TTT -- The Tool Thread (4 Viewers)

[Malleus]

I love Christmas in August. Brown showed up this afternoon. Now I can finish Henry's transmission work.

This is one very well designed, and built, tool. I have no idea why it wasn't patented.

 

[coinoperated40]

I am lazy. Probably somewhere in these 91 pages is my answer, but help an old man out.
The grandson does some work on his car and wondering what might be a collective starter tool set. Most come SAE and metric that I have seen. My Craftsmen from the 70’s have served me well but not sure of today’s quality. At his age, I plan on the idea of use and loose idea. That being said, I would like to get something good. Me and MAC had the weekly plan back in my motorcycle days. Great tools and still have most.
As always, thanks for any help.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Harbor Freight. Cheap stuff or Icon (Icon is a HF owned tool brand they sell in HF stores), it'll get him started.

 

[gasman4u]

I am lazy. Probably somewhere in these 91 pages is my answer, but help an old man out.
The grandson does some work on his car and wondering what might be a collective starter tool set. Most come SAE and metric that I have seen. My Craftsmen from the 70’s have served me well but not sure of today’s quality. At his age, I plan on the idea of use and loose idea. That being said, I would like to get something good. Me and MAC had the weekly plan back in my motorcycle days. Great tools and still have most.
As always, thanks for any help.

+1 for HF if he's going to be more likely to lose them. They're not going to be as nice as your MAC or anything that hj epstein sells that's domestically made. With that said, I have several HF tools that I use a lot and haven't broken them yet. This is the time of year to buy the big bundles from the big box stores if you're looking to go that route. Some of the imports are of decent quality too (Wera, Tekton). If he gets his beak wet and loves it, maybe consider some sort of estate sale or something when a LOT of old good hand tools can be acquired on the cheap.

I amassed a LOT of my made in USA stuff over the years by waiting for clearance deals, online specials, etc and I plan on keeping them until I die. Hopefully you can help him along in his journey and he will develop a healthy respect for good tools.

 

[coinoperated40]

Thanks for more info. Hadn’t thought about HF. I do plan on finding estate sale along the way. @gasman4u

 

[Hokie LX]

I’ve been super impressed with my gearwrench stuff lately. I have a smattering of craftsman, kobalt, GW, HF, etc.

Frankly the GW and kobalt stuff is my favorite from an ergonomic and quality standpoint.

Black Friday is coming so I’d keep an eye out for a deal. Gearwrench goes on sale on Amazon and the other brands go on sale as well. You can likely pick up a good kit for <$200.

 

[NCFJ]

I actually came across an aircraft rivet layout tool. I've not seen one of these since I was in my 20s. Had to have one. Laid out for 4 different sizes or multiples of each.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I actually came across an aircraft rivet layout tool. I've not seen one of these since I was in my 20s. Had to have one. Laid out for 4 different sizes or multiples of each.

Never knew such a thing exists. Looks cool. Love the concept.
Doubt I'd ever find a use for it myself.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Thanks for more info. Hadn’t thought about HF. I do plan on finding estate sale along the way. @gasman4u

My son asked me about wrenches not long after starting his apprenticeship.
I told him, if it's something you're going to use regularly, buy the best you can afford, without being pissed off if you lose it, or someone steals it.

Also told him, look at the way things are made. A slender wrench suggests quality. A fine action ratchet suggests quality.
Big and chunky looks stronger, but rarely reflects quality IME

 

[coinoperated40]

Any thoughts on old school toolbox, small portable, throw in trunk and head over to friends house to tinker or the plastic sectional , every tool has it’s place.
On the fence as both show possible good and bad sides.
Again, this is for an 18 year old just getting into working on his car.

 

[angerhater]

Any thoughts on old school toolbox, small portable, throw in trunk and head over to friends house to tinker or the plastic sectional , every tool has it’s place.
On the fence as both show possible good and bad sides.
Again, this is for an 18 year old just getting into working on his car.

I would recommend the plastic molded kits that have a space for each piece, easy to inventory and find what’s needed. ( develops the organization necessary for a good tool box, not like my “ I have 3 of them somewhere in one of those 39 boxes”) Keep this in the car.
Later comes A nicer roller tool cabinet to fill with specialty tools , to keep in the garage and evolves with his skills.

 

[roflbox]

Any thoughts on old school toolbox, small portable, throw in trunk and head over to friends house to tinker or the plastic sectional , every tool has it’s place.
On the fence as both show possible good and bad sides.
Again, this is for an 18 year old just getting into working on his car.

a packout, and if the bins are the wrong size, you can get some zipper pouches, and put those in there instead of bins.

 

[Hokie LX]

I had a small metal box that came with my first craftsman mechanics toolkit 15+ years ago and I hated it. It had plastic inserts where you put tools that never kept anything in place so I removed them but then the tools rattled around whenever I had them in the car which also got really annoying. The metal box is also more prone to damaging the interior of the car if it's a nicer one. I had BMWs back then and had a few scars from the metal edges of the box.

I'd say either go with a molded plastic kit or a tool roll. I have at least 3 of the plastic molded kits and they've been great for throwing in the truck for a trip. I've recently converted to tool rolls for smaller overall size and while they are much smaller, the time it takes to find stuff is WAY longer. Having 30 sockets in a pouch gets old.

 

[coinoperated40]

@angerhater
Looking in that direction for the same organization skills. I had them when I was younger.
@Hokie LX
Maybe things are going more plastic for the banging round reason.
My go to bag has anyways been this government issue mech bag. Still good after 40+ years

 

[fjc-man]

I got the olive colored bag at one of the FJ Cruiser Summit events. I liked it enough to get the black one from an army surplus store.

 

[NCFJ]

I still have two of those Trail Team canvas bags. Given to us 8/8/08 on our wedding day by the Trail Teams at Harlan KY at the TOTORA take over.

 

[Malleus]

@angerhater
Looking in that direction for the same organization skills. I had them when I was younger.
@Hokie LX
Maybe things are going more plastic for the banging round reason.
My go to bag has anyways been this government issue mech bag. Still good after 40+ years

View attachment 3485108

I still have mine; lost in the transition from Huey MedEvac company to Blackhawk medium lift company

I also have a tanker's mechanic's bag, that's twice the size. It has my plumbing tools in it, because it's so big that when it's full, you need the tank to carry the thing. There's no way I'd trust myself to put automotive tools in it.

 

[SFROMAN]

There is currently a badess gearwrench tool kit at Home Depot on sale that would be a perfect tool set for a beginner/ intermediate mechanic.
Let me see if I can find a link. I’m going to buy one myself.

 

[SFROMAN]

GEARWRENCH 1/4 in. and 3/8 in. Drive 90-Tooth Standard and Deep SAE/Metric Mechanics Tool Set in 3-Drawer Storage Box (232-Piece) 80949 - The Home Depot

The GEARWRENCH 232-piece Mechanics Tool Set comes in a 3-drawer storage box for a convenient tool kit. The set includes all common items from ratcheting wrenches, deep and shallow 6-point and 12-point

www.homedepot.com

I think this is a very complete kit for $200. They have another kit for $100 that is smaller and is great also, if your looking to spend less.

 

[coinoperated40]

One more thought.
How important do you think a starter kit needs the SAE. Most of what is out there has both. Most of what I/we work on is metric.
I personally would rather have a few more 10mm pieces than SAE.