Am I doing something wrong????

[mech-tech]

Fellas, I been wondering this for some time since I joined this forum. I see all of the pics of awesome tool boxes and the nice truck tools you guys have and I would sooo love to have what you guys have, but there has got to be something I am doing wrong somewhere. Like most of you, I have a house and vehicle and other enxpenses in life, most of which are paid for, but I just have one question... HOW DO YOU GUYS AFFORD THIS STUFF?????????? Am I severely under paid or are all of you deep into tool debt? I find myself debating on $50 for a ratchet due to general life expenses with other things. How do you guys drop the amount of money on this stuff? What do you all do that I don't? Is there something I am overlooking?

I want what you guys have...but how do ya'll afford it and still save money????

 

[fivespdcat]

Priorities, some people have different ones.

 

[Thumper]

A little at a time....

 

[Packard V8]

It's no problem to put together a good selection of truck brand tools at a reasonable cost. However, it does take fifty years to do it that way.

jack vines

 

[86k10]

Do you wrench for a living? If I didn't I personally wouldn't buy any high end tools. My home box (HF cart) is pretty much full of cheap junk I started out with then later upgraded. $50 on a ratchet is still not on the high end either, I would say middle ground.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I'm 18 and have all the typical bills, they are just substantially cheaper, and I pay rent instead of a mortgage. I don't have tv (waste of time) or Internet because I can just use my phone that I pay for anyway or go to someone's house with it if I need to. I very rarely drink and i try to eat healthy and do all my own cooking. frozen food is overly expensive. My biggest extra expense is going out with my girlfriend.

 

[dirtydogintex]

look around and buy new looking at used prices
or just buy used and don't take any close up pics

 

[kiatech]

You cant flip burgers and buy fancy tools if that's what you want to hear.

 

[dandan111]

I would bet most guys are in debt. Buying the newest best isn't cheap. I debate over a screw driver purchase.

 

[braol]

I am not married and have no kids, so that saves a lot of money for me to spend on tools and other hobbies. Between tools, guns, and offroading I cant afford to have kids, lol.

 

[volvo92906]

Do you wrench for a living? If I didn't I personally wouldn't buy any high end tools. My home box (HF cart) is pretty much full of cheap junk I started out with then later upgraded. $50 on a ratchet is still not on the high end either, I would say middle ground.

He said it best. Its all about what you do for a living, which means paying for the better tools makes more sense. Quality goes a long way when you are getting paid to do quality work in quality time. You can get away with the cheaper stuff for light duty jobs, or at home since you can fix your own car the way you want to, or come back to it later. When you work in a shop, you need to complete the car on time the right way to make money.

Also, a lot of tool guys have some good deals every week. Something may be expensive but when there is a good deal, it can be discounted or paired with something else. That can go a long way also.

 

[spotco2]

If you're wrenching for a living, then it's a little easier but still takes a long time to pay it all off.

If you're just a weekend warrior, then either you have been very fortunate or in debt up to your eyeballs. My be is more the latter.

You've also got to consider that some of these collections have taken 30 or more years to build.

 

[2oolhound]

Well, you wouldn't stay in school!

 

[RECox286]

Baby clothes are nice, houses are a great hobby, but if toys are

the crutch, then tools have to be the wheelchair...

Don't be in a rush, and choose wisely !

Uncle Bob

 

[SteveCh]

I just this week bought a new and larger tool chest as I ran out of room in my old ones. I am not a pro, but a DIY and shadetree guy and so on. I use tools all the time, but not professionally. I don't recall ever buying a "set" of tools except in the seventies when I bought a Honda bike when all I'd owned was US cars. So I needed some metrics. I went to Sears and bought a modest set of wrenches and sockets. Probably $40, give or take, I don't remember. But I had little money, so it wasn't much more than that, if any.

I have so many tools now because I gradually bought the exact tool I needed for some task. Often, I've bought a single socket or whatever. Also, over the years, now and then friends have given me the odd extra tool they had. Last year, my airplane mechanic buddy gave me a large set of SAE and metric nut drivers as he had three sets and didn't want them all. About thirty pieces. Another guy gave me an 18" 1/2 break-over bar I've been using for twenty years. He had a bunch of them and just said, get this outa my space, it's yours. Just examples.

