Starter tool box for 13 year old

[blacksuit99]

Hello all,

I don't post post a whole lot here but I do alot of lurking! I am looking for some advise and I know this is the right place. I have a 13 year old son and I thought that it would be pretty cool to buy him a vintage tool box. My first thought was to buy one and then completely sanded it down and repaint it. The one I found is better than what thought I would find so I don't think that will be necessary. Anyways last Christmas I bought my son a Kobalt 3/8 in socket set. It has a few metric and a few sae sockets...Not a very big set. He also got a 4 wheeler, which I make him help maintain. He mows a couple yards in the neighborhood and I make him help me when it comes time to do any oil changes or whatever on the riding mower since he uses it too. He is not into mechanics or tools right now but neither was I at his age. I know he really won't be too excited about receiving this tool box but I figure 10 years down the road he will think its cool as hell. I want to give this too him and keep adding to it until he is 18 and one his own. What is a good "Starter" list of tools that I should get for him? What brand of tools should I go with? I don't mind paying for quality but I don't want to break the bank either.

Here is the box I got for him.

 

[devoncoolman]

Awsome box by the way. Just start off with expanding the 3/8 drive set. Add a descrnt screwdriver set. Small wrench set. Allen keys. My father did the same thing for me when i was about 10. I wasnt to into it untill i was about 15-16. Im a professional mechanic and it helped me get started. I already had the basics.

 

[woody 73]

I am sure he would enjoy a nice mag-light flashlight along with a nice pocket knife to go along with his new tool box. A few other items to get him started might be a nice pair of the mechanix gloves, a few small hammers, a set of pliers from channellock and a nice set of Williams screwdrivers. sears has a nice corded light for working under the car and if you have any money left over you could pick him up a nice set of grip-lock vise grips.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Nice toolbox!

 

[e30bradley]

used older craftsman would be good. look on craigslist or the classifieds here.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I had a list for all the stuff in my pick-a-part toolbox. I'll see if I can find it. I think that would form the basis of a solid set of tools for him.

 

[Conductor562]

A pair of 420 Channellocks is a must. A set of good quality USA made adjustables probably wouldn't hurt.

Always buy him good quality stuff. Even if it means buying less or taking longer to build the set. If you do, he'll have them long after your gone and he'll look back and smile every time he picks them up. Hell, for all you know his kids might end up with them. I have lots of tools my dad got me and a few that my grandpa gave me. They are they only tools among the insane heap of tools I have that I could never replace.

 

[Alamedasam]

Hey, you gotta start sometime. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a lifetime enjoyment
of hunting down, collecting, using, & caring for tools. We all tool junkies here, right?

 

[Outlawmws]

Hey, you gotta start sometime. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of a lifetime enjoyment
of hunting down, collecting, using, & caring for tools. We all tool junkies here, right?

Hey, speak for yourself! I'm no Junkie, i'm a, um, a, er, , Oh Yeah, a "Tool Aficionado"

 

[senor fozz]

I'm glad that there is Dads like yourself in the world who still get their sons their first tool box. I was 7 when I received my first and used it up until a month ago, now it sits with all it memories. Hope he will keep his for a long time if not for life.

I think you did the right thing when I turned 13, I received my first stack, and gave away the bottom to a friend who needed a box and I sold the top to a friend who will put more use to than I will. I think if it was a smaller box I would have not sold it and held on to it like my first. I know if my dad passed one of his vintage Kennedies to me it would have been restored and ready to pass on to my son, guess he is going to get a Snap on just haven't decided which one.

 

[Dale1962]

got my son one a few years ago. filled it with some tools I got from my grandpa. he sold it all for some electronic gizmo, so good with electronics huh. so I got him an 8 drawer rolling box with all the electronics tools I could think of. the ******* ******* took it and moved to his ******* mothers cause she lets him sit on his *** and play video games all day and I had chores for him and I guess that made me mean. will never help anyone again. show the kids of today nothing, let them learn it all on an iphone

 

[Letsgobowhunting]

got my son one a few years ago. filled it with some tools I got from my grandpa. he sold it all for some electronic gizmo, so good with electronics huh. so I got him an 8 drawer rolling box with all the electronics tools I could think of. the ******* ******* took it and moved to his ******* mothers cause she lets him sit on his *** and play video games all day and I had chores for him and I guess that made me mean. will never help anyone again. show the kids of today nothing, let them learn it all on an iphone

Gee, I wonder why he moved. He must have not liked the tool set. Or ....maybe the tone in your voice. You might as well have typed everything in caps.

