new mechanic and buying tools

[ihatethatguy]

hola fellas
so I just came out of a tech school and start the BMW STEP program on Monday the 17. so I have 6 months till i become the FNG in a shop. I have lots of tools but my collection is not up to the task of professional use. i have been trolling on this site for quite a while and decided to join in the fun.

I want to spend good money on my tools so I only have to buy them once. I do realize that tools break but I think that if I pick them well enough I can avoid alot of this. I love Matco tools and have tons of complaints about snapon. I say this not to start a company vs company thread but to maybe give more insite about me. I think that different tool makers do some things better than others. for instance snapons combo wrenches are poorly shaped and hurt your hands will matco are thick and comfy.

so based on my research on this site and several others and this is what i have so far:

stahlwille-
3/8 33 pice set
1/4 30 piece set
torx set
e-torx set
14 series wrench set

snapon-
1/4,3/8,1/2 torque wrenches
seize adapters

matco-
metric wrench set
deep 3/8 sockets
1/4 deep sockets
metric ratchet wrenches
1/2 88 tooth ratchet
3/8 88 tooth ratchet
3/8 braker bar
prybar set

now there is alot more that i need and thats where you gents come in. this is what i need and if you have a source please share.

screw drivers (wiha?)
picks(?)
plyers(?)
dikes(?)

and a bunch of other small stuff that basically harbor frieght will work for. and if you have anyother suggestions please enlighten this poor ignorant fool ha. thanks in advance
ps Im in arizona and that make some companies hard to get- like stahlwille haha

 

[Wamsutta]

for instance snapons combo wrenches are poorly shaped and hurt your hands will matco are thick and comfy.

Matco combo wrenches are thick and comfy? I don't think so man. Not since Bonney used to make them.

 

[Mxjr12]

Knipex for all your pliers snap on for picks long and short and radiator hose picks, easy outs and stripped bolt removal tools snap on dual 80 flex ratchets

 

[Mxjr12]

Snap on flare nut wrenches would be first on my list

 

[outdoorsman310]

buy what you prefer, tool box? hf44" is a good start. I have one at work.
screw drivers- dont buy crappy phillips. I have a hard handle set (so) and some craftsmans, mastercraft, and a harbor freight one mixed in.
I have many 1 dollar hf pick sets. they work well and if one breaks, its only 25 cents. just get a new one!
I have channellock pliers(regular pliers actually have a butter at the base of the jaws), tounge and groove pliers, needle nose, and dykes. Parrot jaw, cable hose clamp pliers, and good quality vice grips are great to have.


some of my recommendations are 1/4 dr screw gun (non impact) very useful. 1/4 dr air ratchet, 3/8 snap-on impact swivels i have metric and standard, personally I have used and do not like the craftsman/matco swivels. FAR72c and mg725, 325. or some IR stuff, I started with earthquake guns. I have some 1/2dr harbor freight swivels that have not exploded yet, just watch out if you buy them. 1/4 , 1/2, 3/8 impact swivel joints, 1/4 u joint sockets in metric. craftsman is not that good but will get you by until you but some good ones. just test out some different brand swivels in your hands. I really prefer snap-on ones for how they move smoothly especially if you drop it in oil dry or something.

 

[outdoorsman310]

Snap on flare nut wrenches would be first on my list

++++1

 

[Chad G]

Ive been a toyota technician for 6 years. I started with craftsman starter kit and tool box and harbor freight.

I slowly upgraded my tools as my income would allow, i've got a bit of everything. i've got a full set mac/snapon/matco metric wrenches. they are all good qualily. I can honestly say i still use my craftsman sockets. they are easy to replace. when i break one i run to sears down the road and get my free replacement. my matco and mac sockets are now in my home garage.



buy snap on wrenches and rachets for sure. we've had tool salesman come and go in our dealership and even if we loose a snap on guy there is another replacement salesman there the next week. we havent had a matco or mac guy for 2 years, which ***** because i've got broken **** i need warranted.

two years ago I upgraded from my craftsman box to a matco tripple bay that i bought used. it was a 13k box built in 04 and i got it for 4k.

dont rule out harbor freight. i can honestly say that probably 20% of my tools are from there, you just cant beat the price. last year i picked up a set of long handled wrenches for home use and i like them so much i traded out my backup matco wrenches for them. the matco set is now at home, the harbor freight set was double the length wich is great. especially for 25 bucks.

the best advice i can give you is to stay out of debt. so many young guys in my shop are up their *** in debt to all the freaking tool guys, its stupid. pay cash for cheap tools until you can afford to pay cash for an upgtade.

you work to make money not to pay for tools. a 25 dollar harbor freight wrench set is worth much more than a 25 dollar per week payment for one year to snapon.

