START OVER - Hindsight 20/20

[uscarry45]

So if you had to purchase your tools over again, what would you do differently?

Would you buy the same brand you had or try a different brand?

Would you get 12 point sockets or stick with 6?

Would you buy Impact first or Chrome Socket first?

Long Pattern wrenches?

 

[Chuck122]

3/8 I would have bought 12 pts

 

[bonneyman]

I would have gone into hock for a decade and bought a complete set of Bonney. One of everything they had.
And started scrounging for every old USA-made tool I could get my hands on. Gotten a 30-year jump on where things have gone.

 

[BK13]

Would have skipped the Craftsman stuff and gone right to SK. Would have made the commitment to air earlier, impacts and such.

 

[volaredon]

kept a closer eye on them I have lots of holes to fill from missing tools, a lot of them missing due to a less than honest Mac rep that last I heard sold his tool truck for ownership of a video store... long story

 

[uscarry45]

I think I would have bought 12 point shallow chrome and 6pt deep impact sockets 95% of the time those two options would take care of the job for me.

I would have bought a better tool box (bigger) and higher quality.

Would buy a heavier hammer probably 32oz

 

[#1SomeGuy]

Higher quality/more capable on certain frequently used items that I'm now considering replacing or upgrading. Pneumatics especially, just replaced my impact wrenches, die grinder and air hammer with ingersoll rand ones and am in need of a new/bigger compressor. I bought cheap on the air stuff not expecting to use it as much as I am.

My cordless tools on the other hand, went Dewalt 18v straight away and don't feel any need to ever upgrade until perhaps when the batteries die.

 

[woody 73]

3-phase scares the hell out me, over the years I passed on some fantastic machines that went for peanuts...Just thinking about that large Jointer in pristine condition makes me want to start to crying all over again, and that 36inch bandsaw what a fantastic saw.

 

[cburnscrx]

I don't think I'd do a whole lot different. When I started purchasing tools for myself, I bought what I could afford at the time, or upgraded as I could. Did I end up with some junk? Sure, but it got the job done and it either went to somebody else who could use it, or they were donated.

 

[senor fozz]

I would have bought a SO tool cart instead of my CM 40" top and bottom.
Wouldn't have bought my stream light off the truck.
Bought less Matco.
Bought my impact gun 2 years before I finally did.
Join GJ a lot earlier.

 

[JJThrasher]

I would have bought more 6 point the first time. Currently replacing a lot of 12 point. Still building my tool collection, so I can't complain about it too much. Never should have bought HF line wrenches. Although I can say that has been one of two purchase I had problems with. The second being my creeper that I am over the weight limit for, nothing a new set of casters didn't fix. Besides that I am happy with my HF, SO, Matco, and Craftsman blend.

 

[PugetDude]

I'd have bought everything used off eBay from TimDaToolMan...

Seriously, I'd pretty much do it the same all over again. I bought mostly Craftsman, Vice Grip, ChannelLock, Estwing, etc, and they have served me well. I don't use them to make a living, so I didn't buy Snap-On, Matco, etc.

I did learn early on not to buy anything from Sears with a cord on it. Have had much better luck with Makita, Porter Cable, Dewalt, Milwaukee, and surprisingly, Ryobi 18V for cordless.

Lincoln has served me well for welders, started with a buzz box and then bought a wire feed. NO issues with either. Thermal Dynamics for Plasma.

Have a few HF tools for seldom-used applications- (most were purchased for a specific project i.e. a tile saw), but not a lot of them. That being said, I felt like they performed as intended and that I got my money's worth out of them.

Didn't buy a lot of garage sale tools, probably because I spent most weekends working on projects, not out looking for a diamond in a goat's ***.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I would buy a ton of Harbor Freight tools and equipment. Start my own business, make and save money. Be sure to upload pics on the GJ; maybe start a thread about your HF box and tools. Some people will think you're an idiot, but don't worry a lot of members are totally cool and support the thread and the idiots will go to another forum site. After all that, then I would upgrade the tools and buy a beautiful big new toolbox (I'd go with a white box with black trim; probably a Macsimizer.)

