Getting ready need some input...TOOLS

[jose.olivo1]

hi im am new to the forums, i and currently taking heavy diesel mechanic, already talked the the snap-on guy and i guess it made sense about how good the tools are being that i have others and they have failed. im using my GI BILL for school but plan on getting a student loan just so i can get the tools now at the discount price then later, after that i get to add that to my deductions on my taxes and pretty much just pay the loan back. now my issue is they have a set at the school a so called master set US Set 9200AGSO not to mention the diesel set addon which looks good but...what about metric tools and sae tools and does it really matter i would hate to spend all this money and then find out that those were not the tools i need for the job. i mean what type of tools do i really need... so please if you have experience in the field or know someone let me know something. i hope to hear from someone soon and thanks...

 

[Borrego]

Any chance of talking with your instructor(s) and getting an idea of what may be needed to get started?
Also, welcome to the Forum, lots of experienced diesel techs here who I hope will chime in.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Dude, I don't mean to offend you but.....slow down....your still in school and looking to run up a tool bill allready?? I would not recommend it.
I also dont put any faith in those "deals" they push at schools.
My advice would be to not buy anything more than the basics until you get a job and get settled into the work.
I came from the millitary myself. I didn't go to any further school since my MOS was heavy junk - I went right to work. I started my first civilian mechanic job with nothing more than an old Craftsman 2 drawer carry-around box full of the basics that anyone would use doing thier own automotive work - sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc....I don't think I even owned a test light let alone a real multimeter at the time.

Looking at the set in question, I can only say that I see a few items I would never use becuase there's better options:
Like this: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=72490&group_ID=585
I prefer these and they're cheaper: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=2140&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

These things are okay:http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=84758&group_ID=22614
- you can use them, but they are only Blue Point and 44 bucks
you can buy Channellocks version a lot cheaper: http://www.channellock.com/927-Retaining-Ring-Plier.aspx

Safety glasses / googles are usually supplied by the shop - why buy them from Snap-On?

...I think you get the idea.....

 

[Obie]

Well, if you're doing anything with Case, International Harvester, New Holland, Kobelco, any of the Fiat owned brands I can tell you for certain that you're going to need pretty much every damned size of SAE and Metric. For heavy equipment, there's a wide variety of stuff. Are you talking agriculture, construction, mining, ships, what?

Also, look into the more "Industrial" tool lines. Wright, Armstrong, Proto, Williams are a few. Fantastic tools for a much, much, much, much, much better price. Own and use a mix of these all and they do their job so well I never feel tempted to buy Snap-On.

Also, don't be afraid of Craftsman. I work on heavy equipment for CNH Construction and more than half my box is Craftsman and Craftsman Pro. None of them have failed me so far. The 299pc socket set is a damn good value, and you only need to supplement a bit.

Also, impact hex bits. Trust me, some of those fuckers think a 6mm hex on an M12 bolt torqued to 60ft-lb and loc-tited is a good idea. Have to keep a rotating stock in my tool box because they keep twisting.

 

[jose.olivo1]

im just trying to play everything safe and be preprared instead of waiting to the last minute to get things. i mean every job in my area for heavy diesel mechanic requires tools and tool storage. like i said i rather be safe than sorry...i mean i know im going to get some blue point sets like this one:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20241&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

and this one:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20241&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

just to start off...and as far a metric and sae or standard well it seems the people i ask dont know and the sad part there instructors lol so thats why i asked.

edit...hmmm well i know that i did not think on that Obie as far as what type...ill get back to you on that one i guess i just mean in general

 

[jose.olivo1]

@ Obie i know about williams i used one of those huge wrench overseas, the Snap-on guy said he would give me a deal on those also...

 

[Obie]

Williams actually makes a lot of the Snap-On tools too. Check out www.toolsdelivered.com for your williams stuff. They have great prices, fast shipping, and they send you free tools and catalogs. Every Williams piece I have I got from that site.

 

[RKSpeed]

Im gonna go with Heavy Metal Doctor on this one. Start out with a basic set of tools and tool box and go from there, youll get a better idea of what tools will make it easier/faster for you to do repairs once you start doing them. Also, you might start workin in the field and realize you hate it and then youre stuck with lots of tools you wont use, prob wont happen, but something to think about.

 

[truckwrench1]

dont for get the metric on the truck side it is a mix as to what brand off truck you are working on at the time be it pete,international,freightliner,kw,volvo, mack. i have had to use both in some places i would suggest that you put yourself together a very good and complete basic set at the discount price 1/2,3/8,1/4, sae and metric IMPACT sockets metric an sae wrenches plier set, screwdriver set, 3/8 impact and air ratchet, 1/2 impact 3/4 drive impact sockets and ratchet test light and a good meter a good prybar set and rolled head bars torx and allen ( allen in metic and sae ) a power probe and a good set of strippers and crimpers that should get you thru 95 % of diesel with the special stuff to add later depending on what you end up working on i would really suggest if you can afford it to take advantage of the 50 % off regardless of brand talk to all of the tool reps and go with the nowing the tools warranty is only as good as the tool man that shows up every week to service you and dont forget about napa they also gave the same discount to a guy i know and they have good tools to

 

[rsanter]

you dont need the tools when you begin the training , you need them when you finish it.

look for some deals on used, refrence the prices you would pay at the discount and try to get lucky with a deal.

use your training to help learn what you need. start with a base 300pc Cman set and add the snap on stuff from there

bob

 

[jose.olivo1]

Im gonna go with Heavy Metal Doctor on this one. Start out with a basic set of tools and tool box and go from there, youll get a better idea of what tools will make it easier/faster for you to do repairs once you start doing them. Also, you might start workin in the field and realize you hate it and then youre stuck with lots of tools you wont use, prob wont happen, but something to think about.

true but i dont think ill hate i kind of used to work on heavy equipment when i was deployed in iraq so im kind of used to is and i like it...

