Entry level tech tools
- Thread starter ihasmiata?
- Start date
Congratulations on getting the job! You are getting some great advice! Personally,I feel those air tool kits are cheap DIY grade.. but even most DIY guys will want better quality. I can vouch for the Craftsman kit, because I got one to get by for a while. The tools were weak, and didnt last long. The barrel on the air hammer cracked, rendering it useless,but it never had much power. The impact is probably ok for light duty, but wont last. The ratchet seemed to have decent speed,and power but was very fkn loud! None of them lasted two years..and I oiled and took care of them. Ask them what they recommend at the shop, It will show that you are willing to invest in tools. Also, are the experienced techs there on flat rate? If so, keep in mind that is what you are working toward.
OP
ihasmiata?
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Yes they're flate rate, from talking to the service manager. I know ill be hourly for at least 6-8 months while im doing online training. And being sent to training programs.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Take all the training you can, I go to every class I can. Work as hard,and as fast as you can,but,you must not make mistakes. This video might help you..Its actually very good!http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Qa35NYGbmmk And this>
The second video is very good.
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shoggoth80
Well-known member
I'll second the advice on the boots. When I upgrade my guns, they are getting their respective boots. My Kobalts aren't that old, and are dinged, scuffed, scratched etc.
Subyroo651
Well-known member
OP
ihasmiata?
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Well good news, from what ive found of the ir231 and how much they go for used.
I found a set of 5 ir231 some with the 2" extension. And 4 rebuild kits for around 50.00
Going to try to get them, keep 2 and and the rebuild kits. And sell the others
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I found a set of 5 ir231 some with the 2" extension. And 4 rebuild kits for around 50.00
Going to try to get them, keep 2 and and the rebuild kits. And sell the others
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
OP
ihasmiata?
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I wasn't able to get the impact guns I mention above in time.
Can someone PM Reptilezes for me, and ask him to send me a PM.
I can't post in his FS thread, and I'm not sure if my messages are going through. It's showing my sent messages as 0
Can someone PM Reptilezes for me, and ask him to send me a PM.
I can't post in his FS thread, and I'm not sure if my messages are going through. It's showing my sent messages as 0
crewchief888
Well-known member
grab a IR231,
and a set of HF deep impact sockets
for the price you cant go wrong with either one.
if you find yourself using (ie: beating the **** out of 1 or 2 sockets), then upgrade, and you'll have a spare. i have extras and spares of all my commonly used sockets.
i've been beating on IR231's for over 25 years, typical lifespan for me is approx 7 years. by then they are weak, the anvil is worn out or broken. i get a new one, and the old one's get "retired" for home use.
and a set of HF deep impact sockets
for the price you cant go wrong with either one.
if you find yourself using (ie: beating the **** out of 1 or 2 sockets), then upgrade, and you'll have a spare. i have extras and spares of all my commonly used sockets.
i've been beating on IR231's for over 25 years, typical lifespan for me is approx 7 years. by then they are weak, the anvil is worn out or broken. i get a new one, and the old one's get "retired" for home use.
shockwave
Well-known member
I would start with a
1/4 drive socket set short and deep
3/8 drive socket set short and deep
1/2 impact set short and deep
About a good 10 piece plier set
3/8 and 1/2 impact wrenches
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 extension sets
Small pick set
Decent screwdriver set
Impact driver set
Tool cart
Torx and hex socket sets
A big chain wrench (it will be a life saver)
7-24 standard metric wrench set
Ezred of mountain long flex ratcheting wrenches (if you have changed a belt on a k-series motor u will love these)
Prybar set (craftsman pro or mayhew)
1/4 air ratchet
Inspection mirrors
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches
A couple of hammers
This should be the basis you will fill in the rest as you need them I know it a long list but it should cover about 90% of what you will do
1/4 drive socket set short and deep
3/8 drive socket set short and deep
1/2 impact set short and deep
About a good 10 piece plier set
3/8 and 1/2 impact wrenches
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 extension sets
Small pick set
Decent screwdriver set
Impact driver set
Tool cart
Torx and hex socket sets
A big chain wrench (it will be a life saver)
7-24 standard metric wrench set
Ezred of mountain long flex ratcheting wrenches (if you have changed a belt on a k-series motor u will love these)
Prybar set (craftsman pro or mayhew)
1/4 air ratchet
Inspection mirrors
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches
A couple of hammers
This should be the basis you will fill in the rest as you need them I know it a long list but it should cover about 90% of what you will do