 

[youngridge]

Irwin easy outs, in and external, get the ones you can put a wrench on or 3/8 drive ratchet. An impact, drill, die grinder, many other things.

 

[ihatethatguy]

thanks guys. I was planning on getting some makita or Milwaukee electric tools for like interior and other low torque stuff. also IR impact as its pretty cheap at lowes. I will never buy tools on credit. I pay cash or dont pay at all (been a rule my whole life) and the snapon wrenches i have used are almost sharp (think in the middle and thin on the edges) and kill my hands when I lean on them. the stahlwille wrenches are thin in the middle and thick on the outside very nice and my matco are just thick and i like them. Im not a against any tool maker just not brain washed into snapon like the rest of my school. but very good advice so far and I am listening to it so thank you for your input. thats why I joined this site! good people and very good advice

 

[davesnothere]

Hammers, dude. You need hammers.

 

[Chad G]

ir titianium impact for sure. i broke a mac gun twice and a snapon air cat gun before i finally got the ir titanium. i got it from sears and its still going strong after 3 years.

 

[Mxjr12]

I've had my if gun for over 5 yrs and it just starting acting up, pulled it apart and cleaned it out, back to the power it used to have, way stronger than my bosses snap on by far, also the 1/2 impact swiveles from snap on are amazing, picking up the 3/8 set monday

 

[ihatethatguy]

ya the IR 235timax or whatever its called is what Im getting. at lowes its 277$ and thats the cheapest i can find it. and Ive heard alot of good about the swivel impact sockets. why are they more useful than regular ones? what instance do they become worth the price?

 

[dankicksass]

Buy the QTIMAX version. Your ears will thank you. Sunex swivel impacts are worth buying. So is a vacuum radiator fill kit. And you'll need/want a nice 12pt 6in extended 14mm magnetic spark plug socket. Makes life a lot nicer when you have the right tool.

 

[wild cowboy]

last year i picked up a set of long handled wrenches for home use and i like them so much i traded out my backup matco wrenches for them. the matco set is now at home, the harbor freight set was double the length wich is great. especially for 25 bucks.

can you provide a link to the harbor freight wrench set you like, so we can see which one?

and anything else that harbor freight makes as good or better than the big boys!

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

I myself am a BMW tech and will tell you right now that you dont need much to work on these cars. What you have already will get you by pretty well. I will compile a list for you though.

With your etorx set make sure you have the following sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. E12 is the most common.

Your Torx should have 20, 25, 30, 50, 60. T25 and T30 are the most common.

Get some allen sockets. Sizes 5, 6, 8. and a 4"-6" long 4mm ball hex.

I dont know about matco but snapon sells these life saving items. I only have the 10 and 13. http://store.snapon.com/Swivel-Ball-Extension-Sockets-mm-industrial-Set-Socket-Metric-Power-Swivel-Ball-Extension-6-pcs--P745792.aspx
PN-206PFSXM

Get a 36mm socket for older oil filters. And the new cars special oil filter cup you can get from any truck.

Get some high leverage dikes and push-pin pliers.

32mm fan clutch wrench and a 32oz hammer.

3/8 and 1/4 extension sets with matching swivels.

Of course you will need a strong 3/8 impact. I barely use my 1/2.

With that list (just off the top of my head, might be missing one or two things) and what you have already, you can do 90% of the work on BMW's.

Im in Arizona as well so dont be afraid to contact me, i can put you in touch with some good people. Good luck.

 

[OxJaw]

ya the IR 235timax or whatever its called is what Im getting. at lowes its 277$ and thats the cheapest i can find it. and Ive heard alot of good about the swivel impact sockets. why are they more useful than regular ones? what instance do they become worth the price?

IR2135
$217

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...d=&coliid=&condition=new&me=&qid=&seller=&sr=

IR2115
$215 with free shipping

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...d=&coliid=&condition=new&me=&qid=&seller=&sr=

 

[Engine]

Buy the QTIMAX version. Your ears will thank you. Sunex swivel impacts are worth buying. So is a vacuum radiator fill kit. And you'll need/want a nice 12pt 6in extended 14mm magnetic spark plug socket. Makes life a lot nicer when you have the right tool.

Are these the swivel impacts you are talking about?

