You can cheap out on these 5 tools
When do-it-yourself types talk about tools, they usually fall into one of two groups: Those who declare that premium tools are the way to go, and those who argue that, based on the average quality of today’s tools, paying more just isn’t worth it. The truth likely falls somewhere in between, especially once you consider that some tools get picked up more often than others. Still other tools, if they fail, have unusually high consequences.
When assembling their toolbox, everyone has a budget. Where can you cut a few corners, perhaps to justify buying a few higher-end ones? We dug around and found five garage must-haves. With these, the budget option carries no penalty—and just might be your best bet.
Pliers
I own some pricy pliers, and I’m constantly passing them over to grab a cheap set, one that can get little damaged or soaked in oil and not make me feel guilty. Does that mean I am too protective of my “nice tools?” Maybe, but it also means I probably could get by with only the budget-friendly option.
Remember those Snap-On pliers that made the rounds on social media awhile back, the ones you could use to pick up a nickel by its edge? Let’s call a gimmick a gimmick. In a home shop, you rarely need the precision offered by those pliers. They are likely easily damaged if used improperly, too.
Hacksaw
Saw blades are a place to shell out, but the actual hacksaw? Even the cheapies seem to last long enough to crop up at estate sales. After all, there aren’t many ways to improve on the recipe: a metal frame, plastic handle, and threaded adjustment for the blade tension.
Hacksaws can be found for as little as $5 or $6, and those of us who just work on cars at home are unlikely to notice or truly appreciate the more expensive options.
Flashlights
At some point, light is light. Flashlights can get expensive, and while it’s very likely some are worth the premium, most are just the same switches and bulbs in a “fancier” case. I’ve never needed a truly waterproof flashlight in my garage. I’ve never needed to use one as a hammer, either.
If taken care of with even a small amount of respect, like keeping fresh batteries installed to keep the corrosion out, cheap lights work for a long time at practically no cost.
Extensions
Not extension cords, but socket or ratchet extensions. So long as the machining for the two precision parts—where the ratchet and socket engage—is right, you’re pretty well good to go. Again, when used properly, extensions aren’t going to wear out: If you’re using hand tools, you’re unlikely to put enough torque on a garden-variety one to twist or break it.
(You shouldn’t be using one as a punch, anyway. We know you’ve never done that. Right?)
Organization
At the end of the day, your toolbox is your toolbox. If you know where things are, that is good enough. Some people prefer borderline- over fully organized tool storage, but we all find what works for us.
When you’re pinching pennies, fancy organizational inserts are low-hanging fruit. There are also a lot of truly budget DIY solutions for toolbox organization that require only medium effort.
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There is a fine line between buying the right tool for the job and spending so much on tools you don’t have anything left for the actual project. Sometimes a tool’s value doesn’t align with its price. Be a little frugal: At first, you might feel like you’re cutting corners, but after a while, you’ll notice the cash saved, and your wallet will be better prepared for that last-minute Marketplace purchase that “just needs carb work.”
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I have to disagree on screwdrivers. I had always used the standard Craftsman screwdrivers, but was disappointed in how quickly they lost their sharp ends. Now there are several brands (including Craftsman) that offer a premium hardened end screwdriver. I like them so much that I bought sets for both my son and son-in-law because I was tired of using standard (worn out) screwdrivers at their houses.
Farm out. Out of state! Another commonsense Hagerty listicle. Content-R-Us.
I have some China freight pneumatic die grinders/ cut off tools. Most have lasted long time with exception of a recent failure. The one that failed was only used a handful of times. Have some of their electrical test lights. Cheap and hold up. Don’t cheap out on a compression tester. Had one from auto zone for several years. Last year I tested a used outboard motor and all cylinders were around 60 psi. Sold the motor for parts. Used the tester on couple other engines and was getting low readings. Borrowed another tester and rechecked engines. My tester was junk.
Pliers: You can never have enough, good, cheep, expensive, the only bad pliers is the one with no pivot bolt.
Hacksaw: I have replaced these with a Sawzall and or a Oscillating tool.
Flashlight: Het a headlamp, the $12 ones work great and you can pull it off and hand hold it.
