Tool question for you tool masters!

[scottd1975]

I need to buy a 5 drawer roll around and about 500.00 worth of tools for my new job. My question is where is the best place to buy them at in town or on the net? Do you guys have a used rollaround you dont need?

[mike]

If your just starting out, Sears for the box and tools, Harbor freight is just junk so avoid that. You can find good used wrenches and stuff at swap meets too.

[ncttrnl]

What kind of tools do you need? $500 dollars can go a pretty decent distance for a shadetree type but it doesn't go very far for a professional.

I always recommend craftsman for a good starter set. Their hand tools have a good warranty and you only have to find a sears to return a broken tool for a new one.

For professionals, matco and snap-on are the brands people trust. They are pricey... too pricey for my taste... but, if your livelihood depends on it, your value of a tool is different.

[mike]

I have all Snap-on stuff, A set of wrenches 10-19mm is over $300, but they are lifetime warranty, like Sears, but grip a little better. Matco stuff is terrible, it breaks more often then Sears stuff, and Matco dealers are getting hard to find. We have been without one for more than a year. MAC and Cornwell are alos few and far between. Thats why I buy Snap-on stuff, it doesn't break and if it does, there is a Snap-on guy going to every dealer. I have bee doing this for a decade now and have probably over $50K in tools and box.

If your going to make a career out of it, you can bite the bullet and buy the good stuff now, or you can buy Craftsman and slowly start replacing it with better stuff and as time goes on moving the Sears stuff into the garage. If you aren't sure if you are going to do this for a length of time, get the Sears stuff.

[DanT1.8T]

*hangs his head in shame* I thought we were gunna talk about the band for a second there... I could answer all sorts of questions about the band.

[jwill'sMK4]

^^^rep for a random post

[scottd1975]

well i should have been more specific... Im starting as a contractor on base working on the same helicopters as i did in the navy. I just need my own tools... I guess sears is the place to go there on sale. I need very specific sized wrenches and other tools along with a five drawer roll around. Thanks guys for the help and your opinions... I always thought craftsman was a great brand is it a lower end brand of tool?

[mike]

Its a mid range. They are pretty damn durable and inexpensive

[ncttrnl]

Sears released a lower range brand called "Companion" but "Craftsman" is still their good stuff. I've been using craftsman tools for years. I'm happy with their performance and I give them a pretty good workout.

edit...

Get yourself a good lock on your box... the better the tools, the more they tend to walk.

[RavinJetta]

I also agree on Craftsman. Been using them for many years and they are hard to beat for the price.

[scottd1975]

they have a nice box on sale for 189

[SoCal_GLI]

well i should have been more specific... Im starting as a contractor on base working on the same helicopters as i did in the navy. I just need my own tools... I guess sears is the place to go there on sale. I need very specific sized wrenches and other tools along with a five drawer roll around. Thanks guys for the help and your opinions... I always thought craftsman was a great brand is it a lower end brand of tool?


you dont need your own tools....in fact its alot easier if you dont!

if you get your own tools they have to be inducted into tool control binder in tool room, they also have to be etched per the 4790 volume 5 (tool control program)

you are better off submitting a deviation letter and having the squadron build you a box....let me tell you from experience the roll aways suck, its much easier to have a general maintenance box you can bring up on the aircraft with you

[SoCal_GLI]

and did you get on with JK Hill or PKL?

[GtIrOb01]

I still use Craftsman tools daily. But I perfer to get my stuff from Mac Tools. Their reps are always cool, and (my rep) always has a good selection on the truck. To me, Snap-On is overpriced, and all the reps Ive dealt with have been complete pricks. Id say if your planning to use the tools alot, invest in some good stuff. If its just a here and there kinda thing, Craftsman is the way to go.

Craftsman tools are good, but sometimes the wrenches tend to not grab well and slip. Never had this happen with my Mac stuff yet. ha

[Agent Orange]

I have gobs of Snap-On tools, but I can assure you, my Craftsman tools see WAY more use time than anything else. And I believe they carry that guarantee also. Can't go wrong.

[scottd1975]

dood im a civilian working on base at the PMI hanger so i have to buy my own tools i work for L3.

[idrivea2002golf]

I have all Snap-on stuff, A set of wrenches 10-19mm is over $300, but they are lifetime warranty, like Sears, but grip a little better. Matco stuff is terrible, it breaks more often then Sears stuff, and Matco dealers are getting hard to find. We have been without one for more than a year. MAC and Cornwell are alos few and far between. Thats why I buy Snap-on stuff, it doesn't break and if it does, there is a Snap-on guy going to every dealer. I have bee doing this for a decade now and have probably over $50K in tools and box.

If your going to make a career out of it, you can bite the bullet and buy the good stuff now, or you can buy Craftsman and slowly start replacing it with better stuff and as time goes on moving the Sears stuff into the garage. If you aren't sure if you are going to do this for a length of time, get the Sears stuff.


snap-on is great. it's what i used to use when i was at Saleen. the beauty of them is they stop by almost daily with just about every tool, plus their lifetime warranty so you never have to leave work to get the tools changed out.

although sears has a lifetime warranty too so i would go with either of those companies.

[joe18tbo112]

I have all Snap-on stuff, A set of wrenches 10-19mm is over $300, but they are lifetime warranty, like Sears, but grip a little better. Matco stuff is terrible, it breaks more often then Sears stuff, and Matco dealers are getting hard to find. We have been without one for more than a year. MAC and Cornwell are alos few and far between. Thats why I buy Snap-on stuff, it doesn't break and if it does, there is a Snap-on guy going to every dealer. I have bee doing this for a decade now and have probably over $50K in tools and box.

