$1500 to spend on tools.....

[kunkernator]

My parents have been ever so generous to provide me with a graduation present of $1500 to help me with my career choice of an automotive technician. I am given this to get the tools I need. So far I own;

-complete socket sets 1/4'', 3/8'', 1/2'', SAE and Metric.
-Standard handle ratchets
-full Craftsman wrench sets up to 22mm and 1-1/4''
-Gearwrenches up to 18mm and 3/4'', flex up to 19mm and 3/4''
-plenty of screwdrivers
-files
-punches
-prybars
-extensions
-full triple square, torx, and hex bit socket sets
-universals
-vise grips, channelocks, other pliers, etc.
-scan tool
-a few specialty tools (GM harmonic balancer puller, drop leak gauge, power steering pulley puller, shock spring compressors)
-a 20 gallon air compressor, air drill, air impact (1/4'')
I forgot;
-torque wrenches (1/4'', 3/8'', 1/2'')
-multimeter


I am sure I have more small stuff, but these are the main things.


Now, I want to purchase tools that I will have use for. I do not want to spend frivolously.

A few things I am considering putting some of the money towards are;
-cordless tools (impact, drill, ratchet)
-a bigger toolbox (thinking HF 44'')
-a good vise
-a 3/4'' drive set (how much would I really NEED this?)
-crowsfeet




Now for you guys.....Out of everything above, what have I missed that you can think I will NEED in my career?

Below is the OFFICIAL LIST that I am making by compiling your suggestions.
-toolbox
-air tools (3/8'', 1/2'' impacts, hammer)
-impact sockets
-serpentine belt tool
-e-torx sockets
-chrome universals (1/4'', 3/8'')
-Ballpein hammers
-flex head ratchets
-tap and die set
-stubby wrenches
-O2 sensor sockets
-hand impact driver

 

[ryan t]

By "cordless impact" are you talking about battery powered? If you are going to be working as a technician in a shop there will likely be an air compressor and you will get much more work time and power out of air powered impacts than battery powered ones. As for the 3/4" drive set it depends a lot on what you will be working on. Industrial trucking/large diesel trucks? Might not hurt. Working on Honda's? Probably won't use 3/4" much if ever. As for the box you might we good to invest some of that money in a down payment on a good high quality box. If you are going to be using it all day every day may as well get a good one.

 

[Skin]

You're missing pneumatics which is pretty much a show stopper.

impact wrenches (3/8 and 1/2" air and a 1/4" or 3/8" compact battery), 1/4 air ratchet, air hammer, cut-off tool. A good variety of hammers. Soldering iron and crimping tool. GW serpentine kit. Only because I didn't see them listed specifically but 1/4" chrome universals and 1/4", 3/8" and the most common 1/2" sizes in impact universal. Hopefully your bit set has E-Torx in it too. An acetylene torch is huge in the rust belt as well. If your job doesn't supply it, get one. Will save you countless times. There so much, honestly probably better to buy as you need because someone could write a laundry list.

3/4" is useful but only on an as needed basis and only if you have a 3/4" impact wrench. I'd just pick up single sockets in the common sizes. They'll mainly be used on nasty rusty trucks.

 

[ephotrod]

I would suggest you hold on to the money and buy tools as you need them.
Or
Fan Clutch tools
Tap Die Set (metric if your working on '86 and new cars.)

Maybe spend 500 hundred and use the other thousand to start saving for a house.
Josh

 

[NUTTSGT]

The HF box will make you a good box to start with.

You say you have plenty of screwdrivers, if they are Cman, buy some Snap-On or Matco screwdrivers.

 

[kunkernator]

You're missing pneumatics which is pretty much a show stopper.

impact wrenches (3/8 and 1/2" air and a 1/4" or 3/8" compact battery), 1/4 air ratchet, air hammer, cut-off tool. A good variety of hammers. Soldering iron and crimping tool. GW serpentine kit. Only because I didn't see them listed specifically but 1/4" chrome universals and 1/4", 3/8" and the most common 1/2" sizes in impact universal. Hopefully your bit set has E-Torx in it too. An acetylene torch is huge in the rust belt as well. If your job doesn't supply it, get one. Will save you countless times. There so much, honestly probably better to buy as you need because someone could write a laundry list.

3/4" is useful but only on an as needed basis and only if you have a 3/4" impact wrench. I'd just pick up single sockets in the common sizes. They'll mainly be used on nasty rusty trucks.

I did miss pneumatics. I will need to get some impact wrenches, and an e-trox set (as my set does not have any).

AS for the 3/4'' set, it appears as though they are not a HUGE necessity at the moment.

Along with the impacts I will need to get impact sockets.

