Tools for the amateur

This is an inconsequential thread, I'm just looking to see how other people do things. I've been wrenching for a little over a decade now, which means my tools are a hodge-podge of crap, primarily located in 3 places. First, I have a little bag about the size of a small loaf of bread with some ratchets and common sockets/extensions, a few common wrenches, pliers, a 6-in-1 screwdriver, gloves, zip-ties, and some things I'm forgetting. Basically, this bag meets about 95% of my tool needs. I also have a giant plastic Craftsman toolbox that has everything else I could reasonably anticipate using at the track; full socket set, breaker bars, specialty sockets, full screwdriver set, lubricants, electrical stuff, etc. I could do a clutch replacement in the paddock if I had to. Lastly, I have a bag full of specialty tools that I don't want to bring to the track with me.

What I don't have is a nice big red toolbox that I can organize all of my tools in at home. I've considered it, but I'd have to pack them all up into my toolbox when I go to the track, so I haven't bothered. Unfortunately, that means I end up working out of my toolbox, which is overstuffed and cluttered, and I end up with tools strewn all over my garage.

Anyone else have that problem? How do you deal with it? Two sets of tools? Say it ain't so.

I bought cheap tools initially and not all at once. A wrench set here and screwdriver set there, etc. Kept in a tool bag. When they outgrew the tool bag I got a cheap box. When the cheap box wore out I got a better box. Inherited dad's tools (what was left after some pilferage) and box. I have 2 tool boxes setting on my work bench with one box SAE and the other metric. Organized that I understand it. My kids got me a nice roll-a-way box a while back and now I am filling it with nicer tools. Asked for nicer tools for B-day and Xmas from the kids to replace the worn, cheap tools. I built a small tool bag out of extras to keep in my Opel GT and have necessary items in a bag for the autocross Miata.

I've thought about just getting a small tool kit from somewhere like WalMart of Stanley tools to keep in the car. I know people that do that. Already in a case for easy packing.

Two sets of tools.

I'm about to add a third. I want shop set, track/autox/trip set, and a junkyard set.

I have my home set, in a roll away box that has all of my specialty tools as well. And a mobile set that only has the most useful items in it that goes every where else.

I've got two sets. I have a three drawer metal Craftsman toolbox that I take to the races and a big red one at home. I find myself leaving the race box on my workbench anyway and working out of it for 80% of what I do in the garage. It has the basics-- set of sockets (mostly 3/8", but also keep a small kit of 1/4"), set of wrenches (everything that goes to the track is SAE, 'cause that's all I'll use there), torque wrench, flashlight (I use a headlight ALL the time now), screwdrivers, pliers, some specific carb tools, pop riverter, brass hammer, etc., etc. Frankly, I could probably scale back on some of the larger wrenches and reduce the weight of the thing a bit.

While the big box has another set of wrenches, it also has specialty wrenches like long handled and short handled and crow's foot. It has a much wider selection of sockets, including metric for the DDs and a lot of 1/2" drive. It also has my air tools, selection of hammers, fine measuring stuff (calipers, etc.), more screwdrivers, electrical testing equip (I have one combo diagnostic device that goes to the track), assortments of punches and drifts, hex stuff, body tools, pry bars, impact sockets, vise grip assortment, and on and on.

Bottom line, most of the duplication is in the open-end wrenches and sockets, which are not really high-priced items. And I don't need a wide selection at the track. Over time I have found that I have to have a few specialty items in the race box, like a huge socket for the rear axle nuts, but not even too much of that.

I keep everything in a tool chest in the garage (bigger things like jack stands, drills, buffers, etc go on shelves or old metal kitchen cabinets). I found some nice socket holders at Sears (I think they were Lisle) so I can grab-and-go when I need to pack them up for a trip. I also have a couple sets of wrenches and sockets -- the "good" ones go to races with me or to friends/family houses while the "cheap" ones are for junkyard use. For junkyarding, I have an old backpack I got at a convention. I stuff that with tools and can get a couple bottles of water in there for hands-free junkyarding. I prefer to go without a wheelbarrow so I can sort of roam around until I find something I want. For going to races or other places not rife with potential thieves, I have a three-drawer metal Crafstman toolbox that weighs a ton but is pretty much indestructible.

I have considered getting one of those generic "mechanics tool set" things that comes in a blow mold case for doing junkyard and racing things and just keeping my tools at home. My biggest fault with my current system is that I'm not real good about getting around to emptying the toolbox back into the tool chest when I get back home.

