Had a lesson in perspective today

[ssdave]

Went out to look at a dam for safety reasons today. The reservoir behind it is dry, but has a muddy area that kids have been using for mud bogging. They've left a lot of garbage behind, plus a few car parts like bumper covers, etc.

Anyway, I was with an older co-worker (that's hard to find these days) and a younger one.

As we were walking along, I found a Pittsburg socket, and a few feet later, a Pittsburg wrench, both pushed down into the hardened mud surface. Probably bounced out of the back of someones truck. Hadn't been there long, they were new and shiny, full polish chrome. I picked them up and remarked that I'd throw them in with the box of salvation army destined sockets from last weekends yard sales.

The younger guy with me immediately spoke up and said "I'd like to have them". I pointed out that they were harbor freight. He told me that they were a lot better than the extremely cheap chinese tools that his father had gifted to him. He was extremely pleased with them, kept taking them out and looking at them on the ride home. I told him I get a lot of stuff like that in with lots of good tools I buy, and typically sent about 30 such tools a week to the thrift store, I'd put together a box of stuff for him.

I think I'll actually put together a set of better american stuff for him, it'll be fun to see how good a set I can put together from leftovers in a few weeks.

I am admittedly somewhat of a tool snob, because I can be. I have nice tools accumulated over 40 years of progressively better financial circumstances, and no need to use others. Sometimes it's good to get another persons perspective, that isn't so fortunate. Gives me some understanding of why some guys get so worked up here over anyone that doesn't admire their choice of HF or Craftsman tools.

 

[Milwookie]

It's easy to be judgmental. It's harder to be empathetic. Too many people take the easy way towards everything these days.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I understand where you're coming from both with tools, but I can also relate it to one of my other many hobbies, collecting knives. I at one point was happy with anything that looked like a knife and cut. As I've grown to learn about knives over the past 20 years, collected, used, bought, given away and received, I've come to figure out what knife brands have their stuff together and make features in knives I like, and some I don't. I know what good blade steels there are and the quality of craftsmanship I expect. I also know price point and can almost tell you what will last and what won't and tell you what type of person will buy what by personality. It's a lot like tools as well. You know what you like after a while, you always know the next best tool to the one you already have and no two tools are ever the same. They may all turn a nut or a bolt but they're different in some way or another (or so we like to use as an excuse to buy more). I'm sure he'll be more than pleased with the selection of tools you give him and who knows, like gifting someone their first quality knife, you may turn him into one of us and soon enough he'll be buying tools and passing the addiction down the line. Good on you.

 

[Gmonkee]

Many of us do just fine with 2nd tier tools. I certainly do and my job is all about using hand tools.

Bling is nice but I don't want a toolbag worth more than a car. Lower priced tools turn bolts too.

 

[OCD]

That's real cool of you to give him some of your extra tools!!

 

[ZRX61]

I'd be heading back over there with a metal detector...

 

[Superbec]

I'd be heading back over there with a metal detector...

I would first buy a S-O metal detector THAN go back there to find more

Use the right and best tool for the job

 

[zendriver]

Good post and great perspective.

People purchased American-made tools for generations, because that was pretty much all that was available.

Some had to have the best ones made, which no surprise were the most expensive. Many others, were completely satisfied with less expensive tools, they got the job done year after year.

The Chinese came along 40 years ago with inexpensive tools but were low quality and dubious design.

We all know that's changed, even if we don't want to admit it.

This young man has realize that the world has changed. He is just looking for tools that work, and like most people nowadays, he may not be able to afford to purchase what really amounts to status symbols.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[creativecars]

Good for you Dave.
Perspective and expectations play a large role in tools, and most everything else we do in life.
Helping a guy out that will appreciate and use a tool will help another human be more self reliant.

 

[fatfillup]

Great post on perspective and good for you to help out the younger guy.

