Tool Talk
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: amertrac on April 11, 2012, 06:13:08 AM
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My sisters grandson ( my grand nephew? ) wants to be a auto mechanic so my sister asked if I would put together a set of tools for him.It took two months for me to gather
a 11 drawer craftsman tool chest
a complete set of 1/2in....3/8in..... 1/4in socket set with ext,rat,etc
a complete set of doe.dbe and combo wrenches from 5/16 to 1in
a fist full of each screwdrivers std and phillip
15 pairs if pliers
a set of adj.wrenches
a set of tubing wrenches
pluss a few things that i thought he might use
now granted they were mostly foreign and not matched sets but for starting out I thought he could buy what he wanted as he went along BULL SHIT he flat out refused to take them saying he wanted a set of snap-on and did not want to show up to a job with a mixed set of tools. Well I guess I started on him and blew my top.He left in a huff and my sister called and wanted to know what happened so i told her*^%#@%^&(. I said he could have taken the damn tools ands threw them away. I don't know whether i was hurt or pizzed off more .I told him that tools don't repair cars mechanics do and a shiny tool don't make a man a mechanic.
my brother in law called last night and offered to buy the tools and i told they are and never were for saleand I will find someone that will appreciate them and hung up I guess times have gotten way ahead of this old man bob w.
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Flat out refused?! Unbelievable. A little problem with values here. Wants a set of Snap-Ons? Doesn't want to show up with a mixed set of tools? I guess he doesn't want to show up then. Guess he can wash dishes or muck stables until he earns enough money to buy shiny new Snap-Ons.
Funny values to me. I'd rather show up with tools that looked like I had actually used them. I've been known to take a shiny new tool and make it look at least slightly used.
That's not a real new value. I worked with a young gal who was a scenic artist (painting theatrical sets). She had just been accepted into a master's degree program for scenic artists, and had bought a few pairs of painter's pants to take to college. She wore them to the scene shop, a new pair every other day and got them all cruddy looking. I asked her why she was wearing her new stuff to the job. She said, just a little huffy, "If you think I'm going to show up for classes looking like I don't know the work, you're crazy!"
Sorry this happened to you, Bob. I know it hurts.
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Bob, that was a very nice gesture on your part. Some kids are worth the effort, some are not, it usually goes back to the way they were raised. Every generation is different, good and bad together.
In hind sight, possibly if you had involved the kid in the search and educated him about the value of good steel versus a "big name", he might have been more receptive.
Again, that was good work on your part to help a young man get started. I wasnt always open to good advice when I was a young man, my loss.
Brian L.
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Good of you to try and help him. I wish it had worked out better for you in the end. Chin up!
I'd rather show up with tools that looked like I had actually used them. I've been known to take a shiny new tool and make it look at least slightly used.
lol - I can relate
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It's not only with tools, my older son needed a truck but didn't have enough money. I got a truck in trade, fixed it up and offered it to him free. He said NO, I'm getting a new one.
How he did it, I'm not sure. He has kept it, paid it off finally, and now he says he has learned his lesson.
Couple weeks later I sold the one I fixed up for a profit of $1000. Money he could have saved by waiting until his credit kept his payments down.
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It wasn't the damn money I spent nor the time and effort rounding them up . T was the flat oh no I need snap on. It felt like somebody stabed me.Like I said he could have thanked me, went down the road and dumped them.It probably it would not have hurt as much
Maybe I made a mountain out of a mole hill . I definitly will remember it for a long time bob w.
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I'll happily accept a big box of whatever you care to assemble for me, Bob! ;)
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Give the kid some time. Tools are always at risk of being lost or stolen. He may wish he took your kind offer.
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I feel for ya Bob. That would sure lite my fire too. I suggest gettin rid of that box or at least moving it to where you don't have to look at it daily and get all fired up again. The younger ones in my family are fairly evenly split between those who understand afford and make do and those who want to start out with more than their parents got in a lifetime. As the old saying goes"To soon old, to late smart"
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Not sure how old he is, but I can assure you it isn't all of us (I'm 21). Any tool that is remotely proper for a job is a good tool to me! I can't tell you how many times I've had to make a tool, be it a spanner, screwdriver or what have you, when I didn't have \ couldn't find the right one.
I'll admit though, I wouldn't have readily accepted it either- I'd feel guilty taking a whole tool box from someone with nothing to offer in return... But that's a bit different.
