No buyer's remorse when it comes to the lift (MaxJax before they got real pricey) and lately, a 3D scanner. I ditched the tape measure and have been scanning everything!
No buyer's remorse when it comes to the lift (MaxJax before they got real pricey) and lately, a 3D scanner. I ditched the tape measure and have been scanning everything!
Datsun240ZGuy said:Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) said:Big air
I used to sell hoses to Champion - they were quality compressors made in the USA - Princeton, Illinois.
I was recently divorced and trying to get my feet under me again and I needed a big compressor for my side hustle. So I went to the bank and took out a 12 month loan to get this compressor. Ordered it from Champion and had them build it and truck it to me. So worth it. Made in USA ! It's been like 15 years ago now and I have never regretted a single cent that I spent on it.
Man - lots of good stuff here.
To me, the tools that are worth the money are the little oddball stuff to work on my own rigs in the same capacity as a dealer. The little $35 seal driver for the rear shock of my mountain bike. The factory scan tool for my Mercedes. As was mentioned earlier, they turn the 3 hour stugglefest into the 30 minute pleasure cruise.
Anytime there's an instance of "buy this brand specialty tool" or "you can make your own tool." I was doing a balance shaft delete on my VW engine and I could have Jerry rigged everything, but man was I happy to have the VW specific tools instead. There have been plenty of other times.
I want a lift
wvumtnbkr said:AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) said:wvumtnbkr said:Paco hubstands.
I am seriously considering these and would love feedback. I can align my Miata, and Subaru myself and even my silly truck. Finding shops to work on stuff here ain't easy. Tire shops even cry about non OEM wheels.
Soooo easy to do alignments. Keep your floor clean and they roll very nicely. Built well.
I usually store my racecar on them (I don't think you are supposed to). They work frickin awesome.
They are the best tool I own.
I got mine during a black Friday sale. Hint hint.
In reply to RevRico :
I don't use it. I'm still at "this is easier to make by hand than try to make a cad file" stage 3 years in
Snap on ball joint press. It was $600 15 yrs ago.
Matco 1/2" flex head ratchet, $125 used.
I have a snap on 3/8" air impact but I haven't had decent air in years so it's in a box. $100 used from the Matco guy.
Im sure I have more that I'm forgetting about...
I started in my first technician job after UTI/NASCAR Tech with a Lowe's Kobalt impact. That died 2 months in. The Mac truck came by that morning and I walked out with a red box and some interest-free debt. AWP050 1/2" air impact. I used it at least 5x per weekday for 6 years. Now it just comes out for tire rotates and getting caliper bolts loose. It's quieter and better balanced than the snap-ons and old Matcos.
Snap on tech angle torque wrench, for anything torque to yield they are a huge time saver. I tried a cheaper Eastwood one for home use & hate it.
enginenerd said:No buyer's remorse when it comes to the lift (MaxJax before they got real pricey) and lately, a 3D scanner. I ditched the tape measure and have been scanning everything!
Which scanner, and is it the one you'd get again? I'll add that my lift and paco hub stands were both personal game changers. my small cordless ratchet added so much in speed and ease of doing things.
Not uber expensive, but costly for the size they are: ultrasonic cleaner. Being a guy who loves carbs, it is an essential tool.
Does a 2-post lift count? It has made every job in the garage so much easier and pleasant. It has spoiled me, though. A couple weeks ago I had a car on the lift for a duration and had to change the oil on my daily in the driveway on ramps. I felt like a caveman.
In reply to dclafleur :
Einstar Shining 3D. Yes, I'd buy it again over the others I've seen in the price range. I'm documenting some of my scanning projects over here:
Maybe 10 years ago I spent like $40 on a nice pair of angled snap ring pliers. I can't even remember what brand they were. I've used them many times since and every time I think that they're worth 3x what I paid.
In reply to ddavidv :
I may have to look into one of those. I am so over carb dip buckets.
For me, my first welder wasn't the most expensive thing I've ever bought, but as a percentage of my total net worth at the time (I was 19, working a co-op at college for $12.50 an hour), at around $600, it was a HUGE purchase. I still have it, 27 years later, though I've since bought a bigger, 220 welder so it doesn't get used as much.
Racebrick said:I have only ever had regrets after buying cheap tools.
I grabbed a handful of dikes that were on sale at Northern Tool for $1.00 a piece. I went to use them the other day and discovered they won't even cut plastic zip-ties. I was ripped off.
Hypertherm plasma cutter. Using that after my old Hobart is like going from a Pinto to a Porsche.
It was a mighty expensive bandsaw back about 15 or so years ago. I use it for cutting tubing and it makes my life so much easier that it was well worth the investment.
I need to spend some money. I think the most expensive thing I've bought is a very discounted Husky 62" tool chest for $700. No regerts for that one though.
This guy was some of the best money I've spent. It's a 1971 Quincy 325 on an 80-gallon tank. It used to supply air to the tire shop at the Western Auto in the town I grew up in. It was only $400 but I put another $400 into it. It puts out enough air to power every air tool I own.
In reply to Toyman! :
what's an air tool? 
In reply to A 401 CJ :
Most of the best tools. Battery stuff is nice and cheap. I love a battery impact or drill. But they are frequently too bulky for working down in an engine bay. My battery ratchet is a foot long. My smallest air ratchet is less than 5". Battery drills are huge, air drills are 25% of the size. I could go through the entire list but name the tool and the air version is tiny by comparison.
Add to that tire machines, and things like sandblasting equipment, and my compressor probably runs more than any other tool in my arsenal.
Almost forgot.
Snap-On long barrel air hammer. NOTHING hits like this thing does. Best tool in the world for stubborn, rusty suspension parts. I haven't met a bolt I can't get moving with it. Wear ear protection.
Power Probe II. One of the best tools for electrical diagnostic.
ShawnG said:Almost forgot.
Snap-On long barrel air hammer. NOTHING hits like this thing does. Best tool in the world for stubborn, rusty suspension parts. I haven't met a bolt I can't get moving with it. Wear ear protection.
Power Probe II. One of the best tools for electrical diagnostic.
I'm generally scared of power probes. I've only used them to open Range Rover upper glove boxes once they are removed because they shut themselves and they need to be open to install. We have a guy here we call Captain Airbags because he was poking around with a power probe in a 4 door Chevy truck and managed to pop all the airbags at once.
So far most expensive will be my HF toolbox (absolutely love it) and my older US made box/pan brake. I don't use it often but I love it.
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