YOUR tool fetish ?

[WR250F]

I can't seem to stop buying sockets and screwdrivers.

I have many more than I'll ever need in this lifetime, but every time I see a set or few stragglers on sale, or for ridiculously cheap, I can't pass it up. I won't even take a second look if the price is too high (full retail), but if I see a decent quality set, say a 10-20 piece cheap, I'm all over it.

I give them away as presents, to help get newbies started or just to keep from having to store them

I like wrenches, pliers and other stuff too, but they don't hold the same addictive appeal.

What is YOUR tool fetish ?

 

[Altec]

You can never have to many screwdrivers.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Old 1930's--1960's good quality 1/4" ratchet stuff, ignition pliers and related little tools,
any kind of specialist tools for early Fords from '28-48, anything KRW-K. R. Wilson.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Screwdrivers, Channellock brand pliers, anything Klein

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Pliers and adjustable wrenches. I never set out to end up with a drawer full, but somehow I've got something like 6-7 pairs of dikes, 5-6 pairs of adjustables, 4 or 5 slip joints, 4 or 5 needle nose...

I'm not sure how I "acquired" half of them since I've only bought 3-4 sets of pliers...they just sort of wind up in there.

 

[Monte]

screwdrivers, pliers + angle grinders

 

[A_Pmech]

What is YOUR tool fetish ?

Big things.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I've got a (very strong) shelf filled with steel parallels, angle blocks, v-blocks, that sort of thing. I use them in welding and carpentry, which I'm sure is not what they were designed for. But I have a hard time not buying them when I see them come up for sale second-hand.

Here are three that are currently sitting out.

 

[canuckian]

for me it's complete "sets" of items. It bothers me to have a singleton of a type of tool (unless it's a specialty tool for a specific task that doesn't belong in a set per se) or to have a wrench set or socket set with missing sizes. screwdrivers and ratchets have been driving this obsession for me lately.... starting to get expensive!

 

[rlitman]

Beryllium copper tools. Could be Berylco, or even Ampco. Just not AlBr.

 

[JeremyManning]

ratchets

 

[Outlawmws]

It all started with hammers... I wanted a full set of ball peens, then I got a cross peen that became my default favorite hammer, and still is, and the flood gates opened...

Some friends were sheet metal workers and taught me some of the craft, so I started on sheet metal hammers (and snips...). then body hammers, then other oddball specialty hammers, as well as other sheet metal working hand tools. I never really got into carpenter's hammers though.

Later I "progressed" to hatchets, (I've lost count...) as well as examples of different axes and splitters during the wood stove phase...

Lately its been "Eggbeater" hand drills, and since the recent acquisition and restoration of the '54 five drawer Craftsman roller, I've been watching for older mechanic's tools to fill it with.

The vises, anvils, and planes just sort of happened. All "too good of a deal" to pass up.

The good news is I don't have that much $$ ******* in them all, as they are all Yard/Estate sale and flea market finds.

EDIT: Oops, I forgot the clamps; a man, a Real Man, cannot have to many clamps...

 

[~UB~]

Hammers...
I have more damn Plumb hammers. I find a new one every other week!!!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

First it was screwdrivers (in the 300 region), then ratchets (in the 50-60 region) but now it's special sockets. Injector sockets, headbolt sockets, bit sockets.. I want them all!

 

[Lump]

I truly like the older tools...1950's and older. I admire the quality of older Mac, Snap On, Bonney, Herbrand, Blackhawk, Plomb, and...well...you get the picture. I especially like tools I can actually work with, as opposed to wall-hangers.

Come to think of it, some of the really old tools from the 1920's and 30's are pretty cool too, like Bog, Ray, Stevens, and McKaig-Hatch, plus the older versions of the above-mentioned Mac, Snap On, etc.

I also get a real charge out of old car-maker-supplied "kit tools", like wrenches, pliers, oil cans, etc, from Ford, Pierce-Arrow, Cadillac, Hupmobile, Maxwell, Jaguar, plus non-automotive kit tools like: Indian Motorcycles, John Deere, IHC, and Flying Merkle. I have WAY too many of those kit tools (except Flying Merkel...I have none of them yet)
Don't know why I like them so much; I just do.

