Dream 3/8dr socket set finally happened!

[Iowafox]

Post #25 on here is my pictures of it all.

Before I start if you have a dream socket set you made I want to hear!!

So I've watched this video a few times x10 over the last few years.

this video made me think really hard and I have always Loved MAC tools for there Sockets. When I first go into cars and working on them grandpa swore by them and still does.
To me there the best out there better then Snap On. That's my opinion if you have your own that's awesome I don't want to get into a who is better argument. I didn't think I would ever be able to get a full set with out a few loans.
Well 2 years ago I started my current job nothing automotive just a worker in a factory owned by Stanley Black and Decker.
Anyways I found out a little bit ago I could get MAC tools I thought it was cool. So I looked into more and my dreams where achievable for about the price of Harbor Freight for me.

So about 6 months ago I said I will save and around new years I was going to order and make my dream of at least 6 years come true.
I started with the 3/8 drive shallow metric from 6mm-19mm about 4 months ago as I had a little overtime money and said I will get it as a early x-mas gift to myself.
Well last week I told my wife I was going to spend some money on tools. She said ok.
Well Friday after a LONG stressful week I got home and seen a UPS box. That made the whole week worth of stress go away.
I finally had the rest of my dream socket set. the Shallow SAE and the Deep SAE and Metric.
I also had ordered a Expert brand 3/8 impact universal joint.
I already had a few MAC ratchets as well as the reducer and step up adaptors.
I am no pro wrench turner just a weekend shade tree car fixer.
I can't explain how good it is to finally have a set that I can pass down to my children someday.
I can now finally put my Husky sockets from my mobile toolkit in the garage where they will be spares and home use as I do most jobs away from home as we have a small house in town and almost all the car working stuff happens at the inwas. So I keep my go to tools in my van with me.
I just wanted to share with my fellow tools lovers!!

 

[never enuf time]

Congratulations , I bet it feels great. It's worth it to save up for something you have always wanted.

 

[measuredtwice]

Congrats on the dream come true!

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Very good that's great.

 

[richfinn]

Good for you, I really like all my MAC-USA stuff (except the Knucklesaver wrenches), Facom and USAG do some nice stuff if your discount applies to those brands.

 

[Iowafox]

Good for you, I really like all my MAC-USA stuff (except the Knucklesaver wrenches), Facom and USAG do some nice stuff if your discount applies to those brands.

Sadly Facom no I have tried but that is the one brand Stanley owns that we can't. USAG I am not sure about.

 

[Iowafox]

Congratulations , I bet it feels great. It's worth it to save up for something you have always wanted.

It does! I can't wait to actually use them and break them in.

 

[Iowafox]

Congrats on the dream come true!

Thanks!! It feels great and a long time coming!

 

[B_Bimmer]

Sounds like a sweet deal. We like pictures...

 

[Iowafox]

Sounds like a sweet deal. We like pictures...

I'll take some and post them later I am still trying to figure out how to add pictures onto a post.

 

[lardy1]

Congratulations. I can tell by your enthusiasm that those sockets will be treasured. I still have and still use tools (not sockets, though) that I had to scrimp and save for back in the 70's and 80's. You're not going to regret this.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I finally had the rest of my dream socket set. the Shallow SAE (and Metric) and the Deep SAE and Metric.
.
.
.
I am no pro wrench turner just a weekend shade tree car fixer.
I can't explain how good it is to finally have a set that I can pass down to my children someday.

Not a passionate as you but I feel the same about my Craftsman sockets. 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive. Some are over 50 years old, but I am sure my grandsons will fight over who gets them !

 

[theoldwizard1]

I still have and still use tools that I had to scrimp and save for back in the 70's and 80's.

Same time most of mine were bought. Actually just "finished off" the 3/8" deep SAE set last year.

 

[Iowafox]

Congratulations. I can tell by your enthusiasm that those sockets will be treasured. I still have and still use tools (not sockets, though) that I had to scrimp and save for back in the 70's and 80's. You're not going to regret this.

