Tools What should i get

[Sillyoldman]

Its a process of evolution. It took me 18 years to acuire most of the tools I need. Its not as frequent now, but occasionally I have to run for a specialty one. I'd suggest the basics. Open/closed end wrenches Two sets if it's in the budget. 1/4, 3/8", 1/2" ratchet sets. Go with the craftsman tools. Don't buy garbage 250 pc sets for $3.99. You will be spending a lot of time driving to sears and back as they break.

[kingsolver72]

Originally Posted by junkyardjohn

WOW..
THATS SORTA LIKE STOMPING EVERY KITTEN YOU SEE TO DEATH BECAUSE ONE SCRACTHED YOU WHEN YOU WERE THREE. I HOPE THOSE 30,000 SNAPPY TRUCKS CAN ALWAYS MANUVER AROUND YOU DURING YOUR DRIVING ANTICS, & DON'T SQUASH YOU LIKE A BUG. JOHN

I don't know why,but I just find that quote hilarious.

[sleepyboy]

I know I cannot live without an angle grinder, drill (or drill press) and you definately need a bench vise. BUT I LOVE MY SAW ZALL!!

[84 400]

YEah i just went through some of my stuff to give you all an idea....
i bench monted grinding wheel, a vice, hack saw, corded drill to many bits to count, a craftsman 80 peice mechanics tool set (not let me down yet but the rachet is not that strong 1/2 drive) 2 diffrent x style lug nut wrenches. a set of vice grips, salz saw, various hammers(ball peen, smalol handled sledge) A 3 foot long peic of old exhaust tube, old crafstman tools that my dad owns (very stong and good quality they could easly take on a new sanp on tool ) an inpact driver that you hammer, a propane torch, the jack out of my truck and wood blocks, a sander (palm black and decker) pry bars, protractors levels andle finders ect... that is all i can think of now.

Here is a new list of wants i cam up with.

A set of 3/4 drive sockets and rachet (crafts man or snap on if i can find a complete set of snap on)

An angle grinder ( samll like 4 inch or so) i live up in the north east and am doing alot of frame cleaning to keep the rust away. plus they are great as a cut off wheel.

Heavy jack stands ( from habor freight or somthing i don't know but heavy duty.)

A compresser if i can find a good used one for good money.

ingersall rand impact wrench off ebay very good price from this guy that sells new ones cheaper

A torque wrench

A sand blaster from Northern power or habor freight (agian i live in NE and rust repair is a constant up here also i do restore small tractors and i would love to get onther project vehical.

1/4 racket and socket set

ratchetting wrenches with adjustible heads (found to be helpful in the past)

Air rachett

Prob in that order as money allows. on a side not I did work with my freind when building his 4x4 and we used the angle gridner and welder the most. And when i was in school the compresser got the most use. And we did not just do tire rotations. for sand blasting suspention parts and paint. What do you think of this new list in the order listed above? Anythin to change ? The compresser is only if i can find a good deal, and the impact wrench and the sandblaster are also depending on the compresser. sorry for the long mis spelled post and thanks for the input!

[71SWBChevy]

On the 3/4 drive tools I would check out other brands besides snap-on and craftsman. In my experience blackhawk tools or williams make better tools in the large stuff than craftsman and around here the prices are lower than sears. Another thing to look at on air tools is the Husky professional air tools, they are fairly cheap and the only ones I have found with a lifetime warranty, most of the manufactures don't warranty air or electric tools for life. You can get them at Home Depot and they hold up really well in my experince, haven't had to take one back yet, we run a die grinder, cut-off wheel, and impact wrench from them. the impact wrench gets beat to death and used almost everyday still running awesome.

Also I would stay away from snap-on air ratchets or 1/4 drive ratchets, maybe its just me but we have had 5 or 6 of both and none were good. The air-ratchet lasted about 3 or 4 DAYS before it went caput, traded in 3 times and never got a good one. We currently have 2 snap-on 1/4 drive ratchets that the guts are constantly just falling out of which have to be traded in all the time. Those are the only 2 snap-on items I have ever had that much trouble out of its kinda sad really.

[cdowns]

i'd buy the 1/4inch ratchet/torque wrench/ and ratcget wrenches way long B-4 spending money on a 3/4drive ratchet setup // they've got a ton more everyday uses than the occasional time you might need a 3/4drive stuff// i've never had a need for 3/4drive ratchet stuff in over 40years

[shifty]

Originally Posted by kingsolver72

I don't know why,but I just find that quote hilarious.

[71SWBChevy]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i'd buy the 1/4inch ratchet/torque wrench/ and ratcget wrenches way long B-4 spending money on a 3/4drive ratchet setup // they've got a ton more everyday uses than the occasional time you might need a 3/4drive stuff// i've never had a need for 3/4drive ratchet stuff in over 40years

Yeah this is very true, most of our stuff is farm use and construction equipment use therefore the man reason that we have quite a bit of 3/4 drive stuff but if you are working on cars and small motors I wouldn't even worry about the 3/4 drive stuff, you should be able to get everything you need in 1/2 drive. Plus once you move into the 3/4 stuff you are REALLY going to start eating into that budget quick.

[Longhorn Man]

He's in Maine... he'll need the 3/4 stuff just to remove a bumper.

[71SWBChevy]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

He's in Maine... he'll need the 3/4 stuff just to remove a bumper.

Or a good long 1/2 breaker bar.

[zeeklu]

Sears has a pretty good tool sale going on right now. Chris http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/verti...&vertical=TOOL

[Longhorn Man]

woah... I musta been doped up on the cold meds.... I was thinking 1/2 inch when everyone was saying 3/4...
Yeah, screw the 3/4 inch stuff.

[71SWBChevy]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

woah... I musta been doped up on the cold meds.... I was thinking 1/2 inch when everyone was saying 3/4...
Yeah, screw the 3/4 inch stuff.

I was thinking damn andy must have seen one hell of a rusted bumper bolt