Does a total novice need Snapon tools?

[billymade]

Thanks! Every once in awhile I get inspired! While not grammatically perfect; it was a "stream of consciousness" of sorts... after looking at BHR4CE1's house and the beautiful "instruments" he surrounds himself with... .how can one not come away from that truly inspired? I for one have personally; met, talked with this man at a Volkswagen show and seen one of the cars he imagined, customized to his personal tastes (just like his house)... I can only imagine what his music must be like! Bravo!

 

[billymade]

Now where are the pics of these tools you have purchased so far? Inquiring minds want to know! Beautiful; house, cars, instruments, etc..... and the tools? LOL!

 

[BHR4CE1]

Now where are the pics of these tools you have purchased so far? Inquiring minds want to know! Beautiful; house, cars, instruments, etc..... and the tools? LOL!

I haven't really gotten around to opening them all up, but here is one of the drawers I did last night.

 

[billymade]

Awesome! Keep the pics coming!

 

[slipjointed]

If you have the money, I see absolutely nothing wrong with Snap-on. The only thing I could see fault with is going into massive debt just to get a different name on your tools.

The finer things in life can be very enjoyable, and IMO one of them is working with very high quality tools. They really make the job easier, as well as more enjoyable.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Buy what makes you happy while staying within your budget or means.

(I think you need some more nice German tools to match the cars.)

 

[clouseau]

Somehow I've made it to 48 years old without needing many tools. Currently I own a hammer, a few mini screwdrivers, a small ratchet set (no idea of what size drive, I’ve only used it once) and a cordless drill with some drill bits and the flat and phillips screwdriver attachments. Thanks to Deeds21 I will soon have a two pack of Knipex Cobra Pliers.

With that being said, I have decided that I want some tools. I just got a new workbench for my new garage, and when I ordered it...I had a tool chest built in to it. So now I am going to have a nice place to store nice tools for the first time in my life. My tools will probably not get used very much since I don't do any auto mechanic work, and there really isn't much chance of them getting stolen since they will probably never leave my garage, but I want to have some "basic" tools that every home should have to do typical tasks. I’m kinda’ tired of spending 30 minutes looking around to find a screwdriver on those few occasions when I actually need one.

So now my question…(since it seems that most of the members here either are mechanics or have mechanic abilities, and seem to know their way around a toolbox)…Do you guys think a total novice like me needs to buy Snapon tools? I ask this because I tend to always overdo things. I seem to be of the mindset that I always need the very best of everything, which of course isn't true. I took about two hours last night looking through the entire online Snapon catalog and was completely overwhelmed! Obviously there are tons of proprietary tools that very few people will ever need or use, but even the stuff that looks “basic” seemed to come in tons of varieties/sizes, versions, etc.

After trying to find similar items on the Craftsman website, I was amazed at the difference in price. So, are Snapon tools more expensive because they are better or because of the name? I’m guessing that it is a little of both.

I have a great relationship with my local BMW dealership so I’m sure that I could find out what days the Snapon truck is there and just go down there to buy what I want. I also have a Sears about 10 minutes from my home so access to both brands is about the same. Snapon seems to be more of a “boutique” brand, but I am just not sure if I really need it in my toolbox.

I want to start buying tools ASAP, and also hope some of you guys can offer a little guidance as to what basic tools (whichever brand I choose) would be on the “must have” list for someone in my situation. Like I said earlier… my two pack of Knipex Cobra Pliers should be here soon.

Thanks in advance for your insight.

I must say that many people on here took the trouble to answer your original question and the accompanying post, taking into account the specific provisos that you gave.

But you went right ahead and bought the whole truck!

Now instead of spending 30 minutes looking for a screwdriver it looks like you'll be spending a similar amount of time deciding which one in the whole cabinet full of the things is going to fit the screwhead.

Good luck to you and I hope you get plenty of time to enjoy your purchases. Hell, by the looks of it I could spend an enjoyable evening just pulling out the drawers and looking at what is in them!

i look forward to pics of your first job using them, even if it's just you prising the lid off a tin of paint with one of your wiha flats!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

i look forward to pics of your first job using them, even if it's just you prising the lid off a tin of paint with one of your wiha flats!

Whatever you do, do it in style.

 

[BHR4CE1]

I must say that many people on here took the trouble to answer your original question and the accompanying post, taking into account the specific provisos that you gave.

But you went right ahead and bought the whole truck!

I learned a lot by reading other member's recommendations, and thanked everyone for taking the time to help to educate a newbie like me. I looked at craftsman tools, as well as some of the store brands that were discussed here and felt that in the end, I might be happier if I stayed with more of the premium brands in the hopes that I will never have to replace them during my lifetime. I didn't really buy the whole truck, but I can see this could easily become a bit of an addiction. I also learned that there were lots of other great brands out there besides Snapon.


