Tool Philosophy - Starting Out

[lincwelder225]

I feel your pain... I went to a automotive trade school, then to college to be a history teacher... I work in an asphalt refinery. Go figure!

Sad to hear about your experience with channel lock, were they the old ones that the jaws were bolted together? I have an old old pair like that, I only keep them for collecting reasons. I swear by the "newer" ones, as do the pipefitters that work out here. To each is own I guess...

As for other types of tools, I have a suggestion. ( I absolutely love my Snap On f936 ratchet as well) Get one or two secondhand and try them. For instance get a used S-K 15mm wrench from ebay/estate sale/flea market etc. Try it out. If you dont like it, youre not out but a few bucks. If you do, purchase the whole set. Just a suggestion. Screwdriver sets can be had cheap. I know you hate craftsman but their master set ( look for the W-F marking on the handles) is like 50 or 60 dollars. Go to ace hardware and buy a single screwdriver, try it out. If you like it buy the set. Do this until you find a brand you like and go from there. For oddball sized sockets ( the 29mm comes to mind) buy cheap from Harbor freight if you want or get USA made ones for not much more from cripe dist. Just a thought. I hope it works out for you bud!

 

[Codejack]

If you broke 3 sockets on the same fastener, do you really think it was the tool or your approach?

This is where the disconnect is, I think.

I understand the difference between using and abusing tools; that's why my opinion of Williams isn't bad even though I've broken some Williams sockets, because I was abusing them, or at least pushing their limits, and we're talking half a dozen broken sockets in almost 20 years of use.

I should not have been pushing the limits of those Craftsman sockets; I was not using a cheater bar, and while I'm a big guy, I wasn't pushing that hard. As in, I have put close to as much force on my Harbor Freight 1/4" ratchet and socket than that, without any problem (I was worried, but... it has a warranty! ). The Husky set I replaced the Cman with had no issues with that bolt.

And I have had several brands of most of these tools: Stanley, Thorsen, Husky, Kobalt... all of which had pros and cons, but I always felt like I got my money's worth out of them. Not the Craftsman.

Now, maybe different people or different cars or different regions have different issues; maybe for rust-free or corroded fasteners, Cman works well, and it just can't handled the surface-rust welded bolts that I see around here. Maybe I bought in during a particularly bad period for Cman quality.

None of that tells me where to go from here, though, other than, "Not Sears"

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

I'm having good luck with Gearwrench; I'm going to get more of their impact sockets, and try their wrenches.

Tekton is getting a lot of recommendation, so I'll try their big chrome set; that would have solved my missing 29mm problem earlier, and the 23mm the other thread yesterday was complaining about, and...

I'm going back to Stanley for pliers; they have a new Fatmax line coming out that looks really good, and has the kind of handles I like. They have a nice drilling sledge hammer that looks good, too.

Mr B turned me on to Toptul screwdrivers, which have the features I really want (bolsters, striking caps) in good quality and selection for a reasonable price.

Klein for electrical tools, although I dug out my old splicing kit over the weekend to do some work, and noticed that half of it I had replaced over the years because it broke. Not a good sign.

Bondhus hex keys. Wera looks fantastic, but stupid expensive.

Lisle, OTC, Astro and a few other companies for specialty stuff.

 

[Codejack]

Unsubscribed.

Thanks for letting us know!

 

[Codejack]

I feel your pain... I went to a automotive trade school, then to college to be a history teacher... I work in an asphalt refinery. Go figure!

Heh, I interviewed at the local asphalt refinery for a control tech job; I think they got upset when I laughed at the pay.

This may be another regional thing, though.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I voted for buying quality, but that doesn't mean tool truck tools in all cases.

Wright, SK, Williams and Proto are all quality brands, and more bang for the buck

User name checks out

Spin it any way you want, but his post was spot on and you still didn't want to accept it.

You can talk yourself into believe that Harbor Freight is "professional", but that doesn't mean it's going to make their quality any better.

