Out with the old and in with the new

[Frank46]

Had a 20 plus year old socket and wrench set from Craftsman and over the years quite a few of the sockets migrated from the plastic box they came in to probably my big roll around tool box with all the drawers. Well since the Kubota tractor (L3800) is under the carport at one end of the house and the tools in the roll around in the garage at the other end of the house I decided it was time for a new set. So off to Lowe's and bought a complete set of sockets 1/4",3/8" and 1/2" drive plus ratchets and wremches. Cost was $200 and the plastic box has three drawers plus the lid folds back and that holds the ratchets, nut driver bits with two different screw drivers and a bunch of other goodies. Still have a complete set of box and open end metric wrenches from when I had a toyota corrola many years ago. Some may question as to why I didn't sort out the old sockets and wrenches in the roll around tool box.truth be told that darn box must weigh a few hundred pounds what with a mixture of both inch and metric wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, impact gun and both inch and metric sockets. And the fact that I'm not getting any younger 70 so its easier to keep a complete set near where the tractor is. Bought a cart from Northern Tool and keep all the tools, motor oil, filters, and other junk. So when it's needed just roll it out the side door under the car port and everything is at arms reach. Now if I could only find that 12" 1/2" drive extension rod. The oil drain plugs on the L3800 (there are two of them) are 19mm so I have 19mm sockets in 3/8" & 1/2" drive. Thinking about getting a small air compressor for filling tires and blowing out the junk that gets on the radiator on the tractor and leave the bigger one in the garage for when I do some bead blasting. In case you're wondering the house is 4500 sq ft with two car garage and two car car port so with my messed up legs and back it gets old very fast running back and forth for tools. How many of you have more than one set of tools.sockets, drives and wrenches convientley located where you want them?. Besides must be a man thing as every time I go to Lowe's can't resist hitting up the tool dept. Frank

 

[steveno]

I got rid of all of my sockets sets because I wasn't going to carry a 100 pound tool box up 3 flights of stairs to my apartment when I moved back to Minden. the only socket I have now is a 1/2 drive .750 (19 mm)deep well socket for the lug nuts with a 3 inch extension and a 12 inch breaker bar.

 

[Scorpion520AZ]

Yes, I confess. Lol, I have several socket wrench sets and screwdriver sets strategically placed for convenience.

 

[Tom S.]

In the garage, I have multiple sets of sockets in SAE and metric, as well as multiple sets of box/open end wrenches. If you turn wrenches, sooner or later you will need a duplicate. Plus I have specialty wrenches such as flare nut, ratchet, ignition and short, again in both SAE and metric. And a multitude of ratchets for the sockets and breaker bars as well. Unfortunately, I'm getting to the age where the ability to use these tools is beginning to fade and I can see the day approaching when a tool scale back sale will be taking place.

That's the garage. In the den/reloading room/gun room, I have another set of tools, all designed around the different needs of those hobbies, with some tools being unique and others duplicates of those in the garage.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a set in the garage and in every vehicle and a 3/4 & 1 inch drive sets on stand by for working on big equipment once and a while. Plus, I use 1/4" drive as raw material to make handy custom tools!

Ivan

 

[chief38]

My Socket Drawer contains a full set ranging from 1/4" - 3/8" and up to 1/2" and is made up of approximately 60% Snap-on, 30% Craftsman, with the last 10% being a combo of Mac, Proto, Williams, Crescent, and maybe a Matco here and there for good measure.

I also keep a cheap set of 1/4" and 3/8' in both my SUV and my wife's car with a mini set of 1/4" and 3/8" in my Harley Saddle Bags for on road repairs.

 

[Donn]

I have socket sets in the basement, garage and my truck. Mostly Craftsman and Kobalt, along with some Gear Wrench, SK, Husky, and Snap-On. When Kobalt went off-shore and Lowe's put the old USA made stuff on sale 50% off, I bought a lot of it. Didn't need it, but couldn't pass it by. I don't do as much as I used to, and I've got more than enough to make up a set for each of the kids and still have anything I might need. The only drawback is now, since Craftsman's off-shore, I'm afraid of breaking anything and getting a Chi-Com replacement.

 

[chief38]

PS: When you get an air compressor I'll bet after a month or two you will wonder how you survived without one.

When we built the house I live in now (23 years ago) I ran air compressor lines all over the house while the walls were open. I have outlets in my workshop, garage, back yard, front yard (near driveway) and out by the pool to blow out the lines of the pool and sprinkler system in the Fall. I can not imagine NOT having an air compressor!!

There are always neighbors coming over to top off their tires, blow up large pool floats and blow out engine bays - but I don't mind at all. My compressor is always left on and will routinely cycle on at least twice a day as I am always using it for something.

 

[coltle6920]

Yes, I confess. Lol, I have several socket wrench sets and screwdriver sets strategically placed for convenience.

I have to laugh...For me strategically placed always seems to be the last place I used them.

