Know anyone that bought a master tool set?

[bchee]

I always drool over those picts of huge master sets all laid out on the floor, even though piecing together your own set is a better value and lets you get the best of every brand.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00983252000P
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=53972&group_ID=12736
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009H0259000B?
http://cgi.ebay.com/JH-WILLIAMS-139...6:4|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:200

I knew a guy that bought a Craftsman tools and box combo set. I think it was a medium size set, like 800 pieces.

Do you know anybody that actually bought a master set?

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I never did, i wish now that i did though, might have been cheaper.

Edit: this was the set i was looking at out of school but i procrastinated to long and did not bother, I know see it was a mistake.

Snap on- http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...d=2295&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

 

[swduncan]

Cheaper to go set or separate if you don't really know where you're headed? An interesting question.

I've often wished I'd gotten a set. But, I enjoy shopping. Really, I enjoy analyzing what the best choices could be. If only I could get paid to do that...actually, I sort of do.

Anyway, I don't know anyone who's bought the giant set. One of the 200 or so piece jobbies to fill out a portable box, sure. But not the master-mechanic-for-the-guy-who-fixes-jets-dishwashers-and-dragsters-in-the-same-day set.

 

[jkeyser14]

But not the master-mechanic-for-the-guy-who-fixes-jets-dishwashers-and-dragsters-in-the-same-day set.

I work with a few of those guys, you'd be amazed at what they have in their tool box.

 

[RenegadeEngr]

JH Williams is some great stuff, my favorite tools are the Williams ones. MatsudaA and MatsudaB on eBay have loads of it.

 

[bchee]

I thought the most expensive snap on set was $20K. I was way off

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I thought the most expensive snap on set was $20K. I was way off

 

[Uncle Buck]

I thought the most expensive snap on set was $20K. I was way off

It might have been in 1960!

 

[Vinko]

I was given the Proto Challenger Master Mechanic set -- which I still have and comprise my main body of tools. Didn't come with screwdrivers. But I use the ratchets and sockets quite a bit. I've added S-O sockets for some metric I need (hex), and hope to get some Stahlwille stuff.

There was a thread about the Proto Challenger sets a while back. Mine is 200 or 300 hundred and something pieces. I liked everything except the hex keys, which I wish were not just put into a ziploc bag. Maybe a "keyed" case or whatever you call it, would've been cool. I also have never used the Proto hex drivers, though I suppose they're useful.

I added 3/8's S-O short impacts, but that was a work purchase Also, some Proto punches and Armstrong wrenches for work.

The great thing about the set I was given is that it had all these sizes that I needed for older GM cars that I had a habit of taking apart even though I lacked the skill to put them back together I saw a mechanic on the SO truck the other day that reminded me that I took parts of my car to him in boxes for him to put back together 10 years ago

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, through the guy who sold cars to him, I met a Hollywood type with a ten-car garage full of Ferrari, Bentley, et al who never turned a wrench, but had the Snap-on master set plus. Total bill was more than $50k and it was all for set decoration.

thnx, jack vines

 

[rsanter]

a long time ago I used to know a guy who used to buy the mid sized sets from sears because his wife worked there. then he used to sell the pieces off at the swap meet

bob

 

[joenero]

When I was 20 I started out by buying a 500 piece c-man set that retailed for about $1300. I've replaced what I use regularly with snap on and the rest goes toward the at home set.

That box was huge though, with the 3/4" drive stuff the UPS guy was probably a little angry.

 

[Packard V8]

Above I mentioned a Hollywood guy with the $50k Snap-on set. Writing the post caused me to call the car salesman who introduced me to Hollywood. The update is someone told Hollywood that Snap-on was US and that the Ferrari and McLaren teams used Facom. He then gave away the Snap-on and ordered everything Facom makes. I'm having nightmares about the why wasn't day he gave it away the day I was walking in and admiring his Snap-on.

thnx, jack vines

 

[fordracing200]

Above I mentioned a Hollywood guy with the $50k Snap-on set. Writing the post caused me to call the car salesman who introduced me to Hollywood. The update is someone told Hollywood that Snap-on was US and that the Ferrari and McLaren teams used Facom. He then gave away the Snap-on and ordered everything Facom makes. I'm having nightmares about the why wasn't day he gave it away the day I was walking in and admiring his Snap-on.

thnx, jack vines

gah...Well I hope it went to someone who needed it. Most I've ever bought was the 204pc set because it went on sale half off at sears

 

[bchee]

If you guys had like $10K and the TIME, don't you think you could assemble a better set than any manufacturer has right now?

 

[jhn9840]

If you guys had like $10K and the TIME, don't you think you could assemble a better set than any manufacturer has right now?

I would thnk that just about anyone who spends time on this board could do that. I sure would give it a heck of a try.

I do not know anyone who ever bought one of those master sets. I am still wiping the drool off my chin from those pictures of them though.

jhn9840
John

 

[JohnK007]

I am still wiping the drool off my chin from those pictures of them though.

jhn9840
John

Yeah, that was pretty impressive !

 

[Ray-CA]

I bought a "Master" set years ago to get started. But, I've filled it in over the years.

Ray

 

[bchee]

I do not know anyone who ever bought one of those master sets. I am still wiping the drool off my chin from those pictures of them though.
John

Yeah, that was pretty impressive !

I'm sure guys already know that if you hover over the small picture with your mouse, it will enlarge the pict. I like to do this and look at every piece. It's like a spotlight or magnifying lens.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_009H0259000B?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00983252000P

 

[Moose-LandTran]

If you guys had like $10K and the TIME, don't you think you could assemble a better set than any manufacturer has right now?

I'll take that challenge.

I sure have the time. Unemployment.. hurrah!

Please send the $10,000 cheque to:

Moose
Moose Mansion
Mooseville
Great Britain
M005E

Thanks!

 

[Fedwrench]

If you guys had like $10K and the TIME, don't you think you could assemble a better set than any manufacturer has right now?

Yes, and I don't think it would take that long to do. The problem with the master sets is that they are a wide brush stroke way of trying to make a one size fits all kit. Snap on used to offer a series of sets under OEM set building that were geared more to specific vehicle lines with less waste. I would only recommend getting one with the votech student discount program.

 

[bchee]

as far as I can tell, they still sell those OEM sets, under OEM set building
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/cata...t_NAME=O.E.M.+Set+Building&store=snapon-store

 

[GDA]

Picked up a self made master set and a rollcar off a Porsche mechanic years ago for a couple grand. Best way to do it IMO to get a ton a tools and get you up to speed.

You will get high quality tools and ones that are needed whereas some pieces in these "new" sets seem to be fillers to the number count. Just my .02

 

[Mike83]

I like to buy sets whenever possible, but never a master set - didn't have the money. My issue with all Snap-on sets is that there is no discount for the mass purchase. The set price is always equal to the sum of every individual piece's price.

 

[johnny1290]

I don't know anybody that's ever bought one, but when I was a kid I'd drool over those at sears, they had these displays that pictured alll the tools you'd get in whatever kit, and I seem to remember them also having a display with all the tools laid out, or something along those lines but maybe that's just me going senile