 

[Loscaldazar]

I would buy a ton of Harbor Freight tools and equipment. Start my own business, make and save money. Be sure to upload pics on the GJ; maybe start a thread about your HF box and tools. Some people will think you're an idiot, but don't worry a lot of members are totally cool and support the thread and the idiots will go to another forum site. After all that, then I would upgrade the tools and buy a beautiful big new toolbox (I'd go with a white box with black trim; probably a Macsimizer.)

Boom haters.

In all seriousness, I would have skipped craftsman wrenches and gotten SK. Cman USA wrenches are ok, but sk looks better and better every time sears moves another tool line to china.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Would have gone with Armstrong or SK over Craftsman so I wouldn't have a useless warranty.

 

[sk farmer]

I would buy a ton of Harbor Freight tools and equipment. Start my own business, make and save money. Be sure to upload pics on the GJ; maybe start a thread about your HF box and tools. Some people will think you're an idiot, but don't worry a lot of members are totally cool and support the thread and the idiots will go to another forum site. After all that, then I would upgrade the tools and buy a beautiful big new toolbox (I'd go with a white box with black trim; probably a Macsimizer.)

that's funny, i go to several sites as do many others so what does that make us? oh, and those idiots you speak of. seems like what idiots do is they keep on moving because they are idiots wherever they are at. where did they go? most of them came back here.

for someone who comes off as pretty sharp that was a pretty lame dig.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Cordless drill instead of a corded. It would have helped at work a while back.

I tend to buy what I need rather than a huge set with **** included, so not many regrets.

 

[djb2]

I would buy mostly 3/8" drive impact, instead of 1/2". 1/2" used to be the standard size, but it's a little old-fashioned. I'm too invested in 1/2" to switch, even though I know I should.

I would buy electric tools instead of air powered. Lithium battery powered when it makes sense. Sure, you can get some tools for very little money (HF air hammer), and there are some things you can only do with air, but air impacts are starting to look pretty old fashioned. Plus air tools are very energy inefficient.

I would start with a small right-angle impact driver, not a gun style.

I would buy one of the big Craftsman socket sets on sale, and not use it. Yes... almost. They would be back-up tools, or when I needed an uncommon size, or when I was risking breaking a socket.

 

[Hiball]

I still would have started out with a Craftsman Tool Set (300+ piece), It plus Personal Experiences allowed me the ability to Learn what the difference was between accomplishing a task, and learning what the proper tool for the Job was (Thank you Craftsman Warranty). I would still then upgrade in the Areas where i felt they lacked or sometimes just because i preferred the Ergonomics of another brand. I also would still be loyal to Domestic tools for the Mainstay of my Collection, Build on my Timeline when Deals popped up and in the End.. Have a Collection that could handle just about every situation you could think of.

 

[Fedwrench]

I probably wouldn't change that much because, my favorite tools (ratcheting wrenches, cordless tools, streamlight stinger led) weren't available back in the day when I started out.

However, if I was starting out today, I'd skip the large tool box. I would buy a cornwell 7 drawer tool cart to handle 90% of what I do daily, and two metal wallockers to store the blowmolded cased tools and other tools that only get used once in awhile. I probably would spend a lot less time on a tool truck and more time on the internet for tools.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I was just talking to my friend about how just 10 years ago so many tools we bought, in construction, were USA, and now you must search for them.

Playing catch up now. I've bought a couple "extra" sawzalls, Milwaukee and Porter Cable Tiger Saw, from CL b/c they are USA and in good condition. They will sit on the shelf and be used when the current ones bite the dust. Not to mention they are cheaper than new import stuff.

My hindsight, treated all my tools and materials better when I was an adolescent....but hey, such is life.

