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First Automotive Job Tools????

Daniel_PNW

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Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
Hey everyone, new to the site and also new to working as a beginner Auto Tech.

I'm about to get a job doing basic automotive services such as tire changes, Oil changes, alignments, basic tune ups ,ect.

I'm hoping you guys can give me some input on what all the tools I will need since I have to provide almost all my own. (unlike working at a lube shop)

I'm most likely going to buy a Ingersoll 231c for an impact, and I'm Trying to buy mostly Tekton tools just to get started with but I cant decides if I need the bigger sets or if smaller sets will do? :confused::confused::confused:
 
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jloehlein

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Nov 18, 2012
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191
Location
Richmond, VA
I worked at Pep Boys in college doing mostly oil changes and tires. I've also done alignments, but not as frequently. 90% of what I used was my impact gun and socket set, a flex-head 3/8" drive wrench (Gearwrench is alright), and a set of combination wrenches. I came across a used set of ratcheting wrenches in good shape and picked them up as well. Start small and you'll figure out what you need to add. As I work on my own cars, I find myself using a 1/4 drive socket set the most. A 1/4" air ratchet might save you a bunch of time.
 
Joined
Mar 12, 2008
Messages
800
Location
ohio
I would buy mainly 6 point sockets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2"- in metric and sae, combo wrenches, some decent screwdrivers and a set of allens. These are the basics-
Most mechanic sets are a waste imo as the majority of the tool are Mickey mouse stuff you will never use and 2/3's of them are 12 point sockets.
I started as a lube tech at a Pontiac dealership when i was 16.
I picked up a basic craftsman set with combo wrenches 1/4" and 3/8 sockets- i quickly learned i needed a 1/2" set as well.
Check the harbor freight pass/fail thread in the tools section here, alot of the hf stuff is of decent quality and will buy you some time to get better quality stuff.
 
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RWorth

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Aug 29, 2016
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592
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Cape Cod , Mass.
You might want to check with somebody you'll be working with rather than us.
there is no limit to the money you can spend on tools, so budget yourself, buy what you need to start and add as you go. It will become obvious what you should add to your collection to make your life easier.

PS. I would start with Craftsman hand tools as they're a good tool and not too pricey.
 

btdobie

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Mar 21, 2016
Messages
611
Location
Southern Minnesota
Definitely get a torque wrench even if it is just a $20 HF one. I cringe every time I see someone using torque sticks on wheels.
 

racerex

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Dec 3, 2013
Messages
345
Location
NY
Thinking a little outside of the box.....check out the local pawn shops in your area for tools and/or stop into a few old time repair shops and ask if they know of any mechanics that recently tossed in the towel that may be interested in selling their hand tools.

Two of my friends run a two generation shop that does fleet service.....small, medium and large trucks. They normally have 6-8 mechanics floating around the shop....all using their own tools. Over the years, I have picked up some nice used tools from guys in their shop.
 

LS6 Tommy

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Dec 27, 2013
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26,162
Location
Northern NJ
All the above advice is good. Torque sticks/dog bones are utter garbage. They simply cannot and do not work. I would also get some torx sockets, a decent hack saw, air saw or cutoff wheel, a good bolt extractor set. It goes without saying good PPE and comfortable, slip resistant footwear. Don't try to get everything all at once.

Tommy
 

Firebrick43

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May 12, 2015
Messages
14,030
Location
West central Indiana
While the old 231c is a durable(nearly industructable) work horse the ir titanium impacts are much more powerful, smaller, and less vibration/weight. I never use my 231c anymore.
I am not one to buy everything high end but the titanium series from it is worth the money.

Stay away from the **** train! Ie snap on and Mac. I am not telling you not to buy their tools, just don't buy new off the truck and become indebted. I have two full sets of tools, one at work and one at home. I can count on one hand the tools bought new off the truck. Most basic tools bought used off of fleabay. The truck tools will just enslave you to debt. If you want the convenience of delivered tools I would recommend Carlyle tools from Napa. If the shop is serviced by Napa tool warranty /delivery will be faster and cheaper than a tool truck.

Sk sockets/ratchets and wright wrenches with wrightgrip function as well as snap on if you have to buy new and will still be cheaper than used snap on. I even like my wrightgrips better than my soex/soexm sets.

I don't consider alignment work light as many times it involves suspension repair. Is the shop providing the special suspension tools? If not Otc is worth the money. I have found their lower line(Otc stinger) to be junk.
 
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Streetbu

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Jan 7, 2014
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3,082
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Central NY
Your best bang for the buck will be find a tech that changing careers or retiring and buy his whole tool box and tools. Will cost more than most want to spend right away but will be the best deal. In my area you cannot generate find these for 3-9k depending on the size of the box and quantity of tools.
 