I have one of those home tool repair kits I bought on clearance for 20 bucks at Lowes a couple years back. I keep pliers, shears and a couple other tools in my car. I have a Leatherman, wrench and pliers with me on my bike at all times.

wae wrote: I keep everything in a tool chest in the garage (bigger things like jack stands, drills, buffers, etc go on shelves or old metal kitchen cabinets). I found some nice socket holders at Sears (I think they were Lisle) so I can grab-and-go when I need to pack them up for a trip. I also have a couple sets of wrenches and sockets -- the "good" ones go to races with me or to friends/family houses while the "cheap" ones are for junkyard use. For junkyarding, I have an old backpack I got at a convention. I stuff that with tools and can get a couple bottles of water in there for hands-free junkyarding. I prefer to go without a wheelbarrow so I can sort of roam around until I find something I want. For going to races or other places not rife with potential thieves, I have a three-drawer metal Crafstman toolbox that weighs a ton but is pretty much indestructible. I have considered getting one of those generic "mechanics tool set" things that comes in a blow mold case for doing junkyard and racing things and just keeping my tools at home. My biggest fault with my current system is that I'm not real good about getting around to emptying the toolbox back into the tool chest when I get back home.

The problem with those sets is that they really always have a bunch of crap that you really don't need, especially when you get into specialized stuff like "I'm racing this ONE car at the track, so i only need tools for THIS car."

I use a soft bag with only the size wrenches and sockets the car takes when i'm bringing a "support set." I really only mess with Japanese stuff these days, so i bring an 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, and 21 sockets. 12 and up in 1/2, full range in 3/8, and 8-13 in 1/4. 3" and 6" extension in each size.

Wrenches only in that size, an adjustable wrench or two, side cuts, two pairs of vice grips, lineman's pliers, needle nose, box cutter, breaker bar, and a hammer of some sort.

I have half a dozen tool boxes. Between my tools and what I inherited from my dad I have enough tools that I have a toolbox for each of multiple tasks. For example, I have a box specifically for working on ac systems with my manifold set and all the wrenches and fittings and stuff for working on ac systems. Another is specifically for oil changes, with a set of wrenches, clean funnel, and all my oil plug and filter wrenches.

So basically the specialty tools get a box with enough "support" tools for the particular job.

If you have a traveling toolbox you use like using, maybe you should be looking for a good bottom box only for at home. It can store additional tools and reserve in your garage a place to put your traveling box on top.

Ive got two sets of tools. All of my vehicles are metric which makes things a hell of a lot easier. Ive got a medium size top box and a bunch of pegboard that I use for home. For anything away, junkyard etc., Ive got a rolling Stanley toolbox that works like a hot damn. Ive been to pick and pull enough to have sorted my tools so that I am never lacking in anything. Next purchase is a battery powered grinder and a reciprocating saw, good for not so surgical removal of axles and other such large components. I'd say for what we do, two tool sets makes things a lot simpler, the initial investment is higher, but its worth it. Gotta love Canadian Tire, their Maximum line is actually pretty decent and their sales are amazing.....very dangerous place to go, "oooohhhhhh, look at that doohickey that I may use once every five years, its 60% off....gotta have it".

I have probably four sets of tools. Two of them are the tiny 15 piece sets (which I should just send to the recycling bin), one is a good 40 piece set that I lost some sockets, and my best one is the 220 piece set I just bought two months ago. I also have a big Craftsman toolbox with the bottom and top. It has everything that isn't in a ratchet set, like wrenches, specialty tools, impact sockets, hammers, etc. You need to get a big Craftsman toolbox, at least the bottom portion. If it's too much of a hassle to move tools from the box to your bag for races, that's when you need to get another set of tools. It is easier to keep track of your tools and the mess from them, and also prevents you from losing too many tools.

I have a big box of tools for use at home, then a bag with harbor freight metric sockets, ratchets and extensions, wrenches, screwdrivers and some various other stuff that I leave in the trunk of my car and is most of the time fine for junkyard use.

Two sets, four boxes.

Metric crap ton of tools here. Like 6-7 sets between SWMBO and myself. I have my big professional set of tools at work, we shall leave them out of the discussion unless I really need a specialty tool from it. I have a decent top-box full of tools on my service truck for work, I will often just work out of it in the driveway if I am doing a quick job. I also have a compressor in the truck so that helps. I have a mash up of tools in the garage in various tool boxes for light duty mechanic work and all the honey-do home projects. SWMBO and myself both have a tool box in our cars which travel with us to the track and the grocery alike. Lastly there is a small set of tools in the kitchen for SWMBO to do home projects without having to go into the garage for tools. We might have a problem with tools or perhaps we will never have a problem we don't have the tool for. I would say a travel set of tools is a nice thing to have so you don't have to deconstruct your home set to travel to the track or the pull-a-part.

Now, I need to get my power tools organized, since buying one creates a bigger mess.

I'm kind of weird, I don't really want a roll-around box or anything like that. I've go a big board on the wall with nails and screws sticking out of it and I hang everything I can on it. Above that I have magnetic strips set on a 2x4 screwed to the wall. I can hang most anything from that. Just below the big board, a bit above waist height, I have a 2x10 board on shelf hangars for a vertical surface. I've drilled holes in rows of various sizes to hold my extensions and some ratchets and such. Screwdrivers are hung using eyelet lags.

The bad thing is it how this obviously isn't lockable. What's great is how fast I can get to most anything. And adding more "pegs" is super cheap. When I want to go mobile I grab a small box if I'm going by car, or a small bag for motorcycle stuff.

