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First REAL Tool Purchase When I Was Younger

smokey0810

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Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
3,061
Location
Canyon, Texas
Just gettiing nostalgic in my 'old' age of 38. I remember buying these wrenches from the snap-on guy in town when I was 18. I was so proud to have purchased snap-on ratchets, and 20 years later they are my go-to tool when needing a ratchet. I also have a set of box wrenches, metric and standard in 1 set, and a 4-piece mini-screwdriver set (1 is MIA) that I just love. Photo doesn't do these ratchets justice...Anyone else have a real first tool purchase they wanna share? Thanks for listening to me ramble...

 
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retrobuilder

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Oct 18, 2012
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408
Location
Alpharetta GA
While learning to spray paint cars in high school I found a cheap spray gun was ****.. went out and got a better Craftsman $$ siphon gun and made all the difference ( est 1971) :)
 

jim1987

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Feb 16, 2014
Messages
3,582
Location
Ohio
First real tool purchase for me came 3.5 years ago. Was tearing out a motor in an 89 Toyota. My sockets were just all over the place. Didn't know what was where. Everything was just thrown in a drawer. So I bought a duralast 3/8 metric set. Deep and shallow that came in a cheap plastic rack thing. Sizes numbered all the way across. After.doing numerous jobs with them, I've only lost one socket. Never broken one. They show their scratches from getting tossed about on the concrete floor and rubbing in tight places in an engine bay, but still look great all things considered.
 

ddawg16

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Jul 11, 2008
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21,005
Location
S. California
SO BIG Screwdriver.

But my prized possession.....Blackhawk screw driver set given to me by my Dad about 40 years ago.....I will NEVER part with it. And, yes, I still have all the pieces.
 

ClineWrench

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Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
329
Location
Northern California
1/2" air gun. Ingersol rand 231 I bought from my Cornwell dealer. I still use that very same gun. The next purchase was the matching ingersol rand 3/8 ratchet. And like the air gun, it's still my go to ratchet.
 

Stooge

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Mar 24, 2013
Messages
3,533
Location
South Shore, MA
when i was pretty little and wanted to take apart my bike or skateboard probably, i bought a US made husky 1/2 ratchet and some 3/8 SAE sockets...because i was 7 and didnt know about drive size or that my bike and skateboard hardware were metric. i used to spend alot of time at my grandparents house and showing my grandfather my purchase, he ended up giving me some single proto sockets and an old SK ratchet that i could actually use. still have all of them, use the husky ratchet all the time still, although the SK doesnt see much use since i have about 8+ of that style and that one gets "special" treatment for sentimental sake
 
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bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
I bought my first tool when I was 12, a Stanley slip joint pliers. It has been a down hill slide ever since.
 

getahammer

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Joined
Jun 29, 2012
Messages
158
Location
Central Ohio
Vise grips. Bought from my next door neighbor. After numerous repairs with pliers, and worn out adjustables, it was the only tool I could still use on my bicycle. Still have em 40+ years later
 

Premium08

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Jun 6, 2014
Messages
362
Location
Littleton, NC
Started working for electrical contractor, went out and bought me: tape measure, klein linemans, klien angle cutters, Klein screwdriver and nutdriver set, couple pair of channel locks, and a bag for everything to go in

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1949 caddyman

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Oct 5, 2010
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1,778
Location
Arizona
A set of Craftsman 1/2" sockets & ratchet at an auction when i was 12. Got most of them replaced under warantee & still have them.
 

wayne55

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Oct 28, 2010
Messages
359
I bought a pair of linemans pliers for $2 at a dime store on Dexter Ave. in Montgomery, AL. almost 50 years ago. They were made in Sheffield, England. I still have and use them.
 

royesses

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Mar 28, 2009
Messages
789
Bought a Craftsman 91 piece tool set in steel flip top box when I was 16 in 1965. It was on sale for $39.00. Used it until I went 100% Snap-on in 1972. I really loved that Craftsman set. Gave it to a kid just starting out when I went Snap-on. Now I'm back to mostly Craftsman again.
 

tavernaut

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Jun 27, 2014
Messages
34
I was 15 in 1979, started working in an auto machine shop. My first two paychecks were spent on the Snap-on Truck- I felt like the King Of The World.

I bought an 11-pc set of black-handle screwdrivers first, then a set of stubby black combination wrenches. I carefully stamped/engraved my SSN on each piece, as I still do today.

They were stolen from my garage in 1999, along with every other tool I owned, or I would probably still be using them.
 

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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Jul 2, 2008
Messages
16,615
Location
Atlanta, GA
Craftsman 200 piece tool set in 1995. Then I got a plastic socket organizer tray that takes up nearly a whole drawer in a normal sized toolbox. Started buying the sockets at the flea market that didn't come with the set to fill them out. Generally paid about 30% of retail.
 

davethorik

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Sep 14, 2013
Messages
4,992
Location
Norka, Ohio
The first hand tools I bought myself were a Wright 6" black oxide crescent wrench, a matching 12", and a Nupla dead blow mallet. This was around age 23, before that since dad was a diesel tech and had 3 of every tool under the sun, I just borrowed his.

The company I worked for at the time had a policy where they would pay 50% of all new purchases for work tools if you turned in the receipt and it was approved, and so I paid 50% for those wrenches and the hammer.
 

weerez935

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Jul 16, 2014
Messages
118
I bought mostly cheaper stuff when I was 12-15 because I didn't know the difference. My first real tool was a super long slotted wiha that I used to take the grill off of an xterra. 6 years later it still looks brand new.


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Cosmicowboy

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Jul 19, 2014
Messages
27
Last week, Craftsman Made In U.S.A. 20 pc 3/8 socket set w/ratchet. While changing a brake rotor my HF ratchet broke (first time I had used it), so I went to Sears and bought the last Made In U.S.A. stuff they had.
 
