Mercy sakes, I got tools from my early teens which was about 1959 and as time goes on we collect more and more and really most all of them are not metric and a few special screw drivers for all those crazy screws that use the T numbers....yes I'm older now and hardly use a wrench and I think I keep them when Im remembering when I worked on odds and ends on cars that didn't need metric tools,,,I have been taking some of them to the thrift store and they don't stay long there,,,,I had over 50 screwdrivers--insane, took 35 of them to the thrift store,lol. screws, bolts, and washers all went, I think I will sort again some day, but old tools are memories, thats why we keep them , don't use them much if any, but its memories of when I was younger...I will be 75 in April,,,still kicking....me and my 6 drawers of old tools and memories.........
Old tools and me
- Thread starter CourierDriver
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Don't stop now. I am 63 in Jan and don't do as much as I used to but still do plenty just at a slower pace. The guy who taught me after trade school was 60 something at the time and kept going till he died at a 101.
I'm 67 and don't crawl under too many dirty old greasey Pontiacs any more.
But my mantra is still, "He who dies with the most tools wins!"
Extra credit for old, well cared for tools. And broken screwdrivers.
But my mantra is still, "He who dies with the most tools wins!"
Extra credit for old, well cared for tools. And broken screwdrivers.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Hate to admit my age is right there with you old geezers and yeah I've got Craftsman tools from my youth that my grandpa bought for me. Also have some of his tools and some of my dad's. Grandpa was a Craftsman guy and liked a nice tool. Dad on the other hand wasn't so picky and Stanley was good enough. He had a drawer full of screwdrivers that were good for nothing but poking holes in things, Phillips that were stripped and straights that he tried to fix up on his bench grinder. Dad's answer to many projects always involved WD-40. Thanks for the memories, jeez I miss those men.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2026
I am too young to have been around when these tools were made lol. I’ll be 19 in April. I have lots of old vanished brands of tools that I use and some I don’t use too. Also have a lot of old Craftsman stuff from the pawn shops when I was about 7 or 8 my parents bought me a $9.99 set of tools from Harbor Freight I still have it I’ve broken a couple of the sockets but still keep it around for the memories. Craftsman wasn’t that good when I got to be buying tools. I learned that quickly but I have roughly around 700 sockets between the sets I’ve bought, been given, found and the individual ones I get at the pawn shops or that one special one you need for something and I’d never sell or give away a single one ever I can’t part with my tools lol. And they say you can’t trust a mechanic who can fit all his screwdrivers in one drawer so I have to keep lots of screwdrivers around. I have a toolbox I found at the curb just full of sockets and a few wrenches plus the ones I use daily in my main box.
I am 67 years old and have been retired for 20 years last july. I treasure my work tools. In fact I need to trackdown a Snap on truck to replace some worn out sockets. When using tools for work they actually wear out and or break. Worn out tools are like a dull knife.
Kestas
Staff member
When I started working on cars here in the rust belt, I realized I needed something better than my dad's socket set. So I bought a 1/2-inch drive impact socket set. After 47 years, not one is worn or ever broke. It was about a dollar a socket. Best investment I made.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Start buying good tools and they'll last your lifetime. I have a metric S socket set that I bought when I was 16.
Curious how you can be 19 and have previously said you were a Toyota tech?
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2026
I done the apprenticeship with them started when I was getting ready to turn 17 completed all the training minus hybrid then I had to give up my job for a reason that can’t be mentioned on here. And yeah I love a good quality tool the few Snap-on things I do have I wish I had more of and SK too.
Got you all beat at 71, and still have my first set of screwdrivers. In fact, just added a screw holding, split tip screwdriver last week.
I have tools much older then this Craftsman screwdriver/bit set. But, this is one of my favorites. My ex-BIL gave this to me as a Christmas gift in 1982.
I'm 67 and still working everyday as a mechanic, and still buying tools. Yes I have a lot of old stuff, and unlike most US mechanics, a whole collection of Whitworth as well as SAE and Metric.
I had never even heard of Whitworth until I started helping a new friend with his old chopped BSA.
How did you retire at 47 years old if I may ask? Government job?
I've got some tools that Dad left behind that are older than I am.
Have some sockets and hand tools and even some corded drills from trade school 1969-71. But in 1973 started running service on commercial and industrial hvac with company provided tools and van. Contractor happen to understand that tools don't cost money they make money. Basic hand tools name brands( except snap on burn once) wore out or broke especially sockets under 7/8" . Even the the first battery drills 9.6volts were like eating good ice cream now every tool is battery.
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I think a lot of folks actually accelerate their auto mechanics interest when they retire as they have more time. The best thing for carrying on is exercise for flexibility. I just finished mounting my 17 inch summer truck tires and could feel the need for more flexibility when torquing the lugs to 140 ft lbs. I’m going to be sore tomorrow. My oldest tools, other than collector like items, is my 1981 Craftsman mechanics tool set.
He who dies with the most tools wins. Never stop buying tools.
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