Wisdom Wednesday #2 - Be strategic with your tool purchases

I sort of long windedly cover making some wiser decisions in purchases when money is in short supply. If it gives one person ideas to help make them successful, it’s worth it. I mention Craftsman, Harbor Freight, Gearwrench, USAG, Snap On, and Tone.

[@Snowmannorth]

Great advice!

[@gtcam723]

Thank you and thanks for joining in.

[@mlieser1230]

When I started out in the late 80s, Craftsman was the only available option. I had all SAE tools as we mostly worked on older Domestic vehicles in high school auto shop. I got a job at a SAAB dealership after I graduated. These cars were metric and I had to start buying metric tools. I was able to work out of one the the older technician's box until I was able to get what I needed. We initially had Snap-on and Mac coming to the shop. Since I was only 17, the Snap-on dealer set a $300 balance limit. He had been stiffed by kids in the past. I just bought what I needed to get started. Later on Matco replaced the Mac guy. Matco at that time was lees expensive than Snap-on and Mac. I purchased specialty tools and test equipment from Matco. I always kept my balances low and didn't purchase more tools until I was paid up on past purchases. Currently there are a lot of decent alternatives to the tool trucks for young guys to get started with. If you have to borrow a tool 3 times then you need to purchase your own tool.

[@gtcam723]

@@mlieser1230 yeah there’s a ton of options that just didn’t used to exist. My first craftsman set came in junior high. Then later ended up with a bigger set. And man did I hate the blow molded cases back then. Lol

[@clevernamehere7559]

I have the same toolbox

[@gtcam723]

Hard to part with an old classic. May not have ballbearing slides, but, still just neat! Thanks for chiming in!

[@Torqued_to_Spec]

ALWAYS have some SAE. Manufacturing tolerances suck many times, as do worn fasteners, and you will often find SAE fits better. Don’t go nuts, but 1/4-3/4 basic socket and basic wrenches at least, even cheap ones, will do the job.

[@gtcam723]

@@Torqued_to_Spec thanks for chiming in. I’m not hurting for SAE either for that matter. That said, a lot of slop can be covered by just grabbing budget metric sockets that have looser tolerances. In theory, one could go down the rabbit hole and start grabbing oddball SAE stuff (23/32 anyone?) which was an industrial thing once upon a time.