 

[Mr_B]

Some harbor freight is professional and used by pro's daily for decades .
I got some pitts pro stuff and had no trouble with it, see few techs with battery impacts got on first introduction price/coupon and they doing okay as was good option at that price.
Only trick to buying tools is buying what suitable for your usage and what good deals at the time. Deals change but tool usage generally don't, just about every brand does something good or has a too good a deal to miss . I try buy a tool based on tool design and how I evaluate it's quality to cost, Retail price comes second and brand name comes last .

 

[Codejack]

Me, if I was starting over I'd spend the money upfront. $300 on Proto sockets, $200 on Williams ratchets and breaker bars, $100 on Proto wrenches, $100 on Knipex pliers, $50 on Wilde punches and pry bars, $50 on USA hammers, $50 on Wera screwdrivers, and a $150 18v brand name combo kit.

So, that's what? 3 rails of sockets, 3 ratchets and a breaker bar, 5 wrenches, 3 pairs of pliers, 2 punches and a pry bar, 1 hammer, and 2 screwdrivers? And the HF power tools are more expensive than that for a kit, so I have no idea what "brand name" combo you are talking about.

I like the idea you are presenting; the problem is that your list is not enough tools to get the job done. It sounds like a great list of replacements for mid-range stuff that breaks, though, but I need the tools to start making money to save up to buy the good stuff.

"Tools pay for themselves," even cheap ones, and I need to bootstrap; I need tools to make money to buy better tools to make more money. I cannot imagine that this is not a common situation for many people breaking into the field professionally.

 

[alexb2000]

Here is an example of how inane this conversation is....

I just bought an 18 piece set of Wright metric combination wrenches 7-24mm for $95 new. Linked off the Amazon deals thread on this very site. That's about $5.50 a wrench for Wright quality.

Tell me again how anyone in todays world can't put together a set of quality tools on a very limited budget?

 

[Hiball]

It's obvious you came here to reinforce your preconceived idea about how to proceed, not devise a new one.

Best Post so far... Im out.

 

[Gmonkee]

After a few restarts in life of my own I understand what CJ has to do.

And I did it starting in 2006 the last time. Got way out of control by 2015 and I have been selling off the excess since.
And I still can do wrenches for three guys but even the socket type tools brought back to core by now.
The same sockets I bought in '07 hoping they would do. And they still do.
I never had to change wrenches but did because it was fun. Back to India made because they are theft resistant and work great. But, carefully chosen for known quality.

The bling is at home yet awaiting a safer shop storage situation but I have that too.

Takes all kinds guys. I would have to sell my home to get Snappy, and frankly this other stuff is still making me enough money to maintain a good home. I know which I prefer.

 

[Jp267]

I was put in a weird situation because I inherited two grandfathers sets of tools, my father's sets of tools, and the tools that I already had. And to make matters worse one of my grandfather's tool collections included my great-grandfather's tools as well so it like having three grandfather's tools.

90% of them are US made, but I'm running into a situation, where I have three or four of the same size US made wrenches or sockets of the same brand and running out of room quickly.

As an engineer, I had a pretty robust collection of tools already and then adding on the tools that I inherited, it's getting pretty crazy. I'm going to use it the ones that I inherited and have already used several many times. However now I have to figure out what to do with all these triples and quadruples of things that I probably will never get a chance to use. I never really considered myself tool collector, but it seems both my grandfathers were tool hoarders, and now I feel like I am. I guess it's time to have a rummage sale or something.

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[bcradio]

OP:

 

[Codejack]

OP:

Well, that's why I am here.

That being said, while there is no consensus, the trend of opinion is pretty clear.

 

[ssdave]

OP, I usually restrain myself from replying when a thread goes like this, but I think there's some things that need said.

