New tool chest :)

[irishkev90]

Got an 11-drawer, 3-piece tool box for my birthday on Sunday. I've got a few things in it, still need to organize it and, of course, get more tools. Now, on to the pictures!

Here it is! That thing in the upper-right corner is just towels. Even though it does look like a pink and blue Dr. Suess character watching over my stuff, haha.


Some sockets, ratcheting driver and bits, misc stuffs.


Some ratchets, more sockets, extensions and magnetic socket inserts.


More sockets.


Pliers and cutters and such.


Screwdriver set.


Pittsburgh wrenches with Craftsman locking, magnetic holders.


Pry bars.


Storage compartment. Misc crap.


It's still a work in progress, obviously. I'm just starting out and have a very limited budget so I've just got a hodgepodge of cheap tools. Any suggestions on how to organize or pics of how you have yours set up would cool.

[Ace]

lol my box is even smaller than that but has a **** ton more tools. I just don't wanna spend a lot of money on a tool box yet till I've got a house to keep it.
but yeah, its a start. and for things you use a lot you might consider upgrading to matco or craftsman as the HF stuff doesn't last too well usually. It works great in a pinch though or for something that you need to modify/destroy to use. lol

[irishkev90]

Yeah, I've got a couple Craftsman things, but damn they're expensive. I now have less than $200 in the bank, so this is going to have to do for a while

I've already reorganized the sockets into a lower, larger drawer. Still need another magnetic organizer for the 3/8" drive metric sockets, though.

[carkrazy1987]

Its nice to have a small box. Don't be in a rush to get abigger tool box. Cuz ull get one them big ones like me and then u stare at it and wonder why ur tool box costs more then your car lol. I know I am.

[irishkev90]

Not in such a rush to get a bigger box. I don't even have enough tools to fill this one, haha.

Sent from my HTC Incredible using Tapatalk.

[1st Gen]

Need a lighter and a bottle opener.

[progt91]

nice. it snowballs from here. i now have over 10 g in tools and counting. wouldnt think so by looking at it but it does add up fast

[Raider9864]

Its nice to have a small box. Don't be in a rush to get abigger tool box. Cuz ull get one them big ones like me and then u stare at it and wonder why ur tool box costs more then your car lol. I know I am.

Then you shouldn't of bought a Snap-on or Matco tool box. I bought a 40-inch Craftsman tool box with a total of 18 drawers (top and bottom). Its the ball-bearing style and all that blah blah blah for $1300. If I were to buy this same style box from Snap-on or Matco I would be looking at $6000-$8000 easy!

IrishKev- I am not sure if this is just a personal set of tools or if you are just getting into the trade, but if you think Craftsman tools are expensive, you have a long road ahead of you. I do own quite a bit of Craftsman sockets, but that's about it. When I first started out, everything I had was Craftsman. You quickly learn how inferior their tools are to Snap-on or Matco.

I am damn close to 10k in tools if not over. They sure as hell add up fast! $300 on a 1/2" torque wrench, $500 on a master set of tap and dies, $200 on a 5 piece 1/4" swivel sockets....thats a stack and you spent it in a matter of minutes!

[progt91]

if you ever want a snap on or matco box you gotta buy them used. i have my eye on a snap on 96 series for about 3g. man i love that box.

[crazycanadian]

IrishKev- I am not sure if this is just a personal set of tools or if you are just getting into the trade, but if you think Craftsman tools are expensive, you have a long road ahead of you. I do own quite a bit of Craftsman sockets, but that's about it. When I first started out, everything I had was Craftsman. You quickly learn how inferior their tools are to Snap-on or Matco.

Some of Snap-on stuff is worth buying over Craftsman... All though I am finding snap on sockets aren't up to snuff like they once were... Same thing with wrenches... They aren't worth the price difference anymore... I have a set of Craftsman chrome sockets that I have been using for 10 years now in the trade and they have held up as well as any of my snap on stuff... Also my craftsman wrench set has been just as good...

irishkev90. Looks like a nice little set to start... Enjoy filling it... Tools are an addiction.... I am spending an average of $200 - 300 a month on tools right now...

