What was your first tool set?

[Blacknwhitepit]

When I was 15 I got a Craftsman hand carry tool box. A set of new in plastic crappy wood handle screwdrivers and a Sri Lankan Ratchet and socket set ($1.99).

How old were you when you got your first set and what was it?

-BWP

 

[Bolster]

I was 14 and got a large Craftsman set from my Dad for Xmas, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, shallows, deeps, and wrenches, in a red Snap-on box. Best present ever. Thanks for refreshing a happy memory.

BWP, I like your sig line, except it should read: "If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on Paul's support when voting to rob Peter again..."

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I was 14 when I received mine, It was a medium size Craftsman set that had most of the basic tools covered. It was a gift from my parents I think my dad was just tired of me borrowing his stuff (I swear I put everything back) I still have everything in that set although some of it has been warrantied once or twice.

 

[caper]

I bet someone is going to come in and say it was a Genius set soon,and you can buy it here in my store,because it was great and everyone should have one.lol Sorry to hijack!

 

[LGMechanical]

When I was 18 I started working at a shop doing oil changes my dad set me up with his old mastercraft toolbox and some basic stuff from princess auto. (Screwdrivers, Impact wrench, a few sockets, hammer, wrenches, etc.) I think the only thing that I still use is the crowfoot set he got me

 

[Delray]

My grandparents bought Thoreson sets for me to use on the farm in the early 60's. The first large set was a Wards Powr-Kraft mechanics set in '67 or '68. I was 16.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

My frist set was around 12-13 when i started servicing chain saws at Dads store, It was a small SK set 1/4 3/8 wrench's screw drivers pliers. came in 3 little green tins.

Most of it was stolen when the shop was robed

 

[rhp]

I don't mean to be facetious when I say that my first tool set was an erector set probably around first elementary school grade. I used and expanded it for years, and got my kids sets when life's circle went round.
Now that the kids are young adults, I dare say that I still scrounge around in the stored sets for odd parts such as small fasteners and the like.
And G-d willing when it's time to have grandcritters, look forward to buying erectors as a first tool set for them as well.

 

[rhp]

I bet someone is going to come in and say it was a Genius set soon,and you can buy it here in my store,because it was great and everyone should have one.lol Sorry to hijack!

Tacky post, very tacky!

 

[TruckTech]

I think I was 15 when I got my own tools. Craftsman socket set, jack, and 2 jackstands for Christmas, then I got a rolling stool and a stand with twin flood lights (great for winter in the garage) for my birthday. Bought my own HF wrenches and cheapo screwdrivers.

I got by without an actual toolbox until I was 19.

 

[caper]

oh well,not as tacky as dragging up every thread that has something your store sells.

 

[dledinger]

An Armstrong socket set. Had to keep the '68 Honda 90 in tip top shape somehow

 

[caper]

My first set was a set of no name wrenches I bought at the five and ten when I was about 10yrs old.Used em for working on my bicycle.I think I paid 3.99 for them.Wasn't allowed to touch dad's toolbox but I managed to sneak a pair of his vise grips when he wasn't looking.Thought I was in heaven when I got them.

 

[jeep44]

I must have been about 21 when I bought my first tools-I had gotten out of college, and had bought a '65 Galaxie 500 (in '75). I went to Kmart, and got a set of 5 wrenches, and a small S-K socket set in a metal box. I still have them, and use them,too. I've since made up for my late start in tool buying,too.

 

[porschedude996TT]

Craftsman Gray Tool Box with Lower Drawer, handle on top. Loaded with 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" drive socket sets, wrenches 1/4"-3/4", 1/2 dozen screw sticks, couple of pliers. I was from my Dear ol' Dad when I was 14 YO.

 

[chrislehr]

I got a silver craftsman flip box. Still have it. Not currently in use for anything. Need to make that happen. Come to think of it, I have every tool or box I have ever owned.

 

[Stuey]

I was given a mini woodworking kit when I was a child, complete with mini hammer and mini coping saw.

For my freshman year of college, my cousins gave me two screwdrivers, a hammer, a measuring tape, and a tool box - all Wallmart specials, but surprisingly durable. I still use that measuring tape today since it has such a convenient form factor. Then in college I bought myself some pliers and wire strippers... then screwdrivers, and then it all went downhill from there. Drill and dremel. Then, in about 2006 (I found the receipt recently) I bought a 9pc wrench set from Sears. After that, my tool expenditures increased exponentially.

So essentially, my first real tool set was acquired in my early 20s.

 

[GT89mustang]

I got a tool set from my parents when I was probably 5, just basic cheap stuff, took a chunk out of my thumb the first time i used the hand saw. Good learning experiance.

When I was 13 I bought a decent husky ratchet set from home depot. USA made stuff. Still have everything except a few sockets. Its funny, those are still the ratchets I reach for first.

