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Jamie (Rover_puppy)
Member
Username: Rover_puppy
Post Number: 214
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 11:36 am: | 
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I drove into my dealership on Wednesday afternoon and I SAW a Snap On Tool Truck!!! 
I was so excited that tracking down the tool guy took presidence over telling my dealership that I was ready to sell my rover.
I found the guy in the shop and told him that I was a miserable failure at working on my rover and that I was JUST SURE that if I had Snap On Tools that I would be successful. Trust me, he KNEW that I DID NOT believe what I was saying.
Gee Whiz, there sure are alot of tools in those trucks. He even had the CRANBERRY colored huge rolling tool chest that I read John Lee said he has in his posts. Talk about an opportunity to get confused all over again. I asked him if they had a "set" of tools that fit rovers? He said they can put together anything.
He showed me a "starter set" of (I forget the measurement - maybe 1/2"??) sockets handles. I think there were 5 handles in the set. $175 for JUST THE HANDLES. I asked him if I could get a new customer discount?
He said yes - so I walked away with the ONE THING that I could afford to purchase from his truck -- A FREE CATALOG of my very OWN!! At least now I can LOOK in it to see what you guys are talking about -- my mind has been spinning in confustion at the tool posts!! Looks like I CAN FIX that with my new catalog!!
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Jack Parker (Jack)
Member
Username: Jack
Post Number: 193
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 10:00 pm: |
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Jamie,
Congratulations on visiting the "Holy Grail of Tools".
Just wondering what you meant by ...."I was so excited that tracking down the tool guy took presidence over telling my dealership that I was ready to sell my rover." It sounds like you are over-whelmed by some of your modification attempts, and frustrated by your lack of results. It sounds like you have the right attitude (most important), but as yet, you have not gained the knowledge or skills necessary to complete some of the tasks. Hang in there - you'll be surprised how much you'll learn in trying, even if you don't succeed. And never be afraid to ask questions!
Have you investigated the local community college or trade schools? Many offer a basic auto maintenance course (some developed specifically for women)- which would be a good place to start.
As far a tools go, there is nothing wrong in starting your collection with the best quality you can afford. If that's Snap-on, Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky just buy the best you can. As you learn a new skill, or start a project on your Rover determine what basic tools are needed and buy them before you begin. In doing this, you'll have the correct tool for the job and be able to buy very nice tools w/o buying the Mega-300 Piece All-Trade set from Sam's for $129.99. You can then decide for yourself if you want to spend $60 for a Snap-on 3/8" ratchet, or $20 for a Craftsman, etc. In general, Snap-on is 2 or 3 times more expensive, but if I had it to do over again, I'd start building my set with Snap-on, one tool at a time and fill in with Craftsman instead of the other way around. But what and how much you think it's worth spending is up to you - take your time, compare quality, feel, and how much you'll use that particular tool in making your decision (for instance, you probably don't need three 1/2" drive ratchets for $175 right now, just a 3/8" - 8" ratchet, and some sockets, wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers).
Within a couple of years, you'll have a very nice set of tools that you've paid for as you need them.
At first, the selection of tools available from Snap-on, Sears, etc., is overwhelming, and you may have sticker shock, but at the hourly labor rate charged by the dealer, you'll quickly recoup your investment |
Brian Dickens (Bri)
Senior Member
Username: Bri
Post Number: 640
Registered: 08-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 06:36 pm: |
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I believe that was sarcasm in Jamie's post, at least she is hoping to get the rover back on Tues.
Personally, I would forget the 3/8 and go right for the 1/2. I don't hardly touch my 3/8 now that I have a 1/2 and 3/4. However there are times when the 1/2 is a bit big. You will also need the 1/2 for the drain/fill plugs, or at least an adaptor to go from 3/8 to 1/2. |
Jamie (Rover_puppy)
Senior Member
Username: Rover_puppy
Post Number: 251
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 01:08 am: |
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Jack,
After reading so many threads on Dweb that contained info about snap on tools, it has become a personal joke when I laugh at myself when I do work on my truck. It is purely magical thinking when I say to myself that if I had snap on tools I could do anything.
I have craftsman tools - 157 mechanics tool set. I purchased them at Sears Outlet at the insistence of my retired neighbor when he saw the set for 75.00.
The thing that they do best is fall out of the case and roll all over the garage. Instead of case they came in, I tried plano tackle boxes, same problem. Last week they even decided to roll down the driveway while they were jumping out. All those round things sure go fast!! I decided that I was not going to put them all back again, so I just threw them all in a wagon - so far so good!!
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Jack Parker (Jack)
Member
Username: Jack
Post Number: 194
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 10:21 am: |
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Jamie,
Most of my hand tools are Craftsman, because 20+ years ago I bought a '67 MGB and quickly realized that I needed tools to keep it on the road. I still have the MG and the tools!
Now, I'm replacing or adding "specialty" items and buying Snap-on when I can. I've printed a big wish list so my wife and kids can always buy these as welcome gifts from the web site.
My 6 y/o daughter who's always "helping" me keeps my tools her battery-powered Barbie Jeep. She says she wishes it was a Barbie Land Rover! She also asked the service advisor at the dealer one day if they could install pink floats, that would pop out automatically so we could float over water. Nice idea, but not sure I'd want pink, maybe camo. I think LR is working on the concept
Brian,
My 1/2" stuff is really, really old, so I hardly ever use it. And, under the hood it's somestimes cumbersome, imo. I'm starting to replace it with newer, so maybe I'll use it more.
Working on bikes all day, it seems like all I ever use is a 4,5,6,mm hex so actually using a socket or wrench of any size seems like a "real" tool. Not sure I'm ready for 3/4" drive |
Jamie (Rover_puppy)
Senior Member
Username: Rover_puppy
Post Number: 258
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 10:15 pm: |
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Way to go Jack! AWESOME DAD!!!
That is the COOLEST tool chest I have ever heard of!! |
Andrew Maier (Newman)
Member
Username: Newman
Post Number: 147
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 10:25 pm: |
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Jamie: I know you love pink -- why not get the brightest pink duffel/gym bag in the toughest material you can find, and store your tools in there? It's not the most anally-retentive organized way to do it, but they don't roll around.
Myself, I use a canvas tool bag with compartments in the garage and 2 old ammo cans on the trail...not pink, OD. |
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