How would you spend $25K

[SuitorsGarage]

I'm setting up a second shop for the in a remote location to work on equipment and to fabricate some new equipment. I've allocated $25,000 for hand tools and tool storage. As I buy these tools I would like to hear what everybody here would purchase to stretch the budget.

The scope of work will be diesel, hydraulics, steel fabrication of rolling stock (railway), and even wood work on some rolling stock.

These will be shop owned hand tools. Mostly SAE.
I dropped off 1 new 72" Homak to start filling so far. Lets hear how you would fill it.

 

[mbshop]

Very carefully. Also get what you use at the main shop.

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Very carefully. Also get what you use at the main shop.

Very carefully is the key. The more I can save means the more I can buy or apply to another budget.
Older SK and Proto are the main tools in the larger sizes in the main shop. I want to leave as much as I can at our main facility for some work that will be done there.

 

[MayerMR]

On my student loans...

 

[Y00PER]

I would buy a couple dozen acres of land

 

[d.mcfarland]

Very difficult to answer because we have no idea what you need and since you'll be buying used, we don't know what you have available in the local area.

 

[VocaTexas]

Sounds like a lathe and mill could be useful as well.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Buy me a Mercedes Benz, I have to make amenz

 

[WittHay]

Interesting, I drive by a local heritage rail station almost daily and never gave much thought as to how much work they do there and what tools they use

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Very difficult to answer because we have no idea what you need and since you'll be buying used, we don't know what you have available in the local area.

Basically for this part of my budget I need to outfit a couple of boxes with enough hand tools to disassemble and assemble heavy equipment like a snow groomer, with the exception of specialty tools. Pro active maintenance including a powerplant swap in one, hydraulic pump refresh in a few, planetary removal in one....

The used tool market in this area is not easy. I did look into finding a bulk used tool purchase but had no luck.

For this year we are leaving our machine shop at our main facility.

 

[Sco Deac]

The used tool market in this area is not easy. I did look into finding a bulk used tool purchase but had no luck.

Where is the used tool market good? I’d consider contacting to the best eBay seller for my brand of choice to see what deal I could make for a big purchase that I pick up myself. Also let them know what you are doing and they may have leads on some used market sources they can tap.

 

[sberry]

While there is a good reason to have a limit the word budget and tools or supplies to not always match the requirements of the equipment. Often,, not saying this is a case but budgets are often designed by management types that have little idea of the demands of the equipment. Some need lots, some little. While many mechanics have 25k in hand tools a guy can efficiently remove an engine with 2500$ worth, maybe less especially if it's tailored to that job.

 

[ransil]

Put a want ad on CL, never know what might show up.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[SuitorsGarage]

So I have ordered some stuff. I know some here won't agree with my purchases but that is why I wanted to here some opinions. I'll get to posting what is next to look into purchasing as soon as I can.
Here is what I ordered so far.
72" Homak with a stainless top delivered $1300
433 pc Carlyle master set $1700
Carlyle wrenches to fill any gaps from 1/4" thru 2" and 6-24mm $350

Proto stuff so far
3/4 dr 11 pc socket set
7pc 1/2 dr sae hex bit set
6 pc 1/2 dr mm hex bit set
6 1/2 dr crowfoot wrenches between 15/16 and 2 1/2"
1/4-1 1/4 paramount wrench set for a second set
total for this stuff from msc was $685

So far the total is $4,035

 

[protegeV]

I would buy a couple dozen acres of land

Lol, where? I could buy one acre.

 

[brownbagg]

build a bldg

 

[Nick Danger]

You should talk to some steam train restoration guys.

 

[mike93lx]

Is that the mt wash cog railway? I went up last weekend. Very cool operation they have there

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Is that the mt wash cog railway? I went up last weekend. Very cool operation they have there

Yes it is.
We've outgrown the old shops and are using another space for winter work until we renovate or build another shop. Kind of like a trial run for the way we want our new shops to be. The offsite shop is set up similar to what we discussed building.

