how often do you find it necessary to buy a new tool?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
I got too thinking about this simply because I was looking over my tool chest contents and thinking...
you have a damn nice selection, but its not exactly rare for you to need to visit the local vendors like,
home depot,
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/sources-for-auto-tools.217/#post-82395
NAPA,
or , your forced to find the MATCO,
or SNAP-ON truck,
or order some tool,
or order and buy from a dozen on-line vendors,
like summit or JEGS, HF
https://www.eastwood.com/tools.html
https://www.toolplanet.com/category/automotive-service-tool-sets

Ive come to the rather obvious conclusion that no mater how extensive your inventory may be theres ALWAYS a couple more tools you,ll need for the next job.
naturally tools break or get misplaced,or you start working on some car with a unique bolt size on occasion, front And rear 4x4 hubs and some performance differentials are well known for requiring odd size or unique sockets or tools
I needed a 35 mm deep socket and I know I have a rather full set, yet I could not find a deep 35 mm... so off too NAPA I went and they had one for a rather reasonable (SINCE I NEEDED IT" $12)
I remember needing a 1 3/4" SOCKET A MONTH AGO, AND I BROKE AND NEEDED TO REPLACE AN EXTRA DEEP 18MM 1/2" DRIVE socket LAST WEEK...
It seems Im always low on TIG welding rods, in several types, even though I buy them in 10 lb bundles.. or shield gas, and brazing rods,
and you always find youve busted the tip off a screw driver or split a 9/16 socket,
it seems like no mater what you have you need one more!
I keep a small container for broken sockets , so I can get them replaced under warrantee when they break
invariably the vendors want to swap a broken 6 point, you turn in, for a 12 point socket(I HATE THOSE)
or the socket or ratchet you want to swap is either not in inventory or no longer made.

BTW theres no sense in letting small precision tools get damaged or lost in storage between uses,
after a while your sure to find you have accumulated a few tools ,
or small and expensive parts,
that did not come in higher quality protective boxes,
you don,t want to lose or damage these components,
letting them bounce around under other tools or parts unprotected,
smaller or precision tools like
rod bolt stretch gauges,
snap ring pliers and replaceable tip sets
milling machine bits,
drill bits,
louis tools,
spring height gauges
feeler gauges
, micrometers ,
depth mics ,
adjustable push rods,
spare fuel injectors
carb parts and jets
etc.
parts like ceramic magnets
carb gaskets
and electrical connectors,
(SENSOR PIGTAILS)
engine DOWELS
valve keepers/valve retainers
oxygen sensors and various other sensors
must be stored in protective boxes

you might find you keep those tools in a rust free compartment in your tool box
and you might want to store them in a shallow plastic snap lid box on a sheet of felt lightly sprayed with WD40
for that use the boxes used to store fishing lures with the removable dividers removed have proven useful
as they are thin enough and small enough to easily sit in tool chest drawers

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/flambeau-zerust-utility-boxes

zerust-anti-tarnish-plastic-craft-case.jpg
https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Jewelr...veable+divider+sections&qid=1603748790&sr=8-2

71O-WVESe%2BL._AC_SL1300_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Yootop-Compa...eable+divider+sections&qid=1603749062&sr=8-26
61Bai0GGrLL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
Last edited:
About 1 time a month.
I bent my Snap On Diesel semi truck fuel filter wrench today.
That stuck siezed.
Pushed as hard as I could.
Like bench pressing one hand over an other.
Close to 400lbs .
She bent.
Snap On Warrenty.
Got it off with my Snap On Strap filter wrench and a 3 foot loot long 1/2 inch drive ratchet. Snap On too.
The Fleet guard filter collapsed in 1/2.
Can not use heat because diesel fuel is inside.
Burn the Bus down.
Working on big trucks is brutal on tools.
 
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