What was your best tool purchase this year?

[n8n]

Mine hands down has to be my air gun. Matco MT1768A aka Ingersoll 2135TiMax. I love this gun. Just today it blasted off some overtorqued lug nuts that a brand new Blue Point gun and a recently serviced Ingersoll 231 couldn't budge. Just walked over and said "try my gun" and tried not to smirk. At the same time however the trigger is very controllable and I can use it to back off those GM plastic lug nuts that retain (poorly) the hubcaps without damage without much conscious thought, and it's not noticeably heavier than a 231 nor does it feel poorly balanced. Used off the 'bay cost me a buck sixty and that to me was money well spent, although I did have to buy the grease kit as well and I took it apart and cleaned it up on principle.

2nd place: my old Williams ratchets, I now have a S-52 and B-52 and wonder what the hell took me so long to retire my Craftsman RPs and step up my ratchet game. It's a pleasure to work with a smooth fine tooth ratchet, even if I don't *need* it for what I'm doing. Only complaint: no speeder ring.

Just figured I'd throw that out there. What tool purchase have you made recently that really impressed you and makes your life better on a regular basis?

 

[Spectrum Solutions]

I'm a big Snap-On guy, and best purchase lately, although I have 3 already, is the ratcheting screwdriver! best investment I ever made.

 

[930dreamer]

A new Britain top box with two vintage Plvmb pullers.

 

[NewEdgePerf]

Rigid 1/4 18v Lithium Ion Impact driver, handy and holds a charge for a long time. Pleasantly surprised.

Second would be the HF 4 drawer cart.

Tony D

 

[warmpancakes]

A set of used go jacks I don't know how I lived without them before. Moved at least 10 cars with them

 

[AndrewV]

Flank drive plus wrenches.
Ow so happy with them.

 

[davethorik]

Speaking of RHFT ratchets, I have gotten an Easco 731111 1/2 drive and K-D 721413K 3/8 flex head this year. They both have the wheel and I love it.

And speaking of flex head ratchets I had actually never owned one until this year. I have the K-D (it was used) and I also bought a brand new Armstrong 10-994 1/4 locking flex. I like both of them.

 

[bcradio]

ATD underhood light for $46... Thanks OP for posting

 

[e30bradley]

I am pretty broke lately but I've bought a few tools.. This was technically last year (late december) but I love my oil pressure gauge set. I test the oil pressure on everything now

 

[85FourEyedGT]

Dewalt 18V 1/4" Hex Impact, I can swap a 3/8" or 1/2" square drive onto it and it will remove bolts up to 130 ft lbs easily while being very light. I wonder how I ever got around without it.

Eyeing a Milwaukee 18V Fuel impact next

 

[smoking stroker]

1/2 inch milwaukee fuel impact. . This thing is a beast. . Every bit as strong as air impacts. .



Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Scored a well used and abused SO FL80 rat on eBay for cheap(had to get a rebuild kit for it), now I don't know how I lived w/o it.

-Sam

 

[amitchell]

SNAP-ON 1/4" DRIVE 17PC 6PT METRIC GENERAL SERVICE SET #117TMM

Picked up for $115, I use it every time I wrench.

 

[Jrsixx]

Snap On PH3050B this thing is just ridiculous. Found it on CL, nearly new for $220. Second place is my Milwaukee M12 drill and impact driver set and their 1/4 ratchet. Use them every day and don't know how I went this long without them.

 

[SchuLace]

Snap On 7.2 v drill/screwdriver. I have found more uses for this than I ever imagined. Small, lightweight and powerful. I love it.

 

[jgreen-fsi]

The two that I am most pleased with are the Wilton 1765 and the HF Earthquake 1/2". Got the vise with a zoro discount and the impact with a 25% off. Both are worth every penny.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

ATD underhood light for $46... Thanks OP for posting

Glad I could help.

My best tool purchase might be i dunno I cant pick too many to choose from.

Probably my Dual 80 FHL80

 

[vovka]

does a Rotary 2 post lift count? and a 80 gallon craftsman compressor..

 

[countryroad82]

I'm going to have to go with my KRL7022. It's pretty nice not having to go through 4 different boxes to find everything you need for one project. Plus I always since I was a kid wanted a big honkin' box!

 

[androy]

snap-on ct4410a

 

[Burl]

Eastwood brake line flaring tool. It makes perfect flares.

 

[McFarmer]

Megapro ratcheting screwdriver.

 

[seagullplayer]

HF motorcycle jack, maybe the best $100 I will spend all year.

 

[NYTurfTech]

Snap On CT661 3/8'' cordless and CTS661 1/4" cordless.I love these two tools. They really increased my speed at work and I didn't expect them to be as powerful as they are. They feel great in my hand too,super comfortable.

 

[Vinnie-AU]

Definitely the M12 Fuel 1/4" impact driver. Loving the 2 mode speed setting.

Very handy.

 

[PA Woody]

My best tool purchase of this year was this pawn shop score I posted on another thread. Boxes and tools for $120.00 out the door.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3634597#post3634597

 

[Chadwilliam1]

Eastwood brake line flaring tool. It makes perfect flares.

link to what you have, please. This?

http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html#tab_content_reviews

 

[scottjvincent]

Mine was this New to me old as heck dresser/leroi air compressor.




Scott V.

 

[tibwd]

I love my SO fl936 ratchet, has been go to 3/8 for long time without any problems. Wanted to try dual 80 version fl80. liked it so much, I had to try other sizes! so f80, t72, tl72 and sl80 added to my ratchets. Very nice additions. All have been put into active duty on automotive/truck projects, and working nicely. Power tool additions= m12 3/8 ratchet, and hacksaw. Power ratchet is pretty sweet, have not used mini sawzall yet.

 

[Farmall450]

Plierworx Rack.

Damn nice

 

[Mandres]

Mine was definitely the HF high motorcycle lift. This thing made it a pleasure to work on my bike, tiller, generator and lawn tractor. I should have bought one years ago.

 

[Badger 13]

Milwaukee M18 fuel Sawzall.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I didn't get my purchase of the year yet. When it happens it will be a cordless 1/2 impact gun. Possibly IR or Snap On. I hate using the compressor for quick stuff, but all I have is air guns right now.

 

[u118224]

Used 2007 Matco 6S. I love it.

 

[bahcoswed]

Stahlwille 730n 10-50nm torque wrench
Milwaukee cordless m18 compact impact wrench
Facom 467 ratcheting wrenches

 

[ken w.]

Mine is a garage sale Snap On # EEDM504D auto ranging multi meter for $ 40.00.

 

[Kenskip1]

It was a Craftsman C3 1/2 drive impact wrench.I have not upgraded the battery as of yet. Along with this purchase I bought a 1/2 deep well 6 point impact sockets for under $30. The wrench was a kit that included a battery, charger, and wrench for under $90.For my intended use it works very well.Ken

 

[-Brent-]

For me, these gray card-file bins come in first.



Getting organized has made a big difference in my garage.

 

[HairMetal]

1/2 drive electric impact and Snap On 1/4 socket set.

 

[greasemonkey44]

oh lots of stuff springs to mind; lots more i built to make life easier

My best purchase is a set of snap on flare nut wrenches; saved my bacon a few times and saved me chewing up brake line nuts. I bought a good bubble flaring kit too; a top quality one makes all the difference in the world.