Its no wonder.....

[Jester560]

That there is no one getting into the trades anymore.

I had a tool rep get me a quote on a set of combo wrenches from 1 ¹/4 to 2 inches in 1/8 inch increments. $1500 plus and these aren't Matco or SnapOn either. Just middle of the road, made in the USA wrenches.

Kids today can't afford the ticket into the trades.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

pathetic for sure! sad when you need to finance tools and it's not even a lift. my 3rd child wants to do diesel mech and although i have a decent amount of tools, he'd still need another $20k including a tool chest. what isn't astronomically priced nowadays!

 

[Bassbob]

I probably have a small fortune in Snap On and Mac. Can't imagine what it would cost to replace that stuff.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

then the added "specialized" crap needed doesn't help!

 

[Bassbob]

then the added "specialized" crap needed doesn't help!

I have a bunch of that too though it's certainly not current. It was current as of the 90s.

 

[Jester560]

I probably have a small fortune in Snap On and Mac. Can't imagine what it would cost to replace that stuff.

I had 30 years worth but hit a bad stretch and had to sell them to live. Now I am buying tools again. SMDH

 

[Pitdogg2]

I distinctly remember my cousin who worked at an import car repair shop back in 1979 walking out to the Matco or Snap-On truck every Friday to give them a portion of his paycheck. I wonder what his 1979 tool box full of tools would cost in 2025 dollars. I bet it's a fortune!!
FWIW he started out with Craftsman tools and slowly bought Snap-On and Matco tools as he could afford. He kept the Craftsman tools and used them anytime he was afraid he was going to break a tool, those big bulky tools we're not the best to use but Sears replaced them for free on the spot when he broke one. IIRC both Snap-On and Matco didn't replace them on the spot at the time.

 

[Bassbob]

I distinctly remember my cousin who worked at an import car repair shop back in 1979 walking out to the Matco or Snap-On truck every Friday to give them a portion of his paycheck. I wonder what his 1979 tool box full of tools would cost in 2025 dollars. I bet it's a fortune!!
FWIW he started out with Craftsman tools and slowly bought Snap-On and Matco tools as he could afford. He kept the Craftsman tools and used them anytime he was afraid he was going to break a tool, those big bulky tools we're not the best to use but Sears replaced them for free on the spot when he broke one. IIRC both Snap-On and Matco didn't replace them on the spot at the time.

Yeah. All was good until I took my 3/4" drive ratchet back to Sears to get it replaced and they handed me the new model with plastic gears. I never bought another Crapsman tool after that.

 

[Jfal]

I call on wrench turners for a living. You want to be a millionaire by 50? Set well pumps for a living. Want more money? Drill wells. My industry is desperate for workers....

 

[Pitdogg2]

Yeah. All was good until I took my 3/4" drive ratchet back to Sears to get it replaced and they handed me the new model with plastic gears. I never bought another Crapsman tool after that.

Yep the last few years of Sears life they fell very far down the hole.

 

[NMEDGE]

Now to replace a craftsman tool I had to go online and file a claim. Part of it was they wanted a receipt from 40 years ago! Needless to say I gave up and threw the ratchet in the trash!

 

[rcurtner]

Like many of you have a ton of tools unfortunately don't use them much anymore.

 

[Annihilator]

I have a bunch of that too though it's certainly not current. It was current as of the 90s.

That old huh???

 

[powerboatr]

my 4 snap on boxes are stuffed
with a few drawers of old analog diagnostic stuff, timing lights etc
thought about making art from the old timing lights

 

[Bassbob]

my 4 snap on boxes are stuffed
with a few drawers of old analog diagnostic stuff, timing lights etc
thought about making art from the old timing lights

Yeah I bet I got 3 or 4 of those useless bastards.

 

[Bassbob]

That old huh???

My first stint as a mechanic was at a Midas Muffler when I was 17 or 18. Maybe 1985 or 1986.

 

[Annihilator]

My first stint as a mechanic was at a Midas Muffler when I was 17 or 18. Maybe 1985 or 1986.

I was 25 back then, I had a collection of S&K tools and the old Craftsmen tools.

 

[Bassbob]

I was 25 back then, I had a collection of S&K tools and the old Craftsmen tools.

When I started it was all Craftsman. Then I started buying a Mac or Snap On tool here or there when I could.

 

[Grayfox]

I was a truck and equipment mechanic for 42 years. While I do have some Snap-On and MAC stuff, I always favored Craftsman. I have wrenches and sockets from 1/4" up to 2". Good tools and considerably cheaper than Snap -ON or MAC. Plus if you broke one, you could swing by Sears on the way home and get a new one.
But then Sears went down the drain and sold off the name. The "new" Craftsman tools suck.
The last time I had to inventory my box for insurance purposes, it added up to about $25,000. And that was at least 20 years ago.
Now days its sitting in my garage mostly collecting dust. But when I do need to fix something, its nice to know I have the right tools for the job.