Buying Tools Hindsight

[RedneckWelder]

Another thread started me thinking. Maybe it’s been asked before but what would you do differently buying tools. Not a debate about what brand is better or overpriced. Just what you wished had known before buying what you did.

The only thing, and I mean the only thing I would change would have been to buy larger coverage sets instead of what is commonly available. I didn’t find out about larger coverage sets being only a small amount more money than buying the common coverage sets.

Ex- many 1/2 socket sets are up to 1” or 1 1/4”, I wish I had known about the sets that go up to 1 1/2”.

The rest of what I did- buy used high quality brands, buy inexpensive but decent such as Gearwrench for a lot of stuff like sockets, buy lots of industrial brands, buy cheap but decent boxes, etc I would not change. I have less SPENT money in tools than many coworkers have just in their boxes but I have more and better tools than many of them ever will.

 

[quadrcr87]

Don't always buy the cheapest tool just because you don't expect to use it often. Even if it gets the job done it normally leaves me with buyer's remorse.

Example- I bought a HF tile saw and hated it, it was very cheap but produced poor cuts and was frustrating to use. After 1 job, I bought a Ridgid saw and was much happier. Going forward I try to skip the cheapest option and go at least mid-grade for low usage tools.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I made a living on C'man tools (true, this was decades ago) but it was all I could afford at the time, they did OK, maybe not as high a quality as SO, but they weren't sloppy, and while a little thick, held up well.

If I could have afforded SO (and had a truck that stopped by anywhere in our vicinity) I *could*have built a set then, but it was a choice of having SO... or making a living. I chose the latter for then, and they served me well. I'm not sure I could trust the current C'man like I did then, but if it was all I had, then that's what I'd have.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Maybe they’re rich because they put their money in the bank and not in the toolbox

What if I told you I have a snap on tool box AND money in the bank?

How's that work? I'm always told on here buying snap on means you're poor. I have more money in liquid cash, than is left on my 30 year mortgage I got 6 years ago. LOL

 

[MrPink]

Story time.. about 35 years ago I bought my (3 or 4 YO) son a cheap $4 socket set.. he took pride in it and took care of it.. Just like Dad he cleaned his tools after we used them together, and put them away. For his 5th Birthday I bought him a Craftsman $100 +or- socket set in one of those handy blow molded cases..... my wife asked are you really buying a 5YO a real toolset?..
YUP..
He is almost 40 now still has the original Craftsman set that he still uses and cares for, and just like Dad he has had to replace a few ratchets..
morale of the story, start 'em young with using and respecting good tools.. they will last a lifetime and the skills they acquire will serve them well and keep them in the top 1% of people in the world.

I plan on doing this for my son too. He "helped" me label my socket rails yesterday, he's 18 months old.

 

[zendriver]

What if I told you I have a snap on tool box AND money in the bank?

How's that work? I'm always told on here buying snap on means you're poor. I have more money in liquid cash, than is left on my 30 year mortgage I got 6 years ago. LOL

I will say good for you and I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.

It was sarcasm anyway since I find it annoying to equate financial success to tool ownership

Besides, I believe with all my heart that any mechanic that knows his/her **** can make almost the same amount of money with craftsman or even HarborFreight. Most Any brand really

Thorson brand tools are not really all that but I pulled out a combination wrench to use yesterday. The chromes all chipped off the head had a gash from somewhere but it got the job done just fine

I’ve been using it for 45 years. Not every workday but I’m sure good mechanics know how to use tools without ripping them up.

 

[Steve_P]

I'll pick out these three...

Continuing on HF, don't buy their drill bits. Don't buy anything that isn't premium. It just isn't worth it, you just suffer endlessly.

I spent too much time trying to "organize" without spending money or organization tools/products. I recently re-did my wrench drawer and it was astounding. Sockets I keep pretty dense, but you can waste a lot of time, mental effort, and space trying to cheap out. Either pay to maximize the space, or live with it.

Yeah, I was among the several that saw that wrench drawer and said, "You gotta get organized!"

Boy I got gaskets scrapers like you don't even know. And I use the same 3, every single time.

I also have a bunch of scrapers- "get all the sizes" - no, don't. Since I bought the Astro and smaller Lisle carbide scrapers that's pretty much all I use. I have some of the heavy duty striking Mayhew, which are so HD they're imbalanced and more suited as light duty chisels.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I will say good for you and I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings.

It was sarcasm anyway since I find it annoying to equate financial success to tool ownership

Besides, I believe with all my heart that any mechanic that knows his/her **** can make almost the same amount of money with craftsman or even HarborFreight. Most Any brand really

Thorson brand tools are not really all that but I pulled out a combination wrench to use yesterday. The chromes all chipped off the head had a gash from somewhere but it got the job done just fine

I’ve been using it for 45 years. Not every workday but I’m sure good mechanics know how to use tools without ripping them up.

I'd say it's equally foolish to equate specific tool ownership with financial ruin, no? The same people in crisis over tool payments have a credit score less than their engine displacement, and Rent A Center is trying to repo their TV.

I don't think any brand has a monopoly on quality tools. I also don't think you're going to last very long with the craftsman catalog in 2024. HF at least has icon for some usable variety.

 

[zendriver]

I'd say it's equally foolish to equate specific tool ownership with financial ruin, no? The same people in crisis over tool payments have a credit score less than their engine displacement, and Rent A Center is trying to repo their TV.

I don't think any brand has a monopoly on quality tools. I also don't think you're going to last very long with the craftsman catalog in 2024. HF at least has icon for some usable variety.

Nothing wrong with having high end nice tools. I just don’t believe they make or break a good mechanic. They’re good mechanics because they have the skills.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Nothing wrong with having high end nice tools. I just don’t believe they make or break a good mechanic. They’re good mechanics because they have the skills.

Nice stuff is in fact, nice.

Generally speaking, a violinist could out perform me on anything remotely considered a functional instrument. However I would also say their best works would be with a Stradivari.

 

[rust in the eye]

This seemed like a good idea at the time:
Maybe one day I'll find a use for it.

 

[Steve_P]

This seemed like a good idea at the time:
Maybe one day I'll find a use for it.

Just say you were drinking when you bought it!

 

[MarkH]

Biggest regret trying to get by when you really need a specialty tool. Way to much wasted time and items damaged.

Just like they say you should not go grocery shopping when hungry. Do not go tool shopping right after browsing the garage journal.

 

[catalytic]

I would buy a nice GMTK and have a great starting point to build on. SO much easier and more cost effective than learning about and collecting each different type of essential tool, plus you get a cool case to wheel them around in.