How would you spend $25K

[sberry]

Some of it I am satisfied with getting it in the right drawer.

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Hate to say it but I'm still confuzzled.



there are plenty of offerings from cheap to expensive that are hotly debated on this here forum.

This.

As I do some pricing of brands of specific tools I wanted to hear some opinions on them or discuss another option I may have overlooked.

 

[djbmusicworkshop]

So how many mechanics are you trying to supply tools for? You mentioned your set of tools...does that cover more than you? Since you're talking about stretching the budget, how many sets of tools and storage do you need?

[I have short section of cog rail from those tracks. The White Mountains are one of my favorite places on earth.]

 

[sberry]

How much of this is a time vs money equation? Todaysvworld is slightly different, today would get battery 3/4 impact to lead off with and full set of HF sockets and find some place to get a couple larger singles I might need.
Some of this might do some more shopping than buying and he ready to ****** some as needed depending on schedule. Hold some of this in escrow, be ready with a buy it now button. I might get big ole sears set and some individual sundries. Hard to go wrong with extra visa grips and 440 Channeloks. With a little shopping evev fleas got some good, pipe wrench or 3, hammers and some of the adjustable are now top notch.
Auto parts stores have house lines, sale fliers and that stuff isn't always shiney but it works. Lots of it in stock.

 

[garageguy1]

I'm drawing a blank on names but I know some tool brands/industrial suppliers have pre spec'd out tool chests/cabinets/kits with all the tools one might require for specific jobs you could maybe start with that and then source extras /things not included

 

[SuitorsGarage]

@dbjmusicworkshop...The main boxes there will have the most tools for example wrenches up to 2 1/2" and specialty tools for the powerplants and hydraulics. There will be another section of this shop doing repairs to the passenger coaches and building new purpose specific coaches. That area will have basic mechanic tools up to 1 1/4" and 19mm. Anything larger or more specific (torque wrenches, torque multipliers for example) they will use out of the main boxes when needed. My tools have always gotten used the most at our main shop mostly because they are always the closest and within reach. We have a 100 yr old building with rails and racks sticking up out of the beat up floors so my tools stay right at our main work area.

@sberry...seems like you get what I am trying to do time vs money. I wish I had a year to collect these tools but the reality is about two more months while keeping up with what I do for regular work and getting the new building into shape to move. When you mention parts store house brands. I have a lot of napa carlyle stuff that I am more than pleased with. I am also fortunate that I have a local napa that does commercial stuff. They are the only real place in our area unless you want brakes for a car or wash and wax supplies. They treat me very well and that's why I already bought a master set from them for the main box.

@garageguy1...I did get contacted by Proto thru MSC and they tried but they were just too much money for a complete set. There is some stuff from them that I prefer and I bought some of that already, probably more if I don't find other deals.

 

[crane operator]

Any of these would be a good start. None of them will have everything you want, some of it will be cheap junk, some of it will be good tools. Each one would be a box with kind of a good assortment of stuff.

I run a shop where we have several different projects going at once, and several different people using the tools. I'm not so interested in having one good set, as enough tools that everyone is working and not hunting for tools, I own all the tools and the guys use them, so if I find a cheap box full of tools, I'm always interested.

I won't buy harbor freight tools, but if its s-k proto, usa craftsman, mac, matco, wright, stuff in there, I'm a buyer. Most of the time, the older the seller the better the tools.

I don't like driving all over for just one item, I don't have time for that.

I actually like the matco one here (first one), and the last one with the napa/homak boxes, the guy with the snap on set probably has the best set, but the price reflects it.

. I'd probably buy the first and the last sets, and plop the boxes on the floor and come up with a list of what we don't have.

Sure you would have a lot of duplicate stuff, but with lots of guys working that's not a bad thing. You could spend a afternoon and $5,000 and have two boxes and a really good start by buying the first and last sets.

https://nh.craigslist.org/tls/d/matco-tool-box-filled-with/6688137868.html

https://nh.craigslist.org/tls/d/snap-on-tool-box-full-of-tools/6690053420.html

https://nh.craigslist.org/tls/d/napa-tool-boxes-full-of-tools/6668314030.html

 

[Marctrees]

Suitors - Have you seen this current offering in the GJ classiffieds?

Seems to me, for the money it may make great sense.. get it, sort it out, and figure out what is still needed.

Looks like great bang for the buck.

Marc

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385145