Should I keep my snap on hand tools?

[Houe]

About 4-5 yrs ago I upgraded my craftsman (USA) tools and purchased a nice set of snap on tools. I did this just before getting married - I knew it was my last chance! Over 4-5 months I watched ebay and put together sets of 6pt sockets, 3/8 and 1/2, metric and SAE, shallow and deep (8 sets in total) - along with some ratchets, extensions, beaker bars. Sadly I never got the 1/4 drive stuff. I kept a spreadsheet and the prices ran about 50% of retail. I figured this was reasonable price for good tools. I'd say 75% have never seen a nut yet and the other 25% you may not even know aren't new - so very good condition. Seems almost under utilized.

Anyway... fast forward 5yrs. I'm married with a kid and don't seem to have as much time to wrench as I used to. I do still rotate tires, change oil, do the brakes, spark plugs, etc. but not major multi day projects. I still have the crapsman stuff and every once in a while I'm tempted to sell my snap on and pocket probably $1500 or so. The craftsman are perfectly sufficient for what I do. If I did sell them I'd probably never have another good chance to put a set together. Hmm....

What would you do?

 

[Billythekid1]

I would keep them unless u really need the money Snapon tools r one of the things if times get really hard u can sell and get the cash u need to get by then again if someone was paying $1500 for 8 sets I would sell them

 

[Davefr]

Unless you're desperate for $'s just keep them knowing you have "top shelf" tools that will likely last a lifetime.

 

[Danguitarman]

Keep em. The first time you break one of the Craftsman tools and get a Chicom as a warranty-replacement, you'll be kicking yourself.

 

[doublearon98]

The craftsman will last you a lifetime. I'd take that 1500 and run put it towards something better.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[cderalow]

i've kept the US Made craftsman, armstrong, snap-on and williams stuff i've collected over the years and consolidated down into one single set.

Used to have 2 sets of everything. sold off the rest.

married 11 years, 3 kids.

had everything since early days of college and highschool (15+ years)

 

[Ilikeike]

If you need the cash to pay the water bill, I'd sell them.

If not, I'd keep the SO to pass down to my kids or grand kids. Sell the CMAN, Your kids will be happier one day, if the wrench on anything that is.

 

[jonshonda]

If you ask GJ whether or not you should keep really good tools you might not ever use, you will almost always get a response of "yes".

If you ask your accountant whether or not you should keep things you might not use, you will almost always get a response of "no".

No one likes accountants!

 

[gtsgarage]

You will have time again, not for years, especially if you have more kids but it will come. Both tools will do the job either Craftsman or SO. The question is do you enjoy using SO? For me I am fine with craftsman and even gear wrench. I have a ton of US Craftsman and I don’t do enough work to justify a big SO investment.

 

[finn]

You really have to evaluate your lifestyle. If you like newer cars that will probably be under warranty for most of the time and don’t have a passion for restoration or heavy mechanical work, sell them and put the money towards something the family can use.

Realistically, more and more goods are either of modular construction or disposable. High end tools aren’t required for maintenance around the house, assembly of kids toys, etc.

There’s some satisfaction in looking at them, and polishing them to some people, I guess, but it sounds to me that you realize they’re superfluous to your needs in th future.

Only if you’re a serious hobbies would I recommend that you keep them.

Sounds like you realize that you’v realized that you have outgrown that phase of your life.

 

[PFSard]

For $1,500 (a relatively small amount of money), I would keep them if they are not taking up a lot of room and I didn't really need the money for something specific. You must have spent a bit of time collecting them. You're busy now, but in the future, you may have time to enjoy them.

 

[6PTsocket]

Keep em. The first time you break one of the Craftsman tools and get a Chicom as a warranty-replacement, you'll be kicking yourself.

With Sears just about gone, and a warranty from SB&D or Ace or Lowes very doubtful, he would get no replacement for his broken CMan.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[orangeblood]

Keep them. Kids grow up and you'll (hopefully) one day have time to enjoy doing what you like to do. The satisfaction you'll get from working with good tools you bought a long time ago and knowing that maybe just maybe you can pass them on to a child or grandchild will be very satisfying.

Just $0.02 from an older hack / shade tree boy.

 

[Psychwarfare]

Why do you say the CM warranty through other retailers is doubtful?

I, and at least a few others on here, have gotten warranty replacements at Lowes erc.

Will this go on forever? Maybe, maybe not. But I'd wager it isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

I'm happy with my CM (mostly usa) and sundry other brands and I do pretty involved repairs and restoration on my vehicles. Only thing I'd really invest in is ratchets and go with what feels best. But even then, SK is my most expensive one.

But as others have said, if you don't NEED the money now, hold on to the SO tools. See what the future brings...some of the CM USA stuff is going up in price on ebay too...

With Sears just about gone, and a warranty from SB&D or Ace or Lowes very doubtful, he would get no replacement for his broken CMan.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Keep them. You bought after the depreciation. Your hobbies will change when your kid is grown. Kid may also have a hobby that warrants tool usage.

