Legacy Gift List for Children

[j.robinson389]

Maybe a bit of a dramatic title but I am looking for some help/ideas. I have two sons, they are toddlers now, but I plan to sock away some hand tools every year and gift them to them when they move out. I am shooting to spend about $100 a year on tools to pack away for them. I am sticking to hand tools because I want to ensure the tools are still relevant 20 years from now. I try my best but the tools at a good deal and that tends to be Christmas time.

3 years in and this is what I have.

1. The 1/4 & 3/8 gearwrench 120XP socket set that
2. A fairly inclusive set of Allen, torx, and universal joint socket set from gearwrench.
3. A good starter set of Wera screwdrivers and nut drivers

I understand I have many years to go yet, and some years I will need to spend more than a hundred and spend less the next year for it to all average out. But give me your thoughts and ideas for what your top three or five or ten items are. Don't be afraid to be brand or set specific. I think I might find that before I am out of years I will be out of ideas for basic mechanic tools and will lean towards general homeowner tools like carpentry.

The items I have on my short list are: 1/2" socket set, combination wrenches, pliers / adjustable wrenches.

 

[Farmall450]

Might want to gift before they move out or they'll have bought their own (hopefully)!

I'd add NOS NAPA/etc US combo wrenches available on eBay, as well as smaller plier sets.

 

[Henricogolfer]

Good hammers.


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[X1 Mike]

I don't want to start a brand bash but if you are looking for something to be a legacy gift I wouldn't go with a Gearwrench.

There is nothing wrong with Gearwrench but it doesn't inspire one to take care of them good enough to hand them down to their children.

If the kid is 3 years old now and you give him the tools in 15 years and he has kids at 25 years old and hands them down when his kids are 18 your grandson someone around the year 2060 will say "Geez, why was gramps so cheap."



The point I'm trying to make is if you are just getting tools to work with just put the money in some safe investment and buy the tools when they get old enough. I would be willing to bet that the price of Taiwan tools will be just as cheap in 15 years and the quality will be way better than it even is today.

Heirloom tools should be heirloom quality, working tools should just be workers.

 

[Moosefire]

One thing I think one should give, which I assume you will do anyways if you're building a tool hoard for your kids, is knowledge.

Know how is more important than tools as one could improvise a way to get things done with what they have if infact they know how it works, operates, what limits they can push etc etc.

Good idea setting up tools though. I'd recommend if you end up using something around the house that they dont have, then add it to the list !

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[j.robinson389]

I don't want to start a brand bash but if you are looking for something to be a legacy gift I wouldn't go with a Gearwrench.

There is nothing wrong with Gearwrench but it doesn't inspire one to take care of them good enough to hand them down to their children.

If the kid is 3 years old now and you give him the tools in 15 years and he has kids at 25 years old and hands them down when his kids are 18 your grandson someone around the year 2060 will say "Geez, why was gramps so cheap."



The point I'm trying to make is if you are just getting tools to work with just put the money in some safe investment and buy the tools when they get old enough. I would be willing to bet that the price of Taiwan tools will be just as cheap in 15 years and the quality will be way better than it even is today.

Heirloom tools should be heirloom quality, working tools should just be workers.

You're right, I was a little generous with the word "Legacy" these will be tools to put in their tool box and be used, not a generational gift to pass along. I will have a few of those generational gifts to pass along as well, but they tend to go BANG.

 

[j.robinson389]

Good hammers.


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Very good idea, this is something I never put much stock into, now I have a bunch of paper weights with handles.

 

[ToolPolisher]

Had you asked before buying the Gearwrench I would have recommended the SK Club. You could piece together some sets over time.

 

[X1 Mike]

………..but they tend to go BANG.

Glad you understood my point, wasn't trying to insult.

 

[rsanter]

If you wait till they move out it is too late.
You need to start gifting them when they are in their teens and then let them go.
In reality I don’t think I would be collecting tools just to save for 10+ years for them unless the stuff is very basic and a screaming deal.
How about you set the money aside for them and then when they get to the right age you can use that money to assist them with setting up a set

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have NOS SK 3870 ratchets for my boys, since my Grandpa had one and Dad has one. Other than that, I look forward to them learning from me, and having their own hobbies, professions, and lives they will mold over time. We'll do stuff together, and acquire what we need.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Yeah might be good to rethink the whole knowledge vs physical objects thing at the intersection of tools & fixing ****.

I inherited neither from my old man. Got started by other people & bought a sawzall when I was 17. If my dad handed me a bunch of basic hand tools a few years later?! It'd have been cool but I was well,past that point.

