Higher quality tool gift guidance

[jd_parker1]

I am looking to purchase a retirement gift for my father. I currently have tool storage (3 piece husky/kobalt) and a 300ish piece craftsman mechanic's set, but I am looking to upgrade some (all?) of the tools. I have been searching a lot but all of the posts seem to be going in a slightly different direction.

Should I be looking at a set (currently looking at something like the J.H. Williams WSC-317)? Should I be trying to source individual high quality stuff? Should I buy new? Should I source craigslist and the classifieds here? What is worth it to upgrade and what isn't? Hopefully, I can get something together that I can use until he retires, provide this gift, and hope that it comes back to me one day. Is that selfish?

As far as budget is concerned, I am not looking to spend tens of thousands, but I can manage at least a few thousand (2-5k?). What is appropriate to spend to put a good collection together?

As far as purpose and use is concerned, I imagine anything from fixing lawnmowers, tractors, cars, and things around the house. But, who knows what retirees do with the abundance of free time?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[General Geoff]

Impossible to know without looking at what he already has and what's on his own personal wishlist. That being said, if you can swing a few grand, and he works on cars/trucks with any regularity, the answer to this is obvious.

Vehicle lift.

The high up front cost of purchase and setup to a vehicle lift prevents many folks from ever getting one, but it's easily one of the greatest tools to give to someone who wrenches. Particularly an older fellow who isn't as keen to crawl under a car on jack stands as he once may have been.

 

[healing]

agree

 

[jd_parker1]

A lift is a great idea! You are definitely right for the longer-term commitment on housing. That gift would probably have to wait until at or right before he retires to make sure they are staying put for awhile.

As far as what he already has, he has a basic husky/craftsman/kobalt set (one of the 300-400 pieces) and that's about it. I am hesitant to ask about a wishlist,as that might drop hints on what's coming his way, but it's something I can explore.

 

[sberry]

Find something he actually needs. No point in replacing stuff just to replace it.

 

[drtyler]

This is the correct answer.

It sounds like the tools he has are decent, so there is no need to replace if he's happy with them.

I agree with the idea about a lift, especially if it is something that he would use.

If space is limited, the mid-rise lifts can be very useful depending on what vehicles he would use it with and the type of work he would be doing.

Find something he actually needs. No point in replacing stuff just to replace it.

 

[jd_parker1]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I discreetly talked with him about his current tools and what he likes/dislikes/would like to expand to and it sounds like combo wrenches, ratchets, and torque wrenches are the things he is dissatisfied with. Everything else he has I got the impression "just works".

I can use that as a starting place at the very least, and I started investigating mid-rise/two post lifts to see what can be done.

 

[mikegt4]

Make sure the lift that you select fits your vehicles!