You seem to be into what I call "life *****" mode. Nothing is good enough, you don’t get any of the right breaks, other people have misled you into bad life choices. I see this attitude in some people; they buy something mediocre based on price, and when it isn't good enough, and it's the manufacturers or salesmans fault. Then, instead of buying more suitable things, they buy a similar one of another brand, again based on price, and complain about it. No matter who employs them, they don't get treated well enough, paid enough, the work is too hard, boring, or unrewarding, etc. Their landlord doesn’t care and is ripping them off. Their wives have all been awful. Their car is a lemon. So were the last 3 they had. Their city is screwing them over and their homeowners association is out to get them. After a few times of this, it ought to occur to them that maybe some of the problem is their own?
The difference between satisfied, successful people and people that just drift along in life ***** mode a lot of the time is just attitude. Step up and take responsibility for your own actions, and work steadily to make things work out. Yes, sometimes things aren’t as good as we’d like. But, a steady push to improve our circumstances usually makes them better.

I take exception to your characterization of IT and engineering jobs as unrewarding. I employ engineers; I have an entry level job I will be filling soon and it pays over $40,000 in a low cost of living area, and requires a 2 year associate degree. I have a hard time finding good qualified people to take these types of jobs. But, we don't take "life *****" people. EVER. We take people that are glad to have the job, willing to work hard and do what it takes to succeed, and that are in it for the long haul. One of my employees has been working here 39 years. Another 28. The least senior one has 5 years. It is demanding of the people: you have to get along with others. If you have to prank others or get in ******* matches with them, you will go. If you can't pass a piss test all the time, you will go. If you have a drinking problem, you will go. If you can't follow safety procedures all the time, you will go. You will have to turn in quality work. All the time. Demanding, yes, but rewarding.

I know many people that work in IT also. And, do well with it. Not glamour jobs in silicon valley, these are local techs that work for companies or school districts or hospitals or state agencies, keeping computers running and doing software troubleshooting for the users. The thing that I see in common in these people that are successful is they are hard working, calm, and get along with people well. And, I don't see any of the successful ones complaining that their job *****.

The same thing with tools. You can try and write off Craftsman, Gearwrench, Tekton, Pittsburg Pro, SK, Snap-on and others or you can recognize that they all have limitations, learn to use them and work within them, and replace them occasionally when they break. The difference is attitude. When a tool breaks, you can throw away the set and bad mouth them, or you can look at what your needs were and how the tools worked, and either adapt your way of doing things or buy a more suitable tool for that task. Moving from one brand to a similar quality one to another hoping that one will magically be better isn't a strategy that is going to work well.

You've already invested in some tools that I saw on your other thread. Use those tools, make money using them, and buy replacements and other ones and better ones as you see the need. It's really that simple. Just good steady work, not some magic forumla or magic tools that you can deduce from an internet poll.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I got some pitts pro stuff and had no trouble with it, see few techs with battery impacts got on first introduction price/coupon and they doing okay as was good option at that price.

Agreed, as do it. The point was more along the lines of any low budget being deemed professional. Those 2 words for the most part don't usually go together well. It's two different market segments.

 

[Jp267]

OP, I usually restrain myself from replying when a thread goes like this, but I think there's some things that need said.

You seem to be into what I call "life *****" mode. Nothing is good enough, you don’t get any of the right breaks, other people have misled you into bad life choices. I see this attitude in some people; they buy something mediocre based on price, and when it isn't good enough, and it's the manufacturers or salesmans fault. Then, instead of buying more suitable things, they buy a similar one of another brand, again based on price, and complain about it. No matter who employs them, they don't get treated well enough, paid enough, the work is too hard, boring, or unrewarding, etc. Their landlord doesn’t care and is ripping them off. Their wives have all been awful. Their car is a lemon. So were the last 3 they had. Their city is screwing them over and their homeowners association is out to get them. After a few times of this, it ought to occur to them that maybe some of the problem is their own?
The difference between satisfied, successful people and people that just drift along in life ***** mode a lot of the time is just attitude. Step up and take responsibility for your own actions, and work steadily to make things work out. Yes, sometimes things aren’t as good as we’d like. But, a steady push to improve our circumstances usually makes them better.