Extensions: Sure solid is good, but sometimes that wobbly socket that allows you to be off just enough to clear that frame rail is the way better choice.
Organization: Yeah, I go from same tools in same drawer, to I always use that so it’s in my Gig Bag.
Craftsman, Klein, ChannelLock, Snap-on, & Crescent deliver reliable hand tools that hold their finish and their value when wrenching on vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles. Some cost a little more, some cost a lot more, but I never regretted buying quality.
Anything applying torque is something to be very careful about being cheap. Soft metal tools tend to round out and become useless.
Have to disagree on pretty much everything. The problem is that once the cheap tool strips the screw, rounds the nut, or cuts crooked, etc, etc, it is then too late to remedy the mess. 99% of the time a DIYer gets in trouble, you’ll see they are using tools not up to the job. We often work on older vehicles, so frozen screws, bolts and fasteners are common…another reason to use a tool with high quality steel that bites and grips the fastener. If you can’t INVEST in a quality set of screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, etc, you probably shouldn’t be working on cars…or stop buying those $4 coffees every morning, and save for the tools.
Rule number one when it comes to quality tools: Buy once, cry once. Acquire the best tools your budget allows and take care of them. Let the other experienced voices here be your guide. Cheap equals lost time, the only thing (besides lost youth) that can’t be replaced.
I’m 69 years old and I got paid to fix cars since I was 15 and in GM dealers over 30 yrs so you can imagine all the tools that come through my hands. Are some of the more expensive tools worth it sure they are. If you handle wrenches and ratchets all day long, you kind of want them to be smooth. I hate to say this, but snap on tools are very good even though it empties your wallet every week you just have to shop around for what you want, Cornwell, Mac, Matco they all make a very good tool, and probably better than a snap on for less money, but I feel each one has their advantages. They don’t have to be shiny they don’t have to look pretty they just have to do the job. Keep that in mind next time you get on the snap on truck and see a set of sockets for $400 when you can buy them from somebody else for less than half. A socket is a socket. In my case, I found out that impact sockets were cheaper than Chrome sockets, and I thought the exact opposite all my Automotive career. That’s why my toolbox is all black sockets in it now.
I saw a comment about screwdrivers, yes those new hardened tip Phillips head screwdriver’s are the bomb. I have a set from the Cornwell dealer and I love them.
When I purchased my mechanic’s tools back in ’72, I bought everything from Sears, including a pair of self-locking pliers. They shot the adjusting screw across the shop within a week, so I went back to Sears for a replacement. That pair did the exact same thing in less time. I headed over to my corner hardware store for some genuine Vise-Grips. I still have them and they still work.
On the other hand, most of the rest of those old Craftsman tools in my box are still going strong.
BTW – that photograph of the drawer full of screwdrivers could’ve been taken in my shop.
I used to swear by Craftsman, but now many of the tools aren’t even made, so I can’t replace anything that may break and quality of the “new” ones isn’t what it once was. I cracked a 13/16″ half inch drive spark plug socket and it’s no longer in production.
What is a ‘ pair of hemos’?
I think they’re talking about medical hemostats. They’re designed for clamping off blood vessels but they can also be used as a tiny, thin set of locking pliers. They also work well for holding a joint that’s gotten too short to hold with your fingers, or so I’ve been told.
Strong neodymium magnets to hold stuff in place you don’t want magnetized and also those $2 magnetic trays, extending pickup wands and tool strips are always good to have. Clamps and clamping pliers anything that acts as a third hand.
Also, a wobbler extension assortment.
Circlip Pliers is where I now draw the line on not going cheap! After years of experiencing slipping grip and poor functionality, I made the decision to purchase a high-quality set of snap-on vintage circlip pliers. I will never return to using cheap, crappy, and useless pliers again.
Knipex snap ring pliers make SnapOn look like Harbor Freight
For toolbox organization, mine were a mess until I talked with a buddy on an IndyCar team.
They put me onto Shark-Co. (shark-co.com)
Their tool drawer foam inserts not only helped me find the sockets or wrenches I was looking for at a glance, but made it easy to quickly note missing tools. Porsche Cars North America uses their drawers, as well.