What Kind of Tools Are in Your Garage?????

[reesestewww]

I’m in the process of investing in new tools. My current tools and box will be come what I’m calling, the “House Box”. The one the wife and kids will go into for there needs. I’m in a real dilemma of what kind of tools and tool box to put my money into. Snap-On will probably be the best box and tools, but do I need to spend that much money? I’m not a real mechanic, Ill mainly use them on the week ends. I’ve looked at a Craftsman set, but my only thoughts there is half of the tools are standard. Not to say ill never use them, but do I want to invest half my money into a set of tools of which I may never use? The other choice is Stahlwille. They have a starter kit that includes Porsche specialty tools. Stahlwille are in the Snap-On price range.

So anyways what in your garage?

[Kemo]

I rarely buy anything as a set. Maybe i will post a pic of my tool box. its quite modest compared to the garage setups i have seen on this board! For now, it does the trick with a cup holder built right in.

[IROC]

I've actually got alot of Craftsman tools. I think they are good value for the money for a shadetree mechanic. I started out with the basics and have added to it over the years - birthdays, Christmases and Father's Days are a great way to expand a tool inventory....

I have a Kennedy toolchest, though - that's *really* nice...

Mike

[ChrisBennet]

Craftsman's largest all metric set is the core of my tool set.
-Chris

[yelcab1]

I have collected tools over a number of years, 90% Craftsman, the rest some specialized tools, plus stuff I made up for special occasioin. I did finally invest in a good two box set up of Crafstman tool chests, on roller bearings for a better feel. I do have a Sears air compressor for 5 years now and never missed a beat. Get one if you are serious.

Snap-on is for people who get paid for fixing cars. Try to find a Snap On truck on saturday.

[MotoSook]

Craftsman is fine for me..I wish I have bought the all metric set back when I made my purchase..now I have a buch of useless tools...of course I was driving a camaro then

I pick up specific tools here and there and I need it..but mostly Sears and Harbor Freight.

[clnilsen]

I have Craftsman.. my dad started me off with his old stuff many years ago, and I've upgraded ever since. I stay with the buy 1 tool a month mentaility, so I've got a decent set now.

I'm sure that the Snap on stuff is great (I know it is), but I'm just not sure that us weekend warriors need that level of tool.

That's like those Facom Ferrari sets. Very cool, but way overpriced. I guess if I had a Ferarri it wouldn't be such an issue.

Now if they made a Porsche set.. :-)

Chuck

[Doug Zielke]

I'd *love* a blue Snap-on roller cabinet.
But they almost cost more than my car!

[1fastredsc]

Craftsman but more of the misc stuff. While my dad was working with a quarry not to long ago, we could get a bunch of tools free cause they were always replacing there's with newer things. But unfortunately most of them were standard, and 1 inch or bigger (diesel quarry trucks).

[VincentVega]

Check out Sam's Club and Costco for a tool box. I picked up a double roller cabinet recently for ~$400. It's exactly the same box at Lower for ~$900. You will never have a big enough box so get bigger than you think you need. Go for roller bearing drawers too, worth the extra $$ if you can spare it.

I'd go with Craftsman tools for the basic set and then add in special tools as needed. I have a nice mix of Harbor Freight, Snap-on and Craftsman. I dont want cheap stuff but I'm no tool snob either.

Have fun!

[304065]

Hazet
www.samstagsales.com

[911Brian]

I just recently posted a question about what tools I should get. A week or so ago I purchased the Craftsmen 175 pc Mechanics tools set, 3 ton jack with jack stands, torque wrench, inspection mirror and a few other things. Plus, I purchased a Craftsman tool 3 pc tool chest for under 200! It doesn't have the bearing drawers but that is fine with me. At least I have some place to put my new toys! I am off to a decent start. I plan on getting around 1 tool/set per month and others on an as needed basis.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by clnilsen


That's like those Facom Ferrari sets. Very cool, but way overpriced. I guess if I had a Ferarri it wouldn't be such an issue.


Chuck

Ferrari factory teams use Facom, ferrari owners use Craftsman too.

[Mattias Hellore]

I use Heyco, Bahco and some low price Biltema tools with 10 year no questions guarantee.

It´s enough for me, just filled 2 toolboxes with various tools from my dad and own.

Often duplicates of common tools.

[mannrak]

Metrinch wrenches and sockets. They apply torque on the hex flat, not the corners. I've never stripped a nut using these tools.

http://www.metrinch-tools.com/

[banjomike]

Garage? Who says I have a garage!?


[QUOTE]Originally posted by mannrak
[B]Metrinch wrenches and sockets. They apply torque on the hex flat, not the corners. I've never stripped a nut using these tools.

I've been drooling over the big wrench/socket set from metrinch, since that would meet my metric and std needs, plus I seem to have a real talent for rounding the corners off of nuts. This is what I need!

[toolman]

Facom is just a fancy name for S-K tools which is one of my best lines. I am a tool warehouse distributor with over 300 different lines of tools. Get your best price and I should be able to beat it plus S-K dealers are everywhere so warranty will not be an issue. PM me if you are interested.

[Randy Webb]

It's rare to find jewelry that you can use to disassemble a car -- but Snap-Off is the thing. Some tips:
1. Snap-On etc can reach into tight areas that cheaper (Crapsman or worse cannot, and can hold onto rusted nuts that others cannot.
2. Crapsman is good enough for 90% or more of what you want to do.
3. Snap-Off does not discount their sets, but Sears does.
4. Not all Sears is Crapsman.
5. Muck tools is prob'ly about as good as Crapsman.
6. Electronics tools and a few surgical items work great in small areas.
7. Jerry Woods told me that Stahl and other German sockets worked better than Snap-Off on some cyl. head bolt or the other -- it was stronger.
8. Crapsman tool chests are pretty good.
9. Buy the common maintenance tools first, fill in later with what you need for each "unusual" job.
10. Problem w/#9 is that you often get into something and find you need something right then. So visit Sears or get the Snap-Of guys cell # and ask where his truck is right now.
11. You will NEVER have everything you need.
12. Some credit cards give you points for all the crap you buy on them. I thought this was worthless until I discovered that my AT&T Universal card points could be traded in for Snap-Off coupons.

[Randy Webb]

Oh, one other important item:
13. There is no substitute for cubic inches of brain power. And that means the special type of thinking that mechanics (or the mechanically-minded) can do well -- not your PhD in group theory as applied to closed sets.

You can often figure out a way to do something with normal tools when most would resort to something really spendy and special. My favorite example is using an old piece of spark plug wire to release the clutch plate on a Saab 99 instead of the $300 special tool.

and...
14. You almost certainly do not _need_ a bunch of power tools.

[Gordo2]

Mainly me, and sometimes my buddies

Gordo