What to buy next?

[RalloZ35]

Everyone starts somewhere with their tool collection, and after awhile, we need to upgrade. I'm finally to the "upgrade" phase, I've got all HF tools right now, and I can't complain too much. I'm looking to upgrade now, and I need an experienced opinion. Being 17 and in high school, I cant afford snap-on or any truck brands... Should I just wait till I can afford snap-on? Or buy craftsman or Kobalt? Thanks!

 

[98ssuck]

Look at your current collection and see what has the most wear. Start there and buy smart, quality tools are a once in a lifetime purchase so make sure you really like what you buy. Personally I really like snap-on but if your not planning on using them professionally it isn't really worth having, but jh Williams is cheaper alternative.

 

[fitz11]

I would skip craftsman and kobalt as they wouldn't be a real upgrade. Take a look at the more industrial brands (sk, wright, Proto, williams) I am in almost your exact situation and will be upgrading to mostly SK stuff.

 

[signcrafter]

Figure out what you use the most. Or what you have broken or came close to breaking, torx bits for example. Also any tools that you weren't happy with how they performed. Then head to ebay and start searching for used tools. I'm just a shadetree guy but have a decent collection of specialty tools and also tool truck tools, most of which I bought used because I could never afford snap on new for everything.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I would stay with the HF boxes. Upgrade within their line to the 44", 56", or the 72". Don't get wrapped up with a box name. The box is just holding the tools. As for hand tools I use SK and Snap On for the most part. I have some Matco, Mac, and HF mixed in. Daily use tools are worth the investment. Stuff you don't always use you can look at other brands. No sense tying up a ton of money with tools you use every couple of months. Get a good multi meter like Klein or Fluke. Diagnostic stuff is normally provided and if not you should get something good.

Take a look at what others are using. Try their stuff and see if it works for you. It not a competition to see has the best. You need what works best for you.

 

[Irongrave]

After the replacing the tools you use the most or broken start with adding things you don't have. My next upgrades are a good shop vise and a portaband with a SWAG stand. Also What are you long term goals and plans? Try not to buy things twice if you can. Used is a great way to go I've gotten some great tools that way.

 

[930dreamer]

Nothing wrong with the older Craftsman tools and they seem to be available at flea markets and CL. I'd certainly check out your local CL for tool deals.

 

[BK13]

Figure out what you use the most. Or what you have broken or came close to breaking, torx bits for example. Also any tools that you weren't happy with how they performed. Then head to ebay and start searching for used tools. I'm just a shadetree guy but have a decent collection of specialty tools and also tool truck tools, most of which I bought used because I could never afford snap on new for everything.

This right here. I'm thinking about trying some JH Williams tools... near Snap On quality, or so I've read, at a fraction of the price.

Or, you could just buy a Snap On BJP1 ball joint press and send it to me!

 

[unslow1]

What part of Illinois are you in? I've bought a lot of truck tools used. If you are in Central IL I will tell you a few places to check.

 

[DieselSaves]

What part of Illinois are you in? I've bought a lot of truck tools used. If you are in Central IL I will tell you a few places to check.

I'd definitely start with used if you can. You can generally get better quality used tools for the price of new budget tools. If you want to buy new, the current SK socket sets are really good and not much more than NAPA brand imports. In my opinion the best money is spent on a good ratchet and good screwdrivers.

 

[pipsters]

Save your money and buy things that will help you earn more. Leave the upgrading to people who have been working a while and already have pretty much everything they need. At 17 I was dumping my money into my education.

Don't be one of these guys who is 50 and working for $10-$15/hr and hoping to "retire" on that. If you invest in yourself you can buy all the Snap-On you want in 10-15 years.

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

Don't forget you can look in the classified section of this site and craigslist and ebay for good deals on name brand tools.

 

[dsmnickk90]

Armstrong or SK. Armstrong is pretty much the same as US Craftsman/Matco. Armstrong is a little cheaper than SK but both are great quality at a reasonable price. I like SK sockets but would rather have Armstrong ratchets over SK

 

[Westly]

Being 17 and in high school,... Should I just wait till I can afford snap-on? Or buy craftsman or Kobalt? Thanks!

Don't buy anything you don't truly need, unless it's such a good deal that you could get what you spent, or more, back out of it.

If there's something you use a lot, then you can splurge a little once in a great while, to have something special to enjoy.

This philosophy will save a person from a lifetime of debt

 

[zkling]

What are your goals with the tools? Do you plan on a profession where the tools will be used as your main source of income? If so, yea maybe one of the truck brands wouldn't be a bad investment at a reasonable pace. On the other hand if these tools are just for DIY and your personal use I'd go with one of the cheaper yet still good quality industrial brands such as SK, Wright, Proto, Williams.

If all you are doing is upgrading, which to me means replacing what you currently have, which works pretty well, with better quality or more efficient tools of the same type. If you are in no hurry, just slowly look for deals here and there. Unless you absolutely care about everything matching you should be able to piece together a high quality tool set to last your lifetime at a pretty affordable price, that is if you are patient.

