Need help with filling up my drawers

[abvw]

I am currently working as an automotive technician, have most of my basic hand tools already purchased and now I am looking to expand/upgrade my tool arsenal. I know a good tool when I hold/grip one, so COO is definitely not an issue for me. Ease of warranty and replacement is more important to me because I tend to abuse and misplace my tools. There's so many tools out there, it's hard to keep track of who has what features..

Drive tools: 1/4" and 3/8" GearWrenchs in soft grip. IR 2135Ti, IR 2015max. Very happy with them, may buy a few more 14" flex GWs. Looking to add IR 2115timax and some Milwaukee Fuel impacts.

Sockets: I currently have a set of 1/4" and
3/8" chrome universal/spline sockets in deep and shallow, a set of Cr-Mo 3/8" 6pt impacts by Genius. I'm using my boss's 1/2" Cr-V impacts made by Can PRO which are excellent. Looking to buy a complete set of 6pt and 12pt chrome sockets. I prefer deep stampings (only Matco seem to have the kind of laser etching I like, big and contrasty), knurled drive end for finger spinning and grip for easy removal. I'd also like to know where I can get my hands on a complete set of Metrinch sockets. I also like the Grip-Tites very much, but soon learned they're not hammer happy.

I have a complete selection of Mastercraft Maximum wrenches, just need to slowly fill the holes in the GearWrench sets (I have 0*, reversible and flex). I'm not sure if I'll need FD+, but more options in my box wouldn't hurt. How does the GW long patterns compare? I also saw some Carlyles with aggressive open ends I don't use open ends a whole lot, but don't want to stop in the middle of a job knowing none of my tools will take an awkwardly placed fastener out. I "stole" my boss's accelerator wrenches (missing a lot of sizes), who still carry/make them?

I have Channellocks, but all the handles turned green, I'm wondering if Knipex's handles are more chemical resistant (I clean them with brake cleaner or wd40)

I'm currently using a set of cheapie soft grip Mastercraft screwdrivers for now (they like the Channellocks have discoloured and the grips are starting to peel), looking into upgrading to the Fuller hard handles. I'd like hex shafts so I can slip a wrench to it. Any other options?

Pry bars I'm using the 4pc $9.99 Craftsman, flexier than I'd like but serves me well. Are the indexible GW any good?

My boss has nothing fancy, he buys the cheapest sets he can (Stanley, Mastercraft), dislikes truck brands (he and the landlord banned them from entering the property) but he speaks highly of Germany tool maker called Heyco. I found a Benz branded Heyco plier lying in his tool box and surprisingly the tool felt great and very light in hand (the handles were not even dipped) and I was surprised that the plier locks onto 10mm, 13mm and 15mm hex head fasteners perfectly. I went through their catalog and they seem to make more than those freeby toolkits in luxury cars. Anybody here have experience with this brand?

All suggestions and opinions are greatly appreciated!

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

time to get new job, if he wont let you use tools from the tool truck

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
My boss has nothing fancy, he buys the cheapest sets he can (Stanley, Mastercraft), dislikes truck brands (he and the landlord banned them from entering the property) but he speaks highly of Germany tool maker called Heyco.
...

I didn't see where the owner banned the tools - it seems to be the trucks and maybe the salesmen?

 

[abvw]

I didn't see where the owner banned the tools - it seems to be the trucks and maybe the salesmen?

I believe so. He told me a few of his ex-employees had their boxes repo'd in the middle of a job. No buts or ifs, showed up with a court order right then and there because the tech was late with payments. Also he's had techs that pays half of their paychecks to dealers.

Our landlord owns the building and operates a diesel truck repair facility in the same building, moving cars around was already a problem, and the tool trucks parks in the middle of the only entrance and pathway, blocking all traffics. Landlord got frustrated and banned them too.

I think my boss just doesn't want me to have debt that I can't pay off. He knew about the tool truck premium, and how easy is it to rack up debt without getting much. It's not like he'll fire me if I show up with a set of Snap On wrenches to work one day.

 

[alpinewhite]

Buy only what you need or as the need arises. Buy good tools, though. That's my mantra. Buy it once and keep it for life. I buy my Snappies from ebay. I'm a home DIYer and don't have access to trucks.

 

[Sloasszx3]

Knipex pliers do hold up to the chemicals but I would probably only use wd40 or something similar. And in my experience they're very high quality tools.

 

[Rezeppa]

My shop Forman got rid of the tool trucks too. One of the guys stole an oil filter and the owner didn't like guys spending 30mins on a truck instead of working. It has become frustrating I know this sounds crazy but I actually don't miss them as much as I used to I know the local snapon guy well enough and if you don't know something exists its easy to not want to buy it.

 

[BHR4CE1]

Sorry... I was thinking of something completely different when I read the title of this thread.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_enlargement

 

[volaredon]

filling your drawers... go eat some White Castles or Mc Donalds cheeseburgers...

 

[cookefab]

Yeah, and then there's that...^...or possibly he could eat some bad Mexican food, washed down w/ cheap beer...depending what he wants his drawers filled with..?

Seriously, as employee in shop, no matter whether flat rate or hourly, the key to success is speed, and investment payback. Tools to a mechanic are an investment, and how much money you take home depends on how quickly your tools pay themselves off. Spend money on anything that can significantly speed up your tasks and you'll be rewarded. $10000 SO/Matco rollcabs that take 15%+ of your take-home pay doesn't improve your social standing unless you are immature enough to care what other people think. Especially if the aforementioned people do nothing to advance you in the big picture.
I wish somebody had explained this to me while I was stuffing my box w/ tools that I might use once a year, and going into debt doing it. Thankfully that was my teens, and I had the wake up call by the end of AIT...

 

[Lotek]

Tool trucks are a resource, just like anything else. Most all of my tools are tool truck, the quality is there, and I don't have to worry about warranty issues. Sure you can go overboard, but that isn't the truck's fault. Some of my wrenches have been in daily use for 30 years, some are older than me. As far as having tools that get used once a year, if it means doing the job right, then so be it, I have it if it falls under the borrow it twice rule. But if you are losing tools, you need to focus on that before spending money on anything. It gets expensive, is unprofessional, and can be dangerous.

As far as the other thing, day old fish tacos work well.

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP

My boss has nothing fancy, he buys the cheapest sets he can (Stanley, Mastercraft), dislikes truck brands (he and the landlord banned them from entering the property) but he speaks highly of Germany tool maker called Heyco. I found a Benz branded Heyco plier lying in his tool box and surprisingly the tool felt great and very light in hand (the handles were not even dipped) and I was surprised that the plier locks onto 10mm, 13mm and 15mm hex head fasteners perfectly. I went through their catalog and they seem to make more than those freeby toolkits in luxury cars. Anybody here have experience with this brand?

All suggestions and opinions are greatly appreciated!

Heyco makes good tools (I just picked up one of the DBE in 32/36MM and a garage sale) but like any tool manufacturer, there are probably some they make that you should avoid. On company seems immune from this...

Where possible, try before you buy, and definitely ask some opinions where you can't try them before hand.

Yeah the title of this thread; Knew where it would get to...