I take exception to your characterization of IT and engineering jobs as unrewarding. I employ engineers; I have an entry level job I will be filling soon and it pays over $40,000 in a low cost of living area, and requires a 2 year associate degree. I have a hard time finding good qualified people to take these types of jobs. But, we don't take "life *****" people. EVER. We take people that are glad to have the job, willing to work hard and do what it takes to succeed, and that are in it for the long haul. One of my employees has been working here 39 years. Another 28. The least senior one has 5 years. It is demanding of the people: you have to get along with others. If you have to prank others or get in ******* matches with them, you will go. If you can't pass a piss test all the time, you will go. If you have a drinking problem, you will go. If you can't follow safety procedures all the time, you will go. You will have to turn in quality work. All the time. Demanding, yes, but rewarding.

I know many people that work in IT also. And, do well with it. Not glamour jobs in silicon valley, these are local techs that work for companies or school districts or hospitals or state agencies, keeping computers running and doing software troubleshooting for the users. The thing that I see in common in these people that are successful is they are hard working, calm, and get along with people well. And, I don't see any of the successful ones complaining that their job *****.

The same thing with tools. You can try and write off Craftsman, Gearwrench, Tekton, Pittsburg Pro, SK, Snap-on and others or you can recognize that they all have limitations, learn to use them and work within them, and replace them occasionally when they break. The difference is attitude. When a tool breaks, you can throw away the set and bad mouth them, or you can look at what your needs were and how the tools worked, and either adapt your way of doing things or buy a more suitable tool for that task. Moving from one brand to a similar quality one to another hoping that one will magically be better isn't a strategy that is going to work well.

You've already invested in some tools that I saw on your other thread. Use those tools, make money using them, and buy replacements and other ones and better ones as you see the need. It's really that simple. Just good steady work, not some magic forumla or magic tools that you can deduce from an internet poll.

I'm an Electrical Engineer with a Computer Science background. It's been rewarding as hell. I own my business, which develops satellite communication, for autonomous (self driving semis). We also design point-to-point beamforming network technology and run several data farms.

I couldn't be happier. We are doing well enough I have hired people to run the day to day operation. I can work on things at home most days like my garden etc. And I didn't graduate college. Found it boring...

Wish I would have read through the entire thread. Or maybe not.

Oh, and before I inherited my tools, I would buy the best I could afford only if I needed it and be happy to have it. Then look down the road to upgrade to something better once I worked the mediocre tool to ****.

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[d.mcfarland]

So, that's what? 3 rails of sockets, 3 ratchets and a breaker bar, 5 wrenches, 3 pairs of pliers, 2 punches and a pry bar, 1 hammer, and 2 screwdrivers? And the HF power tools are more expensive than that for a kit, so I have no idea what "brand name" combo you are talking about.

I like the idea you are presenting; the problem is that your list is not enough tools to get the job done. It sounds like a great list of replacements for mid-range stuff that breaks, though, but I need the tools to start making money to save up to buy the good stuff.

"Tools pay for themselves," even cheap ones, and I need to bootstrap; I need tools to make money to buy better tools to make more money. I cannot imagine that this is not a common situation for many people breaking into the field professionally.

WTF....

You've already been flipping cars for years supposedly. How can you need to replace everything?!

Tuuuurrrrible at listening.

 

[Codejack]

I'm sorry, someone thinks that $40k/ year is a decent wage? Walmart pays almost that much for untrained oil and tire techs.

This is what I have seen my entire life; a bunch of people with no clue as to how life works, and the more clueless they are, the more confident they seem to be in their own opinions.

Guess what? Life ***** for 90% of people, and shitting on them more doesn't help.

 

[Yarpo]

Oh wow!

Tekton was on my list from the beginning; it was called cheap **** by all the people that are still haranguing me. I've got the 1/2" set on my shopping list, just for the complete socket set with no skips.

I also like GearWrench, I don't have a bad opinion of Williams, and the higher end Stanley stuff has been good to me. I have a Snap On ratchet that is great, I just can't afford much more of it at the moment.



