When you can't wait for delivery

[twostall]

So, when you find yourself in need of a specific tool now, and you can't wait for the truck man, or UPS, Where do you run to buy bricks-n-mortar off-the-shelf retail?

 

[mrshaun]

borrow.... if anyone will let you.....

 

[Danglerb]

I go to the nearest place that has the tool. I tend to buy either a top quality tool or the cheapest I can find to do the job, without a great deal of sense behind the choice.

You know its hard times when you end up in the tool aisle of a 24hr grocery store.

Lucky for me there is a 24/7 Walmart 15 minutes away.

 

[krehmkej]

NAPA store.

 

[twostall]

You know its hard times when you end up in the tool aisle of a 24hr grocery store.

Lucky for me there is a 24/7 Walmart 15 minutes away.

I guess I'm safe to confess I bought a set of precision screwdrivers from Walgreen's - for $2. Opened the package and darned if they weren't hollow ground! In a perverse sort of way I really enjoy using them- have this urge to laugh every time I pick one up. I love the feel of hollow ground screwdrivers.

 

[MotoDave]

Sears, or an auto parts store, or Harbor Freight if its a one use tool.

If I order from McMaster in the morning, I'll usually have it in the afternoon, which is pretty cool. Every individual socket I've ordered from McMaster has been Proto Professional.

 

[Stuey]

No idea. If the big box stores don't have it, my only other feasible less immediate options would be MSC, McMaster, or Amazon.

 

[krusty the clown]

i guess we should know if the OP is refering to hand tools, test equipment or specialty tools. any of the three will get you a different answer.

 

[twostall]

i guess we should know if the OP is refering to hand tools, test equipment or specialty tools. any of the three will get you a different answer.

I was thinking hand tools - somehow I regularly find myself in need of the socket that's not in the set (because "nobody uses that size"), or the universal is the one I busted last month, or I can't figure out if my 11-year old son hid it, or I left it in the rotting volvo seat at Pull-a-Part...


I was also obviously thinking of home use. At work, if the tool ain't there the job stops until it gets ordered & delivered (tools are company supplied).

 

[oldtools]

Harbor Freight. It save me several times

 

[krusty the clown]

I was thinking hand tools - somehow I regularly find myself in need of the socket that's not in the set (because "nobody uses that size"), or the universal is the one I busted last month, or I can't figure out if my 11-year old son hid it, or I left it in the rotting volvo seat at Pull-a-Part...


I was also obviously thinking of home use. At work, if the tool ain't there the job stops until it gets ordered & delivered (tools are company supplied).

that's easy then. the auto parts store is closer than sears

 

[Stick Figure]

depending on what i need: Snap on dealer ... he is always w/ in a couple miles of me, and we can meet somewhere

matco dealer ... same as snap on

Grainger is less than 3 blocks

mcmaster is about 5-12 hours away from order until it is in my hands.

or there is a place nearby called inland valley tool that has a lot of more machine or industrial type solutions.

for cheapy stuff, i'm usually by one of the HF's on the weekends.

my biggest problem is finding more money to pay for stuff, not putting my hands on it!

 

[VegasBruce]

For multi-use Home Depot, Kobalt tools one time use, Harbor freight, or pawn shops.

 

[greenreese]

I usually try to make it out of a similar tool.

 

[Danglerb]

Only type of tools I don't usually have three of each thing are plumbing tools, and when Home Depot closes Sunday night not a thing to be done until Monday morning.

I've always had access to a lot tools, so maybe I am missing the question. I own one of the cheapest most disreputable shovels I have ever seen, but I'm not sure I have used it other than when I bought it 20 years ago.

 

[Kevin54]

Sears, Lowes, Advanced Auto, and even BigLots on occasion.

 

[eborcim]

Sears, HF, or the parts store. If it's too late, I just shut the garage door and go do some GJ time.

 

[supertooljunkie]

Sears first. Then Lowes. Home Depot doesn't sell open stock anymore. HF is around the corner. Northern Tool is just up the street. Napa, O'Reilly's, AutoZone, and Advance are within 3-4 miles. If it is a one time use that is it. If it will be needed again order from MSC, Grainger, or go find the Snap on dealer.

 

[boogerboy72]

I usually try to make it out of a similar tool.

i thought i was the only one that did this.

 

[speed bump]

Haven't ran into this recently honestly, I only order tools well in advance of when I will need them and otherwise avoid it if at all possible.