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WTB: tools! poor college kid

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chevyboy91188

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Joined
Feb 23, 2010
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346
Location
Tampa, Fl
Hi Guys, I'm new to this forum I ran across it as I was researching trying to find the best bang for my buck tools. I am a USF engineering student and hobby mechanic I'm 21 and not very wealthy. I am trying to restore my car and I am running into spots where good mechanics tools would really make my life alot easier. I am trying to find tools around me that are good quality brands that are used so I can afford them and not waste my money on junk when I plan on using these tools for the next 50-60 years hopefully. I have been cruising the classified and have seen many tool at more of prices I can afford so I thought I would try a wanted ad.

So to all of the tool guys on here who can help a college kid who 3 years in has a 3.75 GPA in engineering courses make a good tool chest by selling some of their triples of tools I would be forever indebted i'm not picky, if I have the money I'll probably buy it I just don's want to fill up on Harbor Freight junk lol when I could just get some craftsman or other lifetime warranted tools that have been used for the same.

Again, thanks to everyone who takes their time to read my little ad I appreciate the thought at least.

Thanks, Nic
 
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alex71

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SE Florida
I have a few nice vintage socket sets for sale, plus some other stuff. see the link in my sig.
 
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71Datsun510Wagon

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Aug 5, 2005
Messages
367
Location
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Welcome to GJ,

Start hitting local Craiglist, garage sales, estate sales and auctions. Many auctioneers have web sites and have on-line previews of upcoming sales. Garage and estate sales will likely be cheaper. Auctions can be more pricey but may offer tools you don't often see at garage sales.

I have good success with my local pawn shops. I make the rounds of two or three local shops on a regular basis. A trip or two around your local area pawn shops will tell you which ones are reasonably priced.

Nothing is better than picking up tools for pennies on the dollar. :thumbup:

Check out the forums. There are lots of great examples of GJ members scooping up deals from all the above!


Good luck with your studies and tool hunt!

Rob
 
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Rickster

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rsanter

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Dec 22, 2007
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visalia ca
get out, leave while you can...
spending time on this site will have you buying tools like they were a drug.
before you know it you will find yourself buying tools with your book money

bob
 
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rsanter

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Dec 22, 2007
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visalia ca
by the way
you can look in my photo album of tools for sale and let me know if you see anything of interest to you

bob
 
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Kurt4440

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Jun 3, 2009
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chevyboy91188
What kind of tools do you need to restore your GTO? You should post some pictures of the progress you are making.
 
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chevyboy91188

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Feb 23, 2010
Messages
346
Location
Tampa, Fl
I would be glad to post some picture as I make progress I'll have to find a good spot in the forum for a thread. As far as the tools I am looking for specifically I do have some in mind. These include:
flex head ratchets to help me make much quicker work of my disassemble and re assembly
stubby wrenches
box end wrenches
offset box ends
a wider variety of sockets for different situations

my main goal is to make my build easier to handle while I'm in school, but at the same time not waste my time getting tools that won't still be around when I'm 60 or 70. I'd rather get good used craftsman, or if someone is feeling generous older snapon, since I feel sure that those companies will be around for a long time to honor their warranties.
 
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Bull

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Dec 12, 2005
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MA
Where does it say GTO? Is that really what you have?
 
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Bull

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Hmmm...'66 Goat, huh? I've got a '69, myself. Welcome aboard and stick around!

I'll keep you in mind when the markets start here and I go tool shopping!
 
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chevyboy91188

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Feb 23, 2010
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Tampa, Fl
very nice. thank you Bull I appreciate it. If you have one then you know what I'm looking for then haha. which site did you guys find that on anyways? lol I guess that explains why I dont have much money hahaha I picked the most expensive car to restore lol next to 50's chevy's
 
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Bull

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I have a very useful vintage Champion Plugmaster II bent-handle, flex-head ratchet that works 100%, but has major finish issues (chrome loss). I would either live with the finish as-is, or use a wire wheel to remove the rest of it and just have a clean, bare steel ratchet. These come in handy for plug changes and accessing some difficultly accessed fasteners. I'd want $12 plus shipping for it.
 
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paramedic

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Feb 25, 2010
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wisconsin
pay attention to what you pay big bucks for. certain tools need to be good quality, but things like stubby wrenches you are not going to put enough torque on to break and most people grab a real wrench first. thats the perfect thing to get a whole set from harbor freight, they have a lifetime warranty and their fit is getting better every year. buy good sets of ratchets, screw drivers and your go to combo wrenches or your knuckles will be angry.
 
