.

A drill bit sharpener is also a great idea. I've got a drill doctor at work and the thing is awesome. It sharpens bits sharper and better than when I get them new from the tool crib at work.
 
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M

Mazdaspeed

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A gift card would be a nice way to defer the purchase eh?

I probably won't buy anything snap on, there's just no need for what I do...the upgrade over gearwrench wouldn't be that big.
 
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Super Sport

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West Michigan
A set of quality precision screwdrivers? I just picked up a 51pc Wiha set for under $200...

A nice complete set of Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches will run around $200...

Fluke...
 
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M

Mazdaspeed

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Messages
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Super Sport said:
A set of quality precision screwdrivers? I just picked up a 51pc Wiha set for under $200...

A nice complete set of Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches will run around $200...

Fluke...
Click to expand...
Have both precision screwdrivers (not wiha though) and have full sets of metric and sae gearwrench fixed ends and flex head combos.

I won't get into the snap on discussion...other than saying for home use maybe once a week, there's no need at all. My existing ratchets are capable of loosening bolts lol
 
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Jswain

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Apr 26, 2013
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Location
Calgary, AB
Princess Auto shop press & some bearing seperators/drivers would all fit the bill. If you already have all of that then we are shooting blind until you show us a picture of your shop
 
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Tejaas

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Mar 13, 2013
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TX Hill Country
zkling said:
How so? Amazingly (to some) there are many a things that move, float and even fly on a daily basis without snap on tools. :willy_nil
Click to expand...


Haha, yep.

We had Snap-On and Matco trucks come by our hanger three times a week... To sell tools to contact maintenance civilian techs.

Uncle Sam issues primarily Proto and S-K.

Good enough to fix a heavy battalions (24 airframes) worth of 28 million dollar EACH attack helicopters, good enough for anything.

I think it's funny, guys who truly believe Snap-On is the only "worthy" tool.... But they work on like hobby/sport racecars or something...?

By the way, this is coming from a guy who DOES own his fair share of Snap-On tools, and has never been in a Harbor Freight!


~Tejaas~
 
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beatcad

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Sep 15, 2013
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so you got most everything in the $200 range.
i'm in that boat also. everything I want next is in the 1 to 2 grand range.

if you have an attached or detached garage what about a secrurity cam setup?
i'm sure that can be bought for about $200.
 
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dankicksass

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New Jersey
zkling said:
How so? Amazingly (to some) there are many a things that move, float and even fly on a daily basis without snap on tools. :willy_nil
Click to expand...

But life is just so much nicer with Snap-On.

If I absolutely had to spend $200 on car and garage related things right now, I'd seriously consider a pop-up canopy for car shows and barbecue duty. If I couldn't find a decent canopy, I'd probably buy a new heavy duty wet/dry vac and some detailing supplies if there was money left over. The canopy I have now takes way too long to set up and my existing vac is about a week away from retiring to permanent wood shop dust extraction duty.
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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Mar 12, 2009
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10,729
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AZ
-Hansen socket trays and misc. sockets to fill empty pegs
-Nice torque wrenches off of ebay
-Made in USA drill bit index
 
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superchargedv8

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Feb 6, 2014
Messages
106
I really enjoy the drill bit sharpener i got. I got the drill doctor 750 and now i just sharpen whatever i need at the moment and avoid having to go buy new ones. If you want torque wrenches then you can get some from precision industries for under 200.
 
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superchargedv8

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Feb 6, 2014
Messages
106
Tejaas said:
Haha, yep.

We had Snap-On and Matco trucks come by our hanger three times a week... To sell tools to contact maintenance civilian techs.

Uncle Sam issues primarily Proto and S-K.

Good enough to fix a heavy battalions (24 airframes) worth of 28 million dollar EACH attack helicopters, good enough for anything.

I think it's funny, guys who truly believe Snap-On is the only "worthy" tool.... But they work on like hobby/sport racecars or something...?

By the way, this is coming from a guy who DOES own his fair share of Snap-On tools, and has never been in a Harbor Freight!


~Tejaas~
Click to expand...

I use snap on tools because they are precise and last longer than the cheaper stuff. Ive had instances when a tech next to me couldn't get a bolt out because the bolt "stripped" id put the same size snap on socket and it came out just fine. For me i have to have tools that hold up since my tools get a lot of use.
 
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techenthusiast

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Jan 20, 2014
Messages
486
superchargedv8 said:
I really enjoy the drill bit sharpener i got. I got the drill doctor 750 and now i just sharpen whatever i need at the moment and avoid having to go buy new ones. If you want torque wrenches then you can get some from precision industries for under 200.
Click to expand...


How does the drill doctor work? Do you hook it up to a grinder or something? What's the difference between sharpening by hand on a grinder? Does it sharpen small bits too? How much does it run for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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dankicksass

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New Jersey
techenthusiast said:
How does the drill doctor work? Do you hook it up to a grinder or something? What's the difference between sharpening by hand on a grinder? Does it sharpen small bits too? How much does it run for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Drill Doctor is a jig and a grinder. There are cheap ones you use with a bench grinder and more costly versions are standalone and look like a pencil sharpener. I still have a scar from the last time I tried to sharpen a drill freehand, so I think the drill sharpener is a wise recommendation.
 
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