Nice I'd say I have 90% of the tools I'll need as a mechanic. Only a few things I still want to get. I've got the huge Gearwrench metric ratcheting wrench set, like 8-25mm. But I want a small set of ratcheting flex heads, and I need a set of stubbys too. My priority now is replacing all my cheap tools with good stuff. Once I'm in school I'll have my discount through Snap On/Matco/Mac. So I'll replace all my Craftsman sockets (everything in 12 pt, 6 pt, and deep) with Snap On/Matco ones, replace my wrenches with Snap On's, and the random stuff I have from like harbor Freight; hammers, punches, stuff like that from Snap On too.

 

I have over 90% of what I need. Most of the $2k is just things that will make life easier

Realistically for most subaru work, I need a 10mm, a 12mm, a 14mm, a 17mm, and a 19mm, all in combo wrenches, 3/8"dr, and 1/2"dr. It's just my choice to have way more tools than I need. I'll post pics of my toolbox when I'm done with it

 

I've got a lot of stuff, one of these days I'll snap a pic of some stuff too, I'd do it now but I've got to go to work.

 

You guys will love the way my tools are set up (and they'll be set up better once I actually have everything I plan on buying). $20 at Sears buys you two sheets of 1/2" soft cut-able foam organizers perfect for Craftsman roll-aways (it's actually what they're sized for). Spending about 3 hours tracing and cutting holes for each tool will give you one perfectly organized drawer, which is perfect for quickly finding a certain socket/tool, for quickly putting tools away, and quickly seeing if something is missing

 

F*** that I wouldn't waste my time doing that haha. Mine is organized pretty well,I've got a roller and top. I got the setup at Harbor Freight for like $600 so I don't care if it isn't name brand. I don't want to take a box worth a lot to school for dumbass people to bump and knick up and stuff. For the price the box is awesome too, slides perfectly and everything. My only complaint is the lack of height of the drawers, I like them a little deeper. And I like one solid drawer across, not like mine where it is split in to 2 rows. I have my stuff in racks pretty much. All the sockets are in racks, wrench racks, everything. Only thing I want to get is a magnet bar for all my extensions that like to roll around. Once I'm out of school I want to get a Matco box, but I like the drawer locking mechanism on the Snap On boxes to keep em from sliding out on their own. But I'm a Matco person, so we'll see.

 

I originally bought a Craftsman Ball-Bearing 26" 5-drawer cabinet and a matching 5-drawer Ball-Bearing chest. I plan on getting a 3-drawer intermediate chest, 4-drawer side cabinet, and 6-drawer side caddy, with Craftsman's upgraded anti-static casters, bringing my box up to a 23-drawer unit able to safely support 1,400lbs of tools for just under $1k.

And cutting the foam is a huge PITA and completely mind-numbing, but the result is totally worth it (unless you're like me and cut out 4 drawers' worth of foam without thinking about leaving room to grow lol). It makes the box look so much more presentable, and like I said, finding and putting tools back is so much easier. I've gotten compliments on my organization from every tech in both shops I've been in, along with quite a few other service staff members.


And I do like the Snap-On locking mechanism. There's only one easy way I know how to break into one with and I really don't want to discuss that on a public forum. I think my Craftsman box uses a similar system, but I'm not quite sure. I just don't agree with the price of Snap-On boxes. (Oh, and I'm not sure how I feel about socket racks and whatnot. It works, but I have tool OCD, so I'd end up buying extra sockets I wouldn't use just to fill up the whole rack lmao)

*edit: I'll snap some quick pics of my current setup tomorrow. Like I said, it's going to change a lot in the next year as I add more tools.

 

Ive always had craftsman tools just cause my family has always used them...in fact my graduation gift from my dad was the craftsman tool box that my dad got when he graduated from HS so it means somethin extra as lame as that sounds.

 

What I like about the Snap On boxes is the drawer lock where you grab under the drawer lip and slide to the right like an inch and it opens. One of the mechanics I help a lot has a Matco box and every once and a while the drawer will sneakily open up on its own lol. I've got to give my Matc 1/4" 88 totth ratchet to our Matco rep tomorrow. I was using it this week, like te second time I've used it since I got it (t is a $60 1/4" ratchet lol), half the teeth on it stripped out. Kinda wierd since the 88 tooth ones are supposed to be as strong as old fashion 36. I don't want to get a top when I get my next box, it is really not that convenient. You really shouldn't ever need more than a 2 bay roller. Our head techs have 3 bays. But I just want a 2 bay roller with a stainless steel top and a cart as well.

 

home toolbox, one of the mastercraft, plastics carriers. probably much like craftsman.

toolbox at work, roller mastercraft, mines way over-filled, thinking of getting another, roller. that way its not as heavy as getting a topper, and both could double as an extra work bench.

 

since i got my car I have always bummed off my dads tools..which is a collection from over the years of his life. Since then I have acquired some of my own, but I leave most of them at his house.

I have a 200 pc Cresent set. pretty good. Has all the tools I need to swap an engine (aside from the 32mm). I got it as a graduation gift back in 08. Managed to break the 1/2" extension pretty quick. Also, broke the 3/4" ratchet while using it to hammer out my LCA.

Other than that, Im all about harbor freight. I got a 22 gallon air compressor, a Central Pneumatic Impact and Air ratchet. Have served my quite well. Also, harbor freight engine hoist. Best $100 I ever spent.

In my current home, I really only have my tool kit, a jack, jack stands and some random other things. I usually use the forklift at work to lift my car up. Pretty awesome!