 

[kunkernator]

I would suggest you hold on to the money and buy tools as you need them.
Or
Fan Clutch tools
Tap Die Set (metric if your working on '86 and new cars.)

Maybe spend 500 hundred and use the other thousand to start saving for a house.
Josh

That is the plan. I would like your guy's help getting the NECESSITIES. After that I will only buy tools if I need them.

The HF box will make you a good box to start with.

You say you have plenty of screwdrivers, if they are Cman, buy some Snap-On or Matco screwdrivers.

They are mostly USA made Stnaley and Craftsman. I have a few recently acquired Snap On's mixed in. I do like the look of the Matco drivers though.

 

[lennoxlennox]

great you got the money and not meaning to rain on your parade, but just realize 1500 wont' go far, so choose carefully (get the basics and don't buy any big ticket items and in spite of what someone wrote, don't buy a tap and die set that will chew up too much money you don't need to - what bad advice)

don't waste your money on SAE

buy tools, not boxes - you can get a cheapo service cart off craigslist or some place, but again, boxes will chew up your money - there will be time later to get a bigger box

Buy through an votech student discount program to double your purchases
- are you in a tech school CC yet? If not, avoid the temptation to buy anything yet until you get registered for the student discount programs

i started this thread on the various programs, have a read, and just an fyi, matco runs a 60% off deal from thanksgiving until Christmas http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143377&highlight=votech


just an example, Matco also run monthly specials, here are a couple this month:

Reg Price $408, Student Price $179.52
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/p...E-METRIC-6-POINT-UNIVERSAL-IMPACT-SOCKET-SET/

Reg Price $151.65, Student Price $66.73
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/p...-TORQUE-II-EXTRA-LONG-ORANGE-SCREWDRIVER-SET/

Reg Price $115.10, Student Price $55.04
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/SPU4TB/4-PIECE-UNIVERSAL-PLIER-SET/

Reg Price $225.90, Student Price $108.43
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/p...AE-AND-METRIC-6-POINT-DEEP-IMPACT-SOCKET-SET/

 

[kunkernator]

I will be enrolled in a discount coming up soon. The money is not burning a hole in my pocket, so I can hold on to it. I mostly just want to get some basics down on top of what I already have. The first list of tools is what I own, and is IMO a pretty decently full set. I just need suggestions on what would be NEEDED in this career path (and I am sure other students and teachers will lend me a hand to this too). I kinda want to compile a sort of checklist with priorities at top. For example, if I will need a 20mm socket on a daily basis, that is top priority. If I only need to use a tap and die set onc a month....not so high on the list.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

Ditch the SAE stuff, You will never need them. Buy whats going to make your job faster and only what your going to need. I would invest in a good cordless impact, makes taking small bolts and fasters off quick work = more money.

 

[larry_g]

I would suggest you hold on to the money and buy tools as you need them.

Josh

I have to agree here. Your just graduating high school and then what? If off to tech school then they will have tools at discount. If you are going directly into a shop then you'll soon discover what tools you need. For now bank the money and wait till the need shows. You would hate to invest in specialty tools that end up having no purpose in the final job you land.

On edit; I would also suggest that your really look at the 'need' for battery tool. They have a finite life and they are evolving at a rapid rate. What you buy to day will probably have dead batteries by the time you get a full time job where speed counts. In school speed is not a high priority and to replace the batteries in a few years is going to be expensive. Think in terms of ROI. Is this tool paying for itself; or is it a fun to have thing that you can impress your fellow students with. Kinda like getting the latest and greatest gee wizz smart phone, it impresses your peers but doesn't make you any money.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Skin]

Ditch the SAE stuff, You will never need them.

Not true. Trucks, at a minimum, up to the 03/04 model year were still using standard on major suspension and drive components. I would at least keep 3/8" chrome and 1/2" deep in standard on hand along with a set of wrenches.

 

[shockwave]

Look at a good tap and die set I would reccomend the 76 pc matco with an added 12x1.25 tap and die (because if the taps break it is lifetime warranty with hexagon dies which I prefer)made by irwin just rebranded

Also look a good air hammer
Snap on ball joint press
A good multi meter
Stubby wrenches set
Sending unit 02 sensor socket set
Impact screwdriver set
A couple of good flashlight I recommend a streamlight stinger led and there pt2l for quick inspection and a rechargeable with some type of pivoting head I like Makita

 

[Murphy4570]

$1,500 can get you a good Snappy toolbox on craigslist. That'd save you thousands over buying new, and you'll have room to grow into it. You'll find out what tools you need as you work week to week to put into the box.