So it would've been great to go out way back when and loaded up on tons of tools and had them. I couldn't do that, financially, but over time I've added and added, often at $10 or less at a time, to where I am pretty well set now. If you can afford to load up, great, and if not, just start out small and add as needed.

 

[ABRM]

I wouldn't be able to afford any truck brands if it wasn't for my student discounts. My home stuff is all craftsman and harbor freight. Going into the auto industry for my career is what makes me get truck brands. I've been saving my pennies wisely to help with the costs!

 

[Pumpman1968]

I'm 18 and have all the typical bills, they are just substantially cheaper, and I pay rent instead of a mortgage. I don't have tv (waste of time) or Internet because I can just use my phone that I pay for anyway or go to someone's house with it if I need to. I very rarely drink and i try to eat healthy and do all my own cooking. frozen food is overly expensive. My biggest extra expense is going out with my girlfriend.

If ya think shes an expense as a girlfriend....just wait....

 

[crewchief888]

i started buying my own tools in '76, and havent stopped yet.

most of my tool debt was in during the late 80's- mid 90's.

i find myself buying "convience" tools, that i did without or made do with something else before.

tool needs changed since '76 as well, i started my machinists apprenticeship then, then started pulling wrenches at heavy eq dealerships in '84,
late 90's to now, i'm doing more fabricating, rebuilt an off road race truck from the frame up, and have put together several 4x4 trail trucks for myself and a couple friends (at home).

it just takes a while

 

[mech-tech]

I work as a road tech on forklifts, and make average pay. I do have good tools such as all ridgid aluminum pipe wrenches, or sk impact swivels, things that need to be of good quality. But I sure don't have snap on wrenches and sockets. I would love to have them, but my work requires so many other tools, I just can't spend that much on one thing. Are most of your purchases on credit? I totally understand buying little by little over time, but I still can't see myself dropping the big bucks for a snap on box for example. Just wondering what you guys to in order to get all this nice stuff.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Buy used, buy on craigslist, buy on sale, etc. You don't NEED to have snap-on like everyone insists, and you also don't need go into perpetual debt with the tool truck guy

 

[2CRUZ]

It takes time and hard work. When I was young I was married and had two kids and I couldn't afford any thing. I would work a little over time to buy myself a toy every now and then. Now that the kids are grown and the house is paid for I have a little more money to spend on the things I want.
Son it takes time and hard work and a vision. Hang in there you'll get there before long.

 

[ClrkLndeKmt'su]

I find myself wanting all the nice, top of the line tools. But, I have a budget. 40 a week, 30 on a snapon SBEC, and 10 on a truck account. I have enough to
Make due, but doing this is letting me slowly build up my needs without killing myself with debt.

 

[86k10]

It takes years. I didn't buy a Snap On box till I cracked $20 an hour, about 7-8 years into the game. I always was amazed when a young guy like me bought a expensive box at the same wages as me. I got married at 19 so I had expenses back then. 2 kids by 23.

 

[crewchief888]

I work as a road tech on forklifts, and make average pay. I do have good tools such as all ridgid aluminum pipe wrenches, or sk impact swivels, things that need to be of good quality. But I sure don't have snap on wrenches and sockets. I would love to have them, but my work requires so many other tools, I just can't spend that much on one thing. Are most of your purchases on credit? I totally understand buying little by little over time, but I still can't see myself dropping the big bucks for a snap on box for example. Just wondering what you guys to in order to get all this nice stuff.

i wouldnt consider any of my tools "nice" by any means
especially my "work" tools.

i have 2 sets of tools, working tools are (mostly) all truck brands, all bought new, as well as most of my toolboxes.
home tools are a mix of CM, HF, SK, off brands and more than a few truck brands. garage boxes are all SO, some bought new, some used.

i seldom have to bring home work tools to do anything in the garage, even if i do need something, my service truck is parked in front of the house
havent needed a brand new toolbox since '99, and that was a CM top for race team use, it's been in my service trucks since '04.

i bought my 1st big set of boxes SO kr 550/555b in '85 for $2250.

dont sound like a lot of money does it?

it is a boatload of money, when you're making $5.50/hr

like i said, all it takes is time....

