When to buy tools?

roccaas

roccaas

Well-known member
In, "Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There", the recommendation on buying tools that you need is to "Do It Now".

It seems reasonable that the price of tools generally goes up year to year, and excepting sales, and the release of a new "gotta have tool" (baking soda blaster and full rotisserie frame), anything you will need over time will be more expensive next month/year than it is now.

Given that most tools are "for life", and many guaranteed that way, it makes sense to make the investment now.

So I bought a serious floor jack (heavy enough to be made from depleted uranium), the dogbone wrenches (SAE for Ford, and Metric for BMW) that I've needed but held off on for some reason; until reading this book.

I would recommend the book highly, whether you buy it, or just get it from the library and write down the parts you need to remember.

Your thoughts?

Will you buy a 20 ton press? ratcheting box wrenches? those wrenches that bend in the middle so your hand is pushing against a wider flatter surface?? a complete Ford tool set (because that price will only go up for certain!)?
 
"ratcheting box wrenches?"

Absolutely, I have them in both Standard & Metric, one of the best tool inventions in years!
 
And buy the best. You will rarely be disappointed with the top of the line and breaking tools can be dangerous, frustrating and expensive in wasted time and ruined parts.
 
Good point about buying top line tools. Avoid the pliers made by Companion. Most of my pliers are Craftsman or Snap-On, For christmas several years ago my Aunt bought me a 6 piece set of Companion pliers, I put them in my drawer thinking I would use them. One day I did use the linesman pliers out of that set. I was putting quiite a grip on them and the handle on one side broke resulting in a cut om my palm that required 5 stitches. I threw the whole set away after that. Asso as far as adjustable wrenches and waterpump pliers I recommend the Cresent brand over the Channel Lock brand, even at the top line there are some differences. Rod
 
Rather than a 20 ton hydraulic press that sometimes may be just border line for a job, go the extra mile for a 30 ton press. Safer and easier in the long run. Your friends from the Model A club will enjoy it. As mentioned above Crafsman or Snap-on for hand tools.
 
Last edited:
:DNot braggin or complainin but like many with two failed marriges long ago I struggled to keep a decent set of tools. Miss Wilma and I have been together some 15 years and although I Bi#@h at times, her money management skills have allowed me to buy the best tools out there. I plan on retiring in four years and want everything paid for before hand. I told her in the event of my death to use the Model A and all the tools as bait to land the next guy. LOL
 
Watch craigslist and look for the deals.

Keep in mind you need to look many times in a day. You never know when something great comes along. Not to long ago my brother picked up a Ammco line bore set up with A and V8 tooling for $40. The guy just wanted to get rid of it and had no clue.

More recently he missed out on babbitt rod boring tooling.

Never know what you find.

I have been buying Snap on for 1/2 or less of list price for years. Never know when you will see good sockets in the bucket at some ridiculously low price at garage sales or flea markets.

Ebay sometimes yields a deal. Keep low bidding on a tool. You never know when you might get it. Happened several times to my brother and I. I got a tool that always sells for $70 for $40 once, I have no idea why it happened.
 
Last edited:
If it's one thing I've learned over the years, is to buy the tools you think you'll need, BEFORE buying the project car/truck.
 
Would you bvelieve that I am still using the set of craftsman's wrenches (racket, sockets, etc.) that i was given as a given when i was in college - that was 43 years a go. Work just fine.
 
I just swapped out an old worn out Craftsman 1/2 socket wrench still no questions asked. You can't beat that.
 
The local Ace hardware store here is selling a few select Craftsman tools now ,hope they continue to and get more of a selection.
I bought a tool box full of tools at a pawn shop in 1960 and still have some of them had a complete set of Montogomery Ward 1/2 socket set and other open end and box wrenches some I still use. Bought a torque wrench the other day from Pawn shop ,Snap On ,now to get it recalibrated.
 
Is it when to buy tools, or where to buy tools. When it comes to hand tools I buy and use only Craftsman. As has been pointed out in this thread if they ever do break Sears will replace them no matter how old they are.
 
S & K tools are very nice too! That was my first set back in 1969. Now all Craftsman. Unless you make your money as a mechanic and good at it ,then Snap-on [over priced i think] but then again you are not going to use their screwdriver as a hammer or chisel..l.o.l.:p
 
I've used Craftsman tools for a long time. Never had a problem. I've owned and have been using my Craftsman 1/2 inch socket set since my early 20s and now I'm 73. They're fantastic tools.
Rog
 
I buy Snap-On for several reasons. I'm too lazy to drive to Sears & Sawbucks and none of my wrenches or sockets has ever broken in over 30-years. The Snappy man has had to replace a few worn out screw driver bits and several rachet innard sets but thats about it. I had Craftsman tools when I was a kid and broke quite a few until some thief decided he wanted them more than I did. If the Snappy man wasn't stopping at the shop once a week, I'd probably make the trip to Sears too.
 
when to buy tools? whenerver you can find a good deal, tool are to men what shoes are to women, can never have to many
 
I am also one of those very lucky persons who has a wife that heads to the tool section of Sears first, rather than anywhere else. She is more happy seeing that I have everything a man could wish for, than a fancy piece of jewlery or clothing apparell for herself. After being married to her for 50yrs, what the heck ! Life is good !!

A friend of mine, told another member of our club when asked, "is the 13 piece Model A tool kit originally supplied with the car, all you need for tools ?" Believe it or not.....He answerd YES !

I want to watch that next project.
 
I take it that none of you have had kids.My tools had a way of sprouting legs and hiding! My tools now are a conglomeration of what's left.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top