 

[Professional Tool User]

One thing I think one should give, which I assume you will do anyways if you're building a tool hoard for your kids, is knowledge.

Know how is more important than tools as one could improvise a way to get things done with what they have if infact they know how it works, operates, what limits they can push etc etc.

Good idea setting up tools though. I'd recommend if you end up using something around the house that they dont have, then add it to the list !

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+1 If I were the OP I would focus more on showing the kids how to use tools around the garage and the house. If I had two toddler sons, I'd spend the money on toys such as toy cars to get them interested in cars early on so I can drag them into the garage later.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I understand and like what the o.p. is wanting to do, but I'd also say you're better off waiting until they are of the age where they can appreciate the tools. Otherwise, they are likely going to have a bunch of partial sets and stuff that disappears. I have a tool set my grandparents gave me in 9th grade that I still have that is still 99% complete (lost a damn 10mm in college working on my truck).

I have two girls, so I don't plan on them wanting their own tools down the road. I imagine wrenching will be something we always do together. I buy quality tools that I will someday pass on to my grandson or some other kid that will appreciate them.

 

[lincwelder225]

I did something similar for my little one. Among some channellock pliers, nos USA made Nicholson files, USA nos Napa nutdrivers, i bought a craftsman USA tool set for him from a member here on this forum. 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 metric and sae set, along with complete sets of wrenches. Is it snap on? No, but good enough to get started. If he really gets into wrenching, he can raid my box or buy his own.

As far as waiting until they are 18 to give them the tools, buy a used or cheaper box and set theirs up in your garage for both of them when they are around 10-13 years old and show an interest in working on things. Show them how to use them, and take care of them when they are young, and thats the real "legacy" you'll leave behind. Just my .02

 

[j.robinson389]

As far as waiting until they are 18 to give them the tools, buy a used or cheaper box and set theirs up in your garage for both of them when they are around 10-13 years old and show an interest in working on things. Show them how to use them, and take care of them when they are young, and that's the real "legacy" you'll leave behind. Just my .02

I really like this approach.

 

[Firefighter1406]

I inherited some cheaper off brand tools from a lady my wife was cleaning for. Most I already had. Set my 11 y/o with a small tool box with the basics a couple years back. Screwdrivers, hammer, tape, pliers, adjustable wrench, etc. When ever he asks to use a tool for his bike or something I tell him to go get his tools and if he needs anything in addition to come ask. Has worked pretty well and I don’t have to worry about my tools disappearing. Also bought him a basic tool belt with hammer, tape, square and 11 in 1 screwdriver. He had to “pay it off” with working a side job with me. Hopefully he will start learning responsibility and work ethic.

 

[m6z]

Set them up with their own boxes when they are young.

It will lessen the chance they get into/lose/damage your tools. I was wrenching on my bikes when I was 8-13 years old and my old man was always bitching about me not putting his tools back were I found them.

 

[vavet]

I agree with the other who say wait to buy. Invest the money now so it's there. Cash is king. It allows you to buy whatever it is they need when they need it. If they develop an interest working on their bicycles, then maybe you start going down this path. As they grow up and buy their first cars, then you'll see how this develops.
In the last few years, I've developed an interest in electronics and building small circuit boards. This is a departure from socket sets to work on cars. Now I need a soldering iron, bench mounted magnifier, and small screwdrivers instead of 24mm wrenches, an air compressor, and an impact wrench.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

You could always take them to garage or estate sales to hunt for older high quality tools. That in itself could be some good memories down the road. My dad and I still talk about things we found together.

 

[tez929rr]

Maybe a bit of a dramatic title but I am looking for some help/ideas. I have two sons, they are toddlers now, but I plan to sock away some hand tools every year and gift them to them when they move out. I am shooting to spend about $100 a year on tools to pack away for them. I am sticking to hand tools because I want to ensure the tools are still relevant 20 years from now. I try my best but the tools at a good deal and that tends to be Christmas time.

3 years in and this is what I have.

1. The 1/4 & 3/8 gearwrench 120XP socket set that
2. A fairly inclusive set of Allen, torx, and universal joint socket set from gearwrench.
3. A good starter set of Wera screwdrivers and nut drivers

I understand I have many years to go yet, and some years I will need to spend more than a hundred and spend less the next year for it to all average out. But give me your thoughts and ideas for what your top three or five or ten items are. Don't be afraid to be brand or set specific. I think I might find that before I am out of years I will be out of ideas for basic mechanic tools and will lean towards general homeowner tools like carpentry.