 

[oldtools]

only buy used. Skip Craftsman stuffs and some HF stuffs.

 

[06 DIESEL]

The only thing I would change is not buying tools twice. I bought some HF stuff because I could not afford better, now that I have the better I have things in my box that I never use.

One that I did OK on was buying the biggest box you can afford at the time. I bought a large CM box, and have had to upgrade once already, and need to upgrade again soon, but this time it will be with bottoms only, no tops, and a few of them instead of trying to squeeze everything into one.

 

[oldldh]

I would have bought high quality stuff, a little at a time, forty years ago....when the prices didn't cause my blood pressure to sky rocket...

Probably SK and SnapOn...

And a 56", or bigger, Roller Cabinet....and

I WOULD HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF WHAT I HAD!!!

 

[Big Pete]

I would buy a horizontal/vertical bandsaw a lot sooner. They are an absolute godsend if you're doing fab work, I just about retired my hacksaw collection when I got mine. General hand tools, I would have got into 1/4" drive sooner, otherwise I'm pretty happy.

 

[gsmornot]

I would buy less and buy higher quality. I would block this site from my computer. Not because I don't like it but because I did everything with basically a 26" top box but now have a full top/bottom and 44 roller cabinet and wonder what I might want to pick up next. 40+ ratchets, really? Yes and this is not that many in reality when you see some of the collections here but there was a time when 3 (one in each of the basic sizes) did the work fine. My dad likes to remind me that he owns only 4-5 and has restored cars and built engines over the last 40+ years.

I'm getting long winded. I guess if I were to change anything I would have bought one of the big Snap-on box and tool combos in the 90's like everyone else in class. Probably would still be where I am now but at least I would not be buying a second time.

 

[mercman86]

I don't think I'd do a whole lot different. When I started purchasing tools for myself, I bought what I could afford at the time, or upgraded as I could. Did I end up with some junk? Sure, but it got the job done and it either went to somebody else who could use it, or they were donated.

Same here. There was no way I could afford Snap-On or even SK when I first started turning wrenches. Still have my original Craftsman set and toolbox and still use them today. Bought everything there on sale with coupons out of the Sunday ads. I added Snap-on, MAC and SK gradually over the 11 years I wrenched professionally.

 

[richfinn]

I would have discovered eBay a lot sooner, not bothered buying AF spanners/sockets (never use them now) and bought a Fluke instead of the other 3 cheap meters I went through.

And I would of gone cordless quicker.

 

[Aberdale]

I wouldn't change a thing. I bought the best that I could, when I could. I learned a lot about good and bad quality along the way.

Buying good stuff is expensive. Buying bad stuff is really expensive.

'dale

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

I can't recall any of my tool purchases being that bad. Im semi young (32) so quality has really gone up even with the cheap tools compared to the old days when cheap wrenches could be bent with your hands.

I have noticed that my stihl chainsaw was worth the premium.

 

[wmartin]

Given a time machine, I probably would have bought the whole Nepros line back when they were cheaper.

 

[ATC]

Honestly, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change much. I started off with Craftsman mechanic sets (I would have liked to have better ratchets at the time), and added GW sets as needed. For pliers, I started off buying Channellock, Irwin/Vice Grips, and have recently started with Knipex when the deals allow. Wrenches have been Craftsman Professional and GW's. Screwdrivers/nutdrivers I've bought are SK, Klein, Witte, and Craftsman pro.

I would have bought a bigger box. I have outgrown my 50" Mac AND two HF 5-drawer carts. I would have bought an electric impact (3/8") sooner. And I would have bought more metalworking tools...specifically a bandsaw or cold cut saw and a tube bender.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I think this almost every time I open up a drawer and grab a tool, its always I wish I would of know about this before because it took me "X" number of these different models and brands to get to the one that does it perfectly. I like to say "Hindsight is a 20/20 poke in the eyes".