I think the right answer is the one you don't want to hear: Multiple sets. I have a set in my garage at home and a set at my mother-in-law's property where my big shop is. The pain of having two sets is not near as bad as the pain of never bringing the correct thing when you try and go back and forth. I also have a couple independent sets at various workstations that just see one type of activity, like the gun bench or the bench where I build the camera dollies. I'm kind of a slob to begin with, so mixing and matching leads to disaster in my world.

I echo the 'two sets' thing. I have a big set of Craftsman ball bearing toolboxes which hold all my 'good' stuff, that stays at home. I have a 'travel box' that has some various sockets, ratchets, (Lowe's Kobalt stuff ain't bad for the price) Stanley screwdrivers (find them at Wal Mart, best bang for the buck in cheap stuff) and Companion combo wrenches (Craftsman's value line). If I go racing, I add a second box that has a torque wrench, a cheapo air compressor and some odds and ends bolts nuts and wire, along with duct tape etc, i.e. emergency 'finish the weekend' stuff. So far it's always been other people borrowing my stuff (fingers crossed). The travel box and a tool bag go to the boneyard with me when it's harvestin' time.

I keep different groups of tools in different boxes and grab the box that corresponds to the task, one is auto, one is "household/plumbing/electrical/wood", one is a small box with a pass through socket set, and one more is painting/plastic bodywork tools/scrapers and knives kinds of things. Then there are other sets of screwdrivers, etc. Fasteners/screws and wire couplers and drivers/drill bits are in a sub kit inside the household box. Fuses, wrenches, allen sets, odd ball wrenches, hammers and vise grips are in/on the bench or peg board. Works OK so far. Only thing is when the SHTF and I need to do a lot of work away from the house I have to haul lots of boxes and buckets, but thats life and it rarely happens.

One set. But organized - all the wrenches are in tool rolls (one metric, one SAE) hanging on the wall. Sockets are on rails, hanging on the wall. Metric on grey rails, SAE on black. I have a small organizer full of the common nuts, bolts, spark plugs, zip ties, electrical connectors and rivets that is...hanging on the wall.

If I need any of these tools, I just grab 'em and go. 1/4" drive metric sockets, short and long? That's the grey rail hanging beside the 1/4" SAE set. The ratchet is hanging right beside it. Since they're organized to begin with, it's easy to do inventory at the track to make sure everything's coming home. I think I've lost one tool at the track in the last decade, and it came back.

For small tool needs, I have a small zippered bag. For real work (track days, for example), I have my big box on legs. When I was seriously running at the track prepping for the Targa, I kept a tool list in the big box so that when it came time to load up, I'd just run down the list. Took about 5 minutes, and I refined the list at the track so when it came time for the rally, I had the perfect set of tools.

This way, I only have to buy tools once, and I'm never having to work with cheap tools. It also means I never have the inevitable "nuts, that's in the OTHER set" moment.

Swank Force One wrote: Two sets of tools. I'm about to add a third. I want shop set, track/autox/trip set, and a junkyard set.

This. Especially since with three sets, you can typically pilfer one if you need it immediately and replace later.

Of course, two sets is what I am at right now. The first set, I tried to stay higher end (but still cheap). Canadian Tire here in Canada has a lineup called their "maximum" series, which are very decent tools for absurdly cheap prices when on sale (go on sale for 75% off once every 4 months). And since there is a Canadian Tire in basically every town in Canada, you always have warranty :D

How important is it to you to have more than one set? If it really matters you can make it happen, cut back on other expenditures, hobbies etc. Wait and buy tools on sale, hit the auctions, cheaper tools as a secondary set etc.

Yeah, I can't generally afford to go to the track, but I drive old British and French cars quite often and further than is sensible (i.e. past the end of my driveway). Ihave found it necessary to carry one of the "blow-molded case" toolkits from stanley(walmart), a medium Craftsman bag full of better "convincers" for when the lightweight tools aren't enough(3 lb sledge, 1/2" torque wrench, etc.) and a bag full of anti-Lord Lucas talismans

cutters/crimpers, jumper leads,

It's a constantly evolving situation.

Right now, I have three basic sets (four, if you count the home repair set.) The old bag that used to be the main set is now the SAE set, to support the Valiant on road trips and for basic work. Assorted toolboxes including a rollaround cabinet hold the big set with heavy and special tools, for use in the garage and driveway. A newer bag holds the metric travel set, with an OBD II scanner, assorted modern fuses and such to support the Volvo and other modern vehicles.

All sets have basic VOM's, socket/ratchet/extension sets, and some materials I have found useful (including the JB Weld, baling wire, and duct tape trifecta).

At least that's the way I have it in my mind. Tools get intermingled and misplaced during projects, so I have to sort as I go.

continuing post since I can't edit anything in the TL:DR length on my slightly stupidphone:

I have a second set of all of these in my Harbor Freight US General roll chest at home, in addition to all the stuff that's too big to ever consider carrying with me. Impact wrenches, battery chargers, and so on. If everything is duplicated at least once, you're sure to be able to find it when you need it at home.