Tools, Tools, Tools, and more Tools. Youre all Tools, but thats fine because we all love Tools.

[Qeomash]

I may bash on generic brands like Craftsman, but really if you aren't using your tools for a living, there is nothing wrong with them. The wrench set I have is a Master Mechanic one, TrueValue's version of Craftsman. Works fine for how little I have to use it.

[zoobernut]

Since I don't turn wrenches for a living, I use a lot of Craftsman hand tools (sockets, pliers, etc) and I've been very happy with them. I can't justify the cost of Mac or SnapOn for my usage, and the lifetime warranty is awesome. The Sears near me gives me zero crap about trading in anything that has ever broken. (Which to date, has only been because I wasn't using it for it's intended use). A lot of professional mechanics knock Craftsman, but for the average car guy, it's the best bang for the buck.

That is exactly how I feel. The tools in my garage that I use occasionally are great for what they do and I love them (mostly craftsman). When I was working maintenance at a ski area. my buddy and I were in charge of keeping the lifts running as well as three snowcats and a fleet of snowmobiles and he had all snapon and mac tools for work and they were amazing. But for the price of one snapon screwdriver I can get a whole set of craftsman!

[Sonomaa]

my dad swears by makita and has had his so long that they dont make batteries for them anymore, but the bastards still run better than the others he had

[Tweek]

what the fuck dewalt sucks now? this is not a world i want to live in. damn man my world has been flipped upside-down wtf.


so the other day after my friends and i hit the range we're out front on my driveway and we notice my wifes tire is going flat, my buddy goes to his car and pulls out a little kit and we take the tire off and patch the tire and fill it back up in like 10 mins worked perfect, i suggest everyone get one of these handy fuckers it's very simple anyone can do it.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg


this isn't the exact one we used but it was basically the same http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-22-...191970&sr=1-23
you'll want a simple pair of scissors and pliers with the kit too

[Callisto]

DeWalt licenses their name to a massive amount of other companies(including my employers), a lot of the stuff is not even made by them. They make their money from the royalties, they're likely less concerned about the actual product quality.

Same goes for Stanley-Black & Decker

[Cantih]

Hmm, worth a try here.

The best idea, out of a bunch so far, I've had for for doing something that'd get me some money is something that involves woodworking. (It's a thing I want, I can't fucking find it anywhere, and I'm really sure other people would want it too.)
I can't afford to have someone else do it (I doubt I could afford skilled worker rates, even though the material costs are dirt cheap), and I think there'd be enough demand that handing the plans to someone else would be boneheaded from a "what my idea is worth" standpoint. (Though sadly, from a cost perspective, I doubt there's enough demand to take the thing to mass production)

So, where the hell can I learn woodworking (I've checked local colleges, and all the courses look geared to home renovation work, not stuff like furniture making), and where can I do things without having tools/space at home to work, or money to get tools/space?

[Tweek]

http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/...shiftyeyes.gif

[Cyn]

If you could just be a little more vague, then I'm sure we could help you out.

Otherwise, go to Lowes/Depot and get one of their shitty carpentry books.

[Qeomash]

You either need to

A: get space, tools, etc and learn yourself with a book/videos.
B: find someone who is willing to teach you/let you use their stuff and space.

[SephYuyX]

I grew up watching TOH, ATOH, WWS, and NYW, along with my father pretty much remodeling every house we lived in. By the time I hit HS I was pretty dangerous with a tool, and the only real experiance I had was watching those shows, and helping my dad with some stuff.

As long as you get the method down, the process really isnt too hard once you get some actual experiance. You could also join a union / be an apprentice, or just find some old retiered guy with a large woodshop and help him out for free in your spare time.


It doesnt seem like anyone here really is a large tool freak, like their whole garage is filled with cabinets and chests filled to the brim with tools.

I KNOW YOURE OUT THERE, SPEAK UP AND POST SOME PICS

I NEED SOME MORE IDEAS!

[BaneTheBrawler]

My grandpa was a mechanic, and some of my favorite childhood memories are of hanging out with him in his shop and helping him tinker. Building woodsplitters, trailers, hydraulic can-crushers, fixing things, etc. If I had money and health, I'd love to set up a workshop and get into tools and whatnot.

[Cantih]

You either need to
B: find someone who is willing to teach you/let you use their stuff and space.

I grew up watching TOH, ATOH, WWS, and NYW, along with my father pretty much remodeling every house we lived in. By the time I hit HS I was pretty dangerous with a tool, and the only real experiance I had was watching those shows, and helping my dad with some stuff.