CJM8515

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NJ
Sunex master 3/8 impact set. Its about 200 bucks and WELL worth the cash. It comes with sizes from 8-19mm and sae 1/4 to 7/8. It has swivels, deep, shallow, some torx as well and extensions. Then you will need an assortment of metric and sae wrenches, like 8-21mm, and 1/4 to 7/8 or roughly. I prefer husky myself but the latest change in manufacturer has made the ends huge, stanley from walmart is a good buy or napa carlyle . Buy a VIM master torx/hex socket set, a good set of allen keys (home depot is fine for this), A good 12oz, 16oz and 24oz ball peen. 16 and 24oz dead blow, cold chisel set (HF is fine), and a 1/2 pittsburg pro deep and shallow metric/sae impact set. Also wise to buy HF extensions in both 3/8 and 1/2. The 1/4 set you can pick up in chrome at home depot for some husky stuff. I also recommend a 1/2 and 3/8 clicker torque wrench from sears, they are cheap enough and made by gear wrench.

A HF 3/8 and 1/2 earthquake impact gun is also really handy as is a tool truck 3/8 and 1/4 air ratchet. Id also recommend a williams screwdriver set off ebay. Snap on, but industrial brand labeled as williams and just as good.

All of that will set you back a decent amount, but nowhere near the cost of a tool truck stuff and all of it will serve you well. You can upgrade as time goes on. All of it will fit nicely inside a harbor freight rolling cart or the 44" chest. All of it will be useful to your job and as time goes on you can add what else you might need.
 
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padroo

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Nov 25, 2011
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564
Location
Chesterton, In.
You will need an assortment of pry bars various sizes and hammers, both steel, plastic and rubber faced and a good dead blow hammer comes in handy. VICE grips and channel locks and a couple of small pipe wrenches.

Make sure you have ear plugs and safety glasses, those shops are noisy.
 

Chief919

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Dec 9, 2016
Messages
226
Location
Waynesville NC
Your best bang for the buck will be find a tech that changing careers or retiring and buy his whole tool box and tools. Will cost more than most want to spend right away but will be the best deal. In my area you cannot generate find these for 3-9k depending on the size of the box and quantity of tools.

This.

Go on Craigslist for your area and several surrounding ones and look for someone selling a box full of tools who is leaving the career or hard up for money. If you shop around a bit and are willing to drive you can get a killer deal with some patience.
 

c4cruiser

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Oct 8, 2012
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359
Location
Lacey WA
You might want to check with somebody you'll be working with rather than us.
there is no limit to the money you can spend on tools, so budget yourself, buy what you need to start and add as you go. It will become obvious what you should add to your collection to make your life easier.

PS. I would start with Craftsman hand tools as they're a good tool and not too pricey.

It might be a good idea to talk with the other techs at the shop and ask what you will really need to start off. They will probably show you the stuff in their toolbox drawers; take notes!!

Also look at tool boxes. Go to Harbor Freight and look at the large boxes such as the 56" version. You may not need the extra space now, but eventually you will! Drawer height is important so look for boxes with 2" drawers. Another good buy is a small cart. You can use it to hold the tools you use the most so you don't have to walk back and forth to the toolbox. Get a couple of the magnetic base nut and bolt trays. Great way to keep from losing nuts and bolts.

For hand tools, get both SAE and Metric sets of combination wrenches and sockets. You will find that you will use Metric tools more than SAE, but SAE stuff will be needed for occasional use.

Get a good LED flashlight with a wall charger! Some of the guys in our shop also use a LED tube light that is a good 48" long and hang it under the hood of a car. Get some oil filter wrenches; some cars have filters that are a PITA to swap out. A good digital volt/Ohm meter will be a huge help.
 

575cat

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Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
243
Craigslist , always someone bailing on theyre job , lots of tools & boxes on there .
 
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Daniel_PNW

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Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
I have looked around on craigslist and its mostly people trying to get rid of their snap on tools, and people with ****** tool sets, there was one set that was supposedly $150k worth of tools including snap on stuff and he wants like $15k for it. But anyways I have looked and I believe its a better option in my area to just buy new tools.

Also thanks everyone for your input!!! very much appreciated.
 
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Daniel_PNW

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Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
Sunex master 3/8 impact set. Its about 200 bucks and WELL worth the cash. It comes with sizes from 8-19mm and sae 1/4 to 7/8. It has swivels, deep, shallow, some torx as well and extensions. Then you will need an assortment of metric and sae wrenches, like 8-21mm, and 1/4 to 7/8 or roughly. I prefer husky myself but the latest change in manufacturer has made the ends huge, stanley from walmart is a good buy or napa carlyle . Buy a VIM master torx/hex socket set, a good set of allen keys (home depot is fine for this), A good 12oz, 16oz and 24oz ball peen. 16 and 24oz dead blow, cold chisel set (HF is fine), and a 1/2 pittsburg pro deep and shallow metric/sae impact set. Also wise to buy HF extensions in both 3/8 and 1/2. The 1/4 set you can pick up in chrome at home depot for some husky stuff. I also recommend a 1/2 and 3/8 clicker torque wrench from sears, they are cheap enough and made by gear wrench.

