Would you give your best tools to your kid?

[HanShotFirst]

All,

My son will be 15 in March, and he is currently saying he wants to be a motorcycle mechanic. Now I know things can change, but until then, I'll be buying him tools when I can.

If by the time he graduates and does decide to go to tech school I plan to just give him my tools, and I’ll start over for myself.

So, could you give up your tools? I gotta say, it’s going to be tough, because I’ll probably have to replace most of mine with import stuff.

In the mean time, I’m buying a lot of SK stuff for myself with the knowledge that it will eventually go to him. And if he decides he doesn’t want to be a tech, then I will have great tools, and he’ll have some nice stuff too.

When SK sent me a brand new ratchet for my troubles with their 80 tooth upgrade, that went straight into my son's tool box.

 

[zmotorsports]

My son gets all of mine eventually anyways.

That being said, in high school my son wanted tools and toolbox so I ended up purchasing him tools a little at a time from pawn shops, estate sales, etc. I bought him good quality tools but pretty much just the basics as he uses my specialty tools and all shop equipment.

When I started riding a desk for work, I had to bring my Snap-On box home and all of my work tools so I gave them to him and he sold his set. My son doesn't wrench for a living as he is an engineer but I wanted him to have a nice set of tools for home use which he now has.

I would say either treat yourself to upgrades and hand yours down to him or keep your eyes peeled at pawn shop, etc for good quality tools for your son.

 

[Unruh]

The good thing is that you have some time. Keep buying tools at estate/garage sales and keep an eye out on Craigslist/OfferUp/marketplace/etc and before you know it you'll have a set made up. Take him with you to Estate sales and Garage sales and teach him what to look for.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

I did something similar to zmotorsports.

I strongly advise you to not give him YOUR tools. Get him his own. He's 15 and has only a vague idea what tools are worth. Are you ok to see your tools thrown in his box all willy-nilly unorganized? How about finding a socket loose in the garage? Or maybe something as bad as accidentally leaving something outside in the rain. Kids do these things, not on purpose of course, but because they are kids, he didn't pay for it so he's not as invested in those tools to appreciate them enough to protect them like you do.

I got him craftsman-grade stuff for most of the kit, then a snap-on ratchet and some harbor freight hex and torx. That will get him by. I flea-market every weekend so if I see something cheap enough I'll get it for him... or If I see something really nice I get it for me and he gets my nice older one.

 

[dr_clyde]

My high school job was at a custom car shop. I started about that age. It was what kicked me in the pants to work with my hands.

My dad was encouraging, but I was largely responsible for buying my own tools. I had some from home, a basic screwdriver set and some random wrenches. Pops gave me a ratchet and some sockets from his box.

I bought some as the years wore on, but they were pretty basic stuff.

When I graduated high school, my dad gave me $1000 to spend on tools to further my career. I bought a set of 3/8" chrome sockets, 1/2" impact sockets, and combination wrenches off the snap-on truck. I still have and use those tools.

Once it was pretty obvious I was going to be using tools to make my living, my dad was much more generous about gifting me tools. We now swap tools back and forth for christmas and so on. Mostly weird tools that we know each other doesn't have.

I really like the tools my dad gave me. We have the same initials so his engravings work for me too.

Bottom line, if your son is serious about making his living with tools, he'll appreciate your gesture and cherish the tools. If he decides to go on another path, I would keep my tools and give him some nice-ish tools for Christmas or whatever. he'll still need basic tools in life no matter his path.

 

[rsanter]

I have several sets, so not that hard.

If I was in your shoes I would be buying him good quality tools as gifts for every birthday and Christmas. They don’t have to be the top of the top but good quality stuff that will last and can be built on.
If he goes to tech school then he already has a start and you can help him by adding on from there.
If he doesn’t go to tech school then you just built him a set of tools he will use personally for the rest of his life.
Either way is a win-win

 

[vavet]

Don't go and put the cart before the horse.
First, you don't know if he really will pursue that.
Second, he won't need them for a long time. I went to auto tech school at a community college. I didn't need any tools for that. If you figure that school is at least 2 years long, you've got 5 years before he's working and actually needing tools.
Third - while he's in school, he will probably have the opportunity to enroll in a student purchase program from the big name tools - Snap-on, Mac, matco, etc. Buying tools through that program will save a lot of money.