A very high % of craftsman's new production hand tools are china made and probably not much if any better than the harbor freight offerings. Yea you could purchase or luck into some NOS items, but what happens if you ever need to warranty that item? Me personally I'm turning into a SK and proto fan for mechanics tools like sockets and wrenches. Just my 2¢

Don't buy anything you don't truly need, unless it's such a good deal that you could get what you spent, or more, back out of it.

If there's something you use a lot, then you can splurge a little once in a great while, to have something special to enjoy.

This philosophy will save a person from a lifetime of debt

More like x10000 great advice.

 

[Westly]

^ Thanks. It's a lucky man who enjoys saving as much as he enjoys spending.

 

[RalloZ35]

To try to answer all the questions, I am aspiring to be a heavy equipment diesel tech. and someday I want to have my own shop. I have college worked out, and should need to pay any extra unless, I decide to do a welding class too. I didnt really want to go from HF to Craftsman, simply because, C-man isnt a whole lot better (from what I here, although, the box at work is all C-man and nothing has broke) and HF tools have Lifetime warranty also. The first things I'm looking to buy would be sockets, and wrenches. I would just mix those in with HF tools. I really don't want to spend every penny I earn on tools.. Thanks you guys!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

"Finally to the upgrade phase" ?? I doubt that. The tools you have are paid for, are working ok, and you are in High School and have limited funds...

Keep what you have, as some of those tools may be more than adequate for your tool NEEDS. As time passes, you will know from your own experience that an SK, ProTo or SnapOn ratchet would be a justified purchase.. Buy it then, without question... Same for other tool purchases..

Reserve the word "collection" for coins, stamps and baseball cards... Don't buy tools to "collect",,, buy them for the purpose of performing a certain task. There ARE people who are Tool Collectors;; however,, understanding the difference between a collector and a user will put you in a better position when pondering future purchases..

I have wrenched on a pro level for over four decades,,, My tools were purchased for that purpose.. I enjoy being well equipped to handle the repairs that I do, and it is easy to dump bucket loads of money into tools and equipment. Are there certain tools in my shop that I look at and now question why I bought them?? Yep, that **** can happen There times that I will later kick myself for buying some tool or machine.... Helps to know whether you want or actually need a certain tool..

Slow down, there is no reason to rush to the tool store

 

[ibedayank]

Everyone starts somewhere with their tool collection, and after awhile, we need to upgrade. I'm finally to the "upgrade" phase, I've got all HF tools right now, and I can't complain too much. I'm looking to upgrade now, and I need an experienced opinion. Being 17 and in high school, I cant afford snap-on or any truck brands... Should I just wait till I can afford snap-on? Or buy craftsman or Kobalt? Thanks!

start by reading this thread... and USED tools work just as well as brand new

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120

 

[zkling]

start by reading this thread... and USED tools work just as well as brand new

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120

Shhh, It's well known that only shiny new tools work good.

 

[Wamsutta]

Should I just wait till I can afford snap-on?

Buy yourself a sample. Buy 1 wrench or 1 ratchet it the size you'll use most. Next year, buy another sample.

 

[RalloZ35]

I was thinking about piecing together a socket set... Buy like a set of 6 or so shallow SAE then in a month or two a set of deep SAE and just slowly build a full set. Probably used, but that doesn't bother me.

 

[RalloZ35]

start by reading this thread... and USED tools work just as well as brand new

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120

Thanks!! I didn't know brand names that were similar and good quality, this will help alot! Thank you!

 

[Outlawmws]

Another vote for used and shopping CL, yard sales and the like. But shop carefully!

I started not much older than you with a list of what I had and didn't for sockets in my wallet. I gradually filled in the blanks I needed, and as many have said, you don't need all of them. You can do the same with other tools and with today's tech you could keep that list in your phone...

A comment on the Craftsman you have at work: If more than a couple of years old, those are probably all US made and good quality. In the past 2 years Sears has been outsourcing to China/Asia, and still charge the same $$ for no better than HF... If it doesn't say "USA" on it from Sears, just walk away.

You are looking to go into diesel mechanical work so you need to be looking for big stuff unless you already have it. Again shop it around. You can get screaming deals if you are patient as there is not a lot of demand in that space. Not like there is with automotive tools where you have both pros and hobbyists as potential competitors.

Key question, and several have mentioned the topic: What exactly do you think you need to do your job? Make a list, Prioritize it for "need sooner, not later", then adjust you're attitude when you find it. Something you need now, be willing to bay a bit more. low on the list? It better be a screaming deal.

In the past year or year and a half I've collected full sets of 3/4 and I'm working on 1" drive sockets, breakers and ratchets are compete in those sizes, and all for a pittance. I'm not even a pro mech. I just like having the right tools when the need comes up, and with me, you can never say never...

No, not much matches brand-wise, but if i need a size, and the extra beef, in the larger sizes, Its' there, and in quality brands... (Mostly Proto and Snap-on with a smattering of other truck or industrial brands)

 

[RalloZ35]

Yeah, I need to work on my half inch set.. and I need to do something about my non existent 3/4" set..