If your going to make a career out of it, you can bite the bullet and buy the good stuff now, or you can buy Craftsman and slowly start replacing it with better stuff and as time goes on moving the Sears stuff into the garage. If you aren't sure if you are going to do this for a length of time, get the Sears stuff.

I disagree somewhat about matco. yes some of their tools aren't the greatest but some things are ok. some of their items are actually made by the same manufacturers of snap on. I have a matco box because I feel it is far sturdier and i don't like snapons drawer locks. most of my tools are snap on but I do use quite a bit of matco as well. I use craftsman at home and they get the job done. If you have a tool truck that will be going to your work regularly, i suggest buying from them. it will cost more, but they come to you. they can order any specialty tool you may need. they warranty almost everything, even stuff they shouldn't if you're a good customer. plus, they allow you to make no interest weekly payments to the truck. some of craftsman pro stuff is made by matco like the wrenches.

[SoCal_GLI]

dood im a civilian working on base at the PMI hanger so i have to buy my own tools i work for L3.


dood im also a civilian...but im attached to the squadron

the only place you are gonna get splined wrenches is snap on as far as i know.
12 points wont work, they dont fit on the nuts and bolts right, they can work, but if you have to remove something that is tight (say 200 foot pounds) they wont

[Monster8V]

There are more options than Snap-on.

Home Depot sells the exact same wrenches (Husky) as Snap-on but for a grip cheaper. They have a lifetime warranty as well but its funky, you have to call and they mail you a replacement.

Lowes has their own tools (Kobalt) as well and also have a lifetime warranty but its like sears, bring in the broke one and they give you a replacement. They just had a big sale last weekend. Shop around.

[mike]

Matcos Boxes are on par, if not better than some Snap-on boxes. I bought a top of the line Masters series triple bay back in Oct from snap-on, nice box, made in the USA, I just don't like the absence of Matco reps in SoCal, atleast in my area, you have to chase one down for warranty.

[SoCal_GLI]

There are more options than Snap-on.

Home Depot sells the exact same wrenches (Husky) as Snap-on but for a grip cheaper. They have a lifetime warranty as well but its funky, you have to call and they mail you a replacement.

Lowes has their own tools (Kobalt) as well and also have a lifetime warranty but its like sears, bring in the broke one and they give you a replacement. They just had a big sale last weekend. Shop around.


not the aircraft specific tools...i have never seen splined wrenches in sears, home depot, lowes, mac, matco, cornwell, the only company ive seen that makes them is in fact snap on

[Monster8V]

Matcos Boxes are on par, if not better than some Snap-on boxes. I bought a top of the line Masters series triple bay back in Oct from snap-on, nice box, made in the USA, I just don't like the absence of Matco reps in SoCal, atleast in my area, you have to chase one down for warranty.



The one guy we had just quit and is going back to work for Honda as a tech. They all seem to be scheisty to a point. But hey, they sometimes have tools that make my life easier so I buy it. Plus its a tax write off.......


not the aircraft specific tools...i have never seen splined wrenches in sears, home depot, lowes, mac, matco, cornwell, the only company ive seen that makes them is in fact snap on


I dont know whats aircraft specific now than when I worked on em years ago. So go buy what you need from Snap-on and the rest from wherever. MACHNICH

[scottd1975]

no no not aircraft specific just they want me to have specific size wrenches sockets screw drivers and what not.. ill look at home depot but sears has a sale going on...

[mitssn]

Check CRAIGSLIST!! There is always stuff on there for sale!

[scottd1975]

well got back from sears got 1185 worth of tools for 800 with employee and military discounts... all craftsman brand and a 6 drawer roll around ball bearing box.

[Agent Orange]

Congrats!!!

Pics of the new equipment???

[ncttrnl]

well got back from sears got 1185 worth of tools for 800 with employee and military discounts... all craftsman brand and a 6 drawer roll around ball bearing box.

:worthless

[scottd1975]

haha ill take pics as soon as i get the box put together.. but the roll around is the black craftsman ball bearing roll around, all the sockets are laser etched. the wrenches are open ended on one side and ratchet on the other. Got a craftsman cordless set that comes with 6 items on sale for 32.00 comes with a drill, lite, sander, vaccum and i forgot what else.

[scottd1975]

last question where can i get some foam inserts to lay in the drawers so i can cut out the peices so each tool stays still.

[karl]

you should check harbor freight for stuff like that

[Agent Orange]

Unless you're skilled with a blade and can find foam pieces and cut them out yourself, then I'd try Harbor Freight as well...

[SoCal_GLI]

haha ill take pics as soon as i get the box put together.. but the roll around is the black craftsman ball bearing roll around, all the sockets are laser etched. the wrenches are open ended on one side and ratchet on the other. Got a craftsman cordless set that comes with 6 items on sale for 32.00 comes with a drill, lite, sander, vaccum and i forgot what else.


non sparking drill i hope....you're better off getting some air tools

[scottd1975]

dood i got what was on my tool inventory sheet for required tools. all the aircraft that im going to be working on is gas free. PMI hanger.

[SoCal_GLI]

Helos must defuel better than F-18s then...there is no such thing as actual gas free :)

[GtIrOb01]

haha ill take pics as soon as i get the box put together.. but the roll around is the black craftsman ball bearing roll around, all the sockets are laser etched. the wrenches are open ended on one side and ratchet on the other. Got a craftsman cordless set that comes with 6 items on sale for 32.00 comes with a drill, lite, sander, vaccum and i forgot what else.

ratcheting wrenches are a mechanics best friend! I use them constantly. Sounds like you got a pretty good setup there.

[scottd1975]

yea ill take pics once the box is done... yea helos defuel down to needing a pencil drain. Then we drain them completely gas free them using big vacuum machines then we take the cells out.