My advice - unless you see a smokin deal or something that you wouldn't mind having for yourself anyway, put that money you want to spend away into an interest bearing account. Pull it out when he's getting close to the end of his academic program and let him go on a shopping spree for the items he needs to get started.

I don't know much about motorcycles, but I'd imagine his tool set contents will be largely dictated by the manufacturer of the bike he chooses to work on, or work on mostly. I worked on BMWs - obviously all metric, but even then, there were certain tools for certain applications that just worked better. For instance, the rear camber adjustment on a 1997-2003 5-series is much easier when you have a extra long 16/18 double box end wrench from Mac. The Snap-on, Craftsman, and Matco wrenches just didn't work. I think that's the only Mac tool I own.

 

[nes999]

His mind will change a dozen times before he graduates. I would wait until he either enrolls in a technical program or moves out. He will need some basic tools for home ownership but maybe instead of automotive work he find some strange passion for photography.

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[Empty Pockets]

#1 son is so irresponsible that I wouldn't give him a pile of broken HF tools. #2 son, while more responsible, currently has little or no interest in using tools or repairing things.

Conversely, my step daughter and her husband are both responsible. SIL has few tools, but will attempt any repair known to man. I've often lent him tools and they have always been returned promptly and clean. Their oldest son (my grandson) has shown an interest in my tools.

I continue to buy tools an upgrade my tool box. When I buy a box lot at auction. I keep the better tools, the lesser quality go to SIL and the unbranded imports to grandson. If he continues to show interest, I'll have some better tools for him later

 

[crewchief888]

uhhhh

no

last i gave my stepson enough basic tools, and a CM cantilever box, for him to be able to do simple car maint/repairs. he was 23 and just got his 1st car...

none of was junk,
CM USA, SK, GW, and a scattering of truck/industrial brands.

definitely werent my "best" tools,
i still have to have a living with them.

he will (probably) have his pick of all my stuff when i'm gone anyway...

 

[Bob275]

My dad bought me my first real Craftsman toolbox and tool set when I was probably about 12. Then I got random tools from birthdays and yard sales. While I lived at home I was able to use his tools, even if I didn't always put them back. Being young I lost a lot of his tools... (sorry dad). When I finally moved out, I took my toolbox and he gave me some of his duplicates but I continued to buy my own tools... Buying your own stuff helps to understand the value. Starting with a set helps see what is missing.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

As Mile said, I will keep me tools, but my son will get them eventually.

My son is 12 and for his birthday in October he bought himself a Kobalt 1/4" & 3/8" ratchet set and a Worx cordless drill.

I'm not a mechanic by trade, so Kobalt and the old Husky sets are what I have and I have been very happy with him. I have an old small import set that I got when I was 10 or 11. I still have it and I let his friends borrow it when they're over if they want to just mess around with tools.

As vavet said, almost all motorcycles are heavily metric now. Even H-D has a mix of SAE and metric on it. I've bought two Kobalt metric only sets since that's really all I need for my bikes.

 

[ssdave]

If my son had an interest in them, I'd split my tools with him, which would easily fill a 40" stack and give him a comprehensive hard line tools start as a mechanic. My son doesn't have an interest; he has his own box that he got when he was 12 or so, and has a decent assortment of stuff in it. He left it at my house last summer as he was tired of moving it around as he moved for work. Instead, we made him up a small green SK box full of Snap-on pieces specific to his Toyota.

He has told me he has no interest in my tools; he sees them as excessive in quantity and of minimal applicability to him.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Until he moves out, why aren't your tools his tools already?

Anyone, resident or not, that has the ability to use my tools here at my home has the permission to use my tools here at my home

He has free run of my tools now, but I'm building him a set. And he's very respectful with my tools, it's pretty rare I find one sitting on the bench.

For the next few years, he will be getting tools for birthdays etc. This is a good year for him though...he's getting a new YZ 250 for Christmas. So I'll skip tools for this Christmas.

 

[sberry]

Buy a decent big set from Sears, HF etc to get his feet under him, add some stuff from sales. That stuff is usefull eventually anyway. I still use a bunch of china end wrenches and managed to make a career using mostly Sears tools for chrome and added/cherry picked Channeloks and Vise Grips etc.
Now HF screw drivers and ratchets have stepped up, I would have a hard time buying premium more than ever. The risk to loss is great here, the investment in this stuff is so rather minor its like self insuring.

 

[rollinlower]

i have to say im in close to the same boat, iv been working out of three craftsman boxes 26" for the last 22 years mind you im not that old, but i have three sons 17,14, and 5 weeks so im going to go ahead and give them all one box for christmas, and a starter set in each just because im tired of the older 2 saying they dont have any tools to help

 

[apollo11]

Yes

 

[tarmy]

I am happy to say...my boys get to use all my tools. They know the rules...clean em up and put em back.

I was also happy they were interested in learning how to use them as well. My oldest is 18 now and has a full set and rolling box...

I gave him the tools I used, nice tools, as long as I felt he appreciated them, used them and learned and saved by having them.

Also...and most importantly, every time I gave him my hice tools...I upgraded mine!!!!

Now...I have new great tools that they will inherit some day...but for now they are MINE!

 

[Ohmthis]

I'm with a lot here in that you have time to find/buy what he may need. IF he stays the course and becomes a motorcycle mechanic, then you may have given him things that he may not need/use, but you would. At my last industrial maintenance gig, we had to supply ALL of our tools and roller. When I came to UPS, everything I'm required to have fits into a 26" chest. My son was 2months old then and I had two sets and boxes worth of tools. I decided to keep the best of the two and give him the smaller box (double stack 10 drawer with a side cab) for him to play with. He's 9 now and he uses "his" tools when we do a project together. He may or may not go into anything where he'll use tools every day, but he has a foundation for whatever he decides to do.
On a side not, YZ 250????? That puts you in the best dad of the year category

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I have 2 daughters, the younger one has a mechanical aptitude, in grade 12 she took home the scholarship for wood working. I asked her what upgrades we should do to OUR tool list. She told me not to worry about it for the time being. She then went to University for a law degree. Decided she couldn’t do that for a living. Took a little break and then went away for a Journalism degree. She eventually got her degree and then worked in Toronto for a year. Then moved back home (her own apartment) worked a temp contract for a year and then got her full time job in her profession. Now I can finally upgrade my equipment! I was willing to hand the tools along a long time ago. Some times we have to wait and when she buys her own house and she has been looking can move the tools out. Then I can drink her beer and spend time in her shop. My older daughter wants an air compressor for Christmas that one ended up being a Social Worker. That one has been buying up some home upkeep tools at garage sales and she managed to pilfer some of mine. Some of those tools will have touched 4 generations from my Grandfather to my children and hopefully to my children’s children.

 

[Jazz1]

Let him get his own tools and buy him tools as gifts on occasions. I know I could have offered all my tools to my son when he was working on machinery but I opted to let him get his own. We had a great time filling his tool chest on the cheap,,,some new, lots of used at pawn shops and kijiji. I did give boy a few tools I had extras.

 

[stercorarius]

IIf I ever had a kid I wouldn't. I never had any tools handed to me but I have been lucky enough to be given garage space to keep them. At twenty I've easily spent 20k (had about 15k stolen across separate incidents involving my stuff being in a company owned vehicle, would be a lot less if I only had to buy things once) on my own tools and since becoming unemployed I'm not sure if I'll be using them full time ever again.

