What's your vise?
My name is Chris, and I have a tool truck problem.
It started when I was just starting out, Snap-on truck would pull up with all the shiny chrome and bright colors. I was hooked. It started small, a ratchet here, a socket set there etc... Then it started to grow, anything Snap-on branded I needed to have. My personal vise became anything in a box. I LOVE anything in a box. If I already had most of a set individually and a box set came out, I was buying the new set. If I already had the complete kit and they now put it all in a box now, I put in a special order for the box. (OK, maybe I'm a little sick) My toolbox became stuffed with blow molded cases and boxes. As it became full, I got bigger boxes. Rinse and repeat. I now have a toolbox that literally goes from floor to ceiling stuffed with tools sitting in my garage, as I am no longer in a shop.
Am I complaining? HELL NO!
I believe that most mechanics have the belief that he who dies with the most tools wins. I sure do. I get a warm fuzzy feeling when I open my wrench drawer. The sea of chrome is comforting to me.
My first purchase that I was most proud of was my Red Brick. I bought it brand new in the early 2000's and it signified the start of my journey as a diagnostician. I'll never get rid of it, it is my go-to with pre-OBD2 vehicles. Plus, partially due to my addiction, I can never throw away a tool.
My question to you is: Do you feel the same way? How did it start for you? Which purchase are you most proud of? Which ones, if any, do you regret. Pics are a plus!!
I look forward to seeing your responses.
Yep. The world turned for me when I purchased my Vantage Pro
My first scanner was the Bosch KTS300. I got it right after it came out in 1989. In the euro field scanner offerings were behind domestics, but I bought a clone MB SDS in 1999 because MB wouldn't sell the real thing. I did buy the real thing in 2006 when they became available. I was probably most proud of my BMW GT1 that I purchased for $17000 in 2002, right after BMW decided to sell to the
I've had to a tool truck self intervention, especially when I realized I was spending more on what I wanted, than what I needed. Every now then I'll have an occasional fix, but never more than what would be considered irresponsible. So I'm a recovering tool truck addict, I guess one could say. I don't have every tool, nor the best but they get the job done. My proudest purchase is my humble
I regret buying my Snap-on 3/8 electric impact gun with the big battery. Had it rebuilt once and still had no power. I bought the 3/8 small batter gun and it blows it away. I now have this big-ass gun with a special battery that sits there useless in my box.
Yeah I've seen those. Just got the Milwaukee stubby 3/8 cordless, and it blows my Dewalt 3/8 cordless out of my tool cart. Same price, smaller, but more power and 5 year warranty. Dewalt only had 1 year.
.Holy crap Chris. Are u talking about the Ct88110a. This is the worse gun ever and my tool I regret ever buying. I too had to get it repaired and first time use it had some balls then the second try no balls. Just use it here and there for stupid stuff. Waisted of money
I suffer from the addiction too. Lately it has been less chrome and more silicon... diag tools are just as addicting :-) I have always been proud to have the right tool for the job. I don't have too much of a particular brand that gets me, I have a lot of everything. Snap-on, Matco, Cornwell, SK, Gearwrench, Lisle, etc. Just a few pics attached of some of the things I am proud of. Recently I
I admire your organization. I invested in the VIM tools magnet socket system and the Blue Point adjustable wrench organizers. I love your scope drawer.
Nice collection of tools; myself, I was introduced to the love for tools and equipment with the family's Craftsman tools and then the Snap-On (brick) then the MODIS and now the Verus Pro workstation - which is cool since I get to store almost all electrical tools (power probe, tpms reset tools, etc...). My brothers and I are trying to come up with even more money/capital to get the smog machine…
I will say the last 5 years of actively turning wrenches I kept payments under $200/month. Never did take the plunge on a overpriced box. Almost did several times. My train 'o boxes holds the stuff just fine.
