Auto mechanic

[billgreenwood]

Hello all,

I have some questions regarding tool sets and tool boxes for auto techs.

I will be getting out of the Army this summer/fall and will be getting into the auto technician business. I have been a mechanic in the Army for 12 years now, but the Army has always given me most of the tools and boxes needed for the job. With few exceptions, civilian mechanics have to provide their own tools and boxes.

I have a fairly well rounded tool inventory for my home shop, but the tools are not high end names nor is my box high end. I have been told by people that some companies won't even consider you for a job unless you have high end tools and boxes. Is this true? I have also been told that most civilian mechanics have two sets of tools, one for home and one for work.

All that being said, what is the best way to go about getting set up? I am currently taking diesel tech classes at the local community college and this gives me access to the Snap On student excellence program which gives pretty good discounts for tools and boxes. Any help from any of you grease monkeys would be greatly appreciated.

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[ken w.]

I would go with the Snap On program as most area's have a SO truck. I wish they had that when I was in tech school. I seem to use more impact sockets than anything else. Buy as much as you can afford now and try to pay it off as quick as you can. You don't need to be the tool guys the rest of your life.

 

[Firebrick43]

Some auto shops get stupid about tools but most don't. While I can't stand cheap tools I have never had anyone look down on my craftsman, wright, and sk tools. ( I don't buy craftsman anymore as the new stuff is Chinese ****)

I have quite a bit of snap on tools at home but not many at work. Seen to many snap on boxes get stolen from various shops so I just don't do that.

Out of curiosity why automotive? It's a rat race and has a high burn out rate. Heavy equipment and industrial mechs make more, mainly hourly instead of flat rate, and better benefits

 

[unslow1]

I would bet you would be able to use that military background to get a fleet job for a city or college. Maybe the post office motor pool.

 

[padroo]

Have you ever considered the aviation field?

Don't rule out heavy industry especially union. I retired from the steel industry as a union millwright with good pension and benefits. My background was A&P school but there were no aviation jobs because I graduated during a recession. I don't regret my choices.

 

[billgreenwood]

Some auto shops get stupid about tools but most don't. While I can't stand cheap tools I have never had anyone look down on my craftsman, wright, and sk tools. ( I don't buy craft an anymore as the new stuff is Chinese ****)

I have quite a bit of snap on tools at home but not many at work. Seen to many snap on boxes get stolen from various shops so I just don't do that

Out of curiosity why automotive? It's a rat race and has a high burn out rate. Heavy equipment and industrial mechs make more, mainly hourly instead of flat rate, and better benifits

I have been what equates to a heavy diesel mechanic for 12 years now for the Army and it doesn't make sense to me to try starting a brand new career field at this point in my life. I am currently taking classes to get a diesel technician certificate as a civilian since the Army doesn't credential us. The problem with being a diesel mechanic is that most of those jobs are about an hour drive from where I live.

While I know there are significant differences from diesel to automotive, I think I can take my knowledge base and adapt it fairly well. I also have been accepted into a 12 week program that the Army, GM, and Raytheon developed that provides me training and certifications on the newest GM vehicles and access to the GM job portal.

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[billgreenwood]

Have you ever considered the aviation field?

Don't rule out heavy industry especially union. I retired from the steel industry as a union millwright with good pension and benefits. My background was A&P school but there were no aviation jobs because I graduated during a recession. I don't regret my choices.

I can't bring myself to completely start over a new career at this point. I picked up a lot of general mechanical knowledge over the last decade+ and I actually do enjoy the work.

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[RWorth]

I'm 63, I've retired from the automotive business and drive truck now. Owned my own shop. My Opinions
#1, doesn't matter what brand tool you have, it's how you use them.
#2, auto mechanic and Army Diesel Mechanic are about 180 degrees apart. Trucks are a lot easier to work on than cars.
#3, I love Cars and working on mechanical things in general, but If I got to start over again, I'd work on anything but cars for a living, and enjoy working on my classics at home.

 

[Reg1952]

Check craigslist for retiring techs selling there tools. In my opinion you dont need a million dollar tool box to do the job.

 

[vavet]

Take advantage of the tool company student purchase programs. I used Matco extensively.

I worked in a BMW dealer. No one looked down upon those who started up with "lesser" name tools. They're more likely to look down upon you for borrowing the same tool over and over. If you borrow it twice, you need to buy it.

Before you drop a bunch of $$$ of a nice box, figure out where you'll be working. Some shops are going to built-ins and there is not room for personal boxes. Saves you money, but it makes it harder to pack your stuff when you change jobs.