The items I have on my short list are: 1/2" socket set, combination wrenches, pliers / adjustable wrenches.

I did this for my nephews starting when they were 6 and 8, but I sent the stuff to them every Christmas. IIRC:
1/4 drive set
Screwdriver set
Tool box
Hammers
Etc, until they were out of school

It was a lot of fun. One year we were all together at Christmas and went shopping together. After a few years the more mechanically inclined one would make suggestions for the next year.

 

[BrandoJames]

I don't think my old man gave a second thought regarding "legacy tools for the next generation". He simply used the best tools he could afford to accomplish the job at hand. Just by doing that, he left a nice collection of tools behind. I still use a lot of them.

 

[homebuilt burner]

You could use a theme each year. This year give them all electrical items; wire stipper, simple 110 tester, soldering gun, wire nuts, and basic wiring book. Next year, plumbing supplies: pipe wrenches, pipe tape, and plumbers putty.

 

[LOW1]

I think its a great idea to have a toolbox with basic useful tools to give to them when they set up housekeeping on their own. In addition to whats been stated consider: knipex cobras, channellock needlenose, utility knife, tape measure, a good flashlite, etc.

 

[zendriver]

Although he was both a farmer and mechanic, my dad could've cared less about tools instead putting his money into farm land.

I think about his thrift every time I take the bass boat out. [emoji4]

I have way more tools than he ever had, but they're mostly Harbor freight so I am almost as cheap as he was.

My two sons are in their 20s and they have no real interest in mechanics other than fixing out of necessity

I would agree to give gifts of tools earlier than later.

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[Shark Pilot]

Have two boys, one is in to cars and working on them and the other has no interest at all. When the car kid was about 17 I found a 300 piece Kobalt tool set for $80. I bought it for him basically so he would have decent coverage right from the start. But cheap enough if they get stolen when takes them away to school with him, etc. Really, until he settles down and has a place of his own it's not worth him having even somewhat expensive tools. He can and does use my garage and tools for now. At some point he will end up having my stuff anyhow.

 

[larry_g]

I agree with the other who say wait to buy. Invest the money now so it's there. Cash is king. It allows you to buy whatever it is they need when they need it. If they develop an interest working on their bicycles, then maybe you start going down this path. As they grow up and buy their first cars, then you'll see how this develops.
In the last few years, I've developed an interest in electronics and building small circuit boards. This is a departure from socket sets to work on cars. Now I need a soldering iron, bench mounted magnifier, and small screwdrivers instead of 24mm wrenches, an air compressor, and an impact wrench.

I agree here. Put the money away till they show some interest in something. Don't pidgin hole them into twisting wrenches. Allow them to find their own interests and then use the cash to help that along. Think back on all the changes in the last 15-20 years. Will the tool you buy today support the technology the youngsters will face?

lg
no neat sig line

 

[orangeblood]

Henricogolfer: "hammers"

MarvinBerry: "Yeah might be good to rethink the whole knowledge vs physical objects thing at the intersection of tools & fixing ****"

These boys are wise.

 

[m151]

Forget the tools, get them an old style erector set off ebay. Let them be creative, and their need for tools will follow.

 

[CGarage]

Buy them Legos now.

If I can offer one piece of advice- teach them tool accountability and attention to detail at a young age. If they lose a socket or leave a tool outside they will not be equipped or prepared in the future when that item is needed. There are far too many folks who are totally careless with their kit. They should be taught this before anything else.

 

[BrandoJames]

Buy them Legos now.

Thread-winner above. Back in the day, I bought my son the Lego/Brainstorm robotic sets. If you want your children to learn how to build/fix things (by reading instructions & paying attention to detail) then this is the way to go. The Lego sets also allow for creative free play, where they can modify their sets or just go in a totally new direction.

 

[Ton ton]

Forget the tools, get them an old style erector set off ebay. Let them be creative, and their need for tools will follow.

X2

 

[Ton ton]

Get your children a magnet with wheels to push around and pickup nails.

 

[rsparks64]

By the time they are old enough to use them 3D printers may be cheap enough that you could just make the tools for them.

 

[Spacey_G]

By the time they are old enough to use them 3D printers may be cheap enough that you could just make the tools for them.

In 15 years you will not be able to buy a 3D printer for any price that makes anything even close to a quality forged steel, chrome plated hand tool.

 

[CGarage]

No one is talking about took accountability and being responsible for orderliness. Major faux-pas if you ask me. Start them on this while they are young. Attention to detail and care counts. If they screw up, yell and have them do push-ups. No price for being last or “special”. An often overlooked and critical life skill to have.