Channellock I really wanted to like; I found an old set in my grandad's shop and cleaned them up, but they are rusty, loose and dull. And I don't like the handles.

I don't think anyone called Tekton cheap ****. Are you sure you're not hearing what you wanted to hear? I think they make decent tools, I picked up some bits from them I found at fleetfarm on sale because I've heard good things about them. That said I don't think they are profesional level tools, I wouldn't go below Gearwrench/Carlyle for my everyday stuff. Maybe some techs will chime in as having used them profesionally and can comment.

So the channellocks that everyone really likes and uses profesinally you based on an old and rusty set from your grand dad. How old are the tools? You said you're 40, so I can only imagine.

If you don't like the handles, understandable but they make great products at a reasonable price, which is what you want.

I'm sorry, someone thinks that $40k/ year is a decent wage? Walmart pays almost that much for untrained oil and tire techs.

This is what I have seen my entire life; a bunch of people with no clue as to how life works, and the more clueless they are, the more confident they seem to be in their own opinions.

Guess what? Life ***** for 90% of people, and shitting on them more doesn't help.

**** man, Mercedes was going to hire me at 40k a year and it would have been a "decent" wage almost certainly. I don't live in Minneapolis so cost of living here is fairly decent.

 

[notlob]

This is what I have seen my entire life; a bunch of people with no clue as to how life works, and the more clueless they are, the more confident they seem to be in their own opinions.

Guess what? Life ***** for 90% of people, and shitting on them more doesn't help.

Victim mentality; the world is clueless and he's always right. How could anything possibly go wrong? No wonder the OP has time to type a multitude of full page posts and rants on GJ, and to agonize over which set of HF sockets to buy.

 

[Codejack]

WTF....

You've already been flipping cars for years supposedly. How can you need to replace everything?!

Tuuuurrrrible at listening.

Someone is terrible at listening.

I have been flipping cars for 3 months, and have tp be selective about what I buy because my tools are so limited.

Hence the discussion.

 

[woody 73]

Forgive me I did not read a lot of this post, but for my two cents (not sure if it counts on the GJ) but if I had to start all over I would look only for easy tools that had a fast easy warranty, (easy in and out).

In the old days it was easy with Sears but not so much these days, so that leaves them out.

Napa at least for me is no questions asked and easy in and out.

I have a good dealer for SK, no questions asked, easy in and out the door.

Same goes for Wright, but sometimes the wait can be a long time.

Proto is fast, but the locations in my area sometimes change.

Duralast seems very quick and out the door.

For snap on, Mac, Cornwell and Williams that is a mail in job which takes time, at least for me, maybe different for you guys that the tool truck comes to.

HF is an easy out the door with not many questions asked.

Lowes and HD that can be somewhat tricky depending on the check out person at the time.

I have never used the Tekton so I have no clue ?

Anyhow that is how I buy my tools based on how easy it is to get replacements.

 

[Jp267]

I'm sorry, someone thinks that $40k/ year is a decent wage? Walmart pays almost that much for untrained oil and tire techs.

This is what I have seen my entire life; a bunch of people with no clue as to how life works, and the more clueless they are, the more confident they seem to be in their own opinions.

Guess what? Life ***** for 90% of people, and shitting on them more doesn't help.

Depends on where you are. Boston? I would die laughing if I got that offer.

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[PJNJ]

The only way I see this thread having a happy ending is if the OP orders one at Friendly's.





I'm out 'cause I was never in.

 

[sanddan]

I started my tool collection in the mid 70's and at the time Craftsman tools were considered one short step below Snap-on in quality. I still have most of those tools and use them. I have some newer Craftsman tools, mostly purchased as second sets for the race trailer around 2000, and they are for the most part ok. Not as good of a surface finish and some have laser etching for the sizes which I don't like but still better than the junk they sell now.

If I was starting out now I wouldn't buy that brand new but would shop for good used ones made by USA manufacturer's if possible.

For me now, I tend to buy only top quality hand tools unless it's for a one time use project. I can afford them now and I prefer to use a quality tool even when a cheap one would do the job. Personal preference.

