I'm a new member here and would like some advice if possible. I am starting diesel tech schooling on monday and have yet to purchase all my tools. I have limited funds and would like to know if out of all the tools needed as a first year tech student, which ones can i go on the cheap with? Chisels and puches? Files? Screw driver set? Hammers? etc. On the flip side, which tools should i really spend on? Thanks.
Starting a tool collection
- Thread starter pdiesel
- Start date
Mr.Nutcase
Well-known member
Your school might give you a list of what you need....
bushhawg73
Well-known member
First off I would get a set of wrenches, 1/4 to 7/8 and 10 to 19mm. I would then get a set of sockets in 3/8 drive in the same sizes as the wrenches. I would buy Craftsman or some other brand that is warrantied. I would not buy the truck brands to start off with as far as wrenches and sockets. I would get a basic set of pliers and screwdrivers. Again Craftsman will work just fine. I would stick with the middle of the road tools untill I knew that I was going to make this my profession for a long time. Tools are expensive and getting in debt is EASY on the tool truck. I would check craigslist for a toolbox. The only place I would spend money is on some 3/8 drive Snap on 80 tooth ratchets. Three of the will set you back around 300.00 bucks but they sure do make the job go a lot smoother sometimes. Just my 2 cents worth.
arkangel06
Banned
Dont you get a 50% discount off the truck brands with some schools?
fatfillup
Well-known member
Get the list from school, buy all you can from a student discout program off the tool truck. Usually you can get a 50% discount while you are a student. The rest try to buy high quality used tool truck brands, or old good quality US made tools (Proto, wright,SK, etc). Don't skimp on screwdrivers, ratchets, extentions, punches, chisels. Also, some good values can be had from the european tool manufactures.
Read this forum and you'll get some great ideas. Watch the classified's here and look at Craigs List Patience and study are the keys to the finding deals.
As stated above, don't go debt crazy.
Read this forum and you'll get some great ideas. Watch the classified's here and look at Craigs List Patience and study are the keys to the finding deals.
As stated above, don't go debt crazy.
Merkava_4
Banned
Start out with a big set of Craftsman tools ... that way after you suffer with them for awhile, you'll learn to appreciate the ease and precision of truck brand tools.
The only thing I would buy that would be kind of cheap would hammers. On the cheaper end of things I would buy Craftsman flex head 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets and some extensions. I would buy all Craftsman chrome sockets for now. Craftsman 1/4 ratchet.
On the higher end of things, If you need chrome universal sockets get Snap-On, they are amazing. A good Snap-On 3/8 ratchet. Blue Point has some really nice locking extensions if you need those. You might be able to get away with buying just those instead of regular extensions. Screwdrivers I would get SK Suregrips. Prybars, Craftsman for the shorter ones and Mayhew for the longer ones. Mayhew punches and chisels. SK superchrome combo wrenches or Craftsman Pros if you are running out of money by now. Gearwrenches, if you want those. Channellock pliers. Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers.
Air and impact tools. Ingersoll Rand for most all air tools, if you can. Ingersoll Rand imopact sockets and Craftsman pinless universal adapter. Gp sockets are nice too. Gp also has new Duo-Sockets that are both regular and impact sockets, you might want to check out those. Gp hex and torx impact sockets too. Craftsman impacts are nice sockets for the money too.
This is a pretty good sized list but these tools might be out of your budget. So if they are, just get a good sized craftsman kit and a Snap-On 3/8 ratchet.
On the higher end of things, If you need chrome universal sockets get Snap-On, they are amazing. A good Snap-On 3/8 ratchet. Blue Point has some really nice locking extensions if you need those. You might be able to get away with buying just those instead of regular extensions. Screwdrivers I would get SK Suregrips. Prybars, Craftsman for the shorter ones and Mayhew for the longer ones. Mayhew punches and chisels. SK superchrome combo wrenches or Craftsman Pros if you are running out of money by now. Gearwrenches, if you want those. Channellock pliers. Craftsman Snap-Ring Pliers.
Air and impact tools. Ingersoll Rand for most all air tools, if you can. Ingersoll Rand imopact sockets and Craftsman pinless universal adapter. Gp sockets are nice too. Gp also has new Duo-Sockets that are both regular and impact sockets, you might want to check out those. Gp hex and torx impact sockets too. Craftsman impacts are nice sockets for the money too.
This is a pretty good sized list but these tools might be out of your budget. So if they are, just get a good sized craftsman kit and a Snap-On 3/8 ratchet.
Merkava_4
Banned
Just go to Harbor Freight and buy a whole set of those Pittsburgh tools. Supposedly, they got a town called Pittsburgh in Taiwan ... imagine that. 
