sberry
Banned
That could go south too... The tools are probably cheaper.
What would you do different if you had to start again?
- Thread starter michelin
- Start date
bcradio
Well-known member
619DioFan
Well-known member
I grew up on craftsman tools so I would replace with the same providing they are usa. I know this isn't the " popular " choice but I have had great success with them. I have a mixed bag regarding specialty stuff ( kd , otc , and others ) would most likely try and get the same as I like what I have . biggest change would be getting a much larger box. currently have a 20 year old craftsman 40'' top and bottom with 40'' single drawer mid unit. added a hf side locker and a hf 7 drawer side cab. also has another side cab ontop of the 7 drawer. it is full. would get a 72'' bottom and top with 2 side lockers and be good to go. would for sure re-buy the fuel stuff because it rocks.
Same near-minimalist kit as now but in a quality toolbag and none of the excess dupes along the way. That would be changed to a pro level bike tools kit with most of the trimmings.
The antiques class would stress the historical top end stuff skipping the common brands and models.
Pretty much where I have been steering it the last few years.
The antiques class would stress the historical top end stuff skipping the common brands and models.
Pretty much where I have been steering it the last few years.
malykaii
Well-known member
Actually stayed in college and never became a mechanic...
I'm a DIY shade tree mechanic (and electronics and other devices). I don't make a living with tools I own so I'm generally pretty happy with my choices over the years. Many were dictated by garage (or lack there of) space at the time. I started with a $100 Cman set. The biggest thing I would tell me is go one or two sets larger so I wouldn't have felt like I needed to add sockets later. I also would have made sure to get a longer handled 3/8" drive a long time ago. My Cman set came with the shorter 3/8th ratchet. It sure would have been nicer to get a longer ratchet a long time ago.
My Cman sockets have never let me down even doing suspension and exhaust bolts on older cars. Honestly, while the ratchets are a bit crude feeling, a bit of grease in them and they are decently smooth. Rarely has the 32 tooth count been an issue.
However, if all my tools were replaced with cash tomorrow I would probably do a few things differently. I wouldn't buy a "mechanic's set" with the wrenches and filler tools. I would by one good set of ball end allen keys (and one fold out set). I would buy my wrenches and sockets as separate sets so I don't end up with 2 12mm wrenches. I would probably skip the Cman wrenches for something with a thinner open end for dealing with jam nuts better. While I find the Cman ratchets sufficient, the Husky (Gearwrench based) 72 tooth ratchets are really nice for the money. I prefer them to the 100 tooth Huskies (the 100 tooth is based on the Gearwench XP120 design). I also suspect that 10 years from now it may be easier to replace my Husky stuff vs Cman stuff. I would probably invest in swivels and extra extensions sooner rather than later.
Despite growing up using my father's Snap-on stuff, I wouldn't choose to go up market from my Cman type tools (at least for these tools). For my needs these are fine. I guess the real advantage to being cheap and not basing my income on tools I own is I was able to spend just enough and not worry that breaking that ratchet would mean I didn't earn 3 hours of labor today.
My Cman sockets have never let me down even doing suspension and exhaust bolts on older cars. Honestly, while the ratchets are a bit crude feeling, a bit of grease in them and they are decently smooth. Rarely has the 32 tooth count been an issue.
However, if all my tools were replaced with cash tomorrow I would probably do a few things differently. I wouldn't buy a "mechanic's set" with the wrenches and filler tools. I would by one good set of ball end allen keys (and one fold out set). I would buy my wrenches and sockets as separate sets so I don't end up with 2 12mm wrenches. I would probably skip the Cman wrenches for something with a thinner open end for dealing with jam nuts better. While I find the Cman ratchets sufficient, the Husky (Gearwrench based) 72 tooth ratchets are really nice for the money. I prefer them to the 100 tooth Huskies (the 100 tooth is based on the Gearwench XP120 design). I also suspect that 10 years from now it may be easier to replace my Husky stuff vs Cman stuff. I would probably invest in swivels and extra extensions sooner rather than later.
Despite growing up using my father's Snap-on stuff, I wouldn't choose to go up market from my Cman type tools (at least for these tools). For my needs these are fine. I guess the real advantage to being cheap and not basing my income on tools I own is I was able to spend just enough and not worry that breaking that ratchet would mean I didn't earn 3 hours of labor today.
