YOUR tool fetish ?

[bobemmerich]

For me it's full sets (SAE/Metric) in cases or metal trays. Case in point:
I have a full set of Allen hex keys in metric. They're laying loose in my drawer together as a set. I saw an ebay auction for the same set but only in a metal case. Had to get it. I think I've used the metrics maybe 3 or 4 times in the years since I've stopped wrenching for a living. Now I have to have the same in SAE. So this is my "fetish" or as I call it Sickness...
P.S.-
I calso can't stand to not have a FULL SET of anything. If I have one socket or wrench missing, it drives me nuckin' futz!

 

[NY Old Guy]

I may have a problem with buying Whitworth/British Standard sets. I have sets from Snap On, Blue Point, King ****, Bedford Vanadium, Koken, Elora, Dowidat, Stahlwille, Rolson, and a mismatched British set someone from GJ sold me through a pm.

 

[wchamberlain]

I would simply say tools in general.............I prefer new, but am not against buying used. Right now my fetish is S/O screwdriver sets, currently have a few collector sets, always looking for more, just picked up a new bel-air set of ebay............woo hoo!!!!!!!!

My new fetish is S/O ratcheting hard handle screwdrivers, just started and am up to 11 already. GT67Stang............dig your rainbow collection, but you are going down my friend...............LOL

 

[jeffmoss26]

wchamberlain, pics of the collection? lol

 

[yjWrangler]

Sockets, ratchets, and wrenches mainly. Also trying to get more screwdrivers and pliers

 

[BigAl62]

Yes I have a tool fetish - all kinds of tools, nothing in particular. Lately though it seams to be ratchets. I have a drawer full in my tool box at work, a drawer full in my tool box at home and a bunch in a portable tool box (another fetish item). I guess if 1 is good and 2 is better then a **** load should be close to just about right!

 

[ElasDray]

Wrenches for me. I love seeing an entire drawer full of nothing but shiny Snap-On chrome.

 

[BuckHenry]

I buy most of my tools these days secondhand at yardsales, estate sales, and auctions. If it is a good quality tool in good shape and selling cheap, its hard to resist.

I'm always on the lookout for good punches, cold chisels, and taps. I can't resist good screwdrivers for 50 cents a-piece. Of course if you have a lot of punches and chisels, you have to have plenty of ball peen hammers to get the most of them (I'm not sure how many I have now). A man can never have enough pairs of quality pliers, and when I can buy a pair of Channellocks for a buck, I have to do it--of course at that price how could I pass up a pair of long-nose, or slip-joints, or side-cutters, or... For that matter who could pass up good old American wrenches when they're practically giving them away. I know, I know, I already have at least half a dozen sets of wrenches, but its a good Proto wrench and they only want a $1 for it. I have a lot of wrenches. Sockets can be had for dirt cheap second-hand. Look, a bucket of SK and Craftsman sockets and they only want 50 cents a-piece. Yes, I have a couple boxes filled with sockets I don't need, but what a deal! Look there's even a few Wrights, Protos, and Snap-ons in there. May-bee and can piece together a set of Wrights. If I can get a set of Snap-ons together, I can always sell it on E-bay. Look at those nice old ratchets! I already have too many, but I don't have that handle length, or I don't have one of those Wrights with the black handles. Oh my, thats an awfully nice New Britain round-head, and of course I've wanted one of those Williams round-heads for a long time and this one is priced right.

I could go on, but you get the idea. I just can't pass up a good old American tool if the price is right. We used to make fun of Mom for not being able to pass up a good sale, and now its becoming clear that I inherited that gene. It just manifests it self a little differently in my case. for mom it was clothes, for me its tools. I guess as vices go, its not so bad, and its certainly a lot of fun. Oh, did i mention I have a thing for vises...oh and clamps, and...

But it could be worse. At least I don't have 50 ratcheting screwdrivers. I only have one of those, and I'm content with that.

 

[e30bradley]

For me it would be ratchets.. especially my new wera zyklop. that thing is just outstanding.. even compared to my snap on ratchets. Also, sockets. I like small ones more for some reason(1/4dr), I think they look nicer. I have a 5-15mm snap on set in short and deep sizes and they just look so nice.

 

[mrholeshot]

Ratchets. I sold about 50 today and I can hardly tell anything is missing.

 

[Jayincali]

Anything with a shiney chome finish. And screwdrivers, pliers, pry bars.

 

[jeffmoss26]

What BuckHenry said!