 

[Vinko]

Proto. I still have it. First screwdrivers were Snap-On hard handle

 

[Bustawrench]

When I was 15 I got a Craftsman hand carry tool box. A set of new in plastic crappy wood handle screwdrivers and a Sri Lankan Ratchet and socket set ($1.99).

How old were you when you got your first set and what was it?

-BWP

I was 7 years old. I used to help my dad work on his car in the garage and he would do woodworking projects, as a hobby, which I would also "help" him with. For christmas that year, I got my very own sears toolbox with a hammer, two craftsman screwdrivers and a pair of slip-joint pliers.

I still have one of the screwdrivers and the pliers.

 

[CAT_serviceman927]

My first tool set looked similar to the one pictured. I still have some of the tools from it. I was probably 4 or 5 when I got it. I have pictures from the x-mas my parents gave me it along with the little work bench my dad built for me. As for real tools, I started building my first tool kit when I was about 11. I started with C-man std wrench set, 1/4" dr. socket set, and a mixed pile of tools my dad left behind when my parents got divorced.

 

[theWORLDSaNAIL]

Gifted craftsman, channel locks, and the odd Williams or worn klien by my uncle from the age of three, got a real metal tools child's set at 5 and recieved a 70 piece craftman set at 8 for birthday and 36" crowbar at Christmas that year. Cant really say when i got the first set but still have the craftsman set and crowbar a few of the channel locks and 3 or four of the Williams screw drivers some of those tools have been kick around four 40 years not the youngest are 25 years old add have survived abuse miss treatment and bad storage. I like to see the **** they call home starter tools theses days survived that with chrome intact

 

[06wt]

I bought my first set and box when i was 10. Small craftsman set and 3 drawer craftsman roll cab still have the tools and the box The box is on the bottom left in my avitar pic

 

[mickeyone]

Gilbert Big Boys tool box . It came with hammer, plane,saw ,screwdrivers,pliers,crowbar,square and level Still have box and most of the tools.My first sockets were one of those small hex driven sets in metal tray by indestro and first real toolbox a 50 calibre amm0 box.Always in trunk of 61 tempest.

 

[His200HerScout]

For high school graduation, each of my brothers and I were given a good Craftsman starter set. My dad was a big Craftsman fan. A 2pc roller cabinet with plenty of tools to fill it. I don't remember what all was in it, but it was maybe 200 pieces. I still have every piece organized along with all the other stuff I've acquired since then. That was my first real tool set.

 

[tw33k2514]

my first set of tools was some 40 piece Montgomery Ward tool set that I got for Christmas when I was 12.

 

[Art From De Leon]

If I can remember that far back, I MAY have had an S-K 3/8 drive set, but the ones I do remember, and still have, as the basis for my rather extensive box, are my Snap On 3/8" shallow socket set, AND my Snap On 3/8"-1" combination wrench set. Both were bought in late 1971, or early 1972, when I was working part time at Weslaco Motor and Implement, a Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, American Motors, and light duty IH truck dealer.
Later, my dad came upon a good deal on a Snap-On top and bottom box, with tools, which he bought for me, and I still know where the bottom box to that set is, it is probably mid-60's vintage.
What pissed me off to no end about the S-K tools was the absolute POS 3/8" butterfly handle impact, that the dealer would do nothing about, so today, probably 98% of my tools are Snap On.

 

[swduncan]

At three I got a swiss army knife. Promptly cut myself, but not as bad as my best friend did on that same day ;-)

Later that year my dad gave me a workbench, outfitted with woodworking tools. From then until about highschool I had a lot of different tools - all bought on price alone - and often used my dad's tools.

As I got into college I was seriously accumulating a general set, as I've never really been a car guy. More lately, it's been Lie Nielsen planes, Starrett squares & other tools, and most recently more mechanic's tools for the garage since I've started working on our cars.

 

[Coach James]

First real tools were a bunch of hand me downs from my dad when I was about 10. Mostly no name but some were good like Kreuter, USA made Stanley etc. All stored in a 30 caliber ammo box. I'm 45 now and still have them in the same ammo box. Fisrt set I bought was a C-man set that included 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets, sockets, etc. in a plastic case. Got it when I was 22 or so. Still have it as well.

Coach

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I've been buying tools since I was 11 or 12. At first just whatever I found or whatever I could afford (never much at that age).

I got an after school job when I was 13 in a garage and started buying better tools (one piece at a time) mostly CMan and SO. It was all stolen when I was in my early 20's so I started over again and haven't stopped.

 

[KCarGuy]

I bought my first car (a 1962 Ford Fairlane) and my first Craftsman tool set when I was 15 years old. I was working after school at a restaurant, and saved up for both.
The tool set came with a 2 drawer Craftsman box with a lift out tray (that I still have).
Over the years I added more tools, then at the age of 18, I let my older sisters boyfriend use my tools, while he worked on his Camaro in my Parents garage.
The next day, everything but the Metric stuff was gone.
Turns out, that he was getting his car ready so he could move cross country. IF I EVER RUN INTO HIM AGAIN.....
Anyway, I still have some of the older craftsman tools from the late 60's, and have kept adding ever since.

