Are SETS really that good?

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Texatdurango

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We all have them in our shop..... sets of drill bits (fractional, number, letter,metric, etc) sets of taps, sets of collets, sets of turning tools and the list goes on and on.

A few years ago I took a long hard look at all my tools and realized that over the years I have spent a LOT of money on tools that I will likely NEVER use and I'm talking about sets of drill bits I've owned over 25 years where some bits have never been taken from the case.... not even to dust off! The same thing with several sets of taps and dies I wound up with over the years, some of the taps and dies have never been used and again, probably never will!

Why do we do this to ourselves? We watch pennies on things like blanks, glue, sandpaper, etc, but waste dollars on things in SETS.

Now we all think it's cheaper to just buy a set of things but is it really if we end up never using many of the things in the set?

What got me to thinking about this tonight was that I am reorganizing all my turning tools above my metal and Jet mini lathes and in deciding where to put all my er-32 collets it dawned on me..... why allocate space for those collets that I bought in a set two years ago and have never touched yet! It looks neat to have all the collets lined up in a row but man... what a waste of space, Iwish I had never bought all of them!

And drill bits, I must have a million of them (actually probably closer to 837,045):smile: and can open any case and spot dozens that have never been touched, and I'm talking 35-40 years in some cases!

Recently in some threads about making custom pens the discussions focused on threading and everyone started talking about which SETS were best and I thought the same thing.... I bought a nice set of taps and dies two years ago and have used three or four sizes out of 48 or so! What a waste!

There........... I feel better now! :biggrin:
 
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George, Very good point. I know a lot of guys that buy the SET of 3 nail guns and realize that 2 of them are ones that shoot only one size of nail and it is the wrong size. And the third gun isn't a size that is used that often, so you have to buy other guns to do the job of the ones in the SET. In my industry people but a set of screwdrivers and use 2 of them, a set of 3 pliers and use one of them and yes, sets of drill bits (the bigger the better) when we only use 6 different sizes. The other thing I have it tools that I bought in preparation for a project and then the project fell through and I'm left with something that I might need in the future but end up never using. If we had 2 chances at life the second would be so much cheaper than the first.
 
We just bought a MASSIVE set of drill bits (I forget how many hundreds). It has masonry bits (useless to us), Titanium coated bits, HSS bits and Brad bits.

There are a lot of extra smaller bits in each of the three kinds (I think there are like 12 or more of the same size for some of them.) Now I don't need twelve 1/16" drill bits, what I do need is a 25/64" bit. Of course as luck would have it, that was one of several sizes that they decided to omit completely. There are a couple in 64ths increments that are skipped as well as a couple 32nds. How useless is that!

So I bought a 25/64" bit for about $10, the whole set was only $50 with a GIANT plastic carrying case.
 
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There are several trains of thought. Usually you can get sets for a fraction of the cost of individual tools combined, usually resulting in extra stuff for free. If you never use those free tools you could say you wasted your money. But, if once or twice you use one of the odd sizes or shapes...it more than makes up for it. I find most of the time I buy sets I tend to buy the cheaper version and get a really good deal. If there i s one in particular that I use frequently and wear it out....I replace just that one with higher quality item in hopes it will last longer this time.
 
Geroge we buy them in sets because of the total price of a set Vs. the individual price. No, like you mentioned we don't use all of them, but when you look at it form the manufacturer perspective it's cheaper for them that way. then again I am known to b wrong.:biggrin: :tongue:
 
at the end of the day the boy with the most toys WINS! I too have a shop full of tools, many of which I purchased for a specific project or purpose. I don't know when I'll need some of those tools again, but at least I'll have it when/if I ever need it again.
 
I buy the sets for several reasons, one they come in a box/container that keeps them in order. 2, I am a gadget maker, if I need a jig, tool or just a "gadget" to get a job done I usually do drill and tapping, and those odd sizes come in to use. 3, I also like to experiment with ideas, again like in making a "gadget, I need those odd sizes for drilling and tapping, and usually a size larger so the bolt or screw precisely will fit the hole. This also applies to tap and die sets. I could go on, but 3 explanations of why I use all of the sets should suffice.