 

[az45]

#1, doesn't matter what brand tool you have, it's how you use them.

Truth.

Its the Indian, not the arrow.

 

[sberry]

Get some reasonable stuff, if i was hiring and I most certainly might look at a guys box but it isn't going to be about brand but is it a working collection and if it's overpriced and too shiny for where it's at I am going to think a guy can't do simple math.

 

[Falcon67]

You are between Waco and Austin, maybe look for something working with motor coaches and such, lots of RV dealers in that area and RV traffic up and down I-35. I know you are on the back side of Ft. Hood so to speak, but I'd think you could find something. When we used to race down at SAR (San Antonio) Holt Cat was ALWAYS crying about not having anybody that wanted to train for heavy equipment service work. I see a Holt dealer in Waco, probably more in the area.

I an not a mechanic, but did play at it in the way back. I had a good friend that was a Senior Tech for Ford, did it for like 40 years. I asked him about doing it as a career, his response was "Don't". So I didn't. EPA rules are beating diesels all to hell, I'd be inclined to stick with what you know.

 

[danfromsyr]

check with the railroad companies near Austin, Union Pacific & Sterling
great gig to retire from if you can get in and last thru the years..

 

[billgreenwood]

I'm 63, I've retired from the automotive business and drive truck now. Owned my own shop. My Opinions
#1, doesn't matter what brand tool you have, it's how you use them.
#2, auto mechanic and Army Diesel Mechanic are about 180 degrees apart. Trucks are a lot easier to work on than cars.
#3, I love Cars and working on mechanical things in general, but If I got to start over again, I'd work on anything but cars for a living, and enjoy working on my classics at home.

Thanks for the insight.



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[billgreenwood]

check with the railroad companies near Austin, Union Pacific & Sterling
great gig to retire from if you can get in and last thru the years..

Is there a lot of away time? I am trying to get into something that keeps me local. I have missed out on so much family stuff over the years because of the Army.

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[Sticks McGee]

Go with a fleet or a municipality or even get into heavy equipment. I have been turning wrenches since 1986. I am ASE master certified in med/heavy truck. I prefer the bigger heavier more industrial side versus the smaller lighter side. With a fleet or municipality you still have to deal with driveabilty, DOT issues, etc...With heavy equipment that would not be there. I would shy away from a dealership/book hour type of environment. A lot of the shops you might get into can sometimes supply the bigger heavier stuff or even give you a tool allowance. I don't have that but sometimes that is out there.

Medium/heavy truck is starting to come around to the more complicated electronics/computer DEF issues. Those can be a major pain in the ***.

I have worked for a fleet for 25 years. It has it's good points and bad points. Right now I take care of a fleet of 35 medium duty trucks. I use a lot of 1/4" drive and 3/8" drive stuff. I don't use much 1/2" drive stuff. Early on with this company I worked more on the bigger stuff (class 8 semi tractor/trailer stuff). On that stuff and prior to this company I used much more 1/2" drive stuff so it kind of all depends.

 

[ronr80]

I'm also retired army was a mechanic for 25yrs , still do it for a gov't fleet , stay away from Snap-on , nothing but a money sucking machine , like a few said buy decent tools and it's how you use them , save your $$$$ for specialty tools. Ron

PS it's not that I don't like snap-on , but you can get away with out spending that kind of $$

 

[rburke65]

I have seen SO tool boxes for thousands of dollars! That would be the day I'd pay that kind of money.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Go over to the diesel project thread. You'll get much better insight than a bunch of home mechanics telling you to only buy HF everything

 

[billgreenwood]

Go over to the diesel project thread. You'll get much better insight than a bunch of home mechanics telling you to only buy HF everything

What section is that thread in?

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[WhiffySpark]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=186713&highlight=Diesel+mechanic

 

[billgreenwood]

Thanks y'all for all the information. I have been in contact with a GM dealer about 30 minutes away so I will ask them what they think about tools. I have always been of the mindset that a tool is only as good as you take care of it. Granted I have not used my craftsman, HF, and other no name tools in a commercial shop I think they will turn a bolt just as well as a snap on, mac, or matco tool.

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[WhiffySpark]

That's an argument that will never end. Especially when people don't do it for a living.

You have people on here inspecting toolboxes with white gloves on and using maginifying glasses to check the finish inside of a socket

 

[Spareparts]

Check out "harryepstein.co." brand name tools,lowest prices, located in KC Mo. and ship all over the world. They supply tools to a lot of the Military Tool Kits for generator and pump system. They have a tap so big that they put a cushion on it and used it for a stool.

