tools
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!
16 is a good time in life... to start building a nice tool box.
Stick around someone will be by shortly to answer your question.
We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
16 is a good time in life... to start building a nice tool box.
Stick around someone will be by shortly to answer your question.
We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Tools are a great investment that will last a lifetime if you buy good ones. A good start would be a nice set of sockets and wrenches. I buy only craftsman hand tools because of the lifetime warranty and decent price. Don't get me wrong Mac, Snap On and the majors brands are good stuff, but they are to expensive for the average non mechanic. Sears has some good sets and you can find them on sale around christmas especially. Get the biggest set you can afford. Tools are much cheaper in the sets than they are individually. Get your family to get you tools for holiday presents. When someone ask what i want for christmas all I ever say is tools. As far as jacks go get a 3 ton floor jack. I have a craftsman, but I am biased I used to work at Sears.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 53,896
Likes: 2,371
From: NY and VA
One of my graduation (from high school 1960) presents was a Craftsman tool box and tools. I am still using most of them, including the box. I have also added to my collection with Snap-on and Mac. A nice jack but pricey is a Hein-Werner
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
For brands I would stick to cheaper lifetime warranty stuff like craftsman, unless of course your rich and have nothing but loads of cash to blow! then snap on or mac the whole way!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Southwest Montana
There are more Craftsman tool boxes in the professional shops of this nation than all other makes combined. Keep in mind as you are finishing High School that if you want to attend any of the quality Tech Schools you will be given a 50% discount on your course required tools from either the Snap on or the MAC Dealer. Till then get what you need when you need it.
Watch them tool dealers....they'll break ya
Ken
Watch them tool dealers....they'll break ya
Ken
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I would go ahead and get a cheaper but quality set for now, and take advantage of the discount should you go to tech school. I had a 57% discount on my Snap On's when I graduated. Then you will have 2 of the same wrenches, which will be handy. I have several sets of the same basic tools, so that I always have what I need at home and have a box that I take with me all the time.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Tools
I have found that a good place to buy tools is at auctions were you can get large boxes of Misc. tools for pennies on the dollar vs. newer stuff. Granted that they tend to be a mixed bag, but you can never have too many right?. I would first get a good basic kit going, then hit the auctions.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Black Hills South Dakota
Lifetime replacement warranties can really mean something at your age. Harbor Freight is about the cheapest source I know of. I've abused a Kmart socket set for over 20 years, they replaced a busted rachet no problem.
Pawn shops are another source. They'll have bins of mixed wrenches, sockets and ratchets. You'll even find the big names in there. I built a good 1/2" drive set that way. Even if you didn't buy the tool new, you should still get free replacement as you shouldn't need a receipt.
Don't worry about getting duplicates. Lots of bolts have the same size nut as head. You'll make use of different lengths, offsets, stubbies, box/open/combo, etc.
-Smoky
Pawn shops are another source. They'll have bins of mixed wrenches, sockets and ratchets. You'll even find the big names in there. I built a good 1/2" drive set that way. Even if you didn't buy the tool new, you should still get free replacement as you shouldn't need a receipt.
Don't worry about getting duplicates. Lots of bolts have the same size nut as head. You'll make use of different lengths, offsets, stubbies, box/open/combo, etc.
-Smoky
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 6
From: Abilene, Texas
I only buy snap-on myslef, but that is manily because Craftsman dosent honor there warenty for professional use (or so I have been told). So me, being a tech as my profession, only use snap-on. Its just eaiser for me the snap-on guy comes buy the shop every week, and never has any question if I need to turn somthing in for warenty. Infact he watched me use a regular thin wall socket with an impact (stupid me), to take a lugnut off one day. Of course it broke, I turned around and told him I need a new one, and he went to his truck and got one for me. Now if I can just learn to stay off of his truck on Fridays maybe I can get some of that big bill payed off.
Scotty
Scotty
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: just outside of Phila.
Well, I have a small set of craftsman sockets, and they get all that I need done. At 16, I'd start off slow, just getting the basics. If you're looking for a jack too though, at the same time...get the jack first. Spend the money to get a good one. There's a big thread in here about jacks and repairing them...there are some horror stories too. I was working on my truck, and when I came back outside, I noticed it was a lot lower than before. After I finished the job (on jackstands...always should), I lowered the truck, and ditched the jack. Any more use under a 3 ton truck...I'm afriad what it could've done.
Tools are nice, but when I'm in a garage, by myself, and no one is home, no socket is going to save my life. Spend the money on the jack, and build the tool supply up as you can.
Tools are nice, but when I'm in a garage, by myself, and no one is home, no socket is going to save my life. Spend the money on the jack, and build the tool supply up as you can.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,447
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Just starting out at 16 just use craftsman. If you later turn wrenches for a living mac and snapon can be the ticket. I turn wrenches for a living myself industrial not automotive and I do fine with craftsman. They occasionally break but I have no problem getting them replaced under the lifetime warranty. When I was a teen I was lucky enough to live near a pawn shop that had tools in a bin for three dollars a pound. Mixed in with the cheap tools there would be broken craftsmans and I would trade them in for new ones. I have built many sets that way.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
I'd start with Craftsman or garage/estate sales. Most of my tools, before I started purchasing them (loaners, gramps house after he was long dead) are lifetime warranty, that the company no longer exists. I have some, Indestructo, Wilde, Powerkraft, JH Williams, Husky (ratchet from 20's) and S&K, off the top of my head. If you use them enough, you will buy better ratchets then the standard Craftsman, whether that be from them or not is prefrence. Two things you will want to know, non sealed head ratchets (wether Craftsman, or my Snap~on) require maintainence, period disassembly and relubing. Sealed head ones due not. And don't forget to buy a set of breaker bars, they will make your ratchets last much longer.