 

[dankicksass]

Yes. They're excellent. There's a 12pc set that doesn't skip 12mm but I have that set and added their 12pt 12mm because of the proliferation of 12pt 12mm bolts.

 

[Supe]

I dont know about matco but snapon sells these life saving items. I only have the 10 and 13. http://store.snapon.com/Swivel-Ball-Extension-Sockets-mm-industrial-Set-Socket-Metric-Power-Swivel-Ball-Extension-6-pcs--P745792.aspx
PN-206PFSXM

What's your primary application for those swivel extension sockets?

 

[ibedayank]

updating location would help as some brands are not easy to get everyehere

 

[Engine]

Yes. They're excellent. There's a 12pc set that doesn't skip 12mm but I have that set and added their 12pt 12mm because of the proliferation of 12pt 12mm bolts.

Thanks.

In general, would you say that Sunex are good quality tools, especially for someone starting out in the trade?

 

[dankicksass]

Sunex hasn't let me down. Their tools are good quality, fit well and last. I'm not easy on tools and I've been very critical on this forum of some other tool makers like Gearwrench lately, I'd bury them if I wasn't happy with their tools.

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

What's your primary application for those swivel extension sockets?

The majority of nuts and bolts on a bimmer are 10s and 13s. So i use these alot.

Tstats
water pumps
battery terminals and holdowns
swaybar brackets
valve covers
vanity covers
cabin filter access
power steering pumps
oil filter stand
exhaust hangers
driveshaft center support bearing
strut mounts
front bumpers

just to name a few

 

[ihatethatguy]

Buy the QTIMAX version. Your ears will thank you.

I have read that there is a noticeable diff in power between the regular version adn the muffled one? can you confirm or debunk this? something to do with how they muffled it restricting airflow resulting in less cfm usage and therefore less power? I cant remember where I got that but sounds like a flimsy theory.

 

[dankicksass]

Yeah that's not true. Quieter is better. The gun is just as powerful as the loud one.

 

[92integra]

harbor frieght 1/2 impact sockets!!! snap on rat's, snap on wrenchs... and probably a techangle in 1/2" drive to start since you work at bmw and all there stuff is in newton meters. matco for impact swivle sockets... i like craftsman for beater screwdrivers and i usually use bits and and snap on screw gun for everything thats not a flat head screw.... do yourself a favor and buy a small cordless impact. trust me you will want one when you go to do your first oil change and your removing 15 10mm fasteners by hand. and btw there are some favorites around here as far as i can tell... the big two are a harborfrieght 44" box and Milwaukee fuel tools.... id recommend snap on for alot of the basic hardline tools especially wrenchs -> regular, xtra-long, line , ratcheting, crow foot.... if your going to be doing this for the rest of your life theres no sense messing about with other stuff out there, buy the best. i recommend snap on just because ease of warranty

 

[ihatethatguy]

as far as the power tools go I want the IR gun and either milwaukee or makita electric ones. the m18 and the m12 or makita equivalents. I understand the benefit of getting an american companys too;s because of the trucks and ease of warranty but comparing my stahlwille tools to snapon and matco is like night and day. the german made just feel better. they are lighter but feel more solid. plus I dont like the chrome finish of american tools. Ive been in situations where I was elbows deep in grease and they where hard to hold on too. while the finish on my stahlwille wont completely eliminate the issue I think it will help. and in all my years of abusing tools Ive only ever broken cheaper companies tools like craftsman and harbor frieght. all my matco adn snapon stuff has been great as far as holding up. so I agree with not cheaping out on some stuff because time is money and if I am out finding a replacement tool them Im not making any money! but your guys are awesome in helping me Ive learned alot already adn this is my first thread so thanks again and keep er coming

 

[Adam.C]

I don't want to be one of those guys who recommends truck tools to everyone, but you are a special case. As a young tech starting out, you have an advantage many of us don't. Here's my idea for you:

Pick whatever truck tool brand you expect will give you the best service over the course of your career. If it's Snap On, then choose them (as long as you are happy with the tools). Then bottom feed all the second hand tools you can from that brand, ebay, craigslist. Inevitably, you will develop a relationship with your tool truck rep. Inevitably, you will be able to warranty your second hand stuff.

I am not a pro auto mechanic, but my local rep does this for me. I haven't even bought that much stuff off him. 90% of my snap on was bought on ebay for 50% retail or less. 90% of that is pristine. And I don't ask for much- a new phillips screwdriver blade now and then, replace a worn socket,...no questions asked. I shudder to think what my kit would cost new. I just bought a full set of XDHRM ratchet wrenches for $240. Snap on wrenches for 2x the price of E-Z red and easily less than 1/2 retail.