 

[Sticks McGee]

There's nothing wrong with buying from the tool truck. There is nothing wrong with buying something from harbor freight. There is nothing wrong with looking into other brands and getting tools that work that don't cost a fortune. There is also nothing wrong with buying something that is pricey if it works for you and you feel it was the best solution for YOU. The only thing I caution you about is not to get into major debt with buying a box or tools. In SOME cases (not all) the tool guys can push to make sales and it's easy to walk onto the truck, see the tools, eyes bug out and your mouth starts watering and you sign and walk out owing a lot of money. You might find yourself in a catch 22. You have a job. You are trying to build the tools up you need. You don't have enough cash flow to just buy what you need and pay cash. It's ok to make payments but try to deal with the tool guy himself and not go thru Snap-on credit or Mac credit or, etc.

Hopefully you won't get a job where your coworkers give you **** about tools and maybe an older experienced guy will give you honest advice and guide you in a good direction. It's much easier now to be exposed to different brands of tools and see what's out there than it was 30 years ago when I was 20 with having so much available on line to ask questions, read reviews and get opinions on things. I am not too proud to say that I have been paying tool guys for 30 years. I financed a new box for $2300 once and have moved up in my boxes after that with nice used ones. I bought tools little by little to add to my collection. I carry a balance with the tool guys (Mac and Snap on) of anywhere from 100-300. I buy small things here and there. The last few years my major buying of tools has been investing in more of the battery powered stuff. This is because I do a lot of early morning repairs on my fleet when they are parked on line and not in my shop. The battery powered stuff is very convenient for that. I still have all my air stuff in the shop where I use a mix of air and the battery stuff. It just depends.

 

[WhiffySpark]

We have 2 new people on our shop. They both started the same day about a month ago. Neither had worked in the industry before. One came in with a craftsman box full of tools and the other came in with nothing. Said kid with tools has brought more tools since started. Other said kid hasn't brought jack **** and thinks he can use anyone's tools. Guess who gets more help?

 

[maxpower_hd]

I would recommend looking for some used tools and boxes. I see them all the time around here on CL. Retired body man, mechanic, etc. Or career change and selling the lot. That's how I got mine. You can end up half the price or less than your discounted brand new stuff. Then fill the holes with the new stuff after you start working. Build a relationship with the truck guy and he will likely exchange most anything that breaks. That has been my experience.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Here's my 2 cents:
I ETS'd in 95 from the Army as a heavy junk mechanic.

I just went and found a job first and let the tools inventory progress as needed.

I did one short stint in a road / fleet service company. Tools where limited there - a few filter wrenches and basic 3/8 drive stuff was all you needed, but the odd hours and marginal / BS work (mindless) couldn't keep me there, so I kept looking.
About 6 months out, I walked in to a specialty equipment dealer carrying a Craftsman 2 drawer carry-around box stuffed full with only the basics I'd used to take care of my own stuff.

Once in regular shop, the tool guys, advice from my then-supervisor, along with just plain doing the work and realizing what I needed to get, all helped me along. First, to load up and common hand tools, and then finding a good deal on a decent used roller box, and so on. Looking back, I'm glad the web barely existed back then. I only got guidance from people in the work. Otherwise, I may have been confused by all the web experts advice

I will say this: I did buy a pile of junk from HF (paper catalog / telephone ordering back then) try to get equipped fast / cheap. Actually using it everyday, it pretty quickly got ruined / broke and got replaced from the tool trucks. I think by the 5 year mark, there was't a bit of it still being used regularly, much of it got scrapped, though a few items got cut up / welded into special tools that I still use occasionally.

It's been 21 years in the same company and I'm still buying tools, though lately it's more of "want" than "need".....The new equipment coming out now needs more laptop and multimeter usage rather than requiring special sockets / wrenches.

 

[Sticks McGee]

When you interview for your first job be honest about your abilities and goals and your work ethic. Don't overstate your abilities. Be confident of what you do know and have done. When you show up to work bring the tools you have and be there on time ready to work and learn and show the people who hired you that you may not have every tool you need and experience in things they need you to do but you will be someone who will be there every day you are scheduled and you will work hard and learn as you go. Having the attitude and aptitude will get you farther than a box of tools does, Tools can be bought and experience is gained every day but a **** attitude and pretending to be super mechanic and not being able to back it up and not showing up or seeming to not care will get you negative attention every time. I am not saying that at all about you. You are coming from military and I would expect you know hard work and discipline already. I have been wrenching since 86 and I have seen guys show up with a tool box the size of a condominium and act like they know it all until the first job they do people realize this guy doesn't have a clue. I have also seen guys walk in with a minimal amount of tools who say they try hard but have a lot to learn get put on job after job and do it with ease and do good quality work. I have also seen everything you can think of in between. You will figure out pretty quickly who the good guys are, who the assholes are and the little insecure ******* who do everything in their power to point out your flaws to everyone to try to make themselves look better because they themselves aren't worth a piss.