For my every day use sizes of drill bits and taps and dies, I buy several of the better quality ones. Those I store in plastic pencil boxes that school kids use. I have one for all of the "standard" taps and dies I use, example in the 1/4" tap and die box, I have several new drill bits, taps and dies. I have a pencil box for each type of pen I make, in the box is everything I need to make the pen, a good drill bit and the bushings, along with assembly instructions.
 
I have at least one more drill bit than George. However I make oh so much more than pens. IF I buy a set its because I will use at least enough of them that having bought them individually I would have spent more. For me its the fact that when I want to make something, what ever that happens to be. I want the material and tools at hand so when I start I am not held up for lack of a tool or material.
 
35 or 40 years? George, are you THAT old? :biggrin::biggrin:

quote=Texatdurango;1278561]We all have them in our shop..... sets of drill bits (fractional, number, letter,metric, etc) sets of taps, sets of collets, sets of turning tools and the list goes on and on.

A few years ago I took a long hard look at all my tools and realized that over the years I have spent a LOT of money on tools that I will likely NEVER use and I'm talking about sets of drill bits I've owned over 25 years where some bits have never been taken from the case.... not even to dust off! The same thing with several sets of taps and dies I wound up with over the years, some of the taps and dies have never been used and again, probably never will!

Why do we do this to ourselves? We watch pennies on things like blanks, glue, sandpaper, etc, but waste dollars on things in SETS.

Now we all think it's cheaper to just buy a set of things but is it really if we end up never using many of the things in the set?

What got me to thinking about this tonight was that I am reorganizing all my turning tools above my metal and Jet mini lathes and in deciding where to put all my er-32 collets it dawned on me..... why allocate space for those collets that I bought in a set two years ago and have never touched yet! It looks neat to have all the collets lined up in a row but man... what a waste of space, Iwish I had never bought all of them!

And drill bits, I must have a million of them (actually probably closer to 837,045):smile: and can open any case and spot dozens that have never been touched, and I'm talking 35-40 years in some cases!

Recently in some threads about making custom pens the discussions focused on threading and everyone started talking about which SETS were best and I thought the same thing.... I bought a nice set of taps and dies two years ago and have used three or four sizes out of 48 or so! What a waste!

There........... I feel better now! :biggrin:[/quote]
 
joefyffe said:
35 or 40 years? George, are you THAT old? :biggrin::biggrin:
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Well I started to say "unfortunately yes" but all things considered I feel pretty fortunate to still be looking down at the grass rather than up at it! :smile:

The unfortunate part is that most if not all my woodworking tools that old say CRAFTSMAN on them including an old gray box of bits. Back then name brands didn't mean much since there was always a Sears close by.
 
You JUST HAD to post this. Didn't ya, George!

Well! I've got one thing to say to you. I think you are right.

I just wish I'd thought about it a few tens of thousands of dollars ago. At least the shop would be less cluttered, as I WOULD HAVE found another use for the money savings.

Tongue firmly in cheek.
 
I'm guilty. I think for me it's mostly that I'll go to a "brick and mortar" store and see a set that looks like a good deal and I'll pick it up, thinking hey, certainly I'll use most of these at some point in my life! ...Instead of just searching online for a good deal on the ONE that I NEED...
 
I sort of have ranges of tools that I wll buy in sets. By the way I did a group buy on drill bits for penturning George, So you only have yourself to blame:)
Back to the subject. I have a set of combination wrenches that range from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch by 1/16 inch increments. I also have the metric equivalent. I bought each of those sets for $19.99 or just about at that time the cost of 2.5 of those wrenches.
I constantly use at least two of those wrenches. The 1/2 inch and the 9/16. I have used the others enough over the years to have made it a very good deal.
Second, Sets makes it less necessary to run back to the store every time I come across a different size nut or bolt. That can also get very expensive. But then I don't go buy a complete set of spare parts for my car every time I buy one either. So that theory does not play out across the board. Gotta get the part, pick up the tools as you do.

Beyond that 3/4 inch wrench that cam ein my set. I buy other wrenches individually as I need them. It is a pain but George is correct, a big money saver. plus I don't have as much clutter.

