Do you buy filler tools?

[Exceller8]

Lately I've been buying filler tools to fill the missing gaps in my tool collection. Let's face it, unless you're made of $$$ its really hard to buy every quality tool that you want. I just purchased some HF ladies foot pry bars and man are they bad, but they fill a gap in my collection and that makes it easier for me to see what I need to upgrade.

Thanks to the members of GJ my tool collection has more than doubled in the past six months and I'm upgrading with better tools as I can find them.

 

[carterbeauford]

I've read those bars bend. to me not having a tool is better than having a tool that's not going to do the job. I either buy a quality tool or I don't buy it at all. you're diminishing the overall worth and utility of your collection by mixing HF stuff in. quality over quantity.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

No. I'll buy it to fill out the tools I have if there's justification to buy the tool - I need it, or will need it in the immediate future. I don't spend money on tools I haven't needed, but may at some point need for an unspecified project, to make my toolbox more full.

 

[03protege]

The only time I buy something for sole purpose of just having it in my tool box is if it is name brand and a really good deal. Other than that I buy things when I need them, if that means HF so be it but I try and get products that have a good reputation.

 

[hifi_hokie]

Nope.

 

[rmsg0040]

Sometimes I do,

I bought a 7 pc flex head gearwrench set from canadiantire, missing 2 sizes I wanted 17 & 19, so I bought the 2 gearwrenches that were missing

HF impact socket set missing 15 & 18, bought other brand to make it complete

Other than that, no

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have learned from GJ, and keep a list in my wallet of missing items. However, I cannot afford new, but I like yard sales/swap meets, so I look for the missing pieces there.

I buy quality, but my collection is a mix of EVERY "USA Made" tool, (and Germany etc), so that makes it easier for me. The only time I get a matching set is when I find one used.

 

[mrjaw14]

I have some crappy tools on a peg board in my garage for when I don't want to get into my toolbox for the good stuff, as I keep it locked and often the keys are in the house. I have screwdrivers, off-brand pair of channellocks, etc. I wanted a pair of needle nose pliers and thought "maybe I should get some crappy ones from HD for $3" just to hang on my peg board because it lacked needle nose. Today I purchased a pair of well used channellock 326 needle nose pliers from a pawn shop for $3. Now I'm glad I didn't get the chinese **** from lowes or HD. I also got a Snap-On 1/2" universal joint for $8 to add to my collection.

Moral of the story is good things come to those that wait. If you don't have to have it right then, be patient and watch pawn shops, garage sales, ebay, etc and you can get some good stuff for about the same price.

 

[Gabastone]

Nope. I will, however, buy tools expecting a need. For example, I needed a semi deep 9/16 sockets for an older 350, so i bought the entire set - not just the single socket.

 

[antinym]

I don't buy tools I have no idea if I'll need.. with the exception of socket sets..
If I do a job once or twice and I think "man, it would have been nice if I had a ***" I may buy one next time I'm out.

 

[richfinn]

I buy stuff if it takes my fancy and it will be useful to me, I dont worry too much about brands or having brand new if its decent quality and value for money.

Just got a nice deal on a new Mityvac kit from e-bay, and bought some gearwrench stuff of the same guy.

Looking for a good set of electrical terminal extractors for European cars but I will bide my time until I get them at the right price.

I very rarely impulse buy anymore, I used to be a sucker for the Tool Van on payday

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Tools to fill in a set...Yep. If I got a Small/Medium and XL version of something...I will get the Large... For Example: Dad gave me the AD6 and AD10 SnapOn Adjustables, a couple weeks later I was on the truck getting the 8 & 10" versions to complete the set.

I wont randomly buy tools for the heck of it...I have no need for any Vee-Dub tools, so you wont ever catch me buying one.

If I have an upcoming project, I'll gladly buy a tool if I need it.....During a project, it takes me zero reason to buy a tool. I remember my mom bitching about this very thing and my dad...now I'm "My Dad"....