For you, I don't see the advantage in having a bunch of non truck tool stuff in your box...unless you can convince yourself the tools you are buying are disposable (HF dead blow hammers or pry bars for example) or unlikely to ever break and leave you stranded )(hack saw for example).

I would advise extreme caution when choosing a tool box. Truck boxes seem to be just crazy money. And some dealerships are now providing boxes to give a more professional look to their bays. I would choose a service cart OR TWO and trick them out. I think they would give you more utility for a lower price.

 

[ihatethatguy]

good adice Adam.c. thanks. I have done alot of research about boxes, carts and the like and even with a student discount I could never bring myself to buy a big brand box. I just think thats crazy to spend thousands on something that doesnt make you any money. sure its cool to walk in a shop and have the biggest box with a fridge on the side full of Dr. pepper but like I said in a previous post if I cant buy it then I dont buy it. simple as that (p.s. that philosophy has got to the ripe old age of 24 and married with no debt including my automotive school). so I read and read and read and read and bought the harbor frieght 5 drawer roll cart for 160$ and have no regrets about that. lots of BMW shops like you said have built in cabnets so just something to go from car to car is whats needed. I can buy 10 of these HF carts for the price of the Matco one I wanted but I would rather have NICE tools and 5 gallon bucket then a 5k box with 1k tools. know what Im sayin haha

 

[John in OH]

Since you are just starting out, you should avoid getting buried in debt to the tool truck guys. There's nothing wrong with the tool truck brands as they are good quality tools, but don't get drunk on the tool truck Kool-Aid! There are other tool brands out there of equal quality (strength, fit, finish, etc.) that are a much better bargain .... Wright, Proto, Williams, Armstrong, for instance. You can get much better bang for your buck with these brands.

Keep shopping around for the best VALUE (performance & reliability vs. cost) and keep a broad horizon regarding brands.

On a related note, since you mentioned tool breakage, suggest you read through this recent thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238573

 

[jmm]

I'd stay away from Stahlwille for your primary, everyday use tools. Same goes for any brand who you can't either lay hands after driving 10-20 minutes, or tool truck brands that don't visit your shop. Top tier brands are all about service. Remove the element of service and they're just good tools. Go with whoever gives your new shop the best service. I'm not saying Stahlwille doesn't make good stuff -- they definitely do -- but it's rare in the US that you get service from them. I worked on German machinery for years and was lucky to, but I don't anymore. In my opinion they're great as secondary wrench sets (box ends, open ends, etc), just not everyday stuff.

Be smart with your money. New techs aren't exactly rolling in it; those who manage to not go into debt are often poor while they're filling up expensive boxes with expensive tools. Top line tools aren't necessary in all cases!

As far as tools, everybody's got you covered, but I'll add a few:
-drawer full of hammers (3 or 4 pounder to wail with, several ball peins, dead blows, mallets, non marring hammer and/or aluminum and brass scraps)
-swivel impact sockets!
-a nice flash light and work light

Here's a pretty comprehensive seller of German hardline and specialty tools:
http://www.samstagsales.com/

 

[dankicksass]

A good box does make you money, just like the good tools in it.

 

[SpannerMonkey]

A few recommendations here from my own experience:

Bondhus: for torx and allen stuff
Knipex: for pliers
Milwaukee Fuel range: for cordless - FIVE year warranty

 

[e30bradley]

I didn't read all the comments to know if anyone else said this but it looks like you need ALOT more tools.. BMW sst? (special service tools), pullers, oil pressure tester, vac guage, brake bleeding tools, disk brake compressor, radiator pressure tester, bearing race driver set, etc..

 

[Gfleck067]

for a tool box look for a used mac snap on matco cornwell or extreme on craigslist 5-8k tool boxes goin for 1000-1500. ive been buying tools off ebay and craigslist.
for hammers look into the MAC anti vibe set it was around 150$ for a 5 pc 8-32oz set best hammers i have ever used
wrenches i got the MAC precision torque from 1/4- 1 1/4 for under 180 off ebay
ive gotton MAC impact sockets 1/2" 7/16- 1 1/2 for 65$
i like the blue point sockets

I also am in your shoes but not at BMW i am a apprentice crane mechanic
Dont run yourself int debt but buy what u can afford. I wont buy a tool that i think will break when i am 65 feet off the ground tryin to break free a 1/2" bolt loose.

 

[espyking83]

Proto and Wright wrenches are better than Snap On, much cheaper as well.