Let's Talk Tools
 

Every mechanic has them.
Some are old, some are new.
Some are common, some are rare, even "special".

I have a large collection, starting from when I was about 9, when I got my first go-cart. There are many brands in my rollaway(s). Craftsman, Sears, Proto, Blackhawk, and my prefered, Snap-on, Matco, Mac, and many specialized ones.
Meters and gages many I've made up to get the job done.

I recommend that you never sell or pawn your tools. They save you lots of $$$. They more than pay for themselves.

When I was facing a new job I hadn't done, and needed to buy a tool(s), I justified the expense by the fact that it would have cost as much or more to have it done at a shop.

I learned alot, built confidence in my skills, and filled my toolbox up with tools I would have ready to use again.

What about you?? What are your thoughts on this?? What brands do you prefer??

I have used many tools as well. I have used all of what you have mentoned with the exception of proto.

IMO the best bang for the buck is craftsman. I have found that craftsman has actually worked better than some snap on tools and vice versa. Now of course the overall quality of snap on is better and nicer, but craftsman tools are usually 1-2bucks a piece whereas snapons are like 10bucks a piece.

I have mostly craftsman tools. I have a set of snap on 25pc metric wrench set, and a 44 pc ratchet and shallow and deep socket set wit standard and metric sizes. And thats about it for the snap on hand tools.

I have a snapon coolant pressure tester, and compression tester, fp tester and thats it.

And craftsman I have about 2000pcs of hand tools. And many air and power tools.

I think thats about it.

A little info
 

And...Sears has those nice polished/chrome wrenches that are actually made at the plant/foundery that makes Matco tools. They are worth the extra $$. Lifetime warranty.

"Smooth" wrenches and ratchets and screwdriver handles save wear and tear on your hands. Also, I recommend bright handled screwdrivers because your less likely to forget them under the hood.

And I strongly recommend one or 2 of those magnetic dishes to set nuts and bolts in so they don't get lost.

If you, or your dad, or whoever, has a friend that has been a professional mechanic for a few years, ask them what hand tools they recommend you will need to get your toolbox started.

I still have my Craftsman rollaways sitting in the garage. They don't wear out. They do the job. The better ones have ball bearing slides in the drawers, and better wheels.

If your gonna do a lot of car work (or even some), get one of those red carts. It will come in very handy, and only cost about $50.

O yeah I have seen the adds for those. I wanted some for christmas.

And your right, its easy to forget tools after you finish a job under the hood. I learned the hard way on this.


Yes those magnetic dishes and those long magnetic poles to pick up tools under the engine bay are very handy. Not to mention those magnetic driver peices that dont fall off when you are trying to drive a screw in.

And those crasftsman roll aways are awesome especially with the ball bearing droors. The hinges are ok but try putting a ton load of tools in a droor those hinges become a little problem.

And my cart is black. It is craftsman however its a bigger cart then you are referring too but its still very handy.

I hate working on a car and having to go back and forth to the roll aways. I like having a cart with the usual tools always handy right where I am at.

we've got quite a range of tools that we use here

powerbuilt
aigo
superworks (cheap brand from a parts store)
snap on
good ol chinese spanners, forget the name of em hehe
ETC industrial
sidchrome
stanley

that's all i can think of at the mo
found that powerbuilt, aigo, snap on, etc, sidchrome, stanley are all of equal strength/quality when used in the correct manner

only reason we have to keep buying tools is coz ppl keep nicking ours lol

You guys have kragen over there?

not that i've seen

Hmm.. thats wierd usually that brand comes form kragen auto. I forget the other store where theya re sold at.

I use Husky tools, air and hand. Although Home Depot drastically cut down on in store stock. Probably cuz of theft... Never had a problem.

Yeah husky tools are usually used for construction but I hear they are very durable.

Suze, does "nicking" your tools mean stealing them ?? or borrowing them and never returning them ???

LOWE'S hardware stores have some line of hand tools that look pretty darn good. I saw them once, 'cause I don't go there much.

Yu mean Kobalt? I saw a set of kobalt tools and they looked alright. They kinda looked like craftsman however I dont knwo if they have as good of warranty as craftsman does.

Kobalt ! That's it ! If they're lifetime warranty, they'd be OK.

Yeah I thought thats what they were. However, I wasnt sure either. But I think they have a lifetime warranty, but I dont think you can just bring them to any lowes and get it swapped immediately like you can with craftsman. I love craftsman because all you have to do is bring it to any sears and they will give you a new one for free without any questions or rigamoroe.

Snap-on you pay for the delivery service with the guys in the trucks. They come to your location and swap out the tool.

In any case, tools are just awesome things. If it wasnt for them life would be one big pain. I am just thankful to have them on earth.

yep nicking = both cases

stealing & borrowing and never returning lol

Husky polished wrenches are the same size and weight as a Snap-On Wrench, go figure. All of my Wrenches are of the top 2 tool manufactures because I believe they are better and are usually fit nicer in my hand. I have a set of large Husky Polished Wrench's (internet sales) are are Identical to my SNAP-On's except the chrome is not as nice and the price was 1/4 of Snap-On's. I use them for chassis fab work and they get used pretty hard and have held up great

All quality tools have there place and are a preference to the user and his wallet. Quality tools usually make the job go smoother and quicker saving time and money. Plus I hate going to the mall to exchange a broken wrench or socket.

ok? a tool thief that doesnt return is a nicker
and after the hiest, hes just nicked them
any one who even asks is just a nick? dont be a nick...

hahhaha just havin fun...

Nicking a tool
 

Well.........

It all started because the first guys (back in the early 1800's) to work on machinery (and later cars) were all named Nick. They later were called "mecha-nicks". The letter 'k' was dropped along the way, so then it became 'mechanics'.

So as fate would have it, it was a "Nick" that did the first tool borrowing (from a fellow 'mecha-nic'. And it was a "Nick" that was the first to NOT return a borrowed tool.

Thus it became known as "nicking" a tool (not returning it).

(Here is a grain of salt, *, to help you swallow this.

I was in Lowe's tonight and stopped by the tool section. Now I would not recommend the Kobalt wrenches because the finish is too rough. I would buy those smooth, chrome ones at Sears.

lmao... nice history lesson there :p hahaaaa