You have $100 to spend on tools. What do you buy?

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: and don't forget the 10% lowes moving coupon.

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: and don't forget the 10% lowes moving coupon.

The do what now?

In reply to 93gsxturbo: I get what you are saying about being in the rust belt, but I'm not. If E36 M3 is rusted on around here, we break or cut it off. Worst case scenario is those 500ft/lb axle nuts, and god help you there anyway. Quality tools are great, I'm not arguing that. But ROI is what I'm FORCED to consider, because I don't have the budget to throw away. If a $5 tool will do the job, then a $25 tool is a huge waste. I'm happy for you that you can afford it. I'm not going to bore anyone with the story of my financial situation, but needless to say, times are hard, and for many, there isn't a lunch trip or a starbucks visit to cut out.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: didn't get the HF email so life is full of losssauce for me atm. Oh, and I saw that set on Lowe's too... probably going to end up with it.

In reply to ultraclyde: Yeah, I searched google too because Lowe's site is historically awful. Sad to see it discontinued.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac: and don't forget the 10% lowes moving coupon.

The do what now?

+1 quit holding out on us!

Mover's coupon in the USPS Address change envelopes....

Ranger50 wrote: Mover's coupon in the USPS Address change envelopes....

^what he said. Lowes gives out 10% coupons in their USPS moving/address change packets as well as on their website if you register. Like a welcome to the neighborhood. And along the same topic, Home Depot also takes Lowes (and other competitor) coupons no questions asked. Google will also turn these up.

I want those socket holders that show the size above the sockets in your tool box like in the GRM ultimate garage

In reply to Karl La Follette:

These???

http://www.amazon.com/Hansen-HNE92000-Socket-Tray-Pack/dp/B002YKLDP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325198737&sr=8-1

Edit: I already own some of them... They work nice until you have sockets in larger sizes then what the tray will hold. Like a 1 11/16" socket for Dodge front hub nuts...

yes

If you don't have a set of good files yet, buy some. They're a "Bridgeport mill in a toolbox drawer" and make the difference between "doesn't fit" and "fits" pretty quickly.

Hansen trays would be better if they were modular so you could adjust sizes and spacing and let them grow grow grow!

As it is I have rack upon rack of sockets that are neatly arranged in my top drawer just waiting for me to open it so they can tip over.

And just for the record, this was $400 off Craigslist. Top and bottom and its really in nice shape. An hour with some degreaser, another hour to remove the stickers, 20 minutes to relube the ball bearing slides, and you have a toolbox that is set for a lifetime. And the best part, its still worth $400 10 years from now. I don't think you can say that about Harbor Freight.

In this shot you can see what $225 gets you at Sears, the little top box in the back. This is a case where it is definitely worth it to save your pennies.

The two work benches were $225 for the pair. Butcher block tops and cast iron legs. You could bolt them down, but they are so heavy that they never move. The welders I splurged on, I don't know why I needed a TIG but I sure did at the time! And the box in the back is a huge Matco box I got cheap from a guy that had a guy at work drop it off a loading dock. It bent a non-functional rear corner that I hammered out to be close enough, put a new lock and a few new slides in it, and got a $4500 toolbox for $1000. The compressor in the first pic was $80 used. The vice is a Rock Island (made in the USA of course) that was a swap meet special for $25. Deals are out there, you just gotta dig.

I believe the point is that many of us don't really ever plan on getting deep enough into wrenching to bother or worry about resale value. I haven't sold a tool yet, and i don't plan on it.

I'll buy what i need. Then stop buying things.

In reply to 93gsxturbo: Yep.

But you know what? I used my Christmas cash to buy this little top box like the one pictured... at Sears Outlet tonight. Advertised as reman $89. Bought one NEW in store for $74.

It's 6 drawer, ball bearing, the slightly heavier gauge that Craftsman "Heavy Duty" brings over "Basic", and I couldn't be more pleased with the deal. It's no $400 Craigslist steal, but I'll certainly get my $74 out of it. My family will appreciate me taking that $325 and putting it towards other car things I need, and my box will still hold the meager tool collection I have... Which, btw, also expanded tonight thanks to that Lowe's 138 piece set. Good to have some 6pts (have none right now) and some extra ratchets.

I'd never have paid $225 for it, but that's the point of the whole discussion, right? What can you get at Sears for <$100?

Still I really appreciate you coming in and giving info on how NOT to spend that $100. There really was good info in there. Just for me, a $75 way for me to organize my wrenches and sockets is better than my current solution.

Damn dude, you did pretty good for $135 total, didn't ya?

I haven't gone and gotten that Kobalt set yet... trying to resist. I know i already have triples of pretty much everything in there, and i told myself i need to focus on buying things i don't have instead of more of the things i already do under the guise of "convenience."

Depends on who you ask.

But yeah, I think I did. Considering I swapped my cracked exhaust manifold with a $4.99 red-tin-special 12pt socket set in a pinch last year, I'm looking forward to some 6pts.