Hello! New around here and need some advice, I'm looking to outfit my garage with budget friendly tools. I'm looking for mechanic based garage, I need everything - I have absolutely NO tools to start with but need some to finish up some working on my 1967 International Harvester 1300b project truck. I'm on a super tight budget, looking to find some decent places to get tools, a decent box - ideas on where to look would be great! Thanks!
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Outfitting Garage
- Thread starter tecster
- Start date
xj1999
Well-known member
Welcome. Honestly the best thing that you could do is spend a few hours surfing this site. There are a ton of great ideas of how you could set up your space and what would work for your needs. Use google to search type in
example "sockets site:garagejournal.com" and the results will be better than the site's search function. It will be time well spent.
Most topics have been discussed at length.
Think about what you specifically need and then search away. If you don't find the answers that you are looking for then ask more specific questions.
With a question as broad as yours you are going to get answers from all over the map. Plus half the fun of this site is looking for cool stuff!
Greg
example "sockets site:garagejournal.com" and the results will be better than the site's search function. It will be time well spent.
Most topics have been discussed at length.
Think about what you specifically need and then search away. If you don't find the answers that you are looking for then ask more specific questions.
With a question as broad as yours you are going to get answers from all over the map. Plus half the fun of this site is looking for cool stuff!
Greg
danielhp89
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2013
- Messages
- 76
Honestly for the money I have had great luck buying snap on on ebay, best decision I ever made tool wise was to buy my first snap on ratchets and wrenches, next best decision was knipex from amazon. I have also bought a carlyle ratchet from napa and it is also great quality, not snap on but loads better than craftsman, plus your local napa will warranty them. Sunex from amazon isn't horrible either. If you are looking for a toolbox check out www.strictlytoolboxes.com their prices on montezuma and extreme boxes is great, plan on going this direction this winter.
If time permits, yard sales, estate sales, Craigslist. The thrill of the hunt looking for that elusive family run estate sale where the dearly departed was a tool nut and the grieving relatives have no idea what snap on and cornwell mean.
Good, Fast, Cheap, pick only two. Which two do you pick?
Depending on what type of poor you are. No that is not an insult to you or anyone almost everyone is a type of poor. Time poor, money poor, space poor, patience poor, local availability poor.
Garage sales and craigslist can be a great way to get quality tools for a low price. HOWEVER if you value your time (time poor) and don't like dealing with difficult folks (patience poor) you will be the furthest behind this way. Unless you somehow luck into purchasing an collection lot at once.
Off the top of my head to get started quickly on a budget
HF 44" bottom box ~$350
Craftsman USA made mechanics tool set includes sockets, wrenches ~$250
depending on # of pieces
Couple things to watch out for. Craftsman has switched most hand tool production to china. I would only buy USA craftsman stuff, for the price I would not pay for Chinese tools. SK, Williams, Proto, Kobalt USA are a few reasonably priced brands of good tools that are often overlooked. Of course the major truck brands like Snap On, Mac, Matco, Cornwell are good, but usually they are sold at a premium price.
Depending on what type of poor you are. No that is not an insult to you or anyone almost everyone is a type of poor. Time poor, money poor, space poor, patience poor, local availability poor.
Garage sales and craigslist can be a great way to get quality tools for a low price. HOWEVER if you value your time (time poor) and don't like dealing with difficult folks (patience poor) you will be the furthest behind this way. Unless you somehow luck into purchasing an collection lot at once.
Off the top of my head to get started quickly on a budget
HF 44" bottom box ~$350
Craftsman USA made mechanics tool set includes sockets, wrenches ~$250
depending on # of pieces
Couple things to watch out for. Craftsman has switched most hand tool production to china. I would only buy USA craftsman stuff, for the price I would not pay for Chinese tools. SK, Williams, Proto, Kobalt USA are a few reasonably priced brands of good tools that are often overlooked. Of course the major truck brands like Snap On, Mac, Matco, Cornwell are good, but usually they are sold at a premium price.