Always buy the biggest box you can afford, because adding on side lockers, cabinets, hutches, etc cost a lot of money.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Locking flex ratchets. I'd lose my mind if I had to use regular-sized fixed ratchets... I hardly ever use mine. The long and flex ratchets see 99% of the use.

And if you're really planning on going to work in a shop, yeah, air tools. Definitely a 1/2" impact, then my order of merit would be air hammer, 3/8" impact, 1/4" stubby ratchet, right angle grinder, and then everything else. I'd save the big money for the impacts and air hammer. I hardly ever use my air ratchets, the angle grinder is just to clean stuff up, and my straight grinder almost always has a cutoff disc on it... no need to go crazy there IMO.

 

[Gil_MKiii]

The biggest and most expensive investment will be your tool box. You could with the money you have save a grand more and get a nice double bay KRL Snappy box.

 

[Satesh]

Here is some healthy advice. If you need to borrow a tool 2 times then you should own it. (so buy it)

As for necessities. small list
A few 10mm wrenches/sockets--- First to get lost and mostly used.
Comfortable screwdrivers- try them before you buy them
1/4 set
3/8 set----Impact, regular and deep.
1/2 set---- Impact
Good Torx bits
various size extensions
Pry bar
Ballpien hammers
Rubber mallet
and of-course air ratchet 1/4 and 3/8
3/8 and 1/2 gun.
You will hate craftsmen after you become established so invest in Snap on/Mac/Matco.

Never engrave your tools. Get a LOCKING toolbox.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

Not true. Trucks, at a minimum, up to the 03/04 model year were still using standard on major suspension and drive components. I would at least keep 3/8" chrome and 1/2" deep in standard on hand along with a set of wrenches.

3/8= 10mm

1/2= 13mm

No need for the SAE. Work on hundreds of 03-04 Trucks never needed a SAE set. Even though i have a full set.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

I love how people are throwing snap on box right out of the gate. The box doesnt make you money the tools do and thats the main reason.

 

[softailgarage]

$1500.00 will last bout 5 minutes on a Snap On truck.

"Here is some healthy advice. If you need to borrow a tool 2 times then you should own it. (so buy it)

As for necessities. small list
A few 10mm wrenches/sockets--- First to get lost and mostly used.
Comfortable screwdrivers- try them before you buy them
1/4 set
3/8 set----Impact, regular and deep.
1/2 set---- Impact
Good Torx bits
various size extensions
Pry bar
Ballpien hammers
Rubber mallet
and of-course air ratchet 1/4 and 3/8
3/8 and 1/2 gun.
You will hate craftsmen after you become established so invest in Snap on/Mac/Matco.

Never engrave your tools. Get a LOCKING toolbox."

^^^^^^^^^^^THIS

 

[Gregg33]

SPG International makes good tools boxes, not quite as good as most of the truck brands, but a fraction of the cost and (most lines are) Made In Canada. Probably the best value in tool storage. However, overall I'd say buy used, you can get better stuff for less and if you ever decide to sell them again (maybe you change careers or want to upgrade), there where won't be any depreciation. And yes the "borrow it twice, then buy it" rule is a good one to follow.

 

[Drew_flux]

I do not see multimeter, test light/power probe,soldering iron, torque wrench.

 

[MattPersman]

Tough call so many tools needed in this biz unless they just give you all the easy stuff lol and they won't. Independent shop or dealer? What make of dealer? Your list is pretty basic of what you have may seem like a lot of tools now to you but in a few years you will be like woah how did I think I was gonna make it on those.

Right now I would hold. Or I do like the idea of keeping an eye on Craigslist for a snap on or Matco box. Sounds like you might not be in the field for a while still easier to buy the box when a good one comes up now. Way easier to make payments on a couple hundred worth of tools on the truck later than a tool box.

The obvious after a box is 1/2 air impact a good one IR 2135timax. That should get you going for years you can add a 3/8 later. Like I said there are just so many tools but unknown to what you might be working on its hard to put direction of what might be important first and foremost.

 

[firebox40dash5]

It might be easier to buy a box with a stack of cash now, but the box still doesn't make any money. You can find a nice used Snappy double bank for $2-3k depending on which one you want... if you can't pay cash (or damn close) for it after working in a shop a while, you probably don't need it that badly. Don't get me wrong, a nice box is awesome, and easier to work out of, but it still doesn't make any money. I'd love to upgrade my $400 starter 40" cab, but I'd be financing even a used one, so I figure I must not need it enough yet.

