A little dilemma

[T56 Impala]

Okay, so I have decided to upgrade my tools. I don't dislike my Craftsman tools. They serve me well but..... I have basically two complete sets. One Raised panel and one Pro series. Yeah, I know, they don't make everything in the Pro line.

What I have decided to do is to start picking up Wright tools to replace the Raised Panels in my big box. I like the look and feel of the Wright "industrial finish" tools. I will agree that they are better quality than the Craftsman at about the same price.

I am also piecing together a "vintage set" as a collector. Mostly Wright, Bonney and Plomb. These are going to be used but kept in my dads old box once restored. The Craftsman Pro's and "New" Wrights will go in my big box. I do have a smaller Craftsman box that holds my other vintage stuff.

My dilemma lies with what to do with the raised panels stuff. Many of these tools were my first tools. I know many of you think they are **** and should be melted down, so please keep those comments out of this. They do hold some sentimental value to me though. I really don't need them. I really don't have room for them. I would really hate to get rid of them though. They are kinda like old friends.

What do you think I should do with them? Heck, one or two of the may actually be worth more than I paid for them! I have a box of cheap Asian **** that I use as my road box. (Salvage yard, Boat, loaner) This is stuff I don't mind losing. (Not my Toptul stuff!) So, do I simply have too many tools (is that even possible?) Should the cheap thing get sold and the raised panels take their place?

Yes, I know, it is a sickness...........

 

[Ray-CA]

Do you have son/daughter that you could pass them down too? Maybe a niece/nephew?

If not, find a local high school that still has an auto-shop class. They would welcome the tools. You would/should be able to take a charitable donation credit for that as well.

Just a few pre-coffee thoughts this morning.....

Ray

 

[Diesel-Mech]

There is no reason to get rid of good tools, just delegate them to road/loaner use.

 

[64merc]

Darn, that is a bit of a dilemma. It's funny because I have sort of the same problem. I have a sentimental attachment to my raised panel Cman wrenches. I have them stored in an extra hand box to give to my son when he gets older.

I think it is a good feeling to pass them down if you can. If you don't have anyone to pass them to then I would get rid of the Asian stuff and replace it with your old Cman stuff. My $.02

 

[T56 Impala]

I do have a son and a daughter. I would love to pass them on to one of them. Its just, it will be YEARS before that happens. They are 4 and 6 respectively.

I thought about the shool thing. I even look up a few local high schools. Guess what, NONE of them offer shop! (I know my High school still does, but its in another state) Still, I would hate to get rid of them. I'm thinking I am going to put up an auction of the cheap Asian stuff. Its a pretty complete set for a road box. I will have my first tool box empty that way and I'll put the Raised panels in there.

 

[64merc]

I do have a son and a daughter. I would love to pass them on to one of them. Its just, it will be YEARS before that happens. They are 4 and 6 respectively.

I thought about the shool thing. I even look up a few local high schools. Guess what, NONE of them offer shop! (I know my High school still does, but its in another state) Still, I would hate to get rid of them. I'm thinking I am going to put up an auction of the cheap Asian stuff. Its a pretty complete set for a road box. I will have my first tool box empty that way and I'll put the Raised panels in there.

I think you have a good plan there sir. BTW, my son is only 22 months old and I already have a small tool bag filled with essentials ready for him (including my Cman raised panel wrenches). I'm nuts, I know.

Funny thing, every night my son spends about an hour or two "working" with his tools. I have his tool bag in the house and he likes to pull everything out and line them up on the floor. He gets very upset when it is cleanup time.

 

[rsanter]

those kids will grow up faster than you know.
put them in a spares box so you can access them if you need them and then let the kids have at them as they get a bit older

the spares box is great for when you have to use tools in undesirable situations of abuse, in the mud, on a rusted out POS....etc
keep them is your best bet

bob

 

[btmatt]

My son got his first tools at 5. Just be sure to follow up on your projects (and even daily drivers) to be sure all fasteners are tight.

 

[mkdive]

<------give them here.....you can call me son, daughter, dad whatever....just know the raised panels will have a good home! JK

KEEP the tools! (road bag, second set to cut down or bend etc)....NEVER GET RID OF TOOLS!!!!

 

[krusty the clown]

NEVER GET RID OF TOOLS!!!!

........

 

[fotoflojoe]

Keep the Asian junk for your road box.
Keep the raised panel set for your kids.

Get a large handbox or small chest - something just big enough to hold the raised panel set. Put this box in the basement/attic/storage unit, load it up, then lock it. When your kids are old enough, hand them the key.