shockwave
Well-known member
I would start with a
1/4 drive socket set short and deep
3/8 drive socket set short and deep
1/2 impact set short and deep
About a good 10 piece plier set
3/8 and 1/2 impact wrenches
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 extension sets
Small pick set
Decent screwdriver set
Impact driver set
Tool cart
Torx and hex socket sets
A big chain wrench (it will be a life saver)
7-24 standard metric wrench set
Ezred of mountain long flex ratcheting wrenches (if you have changed a belt on a k-series motor u will love these)
Prybar set (craftsman pro or mayhew)
1/4 air ratchet
Inspection mirrors
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches
A couple of hammers
This should be the basis you will fill in the rest as you need them I know it a long list but it should cover about 90% of what you will do
1/4 drive socket set short and deep
3/8 drive socket set short and deep
1/2 impact set short and deep
About a good 10 piece plier set
3/8 and 1/2 impact wrenches
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 extension sets
Small pick set
Decent screwdriver set
Impact driver set
Tool cart
Torx and hex socket sets
A big chain wrench (it will be a life saver)
7-24 standard metric wrench set
Ezred of mountain long flex ratcheting wrenches (if you have changed a belt on a k-series motor u will love these)
Prybar set (craftsman pro or mayhew)
1/4 air ratchet
Inspection mirrors
1/4,3/8 and 1/2 torque wrenches
A couple of hammers
This should be the basis you will fill in the rest as you need them I know it a long list but it should cover about 90% of what you will do
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I must have Deja Vu! Didn't a starting tech in the same exact situation ask about the same exact tool set a few months ago?
That craftsman impact don't have a lot of torque (300ft-lb.) and if you get it i strongly suggest you get a good breaker bar and a pipe, because you will be using the pipe& breaker bar a lot to get tight stuff off. As a minimum I would get the HF earthquake(which is a clone if the IR gun). As others pointed out, it is heavy, but it has 700ft-lb of torque which is damn good and will zing things apart wit the best guns they make! When I bought my Earthquake I gave my Craftsman impact to my neighbor.
That air hammer is little more than a noisy hand massager. I had one for years and to be quite honest whenever i used it I'd usually give up after my hand was sufficiently massaged, and then I would look for another way to o the job . If you are going to be doing any real work that requires an air hammer find a way to get the Snap on one. I bought mine used from the bargain box in the back of the snap on truck for around $150. It kicks like hell and makes short work of anything.
Any air ratchet will work the same at spinning already broken nuts and bolts on and off quickly, as well as pitching fingers between the handle and whatever you are working on, so any brand will work just fine.
Chris
That craftsman impact don't have a lot of torque (300ft-lb.) and if you get it i strongly suggest you get a good breaker bar and a pipe, because you will be using the pipe& breaker bar a lot to get tight stuff off. As a minimum I would get the HF earthquake(which is a clone if the IR gun). As others pointed out, it is heavy, but it has 700ft-lb of torque which is damn good and will zing things apart wit the best guns they make! When I bought my Earthquake I gave my Craftsman impact to my neighbor.
That air hammer is little more than a noisy hand massager. I had one for years and to be quite honest whenever i used it I'd usually give up after my hand was sufficiently massaged, and then I would look for another way to o the job . If you are going to be doing any real work that requires an air hammer find a way to get the Snap on one. I bought mine used from the bargain box in the back of the snap on truck for around $150. It kicks like hell and makes short work of anything.
Any air ratchet will work the same at spinning already broken nuts and bolts on and off quickly, as well as pitching fingers between the handle and whatever you are working on, so any brand will work just fine.
Chris
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I don't know what model of IR air gun I have had for a long time but it has served me well, non commercially.
I recommend getting a good air gun and going cheap on the sockets at first. As you see which sockets you need or break, you can upgrade. For tire work it's hard to beat a flip socket, 19mm on one end and 21 on the other, and a good extension. When used in a tire shop, all sockets break sooner or later.
Reccommend a 3/4 breaker bar with a 1/2 inch adapter for serious work.
In doing tire work, sooner or later you will break off a stud. Get a good proper size punch to drive the old studs off and a good big hammer.
KEH
I recommend getting a good air gun and going cheap on the sockets at first. As you see which sockets you need or break, you can upgrade. For tire work it's hard to beat a flip socket, 19mm on one end and 21 on the other, and a good extension. When used in a tire shop, all sockets break sooner or later.
Reccommend a 3/4 breaker bar with a 1/2 inch adapter for serious work.
In doing tire work, sooner or later you will break off a stud. Get a good proper size punch to drive the old studs off and a good big hammer.
