There's value in knowing what's the latest and greatest on the market. There's also value in knowing what happens after you make that purchase. If there's a single equipment category that's routinely called on to go the distance and then some, it's garage and shop tools. A single wrench can potentially outlast several project vehicles, and sometimes can outlast a generation. In the family garage, we're still using grandad's bench vise, and we'd bet you may have a tool or two with a similar history.
To find tools with some history, we poked our noses around a couple of professional shops, and then brought the search to our own doorstep.
Suspension Innovation
S.I. Motorsports was our first stop. Tom McKenzie, S.I.'s owner, first joined the off-road fabrication world as a 14-year-old. Today, Tom's expertise is well-known and well-respected in the world of high-speed desert trucks. That said, we've seen Tom at work on other stuff such as motorhome alignment, tubular Jeep fenders, and electric utility carts. He's got a pretty big bag of tricks.
Truck and Jeep
T&J Performance was our next stop. Owners Mike and Tom Barnett are second-generation off-roaders and employ a crew that does everything from light-bar installations to custom suspension design and fabrication. A visit to T&J Performance usually reveals an ultra-clean vintage CJ, and various YJs, TJs, and JKs. You're sure to see Jeepspeed machines there, too, as T&J Performance is a pioneer in the Jeepspeed series.
At the home garage, Seth Blumer is a recent graduate of automotive technology at Utah Valley University and is an entry-level mechanic. Seth's tool collection isn't as vast as those of established shops, but he's already found some favorites and given them a workout.
Finally, yours truly looked at his own tool collection. Read on to see tools that are tried and proven.
 S.I.'s Tom McKenzie owns several...  S.I.'s Tom McKenzie owns several high-zoot, big-dollar pieces of equipment, but he opted for this Craftman cabinet because it packed a great value for the price tag. "The Snap-On cabinet was a few thousand, and this Craftsman was a few hundred. I use it all the time and it's held up great," Tom informed. |  Inside, Tom stashes lubricants,...  Inside, Tom stashes lubricants, solvents, cleaners, hardware, and abrasives. The cubby holes in the doors make organization easy. |  Here's a Snap-On combination...  Here's a Snap-On combination wrench next to a Craftsman. We asked Tom about the differences between the two. Snap-On tools are much, much more expensive than Craftsman. Why would someone pay the premium price of Snap-On? "The biggest difference is in the ergonomics," he said. "Look at how the Snap-On is slim and smooth. It just fits your hand better. Also, note that the 5/16 Snap-On is longer than the 3/8 Craftsman, which is a bigger fastener size. The longer Snap-On wrench means it's got more leverage and it's easier to get nuts and bolts tighter with a longer wrench. Snap-On wrenches are also stronger, so they break less often." |