As for drill bits and another favorite of mine the 20 some plus set of screw drivers. I ahve the 115 piece bit set from HF. I probably use a lot more of them than the average person. But still there are a lot of bits unused. I still think I came out money ahead and loss organized in the shop with them though. Screwdrivers I cannot ever have enough of. I want them at arms reach at any moment. I will grab one at the store as I am getting supplies simply because I don't want to have to move that one on the bench next to my lathe or the other one near the buffing machine. Don't ask why I need one near the buffer. I just do. Actually all joking aside, Screw drives are one of those things I can never seem to find when I want one. So having to many is not yet a problem for me. But it does show one more erason buying a set even an over the top type set might be a good idea.

On the issue of clutter. I have to really agree on that one though. I think across the board most of our lives would be much simpler if we only had what we really needed. Think how much time you coudl save if you didn't have all the different clothes to choose from each morning. If all you had was two pair of pants. one to wear and one to be getting washed. it would just take all that frustrating coordination thing right out of your life. So why not just make one size bolt to fit all. that way all you ever need is one really good drill bit. That example is radical but still makes the point as to simplifying life with less.
 
I buy the cheapest sets I can get my hands on. Carbon steel, uncoated.

Then I start replacing them with HSS bits. If they get used they get replaced. My sets are a hodgepodge of different colors and brands of bits.

The reason I do the sets is so I have *SOMETHING* in those sizes if I ever need them. That and they always have handy organizer boxes. heh
 
Daniel said:
I sort of have ranges of tools that I wll buy in sets. By the way I did a group buy on drill bits for penturning George, So you only have yourself to blame:)......
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Nay Nay...... You probably don't recall but if this was the buy for the Norseman bits, I did place an order..... not for the penmaker sets, just for the individual sizes I used most. I have learned over the years! :smile:

There are probably some out there with their penmaker sets thinking..... who the hell uses this size bit and on what kit? :biggrin:
 
tbroye said:
George

Man rule #1....He who dies with the most tools/hobbies wins. Have no clue what you win haven't got that far yet, still buying.
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You must be one of those with a GOOD pension and savings.... I am just trying to make ends meet on a meager pension so have to watch the dollars more closely. I think I'm turning into a cheapskate.:wink:
 
glycerine said:
tbroye said:
George

Man rule #1....He who dies with the most tools/hobbies wins. Have no clue what you win haven't got that far yet, still buying.
Click to expand...

Ha ha, more like "he who dies with the most toys, still DIES... AND leaves a pile of junk to his children!!"
Click to expand...

And my daughter knows nothing about tools and would probably hold a garage sale and sell my lathes for $20 each! That would **** me off!:biggrin:
 
Texatdurango said:
glycerine said:
tbroye said:
George

Man rule #1....He who dies with the most tools/hobbies wins. Have no clue what you win haven't got that far yet, still buying.
Click to expand...

Ha ha, more like "he who dies with the most toys, still DIES... AND leaves a pile of junk to his children!!"
Click to expand...

And my daughter knows nothing about tools and would probably hold a garage sale and sell my lathes for $20 each! That would **** me off!:biggrin:
Click to expand...

:eek:I couldn't see my Bedrock planes going for $20!!!
 
I have some good sets

I think buying sets I have came about originally because they were common sizes frequently used on cars, "some assembly required" things and were often found in things around the home. I was newly married and owned no tools at all - not even a screwdriver. I found in the Navy that with some tools there is no such thing as having too many. Because as sure as there was a wrench size you didn't have, some piece of equipment you would have to work on would have that size bolt or nut.

Drill bits I have sets because I use enough different sizes that buying individual bits would have cost about as much as the set.
 
I thought of this thread yesterday evening. I was in the shop drilling blanks. I noted that I have used (and replaced) several of the bits in my big ole HF set. I patted myself on the back for such a fine purchase and moved on. The next group of blanks required a metric bit. No problem. I grabbed my metric index box, popped it open and selected the correct bit from the half-full box. This thread made me reflect on how much more I spent on that metric index box and the bits inside than on the entire 115 piece set.
 
It's been my experience that half the time the sets aren't worth the money anyway... I bought an inexpensive set of "titanium" coated bits a few years back... they were priced well, but the bits won't cut butter... and as mentioned, I think I've tried to use 3 or 4 of the bits... I did buy a set of bradpoint bits from a Woodright store in Spring Texas that was a good buy and find I use them often... they were actually several bits in that set that are needed for pens... and they appear to be pretty good steel in the bits...
 
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