****, if we're going with the borrow it twice rule... I'm about $20k behind the 8-ball.

 

[shockwave]

Also I would start with buying a nice cart vs a whole box as most outgrow there first boxes where a good toolcart u will keep and holds most of your goto tools my coworker got a nice cornwell cart for 500 almost new I believe it was the 900 series with 7 drawers and a side shelf

 

[zakmartin]

I'd put the $1500 toward a decent 4-channel automotive scope. You'll need to save a few more $$$ if you want to get a really nice one (i.e., Pico, Snap-On). If you learn how to use a scope and show proficiency at diagnosis, you become a lot more interesting to prospective employers. Check out Scannerdanner on Youtube and see the kind of magic he can do with a Picoscope. The nice thing about automotive scopes is that they don't require updating like scan tools do, so they're not a bottomless pit investment. I use an ancient 2-channel Sun/Snap-On LS2000 scope and it allows me to do things my scan tool can't (i.e., comparative compression tests, wave pattern tests on sensor components, etc.) It was built in the mid 1990's, but I've used it on cars up to model year 2012. I've never had to upgrade anything. Whenever a new car comes into my family, I have it over for a couple hours to print a series of baseline known good wave patterns so that if anything ever goes wrong with the car, I can use the scope to pinpoint the bad part. The new scopes, obviously, are WAY better than the old ones, but I don't work on cars for a living anymore, so I don't need all the bells and whistles. For $1500, you can get fairly decent scope.

 

[pipsters]

FWIW a local Toyota beginning tech bought my 44" HF box from me. I have an International. Honestly, I liked the HF box more, just wished it was 24" deep. The 56" is. Had I known I probably would've bought the 56" HF over the International.

If it makes a difference, I bought my 56" International used from a tech who bought a Montezuma. He spent around $1k on the box and I bought it for $550 about 10 months later...(paperwork was still in the top drawer).

 

[kunkernator]

I like the idea of the flex head ratchets. Sorry I did not mention but I do have torque wrenches.

What about crows feet?

 

[rob0781]

Axle nut sockets!

 

[Carguy99]

give me enough extensions and swivels and .... I could work from home.
learn to use them.

 

[genevabuck]

Be patient. Find out what you need. If you are buying off of say a MAC or Snap On truck, wait for their monthly sales. There are some great ones right now. If it something that you truely need, spend $100 on a Harbor Freight purchase to get you through. I've seen a lot of young mechanics gets their tools repoed from trucks. LOOK FOR DEALS!

 

[RivennHewn]

Don't let it slip through your fingers, and have little to show for it.

Take your time, search for deals, and buy what you have a present need for.

Keep some in reserve, for when you come across a killer deal. I don't know how many times I've had to pass on good deals because I'd spent my money paying list price for something I just 'wanted'

Be smart.

 

[Skin]

3/8= 10mm

1/2= 13mm

No need for the SAE. Work on hundreds of 03-04 Trucks never needed a SAE set. Even though i have a full set.

Sorry but no. 3/8 is not a substitute for 10mm and vise versa. You might get away with some sizes but being the OP is in a rusted **** part of the country, you do not want to oversize fasteners. That's also a decent reason why having standard is a good idea in addition to metric, often stuff gets so bad the proper sizes don't even work anymore so you hammer on whatever fits best. The more options the better.

 

[usdemt]

I have not been to a mechanics school, but one thing I learned in college is wait till the first day of class before you buy your books! I cant count how many people I saw pre order their books at the huge book store prices only to find out they werent actually needed.

That being said, I agree with the buy as you go policy. Buy what you need when you need it, or better yet if you find a good deal grab it. Dont throw the money at what you think you need until you know you need it. And if a good deal comes around you have the money to spend on it instead of regretting a previous purchase.

 

[jmm]

Feeler gauges
general purpose puller set

 

[kunkernator]

I am reading all your guy's posts (too many to quote), and a lot of what I am hearing is advice on when to spend the money (after I start tech school, after I start working, etc.). I am fully aware of the fact that I will not know what specific items to get until further on. The idea of this post is to help me fill my toolbox with items that "every mechanic should have in their box". Specialty tools can wait. As for where/what/when to spend the money; I am not a frivolous spender, I am also a very good deal hunter. I will not spend it right off, I want to create this list so I can purchase stuff when the time/price is right, but have a guide for what I need.

Sorry if I was not too clear in the original post.

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

You dont already have one. Get a BFH! Number one tool in my box.

 

[kunkernator]

You dont already have one. Get a BFH! Number one tool in my box.

What about a quality big piece of pipe? I do have a 58'' pry bar

 

[DesertRatAutomotive]

That works too. I dont if you could use a pry bar to smack ball joints off

 

[kunkernator]

That works too. I dont if you could use a pry bar to smack ball joints off

True....BFH on the list. (I can probably find something cool at a swap meet)