How many techs own there own shop tools?
- Thread starter joedodge
- Start date
Chain come alongs, engine support brackets, engine removal brackets, seal drivers, alignment/setup/calibration tools, pullers, assorted diagnostic equipment, etc.
If it makes my job easier and I don't have to deal with tracking down a broken tool, I'll usually buy it as long as the price isn't too outrageous.
If it makes my job easier and I don't have to deal with tracking down a broken tool, I'll usually buy it as long as the price isn't too outrageous.
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
I purchased many of the special tools that 10 other guys had to share. If it's a job you do once a week or more buy the tool. It will make you money. Do not loan it out either. Let those other guys fight over/wait for their turn to abuse/misplace/lose the shop tool.
That's what I'm thinking there's a few things like the underhoist stand I would use the hell out of it and there dirt cheap I was just curious if others thought like this too. The guys I work with are insane cheap
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
Never let a nickel stand in the way of a dollar.
GTA Matt
Well-known member
I have all my own special tools. Got tired of tracking down stuff at my old shop, so if I needed something, I bought it. Even have my own floor jack, battery charger, scanners, fluid fillers, etc. I don't plan on working for someone else the rest of my life so if I buy it now, it will make the transition easier in the future. For now, it saves me a ton of time.
Very cool guys that's what I'm thinking we all have to share the tools at the fleet were hrly but I'm fr at the dealer the biggest thing I hate is the tools being broken and mangled to the point they aren't usable
For me the reason I got things like shackles, slings, wheel hub sockets and other random typical shop supplies is because either when I was a road tech I had to buy it or do without...or because when I work in the shop there is always that one guy that stakes a claim of real estate around his tool box and keeps all shop tools in his "area of domain" cause he thinks he uses them more than others. Plus it makes me look better from boss man's point of view that I am not always on a scavenger hunt walking around looking for something.
Reality Sucks
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- Dec 16, 2010
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- 276
I do this aswell, For me i just like to have my own really. I work at a shop, but i also have my own shop and i do alott of side work so i like to have when i need it.. And a jump box is one of the most important in my book, buy your own day one.
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GTA Matt
Well-known member
Your own jump box should be step one to saving time. No more wandering around the shop looking for it or cussing because the last guy didn't charge it. Grab it real quick to hook up a flush machine or smoke machine if the car is in the air, use it for the memory saver, etc.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
I working toward having my own stuff for everything I reasonably can. All the ready made stuff for sure - puller sets and such. Much of what falls under "shop tools" for me it is pretty specialized and I may never use it again outside of this job, but I want my own stuff in my box so I know I always have it. There is also a good bit of specialty stuff I make for the jobs - lifting brackets for components, puller adapters, test fittings and all that. Most of that goes in my box for me to keep since the "shop" would not have invested the time to make a tool to make the job faster. "They" would have just done it the harder / slower / messier way.
I'm not buying jacks or jack stands type of stuff, though - too much money for stuff that fits this work (medium / heavy truck sized).
I'm not buying jacks or jack stands type of stuff, though - too much money for stuff that fits this work (medium / heavy truck sized).
My own jump box which I will loan out to people I like that won't abuse it, plug it back in and lock it back to my box.
Have almost every Rover special tool made up til 2010 that is only avalible to the Master tech I am under for loan. I also have my own factory scan tool and SO Solous Ultra (need to scan a used car? Tough **** buy your own or give me the RO), which are only loaned to my Master tech.
The way I see it is if I am able to invest into the tools they can too. My Master tech has always had the right tool when I needed it and the knowlege he has given me more than justifies giving him free range of my tools which he rarely dosnt already have. Some people I work with have this expectation that everything should be supplied to them so they aren't going to spend the cash.
Have almost every Rover special tool made up til 2010 that is only avalible to the Master tech I am under for loan. I also have my own factory scan tool and SO Solous Ultra (need to scan a used car? Tough **** buy your own or give me the RO), which are only loaned to my Master tech.
The way I see it is if I am able to invest into the tools they can too. My Master tech has always had the right tool when I needed it and the knowlege he has given me more than justifies giving him free range of my tools which he rarely dosnt already have. Some people I work with have this expectation that everything should be supplied to them so they aren't going to spend the cash.
lawn & garden is a little different. Not too much high dollar special stuff. Stihl has a box of stuff the dealership has to have to maintain a certain dealership level, and Deere has a lot of specialized tools, just as any oem does, but I've not seen any tech buy that kind of stuff. Its getting to the point now though, that unless the dealership buys certain tools, they can't sell specific new products. About the only thing I borrow from the other mechanic is big stuff(3/4" drive sockets, wrenches from 1&3/8" up to 2") that is used infrequently enough that he doesn't mind to loan it to me. Of course, he knows I'll put it away as soon as I'm done, he can use anything in my box & also knows if it's something i need often, i'll buy buy it. I have been thinking about buying my own floor jack though, as we only have 1 at our shop. got 1/2 dozen stands & some big timbers we use as stands though. I do have my own chains, clevis, ratchet straps, etc.