I came out of tech school in the summer of 86 with no experience working as a wrench anywhere. It was tough. Every job I ever had I could not sleep for a few nights prior to starting. I put more pressure on myself with what I thought they would expect from me. Every single time I thought that I went in and after a week I realized all was good and I just learned and plugged away working in **** holes for no money and no good shift or days off. I paid my dues. Now I am one of the "old guys"

 

[Shopteacher]

Look at Medium duty truck repair, I should have made the switch years ago...

 

[elidas]

Been a mechanic for 45 years. I've bought plenty of Snap On and Mac over the years. At least at our place a huge big buck box isn't important. You are. You must have a good base set and not be afraid to buy something when necessary. I also always thought a high quality used tool is better than a nice shiny piece of ****. I am the second owner of most of my tools. If you must go new Williams, Proto, Wright, SK, New Britain etc are all great tools that will serve you a lifetime.
Cars aren't as much fun to work on as they used to be. They are getting much more complex and much more expensive . Pay really hasn't kept up.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Any place where they would look down on a 12 year Army vet because of the brand of his tools...you don't want to work there anyway.

 

[ToolNuttt]

Professional Mechanic here, I started off using my Craftsman set of tool in my first job and gradually purchase the higher end tools (Snap On & Matco). I don't prefer one brand over the other as long as it fits my hands nicely, I'll buy it.
Some shops with high expectations would prefer you to have nicer tools over cheaper tools and to be honest, the tools you have is part of your first impression other than the interview.

Some things you can cheap out on and some you can't. If I can go back, I wish I would have shed out the money to buy:
Nice boots: Went thru 4 pairs before I gave up and bought a pair of Redbacks
Flashlight: Went thru 3 flashlights before settling with Streamlight Strion
Ratchet: Took a ****** knuckle for me to buy a Snap On Flex head, Long 3/8 Ratchet
Impact guns: Rust kicked my *** so decided to get the Snap On guns
Wrenches: Craftsman breaks on me on normal usage so I purchased set of Snap On wrenches and haven't broke one yet. Plus the drive to Sears was getting old.

I can go on and on but I'll cut it short.
Hope this was useful.

 

[BIG BACCHUS]

Cornwell is a really nice brand, as well. They offer a 50-55% discount on items for students, see if there's a way to get in contact with them.

 

[billgreenwood]

Sorry I have been MIA for a couple of days, I have been recovering from a small medical procedure.

I want to thank all of you for the advice. I have been looking around the various facebook sale pages and craigslist for tools and boxes, I just don't know if I want to buy a complete used set or build my own.

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[billgreenwood]

There is a Matco MB7525TBU for sale for $1500 a few hours from me. It appears to be in pretty good condition aside from the locks are missing. I can't seem to find much about this box online. The manufacture date is from 2003. Anyone know if I can even get locks for this box anymore?

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[CraigStu]

I am retired after 22 yrs as Lexus tech. I started w/ Craftsman tools and bought some SO along the way. Never did buy an SO box, just WAY too much $. I would look at Lowes and HD since both are reputable. Ahead of time I would buy pliers, screw drivers etc but no wrenches or sockets. Depending where you end up, you could be all metric or all fractional so why buy stuff you won't need. I have ended up w/ some SO stuff because they are very high quality. IE, their 1/2 drive impact flex sockets are unbeatable. I really like the Ingersoll Rand impacts
https://www.ingersollrandproducts.c...er-tools/products/impactools/2135qptimax.html
Spend the extra for the Q versions which really are significantly quieter.
Good luck

 

[billgreenwood]

Out of curiosity I started looking at Craftsman tool sets and found this one at a very deep discount, probably because Sears is cutting ties with Craftsman.

https://m.sears.com/craftsman-903pc-mechanics-ultimate-tool-set/p-00921470000P

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[ToolNuttt]

Yeah it's sad to hear that Sears is dumping Craftsman. I still don't know how that's going to affect the lifetime guarantee they offer.

As for you looking for tool boxes with tools in craigslist. You'll end up with tools you'll use and a portion of the tools you won't touch since the collection is off of someone else, but you save a ton of money if you find the right deal.

One option for you is to buy a box with tools and sell off those you think you won't need on ebay or craigslist and use that money on building your own collection.