I'm going to equate mechanics tools to woodworking tools and disagree very strongly with you about not buying the best tools you can get. I am in FL installing my dad's kitchen and trimming his place out and there is a whole pile of Ryobi junk he's going to be pulling out of his ass before this is over! The prevailing thought is "well, for what I use it for..." or "for as little as I use it..." I'm trying to explain to him about quality tools and how much easier they are to use and how much better the job turns out. I've spent lots of money over the years on expensive tools that only got pulled out once every few years but they still work when I do.
I should have dragged my tool trailer down here instead of flying. I would be at least a day ahead of where I'm at now. My point is this, if you buy the best tool you can it is a lifetime tool you can do a good job with whenever you use it. The other added benefit of good tools is you are more likely to take care of them and remember where you put them.
I agree you should get quality tools
Just no point in overpaying for it
You also shouldn’t get the poorest quality , there’s lots of tools that are total crap and will break when you use them
Used to be easy to tell, it said “made in China “ on the package
Now, almost everything is made in China , most is crap that will break the first time you use it , some made in China tools are decent quality
Now that everything except the super high dollar stuff is made in China ,the only way to tell which made in China tools are aceptable quality is to ask around .
A Range Rover costs 5x what a Chevrolet costs
Does that make it “better”?
Not if a Chevy gets you where you need to go
But a Chevy lacks the snob appeal
Which I think is what most people want when they buy snap on tools
A Chevy costs more than a Yugo , does that make it “better “?
Damn sure does , it’s not the price , it’s the quality that matters .
If you don’t constantly break Kobalt or Crasftman sockets , why pay 20x for a snap on socket set ?
The harbor freight tool box is 90% as good as a snap on for 1/10 the cost
And especially for a young new potential mechanic
A rookie mechanic should not go into major debt for tools ,
He should buy a basic tool set ,of a middle of the road quality and add to it when he needs something
He should look for a used set of tools from a retiring mechanic ,
Once he makes some money and can pay cash for some more new tools , he can , but being saddled with debt is a very bad idea , and that’s exactly whet every tool brand that has travelling trucks wants him to do .
He should start out with middle of the road tools and see how it works out
My teenage son is working as a mechanic /welder ,at a company that builds fire trucks ,
His collection of craftsman , kobalt and gearwrench tools have done the job just fine .
Several of the people that work there have huge snap on tool chests that cost more than a new automobile , full of snap on tools that cost more than a modest house ,
Yet their pay rate is almost the same as my son , who has a $500 tool chest and a ton of crasftsman and kobalt tools
He has however , broken two creepers . Might be time to consider a Matco or snap on creeper , it costs 7x what one in a store costs , but the store bought ones are lasting about three weeks .
Best way to find out is just buy some tools and see what happens
I’ve never broken kobalt or craftsman sockets or ratchets
But I’ve used some cheap sockets that stripped the first time you used it
I’ve had some cheap screwdrivers that twisted the first time you used it
I agree that Milwaukee power tools are better than ryobi
But I’ve only had problems with the ryobi batteries
The drills and saws seem to be fine , but then again I’m cuttting pvc pipe and sheet metal , I’m not a cabinet maker , if you’re a cabinet maker or finish carpenter , you need precision tools .
If you’re on a remote job site , you need super high quality tools .
And you’re right about driving verses flying
I absolute hate flying and refuse to do so if the drive is less than 16 hours , it’s totally not worth the stress and flying actually takes longer than most people think it does
“Oh it’s a 90 minute flight “
Great , but you gotta drive an hour or more to the airport , arrive at the airport 90 minutes before departure to ensure you get thru the security theatre .
The plane almost always pushes back from the gate so the airline can claim “on time “ departure , then sits and a it’s for 45 minutes before you’re off the ground
Same on the landing , takes 20
Minutes just to get off the plane , 20 to walk to baggage claim , 20 to find your suitcases , 30 to get to the rent a car counter ,30 to get the paperwork and in the car
Last time I flew from Atlanta to Newark it was 9 hours door to door
Only takes 14 hours door to door to drive it , and no stress .