Nitroinsane
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- Mar 24, 2013
- Messages
- 73
I own my own puller sets,scan tool,smoke machine,and I even own my own all data. It amazes me how many I equipped shops are in my area.
foreverfalcon40
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- Feb 12, 2013
- Messages
- 856
I am an entry level Diesel Tech for Ryder...my shop does a very good job of owning shop tools and sets. Even a Master extractor kit from Snap On and Milwaukee M18 Drill to power it, we need they get it. Problem is, there is only one of everything! Techs are good about returning it once they use it. Problem is tracking stuff down...and when you do get it its dirty (just a pet peeve of mine) My rule of thumb is...use it more then 3x then own it unless it is crazy expensive.
I look online...thats how I stumbled here for deals on tools...eBay and CL. Just picked up a 19 piece 3/4 Drive Craftsman set for $100. Perfect for doing bearings and oil changes on the hubs themselves.
But I have to agree...don't let a nickel get a way in the dollar.
I get paid by the hour, I don't want to spend most of it jack assing around for tools and I am in the Union to boot. Plus owning SHOP tools show people you mean business. Working on anything is stressful, so why add stress to obtain tools you need to do your job?
I look online...thats how I stumbled here for deals on tools...eBay and CL. Just picked up a 19 piece 3/4 Drive Craftsman set for $100. Perfect for doing bearings and oil changes on the hubs themselves.
But I have to agree...don't let a nickel get a way in the dollar.
I get paid by the hour, I don't want to spend most of it jack assing around for tools and I am in the Union to boot. Plus owning SHOP tools show people you mean business. Working on anything is stressful, so why add stress to obtain tools you need to do your job?
Not an auto mechanic, but I have a few things you'd normally find in the crib. The plant I work in was once very well furnished, but over the years a lot of things have walked out. With incomplete sets, broken tools, and completely absent tools all you can do is hack at certain jobs. Without any help from management in freeing up money (I work in a textile mill, they haven't spent any money on equipment in over a decade), me and another guy on my shift started buying these tools to share. With these tools our production bonus shoots up, so it's a winning situation.
jeeper93436
Well-known member
im also buying stuff the shop should have but im also not wanting to work for someone my entire life. the shop that i work for is really bad with buying equipment but its because the other techs dont take care of the tools, so i dont blame the boss.
SGASA204A.MASTER
Member
Lately, more than 50% of Diagnostic platforms I sell are for individual Techs. I believe this trend will continue. In years past only shops would purchase this equipment.
I agree its getting more popular to have your own be your own tech and not dependent on the shop. That's the issue I have the guys are dependent on the shop every time a new toolis needed they cry and want the shop to buy it......wtf you knew when you became a tech you would need tools
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have quite a few JD specific special tools, as well as a few shop type tools and equipment
tools like pullers, bearing splitters, race & seal drivers, taps, dies, 3/4" dr impact, torque multiplier, inductive pickup tach for diesels, battery load tester, armature growler, commutator cutter, test hoses, fittings, guages, adapters, i've accumulated over the years.
for the most part they never leave my hands, i bought one, so can you.
tools like pullers, bearing splitters, race & seal drivers, taps, dies, 3/4" dr impact, torque multiplier, inductive pickup tach for diesels, battery load tester, armature growler, commutator cutter, test hoses, fittings, guages, adapters, i've accumulated over the years.
for the most part they never leave my hands, i bought one, so can you.
crewchief888
Well-known member
TY
i've been pulling wrenches for almost 30 years at various heavy equipment dealers.
got really tired of searching around for some special tool, or test equipment to get my job done, and then find it's broken, or something is missing
it's taken a lot of years, but i'm pretty much "self sufficent" as far as tools go both at work and in the garage at home.
the company i work for provides me with a laptop loaded with our OEM's proprietary software, and a remote start box, that connects the machine to the laptop, a few electrical diagnostic adapters for troubleshooting.
for the most part heavy eq dealers are required to have certain special tools available by their OEM to speed up diagnostics and warranty repairs.