Also, sounds like you need some SO 1/4" drive. Better get to shopping.

 

[Tallpilot]

The key question is how much will $1500 change your life? If you are choosing between diapers or paying the electric bill than you should probably sell the tools. If your income covers the monthly expenses plus a little savings then keep the tools and look forward to the day when you have time to play in the shop again.

 

[finn]

Also, remember that investing the $1500 in some sort of investment plan, and making small but regular contributions could be beneficial towards financing your child’s education.

A box full of old Snapon tools that you never use...not so much.

Lots of tool worshipping here, though.

 

[MuhThugga]

If you aren't tight on money right now, ask yourself which you will wish you had in ten years: the tools or the $1500.

 

[rlitman]

If you ask GJ whether or not you should keep really good tools you might not ever use, you will almost always get a response of "yes".

If you ask your accountant whether or not you should keep things you might not use, you will almost always get a response of "no".

No one likes accountants!

Accountants can understand capitol expenditures. The answer isn't always that cut and dry.

I'd ask this. Are you paying to store the tools (or are the tools displacing something else you're paying to store)? If so, then yeah, sell them now and stop paying for storage. If not, then there is more to consider.

Also, remember that investing the $1500 in some sort of investment plan, and making small but regular contributions could be beneficial towards financing your child’s education.

A box full of old Snapon tools that you never use...not so much.

Lots of tool worshipping here, though.

If you've purchased tools in good condition at the bottom of their depreciation curve, there is a good chance that they will go up in value over time. Not likely as much as most better investments (heck, even bonds), but still, better than cash. Think of it as an investment in an alternative commodities market.

 

[VinceG]

I would keep them. I hardly worked on my own Vehicles from my late 20s till I changed careers 3 years ago (I am now 49) the difference I worked on Semi truck for a living. But when my kids were younger I did stuff with them and the wife and didn't want to spend time working on stuff after work. Now Kids are Grown, I am a Tech trainer(so I don't Daily wrench) I enjoy working on my own Vehicles and have spare time so your life will change and once in a while you will use them so keep them. I now have my work tools and Large box at home and enjoy be more of a tool polisher. Hopefully my Grandson will be interested in working on stuff so I can pass knowledge and tools to him. (my some never got into it.). If not I told my wife if something happens to me she can sell them or I gave her a list of younger good techs at work if she want to just give it to one of them to ease their investment (I do have good life insurance on me so she should be set)

 

[mudflap]

Hey Houe... i don't know how old you are..but sounds like you might be relatively young.. Sell them if they are just collecting dust..dump that $1,500 into a Roth or 401k and by the time you are my age it will be $15,000. Thats how to make money with SO tools..

 

[jd_1138]

I'd keep them. $1,500 is not much money; the use of the tools for the next 40-50 years is worth way more than that. If you're doing your own repairs, you're saving enough money to make up for their value. And who knows you may get a project car within a few years that needs a lot of work.

Find the $1,500 in other areas to save on -- like not eating out for a few months.

 

[jd_1138]

Hey Houe... i don't know how old you are..but sounds like you might be relatively young.. Sell them if they are just collecting dust..dump that $1,500 into a Roth or 401k and by the time you are my age it will be $15,000. Thats how to make money with SO tools..

Or keep the SO tools, do your own repairs and maintenance, and then drop the savings from that into a Roth 401k.

Most young people spend their disposable income on eating out, new cars they don't need, vacations, new laptops every year, etc.. That's where the big money is wasted -- on all those things.

 

[mudflap]

Or keep the SO tools, do your own repairs and maintenance, and then drop the savings from that into a Roth 401k.

Most young people spend their disposable income on eating out, new cars they don't need, vacations, new laptops every year, etc.. That's where the big money is wasted -- on all those things.

Thats all true...why not do both.. Sell the SO and invest the $$. Use the other tool sets he has to save money on car repairs..and invest that too...

 

[LOW1]

I can't imagine that what you have will ever be obsolete. Keep them, use them with your kids, teach them what a good quality tool is and what a poor quality tool is, and how to and why they should take care of good tools.

 

[mudflap]

I can't imagine that what you have will ever be obsolete. Keep them, use them with your kids, teach them what a good quality tool is and what a poor quality tool is, and how to and why they should take care of good tools.

By then Snap On will be Snap chOng..i say unload them while they are still worth something..

 

[MShaw]

I have Snap on tools that I bought from 1953 to 1962. Still have them and use them occasionally. When I go my kids will divide them up. Glad I never got rid of them.

 

[Houe]

Just some more information. No, I am not currently in a financial bind - no debt other than our home. But like everyone else I could certainly find a place to spend some money. If I sell the tools the money would probably be used for recreation or some other discretionary spending - possibly a nice TV or computer or who knows.

I just feel like these tool might be underutilized. So many of them have never even been used. Its true I don't know the future and maybe in the future I'll have much more time to turn wrenches.

 

[fsae0607]

Keep them. I have a 4-year old and know exactly what you mean about "not enough time to wrench". As they get older, the time will come back!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I can pay shipping and dispose of them safely.