 

[nowlan]

13 sounds a little young for cars. I am thinking rc cars and bicycles might be more his thing. In case allen keys, drivers, small sockets.

 

[woody 73]

Dale 1962 sorry to hear how things turned out for you; I have tried everything in the book but my kids also like electronic games, and for someone like myself that could open up a small hardware store it just kills me. Still don't give up maybe one day they will come around, I just hope I am still breathing when it happens!

 

[dieseler]

got my son one a few years ago. filled it with some tools I got from my grandpa. he sold it all for some electronic gizmo, so good with electronics huh. so I got him an 8 drawer rolling box with all the electronics tools I could think of. the ******* ******* took it and moved to his ******* mothers cause she lets him sit on his *** and play video games all day and I had chores for him and I guess that made me mean. will never help anyone again. show the kids of today nothing, let them learn it all on an iphone

how old is he? I was the same way, well except I dont sell stuff my dad gives me, especially if it was my great grampas... maybe give him some time?

when I was younger (by younger i mean a few years ago lol) I didnt care about anything but video games (sad I know) but when my dad bought me my first vintage beater car I lost interest in all that ****. now I fix stuff for fun. (if I can)

 

[ARFLY]

13 sounds a little young for cars. I am thinking rc cars and bicycles might be more his thing. In case allen keys, drivers, small sockets.

Some kids that age do have an interest in cars and tools and such. I bought my first truck when I was 13 and worked on it for a couple of years and had it ready to go when I started driving. It was '71 F-100 with a 360. A few months ago I bought an 02 Dodge Ram 1500. My son who is 7 has claimed ownership of it and is already asking for tools for Christmas so he can work on "his truck". Funny story, when I first brought the Dodge home I was in it messing with some stuff, and my son got in the back seat. He said "This is nice, a lot room back here. This is good to kick back and relax, you know maybe we could go out to the lake and pick up some girls." Don't know where that came from. His Mom did not see the humor in that.

By the way, to the OP since you got that vintage Craftsman tool box some nice Craftsman tools would be nice to go with it. May be a 3/8" ratchet with some metric and SAE sockets, some metric and SAE wrenches, some screwdrivers and some nice pliers.

 

[RedFordTruck]

This is a pretty good starter set of pliers. Nice quality, US made, and around $10/pair.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Channellock-Ultimate-Plier-Set-4-Piece-HD-1/100190542#.Uf-wTZK1GSo

 

[jjjrmx5]

Nice start up box for a teenager!


My first was a C'man lift lid carry box in silver with tray (still have it).
Second was the 3 dwr. C'man rally box like you posted but newer and in red. 1980's box (still have it.)

Have now grown into and currently have 3 roll cabs, 2 carts, 3 top boxes, two rally boxes and 4 carry boxes.

Just like rabbits they multiply.


1/4" set and/or 3/8" set of sockets and ratchets to start.
Combo wrenches as you find them.
Acceptable screwdrivers.
Hex key sets.
Claw and ball pein hammer.
A few C'man or ChannelLock pliers and diag. cutters for a start.
Build from there.

Between store sales and garage sales/flea mkts, it's not hard to build a set qucick and cheap with good tools.
Good luck.

 

[cole_CT]

This is a pretty good starter set of pliers. Nice quality, US made, and around $10/pair.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Channellock-Ultimate-Plier-Set-4-Piece-HD-1/100190542#.Uf-wTZK1GSo

+1 on this set. Im almost 18 and this was the first set of (real) pliers that I've bought. Channellock is the perfect brand because their prices are low, quality is high, and best of all their "Fiercely made in Maedville, PA"

 

[Dale1962]

hes 16 staeted a year ago when mommy moved back to Illinois she changed him. just the other day he came over, threatened me called his sister defective cause she has autism. the sister with mommy is perfect. just went to get order of protection against him. im done

 

[kc-steve]

A similar toolbox was good enough for me when I started 40+ years ago.

