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Apprentice mechanic tools what am I missing ?

Chequeac

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Joined
Jun 13, 2015
Messages
56
Location
United Kingdom
Torx screwdrivers
Torx 1/4 3/8 1/2 socket bits
Hex 3/8 socket bits
3/8 shallow sockets
3/8 deep sockets
1/4 deep sockets
Long nose pliers
Cutters
Phillips and flat screwdrivers
Spanners
Socket set
Snap on 3/8 Ratchet
 
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66354dream

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Aug 1, 2013
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1,003
Location
Southern California
Depending on the work you will be doing I would suggest some 1/2 drive sockets and ratchets, you'll become more and more familiar with what you'll need as you go along it's impossible to know exactly what you will need right from the beginning, good luck:thumbup:
 

Finky198

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
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2,120
Location
North East
The big question is what are you apprenticing for and What will they allow you to do on your own

+1 for hammers and pry bars, Your gonna need a few more pairs of pliers, a good flash light or headlamp, A pen and a note pad. An extendable magnet or 2 When ur just starting out will be you friend.

Your number 1 tool is your brain
Use it learn as much as u can
 
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OP
C

Chequeac

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Jun 13, 2015
Messages
56
Location
United Kingdom
Apprenticeship in motor vehicle I started working on weekends from September and now that I have left school I've started working during the week I have started doing bigger jobs aswell instead of just tyres etc
 

trackwelder

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Joined
Jun 22, 2005
Messages
2,608
Location
n.y
Impact wrench, impact sockets, multimeter, straight die grinder, 90 degree die grinder, drill bits and drill. Brake tools, snap ring pliers, turbo sockets, locking socket extensions.
 

bczygan

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Nov 4, 2009
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22,002
Location
DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
A bigger toolbox.

....and crowsfeet:

crows-feet--not-wrinkles-eloise-schneider.jpg
 
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SK Eric

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Mar 3, 2015
Messages
109
1/4" shallow socket set wasn't on your first list. Put it there: sometimes you can't get the deep where they need to go.
 

Adam.C

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Jan 29, 2013
Messages
1,490
Here's some stuff you may not be thinking of:

(trim) Panel popper set
test light, fuse buddy, back probe set, dmm
ratchet screwdriver set (handy for one handed jobs),
LED work light (new mini Snap On lights are nice - should be able to get one for £40, buy 2.)
Mag parts dish (tool station), mag pick up tool, inspection mirror
Mini screwdrivers, mini pick set, radiator hose set,
battery brush
Swivel sockets, 3/8" drive
Handled striking prybar set, 24oz ball peen deadblow (Snap On on special) 16, & 32oz soft face dead blow, soft drift, punches, chisels
Thread detective, rethreading kit, cheap digital caliper
super long (FLL80) and super short ratchets (FKF80)
 

trxrx7

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Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Messages
65
tools that i use everyday all day:

electric screw driver gun
electric and air ratchets
electric 3/8 impact
strong 1/2 air impact
knipex cobra's
long reach needle nose 45 bent
pocket light
pocket screwdriver
panel trim remover
1/2 torque wrench
 

engineer031

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Joined
Jun 26, 2015
Messages
131
Location
Ontario Canada
Each day when you work and you need to borrow a tool then write it down on your list. It all depends where you are working and what your fixing.

Tools I use everyday, good 1/2 impact, 3/8 impact, air ratchet, hammers, punches, chisels, pry bars, combination wrenches both metric and sae the list goes on. Over time you will add to what you have and you will know what you need
 

Skin

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Joined
Feb 24, 2010
Messages
11,713
Location
Boston
3/8 cordless impact wrench. The vast majority of what you do can be sped up immensely with one. Cordless screwdriver is also a good recommendation, especially for interior work. If you work on beaters an impact driver kit and some decent bits as well. Not fun snapping small rusted sensor fasteners. 24" breaker bar for larger suspension and caliper bolts unless you want to run off for the impact every time, although even then an impact doesn't always fit.

Hose pinch pliers, hose removal pliers in various sizes (awesome tool). Slip joint pliers, knipex, needle nose, the latter two in various sizes and/or angles. Roll/service cart, even some cheap thing, if one isn't supplied so you're not leaving tools and components all over the vehicle. Get in the habit early of putting everything back on the cart when you can. Cuts down on the "where the hell did it go, it was right ******** here!" time. If you routinely take a lot of stuff apart, get yourself a muffin tray. Yes, a muffin tray. Works great for fastener indexing.
 
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Adam.C

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Jan 29, 2013
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If you routinely take a lot of stuff apart, get yourself a muffin tray. Yes, a muffin tray. Works great for fastener indexing.
+1 I like segregating the fasteners so I can quickly know what came from where.

I use either an old Snap On socket tray (the plastic magnetic thing the sockets came in) or MTS socket holder for 1/2" sockets. I uses these mostly for interior work where I prefer to have the tray inside teh vehicle and I inevitably knock the thing over. Neither of these are perfect solutions as screws will fall out if they are on top of other screws. But the magnetic bottom AND the magnetic holes do help.
 

Adam.C

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Messages
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I don't need any specialty or expensive tools atm as other colleagues let me borrow them

Then I guess I don't know what you are asking? If you have sockets, wrenches (spanners) and bit sockets you have the basics. If a hammer is a specialty tool to you and you can borrow it, I'm confused as to what you are asking.

try us again.
 

LB-1911

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Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
5,742
Location
Northwestern Il.
Apprenticeship in motor vehicle I started working on weekends from September and now that I have left school I've started working during the week I have started doing bigger jobs as well instead of just tyres etc

Torx screwdrivers
Torx 1/4 3/8 1/2 socket bits
Hex 3/8 socket bits
3/8 shallow sockets
3/8 deep sockets
1/4 deep sockets
Long nose pliers
Cutters
Phillips and flat screwdrivers
Spanners
Socket set
Snap on 3/8 Ratchet

I don't need any specialty or expensive tools atm as other colleagues let me borrow them

Anything else I'll be needing?


I'll echo a previous comment -

Keep a list of the tool (s) you need to borrow.

Price out the tools that you always seem to be borrowing from your colleagues and over time start adding them to your inventory.

:beer:
 
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