TheGrooveking

 

[#1SomeGuy]

I would buy less and buy higher quality. I would block this site from my computer. Not because I don't like it but because I did everything with basically a 26" top box but now have a full top/bottom and 44 roller cabinet and wonder what I might want to pick up next. 40+ ratchets, really? Yes and this is not that many in reality when you see some of the collections here but there was a time when 3 (one in each of the basic sizes) did the work fine. My dad likes to remind me that he owns only 4-5 and has restored cars and built engines over the last 40+ years.

Cars back in the day were wide open playgrounds where you could stand in the engine bay...modern cars are so tightly packed and minimal clearances that a lot of the time standard ratchets won't work so you need the regular, the flex, the stubby, the high tooth count, etc to be able to actually get some of the bolts.

 

[CWP1616L]

I would've got all extra long combination wrenches instead of long.

 

[crewchief888]

hmm..

i've been buying tools since i started my machinists apprenticeship in '76,
in '83 i started wrenching at a const eq dealer.
i had a pretty good start with the SK hand tools, that were passed along to me after he passed away in '78, and my kennedy machinst and mechanics boxes.

i wish i hadnt sold the machinists boxes
SK hand tools were slowly upgraded and replaced with truck brands.
air tools for work, air tools for home, and slowly started building a set of "home" tools. added more electric powered welding & fab tools.
boxes were traded, as well as a few other truck brand boxes traded in /upgraded.

theres a couple of boxes i wish i hadnt sold a few years ago, but i had no room for them, and i was trying to a help out a young kid just getting started.

the few things i do wish i'd bought in the past, would be a bigger compressor, (possibly) a larger mig.
but i'm limited to the service i already have in my 19x22 garage.

all in all, looking back,
i wouldnt have done too much differently, i havent had a tool bill over $200 in 15 years. i have pretty much everything (mechanic wise) i need.
been slowly adding woodworking type stuff the past 4 or 5 years.

 

[Midman914]

My Dad bought me my first Craftsman socket set for Christmas when I was 12 so I would not change that, but I would have started buying tools earlier than I did. I just used my Dads when I didn't have it. I would have went with SK instead of Cman. I would have spent way less on alcohol and bought more tools with the money. Also I would have partied way less and wrenched on my cars way more. And the last thing I would have done was to wrench with my brother more. I just lost him to an explosion at work in April and was looking forward to us fixing cars together. Now that is not going to happen. We did not talk for many years because I can hold a major grudge. In the end I just cheated myself out of time with him. I'm such a dumb ***.

 

[Hiball]

In the end I just cheated myself out of time with him. I'm such a dumb ***.

Not to Hijack the Thread, But I'm sorry for your Loss.. With that Said, Try not to beat yourself up too much. I'm sure he's looking down on you right now and understands completely, I too have Known loss way too early in life and i often sit back and wish i spent just a little more time with my Loved ones. We are Only Human.

Steven

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Not to Hijack the Thread, But I'm sorry for your Loss.. With that Said, Try not to beat yourself up too much. I'm sure he's looking down on you right now and understands completely, I too have Known loss way too early in life and i often sit back and wish i spent just a little more time with my Loved ones. We are Only Human.

Steven

Words of wisdom

 

[Zaylor]

I respect your honesty. Like Hiball said, don't beat yourself up too much.

My Dad bought me my first Craftsman socket set for Christmas when I was 12 so I would not change that, but I would have started buying tools earlier than I did. I just used my Dads when I didn't have it. I would have went with SK instead of Cman. I would have spent way less on alcohol and bought more tools with the money. Also I would have partied way less and wrenched on my cars way more. And the last thing I would have done was to wrench with my brother more. I just lost him to an explosion at work in April and was looking forward to us fixing cars together. Now that is not going to happen. We did not talk for many years because I can hold a major grudge. In the end I just cheated myself out of time with him. I'm such a dumb ***.