Shop Tools?

[nixxerRsixxer]

just looking to see if everyone has a brand preference or they just buy the cheapest available..

when i used to work installing car stereos i got everything off the snap-on truck.. including my pritty blue roll-cabinet with stainless top.. but as of late i've just been purchasing craftsman handtools.. as they are nearly 1/4 the cost and have the same lifetime warranty.. they dont have quite the bling factor.. but w/ the newer smooth handles craftsman on ratchets i am liking them alot more..

while were at it .. why dont we have everyone chime in what they think are a few necessities with tools in their shop and some tools theyd really like to acquire in the near future.

[Grifter]

i buy a lot of napa hand tools, life time warranty and i can usually call napa and have a new one delivered in the truck to my door straight from the shop as long as i can hand the driver the broken tool when he arrives....to good to pass up especially when its the middle of the day in the middle of a suspension build and/or the jeep aint running and i cant get to the parts store to replace the broken ratchet...just call em up and order everything i need for delivery and have em throw a new ratchet in with it....

as for things i have found necessary, a six foot pry bar works wonders for installing lift coils springs..they go in smooth as silk under long pry bar tension...

a good mig welder can be a nice asset if you know how to use it..i have one and am still learning but when i do use it it pays for it self...

anda good floor jack and some jack stands can get you threw just about any job....

Maier

[Skooter_Built]

iI perfer either Snap-on or Craftsman. For all my percision tool I buy Snap-on, like wrenches, ratchets, torque wrenches... My Snap-on tools I take extremely good care of and try not to break them. On the other hand I use my Craftsman tools for the dirty nasty jobs. I dont care if they break or get damaged cause there easier to replace the my Snap-on tools. I usually buy things that are the best quality if I plan on using them alot, but i also will go to Harbor Freight or places like that and buy a cheap tool if im in a pinch or only plan on using it a few times.

[Sandals]

Lets see..... I Have 3 triple stacks of Craftsman Tool chests filled Mostly with Craftsman tools. ( I Like snap-on, but don't like the inconvenience of having to wait for the truckl when I break something)

As far as what I feel necessary......
Several Good ratchets,
at least 2 complete sets of sockets, SAE+Metric, Deepwell and shallow (I have at least 5, and still can't find what I need in the middle of the project :) )
Combination wrenches ( I am loving the Gearwrenchs, have a couple sets)
5lb mini Sledge
Pullers, I commonly use my gear puller, Pitman arm and Tie Rod end puller
Slide Hammer Set (don't use it alot, but a butt saver when you need it)
Torches..... I didn't know how easy Life could be when working on rusty vehicles until after I bought my set
Grinder
Pliers, locking and a big honkin pair of Channelocks
A selection of Screwdrivers
Another life saver..... Big Compressor and good impact wrench.

When you get more into fabbing and such, Drill press, Band Saw, Hole Saw's, Welder, Hydraulic Press.

Other tools I use often enough to warrant a mention.... a GOOD set of drill bits, and unibits.
Cold Chisels
Engine Hoist
Porta-band
Brake Line tools
Set of files

[Yetti]

I have bunch of good stuff, but it always figures that I need another tool to do the job right....so off to the store I go!

I got a 5 pc Ridgid power tool kit yesterday because My crapsman cordless died. the kit came with a cordless sawsall, 1/2" drill, screw gun, flood light,6 1/2" skill saw 3 batteries and a charger all for $449.00 at Home depot. life time warrenty sold me.

[JEEPR]

Mostly Craftsman, because of price and warranty. Some Snap-on, Matco, Home Depot, and whatever else I have picked up over the years at garage sales and stuff....

I had a full Snap-on set at one time (well, technically Snap-on still owned most of it) that I sold when I went in the military. It was nice, but I couldn't see spending that kind of money for a set of tools if I wasn't making a living with them.


And why do my 13mm sockets keep getting lost????

[noodles]

i have snapon, craftsman, armstrong, maco and proto, i like all of these but when i went to but new ones i went with armstrong,becasue i love their ratchets, and i have had no complants with their other products.
if you do any eletrical, you need a good dvom, it makes a world of difference, I would also say a sawall is good to have because I have broken a couple bolts off and then cut them out when replacing springs, of course a torch woudl do the same thign...

[noodles]

Oh i think you need lights, I hate working in the dark.
and Id also like to get a good tubing bender, maybe a mig/tig welder..