 

[Jp267]

The only way I see this thread having a happy ending is if the OP orders one at Friendly's.





I'm out 'cause I was never in.

[emoji23] [emoji23]

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[WittHay]

Forgive me I did not read a lot of this post, but for my two cents (not sure if it counts on the GJ) but if I had to start all over I would look only for easy tools that had a fast easy warranty, (easy in and out).

Anyhow that is how I buy my tools based on how easy it is to get replacements.

This is how i buy tools, from local stores that are open 7 days a week and have the tools in stock

The socket on the left is a Napa Ultrapro, probably Tekton quality. It is used for working on stuff like the tractor in the picture in a climate that has salt air and more rain than Tennessee. Those midrange sockets work

 

[Mr_B]

Forgive me I did not read a lot of this post, but for my two cents (not sure if it counts on the GJ) but if I had to start all over I would look only for easy tools that had a fast easy warranty, (easy in and out).

In the old days it was easy with Sears but not so much these days, so that leaves them out.

Napa at least for me is no questions asked and easy in and out.

I have a good dealer for SK, no questions asked, easy in and out the door.

Same goes for Wright, but sometimes the wait can be a long time.

Proto is fast, but the locations in my area sometimes change.

Duralast seems very quick and out the door.

For snap on, Mac, Cornwell and Williams that is a mail in job which takes time, at least for me, maybe different for you guys that the tool truck comes to.

HF is an easy out the door with not many questions asked.

Lowes and HD that can be somewhat tricky depending on the check out person at the time.

I have never used the Tekton so I have no clue ?

Anyhow that is how I buy my tools based on how easy it is to get replacements.

+1 on Napa being easy warranty plus always one local . carlyle stuff is worth a look, sockets and ratchet being good enough for pro use.
HF pitts pro is decent enough for price and current warranty terms but main restraint is range not complete enough in tool types and sizes .
Don't get too hooked on warranty, I more than happy self warranty if price and item quality seems worth it (recent set of 7" and 9" 8pc circlip pliers being example where self warranty of cheap but well made set seemed way better deal)
you'll warranty carlyle and HF easier and quicker than truck brands unless a regular with a good truck rep .

 

[Scotty_B]

I think it all depends on your usage.

Are you a professional mechanic or technician? It might be worth going into debt in order to get the specialized tools and the tool truck service that comes along with tool truck brands.

Are you hobbyists or semi-pro who actually does work frequently and might actually turn a profit from your toils? You probably don't need the tool truck service, but you might need the quality offered by the tool truck brands. Buy used and make friends with your local tool truck dealer.

Are you a shade-tree mechanic or home do-it-yourselfer that has the necessary knowledge and wants to save money on the labor involved in regular auto/home maintenance and repair? Maybe you buy used tools or industrial/prosumer brands.

Or maybe you just need to do occasional repairs or maintenance. Then Stanley or cheap hardware store tool brands will do the trick.

OR ... you might become addicted to this board and buy tools because they are fun to acquire, collect, and review!!!

 

[WittHay]

To start out as a tech you have to go to a tech college, the minimum amount is about $2000 for mid-range tools. Some place only allow tool truck brands . People who want to enter the field have savings or borrow the money for their education.

To work at Walmart you only need a small amount of tools. The tire tools are probably provided , same with filter wrenches. That leaves battery tools and a few sockets for the drain plugs. It shouldn't be that big of a deal

Say your unemployed and want to be a truck driver. What does it cost to go to school and get a CDL. I am guessing at least 2 grand

It seems you have been working on cars for a while, you should have some idea for yourself what works and what doesn't. There are more tool choices than ever

 

[pdxgearhead]

I'm sorry, someone thinks that $40k/ year is a decent wage? Walmart pays almost that much for untrained oil and tire techs."

In 1997, I got a summer job at Walmart as an entry level lube tech. I think I made $10/hr; I don't even remember. Granted that was 20 yrs ago, but according to Mr. Google, the average lube tech in the USA makes $22,000/yr. Mr. Google also says Walmart lube techs make $11/hr.

