I'm at a place where I am thinking about getting rid of my hodgepodge of tools and streamlining. Well, basically starting over. Over the years, I built around a basic kit that came in an aluminum-like briefcase and now I have a bunch of mismatched stuff - some I need, and some I don't.

I know that sounds like a dumb idea - but I'm a little obsessive-compulsive. I like things to be neat and organized. Plus, my little brother could use my old stuff, or I could sell it to a buddy who has virtually nothing for tools. Either way, my old stuff could get used by people in need.

I have a decent amount of 3/8" SAE and metric sockets and typical screwdrivers, a couple pairs of pliers and a few wrenches... you know, the basics. I'm looking to expand and coordinate to all Craftsman stuff while unloading some stuff that just takes up space. Most importantly, I want to invest in a chest cabinet/drawer combo to keep everything in one place.

The goal here is to have a comprehensive collection for home use and auto/moto repair and maintenance.

Here's what I have that I am going to keep:

B&D Stainless Power Drill, assorted bits and drivers.
Craftsman T-handle hex keys (for the bike)
Cordless Craftsman rotary tool and polishing kit
Various 1/4" and 3/8" drive socket swivels and adapters (changing ignition coils in an F-150 requires 3 extensions and 2 swivels - it ain't pretty)

Here's a PDF I made of all the stuff I want to get. My main question is (1) does this make sense, and (2) am I overlooking some useful items? For about $550 out of pocket, I think it's a pretty solid setup for what I want to do.

Thanks for any input. Any opinions are welcome.

http://www.jbarx.com/2008%20Tool%20List.pdf

1/2" sockets and rachets, or is it ratshits?...provides more torque if needed,like axle nuts.

1/2" sockets and rachets, or is it ratshits?...provides more torque if needed,like axle nuts.
Ratshits, whenever possible. :lol:

The mechanics kit has 1/2" drive - 7/16" to 3/4", and 14-19mm. Complete list is here:

http://download.sears.com/misc/IL35160.DOC

Torque wrenches (1/2" drive-ft.lbs & 3/8" drive in.lbs)
Dead-blow hammer (rubber mallet). Sometimes things need a little persuasion, and you don't want to mess up the surface being persuaded. 8)
Johnson bar, 1/2' drive. (at least 18" but more is better)

Get a good light. That's what I never was good at: Holding the light.

you'll need some bigger metric sockets. The rear axle nut is, I believe, 22mm. Or I could be talking out my ass.

That set looks like a good place to start. You can always add more things as you need.

I'd suggest a set of allen head attachments for your wrachet. Those L-shaped things just don't hack it sometimes.

Thanks for the input, everyone.

Seriously, I'm just a boy amongst men when it comes to this stuff. I like to wrench and do some minor maintenance/repair things... change plugs, ignition coils, maybe a water pump or an alternator... but I am by no means a mechanic.

I’m thinking that if I pass my A.R.E. exams, I’ll let myself get a project track bike as a reward. This might involve an engine teardown or at least some minor disassembly – at which point I will have to step up my game and I’ll need the stuff to do it. I’m also looking ahead to the time when I get a house with a garage and/or basement and I’ll need a good base of operations.

I guess I am getting old. Instead of a PlayStation 3, I want to spend money on tools.

I talked on the phone with my dad last night, who's got a ridiculous amount of tools, 2 cabinet/chest combos and so on. He basically told me that I should concentrate on the essentials and buy what I know I will use first. Wait on the cabinet, concentrate on sockets, screwdrivers, nut drivers, pliers and cutters, etc. See how they play out, and make a cabinet purchase accordingly. Then put the cabinet to use and see how it works with what I am using - and see how often I really use it. Then try and organize it. You can always buy those organizational accessories later when you figure out where things work best.

He has one ball-bearing cabinet and one standard drawer cabinet and he thinks that the ball-bearing slides are overkill if you're not using them on a daily basis or something close to it. The other thing he brought up is the fact that although I might think that pulling that whole cabinet and chest combo into the hall, onto an elevator, and down to the garage (I live in a highrise apt. building) might sound good on paper... doing it a couple times will quickly change my perspective. Could be true.

Anyway... I'll keep looking around and tweaking my list. Torque wrenches were on my list too, but I ended up scratching them due to the cost. They are not cheap. I'll deal with that when I need to torque something important to spec. As far as hex keys go... I've got the big T-handle ones already and some ball-end kind. I got the t-handle ones specifically for the engine mount bolts/frame sliders. I'll also look into some bigger 1/2" drive sockets for the axle nuts.

My dad's main point is that there's no need to try and "master plan" a tool collection. You'll end up randomly adding to it anyway so why try and get everything you think you'll ever need in one shot? He's right, but that's just how my brain operates. I'm trying to work on that.

:thumbsup

Best thing I've gotten for my tool box, some socket drive hex wrenches, and one of them head band LED flash lights...

I guess I am getting old. Instead of a PlayStation 3, I want to spend money on tools.

You're not getting old, you're getting smart!

I've spent thousands on tools, and they've paid for themselves many times over. My vehicles (trucks, cars, motorcycles, boats, etc.) have never been to a mechanic. Tools will save you big bucks for the rest of your life.
Buy quality tools with a warranty, they'll last and won't break (much). Get a good basic set and then buy them as you need them.

By the way... this is all the stuff I am trying to liquidate to make room for replacements/upgrades:

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1424/img0679db3.jpg

Nothing wrong with any of it... I'd just really like to mostly start over and have a nice, clean, comprehensive collection that makes sense.

Hey those are good tools! Don't sell em. You'll just get pennies on the dollar anyway.

Hey those are good tools! Don't sell em. You'll just get pennies on the dollar anyway.
That's true.

Ideally, my buddy Will was going to give me $100 for all that stuff, but then he went and got his own stuff over the holidays. Loser. If I can get that from someone else, I'll unload it.

I really want to start fresh. I know it seems kinda stupid, but there's something that feels good about building a new collection from basically scratch.

first you start with a nice place to store everything.......
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1743/snapon1nx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

....then you get some nice sockets.....
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6893/snaponsocketdrawerqz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

....then you get some nice wrenches....
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9883/snaponwrenchdrawerdr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

.....then some pliers.....These are kinda old and need to be replaced.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8636/snaponplierdrawerer0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

.......and then a nice cover to keep everything clean.http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/365/snaponboxwithcoverjm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Snap-On? Alrighty there, Moneybags! That cabinet alone is worth more than I could spend on all my tools combined!

I rode the bike out to Sears today and they are having a lot of closeout sales... so the potential is there. I also sold a revolver I inherited (and have no use for) so I might put that towards some tools. Or maybe some Rizoma mirrors. Not entirely sure yet.

first you start with a nice place to store everything.......
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/1743/snapon1nx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Damn dude, how many gas cans does a brotha need???

Is that the proper way to store a yamaha? haha

I like how he has a rug laid out just for the 599 to sleep on.

Dark, you get the type A obsesive compulsive award!

I live in an apartment high-rise, so that puts a little kink in the plan. The cabinet will have to go in one of the closets - unless I feel like wheeling the entire thing down to one of the parking levels to work. I have space down there, but it's definitely not like having a house with a garage. I'll eventually have a house and a garage, but it'll be a year or two down the road.

Nice setup though.

For now, I'm shooting for clean, compact, comprehensive, and mobile. Once I get a house I'll spread out and build a workbench and so forth.