 

[king nero]

HF impact socket set missing 15 & 18, bought other brand to make it complete

18mm is regularly used on french cars, but I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

 

[dirtydogintex]

Nope. I will, however, buy tools expecting a need. For example, I needed a semi deep 9/16 sockets for an older 350, so i bought the entire set - not just the single socket.

hmmmm - took a hack saw to a new chicom deep impact socket to avoid pulling evaps on 5.7l diesel head jobs.

Real easy sawing iirc!! *L

 

[NiteWolf]

18mm is regularly used on french cars, but I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

My 2002 Land Rover Freelander uses 15mm.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

I buy things I anticipate on using when they come up at the right price, even if it's months or years before I need them. Just for the sake of filling holes? Nope.

 

[rmsg0040]

18mm is regularly used on french cars, but I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

Quite a bit on my chevy trailblazer, oil drain plug, upper control arm pinch bolt, etc

 

[joedodge]

Nope of they don't make money I ain't buying them.....but I don't collect I turn them for a living

 

[dirtydogintex]

18mm is regularly used on french cars, but I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

MB used 16mm and 18mm while 15mm was common on US and Japanese vehicles iirc.... but there're more apps for all 3 (esp 15mm based on my tools' wear patterns).

 

[bcradio]

I've read those bars bend. to me not having a tool is better than having a tool that's not going to do the job. I either buy a quality tool or I don't buy it at all. you're diminishing the overall worth and utility of your collection by mixing HF stuff in. quality over quantity.

Lots of HF stuff works great, get used to it. Don't just look at a tool for its brand, look at it for its overall quality.

 

[joedodge]

Agreed I've got a lot of annex and kd and lisle stuff that I guarantee you wasn't made in the us but it works flawless never given me a problem and was affordable

 

[joedodge]

Meant sunnex

 

[jmm]

Yes and no.

Yes, because I can't imagine not using a complete set at some point in my life.

No, because I'm not out hunting anything in /64ths, and I don't mind having a mis-matched set. My main wrench set at work is about half Snap-On, half other. It doesn't bother me.

'Complete' is subjective. With that in mind, my sets are complete.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

Lots of HF stuff works great, get used to it. Don't just look at a tool for its brand, look at it for its overall quality.

I agree with that as well. Ive bought tools from snap on that ***** for the amount i paid for, then got the same to from hf and it worked 10x better. Brand isnt everything. If it works it works.

 

[Exceller8]

The filler tools I buy are the ones that I can't afford a better version of. If I have no need for a tool then I won't buy it, unless I get a really good deal.

 

[byoungblood]

I buy the fillers if I anticipate the need, or if I run across them dirt cheap. When Sears was clearing out sockets for 97 cents, I filled in a few gaps I had. Since I have actually used one or two of them a couple of times, so sometimes you just never know.

I bought the 16 and 18mm Wright wrenches to fill out my metric set, as it did not include them, but incidentally the oil drain on my Mazda is 18mm and my Jeep 16mm. But it included a 9mm that I don't think I've ever used before on any tool set. Go figure.

 

[KSB]

I am not buying "fillers" at the current time but I am slowly picking away at usefull tools that are not entirely a necessity.

Such as double square sockets in place of a wrench on square plugs, pipe plug socket in place of a ratchet drive end, etc...

 

[CWP1616L]

I bought a 5.5mm socket to go with my 1/4 drive Kobalt set that didn't include it. How's that?

 

[flippin]

18mm is regularly used on french cars, but I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

15mm is the exclusive bolt size on the crank arms of modern bicycles (past 50 years)

 

[nanofrog]

As a general rule, No, I don't buy filler tools.

What I do buy, is the result of either immediate or future need (research that indicates I will need it if I do X job on something I own).

Keep in mind though, I don't have a garage to store a nice big box either. So that keeps me from collecting nearly as much as some members.

...I've never seen a 15mm bolt...
I don't even think I have a open end + ring spanner of 15mm.

are they more common where you live or on what you work on?

I used one most recently on a Subaru to install a new drive belt.

Lots of HF stuff works great, get used to it. Don't just look at a tool for its brand, look at it for its overall quality.

I'd have to agree with this.

Though I do like supporting my domestic economy, there are instances where this is either impractical due to costs higher than I'm willing or able to afford, or outright impossible.