3 of the 5 dealers i've worked for were really good about keeping up on whats required.
we have a yearly dealer service review, DSM comes in and "inspects" our shop and service trucks
cryan
Well-known member
I'm quite surprised by this. I'm not in the motor trade but I would have thought that the shop would have supplied diagnostics as they can be expensive and need kept up to date. Do you find this is the same situation in OEM dealerships? I know that in my industry(Marine) the OEM's can be quite awkward as to regards who has access to their software so I presumed that dealerships would all have the OEM's own stuff.
i have quite a few JD specific special tools, as well as a few shop type tools and equipment
tools like pullers, bearing splitters, race & seal drivers, taps, dies, 3/4" dr impact, torque multiplier, inductive pickup tach for diesels, battery load tester, armature growler, commutator cutter, test hoses, fittings, guages, adapters, i've accumulated over the years.
for the most part they never leave my hands, i bought one, so can you.
Same way I do things. I've got everything you listed with the exception of armature growler and commutator cutter, because we have a dedicated guy for rebuilds and he handles that kind of stuff.
crewchief888
Well-known member
const eq oem's all have their own diagnostic software, and get a little p*ssed off if / when it gets "leaked" to someone thats not authorized to have it. the dealer i currently work for fired a salesman for leaking outdated diagnostic software to a customer so he could read stored codes.
i believe most automotive type software to be more generic in nature than the const eq stuff.
we have our own software for our oem equipment, and 2 additional diagnostic programs for 2 EFI engines from otehr manufacturers
crewchief888
Well-known member
at the last dealership i worked at, they were cleaning out and moving the tool room, the growler and cutter were tossed in the scrap, along with some old outdated OEM seal drivers,
all i had to do was some dumpster diving
crewchief888
Well-known member
it's strange, we can ask or just about any special tools, and get them with no problem...
an extension cord, air hose, or even a replacement keyboard for the shops computer takes an act of god to get..
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I have my own trolley jacks (2), transmission jack, engine stand, engine hoist, TIG welder, etc. Various pullers and large tools, press plates and such.
Like many others i don't want to chase worn out shop tools or rely on old-*** or worn out equipment. I'd rather have my own and not need to borrow it or search for it.
Exactly. We didn't pay all this money for tools so another mech can earn a living off them.
Like many others i don't want to chase worn out shop tools or rely on old-*** or worn out equipment. I'd rather have my own and not need to borrow it or search for it.
I bought one, so can you.
Exactly. We didn't pay all this money for tools so another mech can earn a living off them.
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crewchief888
Well-known member
at the last const eq dealership i worked at we had a large shop, 16 in the shop, 5 service trucks, and 2 of us in the rebuild room.
we both bought a lot of "not so common" tools, obstruction wrenches, line sockets for HP fuel injection lines, multiples of common used sockets, and many OEM specific special tools, and fabricated tools to do specific jobs.
i was waiting on another mechanic to remove an injection pump so i could install new shaft seals, and reinstall it. ( he had already damaged 2 sets of new seals tying to do it himself.)
i went out in the shop to find out what was taking so long to get the lines and pump off, he was fighting with the HP lines at the injectors trying to get them loose. i returned with the proper line socket and loosened them for him.
"wow i've never seen one of those before, where'd you get it?"
tool truck showed up that afternoon, when he found out how much the socket was, he didnt buy it.
he needed one again a couple weeks later, and asked to borrow mine.
needless to say, he wasnt real happy with my response....
SGASA204A.MASTER
Member
Majority of the Techs who purchase diagnostics, work in independent shops and are flat rate, usually they are the top earners in the shop and are very good with diagnostic / electrical. They will also do plenty of side jobs. I do have a few dealer Techs that use and love the Solus Ultra, main reason is how fast the platform works, these too, are the top guys in the shop. Speed and efficiency are everything when working flat rate.
Our shop just recently got a new solus ultra, after years of dealing with an old broken down snappy brick. Even though the solus is almost always available to use I've been thinking about buying my self a new style ethos.
I've been buying my own special tools for a while now, I only buy them if I start doing jobs were I need them. Like every where else some tools never make their way back or break and no one says anything.also most seal drivers and installers can be found next to the hydraulic press.also few years ago we had another diesel tech who kept most of the special diesel tools in his box and took them when he left.
I've been buying my own special tools for a while now, I only buy them if I start doing jobs were I need them. Like every where else some tools never make their way back or break and no one says anything.also most seal drivers and installers can be found next to the hydraulic press.also few years ago we had another diesel tech who kept most of the special diesel tools in his box and took them when he left.
I would also like to have my own Ids but that setup is pricey, does anyone know if ford still supports the pds? The last dealer I worked at had one of those, it was cool for self tests, pids, power balance, and other stuff. Did almost everything except module reprogramming, it was awesome for test drives compared to luging around the big bulky tough book.