 

[MAD]

FYI: The socket sets that Wright sells in their "Cougar" value priced line are made by Danaher. I would assume the sockets would be nearly the same as Craftsman. The Cougar ratchets are interesting. They use screws instead of snap rings to hold the guts in. I would love to compare one with one of the similar looking Craftsman ratchets from the 1950s.

Got to love a company whose cheaper "Value" line of tools is still Made in USA.

 

[Scooterfish]

If you are going to store as Foto suggests then I would put some oily rags in the box to help with condensation. I think you would regret getting rid of them if they have been arounf for a long time. I don`t make a living with my tools and I have alot of 60s -70s older Craftsman and think they are good tools.

 

[Kevin54]

If you don't want to use them, but don't really want to get rid of them, and if you don't need to sell them for money to fund other purchases.........get another small toolbox, organizers, holders, and set that smaller box up. Then either when the kids get older you could hand them down (preference), or if the mood hits, then sell everything as a set. If you start selling this and that, then you will end up with something left you don't need or can't get rid of, or you'll regret getting rid of anything at all. But that's my $.02 as I have a few pieces of stuff I hate to get rid of just because my dad gave it to me but isn't really worth anything. Can anyone relate to RoboGrips. LOL!!!

 

[Brad54]

I've found you can't have too many tools. Yeah yeah, everyone says that, but here's my deal:

When I was in highschool (late '80s) I had a friend who's dad raced NASCAR in the '60s. He told me to have two of every tool, so that when I'm working on one side of the vehicle, a friend can be working on the other side. Makes working on suspension, mounting hoods and decklids, removing a bench seat, etc. go much, much quicker, and that advice has served me very well over the years. (six and 12-point sockets, a couple of each size C-man ratchet, etc.)

Obviously, you need to have two of every wrench in your tool box--one for the nut, one for the bolt.

When I lived in Floriduh a few years ago, I started collecting Craftsman, Mac, Snap-on and Matco wrenches anywhere I could find them. I've got 2 of every size from 1/4 to 1 inch hanging on the pegboard above my work bench. Many have more than 2, such as 7/16, 1/2 and 9/16, which I have about 8 of each.
When I'm in the middle of a thrash, of I've let my shop go and get unbearable messy for a while, and reach to the pegboard for a 1/2-inch wrench and there aren't any more there, it's time to stop and clean up.

And then I've got my road trip/junk yard tool box. It's a 3-drawer box with a hinged lid, with a set of combination wrenches from 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch, and four box wrenches covering from 3/8-inch to 11/16-inch (I have a second 3/4-inch combo wrench in the drawer). These were my original raised panel combination wrenches I got with my first tool kit when I was 17. Most of them have since been replaced with Gear Wrenches, the raised panels going on the pegboard.

When I'm working in a junk yard, or worse, fixing a car on the side of the road, I don't want junk tools. They don't have to be Craftsman Pros or Snap Ons, but I certainly don't want soft asian tools either. I'm already irritated that things aren't going smoothly--I don't need a busted tool on top of it.

I don't loan hand tools to people. If a man doesn't even own a basic set of combination wrenches, the chances are pretty good that he's not capable if using them in the first place. I'd rather have them bring the lawn mower over and I'll unbolt the blade or pull out the spark plug.

-Brad

 

[T56 Impala]

Brad,

You make some good points. The best is the comment about cheap tools in a time of need. I think I'll will sell off the cheap stuff as a group and set up the box with the old raised panel stuff. I seems to be a solid idea.

I too was taught to have 2 of everything. For the most part, I do and will continue to have two of everything. I am going to keep the Pro stuff in the big box and add the Wright tools for the doubles.

"If a man doesn't even own a basic set of combination wrenches, the chances are pretty good that he's not capable if using them in the first place." That is a good observation! I rarely loan tools. Usually only to my Dad. MAYBE and exotic puller to a trusted car club friend. Usually though, people come to me with their problems and I/we do the work in my garage. Most of the time, they are totally mechanically inept so they just sit back and talk too much.
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"It is NOT the federal government's job to take care of me." (I wholeheartedly agree!)

 

[fotoflojoe]

Usually though, people come to me with their problems and I/we do the work in my garage. Most of the time, they are totally mechanically inept so they just sit back and talk too much.

That made me laugh out loud, we must know the same people!

Scooterfish: Good call on the oily rags. I was actually thinking WD-40 and silica gel, but forgot to include it in my reply

 

[rhandwor]

Keep them for going to the junk yard. Don't take your new tools.

 

[autoace]

All tools become useful at times. Never get rid of tools. I have learned the hard way.