If you had all your tools stolen. ...

[WHEc716]

I can't recall if I saw this thread on this forum or another. Essentially it was a "what would you buy if all your tools were stolen" and folks were making lists for screw drivers, wrenches, ratchets, etc etc.

If this sounds familiar to anyone, please point me in the right direction.

Just to be clear, i'm hoping someone has the link to the exact thread that I'm referencing.

 

[FigureItOut]

"what would you buy if all your tools were stolen"

Ammunition

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[nickelmore]

Insurance......Its cheap and then you can buy what you had.

 

[RustnGrease]

a backhoe and lime if it was proven who did it. J/K I'd replace what i could with similar or sturdier stuff. Junk replaced with flea market/yardsale made in the USA tools.

 

[Bobcat753]

Loose my mind and probably never be the same.

 

[Exceller8]

I'd go all German with my wrenches. Snap-On for my screwdrivers, S-K for my sockets, and HF for my impact sockets. Everything else would be a mix of tools that I needed at the time.

 

[2004.5cumminsman]

Id be pissed, but such as life. At the end of the day they are just tools, not family or friends. I would probably go all Proto and SK....

 

[Cato]

used Snap On

 

[Empty Pockets]

I'd have the "Mother of all insurance claims". I already have an insurance rider on them, but still working on an accurate inventory and pictures, in case of a loss.

I'd recommend anyone with a substantial investment in tools to check with their insurance agent to be sure you're covered.

 

[FigureItOut]

Here's a couple possibilities:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=291526

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137729





Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[lightning02]

if insurance was covering everything id most likely buy snap-on for most of my stuff with a mix of other brands here and there.

 

[yossarian19]

I'd buy:
Craftsman impact sockets & extensions
IR 231HA 1/2" impact, whatever IR is comparable for 3/8" impact
12V lithium ion 1/4" impact driver. Maybe a 18 or 20v unit, actually. Probably go Makita.
Ebay Snap-On wrenches. If I was going new, I'd go Craftsman Professional. I've got snap-on in my tool box now but I should have stopped with the Craftsman Pro - Danaher, the company that owns Matco, whored out Matco wrenches pretty hard and made a very comparable product at 1/4 the price.
Knipex and Klein pliers. If on a budget, Irwin. Don't cheap out on big channel lock pliers. A ****** pair will skip the joint and slam shut on your fingers, slip on the fastener hurt you, etc. Get the big-damn Knipex channel locks and never look back.
Screwdrivers... I've got Craftsman and I've got Snap-On. For quality, I don't like the Craftsman. For price, I hate the snap-on. I'd look for middle ground elsewhere. Probably try Craftsman Pro if I'm in the market again.
what else.
Plumb & Vaughn hammers. Punches & chisels, whoever.
Torx, External Torx, "funky" fasteners - I hesitate to recommend Snap on very often on account of the price but I'd go no cheaper than Sunex on these. You don't want to strip or break anything internal wrenching because next you have to get the drill out.

Basically, if you can't Ebay a Big Three (or Four if you like Cornwell) I'd go Knipex, Craftsman, Klein or Sunex.

 

[anndel]

All Snap On because most Craftsmans are Made in China now.

 

[Sprintman]

Toptul from Kev

 

[MDK22]

I suggest you look at my list under this post prices have probably changed but... http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303801&page=2

 

[OccupantRJ]

First I would collect what insurance may pay out. Next, I would replace critical tools. Next, I would retire a little early and devote my time to tracking them down. Once before, it took me all of 10 minutes to locate some of my tools at a pawn shop, as my code was engraved on them. Made the perp sell his prized horse to pay for my tools, or take his lumps. However, if someone gets ALL my tools, they better have a forklift, time, help, and a semi trailer.

 

[bobcatdan]

I'd probably by a Kennedy combo and fill it SK. Pocket the rest of the insurance money.

 

[Jawn]

I'd probably by a Kennedy combo and fill it SK. Pocket the rest of the insurance money.

Good approach. Maybe some Wright/Proto/Armstrong as well (I really like Armstrong's ratcheting wrenches). Oh, and some Knipex love!

 

[Kensgarage]

Since I've pretty much traded everything I ever had for what I now consider the best......I'd go back with exactly what I have now but using custom made boxes. I used the Kennedy box builder the other day after one of their employees posted.
It's on the long long list.I don't need them.

 

[Fretters]

Insurance......Its cheap and then you can buy what you had.

Insurance isn't really worth a jot if you're a collector of vintage & antique machinery and tools. Replacing those isn't just a case of nipping into a shop or browsing through a catalogue.

 

[Alchymist]

Couldn't replace them all because I couldn't remember everything. Even with a zillion pics, can't list/photograph everything.

 

[Farrier]

^^^ True about the pics but it works ^^^

I update my shop once a year with general pics of this and that. I also take iPhone video of my shop and it's contents. Also do this for my house.