Yeah it's a great feeling finally getting something you've waited and saved for. I have wanted a set of my own for a long time and there's just something that screams heritage worth about tools like these.

 

[Iowafox]

Not a passionate as you but I feel the same about my Craftsman sockets. 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive. Some are over 50 years old, but I am sure my grandsons will fight over who gets them !

that is what I hope happens with my tools. I figure I am young enough 23 to get some quality tools now and grow more over the years and these tools will be in the hands of my children. My 2 year old son already loves helping me fix stuff with my tools and loves playing with my sockets my 6 month old daughter on the other hand not much yet lol

 

[theoldwizard1]

that is what I hope happens with my tools. I figure I am young enough 23 to get some quality tools now and grow more over the years and these tools will be in the hands of my children.

Don't get too ******* in a brand name.

Craftsman was about the only thing reasonably priced and available to the DIYer 40+ years ago.

As i mentioned, I did some "fill in" on an old Craftsman set (3/8" deep 5/16" and 3/8" deep 1/4"). Do they look like my old ones ? NO !

 

[Iowafox]

Don't get too ******* in a brand name.

Craftsman was about the only thing reasonably priced and available to the DIYer 40+ years ago.

As i mentioned, I did some "fill in" on an old Craftsman set (3/8" deep 5/16" and 3/8" deep 1/4"). Do they look like my old ones ? NO !

I'm not to worried about brand names. I have everything from Stanley, Husky, Craftsman, Gearwrench, some snappy and mac and to me they all work good. There's somethings I just prefer over others. Much like alot of us on here I am sure.
As I am sure you prefer Craftsman over something else. Nothing wrong at all I am just getting some things from MAC. If you would look in my toolbox and toolkits. You will see alot of different brands as there is no one brand that has everything and I do like trying other brands of tools to get my own experience and opinion on them.

 

[Pingel85]

I thought this was going to be a thread about a whole set of 3/8 drive 10mm sockets. Deep, shallow, 6,8,12 point, hi vis, chrome, and impact rated. Like 30 sockets in all, all 10mm so you can’t lose them all.

But congrats on getting the actual sockets you’ve wanted

 

[GrantCee]

It took me decades to learn this: when you buy quality you only need to cry once. I have never regretted buying a quality tool, but I have regretted buying poor tools that I eventually had to replace.

Good tools give you the ability to fix and build things yourself. The financial benefit is substantial, but so are the personal benefits: self sufficiency, pride in accomplishment, and a lifetime hobby. I've known more than one person whose ability to fix and build has allowed them to own nice homes and vehicles with little to no debt, on a modest income, while their peers struggled to make house and car payments.

If that appeals to you, my advice would be to take full advantage of your personal purchase benefit. Don't borrow money (or use credit) to do so, but plan out your purchases. Save a little bit every paycheck and pay cash as you go. Get everything you need while you have this wonderful opportunity to do so at a steep discount.

Then use them, and be sure to teach your kids!

 

[zktk01]

It took me decades to learn this: when you buy quality you only need to cry once. I have never regretted buying a quality tool, but I have regretted buying poor tools that I eventually had to replace.

Good tools give you the ability to fix and build things yourself. The financial benefit is substantial, but so are the personal benefits: self sufficiency, pride in accomplishment, and a lifetime hobby. I've known more than one person whose ability to fix and build has allowed them to own nice homes and vehicles with little to no debt, on a modest income, while their peers struggled to make house and car payments.

If that appeals to you, my advice would be to take full advantage of your personal purchase benefit. Don't borrow money (or use credit) to do so, but plan out your purchases. Save a little bit every paycheck and pay cash as you go. Get everything you need while you have this wonderful opportunity to do so at a steep discount.

Then use them, and be sure to teach your kids!

Good advice hard to argue against that.