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chevyboy91188

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Feb 23, 2010
Messages
346
Location
Tampa, Fl
Oh another tool that I need bad are a good set of pliers, cutters, needle nose etc. I have a harbor freight set but they are big time junk they twist every time I use them. thanks everyone!
 
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[email protected]

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Nov 19, 2009
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Nelson county, va --- no stoplights, and no one to
BOy, I know that "college kid" money situation!!! It's been ten years or so.... but being absolutely broke seems to stick with a persons memories!!!!! I'm pretty sure I can put a good set of standards from craftsman. I think I have a number of craftsman screwdrivers, ect. I have a few craftsman socket wrenches, tappet wrenches, a set of ignition wrenches, and on and on!!! I have several sets of snap on tools-- but guessing they'd be too expensive. I've got a number of sets of wrenches / sockets from India/jap, but I think you're staying away from them. I have thirty or so random plier "type" items-- needle nose, electricians, line man pliers, standard plier design, several slip not pliers, I have several wrenches from westline, westcraft, and dunlap.Several vice grips. Ifi I rummage around enough, I'm sure I could find some good "users" that just need a little TLC. So, let me know if you are intersted in any of this stuff so I can give you a price and more details!
Cheers, bird (college books can bankrupt you in a second!!!!!!) What school to you go to, anyways? JUst curious.
 
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chevyboy91188

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Feb 23, 2010
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346
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Tampa, Fl
I go to USF in Tampa, Im in mechanical engineering and Im 3 years in so I have 1 or 2 left. I used to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic in Troy, NY but money and a ill mother brought me back home, I was on the baseball team there but I gave that up as well when I came back home. So now I'm filling the time I used to spend on the field with more classes per semester and my hobby mechanic activities lol. I have no problem sending anyone who wants to look more info up on me my name if they want to see that I'm telling the truth about Rensselaer (plus my stats weren't bad for college baseball :) lol).
 
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[email protected]

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Nelson county, va --- no stoplights, and no one to
hmmm, I spent some time in Tampa, but it was a bit of a blure!!! College spring breaks don't lend themselves to coherent memories. But, I can tell you I sang "kareoke (SP??) for the first and last time in my life. WHomever fathers house we were staying at was the richest house I've ever seen!!!!! The guy had an elevator in his house... not to mention the screened in pool, complete with a rock waterfall." THis guy had so much money that he gave twelve or so of us a hundred dollars to bet on the "dog races." It was living in this weird dream for a week. I've never been around such a nice person as loaded as he was!!!! While folks were out "sun bathing" (why would anyone lie on burning sand for hours on end??" I found myself working in his house fixing minor things, loose joints, sagging doors, small repairs on molding, and a few plumbing issues with the inside rock waterfall. I repaired a few problems on his roof, and would have died if I didn't have something to do besides fry my body on the beach!! I was at somewhat of a loss because I wasn't in my car--- hence the extra set of tools I have with me at all times wasn't with me...... I always feel "naked" if I'm without my tools I keep in my car! But, I don't have any seats in my car, accept the drivers seat--- perfect car! I can carry 10ft of lumber with the back gate closed---- worse comes to worst, I'ts a great place to sleep..... hey, if you have a little too much to drink, I'd rather sleep in my car rather than drive down the road!! More importantly if I'm at any number of blue grass festivals, and it starts to rain..... my cars a lot more waterproof than my tent is!!
 
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Mike83

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Jan 24, 2008
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Wisconsin
chevyboy91188 said:
Oh another tool that I need bad are a good set of pliers, cutters, needle nose etc. I have a harbor freight set but they are big time junk they twist every time I use them. thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

I highly recommend that pliers are one thing to spend the money on Snap-on for. You could find the three piece cutters, slip joint and needle nose set for $75. The handle grips are great.
 
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highland512

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Dec 31, 2009
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259
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Somewhere near a cornfield
Being a poor college kid my self and addicted to tools, I have found pawn shops to be great. Many shops have bins of lose tools that you can pick through and many times you can find some nice stuff if you have the time to spend digging(I find it relaxing:beer:) Many of the people that dont know tools that well think if a tool is not labeled snap-on or craftsman it a piece of worthless junk. I almost have a complete set of proto combo wrenches that I bought for $0.25 a piece:bounce:. Some times the rare find on craigs list can be found aswell. Good luck tool hunting!!!
 
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chevyboy91188

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Feb 23, 2010
Messages
346
Location
Tampa, Fl
man none of the pawn shops around me take tools :( it ***** but I have been meaning to get to the flea market and I have been garage saleing as well as craigslisting
 
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