If you ever had a theft or God forbid, a structure fire, the pics and video will help recover what was lost.

 

[Bruster04]

It would ****!

not only for all the new stuff I've bought...I'd be most upset about my grandpa's snap on stuff from the 80s/90s I still use

 

[Richard Cranium]

None of us would want to go through with having to replace all of our tools, But if some one stole mine, It would have to be more than one person and they would need a large truck and some good lifting equipment. And a lot of time.

 

[erty67]

All Snap On because most Craftsmans are Made in China now.

How does this make any sense??

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

 

[PugetDude]

A guy I used to work with had all his tools stolen...
Every 7 years...completely cleaned him out.
Three times in the 15 years we worked together. Always seem to happen right after he moved into a different state.
Amazingly, he always had recent photos and a comprehensive inventory every time it happened.
The last two times they got all his electronics, too. Had to replace it all with newer technology each time...

 

[K-Dog]

The shop has insurance on my box and all its contents.
I have up to date ( as of a month ago ) photos of all its contents.

Additionally, I put away all my tools every night and lock the box. ( its amazing to me how many techs do not lock their box at night )

But yeah curing up in the fetal position and crying for a few hours at least.

 

[wrench409]

It's traumatic.

When the company said "We can't find your Tool Inventory form originals in your personnel file" - I whipped out my signed, countersigned and dated carbon copies from my hire date. The company rules had been rewritten and allowed me to write addendums if I had purchase receipts (which I did - 12 years worth).

They did NOT like my claim but paid it in full. They disputed nothing.

I did not replace everything though.

 

[SantaAna12]

I have often thought of buying insurance. Not enough, as I read this thread. I grew up in a place where a person could get ripped and ripped plenty if he wasn't careful. It's been awhile for me....but I know it could be any day.
I live on a boat, so home insurance is not an option. I got a quote once from my auto guy, and it was too high to make sense.
Anyone carry a non-home, non-commercial policy that makes sense dollars wise?

 

[ZRX61]

I had *all* my tools stolen one time, I was 17 at the time so everything fitted in a cantilever box. Went on vacation for a few days & one of the other guys where I worked stole them. No way to prove anything but revenge was very costly to him.
I bought cheap **** to get going again & most of those tools I still have somewhere.

 

[Elginz]

Go fishing.

 

[sberry]

If I had to start over it would be a mix of Sears and HF. Threads you never see,,,,,,,, someone stole all my HF tools,,,, hahahaa Its a super benefit of low cost, wouldn't even bother insuring it.

 

[Kensgarage]

I have often thought of buying insurance. Not enough, as I read this thread. I grew up in a place where a person could get ripped and ripped plenty if he wasn't careful. It's been awhile for me....but I know it could be any day.
I live on a boat, so home insurance is not an option. I got a quote once from my auto guy, and it was too high to make sense.
Anyone carry a non-home, non-commercial policy that makes sense dollars wise?

Other than a self-storage unit I doubt that exists. It would be coverted like a renters insurance........Maybe

 

[decableguy2000]

I had it happen. It *****. Meth head neighbor. Mine where mostly craftsman, insurance covered most but I still had the packing slip form my set and was able to itemize the cost of each piece. I went back with craftsman for the most part but up graded to the next size set up.

Jeremy

 

[colin39]

WHAT AGAIN!!!!!! I learned fast from the first time there now well insured
Id become a trolley wolly at the local supermarket, pubix will be good enough for me.
Claim on the insurance and id retire now.
I photograph all my tools monthly and get a statment from my tool dealer monthly this way there is no confusion.

 

[nieuport17]

If all my tools were stolen? I would be really pissed.
I then would drop by HF for get- me- by tools until I have enough money and time to replace them.
It took me a long time to gather my good tools, unless I won the lotteries, it would take me quite awhile to replace them.

 

[wagon]

I'd go all taken and kill all them fools.

then restock with all proto and wright. power tools would be Makita, welders miller.

 

[LXCam]

Go fishing.

Damn it man you beat me too it. I'd take up golf and pay some poor fool to build and repair my **** why I played more golf.

 

[afazz]

I would make every attempt to replace everything with identical tools. I have been purging unused or low quality tools and upgrading the common stuff for a few years, my tool collection is almost exactly where I want it. Concise, fairly complete, and top quality. I carry insurance, but making a claim and replacing everything would be stressful and time consuming.

 

[unslow1]

I don't wrench 1/4 as much as I used to. If given the choice to buy what and how much I want then keep the leftover I wouldn't replace most. I had a break-in 8 years ago and wasn't given the option not to replace most. What I would buy now would probably be a mix of HF, Gearwrench, Kobalt and Husky. Then I would probably downsize considerably. The import stuff has come up in quality dramatically and a lot of the better brands are now sourced overseas.
I have alarms and pics now. Pics before saved me thousands.