If there's a Walmart where I can make almost $40K/yr as an inexperienced lube tech, I'd love to apply. I call b.s on that. You (Mr. Codejack) do not seem to have your facts straight.

 

[65k10]

So, that's what? 3 rails of sockets, 3 ratchets and a breaker bar, 5 wrenches, 3 pairs of pliers, 2 punches and a pry bar, 1 hammer, and 2 screwdrivers? And the HF power tools are more expensive than that for a kit, so I have no idea what "brand name" combo you are talking about.

I like the idea you are presenting; the problem is that your list is not enough tools to get the job done. It sounds like a great list of replacements for mid-range stuff that breaks, though, but I need the tools to start making money to save up to buy the good stuff.

"Tools pay for themselves," even cheap ones, and I need to bootstrap; I need tools to make money to buy better tools to make more money. I cannot imagine that this is not a common situation for many people breaking into the field professionally.

Rather than throw up our hands saying you can barely get anything on his proposed budget, let's do a little looking.

Zoro has decent prices on Proto and Knipex tools on a regular day and great prices during a 20-25% off sale, so let's start there.

3/8 shallow sae
3/8 shallow metric
3/8 deep sae
3/8 deep metric
1/2 shallow sae
1/2 shallow metric

With the 25% off sale going on right now, all those sockets would cost just under $325. I'm sure one could be more creative and save money by going with 1/2 impacts to be able to afford 1/4 chrome sockets. If sae isn't critical, cutting back there could save money too.

Here's an sae/metric wrench set from Proto that would be just over $150 after discount. sae/metric wrench set

Here are two Knipex pliers that might be worth getting.
10" Cobra
8" diagonal cutter

Amazon has what should be a good Wera screwdriver set for $40
Wera screwdriver set

$30 Wilde punch an chisel set

Wilde Made prybar set at Sears for $20

Zoro has US made Vaughan hammers for $10-20 dollars each depending on type and size.

Toolsdelivered.com sells Williams ratchets and extensions for a reasonable price. I could certainly get 3-4 ratchets, some extensions, and probably a breaker bar for $200. Proto extensions at Zoro might be cheaper.

I didn't fully fit in the budget laid out by Jrboulder, but the point is, if you bother to do even a little bit of looking and catch deals and sales, you can get very good quality tools for a price that might be realistic. Are these tools cheap? Not at all, but they are likely good enough quality to get the job done without failing. The people in this and your other threads have been giving out great advice. Please listen to it.

 

[Codejack]

I don't think anyone called Tekton cheap ****. Are you sure you're not hearing what you wanted to hear?

Well, these were some of the responses I got when I listed them:

Tekton socket sets are **** they sell them at Meijers and have buy one get one half off deals even that isn't enough to make me buy one.

I agree that the quality of these tools makes me cringe.

Honestly, that's a "cheap" tool set.

This is what I am saying; you say they are fine, 3 other people are calling me an idiot for even thinking about them.

So the channellocks that everyone really likes and uses profesinally you based on an old and rusty set from your grand dad. How old are the tools? You said you're 40, so I can only imagine.

He bought them about 10 years ago; the receipt was still with them, in the bag. I'm not sure that he ever actually used them.

**** man, Mercedes was going to hire me at 40k a year and it would have been a "decent" wage almost certainly. I don't live in Minneapolis so cost of living here is fairly decent.

It's crazy, here; housing, electricity, food and taxes are cheap. The overhead....

 

[Codejack]

Forgive me I did not read a lot of this post, but for my two cents (not sure if it counts on the GJ) but if I had to start all over I would look only for easy tools that had a fast easy warranty, (easy in and out).
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Anyhow that is how I buy my tools based on how easy it is to get replacements.

Any local warranty replacement will be at least an hour long trip, unfortunately, and at that point, Fastenal and MSC are only about 5 minutes farther away than Harbor Freight.

Good advice, though, certainly.