 

[doublearon98]

Just some more information. No, I am not currently in a financial bind - no debt other than our home. But like everyone else I could certainly find a place to spend some money. If I sell the tools the money would probably be used for recreation or some other discretionary spending - possibly a nice TV or computer or who knows.



I just feel like these tool might be underutilized. So many of them have never even been used. Its true I don't know the future and maybe in the future I'll have much more time to turn wrenches.

In my opinion the average tool user really doesnt need those high dollar tool brands. I do all of my own mechanic work myself and use craftsman (hell even got some HF). I think it's just a waste of money to pay so much for tools you dont use every day, all day to make a living.

FYI best mechanic in town has used craftsman for 40 years.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[woody 73]

If you don't use them then by all means sell them for something that you will use and get some enjoyment out of.

I know of men that love wine, women and song and they seemed all very happy to me every time I see them; I never see them saying wish I had that xyz item sitting in my man cave collecting dust...

 

[rsanter]

Give them to me, I will store and use them for you

 

[crewchief888]

Just some more information. No, I am not currently in a financial bind - no debt other than our home. But like everyone else I could certainly find a place to spend some money. If I sell the tools the money would probably be used for recreation or some other discretionary spending - possibly a nice TV or computer or who knows.

I just feel like these tool might be underutilized. So many of them have never even been used. Its true I don't know the future and maybe in the future I'll have much more time to turn wrenches.

i have tools that i havent touched in years...

never felt the need to sell them

 

[Magnum440d100]

Keep them.

Use them as your go to tools in the shop.

Give the Craftsman to the kid when he gets older and if he shows interest in something that involves those kind of tools.

Or vise versa.

 

[Magnum440d100]

i have tools that i havent touched in years...

never felt the need to sell them

Same here. I have 2 large boxes of “extra” tools that I wouldn’t miss. A lot of name brand in there too.

Never felt the need to sell them. Even when money gets tight. Plus, the last time my nuts were in a vice, I sold a large tool box to the local pawn shop. I got a whopping $10 for a $50 box, and probably about $1k worth of tools. I won’t EVER sell tools again like that. And before anyone asks, yes a female was involved. Yes I was young, dumb and full of ***....

Now, instead of selling tools I don’t need, I’ve taken to getting tool boxes from thrift stores and such ($7 for a Kennedy type deal) and making tool kits for the kids around me that show interest in working on anything mechanical. I throw together a small box, with a basic 3/8” socket/ratchet set, screwdrivers, SAE and Metric wrenches, etc and anything else I have multiples of. Sometimes the box is full of Craftsman, sometimes Taiwan tools, or a combo of US and Chinkanese tools.

I was taught at a young age that as long as I had tools, I should NEVER be broke.

My house is paid off, cars paid off, I never go hungry, and I don’t really stress over bills much (except when sales are slow). So I must be doing something right with my “extra” tools...

 

[jd_1138]

Same here. I have 2 large boxes of “extra” tools that I wouldn’t miss. A lot of name brand in there too.

Never felt the need to sell them. Even when money gets tight. Plus, the last time my nuts were in a vice, I sold a large tool box to the local pawn shop. I got a whopping $10 for a $50 box, and probably about $1k worth of tools. I won’t EVER sell tools again like that. And before anyone asks, yes a female was involved. Yes I was young, dumb and full of ***....

Now, instead of selling tools I don’t need, I’ve taken to getting tool boxes from thrift stores and such ($7 for a Kennedy type deal) and making tool kits for the kids around me that show interest in working on anything mechanical. I throw together a small box, with a basic 3/8” socket/ratchet set, screwdrivers, SAE and Metric wrenches, etc and anything else I have multiples of. Sometimes the box is full of Craftsman, sometimes Taiwan tools, or a combo of US and Chinkanese tools.

I was taught at a young age that as long as I had tools, I should NEVER be broke.

My house is paid off, cars paid off, I never go hungry, and I don’t really stress over bills much (except when sales are slow). So I must be doing something right with my “extra” tools...

Yep, my stepdad came out of the Vietnam War and went to auto repair tech school for a year and was a dealership tech for 8 years. Then he went into sales (restaurant supplies and equipment). He always kept his tools, and he'd say "if I get laid off tomorrow, I could become a mechanic again and at least put food on the table."

He had a Powr-Kraft (Montgomery Ward's) roller chest and a top cabinet full of Powr-Kraft, SK, and Mac tools. He also had specialty sets. He'd work on his own cars and ours too.

 

[bczygan]

How much do you have into them?

Bill

 

[SS5150]

I would sell the Craftsman, especially if it is the good USA stuff. I feel the warranty is going to be iffy in the future.

 

[brooktre]

Since you still like to wrench, I would keep them. Things will change as you age and you may find that you need more tools. A second home, children get older and you give a set to them, any number of things could happen. I don’t own many snap-on tools, but if I did I wouldn’t sell them unless I was desperate for money.

If you do sell, don’t buy a TV. Put the $ towards the mortgage.