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I went off on a 'Tool Snob' rant last week so I won't do it again here. Tuff break Bob, but a very kind gesture. I hope that he comes around to your way of thinking before he mortgages his soul to the SnapOn guy.
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thats not about being a tool snob;thats about being grateful for a gift. Glad I don't have to give him a christmas present.
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WOW, thats just ridicoulous.
Being 17 I can say. I see it at school about the brand names, not in tools but deffinitly in clothes. People act as if its a tragety if there clothes dont have certian tags. I myself dont care as long as they fit well an last long.
Just this last christmas my grandma had me make a list for christmas. I put a bunch of stuff on there just simple little stuff from several stores. She ended up getting me a 6 piece coffee cup set, totally not on the list. But I didnt care what it was I still acted just as happy as if it was a tool from homedepiot. It was about the thought not the actual gift. I must admit I havent used the coffee mugs once but my older sister enjoys them.
But you tried to be nice at least. He will learn one day its not all about the brand as long as it works well.
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Maybe this has aready been mentioned I didnt bother to read all of the posts but that is one spoiled little bas@@@d.
He will maybe find out one day when he dosent have his mommy or daddy taking pity on him to wise up and smell the coffee.
I would have thrown him out on his ears
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Unbelievable! Sorry you went through that, Bob. I would have choked on that situation.
I agree with someone earlier who said, "...it's about gratitude for a gift."
When my two sons were little boys, my wife and I taught them strictly to make certain they showed extreme gratitude for any gift from anyone, anytime. So if they opened a Christmas present from grandparents with a pair of socks inside, they had BETTER make a fuss about how much they liked those particular socks, and thank the grandparents clearly and distinctly BEFORE opening any other presents. Even if they really wanted video games, or whatever. I warned them vigorously that if one single present was opened without gratitude being shown, and a pause made for a directly-spoken "thank-you," that I would take away the rest of their gifts for a week. I am proud to say that, even today they understand this lesson well.
I am sorry that your nephew did not. But I suspect that if he doesn't understand this, then he will have several important lessons to be learned in life. And life as an automotive technician is not so easy... That life will definitely teach him many, many tough lessons...the hard way.
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> And life as an automotive technician is not so easy... That life will definitely teach him many, m
any tough lessons
He is still living the 'Fantasy life' about what he imagines an automotive tech is and does. Fixing fancy sports cars, using shiny tools, in a nice clean shop.
Wait till they give him a rusty old sh*tbox to fix in the mud the back lot ;P
And it takes three times longer than they are paying him for by the book.
And he gets the chrome all scratched up on the shiny tools.
And mud grease and oil everywhere.
Cold hard reality hits you like a freight train ;P
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I think it because kids get way too much these days, just look at Xmas presents. This leads them to want only the best and it sad that they need to do this in order to impress their peers.
This boy does not want to turn up at work with odd tools in case someone may make fun of him, it's very sad but our modern culture has been the cause of this.
Could you imagine the differance if you had handed this tool kit to a young worker in Thailand or similar?
I commend you on your interest in this boy by collecting this tools for him, I think if you can talk to him again in 10 years time he will thank you.
Not a lot of help to you now I know.
Batz
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Bob we have an expression for punks like that, unfortunately the only part I can put here without the screen turning purple is feed him salted cod and let him beg for water.
I had the fun of breaking the stepson of the man I worked for, punk arrived with tood, and left with blisters. There is nothing like a pick in rocky fill to convince you there is a lot to learn.
Just write the punk off, he ain't worth remembering.
Should his parents call remind them Shakespeare said good wombs can bring forth bad sons.
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> And life as an automotive technician is not so easy... That life will definitely teach him many, m
any tough lessons
He is still living the 'Fantasy life' about what he imagines an automotive tech is and does. Fixing fancy sports cars, using shiny tools, in a nice clean shop.
Wait till they give him a rusty old sh*tbox to fix in the mud the back lot ;P
And it takes three times longer than they are paying him for by the book.
And he gets the chrome all scratched up on the shiny tools.
And mud grease and oil everywhere.
Cold hard reality hits you like a freight train ;P
Yep, thats all its gonna take, might be he will blame the shop, say its their fault and who are they to be treating him this way and then wander from shop to shop until it finally sinks in that plain and simple that is the reality of the trade.
