ptschram
Well-known member
What I was addressing at least partially was the reporting to credit bureaus.
The interest is not compounded like it is on credit cards. Our notes have a fixed term with an end point.
Good tool brands and tools for a new auto technician?
- Thread starter Bruins63
- Start date
What I was addressing at least partially was the reporting to credit bureaus.
The interest is not compounded like it is on credit cards. Our notes have a fixed term with an end point.
FergusonTO35
Well-known member
I would encourage the OP to give the tool guy(s) some business, especially if you get a really good one that will help you out when you need it. Tool trucks also take in alot of good used stuff from trades and repos and they will let you carry it on time just like new. They normally sell used stuff that is not their brand (i.e. used Matco stuff on the SO truck) very cheaply, some tool guys will even help you get competitor tools warrantied. My old SO guy would meet up with the Mac guy every so often and get his customers' broken Mac tools replaced and the Mac guy would do the same. Win-win for all involved.
I've been wrenching for a living for almost 25 years. If you plan on doing the same you'll end up spending thousands and thousands of dollars. I have well over $50,000 invested in tools and to this day, still find tools I need.
Buy the best you can the first time. I still have Snap On tools I bought when I was a kid and they're still holding up great today. I'm glad I bought them way back then.
I've also bought plenty of junk tools through the years and regret it sooner than later. Avoid harbor freight and similar brands that don't stand the test of time.
Buy the best you can the first time. I still have Snap On tools I bought when I was a kid and they're still holding up great today. I'm glad I bought them way back then.
I've also bought plenty of junk tools through the years and regret it sooner than later. Avoid harbor freight and similar brands that don't stand the test of time.
I got lucky when I started out. I was taking auto classes at the community college and a snap-on rep came by with applications for the student program. The tools available through the student program are basically 50% off normal list. That's where the bulk of my snap-on tools came from.
I was a tire tech living with my parents at the time. I would watch and help the mechanics when tires were slow. Got a feel for what I would need, what to spend on and either got it from the snap-on student program or picked away at it on the tool trucks when I saw it on sale.
By the time I started wrenching, I already had the general service tools, power tools, and common brake and steering/suspension tools. Most of it was snap-on, mac, matco and never carried a balance more than a few hundred on the trucks
If you can afford high quality tools, buying them now will save you money down the road. Don't put yourself into debt. Being an auto tech isn't for everyone, I still wonder every few weeks why I chose this (either cursing at a car or sitting around with nothing to work on, making zero dollars). You'll take a big loss reselling lightly used truck tools, if you decide this isn't for you.
If you can't afford higher end, get some cheap taiwan tools that have an easy, quick, hassle-free warranty. All you should really need to start is a general service mechanics set, pry bars, big hammer, pliers, die grinders, and 1/2" impact sockets/wrench. You should be working with an experienced tech that will lend you the specialized tools. You can get a lot done with cheap tools and a lot of the taiwan stuff is half decent, but they can make things difficult. Once you get some experience wrenching, you'll know what you want upgraded first, and which specialized and time saver tools to start buying first
I was a tire tech living with my parents at the time. I would watch and help the mechanics when tires were slow. Got a feel for what I would need, what to spend on and either got it from the snap-on student program or picked away at it on the tool trucks when I saw it on sale.
By the time I started wrenching, I already had the general service tools, power tools, and common brake and steering/suspension tools. Most of it was snap-on, mac, matco and never carried a balance more than a few hundred on the trucks
If you can afford high quality tools, buying them now will save you money down the road. Don't put yourself into debt. Being an auto tech isn't for everyone, I still wonder every few weeks why I chose this (either cursing at a car or sitting around with nothing to work on, making zero dollars). You'll take a big loss reselling lightly used truck tools, if you decide this isn't for you.
If you can't afford higher end, get some cheap taiwan tools that have an easy, quick, hassle-free warranty. All you should really need to start is a general service mechanics set, pry bars, big hammer, pliers, die grinders, and 1/2" impact sockets/wrench. You should be working with an experienced tech that will lend you the specialized tools. You can get a lot done with cheap tools and a lot of the taiwan stuff is half decent, but they can make things difficult. Once you get some experience wrenching, you'll know what you want upgraded first, and which specialized and time saver tools to start buying first
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
We are lucky we have tons more to choose from nowadays. I have really been impressed with my Capri brand stuff recently. Tekton and Sunex are also really nice too. Gearwrench I’ve written off for the most part since they moved to China and quality went down. Craftsman is higher on my list now too that they are Taiwan and USA produced now. I just hope they will bring back the hand tools fully to the USA soon. SK is another of my favorite brands too really nice USA stuff. Icon is ok but I feel it’s overpriced slightly. Pittsburgh Pro is good for chrome and impact sockets. Kobalt has good hand tools too. Husky aren’t too great doing this as a career unless it’s the old stuff.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
ovilla
Well-known member
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You can get older USA made quality Craftsman stuff really cheap and also almost brand new Snapon for easily half the price of new. I’d start with all craftsman sockets and buy a few nice dual 80 Snap-on ratchets. For hammers just go to HF and get the orange dead blows and some metal ones there. For screwdrivers, buy the Snapon ones last because you’ll have a hard time going from soft grips to anything else after that. Also, forget about a big tool box for now. Start with a HF tool cart and then start looking for a nice used truck brand tool box that you can pick up used for 2500-3K. You can also always sell and upgrade to a nicer tool cart later on. Also get an IR air impact for now. All shops will have air and for $250 or less you can pick up a powerful IR 2145 that will work all day - every day, without needing to be charged. Later on buy the Milwaukee M18 high torque and other M12 tools.
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You can get older USA made quality Craftsman stuff really cheap and also almost brand new Snapon for easily half the price of new. I’d start with all craftsman sockets and buy a few nice dual 80 Snap-on ratchets. For hammers just go to HF and get the orange dead blows and some metal ones there. For screwdrivers, buy the Snapon ones last because you’ll have a hard time going from soft grips to anything else after that. Also, forget about a big tool box for now. Start with a HF tool cart and then start looking for a nice used truck brand tool box that you can pick up used for 2500-3K. You can also always sell and upgrade to a nicer tool cart later on. Also get an IR air impact for now. All shops will have air and for $250 or less you can pick up a powerful IR 2145 that will work all day - every day, without needing to be charged. Later on buy the Milwaukee M18 high torque and other M12 tools.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Buy used. It’s literally pennies on the dollar in a lot of cases I’ve found. Plus some of the older stuff just has a style about it that’s not seen today.