lube tech/light service tool setup
- Thread starter drewvdw
- Start date
snapon pliers are nice and it one of those items that quality make all the difference in actual in job use and I do like decent pliers, having said that I got some doyle pliers for the truck tool box that just used for quick trips to pull-a-part yard or quick look at a customers car on way to or from work to see if a fix on the driveway or needs come in on the hook .
The doyle pliers are nice and usable and good value, I not big fan on HF but few of the pitts pro, doyle and other lines products are worth having and at sale/coupon price hard turn down in right usage scenario .
As for battery tool that going be down to your situation.
Snapon battery tools not great value while milwaukee good value and far better warranty/spares, really down to whether you got any benefit getting into a milwaukee platform, if not then sticking to platform you got might be best .
HF battery platforms not good value even at coupon prices .
The doyle pliers are nice and usable and good value, I not big fan on HF but few of the pitts pro, doyle and other lines products are worth having and at sale/coupon price hard turn down in right usage scenario .
As for battery tool that going be down to your situation.
Snapon battery tools not great value while milwaukee good value and far better warranty/spares, really down to whether you got any benefit getting into a milwaukee platform, if not then sticking to platform you got might be best .
HF battery platforms not good value even at coupon prices .
Th M12 battery platform would be new to me, so I am slightly hesitant to go that route, but at the same time, this cart would be completely separate from my main box, so going with a different platform wouldn't be bad. Are there any other small screw guns hat I should consider? I want something low torque and preferably with a clutch. Something good for screws in plastic, Ford underbody trays are the best example I can think of right now.
What would you guys recommend for a good pair of side cuts? Should I just go with SO or Knipex? Mr B mentioned Doyle, do they hold up reasonably well? Other suggestions?
What would you guys recommend for a good pair of side cuts? Should I just go with SO or Knipex? Mr B mentioned Doyle, do they hold up reasonably well? Other suggestions?
If you not concerned on new platform then milwaukee makes a good choice as good value, good warranty and pretty good tool line up, I like lot of their offerings besides the over engineered head ratchets .
Doyle done better than expected but they not used much hence why I went low cost.
I'm fussy on pliers as one of those tools that top end really is different.
If you only want like a pair of side cutters then going snappy knipex CK or similar not going be too much expense, If you feel like experiment take a look at a doyle pair, I think the pliers better buy over side cutters but side cutters doing fine to date, got them with 15% coupon so that good a value I couldn't not try them .
Plenty other options like tekton or US made such as wilde or klein ...
Doyle done better than expected but they not used much hence why I went low cost.
I'm fussy on pliers as one of those tools that top end really is different.
If you only want like a pair of side cutters then going snappy knipex CK or similar not going be too much expense, If you feel like experiment take a look at a doyle pair, I think the pliers better buy over side cutters but side cutters doing fine to date, got them with 15% coupon so that good a value I couldn't not try them .
Plenty other options like tekton or US made such as wilde or klein ...
I think you will change your mind when you get a long reach 1/4”. At least that’s what I’m hoping. We shall see when people get their hands on them in a few weeks.
Only if they fixed the head design, currently it an extreme over engineered joke .
I got kuani air ratchets a 1/4 the size that produce twice the torque yet don't break the ratchet heads, just piss poor effort from milwaukee engineers on that one .
I'd be game to test it and compare it against my SO long reach 1/4. I just don't see it performing better with lower voltage. Of course, I was also a diehard SO cordless impact guy until I tried the Milwaukee. Our SO rep sells Milwaukee too and has always steered me away from their M12 line because he says SO's 14v line performs better.
A head to head test would be nice to see. The lock-in strategy is very effective though. I have at least $500 in Milwaukee batteries. Hard to stomach buying a new platform.
I’ve been scared off of Snappy’s 14v from stories here and on YouTube of failures just after the warranty period ended. Did I hear they recently increased to a 2 year warranty?
I’ll pay to replace a $150 tool 5 years later if it breaks. I’d be more than a little angry if I had to pay to repair a $250+ tool after barely over a year.
I do mostly buy M18 because there is a very noticeable performance difference (drills, hackzall, impacts, even lights). The second gen M12 fuel screw gun is awesome though and very compact.