Steve

 

[crewchief888]

Hello all,

I have a 13 year old son
Anyways last Christmas I bought my son a Kobalt 3/8 in socket set. It has a few metric and a few sae sockets...
I want to give this too him and keep adding to it until he is 18 and one his own. What is a good "Starter" list of tools that I should get for him? What brand of tools should I go with? I don't mind paying for quality but I don't want to break the bank either.

Here is the box I got for him.

cool 1st toolbox

since he already has a set of kobalt sockets,

grab some kobalt wrenches as well
definitely a pair of channelock 420s
(i've used channelock brand pliers for almost 30 years working on heavy equipment, IMO nothing better for the price)

i have a few kobalt screwdrivers laying around, for the price, they aint bad

couple pair of vice grips, if you can find NOS USA, thats great,
if not,
theres nothing wrong, (qualitywise), with the offshore made stuff.

add a couple hammers, small carpenters type square, small level from sears or a local big box store and he'll be good to go for a while.

even if he decides he never wants to pull a wrench either as a pro, or as a hobby, simple tools will always come in handy.

if he has some interest in all things "toollike" start hitting flea mkts, garage sales, auctions ect with him. even if you dont find anything interesting, it'll be an experience he may not forget.

 

[thundermug]

Yeah, that's a nice first box. Think about the tools he borrows the most from your stash, and buy those first.

Just earlier today I was thinking about putting together a small box for my son. He's only 3.5 yo, but he loves tools.

 

[oldtools]

Pittsburg Pro. Won't break the bank, pretty good quality, and easy warranty.

 

[jd_1138]

hes 16 staeted a year ago when mommy moved back to Illinois she changed him. just the other day he came over, threatened me called his sister defective cause she has autism. the sister with mommy is perfect. just went to get order of protection against him. im done

Sad. When I was his age, I was pretty mean to my parents too. ow I feel bad about it. Being a teenager is hard especially when the parents are divorced, but I am not making excuses for him. He ought to treat you better and he needs to put the video games down and learn something useful.

 

[woody 73]

very Sad:

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."

Buddha (563 BC- 483 BC)

 

[NY_treeguy]

Craftsman screwdriver set...can't beat it.

From personal experience...buy him tools that are different from yours. If he misplaces one of his, it is harder for him to replace it with one of Dad's.

My 23 yo son is still playing that game.

 

[bczygan]

Bought my nephew a bunch of tools and gave him a box and vise from my stash. Don't know how he likes it all. Don't know if he uses it all very much. Don't really have any contact with him.
Buying tools for someone else is more about you, then them.

That said, I gave a nephew a Radio Shack Color Computer many year ago. Didn't talk to him for 18 years. Now I find he is in IT. Had completely forgotten about it.
You never know....

 

[Outlander]

Dale1962 - sorry to hear about issues. I have a blended family and see a wide range with my 3 boys ( 1 son, 2 stepsons).

OP - I gave them all their first tool boxes. Even those with no interest still go looking for a tool now and then

This thread inspired me to find an old box that needs TLC for my son who wishes to enter school to be an electrician.

 

[rooney00]

I'm doing this for my 13 yo nephew right now too. Have gotten him small items over the years but am putting together full socket sets now. He's really into tools but I'm trying to get him over the "everything has to be brand new top of the line" attitude his parents have given him.

 

[volvo92906]

I am jealous of all you dads out there who have helped or are helping your sons with tools they can take pride in. I got nothing.... I fell into wanting to be a mechanic when I crashed my 91 Honda Accord and had to fix the radiator and support myself with some tools I picked up at Walmart if I wanted to drive again.

It was an accident I got into diesel, but my dad was a truck driver all my life and the auto program was full so I said "ok". My first real tool set was a Crapsman set I got a discount on through Sears because of a vocational school. Then, as any guy, I went to HF and other tool places and picked up all kinds of tools without any rhyme or reason. I just wanted tools.