 

[Codejack]

I'm sorry, someone thinks that $40k/ year is a decent wage? Walmart pays almost that much for untrained oil and tire techs."

In 1997, I got a summer job at Walmart as an entry level lube tech. I think I made $10/hr; I don't even remember. Granted that was 20 yrs ago, but according to Mr. Google, the average lube tech in the USA makes $22,000/yr. Mr. Google also says Walmart lube techs make $11/hr.

If there's a Walmart where I can make almost $40K/yr as an inexperienced lube tech, I'd love to apply. I call b.s on that. You (Mr. Codejack) do not seem to have your facts straight.

Um... {looks at the notes he jotted down from the phone interview this morning}, OK.

They're paying stockers $11-12/hour!

 

[orca8589]

Talk to techs in the exact field he plans to work in, get a list going of the basics he'll need. Hit up flea markets (& estate sales where it's convenient.) Buy the best quality you can find, checking for damage, etc.

The real investment, in my opinion, is a good secure toolbox, with an inset, integral lock (cam lock), not a hasp & padlock.

Later, when the career is set, he can upgrade as need/desired.

~Chris

 

[JazzBlueRT]

I am 40; I spent 10 years in IT, then went back to school for a college degree.

Why would you leave IT? With 10 years experience, that is an easy $60-70k per year doing busy work almost anywhere in the country.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Here is an example of how inane this conversation is....

I just bought an 18 piece set of Wright metric combination wrenches 7-24mm for $95 new. Linked off the Amazon deals thread on this very site. That's about $5.50 a wrench for Wright quality.

Tell me again how anyone in todays world can't put together a set of quality tools on a very limited budget?

Exactly, just go to Sears and pick up a 300+ piece set on sale.

 

[Codejack]

Rather than throw up our hands saying you can barely get anything on his proposed budget, let's do a little looking.

Zoro has decent prices on Proto and Knipex tools on a regular day and great prices during a 20-25% off sale, so let's start there.

3/8 shallow sae
3/8 shallow metric
3/8 deep sae
3/8 deep metric
1/2 shallow sae
1/2 shallow metric

With the 25% off sale going on right now, all those sockets would cost just under $325. I'm sure one could be more creative and save money by going with 1/2 impacts to be able to afford 1/4 chrome sockets. If sae isn't critical, cutting back there could save money too.

Here's an sae/metric wrench set from Proto that would be just over $150 after discount. sae/metric wrench set

Here are two Knipex pliers that might be worth getting.
10" Cobra
8" diagonal cutter

Amazon has what should be a good Wera screwdriver set for $40
Wera screwdriver set

$30 Wilde punch an chisel set

Wilde Made prybar set at Sears for $20

Zoro has US made Vaughan hammers for $10-20 dollars each depending on type and size.

Toolsdelivered.com sells Williams ratchets and extensions for a reasonable price. I could certainly get 3-4 ratchets, some extensions, and probably a breaker bar for $200. Proto extensions at Zoro might be cheaper.

I didn't fully fit in the budget laid out by Jrboulder, but the point is, if you bother to do even a little bit of looking and catch deals and sales, you can get very good quality tools for a price that might be realistic. Are these tools cheap? Not at all, but they are likely good enough quality to get the job done without failing. The people in this and your other threads have been giving out great advice. Please listen to it.

THANK YOU!!

That is the kind of reply I have been looking for; don't just tell me the stuff I am looking at is ****, give me some realistic suggestions.

Those sockets and wrenches are still going to be out of reach for a little while, but those screwdrivers, especially, had somehow slipped through my searches.

 

[Codejack]

Why would you leave IT? With 10 years experience, that is an easy $60-70k per year doing busy work almost anywhere in the country.

In Chattanooga, TN, it got me $35k/year, and never went up. I can make $65k in Atlanta, but with cost of living, that's no better. My cousin makes $100k in San Francisco, but has to live in a closet.

Worse, I can't take my kids with me, and their mothers are... special.

Trust me, I would have moved long ago if that were an option.