I hope this wont be the case
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Wow, Bob. That was a generous thing you did and the kid will realize it someday. When you're young, unmarried, and no kids you can afford to buy Snap-On, but someday he'll be lucky he has enough scratch to buy a used Craftsman wrench. The Snap-On guy shows up every week, plenty of time to build a collection onto the nice set you supplied. I would not blame you for being steamed, but you need to put it behind you. Just don't forget it - don't stick your neck out for him again. Al.
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What a spoiled brat, I know that was a great deal of work on your part. Can anyone say blanket party.
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The story thickens, I was in a convenience/gas station Friday when a gentleman walked in.He was a dairy farmer( was easily detected by the fragrance which I happen to like) he asked if he could use the phone.He walked back to the front of the store and asked if anyone knew of a car repair man,I asked what was wrong . His truck was about a mile down the road and needed a jump start.I offered to help . we got to his truck( an older model with about 10 bags of cow feed on the back. He told me the battery was bad but would hold enough to run the truck. He had stopped for to offer help a car that was on the side of the road, but they were on the cellphone . They left and when he started to pull out the truck stalled
.we got the truck started.and i offered to follow him home which went passed my road . i offered to charge his battery so we stopped and put the charger on . . Over a cup of coffee we talked and he told me that he and his wife decided to live the simple life and farm.He said that they were having a tuff time but they were making it.I remembered I had an older battery Used to take out to jump tractors .We put in in his truck . he had a small soda flat about half full of tools the bare necessity and that was all he had so i asked him if he would give me a hand moving a tool box from in the back of the garage. we took the tools out and put them in boxes and put them in the cab ,threw the box up on top of the feed . he argued about paying so I told him that payment would be whenever i wanted raw milk he would give me a quart . so the tools are gone to a good home and my great nephew lost out and I feel good about the whole deal.
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Sounds like it worked out great for both of you. Nice to hear a good story about people helping out other local families. You probably made another friend that would be glad to return a favor any time you might need a hand.
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Bob, that's a downright heart-warming tale! Maybe it shows that a bad thing can happen for the best. It definitely shows the goodness of your heart. Again.
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Wonder where this wannabe mechanic got the Snap-On idea to start with?
Maybe the school shop instructor?
I remember a scandal where the shop instructor got a "spiff" for every student that bought into the "Snap-On" tool program.
Hmmmmm.
I remember buying some tools from a so-called student that decided he would not make a good mechanic.
Any young man that pulls this stunt is spoiled, and not sure what kind of job he could find and be happy in any workforce.
I recommend he join the Marines.
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There is not much more a pleasant refreshing clean smell than farm life, I dont get that anymore in Fl and I do miss it Bob
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Thats making lemonaide out of a lemon. Way to go Bob!
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The story thickens, I was in a convenience/gas station Friday when a gentleman walked in.He was a dairy farmer( was easily detected by the fragrance which I happen to like) he asked if he could use the phone.He walked back to the front of the store and asked if anyone knew of a car repair man,I asked what was wrong . His truck was about a mile down the road and needed a jump start.I offered to help . we got to his truck( an older model with about 10 bags of cow feed on the back. He told me the battery was bad but would hold enough to run the truck. He had stopped for to offer help a car that was on the side of the road, but they were on the cellphone . They left and when he started to pull out the truck stalled
.we got the truck started.and i offered to follow him home which went passed my road . i offered to charge his battery so we stopped and put the charger on . . Over a cup of coffee we talked and he told me that he and his wife decided to live the simple life and farm.He said that they were having a tuff time but they were making it.I remembered I had an older battery Used to take out to jump tractors .We put in in his truck . he had a small soda flat about half full of tools the bare necessity and that was all he had so i asked him if he would give me a hand moving a tool box from in the back of the garage. we took the tools out and put them in boxes and put them in the cab ,threw the box up on top of the feed . he argued about paying so I told him that payment would be whenever i wanted raw milk he would give me a quart . so the tools are gone to a good home and my great nephew lost out and I feel good about the whole deal.
I would say the tools went to a better home.
Around here very few if any people stop to help if your cars stranded. But there aint no dairy farms for a hundred miles around here.
We need more people like you and him were I live.
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My young 17 year old soon to be a marine nephew came down and helped me move some stuff.
I tried to give him some fatherly advice about tools. He only seamed mildly interested.
He left with a partial old set of china metric ¾ sockets, he seemed happy; I hope he gets use out of them.