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
first thing needed with a diesel tech job is a big strong back
Uncle Buck
Banned
If you can afford the 50% deal usually available to students from the truck guys then I would do that. You will never again have access to that much of a discount from a truck, that is your one opportunity to buy the best at 1/2 off.
If it were not for the huge discount I would be the first to say go with Sears Craftsman for most of your list.
If it were not for the huge discount I would be the first to say go with Sears Craftsman for most of your list.
This man speaks the truth.
I am a student just like you, and trust me, you need to take advantage of the deals you are given. Matco, Mac, and Snap-on all have student programs.
http://www.matcotools.com/TechEd/
https://buy1.snapon.com/sep/
http://www.mactools.com/StudentsSchools/tabid/2252/Default.aspx
Seriously save your money and buy the things you will need to be successful.
That being said if you are attending a program that gave you a list of tools you need to bring with you, than I am afraid you need those before Monday. In which case I say buy the best you can afford.
fatfillup
Well-known member
Craftsman pro wrenches have served me very well.
Thanks guys. I was given a tool list a while back and went to the school's tool show. All the big venders where there like mac, so, SK, matco, etc. The discounts where great! Anywhere from 50% to 58%. I must have spent weeks comparing prices between vendors. I finally settled on getting a 2 bay matco box. I paid for it in cash, but as for the tools, I will have to finance them. I borrowed an extra $2100 via a low interest educational loan. All the tool venders had tool sets specifically made for mechanic programs for schools across America. Anyways, After comparing them all I found matco to be a good deal. Some of the items on the school's tool list are most likely overprices because they have the "Matco" name, such as a tape measure, flashlight, plastic goggles, hammers, etc. My thought was to only buy the matco sockets, wrenches, ratchets, torque wrench, screw drivers, adapters, extentions, drill set, feeler gauge, easy outs, air pressure gauge, multimeter, and gasket scraper. Then purchase cman chisels, punches, and pry bars. The Hammers, files, and others from places like harbor freight. I don't need any air tools at this point. If my calculations are correct the bill from matco will be a shade under $2000 and everything else purchased from cman and others will total around $100. all after tax. On the other hand I could get the Snap on set with everything snap-on for $2574.15 after tax. Is it worth going another 474.15 in debt? Tempting isn't it.
GDA
Well-known member
+1000
This is by far the cheapest and easiest way to get you started off with most, if not all, the proper working tools in your arsenal. I think very few people realize this route is one of the best ways to get started (quality wise and super cheap).
Suggest you look on local CL and start calling to see what is offerred. Post up here and I'm sure others will provide feedback on what to offer and how good of a deal it potentially might be.
Edit - just now saw your post above. Please save yourself at least 50 cents on the dollar and do not buy new. You will soon regret it. A used high quality tool works just as good as one bought new and might even look the same once its been used on a project.
Good hunting.
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IMO It might be worth it for the Snap-On wrenches and ratchets.Dunno if they are worth it to you
Agree 100%. Snap-on wrenches and ratchets (especially ratchets) are far ahead of Matco. Dont put all your money in one brand. Mix and match the best from each.
yeah, i've never used anything snap on im my life so i won't know what I'm missing. I think I am just going to stay in budget and shop around. Over the coming years i will figure out what works for me. Thanks for the info, this forum has been great!
vartz04
Well-known member
Craftsman. And just get a service cart for now. One like mine with lots of storage.
I have a thread with pics and every thing I have in it. I have no problem at work being able to do what I need to and I only have about $600 wrapped up in it all including the cart. And 90 percent of the stuff is craftsman.
Buy the every socket possible kit from sears a set of wrenches pliers and screw drivers and you'll still have about $1000 left over
I have a thread with pics and every thing I have in it. I have no problem at work being able to do what I need to and I only have about $600 wrapped up in it all including the cart. And 90 percent of the stuff is craftsman.
Buy the every socket possible kit from sears a set of wrenches pliers and screw drivers and you'll still have about $1000 left over
greenreese
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2009
- Messages
- 133
I wouldn't go cheap on files. Cheap files tend to do all of nothing. I have a set of no name files that can't file away the glaze on a rubber brake pad. I also have a couple Snap-On files that shave steel like a bench grinder. Hugely noticeable difference in performance.
I'm going to take the mix and match approach. I just ordered a nice snap on general service socket kit. I went to the second tool show my school put on and tried teh new 80 tooth ratchets. Man are they sweet! I reboxed all my matco ratchets sockets and wrenches and I'm sending them back. I will keep my matco torque wrench, screw drivers, and snap ring sets. I went to home depot for my hammers, went to harbor frieght for some things too. 
paramudduck
Well-known member
Just hope that where you go to work at has a dealer in the brands you buy. Other wise the warranty you will need can be a pain to get.