 

[sparky7]

what usually happens is i buy something cheap that i need and it works ok but then i pick up a snap on or equivalent when i have the chance to replace the cheap tool i bought

 

[jeremy v]

I am kind of on the fence on this topic. I guess you could say that I don't like seeing an empty space because then I start to wonder if I lost a socket etc. I also don't particularly care about having a socket I don't need, but I do like to be able to check my socket racks and recognize quickly if one is missing.

I guess another way of saying it is that I don't buy filler tools, I buy filler PVC pipe, haha. I cut small socket space holders out of PVC pipe to fill the empty spaces in my socket racks, and then if there is a socket that I do have in another set (but just not in this particular set) I place a PVC end cap on top as a way of telling me that is a socket I actually have but it is elsewhere. As long as I do something like this for organizational purposes I don't mind having missing sockets.

Then for random larger sockets or sockets that do not fit inside a socket rack I just set PVC end caps inside them and mark the size and set them to the side.

 

[kunkernator]

I do not deliberately go out and buy new tools just for the heck of it. If I find a good deal I may bite, but only REALLY good deals. Other than that, I may buy a socket every now and then, because my Hansen trays tell me to.

 

[acdc73]

I've sold all my filler tools - don't use it, lose it!

 

[flippin]

I am kind of on the fence on this topic. I guess you could say that I don't like seeing an empty space because then I start to wonder if I lost a socket etc. I also don't particularly care about having a socket I don't need, but I do like to be able to check my socket racks and recognize quickly if one is missing.

I guess another way of saying it is that I don't buy filler tools, I buy filler PVC pipe, haha. I cut small socket space holders out of PVC pipe to fill the empty spaces in my socket racks, and then if there is a socket that I do have in another set (but just not in this particular set) I place a PVC end cap on top as a way of telling me that is a socket I actually have but it is elsewhere. As long as I do something like this for organizational purposes I don't mind having missing sockets.

Then for random larger sockets or sockets that do not fit inside a socket rack I just set PVC end caps inside them and mark the size and set them to the side.

That is a really smart idea for both tool control and to also remind you that it is worth the effort to go searching because you have that socket somewhere. Please tell me that I am not the only one who's purchased something more than once only to find out we already one but had forgotten. I hope not

 

[0.511MeV]

If I understand the OP correctly, then the answer is no, I do not buy filler tools. It seems like you are asking if I buy tools twice; once to simply have it, and then again to buy a good version.

I just don't have that kind of money. I'd rather buy what I need as I need it, and get good quality once.

 

[bobemmerich]

Please tell me that I am not the only one who's purchased something more than once only to find out we already one but had forgotten. I hope not

Nope^^ I'm guilty. My org skills ****! That's why I have like 10 utility knives, tape measures, taping knives and 4 mud trays...

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I use the word "fill in" for low use and backup tools... Depending on the use, that cheaper tool may come from HF or some other China Shoppe.... A good used name brand tool will be my first choice,, but for example: a set of old worn out USA 3/4" and 1" drive impact socket sets are still worn out junk.. New HF sets were my choice to cover every size.. The individual sockets that get used the most have USA individual sockets along side them.. I bought a full set of new ProTo 3/4" drive twelve point chrome sockets and a ratchet back in 1970,,A bunch of those sockets have never been used!! It IS nice to have good tools when you need them..HOWEVER Being that hindsight is 20-20, I question if that new purchase would be repeated today...

I buy tools that I need, and now cost justify every purchase... I have never been a tool "collector" but I am a tool user....

 

[Tack]

The only filler I tend to buy is sockets in an attempt to fill my socket tray.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't wrench for a living, but if I find a great deal on some thing, I will buy it. Case in point, one of my local pawn shops has a bargin table where any tool on it is .50, I purhcased a coax stripper and a pair of unknown type compression plyers. I came home and looked up the unknown plyers by the patend number and find that they are commercial telephone plyers (78.00 retail), no I didn't need them but for .50 they interested me. I have waisted a whole lot more than .50 other stuff because they caught my eye...Rich