 

[mike93lx]

Yes it is.
We've outgrown the old shops and are using another space for winter work until we renovate or build another shop. Kind of like a trial run for the way we want our new shops to be. The offsite shop is set up similar to what we discussed building.

Sweet. Loved hearing that you guys designed and built the biodiesel locos in house. Very cool stuff and you guys have a great crew up there

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Thanks for the kind words mike.
I have some awesome guys working for me behind the scenes at the shops too. Lots of talent here. It's humbling having that kind of talent working for me.

 

[gtabasso]

Pay off my medical and dental bills

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on what you already have, what you will need, and how much time you have to buy everything. I would just slowly find and buy used high quality hand tools if it is significantly cheaper than buying new. Go look for estate sales that have a lot of tools. There was one that I went to where there was a huge hoard of Proto tools. For tool storage, I wouldn't spend too much. If you are in a rush, go buy a cheap solid box from a big box store or Harbor Freight. If you have time, go hunt down a used Snap on or Mac box at a decent price.

 

[B17E1943]

I'd get my Chevelle painted.

 

[casmurbax]

That must really be some job you have there, hopefully you don't need to get to the top to often when that weather is crazy.

I always wanted to do the sunrise drive up the mountain, but I either miss the date or have another obligation on those days when they offer it.

I would probably travel more around the country.

 

[sberry]

Used is good, sales are ok but there can be a temptation to go for stuff that seems like a deal that you may never need.

 

[mike93lx]

Is the woodwork repairs to the cars or trestle work? Both?

What do you cut the 4x and 6x with? A beam saw would be nice for that, but i imagine a cordless chainsaw would be more convenient.

 

[crane operator]

By me occasionally, there will be a retiring mechanic who wants to sell all their tools and a full box in one shot. Prices can be from $5,000-$10,000 plus, depending on what kind of mechanic (auto- diesel- heavy equipment), and how much specialty tooling there is.

For most guys who are just adding to their own tools these deals never make sense, but in your type of a situation, I think you could make the case that a retiring heavy equipment mechanic full box would be cheaper than what you could put together yourself.

I also see brand new boxes and tools from kids who attend trade school dreaming of building custom cars.

They get out and do brake jobs on minivans for 6 weeks straight, and decide they want to do something else, and then try to sell the new stuff they bought at list price

. I wouldn't purchase something like that, it will just be the basic stuff, and overpriced.

 

[SuitorsGarage]

I don't go up the mountain anymore unless there is a problem that I can't walk the engineers thru from the base. We will run in the adverse conditions until snow or rime ice is too much or the winds are 70mph.

Back to the tools...
I don't really have time to invest in the search for used tools. This time of year 60hrs a week is the minimum for me.

I think the next thing I am going to look into is a couple sets of ratcheting wrenches.

 

[txvwnut]

Hookers and blow.


Did the same thing at the day job. Called up the SO industrial guy and told him what I need and what I want and here’s how much you can do it for. Got two loaded roll cabs for about 23k each.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

OP, that's a cool picture. I would find the best deal I could on a classic car and buy it. It would look good with the train. Use someone else's tools. I know, I'm no help.

 

[Marctrees]

Maybe not a helpful post...

But I am totally confused.

You seem to already work on what you specialize in, but yet you are asking GJ what to buy??

Isn't it simply a matter of making a priority list of only what YOU know from experience is needed?

How do WE know if you need a large table saw more than you need 3/4 drive sockets?

Totally don't understand.

I must have missed something.

Help me somebody.

Marc

 

[derosa]

Woodwork where I might have a variety of things I'd want a really good sliding compound miter saw or if permanently placed a radial arm saw; a tablesaw and bandsaw are musts as well. Depending on the woodworking I might want a jointer or planer and if matching antique or one off trim is possible I'd want it to be a moulder/planer like my jet. 150-200 and I can get knives to match any piece of trim I need to reproduce. From there I'd go for veritas for chisels and planes. A roll of chisels is always important for small quick fits and adjustments. Planes I'd want a 4, 5, rabbit, and block. Might need more but these 4 are what I reach for most when doing panels, trim, and even unsticking doors and windows.

