Help me with my tool list

[alpaca]

Whats up everyone I'm new... well not new this is my first post.

Anyways I'm going to school for autobody and plan to spend every spare dollar I have on tools before I finish school (50% mac, matco, and good deals on snap on).

Anyways I've already got a 12v impact gun, chrome sockets, torx, screwdrivers, ratchet wrenches, and basic stuff like hammers and breaker bars covered. No air tools though.

Here's my list feel free to add to it

Strong 3/8" impact + sockets (snap ons got a deal.. $394 for a mg325 and 8-24mm deep and shallow sockets) I figure a strong 3/8" opposed to a 1/2" will work 95% of the time

3 piece matco 88t ratchet set

12" locking flex 3/8" drive 88t matco

3/8" and 1/4" locking impact extensions

1/4" and 3/8" air ratchet (looking at the mac sealed heads)

magnetic 1/4" sockets

12v cordless ratchet?


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[Wookiethumper]

Consider KT impact sockets. It will save you 60% of truck brand price. I've had mine for 18 years and the only one I broke was deliberate neglect. (Pressed bearings with it, not so good.)

For air tools, you're gonna want a regular die grinder and a die grinder with a 90° head. Make sure you have an arbor for cutoff wheels and another for rolock(sp?) disk pads. When you buy carbide bits, you're in for sticker shock, but they're worth it. Especially non-ferrous bits for soft metals.
When it comes to brands I prefer IR, but there's other brands just as good like Milwakee, CP, etc.

As far as other odds and ends, a set of upholstry and door panel hooks are a must.

That's my 2 cents.
Good luck.

 

[alpaca]

Consider KT impact sockets. It will save you 60% of truck brand price. I've had mine for 18 years and the only one I broke was deliberate neglect. (Pressed bearings with it, not so good.)

For air tools, you're gonna want a regular die grinder and a die grinder with a 90° head. Make sure you have an arbor for cutoff wheels and another for rolock(sp?) disk pads. When you buy carbide bits, you're in for sticker shock, but they're worth it. Especially non-ferrous bits for soft metals.
When it comes to brands I prefer IR, but there's other brands just as good like Milwakee, CP, etc.

As far as other odds and ends, a set of upholstry and door panel hooks are a must.

That's my 2 cents.
Good luck.

Yeah I forgot to mention I have upholstery tools.

The reason I'm looking at tool truck brand sockets is because of the 50% discount and mainly because ofthat deal with the snap on impact (plus I haven't found any 3/8" sets that go up to/past 21mm aside from snap on). Unless it is a tool I need, I'm just looking to buy tools that my discount make worthwhile opposed to other brands.

 

[efncrx]

Add a nice da sander to the list. From my experience I would rather have 10 $9.99 die grinders from h-f than one $100 snap-on, break one just move on to the next.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Mg725 and mg325. Both will get used. Either dewalt or Milwaukee impact driver in 18volt.

 

[d.mcfarland]

3 piece matco 88t ratchet set

12" locking flex 3/8" drive 88t matco

Just get the Armstrong aerospace ratchets!!

 

[metaleltr]

Matco pinless impact swivel sockets,

 

[alpaca]

Just get the Armstrong aerospace ratchets!!

Can't find a 1/2 inch and even if I did it would most likely be cheaper to go with matco with my discount.

Matco pinless impact swivel sockets,

what drive?

 

[ZRX61]

An autobody guy with no dollies & spoons??

& what did you mean by...

and basic stuff like hammers and breaker bars covered. No air tools though.

How the hell can you be an autobody guy with no air tools?? No DA? No 5in sander?

I'm kinda wondering just what hammers you have?

 

[alpaca]

An autobody guy with no dollies & spoons??

& what did you mean by...

How the hell can you be an autobody guy with no air tools?? No DA? No 5in sander?

I'm kinda wondering just what hammers you have?

da fuq dude I'm in school for it never said I was a pro. I'm just trying to cover basic hand and air tools.

I'll buy body hammers/dollies/spoons when I know what I need.

 

[firebox40dash5]

3/8" might get you by on body work, but for the rest, figure more like 30% of the time. But, it's a good start at least. I prefer IR guns and I probably wouldn't turn that down.

I really like my Matco 88s but IMO, skip the regular, go for locking flex. I hardly use my normal 5"/8" ratchets, and just swapped my 15" 1/2 for the 24" locking flex. I guess it's personal preference, but I don't see a point to the "standard" ratchet sizes unless you're trying to save money.

 

[alpaca]

3/8" might get you by on body work, but for the rest, figure more like 30% of the time. But, it's a good start at least. I prefer IR guns and I probably wouldn't turn that down.

I really like my Matco 88s but IMO, skip the regular, go for locking flex. I hardly use my normal 5"/8" ratchets, and just swapped my 15" 1/2 for the 24" locking flex. I guess it's personal preference, but I don't see a point to the "standard" ratchet sizes unless you're trying to save money.

yeah that's what I originally planned on, only problem is there are no regular length locking 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets (the only 3/8" locking flex is 12" and 17" for the 1/2".




and as far as impacts... I mainly want the snap on bundle deal because the sockets go up to 24mm... if I were to buy an IR gun I'd have to buy a 3/8 socket set that goes up to 19mm then buy the 21,22, and 24 separate. For 1/2" I'll probably get an IR gun and HF sockets... that can wait since my discount doesn't apply to that.