A HF 3/8 and 1/2 earthquake impact gun is also really handy as is a tool truck 3/8 and 1/4 air ratchet. Id also recommend a williams screwdriver set off ebay. Snap on, but industrial brand labeled as williams and just as good.

All of that will set you back a decent amount, but nowhere near the cost of a tool truck stuff and all of it will serve you well. You can upgrade as time goes on. All of it will fit nicely inside a harbor freight rolling cart or the 44" chest. All of it will be useful to your job and as time goes on you can add what else you might need.

I appreciate this post a lot. Thank you so much!
 
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Daniel_PNW

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Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
You will need an assortment of pry bars various sizes and hammers, both steel, plastic and rubber faced and a good dead blow hammer comes in handy. VICE grips and channel locks and a couple of small pipe wrenches.

Make sure you have ear plugs and safety glasses, those shops are noisy.

Would it be weird to wear my sport earmuffs in an autoshop? haha

They block out all the loud noises and stuff but let you still hear everything in your surroundings...
 
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Daniel_PNW

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Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
Also I already have a nice size tool cart/box with a ton of cheap wrenches and sockets that I grew up with. unfortunately being young and careless I lost or broke quite a few of them so I have incomplete sets.
 
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Daniel_PNW

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
6
This is what I had on my shopping list before I made a post by the way:

-TEKTON 30709 Dead Blow Hammer Set with 16, 32 and 48-Ounce
-TEKTON 3352 Pry Bar Set, 4-Piece
-TEKTON 18772 Combination Wrench Set with Store and Go Keeper, Inch, 1/4-Inch - 1-Inch, 15-Piece
-TEKTON 18792 Combination Wrench Set with Store and Go Keeper, Metric, 8 mm - 22 mm, 15-Piece
-TEKTON 13101 3/8-Inch Drive Socket Set, Inch/Metric with TEKTON 13001 1/4-Inch Drive Socket Set, Inch/Metric
-TEKTON 25253 30-pc. Hex Key Wrench Set
-TEKTON 1903 Rectangle Magnetic Parts Tray
-TEKTON PLR99001 Pliers Set, 6-Piece
-TEKTON 26755 Slotted and Phillips Screwdriver Set, 8-Piece
-TEKTON 6943 Precision Pick and Hook Set, 4-Piece
-TEKTON 5866 12-Inch Oil Filter Pliers
-TEKTON 5867 16-Inch Oil Filter Pliers
-Lisle 63600 Oil Filter Tool
-Lisle 63250 Wide Range Filter Wrench
-TEKTON 4950 1/2-Inch Drive Lug Nut Service Tool Flip Impact Socket Set, Inch/Metric, 4-Piece
-TEKTON 24340 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench (25-250 ft.-lb./33.9-338.9 Nm)
-Ingersoll-Rand 231C 1/2-Inch Super-Duty Air Impact Wrench

Around $600

And possibly if I think I need an air ratchet:
-SP Air SP-1765 - 3/8 inch Super Fast Mini Impact Ratchet
 

WhiffySpark

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Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
6,252
That's plenty.

I wouldn't get a hex key set. But a set with torx you can use on your ratchet. The long gearwrenches are fine for oil changes
 

Revelations

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Jul 8, 2015
Messages
274
Im a backyard wrencher, but the consensus here if you buy new, is Tekton, Kobalt, or Cman USA. Sunnex impact sockets are another bang for your buck. I picked up the 90 piece master 3/8 set on Amazon for I believe $110.

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
 
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Revelations

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Jul 8, 2015
Messages
274
SP speed 3/8 air ratchet is good. I believe those are still made in Japan? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Aircat and Astro Pnumatic also have good reviews. I have the Aircat 1295, and the 3/8 speed ratchet. For suspension work I have the Nano 3/8 stubby impact. Not sure how it will hold up under pro use, but my has held up well. Make your money with the bargin brands, then go Hollywood with SO or Mac.

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
 

M4A1Carbine

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Sep 13, 2015
Messages
100
Location
Florida
I’m not a mechanic, but from my experience with tools I’d recommend this based on your list.

Save a few dollars and get the harbor freight dead blow hammers.

Spend the money you saved on knipex pliers. Once you use knipex, you never want to go back to cheap pliers.

I don’t know if they still make them, but the Craftsman USA hook and pick set is the same as the tool trucks brand. Check the tool truck equivalents thread for more deals like that.