LAB SCOPES...…My wife asked me once 'How many Lab Scopes do you have"???? At the time I had 13 of them, She asked me why I needed 13 Lab Scopes ? I told her they were like Potato Chips, You CAN'T just have one !!!! I then reminded her that she had a PIANO...…Her response was " Why do I try to have intelligent conversations with you"?? BTW - I'm down to only 7 Lab Scopes now, I must be in
No, what it sounds like is that you have a couple empty slots...
Nineteen ninety six. Set of three Snap-On knuckle spanners (wrenches) 10, 12, 14mm, in a vinyl pouch. Was a revelation! Been an addict since.
My Vise is Diagnostic Equipment. I have purchased scan tools to do one task before. Every time I think I have what I need the OEMs come out with another tool or another process that needs to be addressed. Interesting though, I do not own anything from Snap On. Almost everything else under the rainbow including many OEM tools.
vise - a metal tool with movable jaws that are used to hold an object firmly in place while work is done on it, typically attached to a workbench. LOL
I'll post pictures tomorrow. But my most recent purchases are a Snap On Apollo, the new thermal imager, a few new amp clamps for my Vantage Ultra. I had just recently bought a matching diag cart to my mater series box. I don't really have any hobbies per say, but buying tools must count right?!?! Most of my stuff is snap on, That being said it is because of the relationship I have with him and
Hello Andrew, How do you like the new Apollo? Do you know if its possible to preset graph parameters so it doesn't auto range. The shop I work for owns a Zeus and a solus edge. I know the Zeus allows you to go in and set the graph parameters, if the solus edge has that capability I haven't figured out how to use it. I cannot stand auto ranging graphs. ps I really enjoy following along with your
I got a horrible confession to make... I've owned it about 2-3 weeks and have used it 2 times. I've been so crazy busy with transmission stuff the last few weeks that I just have not had the time to play around. If I get some free time today I will pull it out and see and report back. Thank you on the case studies. I got some learning/changes to make to them but I like the idea of this forum
I spent about 10.5 years working for ford stores, when they starter cutting labor times to save money on all the recalls I left and went to a large independent. it has been like stepping in a time machine. Here I am used to working on newer vehicles and now I rarely see one with under 100k or newer than 2012 or 2013
I might not have as many hand tools as the rest of the guys in the shop, but I have what I need to get through the majority of jobs. I ended up buying a lot of equipment that most would expect the shop to own. The boss started another location and so our shop diag tools got split up. I was tired of not knowing where something was, so I just bought my own. It will serve me well when I leave since
I also have bought a large majority of my own diagnostic equipment. If I ever leave where I am currently employed I don't want to suffer from not having the tool to do the job. Lately I have been concentrating on OEM stuff.
I regret buying a Snap-on tool box. It's just a box that holds tools. It doesn't make me any money. It just sits there. I could have bought just about any other box and been fine. Tools I liked when I worked at an all makes shop: Snap-on ball joint press, Snap-on scanner, Snap-on air hammer, Snap-on 3/8" impact. Basically, any strong and powerful tools that get the job done fast without breaking!
Tool organization will help you make money because you can quickly put your hand on the tool you are looking for at the time
Yes, but a $3,000 box organizes tools just like a $10,000 box. ☺️ I don't need a heavy duty box. It just sits there. I'm not rolling it around the shop.
Buy used and you get the high end box for a fraction of the cost. I bought my Snap On KRSC46 tool cart for $600, I think it's almost $2k new. Best tool cart I've had
My name Michael and I'm a tool addict. Chris we are the same on this topic. My 1st tool purchase was a Snap On pocket screw driver. Back in 94. I hated the ones they gave us for free with the little magnet on it because I kept loosing them on the A pillar when I would lean into a car. After I purchased the snap on, I can't function without it so I have backup ones in my box incase my morning
Chris i am in the same boat as you are. I have a huge box with lots of chrome that I keep in my garage for when I want to do the occasional mechanical jobs. Even though I am a mobile diag tech these days I still get an itch to get my hands dirty. Since I have been buying tools since my career started I don't think I will ever sell my tools. Worked hard for many years to collect them. Alot of