 

[jose.olivo1]

cool much thanks for the replies, ill be ending school soon so thats why im stressing. but i really appreciate all the input i will be making a list of this...Gracias

 

[Obie]

Kind of off-topic, but what branch/MOS were you?

 

[jose.olivo1]

i was in the US ARMY mos 88H10 transportation, but did that and more when i was overseas

 

[Sureshot]

Don't forget to keep an eye out for someone retiring or dropping the trade and selling a full set. It will have lots of odds and ends added with use. I have seen them on Ebay etc.

I am not a big fan of debt. It's like getting married in Vegas. It's easy in and a MoFo to get out of.

Good Luck in the career and thanks for serving from all of Canada.

 

[Brentocool]

I' m a toyota tech.25 yrs same dealer.. 30 years in the mech/s union here in Chicago. I agree with the first guy,, Wait dont go crazy! See what tools your using first. Sometimes you will buy a whole set of something and only use 1/2 of them.. Find a old guy in your shop and make buddies with him. he will loan you what you need and then you will know.He will also teach you more then any school out there. Also dont be afraid to buy used tools (hand tools) remember there guaranted for life. Tons on craigslist,Ebay and this forum! You wont be expected to have every tool you need right off the bat!! dont be afraid of craftman either. I have a old Montgomery wards 1/2 ratchet that I love!! Ya Wards!!! Yes they sold tools at one time. Stay away from that school deal!!! Rip Off!! What made you pick Diesel school?

 

[jose.olivo1]

yeah i been looking on ebay i tend to buy alot of stuff there so i been looking for tools there also, i have a craftman set i bought to do work on my car not to long ago, trust me i seen some beat up tools that work better than new ones lol so i know what you mean. i picked diesel cause the auto industry is flooded with mechanics, right now at the school the majority of the people going there are taking automotive mechanic and only a handful of diesel mechanics. i picked heavy diesel mechanic with service management associate cause i miss getting down and dirty having to really work in order to fix something. when deployed i used to operate a KALMAR or container lifter and that thing was a beast, when something would break i would have to fix it, whether it be hydraulic hoses, fittings or even bleeding the system. plus i can make a name for my self in a industry thats not that saturated unlike auto mechanics. thats what i think

 

[Skin]

a few grand will get you a whole lot of stuff off the used market, even if you didnt wait for the best deals. I dont think you'd make out worse than if you bought with a student discount, infact i'd be shocked if you didnt come out ahead.

That said i'd steer clear of student loans in general without at least a job lined up. No point in going into debt if you dont have to. The smarter route starting with nothing, working on essentially no buget, in my opinion, is to take ~$1000 and go to HF, buy the 13 Drawer roller and pack it full of tools. You should be able to cover everything and more that the 5k snappy set has in it. Once in work when/if your cheapo tools start failing, replace one at a time with a "better" brand or who ever the local flavor is at your job [remember not everyone gets visits by SO]. Chances are many of your cheapo tools will hold up just fine due to tasks favoring only a select assortment. This will save you huge amounts of money in the long run by focusing your budget on things you really depend on.

 

[crewchief888]

ive been wrenching at const eq dealerships for 26+ years, and i'll tell you this, every manufacturer does things a little different.
i have a few sockets that i bought while working for a deere dealer that i havent touched for 13 years working at another dealer.

almost every new engine ive touched in the past 13 or 14 years is metric, a lot of panels, covers, ect are still std.
hose and tubeline manufacturers have upsized fittings by 1/16" in the past few years.
most the the cost. eq & lift truck guys i know use (a lot of) angle head and open end crowsfoot wrenches. (search recent threads on CF wrenches)

my boxes (work & home) are full of truck brand tools, along with some cm & cm pro, SK, duralast,and hf.

buy what you need to start, every place is gonna be different.

 

[diesel research]

Ok, lots of things you need to know.

*The discounts SHOULD be taken advantage of.

*You need to learn a lot more about how taxes/writeoffs work.

*w/o any CIVILIAN experience, you will be doing a LOT of very basic tasks for quite some time if you choose to work in the HD truck sector. Simply knowing how to turn a wrench does not qualify one to properly inspect as far as DOT is concerned. Therefore, a lot of tires are in the near future. Don't even worry about powertrain related stuff, in most shops even an oil change (pm/avi) is no where in the immediate future for a entry level.

*STAY AWAY from those preassembled tool kits.

*Performing operator level maintenance on a RTCH is not the same as working in an OTR fleet shop or heavy equip shop.

*Get some kind of entry level mechanic related job while in school. Batteries/tires/lube type gig is ok. The "customer handling" experience adds on to your previous operator experience.

*Do a LOT more research on what makes a tool "good". Discounts alone don't justify purchases usually.

*If you consider bluepoint basic tools, don't even bother. There are plenty of other taiwan brands out there of a similar quality and lesser price, discount or not.

*Forget the loans, use your part-time mechanic job to fund the CASH purchases, since 9/11 GI bill should have most of your other expenses covered atleast partially.


________________________

I have a lot more to say, but forgot. Meanwhile, sit back and READ the forum on a regular basis and you will come out much wiser and ready to hit the ground running. Was on a similar path such as yourself. 63"whiskey" turned "bravo", school, trucks, diesel, etc.

 

[jose.olivo1]

thanks alot guys i really appreciate all the help and input im getting from the forums, its kind of hard to ask stuck up people and never get an answer. muchas gracias