 

[Bobby B.]

Dad always bought me tools. Started before I was a teenager with a small cheapie socket set and a swiss army knife. Then in my teens, he surprised me with a grey Craftsman toolbox and a full socket set with shallows, deeps, and ratchets I still use. In fact I prefer them over the new next generation ratchets I just bought; they're the full polished, non quick release with the "tri wing" selector and the knurled section for tightening/loosening bolts. After that, I'd get a nice tap and die set, MKIT cordless drill, even a big upper/lower rollaway, the old Homak 18 gauge steel ones that I still have in the garage and use daily. Way heavier duty than what I've looked at lately.

None of this stuff has seen much of an easy life, I use the snot out of them, but I've still got them and appreciate the fact that dad got me good stuff that would last me as long as I took care of it.

 

[sk farmer]

i was probably 10 or 11 when i received a 3/8 sk metric socket set to repair an atc 90. still have all the original peices. the atc 90 not so much.

 

[scrubcakes]

The first toolset I got to use was my great-grandfathers woodworking and general household tools. Nice cast flathead screwdriver with a wooden handle, wooden level, ancient hammers and saws, in a big metal toolbox.

To learn to work on my first car, a 1980 MBZ 300cd, I bought a plastic case Husky toolset and added tools from there. I still use the ratchets and sockets from that set, but I bought a bunch of Craftsman screwdrivers, Harbor freight impacts, breaker bar, hex sockets, jack stands and tool cart, and a Michelin floor jack from Sams club.

A year from doing my first oil change I was able to diagnose and repair the 1970's Chrysler automatic climate control my car has, then fix the A/C (Flush lines, new drier, TXvalve, compressor, etc) and recharge with r12 freon. Thanks internet!

 

[KCCHIEFS09]

SK 120 Piece Set also bought a Lincoln 225 at the same time when I was 17 1978

 

[oldgoat]

My first wrenches were two sets on combination SK Wayne 3/8 to 1 1/4. One set for work and one set I gave to my Dad. Still have my set and about 10 years ago my Dad gave me back the set that I gave him. Actually they don't look like they were hardly used. More than likely he saved them for when he wore out his old stuff. I started my home sets with Craftsman tools and bought sets as I could. Still have the old gray tool boxes and the wrenches. Most of the home stuff is Craftsman and have served me well. Have started buying some of the HF wrenches for the off breed stuff that I will hardly use. Actually the wrenches have worked pretty good for me. Also I don't mind it then when I have to modify one for my purpose.

 

[mooman]

About 20 years ago I got a metric and sae socket set from my dad from True Value. It was Master Mechanic Taiwan made. Steel case. Still alive and kicking.
Also a set of Master Mechanic professional screwdrivers....I have since sold them at a garage sale.

 

[speed bump]

My first was a bunch of wooden tools that I got when I was probably just barely able to pick them up. At one point before I was any older than about 3 I managed to take the wooden hammer, climb up a ladder that was next to the electrical meter and break the glass plate on the electrical meter. The lineman that showed up to fix couldn't believe I had done it but its a pretty cool story to share.

For my 8th or so birthday I got a real hammer, a Stanley cross cut saw and a lufkin tape measure all of which I still have and use.

At 10-11 I got my first set of mechanics tools which was a Kmart special but they have held up pretty well for the 10-12 years.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

So it has to be a set huh?

The reason I ask, was my father bought us all coping saws as kids, and a shovel, since we each had our own garden at the old house. Then we moved.
Dad, was somewhat accident prone , and mom was worried about us with power tools.
When I was a kid, I would work on/maintain, grandma's house. I used my late grandfathers tools, and when I needed something, I would walk the 3 miles up to the hardware store and back, and use my lawn mowing money.
When I turned 16, I picked up a wrench set, and a cheap socket set from Montgomery Wards. I knew people had liked their tools, but I didn't know, they no longer sold PowerKraft. The wrench set lasted for YEARS, and I eventually lost and replaced a couple (all made in India), but the sockets sets were those $4.99 ones, with the chitty ratchets. Craftsman ratchets were an improvement (later picked up at a swap meet, where the guy had BUCKETS FULL, I should have known).
I wasn't allowed to work on my car, at my parents. "When you get your own place...."

Well, when I moved out and bought my house, I had most of the yard and hand construction tools. I aquired the power tools, and the mechanics tools, there after.

I saw as a kid, what happened to tools, via my friends (few and far between). I only had the trunk, and I knew vehicles got broken into. I never figured, I would have One box, let alone all the ones I have now.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

When I was like 11-12 years old my dad bought me a Craftsman set,
I am 19 right now..... think it was 75 piece set.. I have replaced all the ratchets with newer thin craftsman.... and some snap on, SK. I still have all the sockets from 75 set., but add more....... things like screws drivers, ect, prybars.