While BMW a NEVER needs to worry about me tinkering with any of their machines...I have (in just the few days that I have actually had a workbench and some tools) found myself doing little "fix-it" projects myself that I usually would have delegated to my handy man. While these tasks undoubtedly took me longer (and may have not come out quite as well) as if I had him do them...there certainly was some satisfaction knowing that I did it myself.

Again... I thank all of you guys that took the time to share your tool experiences with me.

 

[dwiggins]

BMWs (even M cars) aren't that scary to work on, and you've got a lift!

I dunno what the roads are like where you live, but here in the Dallas area, 50K miles of our busted *** roads will start to wear out suspension parts, and those are pretty easy to replace. You'd want to get it professionally aligned after you're done, but there's no reason to not change your own tie rod ends, control arms, etc.

Brakes (pads and rotors) are super easy too. If you have a power bleeder (I like my Motive) then brake fluid flushes are easy too. If you ever do any track days, you need a fluid flush more often, but even if you're not taking it to the track, once a year isn't a bad idea.

You can do it!

 

[BHR4CE1]

BMWs (even M cars) aren't that scary to work on, and you've got a lift!


You can do it!

Let me first clarify that I have NEVER done a single automotive repair in my life. I almost changed a flat tire once, but luckily the AAA guy finally showed up. Please don't crucify me for being a member of a garage forum and not being a mechanic. I don't apologize for my total lack of mechanic's skills. We can all do something...and that just isn't what I can do.

The other thing is that all BMW's come with 4 years free maintenance and parts/labor warrantees. I always trade them in before the warrantee runs out, or if I really love the car...I purchase the extended warrantee. I would never want to own one that was out of warrantee...they could get very expensive!

 

[hilld]

Frank,

as you admitted that you haven't done any repairs on cars, are you interested in anything that would require wrenching? If so, since you also said you are close to your dealer, maybe one of the mechanics there would want to "moonlight" by teaching you the basics in your own garage and using your own tools. He might even be able to tell you the basic tools you need to work on your bimmers. Just my 2 cents worth, if you were closer to me, I would volunteer. While I don't work as a tech anymore (I used to about 20 years ago), I still wrench on my own cars including the bigger jobs such as transmission teardowns and timing belts on Audi's (not a piece of cake).

Enjoy your lust for knowledge, it never stops.

Derek

 

[dwiggins]

Let me first clarify that I have NEVER done a single automotive repair in my life. I almost changed a flat tire once, but luckily the AAA guy finally showed up. Please don't crucify me for being a member of a garage forum and not being a mechanic. I don't apologize for my total lack of mechanic's skills. We can all do something...and that just isn't what I can do.

The other thing is that all BMW's come with 4 years free maintenance and parts/labor warrantees. I always trade them in before the warrantee runs out, or if I really love the car...I purchase the extended warrantee. I would never want to own one that was out of warrantee...they could get very expensive!

No crucifixion here. I'm an amateur mechanic, not a carpenter.

Just because you've never done an automotive repair doesn't mean you can't learn, if you were so inclined. I get a lot of pleasure out of doing my own work. You might not, and that's cool too. My point was that if you were inclined to try your hand at automotive repair, BMWs aren't that scary for basic to intermediate maintenance tasks. I don't do ALL my own work, so I'm certainly not suggesting that you neve go back to the dealer again. In fact, you should go back MORE often and take the depreciation hit so guys like me can afford M cars

To be honest, I don't know that I would own a recent BMW out of warranty either. If something non-mechanical goes wrong, there's no way in hell to fix it without owning the specialized diag tools and buying crazy expensive parts. Add to that the free maintenance schedule and "lifetime fill" fluids are wholly inadequate for keeping the cars on the road without requiring extensive repairs at around 100K miles. If you're a member of the BMWCCA and read Mike Miller's column in Roundel, none of this is news to you.

 

[BHR4CE1]

Frank,

as you admitted that you haven't done any repairs on cars, are you interested in anything that would require wrenching? If so, since you also said you are close to your dealer, maybe one of the mechanics there would want to "moonlight" by teaching you the basics in your own garage and using your own tools. He might even be able to tell you the basic tools you need to work on your bimmers. Just my 2 cents worth, if you were closer to me, I would volunteer. While I don't work as a tech anymore (I used to about 20 years ago), I still wrench on my own cars including the bigger jobs such as transmission teardowns and timing belts on Audi's (not a piece of cake).

