Gotta get me some tools Part II

[Tail_Gunner]

After a lot of in store shopping, and a lot of consumer research done from the porcelain lazy boy, I've been spending some money.

I got a 36" Masterforce toolbox combo from Menards. Biding my time paid off since the box I was wanting went on sale for Father's day.
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I decided on this vs the Kobalt at Lowes for a few reasons.
-Metal work and finish looked a bit better
-Drawer mechanisms are metal ball bearings
-Top of stand alone lower unit would make a better work station for school.
-Price seemed a bit better.

For tools, I've been getting Craftsman & Matco. I've been watching for sales at Sears. I found out that if you check a couple times a day, you might catch a 12 hour sale. About a week ago, they had a 12 hour sale where you got 10% off any Carftsman tool. That was 10% on top of any current sale prices. I was eyeballing a $200 set of 1/2" drive sockets that was on "sale" for a paltry $10 off. But with the 12 hour sale added to that, I got that $200 set of sockets for $30 bucks off, not too bad for Craftsman. Matco has a student discount that I've been able to get. I've signed up with Snap-on & Mac for their student tech programs, but I still can't get logged onto their websites.

I found some foam floor matting at Lowes that I'm using for drawer pads. I've been make tool silhouette slots for easy tool organizing and inventory. For something done on a budget, I think it's coming along quite well.
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[WD40]

Looking good, did you join the Craftsman Club, that gets you 10% off on everything and they have sales from time to time.

 

[kingkevindavid]

looking good! Make sure you are asking for your Military discount anytime you buy something. Even if they said no before, ask again. Sears offers additional 10% off occasionally but never publicize it.
On another note, every autoparts store I go to gives a 10% Military discount (Autozone, O'Reilly and Advanced).

 

[stroked 350]

looks good, matco is just as good as snap-on for a lot less cash.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

With the student tech discount, a lot of the Matco stuff isn't priced too far different from Craftsman. I'd be getting more Matco stuff, but due to some recent non-covered dental issues, the Sears card was about my best option. I've been buying my Craftsman stuff on-line. I won't shop at the local Sears store. Nothing with the store, but with the owner. Several years ago when I bought my lawn mower /tractor, the owner lied to me at least 5 times about different things. So I get my tools on-line and have UPS bring 'em. In addition to any sale price, if you get something like $85 of stuff and it mailable, then shipping is free. On my biggest order, the regular total would have been about $700. The sale savings was about $150. And the shipping was free on top of that.

I've found that frequently miltary discounts aren't extended to veterans/ retirees, just active duty, guards and reserves. It kinda sucks sometimes. Kinda like the fact I'm old enough to join AARP, but I'm not old enough to get that free senior beverage with my lunch.

I guess I'm here:

But not quite here:

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Looking good, did you join the Craftsman Club, that gets you 10% off on everything and they have sales from time to time.

I've signed up, but haven't received a member number yet.

 

[JLDickmon]

here's my socket drawer, my SAE wrench drawer, and my alignment tool drawer...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

here's my socket drawer, my SAE wrench drawer, and my alignment tool drawer...

That last drawer looks like the "I don't know where I want to put this one" drawer. In fact that last drawer looks rather like my "other" toolbox.

The biggest reason I'm putting the cutout silhouettes in the drawer pads is for inventory of my tools after a job or at days end. Even with the socket organizers, you can see one where I've put heat shrink over a few of the pegs. That's so I know it's an unused peg vs a missing socket. I haven't got them all done yet, its a work in progress.

From my B-52 crew chief days, tool accountability is a huge issue. Over the years, on a few occasions after getting a car home from the repair shop, I'd find an socket extension or screwdriver or something. I'd think "Cool, I just got me a free Snap-on 4" socket extension".

But it's different with an airplane. If I'd found the same tool laying at the bottom of my ejection seat, I'd be raising all kinds of hell wanting to know who just tried to kill me. You can't pull an airplane over on the side of the sky when it breaks down.

With the silhouettes of the tools, I can tell at a glance if something is missing. An empty slot = a missing tool.

 

[JLDickmon]

hey, I'll trade you my Taurus drill jig for that 3/8" speed handle...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

hey, I'll trade you my Taurus drill jig for that 3/8" speed handle...

Too late, the speedhandle slot has already been cut into the foam.