When I first started out as a young B&A mechanic-in-training for Goodyear (1974), I had been promoted from tire-buster and worked with a team of friendly mechs who had known me for years as tire buster. They were training me now as a mech, and so they let me borrow tools sometimes, to supplement my own tiny Cman tool kit. But in just 3 weeks Goodyear ended my training, and sent me off to a store where someone had abruptly quit. I was suddenly responsible for having my own tools, in a one-man serv dept.
That first night my wife and I and maxed out our Sears charge, and bought a bunch of Cman tools, working from a priority list from my mech buddies. Dad gave me a few older tools too. I opened an acct with both Mac and Snap On, but bought only 1 tool per week at most, from each. Then I hit garage sales, flea mkts, etc.
Somehow I got by with whatever I had available, and before long soon learned for myself which tools I MOST needed to buy, and got them slowly, as the budget allowed. At no time did I go out and buy every tool I might ever need. I got a few at a time, and constantly kept a list with me of tools I needed the most.
Now that I am older and no longer wrenching for a living, I enjoy replacing the cheaper mismatched tools in my boxes with top quality USA or Euro-made tools. I do sincerely believe that there is a distinct difference in quality, and I would therefore prefer to have these top quality tools in my box, if I have the choice.
But thank goodness I never went head over heels in debt for all the tools all at once, whether cheap or top quality. Frankly, my wife was too good at managing our money to ever let me do that to myself.
