How do we all gets our tools?

So, how do YOU collect your toys, uh, tools.

First set of "keeper" tools (Craftsman 3/8" drive set and combo wrenches) were a Christmas gift from my parents when I was in high school. I still have 'em all and use 'em. More stuff (1/2" drive, 1/4" drive, metric sockets, extensions, etc) were purchased new as the need arose and/or funds permitted. A Craftsman 3/4" drive set and extra long MAC breaker bar was a gift from my wife several years ago. Deepwell sockets, impact wrench and sockets, pipe wrenches, striking tools, etc. came from garage sales and flea markets. More stuff was has been donated by friends and relatives cleaning out garages, basements, etc. A surprising accumulation of odds n' ends - single sockets, extensions, wrenches, screwdrivers, vice-grips, etc - have been found on the roadside while riding my bike or hiking along the railroad. A nice 18" Swedish adjustable wrench I kicked outta the snow while spring skiing some years ago.

Power hand tools - circular saw, cordless drill, hand grinder, etc - were purchased new as the need arose or when I had some extra $ (not very often!). A John Deere 18" chainsaw complete with the manual came off someone's junk pile on the side of the road on trash day. Problem turned out to be an improperly assembled bar and chain - saw now works beautifully. Several more chainsaws have been given to me in DOA or basket case condition by frustrated owners - I've brought 'em back to life and use 'em regularly.

The scrap hopper at work provided a lot of my electrical test gear: old but still working Simpson VOM, a VTVM, Amprobe and a "wiggy". My Fluke 87 DMM was purchased new however - and worth every penny. The scrap hopper also rendered an old but functional manual hydraulic hose crimping press with a full set of dies, several 400 watt metal-halide shop floods and numerous other slightly worn odds and ends such as drill bits, taps, hose fittings, welding cable, etc.

The big stuff: A 10" South Bend machinist's lathe, Buffalo drill press and a bunch of tooling came from a relative's barn - deal was you can have 'em if you can get 'em outta there. Broke the frame on my utility trailer hauling the stuff home, but it was worth it! . My first air compressor I built out of a bus air brake pump and an old propane cylinder. It's successor was purchased new from Sears 25 years ago - both are still running strong. An uncle gave me an ancient 3 wheel bandsaw he no longer needed after he bought a new Rockwell 2-wheeler. My table saw was my dad's back in the 50's - given to him used by someone else.

The list goes on. Kinda neat reflecting on how this stuff all wound up in my garage and basement...

Although I've gotten just about every class of tool (stationary, portable power, hand) from every source (yep, got three tablesaws GIVEN to me in less than one year), here's my philosophy.

Buy all stationary power tools larger than necessary and when they're available used (not necessarily what you may want NOW). Aerospace industry auctions are great (and easy to find near San Diego where a lot of my tools came from). Small cabinet shops going out of business are also a great souce.

Buy all portable power tools NEW. I got a neat old Stanley 4x24 beltsander at a flea market. Although now I wouldn't trade it for anything on the market, it took a really skilled machinist friend of mine and a bunch of really big machine tools in his garage to get the thing going...

Buy all measurement and layout tools NEW, and spend LOTS of money.

If it only has to be strong, then buy import. I just got a import hydraulic press. Been looking for a used one for TEN years, nothing. Finally got tired of beating bearings off of shafts precariously balanced between two stacks of cinder bricks with a sledge hammer. Domestic is nice, but WAY too expensive.

Never spend good (or much) money on consumables, like screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, etc. Too many people giving this stuff away (road finds, garage sales, flea markets).

As with all new stuff, try to get the floor model, discontinued stuff, machines missing parts or instructions.

As with all used stuff, be oportunistic. Almost bought a cheap metal cutting bandsaw in Abilene TX while on a layover when I flew for American Eagle airlines. I found it at a flea market which was behind the layover hotel. The captain and I labored for quite a while over whether or not this thing would mess up the weight and balance of our little 34 seat Saab 340. But, he was willing to help me try to talk the ramp guys into helping us load the thing up!

Could go on forever, truely, half the fun is in the search. I love the memory my tools invoke when I use them as much as using them. Nearly every one of them has it's own story to tell.

Tools

Wife and kids have gotten me several for birthday or Christmas presents. A few I've found on the road, a couple I got from friends who had them and either didn't like them, couldn't fix them, or couldn't figure out how to use them properly.

Some of the best tools for the $$ that I ever bought were on the "clearance" shelf at the hardware, autoparts store, Wal-Mart, etc. I got a 1/2" combination wrench once for 65 cents that was marked "Made in India" but I figured I wasn't losing much, and it just "felt right" when I held it. It's been a gem! I once got a lower-end B&D circular saw at a Target store for $13.00. I've gotten over 15 years of occasional use out of that one. Another time, I asked a hardware manager how much longer a drill was going to be on sale. He said "Until I sell it. That's the last one!" I said "Lower the price a little more, and I'll buy it right now!" He did, and I bought it. Another time, I bought a re-conditioned chain saw at a Sears Tool Store that had been sitting there for a while, and was marked down to $15.00, then I asked the Manager, "What else are you willing to sell me at a ridiculous price?" He sighed, pointed to a reconditioned pressure washer (list new over $900) and said "That!" I looked at the tag, and said "Well, it hasn't moved for $400, so let's talk!" I walked out with it for $235.00. Then I had a REAL problem getting it into the trunk of my car!

I have found some doozies under his tutelage. Last summer at lawn sales: Snap-On Ignition Analyzer in the never opened box: $3
Brand new Craftsman Circular Saw: $5
Slightly used SK Wayne socket set: Free Pile
And on and on.
When I need something 'special' I sic Jimmy on the project. Told him I was planning a 350 tap sugaring operation here at home for next year. I told him that I had all the materials for the sugar shack but had no equipment. He has already delivered about 1000 feet of plastic tubing for the pipelines and has found me a 300 gallon stainless steel bulk tank for sap storage. Total cost of startup to date: $0.00
Now if I can find a 3X10 foot evaporator for free...
:-)

Some of the best ones are from "I'll give ya $20 if you'll haul all that trash out of my basement" type jobs. Picked up a 500' spool of #4 two-wire cable with ground that way once ":^)

My buddy takes the cake though. He frequents a lot of junkyards and finds all kinds of neat things. He has recently sold some Chrysler steering wheels on E-bay for several hundred dollars apiece! Talk about a profitable day's work!

Can't for the life of me figure out why that size is so prevalent.

A guy gave me two mobile home axles with no wheels. I'd eat my lunch as I waded the briars along the interstate patching job I was working on, and in two weeks found 13 mobile home/lowboy tires and wheels, only searching during my 30 minute lunch break. I'd mark the spot and pick 'em up after work.

Never set your chainsaw or toolbox on the back corner of your flatbed truck, even with 2 X 8 sideboards (people do that). On a sharp bump, it will bounce up and you'll drive out from under it. Put your name in your toolbox and on your tools. Believe it or not, a lot of folks will return it if they only know whose it is. Don't leave that nice wrench lying on your truck bumper after changing the hitch ball. I've been on both ends of that one. . .