KEH
west wind
Well-known member
Check out flee markets, swap meets, garage sales, and harbor freight.
shoggoth80
Well-known member
"In doing tire work, sooner or later you will break off a stud. Get a good proper size punch to drive the old studs off and a good big hammer."
-I have managed to get by with a 1lb ball peen, and a 3ld drill hammer. I have yet to use a punch to get out a wheel stud. Hit it like it did something wrong, and it pops out. Lol. Not that a good set of punches shouldn't be on the OP's list.
To install the stud, a spacer of some kind (I got a thick, grade 8 nut, but I imagine spacers could be made if you needed to go cheap), and a spare lug in the right size/thread + impact gun. Pulls it right through in a pinch. There are specialty tools made for this, but if money is tight, it works.
-I have managed to get by with a 1lb ball peen, and a 3ld drill hammer. I have yet to use a punch to get out a wheel stud. Hit it like it did something wrong, and it pops out. Lol. Not that a good set of punches shouldn't be on the OP's list.
To install the stud, a spacer of some kind (I got a thick, grade 8 nut, but I imagine spacers could be made if you needed to go cheap), and a spare lug in the right size/thread + impact gun. Pulls it right through in a pinch. There are specialty tools made for this, but if money is tight, it works.
GoodEnough
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shoggoth80
Well-known member
I am guessing the punch is for if you break the stud off close to the hub?
Wheel studs are basically pressed in. You snap one, you use force to drive it out, and force to install a new one.
Wheel studs are basically pressed in. You snap one, you use force to drive it out, and force to install a new one.
evandonald
Member
Just to make it easier to hit what is left of the broken stud out. It saves you from hitting the other studs and messing them up by mistake.
One good whack with the hammer knocks a wheel stud out, no punches needed. Punches are a good investment though. I tap the new stud in after that and use a thick spacer like tool to draw it in with a nut. No big deal but time is money and sometimes you have to pull the hub of to get it done.
spotco2
Well-known member
Congrats on the new job! They are not easy to come by these days.
I've got a couple of IR231's and would recommend you buying a new one with a boot. When buying used, you don't know if you're buying somebody elses problem or not and on the job is NOT the place to find out.
You don't need any other air tools until you start getting more jobs in the shop. I would say get an angle grinder followed by an 3/8 air ratchet next. You can use a regular ratchet but it's a PITA to use a scraper and wire brush.
You will learn that Honda only uses a few different size fasteners for most things. Once you figure out what those popular sizes are, start watching ebay or here for single SO, Mac, etc sockets and wrenches.
Learn all you can and get all of the certificates they will pay for. Enjoy the new job.
I've got a couple of IR231's and would recommend you buying a new one with a boot. When buying used, you don't know if you're buying somebody elses problem or not and on the job is NOT the place to find out.
You don't need any other air tools until you start getting more jobs in the shop. I would say get an angle grinder followed by an 3/8 air ratchet next. You can use a regular ratchet but it's a PITA to use a scraper and wire brush.
You will learn that Honda only uses a few different size fasteners for most things. Once you figure out what those popular sizes are, start watching ebay or here for single SO, Mac, etc sockets and wrenches.
Learn all you can and get all of the certificates they will pay for. Enjoy the new job.
OP
ihasmiata?
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- May 23, 2013
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Thanks everyone, and I appreciate all the advice and tips! And after a few attempts at getting a ir231 for a decent price.
I just caved and bought the HF eathquake impact gun, seems like it will do fine for now. Plus I had a 25% coupon, so it will just become a back up once I get a IR231 after my first paycheck or two.
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I just caved and bought the HF eathquake impact gun, seems like it will do fine for now. Plus I had a 25% coupon, so it will just become a back up once I get a IR231 after my first paycheck or two.
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bcradio
Well-known member
You will definitely love that gun. It is absolutely amazing for the price. And when you get your next gun, it will be a great back-up if you need it.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
+1, you will like that gun! Keep a little bottle of air tool oil next to it and give it a squirt of oil whenever you pull it out of the box for the day. I think HF has impact sockets on sale for around $10. They work well and you will serve you for a while until you can get name brand ones. I've had mine for 25+ years (as a weekend mechanic) and they are holding up fine.
Chris
Chris
Moose97
Well-known member
Congrats on the new job! I started out the same way while at tech school. Avoid the tool trucks. The less money you waste on tools the more stays in your pocket. I buy all my tools from Amazon or tooltopia.com. You dont have to go broke for good tools. Majority of those air tools on the trucks are rebaged IR or CP. I just recently bought an Aircat 1150 1/2" impact and its bad ***! My coworker has an earthquake he's beat the **** out of that thing for five years never puts oil and its freaking strong. Save your money.