Opinions wanted on a second set of tools

[btdobie]

So, I am starting a new job next week that requires me to supply my own tools. My current job provides tools so I only have one set. I know many people on this forum have a work and home set of tools so I wanted to get your thoughts on filling out a new home set. I will be starting out basically from scratch with the exception of a few cheap spares I have around and some specialized tools I don't need at work; all my good tools are going to work.

In an ideal world I would have the money to just buy all new medium high end tools(SK, Armstrong, Knipex, ect), but I am on somewhat of a budget. So here are my options as I see them.

Option 1: Buy high-end tools used and slowly rebuild my collection over time. The advantage is I will have another set of nice tools, but it will leave me short on tools at home for some time maybe even years.

Option 2: Buy lots of harbor freight tools and rebuild my home collection quickly. The advantage is that I can quickly get my garage back up and running, the downside is working with cheap tools may be so frustrating that I just quit working in my garage. Also I feel better if I know the workers who made my tools were treated fairly.

Option 3: Some combination of the above. Such as buying good quality replacements for common tools and cheap replacements for those I don't use often.

What are your thoughts/what have you done?

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

For good cheap tools. Take a look at Tekton for wrenches and sockets. Ratchets from HF are surprisingly good, but can't speak to the quality of the rest of their hardline.

I personally would go with mid level brands for sockets if starting over for home, probably Gearwrench for some and SK for the rest. Wrenches would be SK or Proto. Ratchets would be a mix of SK and HF, I have some Gearwrench ratchets but I'm not sure I would buy them again.

I wouldn't buy premium tools for home unless I got them used or as part of a BOGO or something. One exception would be pliers and screwdrivers but they best you can afford.

 

[bobcatdan]

I built my second set by buying better stuff for my main set and taking it home. If I need something for home, I first think is there something better or a more complete set of something I could buy for work.

 

[btdobie]

I built my second set by buying better stuff for my main set and taking it home. If I need something for home, I first think is there something better or a more complete set of something I could buy for work.

This is probably a good option for some tools in my collection. I would like to get a fluke DMM for work. As far as sockets go I already have every size of 6 point socket that SK makes and I don't ever plan to spend more for a SnapOn or Mac set. As the SK sockets are already pretty nice.

After thought update: maybe I should buy a full set of SK 12point sockets so when my other tools return home I will have a complete set.

 

[btdobie]

For good cheap tools. Take a look at Tekton for wrenches and sockets. Ratchets from HF are surprisingly good, but can't speak to the quality of the rest of their hardline.

I personally would go with mid level brands for sockets if starting over for home, probably Gearwrench for some and SK for the rest. Wrenches would be SK or Proto. Ratchets would be a mix of SK and HF, I have some Gearwrench ratchets but I'm not sure I would buy them again.

I wouldn't buy premium tools for home unless I got them used or as part of a BOGO or something. One exception would be pliers and screwdrivers but they best you can afford.

Now that you mention it I do have a few Tekton tools and for import tools they are pretty good quality.

I agree with you whole heartedly on the screwdrivers. Nothing is worse than cheap screwdrivers. I like to buy the Williams black handle ones because I can't for the life of me find a difference between them and the SO black handpes, but the Williams are 1/3 the price.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I built my second set by buying better stuff for my main set and taking it home. If I need something for home, I first think is there something better or a more complete set of something I could buy for work.

That's how mine got built, although it took a long time, and I still have quite a few tools I reach for at home and I only have at work. Really need to finish my set of snap on metric so I can take them to work and bring home my SK.

 

[jd_1138]

Having most of the tool categories represented will make the job easier, even if the tools are less pricey brands like Tekton, USA CM, some HF, etc.. Better than having a small amount of a more pricey brand. Later on you can buy better brands and then take the cheaper brands home. HF makes some good ratchets and impact sockets. Their ratcheting wrenches are nice too. Then there's SK and GearWrench.

Remember it will be a tax write off, so be sure to save all the receipts and also in case there's a problem and they have to be returned.

 

[btdobie]

Having most of the tool categories represented will make the job easier, even if the tools are less pricey brands like Tekton, USA CM, some HF, etc.. Better than having a small amount of a more pricey brand. Later on you can buy better brands and then take the cheaper brands home. HF makes some good ratchets and impact sockets. Their ratcheting wrenches are nice too. Then there's SK and GearWrench.

Remember it will be a tax write off, so be sure to save all the receipts and also in case there's a problem and they have to be returned.