[Ace]

Personally I have a lot of Gearwrench stuff. I love it all. and it carries the lifetime warranty too. as you work on stuff more and more you'll realize what you find yourself using a lot and what you could buy to make stuff easier. here's some things I noticed you don't have that I use often
-ball peen hammer
-vise grips
-quarter inch stuff (extensions, U-joint, sockets)
-channel locks
-more 3/8 extensions, flex head ratchet
-ratcheting wrenches
-adjustable wrench (12" for those large things you rarely come across)
-1/2" breaker bar, u joint, extensions, ratchet, 1 1/4 or 32mm socket (axle nut)
-micro screw drivers
-pick set
-magnetic bowl/tray

thats just the tip of the hand tool iceberg and some things that I find myself using a lot.
Personally I have a battery powered 3/8th impact gun that is deff one of the best tool's I've ever bought. saves massive amounts of time. I got my Hitachi from sears for $90 with 2 batteries, charger, and case. does about 70 ft/lb which is good and snug but not tight enough to break most fasteners if you've got a trigger happy finger

[irishkev90]

I do have some 1/4" sockets already. I think the SAE set is in the red tray while the metric set is still awaiting its own tray. As for what to get next, I'm planning on breaker bar(s), adapters, u-joints, extensions, vise grips, pick set, small screwdriver set, I'm sure there's some stuff I'm forgetting. I want to get a cordless impact gun as well, when money allows.

I've added a few knives stolen from work (shh), battery post/terminal brush, telescoping magnetic pick-up thing, and a set of magnetic socket inserts for the SAE sockets (already have a set for the metric). Oh, and I added one of my mazdaspeed stickers, hahaha.

As I said before, I'm just starting out collecting my own tools. I want to get a job as a tech at a dealership and having your own tools is obviously a requirement. Up until now I've just been using my dad's stuff since he's got almost everything under the sun (he used to own/work on a racecar and used to own an antobody shop).

Thanks for the kind words everyone and the heads-up about brand quality as well as suggestions for what I should get.

Sent from my HTC Incredible using Tapatalk.

[carkrazy1987]

Oh don't get me wrong, I bought my box out of needs, I'm a full time tech. I bought my box, cuz I kept running out of room. I know I got at least $20k into this box and tools. I have another box at home that I bought used, a mac tech1000. And I look at it as and investment too, but some days u wonder why. I have nothing against craftsman, that's were I started, but they boxes couldn't hold up to the weight of the tools. And its also a lil hard to find time to go to sears, or kmart to replace broken tools. I prefer matco over snapon, and if u have both craftsman and matco/snap on u will see a diff in tool quality and how they perform. To me my matco sockets and wrnches, hold better on nuts and bolts then craftsman. Imo unless u use ur tools everyday for a living, husky, craftsman, or cobalt will do.

[KAinjection]

I have a combo of Craftsman, Mac, Cornwell, Snap-on- and Matco, but most of my sockets are craftsman. There really is not a whole lot of difference, except your paying for a name. I have bought things from the big names that were not that good of quality before, but the frequency of it is less then the cheaper stuff.

My advice to building your set is buy all or most of your stuff in Metric, and forget SAE stuff unless your working on Diesels/heavy equipment. I have many SAE sockets and wrenches in my box, but they just collect dust. There is the occasional time you will need something SAE but its usually the large stuff. Anything between 7/8" to 1-1/4" for wrenches or sockets. Also I mostly use 6-point sockets, and very rarely use 12-point unless I have to or the bolt head requires it.

I have a couple of recommendations for you:

Gearwrench X-beam ratcheting flex head wrenches. I love these things and use them all the time, and if they dont fit I use the:
Gearwrench ratcheting stubby wrenches. And if these dont fit, I use a regular wrench.
A really good electric impact is worth the money period. Just for the fact you can break stuff loose anywhere without needing an air compressor is wonderful. But there is the occasional time when an air impact was needed because it had more power for something really stubborn.

If you want to work on German cars (yuck) figure on buying a lot of stuff that isnt used on other makes, except in a rare case. I am sure there are a few things I am forgetting in the section, but I really try to keep my work on these cars to a minimum.
E-Torx
Spline drive or Triple square sockets. They look like torx, but have more points
Large Allen head sockets


This is all from my experience, so what I wrote may not hold true for everyone. *Thats my disclaimer so no one turns this into an argument* J/k

[FazdaBoy4ever]

if you ever want a snap on or matco box you gotta buy them used. i have my eye on a snap on 96 series for about 3g. man i love that box.

My snapon krl1023 tool box I have 3250 dollars into including the rented trailer to pick, and the brand new stainless top I bought because I got such a good deal on it. Deals can be had... Thanks craigslist!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk