"tools? Yeah, I got some."

[herr_oberst]

Referencing the Wall of Sound in a toolbox thread. Happy Friday!

[VINMAN]

Place that does fire apparatus work. This set up here cost him over 60 grand for the box alone...

Im gonna guess over a 1/4 mil in tools at least from what i seen in it.

[Bill Douglas]

Other than the battery powered stuff, it's probably better than money in the bank.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Place that does fire apparatus work. This set up here cost him over 60 grand for the box alone...

Im gonna guess over a 1/4 mil in tools at least from what i seen in it.

Ok, that is pretty awesome. I cannot however , imagine me trying to keep white clean and unless I hit the lottery , I am done writing big checks for tool storage .
I paid close to 15 for my one big box in 2001. I have used it every day since, and it still functions 100%.
I have not bought a new box since, and most likely never will. I always wait for a scratch and dent, or a nice trade in .

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Ok, that is pretty awesome. I cannot however , imagine me trying to keep white clean and unless I hit the lottery , I am done writing big checks for tool storage . .

Lol. Yeah I had the same reaction the first time I walked in the place and seen that box. Instant stiffy!

That shop is immaculately kept. You would think that they didn't do any work, how clean it is.

.

[pwd72s]

Hey! My 3 chest high 26" Craftsperson rollaway full of stuff did a lot...memories of when RoninLB was here on his "big ride"...no lift, just floor jack and stands, but got him all ready to go on his next leg...had to chuckle a bit tho..I'm 6'3", so no problem grabbing what I need..Ron was maybe 5'8"? Used a step stool to see into the top 1" drawer full of screwdrivers. Funny, I never thought of that when stacking them. If I did it again, I'd probably go lower & wider.

Still...some mighty impressive pro sets posted here. Reminds me of a long ago coversation with an independent wrench, me admiring his tools. I said if I ever won a lottery, I'd buy a complete snap-on set. He replied that if he won, he'd give me his snap-on set, because he'd never work on a car again.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Lol. Yeah I had the same reaction the first time I walked in the place and seen that box.

Like Jack Olsen's garage.

Women dress up for other women. Guys trick out their hobby stuff to impress other guys.

That tool box is beyond sweet.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It took me many decades to get to a point my tool collection has most everything I need.

Same here. I usually buy mid-quality stuff and some of my tools are nearly 50 years old.

A pro's socket collection at a local shop...not mine

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Same here. I usually buy mid-quality stuff and some of my tools are nearly 50 years old.

Ditto. I had three boxes so tall I used a milk crate to get to the top. And I’m 6’-4”.

Finally after 40 years, I bought a Matco toolbox. What a difference.

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I've been watching youtubes of pro techs going through their rollaways. Find it hell of a lot more interesting than some hollyweird bimbo on a witness stand. What they select, what tools are "can't live without", how they arrange them, what they use for specific jobs, etc. Let's say they select with a lot more consideration than I did...which was a mix of things I bought for a specific job and tools I bought because "might be handy", etc. They also have stuff I don't, mainly because tools for jobs I wouldn't dream of taking on.

Mine mainly craftsman, shopping set sales, etc...combined with stuff I bought as far back as my high school years, etc. I did a lot of shopping at NAPA back in those years, lived 40 miles from the nearest Sears, so still have "New Britian" wrenches, ratchets, etc...and even some really cheap made in India stuff I should toss but can't bring myself to do so. But some of my tools? Like the old saying on fishing lures being designed to catch fisherman...sometimes I suckered for bright and shiny over practical. Sometimes I suckered for too cheap tools that really didn't perform as advertised. Live & learn...

Paul, as you know, it does not matter the brand, As long as the tool does the job. Few people realize the investment techs make in their trade. Besides school, a lawyer needs a computer, a note pad, a pen and a calculator..... lol.

I probably have 200K in my box, plus what the tools/equipment I have invested in for my shop, maybe another 350K-400K? Minimum

Any tech like the guy in the vid (and a few of my staff) that invest in making themselves successful are a gems. True committed gems....

As for your tools "when you croak"... my "uncle" (not my true uncle but mentor/second dad) passed in August, ton of tools that he left to me. My dad passed just a few weeks ago and left all his tools to me. We had them dispersed to many young folks who are interested in the trade who could not afford to upgrade their tool set up. Gifted them to anyone of them that wanted to come to get them. I know that would have made my Uncle Ted and my Dad happy.

Cheers

[Jeff Alton]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I currently have a zero balance with the snap on man, but most of the time, I give him 200 a week.
I could pretty easily be driving a new 911 with the money I spend in tools

Yes Fred.

After 7 years of getting a free winter coat and other gifts for being one of the top 3 buyers on the truck I told my rep (very close friend of mine) that last year was the LAST year I want to be one of the top buyers..... lol Now that includes our shop equipment, which is all snap on (lifts, multiple tool cabs, screw compressor, jet wash, blasting cabinet, solvent wash tank etc) except our wheel/tire machines and alignment machine.....

But we also provide gift cards on the truck to our staff and from time to time pick up the tab on a tool they chose to buy or their weekly payment....

Cheers

[pwd72s]

Jeff, well written...and I know we all have gained more respect for those pros who make the investment and time to become good techs.

And thanks for the suggestion...I'm thinking there's a young apprentice tech out there who'd love having my old tools. They'd make a good starter set...but for now? Well, never know when I might need to use one. Your "uncle" and Dad probably felt the same.

(edit) All 3 of my 26" chests are the blue "ball bearing griplatch" Craftsperson...works well for me, I guess. Better than when I had tools piled up in smaller tool boxes and shelves.