What does your home tool setup look like?

[soundman98]

lol


that was my setup in my parents basement most of the way through high school.

i've expanded since.

Originally Posted by BrahmaBull1990

Husky isn't bad for the price! I have a few of their tools.

Has anyone tried the new line from Harbor Freight called Icon that is suppose to compete with Snap-on?

they're more expensive. if you've got the dough, sure. but they don't turn the bolts any different.

i've got 2 toolboxes.

the one in the garage is stocked almost entirely with harbor freight standard socket stuff. mostly 1/4" and 3/8" with a few 1/2" for good measure. home depot sells a 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 wobble extension kit that i really like over the HF stuff. then usually keep a few pick sets for poking and prodding things, as well as some 5-in-1 screwdrivers for turning things.

the basement tool box has ended up getting a home depot husky brand socket set. i like the quality a little more than the HF stuff. otherwise, the basement toolbox inherits tools from work that i decide no longer work great day-to-day, or find better replacements for.

[BrahmaBull1990]

Originally Posted by soundman98

lol
[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/7663/26941577361_5205dbd482_o./img]

that was my setup in my parents basement most of the way through high school.

i've expanded since.



they're more expensive. if you've got the dough, sure. but they don't turn the bolts any different.

i've got 2 toolboxes.

the one in the garage is stocked almost entirely with harbor freight standard socket stuff. mostly 1/4" and 3/8" with a few 1/2" for good measure. home depot sells a 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 wobble extension kit that i really like over the HF stuff. then usually keep a few pick sets for poking and prodding things, as well as some 5-in-1 screwdrivers for turning things.

the basement tool box has ended up getting a home depot husky brand socket set. i like the quality a little more than the HF stuff. otherwise, the basement toolbox inherits tools from work that i decide no longer work great day-to-day, or find better replacements for.

That room is beautiful madness!!

I honestly would rather have a cheaper tool set with more variety than an expensive smaller set. I’m not rebuilding my motor with them, I’m just a weekend wrench-turner. My box has a few torqued and twisted extensions that are useless, but they were dirt cheap and lasted a couple years. No biggie

[Grady]

Tools are something that you grow over time. Get the basics first. Keep them organized so you do not lose any, forget them in your engine compartment. If you have good pawn shops around keep an eye out there. Some tools are worth the extra price of Snap-on, etc. If you get a Snap-on tool at a pawn shop for 1/2 price it still has the same warranty as a new one. Ratchets screw drivers are some of the basic tool it is worth going with Snap-on. After 30+ years of getting tools this is what my wrench drawer looks like. Never get rid of a tool!

[CrowsFeast]

I have a Stanley tool chest but I haven't been able to set it up yet (used to live in a condo).

I've been using a socket set much like this one which was also on sale (currently $180 on sale, normal $600!)

I've also got a mastercraft click type torque wrench which I picked up on sale, a 10 pc princess auto impact deep socket set that I use with a maximum 1/2" drive cordless impact (saves so much time and effort doing tire swaps), and a pencil case full of the individual sockets that I've bought over time (allen heads and torx especially for doing brakes, swapping the steering wheel on my old car, etc.). One thing I want to get is a cordless 90* ratchet wrench but I haven't seen a great sale yet.

That's aside from my classic red toolbox of wrenches, allen keys, screwdrivers, and power tools for doing work on my house.

[spcmafia]

Speaking of not losing tools, an extendable magnetic pick-up tool goes a long way. Specially when you drop the engine oil plug inside the bucket, or drop anything inside the engine bay. Plus if you're doing and welding or cutting, I like to take the magnet and scan the ground to pick up any shards I might of missed during cleanup.

[NoHaveMSG]

Oh, and an FYI CDI Torque is who makes, or used to make Snap-On's basic line of torque wrenches. These can be bought on amazon for much less and can be recalibrated.

https://www.amazon.com/CDI-1002MFRMH...36&sr=8-5&th=1

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Torq...b)/BRUTUS3R300

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

I'd have to tally everything up. In sales I've probably saved a good $700+CAD.
I'm not factoring in taxes just list prices. Probably spent about $500-600 in tools if I had to round.

I think the tool kit was 400-500 regular I got it for 179.
Screwdriver set was 80 on sale for 20.
Wracheting wrench set was 200 on sale for 80.
Impact set 130 on sale for about 50.
Wobble extension set was in the 30 range paid.
Breaker bar was also cheap around 20.
Passthrough set was $60 via Amazon.
Adjustable wrench and plier set was 70 on sale for 30
Flare nut set I got 10 years ago. Can't recall the price but less than $60.
Plug in impact drill was 80 10 years ago. I'd buy cordless now.

I was fortunate to inherit the tool bag and torque wrench. Add $300-400 for those depending on what you get. Probably some odds and ends I am forgetting.

Yep! Good tools go on sale for insanely cheap prices all the time. They are a pretty common loss leader item at most automotive/home stores. It is just a matter of watching the flyers.

[Stonehorsw]

Started mine with simple tools. Found good deal in a Dewalt tool box, then got some cheap tools at Harbor Freight clearance (torque wrench for 9usd, that I don’t expect to last forever)

And I liked the idea of going in a pawn shop. I am going to try that.

[Frankz54]

First set was all from Harbor Fright, not the cheaper tools but the high quality ones. And surprising they have lasted and have worked out really well. Changed intake, header and exhaust all with their tools. So like many have said, start small and basic and build up dude. There are three places that makes me feel like a kid in toys r us... Total Wine, Tool Story and Gun Store

[soundman98]

be sure to check out estate sales as well. lots of times it's a separate company running the show, and their goal is just to move stuff out for any amount of money over a weekend. lots of times, anything they don't sell goes in the dumpster.

i'll routinely offer $10-15 on stuff they had marked for $50, and they'll take it just to get rid of it..

[therealstoly]

Great thread with a lot of good idea sharing. In all my years spent in the garage I'd only add that a peg board is worth its weight in gold.