Let him figure out what he's doing first. I couldn't imagine being in his shoes if you gave him your whole working set and then he decides maybe he doesn't want to do that. There would be a lot of pressure, even when you just have the best of intentions, for him to stick with it even if he finds out he's miserable doing it. I'll take whatever full time job I can get at this point. I'm just glad there's not any guilt if I get a full time job as an electricians helper because all the heavy equipment and truck tools I've accrued that will just sit were paid out of my pocket, and not my dad's. Same reason I wouldn't want my parents to pay for me to go to college if the job market stays like it is and that's my only option.

Just my two cents from the perspective of a son and not a father. Take it with a grain of salt because I'm the type that gets offended by free stuff.

 

[bczygan]

First thing is to get him signed up here on GJ and some motorcycle forums.

After reading threads here, he will quickly get the tool bug.

And he will get an education about them too.

Then, arrange opportunities for him to earn and acquire money.

Hopefully he will learn to scrounge and get tools of his own.

Best of all, he will have stories to tell, here on GJ, about each tool he finds.

Getting a set handed to you is way less exciting than searching out and finding each one on your own.

It's about the search and journey.

Bill

 

[nbruno]

Since my son got his jeep 5 years ago we have done quite a bit of modification to it. I refuse to do any work on it without him, and prefer that he does the work himself with my guidance. A few years ago I started buying him his own tools which he is fairly careful about taking care of. Not high end stuff but craftsman wrenches, sockets, shiny stuff. Channellock pliers. And less expensive screwdrivers, hammers etc.
Would I love for him to have bought his own? Yes and no. He has a certain appreciation for the tools because they were a gift from me and offroading Jeeps and building them are things that we do together when he's home from college.
I don't anticipate that he will ever work with tools full time, but as a hobbyist he'll have experience with tools and a heck of a set up when I can no longer spin a wrench.

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[zmotorsports]

Since my son got his jeep 5 years ago we have done quite a bit of modification to it. I refuse to do any work on it without him, and prefer that he does the work himself with my guidance. A few years ago I started buying him his own tools which he is fairly careful about taking care of. Not high end stuff but craftsman wrenches, sockets, shiny stuff. Channellock pliers. And less expensive screwdrivers, hammers etc.
Would I love for him to have bought his own? Yes and no. He has a certain appreciation for the tools because they were a gift from me and offroading Jeeps and building them are things that we do together when he's home from college.
I don't anticipate that he will ever work with tools full time, but as a hobbyist he'll have experience with tools and a heck of a set up when I can no longer spin a wrench.

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Next to tools, Jeeps are the other money pit. Just Emply Every Pocket, right?

Good job letting him work on his own Jeep, those are great times and memories to be had.

 

[johninct]

KEEP YOUR TOOLS. In 3 years, who knows what he will want to do. Also, if you want, buy used pro level tools on Ebay, Craigs List, etc. You have 3 years to make a set. I can't see a kid starting out needing that many tools that you could buy on Ebay for $1000.00 to get hin going. What is the big deal if his ratchet isn't a dual 80, but a previous series or his screw driver has a few scratches.

 

[nbruno]

Next to tools, Jeeps are the other money pit. Just Emply Every Pocket, right?

Good job letting him work on his own Jeep, those are great times and memories to be had.

Thanks z-. I'm very fortunate to have these experiences with my son and they are memories that I will cherish forever and I look forward to continuing to be able to do these things with him.
As for the OP's question... No, I would not give him my good tools at this point. Some day they will be his either due to that fact that I am not able to use them, or I am no longer around.
I hope that when that day comes he holds the same fondness for my tools and tools in general that I hold for the tools that were passed to me by my grandfather.
(no, unfortunately not my father... Great guy, love him dearly but couldn't fix a cheese sandwich if you gave him the bread and the cheese)

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[Handyfarmer]

if it was me I would get him (if you want to give him something), a mid priced large tool set, like the Dewalt/Stanley/Craftsman or or other equivalent is selling, and let him start there, a couple hundred dollars will get a usable tool set in a case, that will last him for a good time, many be a life time, depending on how he uses it,

and if he goes into it full time then consider the giving him your tools when your 90

most likely if he earns his own tools he will appreciate them much more than some thing given to him,
I have a son in law who hardly takes care of things, but if it "given' to him it will set out side in the yard in the grass until he thinks he wants it again, the only way he values any thing is if it costs hims some hard earned cash, it could be a new snap on set of wrenchs and he would treat them as trash,

and I have know others that do the same, the only value they put on some thing is what they put in to it,

I have seen kids given a brand new car/truck from mommy and daddy and go treat like it was $50 derby car, or a new set of tires for there car and about the first thing they do is go burn off half of the tread in one night,

now, I am not saying that your son is that way, but it is amazing to me the number of people what are,

some times a little blood sweet and tears, is not a bad thing,

I think helping the kid get started is a good thing, but do not over do it either,
but a good mid quality tool kid for under $200, can do that, if there not up to his quality and he is making a living off of them, he can up grade to his liking,

if you need to loan a few tools, to him for some time until he gets on his feet OK, but have him get his own, unless you no longer need it,

 

[woody 73]

I was so very happy the day I gave my oldest son a craftsman tool box (think of those plastic tool kits), well one day he had a battery cable come off the battery and I said no big deal grab your tool kit and lets fix it.

My son said" no rush dad not right now" ...Man the red flags were killing me, son loves to drive 24/7. well the truth came out he gave that nice kit to his girlfriend and it is on again and off again if you know what I mean.

A lot of truth in letting them buy the tools it will instill pride in hard work. That tool set is gone. Not sure what the future holds but it will be a long time before I pass on anymore tools.

 

[ovrrdrive]

If i was going to buy him a set of tools anyway, and I had a set of quality tools already that were mine, and I was going to buy him a set of quality tools, I absolutely would give him mine and buy new for myself. Tools are tools. He'll get his feet wet and make some money with them and then he can afford to upgrade as he sees fit. If you're going to shell out that kind of coin enjoy the shiny new bits yourself. He just needs something to work with and wouldn't appreciate them like you would anyway.

You'd be surprised to know how he'll feel every time he uses them too whether he says it or not. You sound like the kind of Dad he looks up to. Good on ya.

 

[GaryM909]

When my son got his first vehicle at 16 .- 1994 Ranger, 3.0 litre, 4x4 standard cab, only option was a sliding rear window. I wanted him to have something that was easy to work on. I had bought him a few tools to get him started. When he had to work on the truck I gave him keys for my boxes and as much help as he needed. I made sure he cleaned the tools up and put away in their proper places. Once I saw how well he took care of my stuff I started giving him my extra tools that I wasn't using. Now he has no problem working on his truck and bikes. I thinks these kids need access to tools and need to start out with a vehicle that they can actually work on the way we did.

 

[KSB]

My son who is 9 has a toolbox of his own now. He gets the extra stuff I have from upgrading, etc.

I’m starting my nephew out this Christmas with his own tool box as he is showing interest in working on his bicycles and skateboards. I bought him a nice toolbox at a flea market and am supplementing it with some cheap offshore stuff for now.

I would suggest keeping your eyes open for deals and starting off with the basics. If he doesn’t pursue a trade he will at least start off with some good tools for home use.


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[LXCam]

I could echo half the statements here. But in short, nope not till I'm dead or incapacitated and can no longer use them. I love my boy and would do anything for him as he is a good kid with a great heart. But he has the attention span of a nat sometimes. Far too often I've seen him state he really want to do something only to get in and out of it without hesitation.

So all thru high school ID remind him he needed to decide on his future. We had high hopes of him going off and playing college football but about the middle of his senior year he decided that wasn't for him. One day he says he wants to wrench and we start looking into specific types of schools and start making plans. Well it goes without saying I'm thrilled with this choice and decide to do what my ole man did for me, that being I start putting together a decent assortment of tools for his graduation gift.

So here we are the day after graduation and I go into the shop and lay everything out on the welding bench. It was a sea of unmolested plastic and boxed tools, more than enough to cover all the basics I blind fold his *** and lead him out there and what does he say once I took the blindfold off.......wow dad that's cool, thanks......but I've decided to do something different.

Well talk about heartbroken.

Now here's the rub. The kid has spent his entire life with me out in the shop building cars. He's good and has both the gift and the eye for fabrication which he does a lot of. He has the run of the shop and allmy tools and there's no doubt that one day it will all go to him.

In the meantime all those tools I bought him 3 years ago are all still in their original packaging waiting for the day he either moves away or we kick him out


So to answer the OPs question. I do exactly what I did for my son. That way in the event he has a change of heart there's no real loss.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I'm with a lot here in that you have time to find/buy what he may need. IF he stays the course and becomes a motorcycle mechanic, then you may have given him things that he may not need/use, but you would. At my last industrial maintenance gig, we had to supply ALL of our tools and roller. When I came to UPS, everything I'm required to have fits into a 26" chest. My son was 2months old then and I had two sets and boxes worth of tools. I decided to keep the best of the two and give him the smaller box (double stack 10 drawer with a side cab) for him to play with. He's 9 now and he uses "his" tools when we do a project together. He may or may not go into anything where he'll use tools every day, but he has a foundation for whatever he decides to do.
On a side not, YZ 250????? That puts you in the best dad of the year category:thumbup:

He is an amazingly good kid. Tuesday night, he's online with a couple of his friends playing Call of Duty, they're really in the thick of things and having a great time. I'm making dinner and I really have my hands full. I ask him to take out the garbage, thinking he would do it when they got to a break. Nope...He tells the guys on his headset he has to take out the garbage and he'll be back in a couple minutes. Drops everything, takes the garbage out right then. And he's always like that, when he's asked; he just does it. He has a lot of respect for mom and dad. We're lucky parents.

With how great he is, I'll buy whatever I can afford; he has it coming. This was a good year, and he's ready for his next bike. So I can afford to go big...probably won't be able to do that next year.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I have 2 daughters, the younger one has a mechanical aptitude, in grade 12 she took home the scholarship for wood working. I asked her what upgrades we should do to OUR tool list. She told me not to worry about it for the time being. She then went to University for a law degree. Decided she couldn’t do that for a living. Took a little break and then went away for a Journalism degree. She eventually got her degree and then worked in Toronto for a year. Then moved back home (her own apartment) worked a temp contract for a year and then got her full time job in her profession. Now I can finally upgrade my equipment! I was willing to hand the tools along a long time ago. Some times we have to wait and when she buys her own house and she has been looking can move the tools out. Then I can drink her beer and spend time in her shop. My older daughter wants an air compressor for Christmas that one ended up being a Social Worker. That one has been buying up some home upkeep tools at garage sales and she managed to pilfer some of mine. Some of those tools will have touched 4 generations from my Grandfather to my children and hopefully to my children’s children.

CONGRATULATIONS on raising a couple of great kids!!!

 

[HanShotFirst]

KEEP YOUR TOOLS. In 3 years, who knows what he will want to do. Also, if you want, buy used pro level tools on Ebay, Craigs List, etc. You have 3 years to make a set. I can't see a kid starting out needing that many tools that you could buy on Ebay for $1000.00 to get hin going. What is the big deal if his ratchet isn't a dual 80, but a previous series or his screw driver has a few scratches.

I think many have misunderstood me...

I'm not talking about giving my tools to him now. I have 4 years to buy tools when I find them at good prices. When he graduates high school, IF he decides to go to tech school and become a motorcycle tech, then he'll get my tools either when he goes off to school, or finishes school; whichever makes the most sense. (some schools you don't want to take expensive tools to)

I frequent pawn shops and Craigslist, so I'm betting we'll have a pretty good jump on things before he starts school. So I'll probably just let him pick through my tools and take what he needs/wants.

 

[Farmall450]

I'd let him start buying his own. I think I would appreciate stuff I earned and worked for more. As a matter of fact, I do.

Yeah, my dad got me started with Craftsman hand me downs/extras, but that was like moderate sized wrenches, rats, and some 3/8 sockets.