 

[blacK20]

destructive tools hammers, prybars and the like

 

[Bryan Burns]

Pliers. Started when I bought more than 35 pliers at once, almost all Kleins and Crescents, (many Bell System) as part of a bundle. I have more than one 100 pliers now and 95% are vintage.

Also putty knives and scrapers. The vintage ones with brass rivets and walnut or ebony handles. For new, I thought my Snap On walnut handle scraper was as high end as you can get for new stock until I bought some scrapers as part of another bundle of tools that just screamed quality. So I looked up Lamson and found out their scrapers are used by the ink industry and go for $50 each!
http://www.lamsonsharp.com/store/p/1250-5-25-Extra-Stiff-Ink-Scraper.html

 

[jeffmoss26]

Bryan, as a phone guy, I love those old Bell System pliers. I've only got 2 or 3 pairs though.

 

[boohocky]

That would be ratchets. 34 at the moment. Also have a sweet spot for socket sets in metal boxes.

This! I got way too many ratchets, even kept the ones my grandpa gave to my dad, who my dad gave to me.

Sockets in metal boxes I can't get enough of. Sometimes I even buy junk sets that are in a metal box, just so I can have the metal box.

 

[ecally]

For me, at the moment, it's ratchets. I particularly like New Britain ratchets. My Dad had given me one he had used for years. I remember him telling me at the time it was a good ratchet. I recently, for no apparent reason, starting really getting into ratchets. Been picking up some NB on Ebay. In general, I've been on a kick to replace most of my tools with good quality, not necessarily the best, but good.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Plomb, P&C, water pump pliers and vices.

Also anything old, US and cool.

 

[WNYflyer]

Another one for socket sets in their metal cases that I have absolutely no "need" for. Have to be USA made and dirt cheap from garage and estate sales. The hunt is the fun part. Most from the 70's and older. Many have had sockets replaced over the years do to the previous owners breaking or losing them thus I collect USA sockets to help eventually get the sets back to original. The metal case is the key to me.

I am kind of weird in the repect that the brands no longer made or that were made when they were not part of some big conglomerate are the ones that really peak my interest. Snap-On, Mac, Matco etc. I have little interest in unless it is a smoking/obscene deal. Within the last month I have picked up sets from Billings/Wright, Thorsen, S-K, Klein/Wright, Armstrong. I like the history of the old stuff and I am also cheap which generally rules out Snap-On etc.

 

[btbsandman]

Proto tools and quality ratcheting wrenches.

 

[nit2wn]

Nothing in particular unless you count mechanic related stuff. I just got tired of having to spend more time finding a work around than just knocking out the problem. I got some weekend work and bought a new box as the old one was falling in on itself from weight. Bought a 309 piece Craftsman mechanics set, several 19.2v tools off ebay from Craftsman and lion batteries, some shelves for garage, and on and on. I like knowing I have what I need here and not still at the store. Now if I could swing that 2 post lift and a 3rd car garage for it, I might stop. I'd be lying too.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

For me its always getting that next full SET of tools that I dont already have. Rarely will I settle for a set that is not the largest set offered from that paticular company (usually SnapOn) I love the older brands of tools, but I cant even begin to justify collecting lots of duplicates to newer tools I have. I'm still trying to assemble the most reasonably comphrehensive set possible with quality mostly modern tools.

 

[woody 73]

I have been buying allen wrenches and tap & dies like their was no tomorrow...

 

[SubaruGreg]

For me it's Snap-on ratchets, up to 12 now. I cant bring myself to use some of them...

 

[fflintstone]

A real man can never have TOO many tools!
Having had to replace most of my tools in the last 6 months, I went overboard in a few categories.

HAMMERS, I have around 50 as a guess, maybe more, almost all were purchased at garage sales or flea’s as little as a buck each.

RATCHETS, I have 70 ish, I love the sound a ratchet makes. I like feeling the action. I had some wonderful ratchets donated to me and I was exposed to some wonderful stuff! My current favorites are SK rotos, Dahanar RHFT, and for high loads Wright cant be beat.

BENCH GRINDERS. I now have 8 USA made bench grinders. When you find a nice Dayton for $10 or less you cant say no.

C-CLAMPS, well over 100. Largest is 18” several 8”. 10” & 12” a man cannot have too many C-CLAMPS.

 

[cundifc]

Right now it would be snap on comfort grip ratchets. Up to 8 and counting.

 

[Skin]

Yea i'm up to about 15-18 sets of wrenches [combo, double box, and ratcheting]. Need to sell some.