In a time of chimpanzees, I was a penguin.
The religious right is motivated by the suspicion that someone, somewhere,
is having fun -- and that this must be stopped.
So I installed that lift kit on my Jeep last weekend. So today I went out and bought all the tools that I'd wished I'd had when I was installing that lift kit -- over $300 worth. Nevermind that I had the tools I *needed* to do the job. These tools would have made the job *easier*.
Sigh. Tools are like crack. You're never satisfied, you always want more.
- Badtux the Now-poorer Penguin
Ground rules: Comments that consist solely of insults, fact-free talking points, are off-topic, or simply spam the same argument over and over will be deleted. The penguin is the only one allowed to be an ass here. All viewpoints, however, are welcomed, even if I disagree vehemently with you.
WARNING: You are entitled to create your own arguments, but you are NOT entitled to create your own facts. If you spew scientific denialism, or insist that the sky is purple, or otherwise insist that your made-up universe of pink unicorns and cotton candy trees is "real", well -- expect the banhammer.
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Did you get them all at the same place and curious to what quality you purchase as these are not something probably used that often. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAs a working Mechanic we would have up to 4 'tool trucks' a week come to us.
ReplyDeleteEvery been on a "Snap On " truck? Talk about a candy store.
w3ski
Tool trucks are kinda like crack dealers, they'll let you do weekly payments. Sorta like the old song, "Dollar down and a dollar a week".
ReplyDeleteI just got a rolling tool chest from Harbor Freight to gather my tools into one location. I can't believe how many duplicates I have (if you need a screwdriver, I've about 30). But this collection has been growing between inherited tools, tools I bought while waiting for my PCS goods to arrive, and the stuff I bought on the road, because I didn't have it in my vehicle when I needed 'em.
ReplyDeleteOne Fly, the hand tools were mostly bought at Sears (Craftsman of course), there was a set of spendy fancy built-in-pilot DeWalt drill bits from Lowes, and a long prybar from Cheap Chinese Tool Place.
ReplyDeletew3ski, I don't buy hand tools from Cheap Chinese Tool Place 'cause they break if ya sneeze at them wrong, but the reality is that both my dad's Craftsman and his Snap-on tools outlasted him. So I've avoided the tool trucks even though I have a friend who owns a shop and could easily ask him, "Hey Greg, when do the tool trucks come by your place?".
Marc, I got one of those cheap rolling tool chests from Harbor Freight for much the same reason. Thing is, now that I have it, I realize that I have more stuff than will fit in it ;). So I have to divvy up stuff between that thing and the re-purposed dressers that I'd previously been using, the small or heavy stuff goes in the roller, the stuff like drill bits and drills and angle grinder and tie rod end extractor and gear pullers and stuff go in the non-rollers, and some stuff too long for anything gets hung on the wall or goes on a shelf in the garage that's long enough (like the long prybars). Like I said, tools are like crack, you can never stop with one hit...
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow tool junkie, I can sympathize.
ReplyDeleteI have been collecting, trading,losing, breaking , modifying, giving away and making tools for over thirty years.
I have three full size roll away's of various sizes stuffed full of tools, quite a bit of them Snap On.
At one time I was making payments on tools and spending more a month for them than I was on my house payment.
Snap On is far and above the best tool on the market in my opinion but it is a bit ridiculous for the average Joe to pay twenty five dollars, literally, for one screwdriver when there are so many different brands that will do the same job.
It can also be a royal pain having to track down a tool truck when you need something replaced .
Waterloo makes some really nice tool boxes so does Kennedy and Husky.
Just my opinion.
Busted, the wrench turning Ornery Bastard
.
I have about a third Snap On, about a third Mac, some left over Craftsman stuff from the early 70's, and a bunch of Matco, Cornwall, and SK tools, that's without getting into the 'electronics drawer'.
ReplyDeleteIt is a Royal pain to have broken but fully warrented tools and no more access to that dealer.
Craftsman is fine if you don't have to use it every day but at the time I spent my work days where the tool guys came to me and with instant credit. Sears meant a trip down town and pay now.
Now I am stuck with a Large box of broken stuff I carry to the "bay" every time I get near in the hope I might flag down a Mac or Matco truck.
a toolfull tale of woe
w3ski
'Nucks, when I was at Sears I saw a giant roller that has two slide-out vertical pegboards for those things too long to fit in a drawer. Want ;). But I'm a cheap penguin, and it was $1K (!!!). I'll just stick with my repurposed dressers, thank you very much (and hey, if I put casters on the bottom, they'd be rollers, right? ;).
ReplyDeletew3ski, I have never worked as a professional mechanic for the simple reason that I'm too slow. I spend too much just gazing at stuff thinking about the theoretical aspects of how they work. Staring at a suspension arm bushing for five minutes thinking about how it responds to suspension movements doesn't get ya paid! So Craftsman is far more convenient for me than a tool truck. My dad worked as a mechanic for some years and the tool truck was convenient to him there, and did projects at home so bought Craftsman stuff for home, unfortunately all of his tools that I inherited got stolen out of my garage five or six years ago so I had to start over pretty much from scratch :(.
- Badtux the Tool Crack Addicted Penguin
Badtux, I was over at Lowes (before they knuckled under to the far right wingers over the Muslims in America TV show thing) and saw -- I kid you not -- a tool chest with a built-in AM/FM/CD, locking storage (apparently for your handgun) *AND* a fridge. Yes, a fridge... I almost pooped my pantaloons with wantiness.
ReplyDeletelol, yep, I know I can get the husband to run an errand for me if it includes something at Harbor Freight :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't waste money on a lift kit, I'd spend it on a good wire feed welder.
ReplyDeleteHarbor Freight is a crap shoot, I've gotten good and bad shit there.
ReplyDeleteNorthern Tools and Equipment is better and if you join the club you get great deals and free shipping.
I have an old SK Wayne 3/8" drive ratchet that swivels on the center of the head. Best damn ratchet I've ever owned and used.
ReplyDeleteI have the tool I need but in my new life I miss the support I had in my other shop for instance assortments of whatever. I'm hustling to find simple things. I stockpiled stuff the last year but it's not the same and sure can't afford too much. An array of different tools as well with Craftsmen the majority.
ReplyDeleteJust want to add if it's everyday work and ones safety is involved it the best that gets bought.
I actually had to buy a jack and stands. 80 smacks for a ton and a half 26lb aluminum floor jack that will lift all that I have. It's great and should have had one before. Got it @ harbor.
I am 58 years, been a Tech for 28 or more.
ReplyDeleteTHAT Jack, is The Sweetest Thing I Have seen since sliced bread.
Wish it went 3 inches higher tho.
w3ski
Yah, I looked over the Harbor Freight jacks and they were as good as any I could buy locally, so I bought their high-lift 2-ton jobber that'll loft my Jeep 24 inches into the air. Nice jack, I wouldn't rely on it to not poot out its seal and collapse but that's why we got jack stands, right? In case you're wondering, there's about 10 inches between the frame of my Jeep and the ground normally, and if you're going to loft an entire end off the ground by the frame so you can remove an axle, a regular floor jack won't even get the sag out of the suspension before topping out.
ReplyDelete