 

[Cedge]

Mechtech
I've had employees who sent more money home with the tool truck guys than they took home themselves. If you have the needed tools to do the jobs you encounter, a brand name stamped on them isn't going to make you more, especially if you're in hock for them for years. Sounds like your priorities are more focused on hearth and home than on impressing a bunch of overly indebted fellow mechanics..... Good on ya.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

No debt here with my truck tools I just bought one or a couple things a week until I replaced everything I wanted to replace.
I do cheap out and buy JH Williams for my 2nd and 3rd tool sets though.
I just can't justify having 2 or 3 of the same tool anymore at Snap On prices.

Not having any kids leaves a lot of money in my pocket
Though I would definitely like to get rid of and in the process of eliminating my 10k+ property taxes

 

[fflintstone]

I guarantee there is something you piss away money on that is a want rather than a need. Whether it is a $4 coffee each day, a pack of ciggs, a 6 pack, eating lunch out every day, ETC.

If you really WANT more tools you may even find the a $100 a month smart phone is not a NEED.

How you spend YOUR money is YOUR business and you are not doing anything wrong.

If you want different things you have to either make more money, or spend what you do have for the things that will give you more joy.

 

[amlv20]

Fellas, I been wondering this for some time since I joined this forum. I see all of the pics of awesome tool boxes and the nice truck tools you guys have and I would sooo love to have what you guys have, but there has got to be something I am doing wrong somewhere. Like most of you, I have a house and vehicle and other enxpenses in life, most of which are paid for, but I just have one question... HOW DO YOU GUYS AFFORD THIS STUFF?????????? Am I severely under paid or are all of you deep into tool debt? I find myself debating on $50 for a ratchet due to general life expenses with other things. How do you guys drop the amount of money on this stuff? What do you all do that I don't? Is there something I am overlooking?

I want what you guys have...but how do ya'll afford it and still save money????

Don't worry about it, it all depends on what you do and what you need. I am a tech at a ford dealer, I always knew I wanted to be a mechanic I went to tech school and it worked out the way I wanted it to. I buy tools I need and sometimes want and at my shop sometimes I get a random job to luckily justify it.i consider it investing in my future and career, at home I have my old snap on box filled with c man Stanley napa or husky cobalt and I have no problem using it at home that's were it belongs and hf I just garbage waste of money in my eyes.and i also so debate weather i should by a certain tool, i bet if you ask my snap on guy he'll say he hates me.i cant just grab a tool and buy it usually takes two or three weeks to talk myself into buyin it or not. I don't even think some of the guys on here that always piss on truck tools have ever stepped in one, yes I got my box on credit but the trucks have revolving accounts and depending on your driver you can pay weekly of monthly with no interest. I do agree with you though there's some on here with big pretty boxes in their home garage all shined up and polished tools, I just don't get it.if it wasn't my job I wouldn't be dropping that money, got to spend money to make money, but every one has their hobbies and collections.i collect model cars ridiculously priced and rc cars but recently decided that money would be better spent on tools I could actually use and fixes around the house.

 

[GTA Matt]

While there is no doubt some guys are buried in debt up to their eyeballs, for some it has been a long journey over many years buying what you can afford and need.

 

[b1ghwx]

Most are deep into tool debt or not saving for the future.

Save your money, spend wisely and don't worry about what anyone else has. Most don't understand that we are already on the slide heading into financial calamity. You would be wise to save up some cash resources.

 

[hemifalcon]

It's very easy to get by in life playing "hobby" mechanic when you are thrifty.. If you are alive--then you have "life expenses"--maybe you're financial planning isn't as fine tuned as it could be.. Check your finances, see where you are spending money--and what your monthly living expenses are.. You have to be smart how you spend your money and not live paycheck to paycheck. I took a very heavy paycut leaving the military and I had a house and a life that required me to keep paying bills upon my discharge.. I made due by skimping on some of the "toys" that I was spending money on but I never sold anything although I feared that I would have to.. I was just very careful and leaned out my spending. I don't have a fancy toolbox, but I have most of the handtools that I need to restore a car. Every now and again I need something--but it's not an emergency.. Look around at all the numerous sites on the Interweb (it's a friend) and or call on some friends to use their stuff.. I however have one or two good buddies that will gladly allow me to use their equipment-but it's nice to have our own. Look around and find stuff cheap--it's available. Check the local Craiglist, or local paper, estate sales, garage sales, auctions, etc. I missed an opportunity to buy a massive 25th Anniversary Snap-On chest that was $7500/new.. I was ten minutes late on a deal to snag it for $1500 at a garage sale which was the means for someone trying to stave off their foreclosure. If you need to have the "nice things" with "nice names" attached them--keep your eyes open..