Also, who makes a good snap ring plier with interchangeable tips? Need a pair the HF ones I got were useless.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Buy what they tell you to buy.

 

[alpaca]

Buy what they tell you to buy.

no one has told me to buy anything, most instructors at my school are unaware we even get a discount.

 

[sk farmer]

no one has told me to buy anything, most instructors at my school are unaware we even get a discount.

if your school doesn't have a required tool list i wouldn't go there. if the instructors don't know of a required tool list or tool discounts.......well another reason to question the institution. hell it doesn't get more basic than that.

any reputable school will have a required tool list and most likely a way to source it through the school. that is how scholorships get used. my local technical college has a tool area in the bookstore and any tool you need can be purchased through them.

 

[dlcwent]

Flat board might come in handy.

 

[firebox40dash5]

yeah that's what I originally planned on, only problem is there are no regular length locking 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets (the only 3/8" locking flex is 12" and 17" for the 1/2".

Yeah, that's kinda my point. With the flex, I don't think I've ever needed the "standard" lengths for space reasons. Hell, I have the AFR88 and BFR158, and those are my go-to ratchets when space isn't an issue. With 3/8 sockets up to 24mm, you'll be wanting more leverage. I prefer to use the smallest drive size I can get away with, so the huge 3/8 sockets are right up my alley.

I like the switchable snap ring pliers. They're sold under a ton of different names... Matco, Channellock, Craftsman Pro... pick what you want to spend and what's easy to warranty.

 

[alpaca]

Yeah, that's kinda my point. With the flex, I don't think I've ever needed the "standard" lengths for space reasons. Hell, I have the AFR88 and BFR158, and those are my go-to ratchets when space isn't an issue. With 3/8 sockets up to 24mm, you'll be wanting more leverage. I prefer to use the smallest drive size I can get away with, so the huge 3/8 sockets are right up my alley.

I like the switchable snap ring pliers. They're sold under a ton of different names... Matco, Channellock, Craftsman Pro... pick what you want to spend and what's easy to warranty.

ok thanks

if your school doesn't have a required tool list i wouldn't go there. if the instructors don't know of a required tool list or tool discounts.......well another reason to question the institution. hell it doesn't get more basic than that.

any reputable school will have a required tool list and most likely a way to source it through the school. that is how scholorships get used. my local technical college has a tool area in the bookstore and any tool you need can be purchased through them.

It's only a few miles from me, follows ICAR, we get to attend ICAR classes, it's respected locally, and I am happy with it so I'm gonna keep going there. The classes have a list of tools you need and books but most of the time it is just a standard craftsman tool kit and/or body man/paint man respirator. We have just about every tool we need there so there's really no reason to bring your own tools.

 

[BK13]

From an outsider's perspective, I would think that I would get:
Ratchets
Specialty tools for what I intend to work on... ie, BJP1 ball joint press
Diagnostics scanner
Tool cart (if available)
Tool box (if you can get KRL or Epiq)
Line wrenches
Mid-length chrome sockets (1/4" and 3/8")

After the above, I'd get whatever else I could afford... Combo and box end wrenches, standard impact sockets, chrome sockets....

 

[techenthusiast]

Hi, I'm not in auto body but I bought that same set as you for the mg325 student discount but Since Im using both standard and metric in class, I also bought a standard set, of semi-deep sockets, sets of shallow metric and standard swivels, and since the set only comes with the shallow metric I also bought a deep metric set on top of that. Also bought the extension set...

Then for 3/8 chrome, the bluepoint chrome complete 3/8 set with metric and standard, deep and shallow, also comes with chrome torx set and a chrome extension set, and I replaced the bluepoint ratchet with a snapon roto swivel head one.... That bluepoint set didn't come with hex bits so I also bought the bluepoint hex bit set......

Also bought the 3/8 cordless lithium 18volt compact gun and the boot to protect it

So I kind of built my own complete 3/8 set off that mg325 'set' deal.... It cost significantly more than that initial 3/8 set.. Around 1200... but it was a Good investment in my opinion, being that everything is 50% off... maybe you want to think about that?


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[hickfied]

Tools to pull retaining clips and door panels.

1/4 impact sockets and swivels. You want tear down and install to take the shortest amount of time possible, which means not needing to remove as much to gain access.

A good da and right angle grinder with roloc attachment.

Metric flex head ratchet wrenches

A good 1/2" impact paired with matco swivel sockets, you can access almost anything you will work on with that setup

Extended handle flex head 3/8 ratchet

 

[K-Dog]

Good decision getting into autobody. There is a HUGE shortage of skilled and knowledgeable workers. Get good enough and in a few years you will be able to demand your own wage.

A good set of body hammers, dollys, and sanders. DA sanders and file sanders. Hutchins cost a ton but they are SO worth it.

Doing autobody there is so much involved in it the variety of tools you NEED is quite ridicules.
With all the HSS and SHSS and what not a killer set of drill bits should be top of your list. Some quality sanding blocks that feel comfortable in your hands. A top quality particulate respirator and plenty of filters. Always have a box of latex gloves with you. There is some nasty chemicals in this trade. PROTECT YOUR SELF.
A good quality auto darkening welding shield, and a clean face shield.

I could go on for hours, and still not cover it all. Hopefully there is enough here for you to get the ball rolling. If you need any more help, do not hesitate to ask me.