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HighPlainsWrencher

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Jun 10, 2013
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218
When I was 14, maybe 15 I traded my nitro rc car and everything I had for it for a car that didn't run but was in great shape otherwise. I was washing dishes at a restaurant after school to earn money. When I had enough money saved my mother drove me to Sears and I bought a Craftsman tool set. I cant remember which one it was but it cost me around 250 dollars if I remember right and had pretty much everything I needed except screwdrivers.

As I had spare time I troubleshot the engine with that tool set and finally found out that it threw a rod. I kept working and saved enough money to buy a used engine which I installed with the help of my step dad. I drove the Honda for a couple years then traded it straight across for a very well taken care of 300zx non turbo 5 speed.

Today the only thing I have left out of that tool kit is the 3/8's drive shallow metric and sae socket sets and I use them almost everyday to make a living.
 
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Audiocrazy28

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Jan 3, 2014
Messages
106
Location
Chicago
Busted a cheap 3/8 ratchet and cut my knuckles in the process. Bought a 154pc craftsman set. It made a huge difference. Also first time I had all my sockets and wrenches organized in blow molded case and not just in a box thrown in.
 

allenb12

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Jun 12, 2014
Messages
72
Location
Deland, Florida
When I was 16, 1969, I bought a new unopened 3/8" socket set at a local flea market. Ratchet, 1/4"to 1" shallow sockets, spark plug socket, two extensions and swivel. $10.00.

Still have all but one socket. Wonderful quality. Been well used and abused. I have had a two foot cheater on the ratchet. Nothing ever broke.
 

MrJason

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May 26, 2013
Messages
438
Location
Bakersfield, CA.
My pops let me earn my first tool, when I was about 8. Still have that pocket screwdriver.

My first honest to goodness tool purchase, was at a local swap meet about 10 years old.

I picked out a socket set which I wanted. The sticker price was $10, but I was able to buy it for $5.

SK tool set, and it's still intact today. Without pulling it out of my gun safe, I found a picture that best depicts it.

uploadfromtaptalk1405890689101.jpg
 

jwh

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Joined
Aug 10, 2005
Messages
774
Location
Rochester NY
Sears tool set, probably around 1973, from the tool dept. at the old Sears store on Monroe Ave. in Rochester NY. Still have most of the pieces.
 

Waggoner72

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Jan 25, 2014
Messages
961
Location
Cabot Arkansas
Some will believe while others won't. A little over a year ago when I was 17 I made my first "big" tool purchase. Was looking for a snap-on toolbox on Craigslist and decided on a local krl7022pc. Paid $1500 cash of the money I earned from working over the summer.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1405901277.050975.jpg
 

sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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35,747
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Brethren, Michigan
I bought a handful of 3/8 deep sockets from a hwd store and a set of combo wrenches from WT Grant. Most got lost or rusted when left, I saw a couple of them not too long ago and still got one. They were actually quite good.
 

Backpack Hunter

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Jun 15, 2014
Messages
792
Location
NC
I was 15yrs old and bought a 175 piece USA made Craftsman set on sale for 50% off. I'm no pro, but I still use it today.
 

MRunabout

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Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Messages
134
Location
San Diego
I bought a 32 piece Craftsmen metric tool set when I was 18 to do my brakes and replace my shocks and springs. Moving to flex head ratchets and air/electric power tools made a world of a difference.
 

Premium08

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Joined
Jun 6, 2014
Messages
362
Location
Littleton, NC
Some will believe while others won't. A little over a year ago when I was 17 I made my first "big" tool purchase. Was looking for a snap-on toolbox on Craigslist and decided on a local krl7022pc. Paid $1500 cash of the money I earned from working over the summer.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1405901277.050975.jpg

You dirty dog, nice box at a great price

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98ssuck

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Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
347
Location
British columbia
I bought a snap-on racheting screwdriver kit when I was 12. The soft grip one with the case and the extra remove able long shaft. Still have it and use it daily.
 
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Filson

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Jun 14, 2013
Messages
1,218
Location
NE WA
Mine would probably have to be bringing home my 8" Reed, or for new tools - my Makita 18v Li-Ion Hammer Driver/Drill & Impact combo. It replaced my very unsexy 9v Black and Decker drill.

I'm 29, and don't twist wrenches for a living, so doubt I'll end up with a bunch of nice Snap On stuff like a lot of you guys. I am starting to save up for a Bridgeport Series II Special though. That'll probably take the cake for me, in my lifetime.
 

gearhead1

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Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Messages
1,935
Location
NC
An SK socket set when I was about 10. Before that I would ask for tools for birthday/Christmas since I was 5 or so. By the time I was 10, I didn't want anything made overseas because it was junk. Stuff made overseas has come a long way since the 70s/80s.
 

Conductor562

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Oct 2, 2012
Messages
2,312
Location
West "By God" Virginia
An 80 some piece set of 3/8" and 1/2" Williams Kobalt sockets and an 8 piece combo wrench set for Christmas in 98 when I was 15. Still have most of it.

My first purchase was a matching 1/4" set a couple months later.
 

bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
Messages
6,017
Location
New Mexico
Way too many auto shmucks on here. :lol_hitti

My first tool purchase was a dewalt corded drill followed shortly after by a sawzall, circ saw, compressor and nail guns. :beer:
 

AndrewV

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Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
1,368
Location
Fl
Bunch of ****, for bmx bikes.
Sockets, ratchets, allen keys. God i wish all that stuff didn't get stolen out of my lebaron 12 yrs ago.

Always used my uncles tools, at the body shop, and dad's at his place, when i was younger.
 
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