 

[Ralf11]

Don't get carried away with the employee discount.

My advice:

Save a little bit every paycheck and put it into an IRA. Max out any employee matching contributions too. Set up a college fund for your kids - 4 year, technical let them decide which but make sure they have a little starter package after HS.

 

[Iowafox]

It took me decades to learn this: when you buy quality you only need to cry once. I have never regretted buying a quality tool, but I have regretted buying poor tools that I eventually had to replace.

Good tools give you the ability to fix and build things yourself. The financial benefit is substantial, but so are the personal benefits: self sufficiency, pride in accomplishment, and a lifetime hobby. I've known more than one person whose ability to fix and build has allowed them to own nice homes and vehicles with little to no debt, on a modest income, while their peers struggled to make house and car payments.

If that appeals to you, my advice would be to take full advantage of your personal purchase benefit. Don't borrow money (or use credit) to do so, but plan out your purchases. Save a little bit every paycheck and pay cash as you go. Get everything you need while you have this wonderful opportunity to do so at a steep discount.

Then use them, and be sure to teach your kids!

Yeah I am going to slowly take advantage of my discount since I don't plan on working here for many years.
I also really want to teach my children to use them properly and to fix there own things when possible!
I think while I can I might get the full 1/4 and maybe 1/2 chrome MAC sets to but not 100% yet on that.

 

[Iowafox]

Don't get carried away with the employee discount.

My advice:

Save a little bit every paycheck and put it into an IRA. Max out any employee matching contributions too. Set up a college fund for your kids - 4 year, technical let them decide which but make sure they have a little starter package after HS.

That is actually one of the things I plan to do save money to help my kids get into schools after grade school.

 

[Iowafox]

I thought this was going to be a thread about a whole set of 3/8 drive 10mm sockets. Deep, shallow, 6,8,12 point, hi vis, chrome, and impact rated. Like 30 sockets in all, all 10mm so you can’t lose them all.

But congrats on getting the actual sockets you’ve wanted

I do have a list of EVERY 10mm socket MAC offers wrote down in all drive sizes. I have thought about ordering them eventually but I don't need them lol

 

[Iowafox]

Here's my pictures of my dream socket kit. Not 100% perfect but still working it out. The shallow 3/8 sockets are in the Stanley case. The deeps and extensions and other 3/8dr stuff is in my Mac tooltote. Sometime I'll take a good picture and do a post about it all in depth. I also posted one of my favorite 3/8dr impact universal joint this is the kind I swear by for universal joints.

 

[rmack898]

Congrats on getting what you want.
I still have the first 3/8 drive deep sockets, ratchet, and screw driver set I bought off the Mac truck 44 years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Iowafox]

Congrats on getting what you want.
I still have the first 3/8 drive deep sockets, ratchet, and screw driver set I bought off the Mac truck 44 years ago.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

That's awesome!! Post pictures I want to see how they look after so many years of service!!
The ratchet part is still a part I am working on. I want to find a good 70 tooth or higher 8" all metal handle USA made ratchet to button up my 3/8 master dream set. But till I find the one I am very content where I am!

 

[Ralf11]

an IRA is for you

a 529 acct. is for the kids, BUT "The largest drawback to a 529 plan is that colleges consider it when deciding on financial aid. This means your child could receive less financial aid than you might otherwise need"

anyway you're ahead of the curve on that, just choose funds with low expenses

you might want to check out the Japanese tool thread before buying too much...

 

[Iowafox]

an IRA is for you

a 529 acct. is for the kids, BUT "The largest drawback to a 529 plan is that colleges consider it when deciding on financial aid. This means your child could receive less financial aid than you might otherwise need"

anyway you're ahead of the curve on that, just choose funds with low expenses

you might want to check out the Japanese tool thread before buying too much...

I'm not going to be buying to much more. I am honestly going to limit to maybe 1 or 2 more this year. the wife and I want to save up to buy a house that we will own vs rent.