06-22-2006, 01:34 AM
I just wanted to start this thread to help people who are starting to buy their own tools make good decisions and get the most for their money. Any suggestions in general or specific deals or cool products can be posted here. I'll start with a few general thoughts I have and things I have learned so far...
1. Tool Trucks - USE THEM If you know a place where one stops each week get to know the owner. Bobby Taylor is our local Snap-On guy and he sure is great to work with. Most tool trucks offer NO INTEREST financing. This is usually on everything but the boxes. Low weekly payments can get nice tools in your box, even on a college budget.
2. Tool Boxes - CRAFTSMAN ONLY. Those or the like. Snap-On, MAC, and Matco are great boxes, but really overkill for most of us. There are used deals out there though, I almost picked up a used Snap-On for $1100 (regular over 4K) but I talked myself out of it.
3. Hammers.... Snap-On is the way my sons. How can you beat a life time warranty, plastic coated, pressed steel ball-peen hammer? You can't.... even at over $50 a pop they are well worth it.
![[Image: 47416.JPG]](http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/47500/47416.JPG)
4. Craftsman Kits - Avoid them. This may be a surprising suggestion but I have learned this one the hard way. So you buy one of those 200 piece mechanic's tool sets. It works great until you start moving up in the game. Then you realize you need the WHOLE SET of deepwells...or all the screw drivers. So then you go buy the sets you should have got in the first place. Now you have doubles. Do yourself a favor and just pick up the Ratchet pack and start buying sockets by the rack.
5. Gear Wrenches - Pick your poison...they are all expensive but well worth it. I like original gearwrench myself. However I would suggest getting the double box type. this saves space in the box and does not duplicate the open end of the wrenches you should already have. After all, you are only buying this set for the geared box right? Every Mechanic should have a set of both SAE and Metric STANDARD COMBINATION wrenches...not only gear wrenches. I recommend just cheap ones, Popular Mechanics brand is the shit!
![[Image: schematic.jpg]](http://www.gearwrench.com/ratcheting_wrenches/double_box/schematic.jpg)
6. "I might need this one day!" - If it is a tool you only use 1 in 100 jobs...why buy Snap-On? Or even Craftsman? If it is a rarely used piece you want to have on hand (Like line wrenches in my case!) check places like Wal-Mart and Tractor Supply. ThatÔÇÖs where the deals are. 5 piece SAE line wrenches for $10!!! Snap-On was over $100 for 7
7. Knipex Pliers...if you don't know what they are, go buy a set and see. The best Channel Lock pliers I have ever seen/used/owned/swore by.
![[Image: kn8801-10-sm.jpg]](http://www.crawfordtool.com/images/knipex/comfort/kn8801-10-sm.jpg)
I'm sure I will think of more, and I will post. I hope others will share ideas here and everyone can benefit!!!
1. Tool Trucks - USE THEM If you know a place where one stops each week get to know the owner. Bobby Taylor is our local Snap-On guy and he sure is great to work with. Most tool trucks offer NO INTEREST financing. This is usually on everything but the boxes. Low weekly payments can get nice tools in your box, even on a college budget.
2. Tool Boxes - CRAFTSMAN ONLY. Those or the like. Snap-On, MAC, and Matco are great boxes, but really overkill for most of us. There are used deals out there though, I almost picked up a used Snap-On for $1100 (regular over 4K) but I talked myself out of it.
3. Hammers.... Snap-On is the way my sons. How can you beat a life time warranty, plastic coated, pressed steel ball-peen hammer? You can't.... even at over $50 a pop they are well worth it.
4. Craftsman Kits - Avoid them. This may be a surprising suggestion but I have learned this one the hard way. So you buy one of those 200 piece mechanic's tool sets. It works great until you start moving up in the game. Then you realize you need the WHOLE SET of deepwells...or all the screw drivers. So then you go buy the sets you should have got in the first place. Now you have doubles. Do yourself a favor and just pick up the Ratchet pack and start buying sockets by the rack.
5. Gear Wrenches - Pick your poison...they are all expensive but well worth it. I like original gearwrench myself. However I would suggest getting the double box type. this saves space in the box and does not duplicate the open end of the wrenches you should already have. After all, you are only buying this set for the geared box right? Every Mechanic should have a set of both SAE and Metric STANDARD COMBINATION wrenches...not only gear wrenches. I recommend just cheap ones, Popular Mechanics brand is the shit!
6. "I might need this one day!" - If it is a tool you only use 1 in 100 jobs...why buy Snap-On? Or even Craftsman? If it is a rarely used piece you want to have on hand (Like line wrenches in my case!) check places like Wal-Mart and Tractor Supply. ThatÔÇÖs where the deals are. 5 piece SAE line wrenches for $10!!! Snap-On was over $100 for 7
7. Knipex Pliers...if you don't know what they are, go buy a set and see. The best Channel Lock pliers I have ever seen/used/owned/swore by.
I'm sure I will think of more, and I will post. I hope others will share ideas here and everyone can benefit!!!
Jeff Morrison - Used Car Manager
Woodstock Garage, Inc.
Chrysler - Dodge - Jeep - RAM
Current Stable of Mopar Junk
57 Chrysler Windsor 4drHT - 67 Dodge D100 Short Bed Step Side - 71 Dodge Challenger - 91 Chrysler Lebaron LX 33k mile Survivor - 91 Dodge Dakota V8 - 05 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster - 08 Ram 2500 Cummins
Woodstock Garage, Inc.
Chrysler - Dodge - Jeep - RAM
Current Stable of Mopar Junk
57 Chrysler Windsor 4drHT - 67 Dodge D100 Short Bed Step Side - 71 Dodge Challenger - 91 Chrysler Lebaron LX 33k mile Survivor - 91 Dodge Dakota V8 - 05 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster - 08 Ram 2500 Cummins