Superbec
Well-known member
I should have made an effort and gotten bigger machinery , welding machines, van/truck, pretty much anything...
and only industrial quality tools !!!
and only industrial quality tools !!!
FlyingLancastrian
Active member
If there's one thing I could change it would probably have been to get a top box and roll cab a lot sooner than i did. I remember not too fondly the days of spending countless minutes going back and forth to get tools...
Also I should have subscribed to the 'Buy Once, Buy Right' principle. But then memories arent always made using the best quality tools haha
Also I should have subscribed to the 'Buy Once, Buy Right' principle. But then memories arent always made using the best quality tools haha
Jim Diesel
Well-known member
Im happy with the tools i have purchased over the years and the price i paided for them. However i was short sighted with my tool storage. I wish i purchased a bigger box to start with and grow into it.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
If I could go back to when I purchased them, I would have passed on much of the USA Craftsman that I bought in the 70's, using the monies saved to purchase Wright.
At the time I worked for a retailer that sold Wright, with my employee discount, they were less expensive than CM. I still have all the Wright I bought back then, never a failure (and they have been worked hard).
I was a kid, and my father preached CM. I'll bet he's spinning in his grave right now, along with Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck
At the time I worked for a retailer that sold Wright, with my employee discount, they were less expensive than CM. I still have all the Wright I bought back then, never a failure (and they have been worked hard).
I was a kid, and my father preached CM. I'll bet he's spinning in his grave right now, along with Mr. Sears and Mr. Roebuck
Backpack Hunter
Well-known member
I probably would have bought the same Craftsman USA stuff, just would have been more judicious in what I chose so I didn't have half a dozen half sets of sockets, and a billion bits that I never use.
I definitely would have purchased better, smoother, and varying length ratchets sooner. I also would have purchased more wrench varieties sooner instead of trying to make do with what I have.
I definitely would have purchased better, smoother, and varying length ratchets sooner. I also would have purchased more wrench varieties sooner instead of trying to make do with what I have.
bczygan
Well-known member
I would have joined GJ much earlier, and gotten all the good advice I needed.
Bill
Bill
rockinacummins
Well-known member
This is probably the best idea yet
stihlntime
Well-known member
I would have focused on one brand vs sets from many different mfg,although all are relatively high quality it would been nice to have a "complete" set of one brand. I would have also bought a couple of large tool boxes rather than four smaller ones. I also would have started buying the best European brands earlier. I should have thrown the DeWalt away sooner and bought all Milwaukee. I should have bought a lithium powered grease gun earlier. Did do the farm equipment right, John Deere has been a great investment.
09zkrankin
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2014
- Messages
- 23
Great thread, as a young guy i dont feel like i have a whole lot to add. I started buying tools at a fairly young age, as i felt they were a good investment because i could always make money with them. Back then it was all cm stuff which most if i still have and it still works as it should. And has more than paid for itself. Starting young has paid off for me, at 25 i have enough fabrication tools to do anything i need, im a machinist by trade and have all the tools needed to do my job and then some, mostly starrett. I wouldnt change much of anything so far. And hopefully reading this will save me some of the mistakes you guys have made
Lately i have been getting more serious about upgrading my mechanics tool collection, filling some gaps where i have just made do with the wrong stuff. And reading this gives some direction as to what i should be looking at while doing this.
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Lately i have been getting more serious about upgrading my mechanics tool collection, filling some gaps where i have just made do with the wrong stuff. And reading this gives some direction as to what i should be looking at while doing this.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
Greg85mcss
Well-known member
I would have bought decent sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers one set at a time instead of getting impatient & buying a big craftsman set. Things above aren't bad & I keep using the sockets & screwdrivers because they're just good enough to not be able to justify upgrading when I could spend that money on my little man or car parts. The ratchets were the first thing replaced & there's a ton of filler **** like bits. I do use the gearwrench 3/8 set I had before the cm stuff because they're much easier to get off non qr ratchets. When I was first promoted to doing tech work I had to buy a lot right away & went to hf. Most of the specialty tools are surprisingly decent but I did get a bunch of **** too. I also upgraded tool storage gradually & although I have a box that's about perfect for my needs I feel that's an area where I wasted money. Overall I don't think I've done bad but those few things I try to stress to new guys I work with. A guy that came from a place he didn't need tools went to Home Depot & picked up just about every socket, wrench, **** screwdrivers, nut drivers...& a double bank husky box. 4 months later he's bought a service cart & enough truck brand tools he could take all that stuff home.
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