As long as you get the method down, the process really isnt too hard once you get some actual experiance. You could also join a union / be an apprentice, or just find some old retiered guy with a large woodshop and help him out for free in your spare time.

Thanks, these posts are decently helpful, and the two of you are awesome.
I can't find anything other than carpenters unions (again, focused on building/contractors, not what I'm looking to do) for the area. And I don't know anyone near me (or at all for that matter) that fits the bill.
I guess I'll head out to a city college anyway and talk to the teachers though, see if they know anyone, or anything that would help.

[Sera]

brofist to whoever said makita

all my grandpa's shit is makita, and i loved borrowing his shit when i still lived near enough to do so. anything I couldn't use my gerber for, i always skated on over to grandpa's to borrow his stuff. It's all stuff he's had for 20+ years, easily, and it all works better than my brand new stuff by far. some of his "car" tools are snapon and mac, but i've yet to do more to a car than oil changes/valve adjustments in an old volkswagen beetle.

now that i'm out of state, i'm stuck with my own set. i have a hitachi drill, which came with with a ton of bits and such (which tbh was a woot buy and not bad for what i spent, it's been very durable and useful) and my skil jigsaw, which i fucking adore. i do more handyman shit than my man does.

[elison]

Grey Pneumatic
Mac
Matco
Snap-On
Fluke

[FNH]

Thanks, these posts are decently helpful, and the two of you are awesome.
I can't find anything other than carpenters unions (again, focused on building/contractors, not what I'm looking to do) for the area. And I don't know anyone near me (or at all for that matter) that fits the bill.
I guess I'll head out to a city college anyway and talk to the teachers though, see if they know anyone, or anything that would help.

search yellow pages for cabinet makers/table makers. Go talk to them

[Takedown3]

i've got a decent small sized shop in my basement
-dewalt plugin recip saw
-dewalt plugin 4" angle cutter
-dewalt plugin palm sander
-makita jigsaw
-rigid 12" mitre saw
-rigid brad nailer
-ryobi 5 piece battery kit but i only really use the drill because battery op tools, at least this set, are pretty shit. drill is good but that's it
-b+d plugin drill
-skillsaw (is that a brand?) 10" circular saw

as for people saying that dewalt is shit, i dont agree, the equips i have have served me very well through many home renos over the last 1-3 years. of course i'm not a tradesmen and dont use them every day but they do get fair use. love the recip saw.

rigid i have absolutely no complaints, the mitre saw is my oldest piece at about 10 years and i absolutely love it. need some new blades and the laser guide doesn't work for shit but it cuts wood straight

ryobi sucks pretty big donkey dick, cheap plastic, some pieces break in drops, seem to bind up easier then other tools. altho price cant be beat obviously. my Ryobi chainsaw has been in operation for about 4 years now and aside from the bar warping it still runs well, just needs some new pieces. the drill is good but the rest of that 5 piece set is trash.

i can't complain about the makita jibgsaw because it's kind of a specialty tool that only gets minimal use but when i bust it out for those custom cuts it really does the job, feels sturdy and well built and has good power.

i've also got a black and decker plugin drill that was my first tool and it's lasted me VERY long, i've used it more then anything else in my shop and it's been thru drops, 18hr day usage on heavy gauge bolts, i've even accidentally damaged and replaced the cord. it still works as good as it did day one, although it is time for an upgrade on this i think

my circular saw is what im probably most disappointed in, it binds quite a bit despite normal cutting angles and speed, don't cheap out on these guys, go for lots of horsepower, my 2.5 HP just doesn't cut it (get it, "cut it" ROFL). It was a gift from my father in law and he knows better for sure i think he just went for the cheap one since it was a gift. it works but trust me if you are building a big deck or doing a basement reno you dont want to be stuck with a shitty circular saw.

bunch of other hand tools obviously but most of my shit is generic brands and i dont give a shit too much about quality at that level since i'm not an electrician or carpenter. Although i do need a nice chisel set. one of the few things i dont have yet

[SephYuyX]

I just thought of more tools I need; Wire related stuffs.

[Indalecia]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...HfW7sLJZaM&t=1

Had one for almost 2 decades now

[Fr34k]

I like Klein for cheap wire tools.

This wire cutter should handle anything (I cut 1/0 car audio wire with it, about as thick as a nickel)

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...d79432_300.jpg

For wire stripping this is so useful for the right gauge wire (I've found 18-12 works damn well)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

Anything smaller I use the cutter/crimper, anything bigger I go to a razor blade.