 

[gj67stang]

Snap-On ratcheting screwdrivers:

 

[tjmonsen5]

First it was screwdrivers (in the 300 region), then ratchets (in the 50-60 region) but now it's special sockets. Injector sockets, headbolt sockets, bit sockets.. I want them all!

In that case... I have a ton of bit sockets for sale! PM me!

 

[~UB~]

Snap-On ratcheting screwdrivers:

They look like Easter Eggs or Jelly Beans!!!

 

[zer0cell]

@gj87stang: Do you ever have a hard time selecting which color to use when you open your drawer?

 

[Davo3]

I like everything to match. I have 13/32 and 15/32 sockets, but they don't match the rest of them. So... put them on the rail, or just know they're in another drawer if needed? So far, hidden, shamefully, in the other drawer...

 

[ramonki]

Screwdrivers rules!!!!!

 

[ramonki]

Screwdrivers

 

[DrkMtnDew]

My weakness is Snappy Ratchets, which if you think about it really isn't my fault. people are sellin' 'em too cheap.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Big things.

Sweet Jebus!....what does that thing put out?

 

[ihredo4]

Williams Superratchets and Superrenchs. Building 4 sets so my kids have a set and me both a "perfect" and working set. Something about the feel of them in my hands. Thanks Lump and everyone else for my supply.

 

[Borrego]

Rusty, non working USA adjustable wrenches. Helps me kill a couple of hours fixing them later in the day........Channel Locks is the current tool in "acquisition" mode.......I used to collect older Craftsman ratchets, until I think I got them all.......

 

[afazz]

It all started with hammers...

I like hammers too Care to share your collection? Here are some of mine:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94925

 

[Steevo]

I can't pass up any genuine Vise Grip at a garage sale. I feel compelled to buy them.
I must have thirty or so now.

 

[A_Pmech]

sweet jebus!....what does that thing put out?

100cfm @ 175psi

 

[ibedayank]

older craftsman cresent bicycle or motorcycle tools
love to find some OLD duluth mn made diamond tool

 

[softailgarage]

1.Anything from the 1920's thru 1960, cant resist it (just picked up a 1942 craftsman drill press for $50.00) 2. almost anything from Craftsman 3. startin to give rollaways the eye

 

[Outlawmws]

I like hammers too Care to share your collection? Here are some of mine:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94925

OK some of the "collection"

These started me down the path; I have a few more BP's around, including a tiny jeweler's BP:

And the Sheet metal hammers and other SM tools: (2 deep so there are more...)

And of course the other metal forming tools like snips and such:

Some Miscellaneous stuff:

And bare heads of different types:

And lastly the bucket and a couple of orphans; this is not all but should be most...

 

[cvorkian]

I have what is now known as "VIDMAR ROW."

ALL are garage sale finds, not one more than $200, most in the $25 to $50 range!

 

[Rezarf]

Tape measures for me... I like to have one within arms reach at all times in the shop. I love the Stanley versions, I have about a 1/2 dozen stashed all over.

Another thing I have started to like is tool storage. I love canvas storage bags, rolls and totes. I do a lot of off road driving and find the soft sided tool bags are aweseome for dumping what I need in them for the day/weekend and they don't let all the tools clang around like in a box.

 

[american lockpicker]

Tools from Switzerland.

 

[PrecisionTools]

Dial vernier callipers. Especially reeeally nice ones like Mitutoyo.

 

[BWS]

Brown & Sharpe in machine shop.And Pexto for our modest,but growing sheet metal capability's.BW

 

[jwitt]

Plomb tools
Firestone tools
Small Anvils
Vises
1/4", 3/8" ratchets
9/32 drive stuff
4" adjustables
Any tool with rust on it will at least get my attention

 

[pj_rage]

Anything that is a good deal, even stuff I don't need or will never use. I can't pass up a good deal on tools.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I seriously have a problem with buying ratchets, I have like 40+ now and I really mainly use 10 of them. I just love finding a new one and trying it out plus for some jobs I have a bunch of ratchets set up at one time so I can just pick the tool up to use instead of swapping sockets.