 

[Frank46]

I have wrenches and sockets made by Craftsman, Proto, Williams and a bunch of others. What got me was the running back and forth looking for either a inch or metric tool that I needed. I do have a air compressor but it's in the garage on the other side of the house. but do have a 100 foot long hose so usually pull up to the back door turn it on and unreel the hose. Seriously thinking about getting another smaller one for where the car port is except will be kept with the tool cart in the house.I hate running around looking through tool boxes of which I have at least 3 or 4 and that is why I got the Kobalt set. Frank

 

[Dennis]

Yup.
****-ton of Craftsman and a few others. All sizes of standards. Almost all for metric.
Torx, hex, 3 sizes of torque wrenches.
Because I have a 72 Harley, A Nissan Pathfinder, an a BMW z4.
LOL.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I have two sets of tools in the basement shop and garage.

As far as an air compressor... I keep a 30gal compressor in the shop. Not wanting to take up any more space in our garage, I had the wife drag an air line under the house from the shop to the back wall of the garage and pulled it through the hole in the wall used for the hot water tank line. It's nice to have air in the garage without all the noise of a compressor, especially for prolonged use like blow drying the motorcycle after washing.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

On the farm the air compressor was in the house's basement, with a permanent line to the outdoors. I had a few Tee fittings to split off multiple lines when needed. I have 300' of hose in 50' sections with quick connects at both ends and coiled every thing up on garden hose racks.

I did a lot of garden composting of kitchen and yard waste, along with several tons of leaves from my apartment complex every year (and every now and then a few tons of Horse manure from the F-I-L's barn)
The key to good/quick composting is lots of air! I took an air chuck for blowing off things and removed the orifice, and installed a 3
4' section of 1/4" galvanized pipe. I epoxied a 2" piece of steel rod in the open end and sharpened to a working point, drilled 4 rows of 1/8" holes 2 inches apart, the last foot of the pipe. I could walk up to a compost heap the size of a police cruiser and instead of turning it over with a pitchfork, I just shot air into it! Tooke about 4 month of good weather to create almost 2 yards of beautiful black loam every year. My yellow clay soil became the most beautiful black topsoil in about 5 years! Everybody knows the soil make the vegetables taste better.

I took $10 of materials and 20 minutes to make/modify an air chuck that saved me an hour+ a week of back breaking work! I should have marketed it!

Ivan

 

[g-dad]

I had the wife drag an air line under the house .....

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[mtgianni]

Two sets of 1/2, 3/8 & 1/4 from work retirement and home. Set of 3/8 drive in the reloading room, one set of metric and SAE, wrenches, screwdrivers and misc tools in every vehicle. Tools are cheap in a breakdown.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I have a lot of duplication, mostly because I have put together separate tool kits for each of my bikes. My basic shop tools are mostly 3/8" drive sockets and Allen heads, Snap-On for metric and Whitworth sizes, and Craftsman for SAE.

My moto kits typically rely on 1/4" drive sockets, Gear wrenches and wrenches from BMW moto and auto toolkits. A Doc Allen Versatool, a sliding t-handle, a 1/4" ratchet and a couple of /4" extensions offer a lot of versatility in driving sockets up to 14mm and all manner of Apex bits.

 

[Frank46]

Seems I'm not the only tool fanatic here. In fact I feel like I'm being left out in the cold as to the amount you other posters have. Same thing with power tools, drills, sanders, power planer (riyobi) circular saws, cordless drills. Got so I had one of those really big plastic totes with the removable covers mounted on 1" plywood to which I added casters just so I could find everything. Then the gun related tools and last but not least all the measuring tools, tool bits,drill sets and accesories for my lathe. The latter has weighed down my Keneddy tool box to the point where its sat for the last 20 years or so. I know I cannot pick it up. Frank

 

[rond]

I don't understand why you need all the tools, all I've had to do to my Kubota is grease every 10 hours and change oil at 400, check air filter.

 

[loknload]

Yes I do! I still have the complete set of tools that I started with out of high school and from my start in the HVAC business. Still have all my original test instruments as well!
Of course as time moved on I've added to this collection.
Have a big Craftsman roll up box in the garage that is filled, plus a Kennedy roll box with a set of machinist chests on top.
Mostly I have Craftsman, Rigid, Crescent,Channel Lock and Klein.
Have at least 3 complete socket sets with a complete 1"set that I have to admit came from Harbor Freight.
I have a 220v compressor out in the shed and a pancake in the garage.
I carry a complete set of tools in my motorhome for emergency repairs including a small lithium drill with bits.
When I was a maintenance supervisor I maintained a small tool bag for justbin case times that was carried in my truck.!
So as far as tools are concerned I believe I have it covered!

 

[Evil Dog]

Yes... I confess that I have duplicates (and even triplicates) of many tools and other assorted items. Not for convenience though. Most all of my tools are kept where I used them last and at times are close to impossible to find. When that happens I often give up in total frustration and just go buy another.