I already have a complete set of tools for work; I just need to replace them at home now. In that case can I still claim a tax write-off?

 

[kctyphoon]

The never ending gearwrench promo on the 1/4" and 3/8" socket sets can't be beat..

 

[btdobie]

The never ending gearwrench promo on the 1/4" and 3/8" socket sets can't be beat..

Where do they typically run it? Is Amazon a good place to pick them up?

Speaking of APEX tools are they still perpetually backordered on their USA made lines?

 

[jd_1138]

I already have a complete set of tools for work; I just need to replace them at home now. In that case can I still claim a tax write-off?

Probably not. But it probably doesn't matter anyway so it's not worth it to itemize. Most people just take the standard deduction. Itemizing only helps if you have a lot of mortgage interest, medical expenses, and work expenses that add to more than $6,300 a year.

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

My "CHEAP OLD-FART ADVICE" never changes. Prowl the flea markets, garage/tag sales and pawn shops for lightly-used high-quality tools. That strategy has never failed anyone with half a brain and some patience.

 

[Codejack]

I think that I would start with the HF stuff (the Pro line for anything that you can find) and replace anything that breaks or doesn't work well enough with better tools.

My priorities are a little different, but I'm buying ebay Snap On ratchets, Gearwrench and Pittsburgh Pro sockets (best quality for the price)... then I get weird.

I've never had "good" screwdrivers, other than a couple of acetate handled Craftsman that I liked pretty well, but I lose them so often that I really prefer the big, chunky acetate handled ones for $1 at Lowe's or Home Depot.

I'm using Stanley Fatmax pliers, cutters, hammer and punches, all of which I love. I have a big pair of Kobalt 7" cutters, but I prefer the 6" Stanleys. I have some Irwin pliers that are very nice, too, but the Stanleys stay in the main box.

And I don't have a brand of wrenches that I like, at all. I used Craftsman for years, even though my set was of uniquely poor quality, and I recently bought a cheap set from HF and will see how they do (used a couple today, fit well and felt good in the hand).

I feel better if I know the workers who made my tools were treated fairly.

Man, I'm right there with you; if you know how to solve global trade imbalances, though, you need to go talk to some people

I also prefer to buy as local as possible, i.e. in the USA if I can, just to support my community.

-------------------------------------

That's just not always an option, though. Globalization is here, and as problematic as some of the effects are, it's not going to end. 2.5 billion people in China and India want the life they've seen on American TV, and they are coming for it.

And why shouldn't they? Maybe they are being exploited, or maybe working 12 hours a day for $1.50/hour is better than digging up worms to eat and living in mud huts.

If we can't compete, we need to either move forward, or lift those societies up to the point where their people won't work for those wages, either, and the problem solves itself.

I held out for years about shopping at Walmart, for similar reasons, but Kmart, Sears and Target all started carrying cheap imported stuff, too, and then Walmart started paying their employees more....

Pick your battles; this one is a loser

 

[derosa]

My "CHEAP OLD-FART ADVICE" never changes. Prowl the flea markets, garage/tag sales and pawn shops for lightly-used high-quality tools. That strategy has never failed anyone with half a brain and some patience.

The problem is some people don't have the time till they're old farts, waste time screwing around driving to who knows where in the hopes of finding deals and things you need or spend time with the kids, wife, or getting the project that needs the tools done? When I had no wife, kids or money I did this often. When the wife showed up I did it a lot less and scraped together the money I needed more often to get the tools. Haven't had the time to do this once since the first kid showed up, now that there's three there's just no time to work with if I want the projects to be done. And when the time to do the project arrives the tools better be there or the time may not arrive again for a while. Thankfully the hard work of the past is starting to pay off; as long as I remember that decent-great (craftsman, wright, sk and gearwrench) is good enough and don't presume to need exceptional I can afford what I want when I need it. By the time the last kid heads off to college I'll be 60 and maybe have time to do it again, or maybe have all the tools I'll really ever need and just not need to spend the time anymore.

 

[oldtools]

Option 3

 

[Bighead38]

Keep an eye on the used market. You might be able to find someone selling most of what you need in one shot. Could be a mechanic retiring or an estate sale. But it is possible to find quality tools for a really good price if you can be patient. I would buy something like a 300 piece craftsman set to get me by until I find what I want at a sale. You could do most repairs with a 300 piece set and bring a tool home from work if needed in the meantime.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Option 3: Some combination of the above. Such as buying good quality replacements for common tools and cheap replacements for those I don't use often.

Bingo.

 

[anndel]

Mixture of SK, Tekton, Sunex, Gearwrench, Harbor Freight, etc.

 

[Cato]

Option 2: Buy lots of harbor freight tools and rebuild my home collection quickly. The advantage is that I can quickly get my garage back up and running, the downside is working with cheap tools may be so frustrating that I just quit working in my garage. Also I feel better if I know the workers who made my tools were treated fairly.

I say go with cheap tools. HF tools work just fine. And don't worry about those Chinese workers - they are a thrifty, diligent bunch. After all, the good 'ole USA owes China tons of dough.

Now I can tell that for you "tools" are more than just "tools." How about all the money you make/save with HF tools, you spend on a beautiful high dollar set of Snap On. You can shadow the tools and just keep them in a place of honor in your home to admire. I'm not trying to be offensive, either. Wouldn't it be cool to just have a "display" set of tools?

 

[maintguy]

Call me strange. I have all ways had 2 sets or more of the basics.

 

[btdobie]

I would buy something like a 300 piece craftsman set to get me by until I find what I want at a sale. You could do most repairs with a 300 piece set and bring a tool home from work if needed in the meantime.

I think that's probably a good place to start. I was a able to find one, USA made, in the GJ classified section.

 

[Mr_B]

Mix of above, pick best buys from harbor freight, tekton, gearwrench, astro etc and get quality used from yard sales, pawn shops, craigslist etc . Quite a few of the pittsburgh pro tools way decent enough use without frustration plus has easy lifetime warranty so be crazy not have few bits sourced from them .

 

[victor252]

2.5 billion people in China and India want the life they've seen on American TV, and they are coming for it.

And why shouldn't they? Maybe they are being exploited, or maybe working 12 hours a day for $1.50/hour is better than digging up worms to eat and living in mud huts.

If we can't compete, we need to either move forward, or lift those societies up to the point where their people won't work for those wages, either, and the problem solves itself.

I held out for years about shopping at Walmart, for similar reasons, but Kmart, Sears and Target all started carrying cheap imported stuff, too, and then Walmart started paying their employees more....

Pick your battles; this one is a loser

CodeJack, you sound like an economist. That's a compliment, BTW.

 

[crewchief888]

I built my second set by buying better stuff for my main set and taking it home. If I need something for home, I first think is there something better or a more complete set of something I could buy for work.

Call me strange. I have all ways had 2 sets or more of the basics.

when i started wrenching i had SK and some CM stuff. i started buying new truck brand tools to "add on" to what i already had, kept the SK and CM wenches as a 2nd set of wrenches at work.
i kept adding on to my working tools, and eventually moved all the SK & CM home. i had tools "stashed" several places, in my truck, race shop, race trailer, and more at home..
i really didnt realize how much i had as far as "home" tools until we stopped racing, and i cleared out my moms garage where i had most of the stuff stored. (we were living in apartments, and my mom sold her house)

i moved everything to the shop were i worked, and stored it there for several months before we bought our house. once i got it all in one place i realized how many duplicates i had.
last i gifted a bunch of CM and some misc stuff to my stepson, who only owned a claw hammer, pair of channel locks and a pair of worn out vice grips.

i hit the area pawn shops when i get a chance and pick up truck & industrial brand hand tools when they get tossed in the $1 bins. i get most of my vice grips, and welding clamps cheap from flea mkts. i hate getting weld splatter on shiny new clamps

 

[btdobie]

i moved everything to the shop were i worked, and stored it there for several months before we bought our house. once i got it all in one place i realized how many duplicates i had.
last i gifted a bunch of CM and some misc stuff to my stepson, who only owned a claw hammer, pair of channel locks and a pair of worn out vice grips.

i hit the area pawn shops when i get a chance and pick up truck & industrial brand hand tools when they get tossed in the $1 bins. i get most of my vice grips, and welding clamps cheap from flea mkts. i hate getting weld splatter on shiny new clamps

I'll take some of those duplicates off your hands for you. I'm sure storing the is a real pain.

Really though, I wish I had pawn shops like you all seem to have. The pawn shops here all want ridiculous amounts of money for even the crappy tools. Every time I go in one I swear it must be run by the guys we talk about in the Craigslist wishful thinkers thread.

Hopefully there will be a few good estate auctions in the next few months and I can get some scores there.

