New Tech. here

[Kenf1991]

Hi everybody!
Quick question for the techs out there. I’m a lube/ PDI tech at my Ford dealership and my boss says he wants to promote me to an Apprentice Tech. My question is, What tools do you recommend I purchase? He said I will start off doing brake jobs and alignments, but I’m sure there will be more. I am not concerned on price of the tools, just looking for advice from the experts! And share your experience as an entry level Tech if you’d like. Thanks!

Ken

 

[Deafautotech]

Better start to saving money and buy what you can pay not make payment if you can't make good money..
You don't have to buy best one if not use it often.. If you are borrow few times then buy it!

I am heavy line tech for largest ford shop and I has more than common tools to do. Even other techs want use mine but I had told them to buy it! That why I have a time ro search a used one as good name but cheaper price..

You don't need zillions of tools like I do but I do much works than anyone do. You can just buy few tools and keep working until you feel like can do more work the. Do research about it..

 

[joedodge]

Good hand tools wrenches, sockets and ratchets. some good pry bars leverage never hurts. Youl see what you nees pretty quick once you start.

 

[warmpancakes]

Hi everybody!
Quick question for the techs out there. I’m a lube/ PDI tech at my Ford dealership and my boss says he wants to promote me to an Apprentice Tech. My question is, What tools do you recommend I purchase? He said I will start off doing brake jobs and alignments, but I’m sure there will be more. I am not concerned on price of the tools, just looking for advice from the experts! And share your experience as an entry level Tech if you’d like. Thanks!

Ken

ask the guy you will be working under, He might have a list or be willing to let you use his tools while he teaches you

 

[sdguy55]

I would suggest saving everydime you can right now and just buy craftsman right now. That way your not spending a ton of money on something that you may nkt use. After a couple months you will get a better idea of what you will need and you can upgrade from there

 

[warmpancakes]

I would suggest saving everydime you can right now and just buy craftsman right now. That way your not spending a ton of money on something that you may nkt use. After a couple months you will get a better idea of what you will need and you can upgrade from there

so buy craftsman then in 2 months buy another set? wheres the savings?

 

[sdguy55]

so buy craftsman then in 2 months buy another set? wheres the savings?

I like sanpon just as much as anyone else but i dont think thats the best option for this particular situation. Hell i guess if he wants something higher end and save a little money i say go SK

 

[dsmnickk90]

I'd get a basic socket set in all 3 drive sizes, set of combowrenches, a few common pliers, a hammer, screwdrivers and a prybar set. Get a brake tool set. A impact gun and impact sockets would be nice to have.
I would start off just getting metric to save money.

 

[firebox40dash5]

so buy craftsman then in 2 months buy another set? wheres the savings?

Perhaps he meant the "add more tools" kinda upgrade...

My starter set was a 6-pt socket set from Sears, sets of 3/8" and 1/2" impact sockets, a screwdriver kit, basic combo wrenches, and flex Gearwrenches. I've added a ton since then, but it gave me a good start.

 

[William Payne]

I am not a mechanic but I spent a bit of time doing entry level mechanic work helping out in shops before moving in what I do now. I don't know whether your boss or another tech could do this but in my trade (machinist) when I first started out a little over a year ago I had my boss make a list of just basic stuff that I would need to start my job. I have since got more stuff as I have progressed and I imagine that same would apply to your trade.

Get yourself a basic setup, things you would use often kind of stuff and then over time add to it. As for brands maybe initially you could get the basics what you can afford then upgrade as needed. When you are first starting out in any trade just having a basic set of tools that you can use and will do the job will allow you to work and be productive. Those tools may not be the best or last you a lifetime but it is a basic start and you can upgrade as you get better and your needs increase.

Also it will allow you to get an idea of what works and what does not, I have found in my trade that preferance plays a big part in that as you do different jobs you find that certain tools allow you to do a job easier or quicker or both and then you get to know what tools are best for you.

I am a big sucker for name brands and flash high end tools myself but I often need to remind myself that sometimes having the tool to do the job is more important then having the best tools.

 

[W650Mike]

The classifieds here is usually a good place to find quality new and used truck brands at less than full price.

 

[ken w.]

I started out with a 999 piece Craftsman set.I broke most of them at my first job at a Ford dealer.If your going to be doing brake jobs I would invest in some good quality tools like the Snap On or other truck tools.They come to you and take payments.I buy a lot of tools on Ebay and Craigslist. Cheap tools are not your friend working in a shop where you use them all day.If your going to be a starter tech,you will be doing a lot of crappy under car work. You will need some impact sockets.
If you are starting out,most other techs shouldn't have a problem lending you a tool.If you ask to borrow the same tool more than a couple times then it's time to get your own.If you really want to do this for a living then you are going to have to make quite an investment in your tools.
It sounds like your manager see's something in you that he likes and is taking an interest in you. I would take advantage of the situation. If your good , you can make some real good money in this business.

 

[wornoutoldman]

This http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136120

Also check http://store.harryepstein.com/ and http://www.cripedistributing.com/

Your welcome!