 

[Marctrees]

Seems to me a "remote" local shop w a 25k tool budget would handle "everyday" repairs and maintenance, deeper more extensive repairs,in a further "Main" shop, better tooled, would handle "upgrade" or rebuild jobs.

No ?

Marc

 

[Jacksonsman]

I don't go up the mountain anymore unless there is a problem that I can't walk the engineers thru from the base. We will run in the adverse conditions until snow or rime ice is too much or the winds are 70mph.

Back to the tools...
I don't really have time to invest in the search for used tools. This time of year 60hrs a week is the minimum for me.

I think the next thing I am going to look into is a couple sets of ratcheting wrenches.

I know this is my first post so I don't have much street cred around here, but as far as ratcheting wrenches go, the best I have ever have come in to contact with is Proto's Black reversible set. Worked as an engineer on Coast Guard Patrol Boats and these were our go-to wrench roll. Could just get about anything done we ever asked of them. These things got beat on and just kept on ticking in a very harsh environment to boot.

When I say beat on, I mean BEAT on. I'm talking a deadblow handle in the open end, getting wacked by another deadblow with the ratchet talking up all that abuse because clearence was too tight to get anything else in that particular spot and the fastener head had welded itself in the saltwater to the engine block. Not a GJ approved use of the tool, but when the mission has to get done, the mission has to get done. Lives on the line and all that...

I can't say the same about any others I came in to contact with which included Westwards(JUNK), Gearwrench, or Craftsmen.

 

[matt_i]

Id want a oxyacet setup where one could safely use a rosebud torch tip.

Heat is the most powerful tool in the shop and there can only be the need for more of it when dealing with loco sized fasteners.

 

[SuitorsGarage]

Maybe not a helpful post...

But I am totally confused.

You seem to already work on what you specialize in, but yet you are asking GJ what to buy??

Isn't it simply a matter of making a priority list of only what YOU know from experience is needed?

How do WE know if you need a large table saw more than you need 3/4 drive sockets?

Totally don't understand.

I must have missed something.

Help me somebody.

Marc

I'll try and make this a little clearer for everyone.
Our shops are too small for the amount of equipment that we have to work on. We need to build a new one or change the one we have. We can't remodel ours in our operating season or in the off season. This other location has what we discussed for a new shop. We decided to truck half the equipment there and do winter work. Some work will be done at the original shop so tools are staying there.
The 25K was for mechanic hand tools and storage that the company will own in the new shop. My tools will be in the new shop also. I'm not asking for you guys to tell me what I need to do the job but rather what you would purchase to stretch the budget. I planned on posting what I am looking for when I am dealing with vendors. We are spending quite a bit on this endevor so I thought I would share it. I do have a list.

 

[flushcut]

Buy me a Mercedes Benz, I have to make amenz

Janis forever!

 

[Wamsutta]

I don't know enough about the locomotive industry to answer the question.

 

[matt_i]

what you would purchase to stretch the budget. I planned on posting what I am looking for when I am dealing with vendors. We are spending quite a bit on this endevor so I thought I would share it. I do have a list.

Hate to say it but I'm still confuzzled.

I think of basic ratchets, wrenches, sockets and internal drive/driver bit tools when i come to basic part-changing tools.

Screwdrivers and pliers, adjustable wrenches all have their place.

It might be useful to get punches, snap ring tools, hammers, prybars, etc.

Cordless tools definite plus these days.

Edge tools like drill bits, holesaws, files.

Not sure how exotic the list has to get but it sure can continue.

Then I'd kaizen foam them all (cut slots for each tool) and paint every one green or yellow or pink so you know where they came from.

The price point is up to you, there are plenty of offerings from cheap to expensive that are hotly debated on this here forum. Someone has to set the direction on how the money is to be spent and then the choices will get easier.