AND--I hesitate to say it--but E-B-A-Y can still be your friend as there are some not-so-clever spellers out there that mis-list their items due to their inability to spell correctly..

 

[spongerich]

I've put together a pretty nice tool collection and a fairly well equipped wood/metal shop over the course of about 3 years. All in all, I have well under $2500 invested.

What I do have invested is a *lot* of time. Just about everything I've got, I bought at auctions, estate sales, etc. I keep the cost low by buying extra when the prices are good and flipping those things to offset the cost of the stuff I want to keep.

You need time and a good sense of what you can get for the items you plan to sell to avoid overpaying, but it's a great way to build up a nice set of tools for not a lot of cash.

 

[ozyborn]

Farm auctions for me and patience. Sometimes they go cheap, that is when I buy, other times not. Do not be afraid to walk away. Yes, I have lots of cool stuff and some high $$ tools. But I acquired them over years. Heck, half my hand tools are Craftsman. 50 year old Craftsman but still that brand..

 

[CWP1616L]

Just wondering what you guys to in order to get all this nice stuff.

What are your other expenses? Do you have a cigarette habit? Drink beer everyday? Eat at fast food places? Drive a Suburban that gets 10mpg? If you go to work everyday and get paid for your time, you can easily afford Snap-on. Can you afford to buy one wrench per month? I'm thinking you probably can if you prioritize your expenses.

 

[crewchief888]

"back in the day"
we all walked to school, barefoot, in a blizzard, uphill both ways BTW

at least in my case,
i really didnt buy tools i didnt need or use, or thought i "might need in the future"
during the bulk of my expensive tool buying, no kids, no cell phones, no internet, cable TV was $25 /month, no car payments, ATC race trikes were paid for, guns paid cash, both harley's paid in cash.
all i had was my mortgage and tool bills, and i spent a LOT of money on tool trucks

lost the house, 1 harley, and 1/2 my guns in a divorce 15 years ago.
bought another house 7 years ago, have a couple months left on the wifes car.

i have to "justify" to myself purchasing tools, especially anything over $50 or so and most of the cash come from "extra money" from scrapping.

at least my stepson will have an assortment of tools to pick from when i'm gone

 

[woody 73]

Forty years of small tool buys adds up, for me the fun is in the hunt.

 

[RV77]

mech-tech -

how old are you ? Im 45 and didnt get all I have overnight.Be patient and spend wisely.I got in debt w/ Snap-on back in the 80's and took out a bank loan for alot lower APR and paid them off.Yea it was stupid to be in debt but it was very easy to do.I was like a kid in a candy store.But I needed tools to do the job.

Like others have said get a good paying job,prioritize,if you get married make sure your girl has a good job and doesnt sit home buying stuff and draining your bank account.

 

[Trash Mech]

I got most of mine early before 21, still got the same so tool box and had to slow way down buying tools when the house then family came. Now I keep my so bill under 200 at all times and do pretty good at chipping away at my wish list. Everybody has different priorities so don't worry about what everybody else has. Get what you need to do the job for you.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Priorities is the key.

I use my tools for work - that makes them a priority over other things.
I bought a lot of stuff for work and took a few bits and pieces home, but not much. Only now after many years do I have even the a decent selection of the basics at home since I used to always take the repairs in to work or cart tools home for the personal / side jobs.

I never bought a brand new car 'till i was over 40. I never spent more than 1000 / 1500 for a whole weeks family vacation. I have yet to ever even purchase a plane ticket. I focused my money on the family, work, the house, and retirement.

I have finally bought the first tool box that I didn't NEED, only WANTED after a long time wrenching.

 

[ncautoshop]

I'm a tool addict... its a serious problem

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