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Adam Savage’s Tested
Best Way to Acquire Tools (It's Not Buying a Tool Kit)
⏱ 9 min video · 2 min read24 May 2026
TL;DR
Adam Savage answers viewer questions about when and how to acquire tools as a maker. He argues against buying tool kits, advocates for buying cheap versions first to test utility, and recommends auctions and antique malls as undervalued sources for tools.
Key points
1
Avoid buying tool kits (except bicycle-specific kits) — buy tools individually based on actual need
2
Buy the cheap Harbor Freight or Temu version of an unfamiliar tool first; if it proves useful, invest in the quality version
3
Tools remain an inefficient market — antique malls and tech startup failure auctions are prime places to find tools at pennies on the dollar
4
The best way to acquire a new tool is to take on a job that justifies buying it — you get the tool paid for and an endorphin rush mid-project
5
Tool acquisition is driven by desire and exhausted workarounds, not just wear-out — if you have tried enough substitutes, it is time to buy the real thing
Actionable insights
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Before spending on a quality tool, buy the cheapest version available (Harbor Freight, Temu) to confirm it genuinely fits your workflow — only upgrade if it integrates into your practice
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Search antique malls for basic hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, hand saws, hacksaws) — these are frequently priced well below retail due to the inefficiency of the used tools market
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Monitor local auctions, especially failed Silicon Valley or tech startup liquidations — buyers there ignore woodworking and general shop equipment, creating real bargains on capital tools
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When bidding on a job that requires a tool you do not yet own, build the cost of that tool into your quote — this is how Adam acquired his first Pfaff prosumer sewing machine
Notable quotes
“Tools is still a marvelously inefficient market. There are still many places you can buy tools for pennies on the dollar.”
“My favorite way is to get a job that allows me to buy the tool. That is without a doubt the best thing, cuz then you get this shiny new tool endorphin rush in the middle of a job that you are executing.”
“I guarantee you the people who are going to tech startup failure auctions are not looking for table saws.”
Worth watching?
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Worth watching the full video?
All the practical advice is captured here — skip the video unless you enjoy Adam Savage's conversational style and want the entertaining delivery behind the tips.
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