All of my 14.4 stuff is well out of warranty except a UV flashlight and I've never had a problem with anything. Honestly, I think the biggest problem is that people leave batteries on chargers. I've got 2 batteries that are maybe 6 or 7 years old and they hold a charge almost as well as my newest ones. I've only just begun to notice that they are getting stuck on the charger a little more often.
I'm not sure on a 2 year warranty
So...continuing this thread, I'm moving from an independent shop where I did a little of everything (on euro cars) to a large Mercedes dealership where I will also be doing a little of everything (tho no pulling of motors, heads or anything bottom end) and will be doing a fair amount of PPIs on new cars and CPO cars, anything any of you found nice to have? I think my pay is scaled on a light duty techs pay but my title is an internal car tech and will be working on new Mercedes, CPO Mercedes, and any trade ins high end enough to keep on the lot (BMWs/Audi/Porsche/Merc) I rolled most my tools in today and felt I had very little compared to the two guys I'm in between, but I'm also pretty organized and cant think of anything I'm missing other than some odds and ends.
It's hard saying without knowing what you've got. I assume you've got all the basic tools-sockets, ratchets, impacts, etc. Multimeter, battery tester, cooling system pressure tester, funnels, a computer, various pliers, soldering iron and torch, test leads, and a power probe come to mind right now.
I've got all of that minus cooling system pressure tester and funnels, at my last job I was provided all that stuff. I'm going to see what they have me work on if anything in the first week. I imagine I wont touch anything for a few days unfortunately. Corporate stuff....for the lose
WittHay
Well-known member
Nice setup, I like the industrial style tool boxes. There are are couple of tool box manufacturers here in Canada but they are almost too heavy duty. Yours seem like a very usable configuration
I like them a lot. Stor-Loc offers full customization of boxes and I wish I had done that on my main box. You can see that theres a lot of shallow drawers, that limits organization a bit, but I've worked around it. I spent a couple weeks figuring out what I wanted for my box on the right. The whole box is a few inches taller than the "template" box. I went through and figured out how tall I wanted drawers for everything too. I've started going through my main box and planning out a replacement. Going to go bigger in every dimension 72" wide to around 100", 42" tall to 50" for the work height. Hutch would end up about the same overall height. I'm in the process of working out drawer layouts as well.
MrDeerHunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2017
- Messages
- 110
Buy a Milwaukee. Skip snap on. The m12 and m18 series have proved themselves.
The m12 ratchet in 3/8 is awesome
The m12 stubby impact is great as well
M18 mid torque impact.
You will spend a lot less and have better tools.
Sent from my moto z4 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Parrothead
Well-known member
I’m not fond of this argument. The 5 drawer mechanics tool cart at HF is $169 after coupon. If after 20+ years of service it need parts that can’t be bought or fabbed up, take it out back and shoot it. Cut it up for scrap metal, make abstract art out of it, run it over with a bobcat. Who cares? That’s a great buy for 20 years of service.
If you have a Series 1 today, and it still works, sell it for $100 used. Take $69 additional dollars and go buy a brand new Series 2 in the Skittles color of your choice and move on.
All I’m saying is that not everything has to last forever, and sometimes serviceable life is good enough.
MadTinkerer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2013
- Messages
- 213
So...continuing this thread, I'm moving from an independent shop where I did a little of everything (on euro cars) to a large Mercedes dealership where I will also be doing a little of everything (tho no pulling of motors, heads or anything bottom end) and will be doing a fair amount of PPIs on new cars and CPO cars, anything any of you found nice to have? I think my pay is scaled on a light duty techs pay but my title is an internal car tech and will be working on new Mercedes, CPO Mercedes, and any trade ins high end enough to keep on the lot (BMWs/Audi/Porsche/Merc) I rolled most my tools in today and felt I had very little compared to the two guys I'm in between, but I'm also pretty organized and cant think of anything I'm missing other than some odds and ends.
From a fellow MB tech, I can not live without a few MB essentials.
I mainly use 1/4” drive for most things. A good etorx set is essential, especially e10 and e12. I also love my 1/4” swivel e socket set as well. At the time Snap-on was the only place that offered them but now you can find cheaper brands.
From the dealership I would buy the two piece instrument cluster pulling hooks. They are used extensively for interior work as well as a good plastic wedge.
There are a ton of mb tools that will make your life easier, I would ask some of the senior guys what the recommend.