 

[Codejack]

CodeJack, you sound like an economist. That's a compliment, BTW.

Thanks!

Not an economist, just well read.

 

[btdobie]

Well I have a lead on a well priced Hilti 12v set of tools, and I'm meeting with the seller tomorrow. That will be a nice start.

 

[johninct]

My "CHEAP OLD-FART ADVICE" never changes. Prowl the flea markets, garage/tag sales and pawn shops for lightly-used high-quality tools. That strategy has never failed anyone with half a brain and some patience.

Use Ebay too.

 

[Gmonkee]

Does the home kit REALLY need to be 12 types of sockets and five screwdriver sets? Mine sure doesn't and I fix all my **** as I can too.

I suggest raiding the home kit for the new at work kit first and checking what tools get actual use. Let the existing tools earn the money to buy the stuff the home kit might need again.

 

[btdobie]

Use Ebay too.

eBay is hard to find good deals on because cheap stuff disappears fast, but I did score a brand new fluke 87v for $240. I'm not even sure if I want one that nice (I was leaning towards the 117), but I can resell it for $300 pretty easy if I change my mind before opening it.

Does the home kit REALLY need to be 12 types of sockets and five screwdriver sets? Mine sure doesn't and I fix all my **** as I can too.

I suggest raiding the home kit for the new at work kit first and checking what tools get actual use. Let the existing tools earn the money to buy the stuff the home kit might need again.

You bring up an excellent point. I really don't need quite as big of a socket collection at home. I can always grab a socket from work on the rare occasion that I need a 36mm.

 

[crewchief888]

I'll take some of those duplicates off your hands for you. I'm sure storing the is a real pain.

Really though, I wish I had pawn shops like you all seem to have. The pawn shops here all want ridiculous amounts of money for even the crappy tools. Every time I go in one I swear it must be run by the guys we talk about in the Craigslist wishful thinkers thread.

Hopefully there will be a few good estate auctions in the next few months and I can get some scores there.

it's really hit and miss with the pawn shops. sometimes i'll go months and never see a "deal", then it's like the shelves get restocked and theres plenty of stuff available.
the couple flea mkts i hit every couple months, sometimes i dont see anything i consider a good deal. then it's just a waste of time and gas.

 

[btdobie]

Well I got a couple good deals and added them to my collection. One was a CL deal on some Hilti cordless tools and the other an eBay deal on a Fluke. Details and pics are in the new tool arrivals thread. I finally got my first really good deal off eBay. Usually everything I want is priced high because of the volume of buyers, but I caught a good 'buy it now" right as it was posted.

 

[jd_1138]

Well I got a couple good deals and added them to my collection. One was a CL deal on some Hilti cordless tools and the other an eBay deal on a Fluke. Details and pics are in the new tool arrivals thread. I finally got my first really good deal off eBay. Usually everything I want is priced high because of the volume of buyers, but I caught a good 'buy it now" right as it was posted.

Yeah you can sometimes snag some great deals if you search for Buy It Now/Newly Listed items.

 

[Finky198]

Well I got a couple good deals and added them to my collection. One was a CL deal on some Hilti cordless tools and the other an eBay deal on a Fluke. Details and pics are in the new tool arrivals thread. I finally got my first really good deal off eBay.


Usually everything I want is priced high because of the volume of buyers, but I caught a good 'buy it now" right as it was posted.

It's also cause you like quality products

 

[btdobie]

It's also cause you like quality products

True I do like nice tools, but I manage to convince myself it's a safety thing. For example I really like not getting arc flash because my "class III" Chinese meter wasn't very classIII. New job will involve a few 480v motor drives so I wanted a meter that I trust.

 

[Citation]

I'm not a hugh fan of the HF pro ratchets. I don't like the plastic handle (comfort grip) nor the direction selector that is "reversed" be most ratchets. Given the needs I would be OK with just about any big box brand (Cman, Husky, Kobalt - the 72t ratchets have the same mechanism as HF). Personally I like the 72t Husky stuff the best. It's the same as Gearwtench but a few less teeth and a quick release button. I would also suggest Crescent brand box end wrenches and for about $25 Crescent brand roto ratchets of eBay (it was $25 for a 1/4 and 3/8 drive set). There is a GW deal that gets mentioned around here that's a great deal for a complete socket set. Also, Amazon has a stanley black chrome socket only set for just under $50. No fillers, decent backup tools.