And the tool I use most working on my cars is a 3/8 cordless impact wrench with a set of sunex impact sockets. It makes life a lot easier and fits many places that a big 1/2 impact won’t.
 

dcs13

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Feb 19, 2006
Messages
161
Location
The Hill Country ,Texas
Stay AWAY from the tool trucks.. I won't say never buy from them, but when you do, PAY CASH. Don't do stupid things with zeroes behind them..
Craftsman has some great kits that are sold at Lowes. Also check the Sears OUTLET site for clearance stuff.
Check craigslist for tool boxes as said.
 

nadogail

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Jan 23, 2009
Messages
31,946
Location
Coronado, CA
IMHO, If I were in your shoes I would ask my future employer what tools I should have to start the job and where would they suggest I buy them. This worked for me in 1956.

The Blue Point tools sold off the Snap-On truck are rebranded, some were made by Lisle.
 

Mosby

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Joined
Nov 17, 2016
Messages
38
Location
Annapolis, Md
Dealership tech with 25 years of experience, now service manager for an Asian import store for the past 4 years.

Do not spend any money on SAE sockets or wrenches. Especially to start. Even Domestic brands stopped using SAE sizes in the 90's. There was some years of overlap where you might need both sets, but none of my techs now have any SAE sockets or wrenches. If you run across something specific you need just buy that wrench, ie one 9/16 don't buy the set. Most of them will sit in your drawer taking up space. Some are the same any way. a 19mm and 3/4 are interchangeable, as are a 16mm and 5/8 and 11mm and 7/16, 8mm and 5/16 are all the same.

Also definitely look into less expensive air tools, but that air ratchet you listed will stay in your box, or get thrown away. It won't have enough power the break any bolt loose, and most of the times even if you break it loose first it won't have enough power to un thread it the whole way, and if you use that air ratchet to break it loose by hand, the head will be junk in days. Save your money until you can buy a good one.

A small impact driver, like a Milwaukee 12v will be a lifesaver if you are taking dashes apart, etc. And I much preferred them to anything Snap-on had for that kind of job. And that's something where bigger isn't better. You don't need an 18v impact screw gun to take all the small 8mm and 10mm bolts, screws, torx screws etc. 12v stuff is fine.

In fact a lot of my guys use the new electric impact ratchets too. and the 12v version of them is fine about half the time as well. so see if you can find a package deal on them. Impact driver and ratchet, 2 batteries and a charger 200(ish) A good air ratchet is going to cost you 300-400 bucks for one that you will use and be usefull to you.

Lastly don't spend anymore money than absolutely possible on a tool box. It's not full until you have to shake the drawers to shuffle the stuff around to get them to close. A tool box will never make you any money. It only holds your tools off the floor. Any shop you should want to work at, you shouldn't need to worry about super duper security anyway. You should only need enough security to discourage guys from "borrowing" something when your away.

I've always worked with guys who never locked their box, or never put all their tools away. I promise you, you will lose more tools to forgetting them in some car you are deep into a job on, than other tech's stealing them. Unless you are working in a really crappy shop. I have spent all my career in large (30-50+ tech) shops in a major metropolitan area, and actual theft between techs was rare. Guys will "borrow" borrow stuff and forget to put it back. Because everyone borrows stuff, no one will have every tool they ever need for every job. SO you just don't want them borrowing stuff when you aren't there.

But you will need to borrow, so always return stuff right away, don't make the guy come looking for his tool. Always ask, even if that guy has loaned you that tool before. And keep track of what you borrow, if you borrow the same thing, several time a week, that needs to be your next purchase. But if you borrow something once, don't waste your money.

I have one of those monster tool boxes, 8ft long, 6ft tall, and it is slammed full of tools from 25+ years of working on cars. And I occasionally still needed to borrow something, I just made sure to be gracious when someone needed something I had.

Lastly if you make this your career, you will never stop buying tools. The manufacturers seem to constantly come out with some new shape of torx head, or or some new gigit to adjust tie rod ends, etc etc. not to mention diagnostic tools that never stop evolving to keep up with the huge technological increases every year to maintain emissions and fuel mileage standards
 

sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I wouldn't buy a big ole used box. It seems to be a common theme here not to buy simple cheap mechanic sets cause they come with some Allen wrenches you may never use but then recommend a box of stuff gonna have a good share of obsolete expensive stuff.
 

jeepnatv4life

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Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
196
Location
Harrisonburg Area VA
Stay Off the Tool Truck!!! Only get a truck account not a credit account if u absolutely need their tools...

If your still a student Check into the big name tools brands student discounts and get a low interest credit card or bank loan to make the purchase. When I started Snap On was 52% off for Students.. And made my student discount purchases that way.

For Storage, Its just holding the tools a US General Product will be just fine for a long time. I would never buy a Snap On box again if I had to do it over..

Your Harbor Freight, kobalt, or craftsman will do just fine for entry level and once you decide this is what u wanna do.. Start sinkin the money into sockets, ratchets, and power tools to make your times quicker...
 
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