Originally Posted By: AcuraTech
I think not. I have a pretty large set, being a professional mechanic, but there's always something else!
In theory, I could never have enough tools, but I could write a page-long list of stuff that I'd LIKE to have. But as far as what I actually need, I seem to buy less every year. I've been doing diesel/heavy equipment repair for about 14 years now. When I started out, I was buying $thousands$ of dollars worth of tools per year. After a few years, I needed less and less. These days my toolbox weighs about 1500lbs (set on a custom frame with greasable, roller-bearing dumpster wheels)... and another roll-around cart piled with bigger stuff that won't fit in my box. The past several years, I've spent maybe $200-$300 per year on new tools on average.
Snap-on tools are great and all, but I no longer by ANYTHING from tool trucks. I've learned over the years that I can get pretty much any tool I want, often of equal quality (with a few exceptions), for less than half of what I'd pay on a tool truck (sometimes for only a small fraction of the price if it's something that I won't be using hard or often, and can get by with a cheap tool). [censored], I just bought a new IR2135TImax 1/2" impact off ebay for $225 including shipping (750ft-lbs foreward, 1000ft-lbs reverse. oh yeah.). An equivalent Snap-on impact (which in my experience probably wouldn't be as light or as powerful) would be easily $500.
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So, what's on your want list? For me:
-18V Li-Ion Milwaukee cordless impact gun. Pure sweetness.
-Upgrades for my Snap-On toolbox.
-1/2 drive deep impact sockets. Not used much, but nice to have. I've been making due with my shallow impact set for now.
-1/4 drive inch pound torque wrench. Those tiny bolts get over torqued way too often.
I bought a 1/2" deep impact socket set at Walmart 14 years ago (made in Taiwan). Paid $12 for it- I was broke and needed these sockets to get by for a while. I've used these sockets hard and often for 14 years, and have never managed to break one. I've broke Craftsman, Snap-on, Mac, Matco, and SK... but those cheap 1/2" deep impact sockets are indestructible.
But cheap tools would be poor substitutes for the rest of the stuff on your wish list.
I already have cheaper versions of all this stuff, so my wish list is mostly stuff that I'd like to upgrade. In a lot of cases I don't care much about brand so long as it's good quality American-made stuff:
A nice fluke multimeter with all the attachments
A BIG battery load tester... a shop I used to work at had one that would put up to a 400-amp load test on the batteries, and would read up to 1200 amps when cranking an engine.
One of those massive cobalt drill bit sets- the one with both fractional and lettered bits, in sizes up to 1".
A nice 3/4" drive socket set, up to 3".
A 3/4" IR 2925TI composite impact. 1600ft-lbs working torque.
A BIG Snap-on (or Mac, or Matco, or Waterloo, or Kennedy, or even Craftsman Professional) toolbox to replace my beat-up cobbled-up worn out conglomeration of two Craftsmen bottom boxes, two top boxes and a side cabinet all bolted together.
An auto-darkening welding helmet
A Snap-on 2000 ft-lb torque multiplier with a ratcheting lock.
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I see it this way, it's a solid investment, because when I leave the automotive career field (which will probably happen soon), at least I'll always have a killer set of tools!
I plan on changing careers soon, myself- I'm making good progress on my mechanical engineering degree. So pretty soon I'll have the most complete DIY tool set on the block.