Enjoy your lust for knowledge, it never stops.

Derek

Honestly... I have zero desire to work on my cars. I just don't have it in me...but I thank you for the offer of help.

 

[BHR4CE1]

To be honest, I don't know that I would own a recent BMW out of warranty either.

I just picked up a 2012 X6M the other day. It is really an amazing vehicle. So much technology that I couldn't imagine even WATCHING a BMW tech working on it.

 

[dwiggins]

I just picked up a 2012 X6M the other day. It is really an amazing vehicle. So much technology that I couldn't imagine even WATCHING a BMW tech working on it.

You ever watch a guy surf the web? That's about what it looks like when a BMW tech works on an X6M

Every review I've seen of the M trucks has been that they're amazing vehicles that seem to defy physics and don't FEEL like they're 2x the weight of the e30 M3. One of the stealerships brought one out to the track one weekend for a static display and it looks like a super nice place to sit while the landscape flashes by in a blur.

Also, here's an x6m clad in leather - http://dvice.com/archives/2011/05/bmw-clad-in-lea.php

 

[diesel research]

i look forward to pics of your first job using them, even if it's just you prising the lid off a tin of paint with one of your wiha flats!

 

[BHR4CE1]

I have that tool!

 

[diesel research]

Good. No need to mess up fancy screw drivers by pryin on stuff like all these other guys keep saying.

 

[dougal]

Any wrenches yet Frank?

The other half and I have a few German cars between us, but I am no mechanic. Still, I am building a tool collection which I dip into now and again to do small things, and I am very partial to Stahlwille kit. It limits my ability to mess things up, I am sure.

Nothing else I've seen/held has the same balance. Timeless, practical design. Grab a set of open/box 13 spanners. For starters.

 

[weegaz22]

No in my opinion, you dont NEED them, you may think you NEED them but you dont in reality, cheaper brands can and will do the same job the same way, sure you might break some cheap stuff if you abuse it, but in similar vein i've got a broken snap-on ratchet lying in my box, next to working halfords ratchets that have had similar abuse.

besides if you buy a complete snap on spanner set, are you going to chop up/ bend/modify them for when you need to make a special tool? no...you chop up the cheap ****.

 

[clouseau]

I don't blame you for looking under the bonnet of one of these new cars and closing the thing up straight away!

if you have room in your garage you could always pick up an old classic beetle or something like that and tinkering around with it. Should be able to get a manual for it and there will be countless info on the 'net. and have some fun.

 

[BHR4CE1]

Good. No need to mess up fancy screw drivers by pryin on stuff like all these other guys keep saying.

Exactly!!

 

[BHR4CE1]

Any wrenches yet Frank?

Those are my next purchase. Was looking at a Snapon set, but will check out your recommendation as well.

Thanks!!!

 

[diesel research]

I have some more submissions in the fine art, er um tool category:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74979

There are some VERY fine examples of tools pictured in there.

 

[housey]

Any wrenches yet Frank?

The other half and I have a few German cars between us, but I am no mechanic. Still, I am building a tool collection which I dip into now and again to do small things, and I am very partial to Stahlwille kit. It limits my ability to mess things up, I am sure.

Nothing else I've seen/held has the same balance. Timeless, practical design. Grab a set of open/box 13 spanners. For starters.

I have this set and dont regret getting them at all. In my hand they feel perfectly balanced and very lightweight, It gives them a feeling of quality and precision. Everytime I pick them up i always end up admiring them for a few seconds and I can appreciate that i have bought and own a top quality tool. In this respect they have definately paid for themselves in the enjoyment they bring over a cheap wrench.

Lets face it, even if you buy some 50 cent each indian made wrenches, they will get the job done and its not likely they will break unless your doing some real heavy duty work. The difference is that the good wrenches will work in some tight situations where the cheap one is to bulky to do so, and everytime you use it, it just feels better in your hand (hard to explain). If your someone that would appreciate this (like me) no matter how illogical it sounds, then you should buy a high end wrench set. If not, go the cheapies

 

[R Walter]

Instead of titling this thread "Does a total novice need Snapon tools?", the OP might better have titled it "What are the most expensive tools a total novice can buy?"

 

[Lightfoot]

--no.

 

[billymade]

Any updates? Pics and purchase info appreciated! Also, interested in your perspective on tools as you research, buy and try hand tools! Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[BHR4CE1]

Any updates? Pics and purchase info appreciated! Also, interested in your perspective on tools as you research, buy and try hand tools! Inquiring minds want to know!

Posted pics in my garage thread. So far enjoying the tools I have purchased. More stuff from Snapon is on the way.