 

[dsmnickk90]

I started out with a 999 piece Craftsman set.I broke most of them at my first job at a Ford dealer.If your going to be doing brake jobs I would invest in some good quality tools like the Snap On or other truck tools.They come to you and take payments.I buy a lot of tools on Ebay and Craigslist. Cheap tools are not your friend working in a shop where you use them all day.If your going to be a starter tech,you will be doing a lot of crappy under car work. You will need some impact sockets.
If you are starting out,most other techs shouldn't have a problem lending you a tool.If you ask to borrow the same tool more than a couple times then it's time to get your own.If you really want to do this for a living then you are going to have to make quite an investment in your tools.
It sounds like your manager see's something in you that he likes and is taking an interest in you. I would take advantage of the situation. If your good , you can make some real good money in this business.

You broke most of those Craftsman tools you say? As in all the sockets and wrenches and extensions? weird.....

Dont fall in to this and think you only need Snap On

 

[HaroRider]

If you broke most of 999 pieces from any tool company you need to reconsider how your using your tools.

 

[dsmnickk90]

If you broke most of 999 pieces from any tool company you need to reconsider how your using your tools.

Exactly. Ive used chrome sockets and extensions on my impact gun and hammered away on them and have never broke any. The only Craftsman thing Ive broke other than screwdrivers was a universal joint on a impact gun.

Armstrong and SK made most the Cman sockets wrenches and such out and the are both very well respected. Cman just dosnt have as good of QC on their stuff.

 

[Skin]

Hi everybody!
Quick question for the techs out there. I’m a lube/ PDI tech at my Ford dealership and my boss says he wants to promote me to an Apprentice Tech. My question is, What tools do you recommend I purchase? He said I will start off doing brake jobs and alignments, but I’m sure there will be more. I am not concerned on price of the tools, just looking for advice from the experts! And share your experience as an entry level Tech if you’d like. Thanks!

Ken

Are you going to be flat rate or hourly? It matters. If your hourly you can take your time, use hand tools, and double check your work and even use a torque wrench . If you're flat rate then you want speed with consistancy in which case i'd recommend a 2015MAX 3/8" hammerhead, it will get you through break jobs lighting quick and comes in handy for spark plug removal too. It will pay for itself very fast.

As to the rest, you cant say you're "not concerned with the price of tools" if that were really true then just buy from the trucks that make stops at your shop on an as needed basis. But if you're like most people then chances are you'd, for example, rather spend $150 for a quality set of wrenches than $400 for similar quality off the truck. Whatever you might be shopping for you can either ask specifically or just google, again for example, "best combination wrenches garagejournal" or some variation, and you'll find many threads that should hopefully answer any questions.

 

[Coach James]

I'm not a pro mechanic, but it seems to me that asking the boss what you would need is the most logical thing to do.

Coach

 

[bcradio]

Exactly. Ive used chrome sockets and extensions on my impact gun and hammered away on them and have never broke any. The only Craftsman thing Ive broke other than screwdrivers was a universal joint on a impact gun.

Armstrong and SK made most the Cman sockets wrenches and such out and the are both very well respected. Cman just dosnt have as good of QC on their stuff.

Double exactly... and many of their specialty tools are rebranded from the same people that do the truck brands.

 

[crewchief888]

i'd ask another guy(s) if theres anything specific toolwise you'll be needing.

and as peviously mentioned, ifyou have to borrow the same tool a couple times, it's time to buy your own...

 

[ironmutt]

just about every thing has been covered but these a 6-8 inch c-clamp , the caliper turn in tool about three 21 22 mm wrenches a stubby a long and a mid in both sizes read through the manuel for your alignment rack and ask the other techs if there are any quarks for the machine , a good example is every time the furnace blower kicks on the heat waves mess up the cameras on the machine i use and i have to wait for the furnace to shut off . good set of line wrenches a good pipe wrench in a couple of sizes

 

[Jester69]

3/8 drive socket set (shallow/deep) 10mm-18mm
1/4 drive socket set (shallow/deep) 7mm-15mm (get a magnetic tray for this set, big time saver)
1/2 drive impact sockets (shallow/deep) 10-24mm

Deep 6 point 1/4" socket 1/4 drive (for Ford speed sensors)

Spark plug socket
7mm 1/4 swivel socket is handy for Ford coils

1/2, 3/8 and 1/4" drive ratchets
1/2" impact gun
1/4 and 3/8 set of extensions
1/2" set of impact extenstions

Metric wrench set 8mm-19mm
Std wrenches (1/2, 9/16, 3/4, 7/8) (going to use that 7/8 for alignments)

Pry bar set
Slip joint pliers set
Needle nose pliers
Locking pliers
Side cutters (dykes)
Box cutter
3lb hammer for those stubborn rotors
Large C clamp for caliper pistons
2 bungee cords for supporting calipers (so they aren't hanging on brake hose when servicing)

Phillips/slotted screw driver set
Magnetic parts tray
Flash light

Eventually, you're going to want a rear caliper compressing tool and a 3/8 and 1/4 air ratchet. Don't go crazy with fractional tools, you're mostly going to encounter metric.