To the OP... Just get him tools for what you think he needs to work on what he has... 4 wheeler, lawnmower, maybe even car in a few years. Sounds like you have a pretty good idea with what you need... Allens, sockets, hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches.. You can get a lot of work done with just those tools. I was never a fan of mechanix gloves... Kinda reminds me of some guy with a sports car wearing driving gloves... But hey, thats my opinion.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I'm not sure if Williams screwdrivers are too expensive, but one good Phillips and flathead, some electronics screwdrivers ( little 5 pc set in a plastic case), vise grips, needle nose, arc joint and slip joint pliers, flashlight, 1/4 drive and 3/8 drive ratchet. Some of the smaller socket sets use 1/4 drive and requre an adapter b/ c there is only one ratchet. And a smaller hammer

 

[Toulson]

If you aren't set on matching pieces, I've screwdrivers I'd love someone else to get to use out of. Shoot me a PM.

 

[ez-duzit]

A 6-way screwdriver plus a small instrument flat-blade, slot and phillips 2-way stubbies, metric and SAE Allen and combination wrench sets, various sizes of adjustable wrench and Vise-Grip, needle-nosed pliers, cutting pliers, carpenter's hammer, utility knife, razor scraper, awl, plastic dial caliper, pocket tape measure, couple chisels, drift pin/punch, couple files, diamond stone, couple putty knives, engineer's scribe, pen-light, mirror, various scissors, ... Augment as necessary.

 

[blacksuit99]

Thanks for all of the tips guys. I am on the prowl to pick up some stuff for him as we speak. I thinking the first purchase will be a set of wrenches. After that I will give him the box and tell him what my plans are. I kinda thought about having his name airbrushed on the box too but don't know if I will or not.

 

[senor fozz]

Craftsman screwdriver set...can't beat it.

From personal experience...buy him tools that are different from yours. If he misplaces one of his, it is harder for him to replace it with one of Dad's.

My 23 yo son is still playing that game.

That is half the fun of sharing a garage space with your dad. Hopefully one day he will do what I did. Told my dad go into my box and take anything that you think is yours or you need. The tool arguments ended that day and we are both happy but now our tools are 2000 miles apart.

 

[senor fozz]

Thanks for all of the tips guys. I am on the prowl to pick up some stuff for him as we speak. I thinking the first purchase will be a set of wrenches. After that I will give him the box and tell him what my plans are. I kinda thought about having his name airbrushed on the box too but don't know if I will or not.

I would, it would likely keep him from sticker f-ing it all up and make him take better care of it. Another upside is if god forbid it gets stolen it might be easier to get back to him.

 

[boiler7904]

Yeah, that's a nice first box. Think about the tools he borrows the most from your stash, and buy those first.

Just earlier today I was thinking about putting together a small box for my son. He's only 3.5 yo, but he loves tools.

My son won't be 2 until December but I've started to set things aside for him. Thinking that he will get a mix of quality new tools found on sale and hand me downs from my box as I upgrade some stuff. My wife who normally doesn't give a damn about tools (unless they're being used on her honey do list) even thought it was a good idea.

I'm torn between a hand carry box and just designating the bottom drawer of my box as his.

 

[ez-duzit]

Get him his own box.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I'm torn between a hand carry box and just designating the bottom drawer of my box as his.

I agree, get him his own.

I see the C'man 2 or 3 dwr. carry style ift lid handled rally boxes on CL all the time.
I even have the two I got as a late teen and early 20 something berfore I went roll cab. They are awesome as an all purpose box. I use one now soley for bicycle tools and parts as it keeps them handly and portable but out of way so they do not get lost in the chasm of the roll cab madness nor do they take up valueable real estate.

Sears had a blue C'man rally box in clearence in the spring for $25 IIRC near me. YOu can find them for $20 ish all the time used. You can always reuse it if interest dwindles and it keeps him out of your box and teaches him to be accountable and track his own tools. Win-win.