I think too often we don't realize how good we have it in most 1st world countries. Our refrigerators have food in them, we have reliable heat and cooling, ease of transportation, closet full of clothes and on and on. You don't have to look too far around the world to see folks who have none or little of the above. We take it for granted far too often.

 

[AldeanFan]

Great job helping out the young guy.
I wouldn't be where I am today if not for a lot of help along the way from people like you.
Friends, family and coworkers have passed along a lot of knowledge and second hand tools to me that I've used in my work and hobbies. I have a body hammer in my tool box that Andy, the old man who taught me body work, gave me when I was 16. I paid my way through university working in a kick fill body shop and used that hammer every day.
Now I'm the grownup and I take every opportunity to pass things on to the next generation. My next tool to upgrade is my circular saw and the old one is going to a young guy at work that just bought his first house.

 

[Thumper68]

Great post!

It just goes to show that the best tool for the job is the one you have, it is fine if it says SO on it or HF because at the end of the day the only thing that really matters is that the job got done, not which brand of tool did the work.

Sometimes around here it seems we are way to caught up in the tool and less about the job.

 

[LXCam]

Good on you Dave. There nothing better than being able to help this kid out and teach him a few things along the way.

This young man has realize that the world has changed. He is just looking for tools


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nothing against the kid, but I'm thinking "precious" might sum it up better.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

You're doing a really nice thing. In the process you will make a good and loyal friend for life. Win-Win!

 

[KM223]

I'm interested in how this all turns out! Keep us posted on progress and his final reaction to his new tool set. I think what your doing is absolutely fantastic!

 

[a52-830]

it was nice that his father got him *something*, even if the quality was lacking. a lot of fathers dont care, his cared enough to try and get him something he wanted, and possibly got him the nicest set he could afford.

it is nice that someone else along the path helps him move forward, too . . . .

 

[Two Door]

Where this rings true for me is in discussions about the "best/cheapest" socket rails, where someone is wanting to know where to buy clips without the rails, in order to save what ends up being little or nothing - a dollar or two at most, perhaps.

I'm always tempted to say "Don't bother, it isn't worth your time". But I don't know that. I know it isn't worth my time, but I have to remind myself that I don't know their situation. And it isn't like I have a two or three-bay full of truck brands myself....

Edit - I still don't think you can really save money that way, but maybe someone who is hard up enough can find a cheap source for the rest of us .

 

[sberry]

There is some good perspective here. I like the empowerment perspective and the fact that we can do it cheaper than ever is a huge bonus. We don't have to wait to have gut wrenching savings and do without any more. Even the poor among us can obtain at minimum wage in a days pay a few things to fix a car. I happened to buy most torx as needed and in a career got about 100 in various sets including some lost and a couple premium aint no better than Walmart.
My metric hex were 13$, figured I would buy a couple as time went on but still use them on brake work. 20 plus years. We have now hammered on cheap Chinese wrenches, small handful of broken ones in severe service from abuse.

 

[sberry]

Many of us do just fine with 2nd tier tools. I certainly do and my job is all about using hand tools.

Bling is nice but I don't want a toolbag worth more than a car. Lower priced tools turn bolts too.

This is me. I started out the hard way. Its got to work, that is different than not performing but once it meets its duty I don't care where it was made or how much it cost isn't impressive. The pricing on this had become disposable or could be fully depreciated in a year and sold for as much as new especially if there is vendor hikes soon after you bought it.
It would be different if it really didn't work but that's not actually the case in real world field proven experience. Most of that comes from armchair speculation usually involving a tearjerker sentimental pitch.

 

[sberry]

I agree with getting a guy started with tools. It should be a requirement to graduate high school that every kid have a tool set of sorts and at least used a wrench, socket, screwdriver and a pair of pliers.

 

[SantaAna12]

I like helping apprentices too. Sounds like he is ahead of the game.

With regards to buying cheap hex and using them professionally?

It just doesn't happen unless you don't use them much. You need a reality check.

Strange days indeed.