Newbie Mechanic trainee

[Farhaj]

Greetings fellow tool aficionados. I have become a trainee at a local Veteran friendly repair shop in Central New Jersey. The owner is a former VW and Mercedes expert; She actually *cares* about her clients, and thankfully, business is booming. We get all sorts of repair jobs - the usual oil changes and brake jobs, all the way up to engine replacements, etc., etc. So I went and bought my self a Craftsman 6 drawer Heavy Duty tool chest. Now I'd like to fill it up with necessary Craftsman tools to stop borrowing the Boss's assortment of Snap On. I firmly believe the owner is apt to teach me the basics in auto repair; she's always willing to help out if I get in a jam when I'm doing the small things, so lets kick it up a notch. Why dont I purchase my own set of tools I can use to be less of a nudge.

So far I have the 19.2 volt 3/4" Impact wrench, a drill, and an Impact Driver. I have a 12 volt right angle impact driver as well. I have a few wrenches and a good set of assorted sockets in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" sizes with the matching ratchets. I failed to mention that I bought the 154 piece Craftsman Tool set from the PX for a very good price; I separated all the items into the drawers of the new tool chest. I found I need to purchase a few wrenches in both varieties, and a good many sockets to fill up the socket trays.

I'd like to sit back and hear what you folk think I need to buy to make the most of this opportunity I have. I have a teacher and I want to learn. I thank you all for reading and contributing.

HMG Auto Repair
28 Main Street
Helmetta NJ 08828

-Female owned independent repair shop-
*Veteran and Student Friendly*

 

[smothers33]

whatever you end up borrowing from her is what you need to buy. certain specialty tools you probably dont have to buy but anything you are regularly using(especially basic handtools) are things that youre gonna wanna buy.

 

[toolstools]

Well, I know from reading here for VW and Benz you need triple square (a different angled 12 point) along with torx (star), etorx (internal star) And hex sockets. Volt meters and a lot of patience.

Pros will give more insight.

Congrats on the job and welcome to GJ!

 

[toolstools]

Well, I know from reading here for VW and Benz you need triple square (a different angled 12 point) along with torx (star), etorx (internal star) And hex sockets. Volt meters and a lot of patience.

Pros will give more insight.

Congrats on the job and welcome to GJ!

 

[ladrones]

I would think if you borrow a tool more than twice you should try and buy it as soon as you can.

A good set of universal impact sockets would be a good start.

 

[wise]

I would think if you borrow a tool more than twice you should try and buy it as soon as you can.

I also order my list of tool purchases by this rule. It's like the mechanics Golden Rule... Or Greasy Rule?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

for VW you need a Multi Meter

 

[devoncoolman]

Rule of thumb especcialy for us doing it for a living if u borrow it more than twice. Try to buy it. I meen in our shop some of us have specialty tools that we each own and we borrow them from each other. Its a mutual tool borrowing understanding. But buy your basics. Sounds to me like you need impact guns and impact sockets. First get a decsent 1/2 impact and a set of metric deep impact sockets. Ull find being a beginer you will be pulling alot of wheels on and off so they will be some of your most used tools

 

[wise]

Oh, If you know how to use torrents, download an up to date textbook and read through it on a Laptop or a tablet. They are actually pretty informative and if you have a willingness to learn they're an easy read.

I know a ton of mechanics that know all about how to replace parts and correct warranty issues, but don't know how to 'fix' a damn thing.

 

[Murphy4570]

A woman mechanic? I've never seen such a thing.



Your in for a long hard road of buying tools man. Rule of thumb is buy your own after borrowing twice.

Expect to spend about $50,000-$100,000 for tools over the next 20-30 years if you make it a career.

 

[Farhaj]

I see this thread has fallen asleep. I thank you for your advice.
Take away: "If you borrow it twice, buy it."
Thanks folks, and if you're ever in Central jersey (off exit 8A) stop by and say hello.

-F

 

[TwoInch]

along with torx (star), etorx (internal star) !

torx is internal, E torx is external. im sure just a typo.

 

[toolstools]

torx is internal, E torx is external. im sure just a typo.

Doh! I was going with quick though of etorx the socket is internal like a normal socket. Brain fart..

 

[crewchief888]

A woman mechanic? I've never seen such a thing.



Your in for a long hard road of buying tools man. Rule of thumb is buy your own after borrowing twice.

Expect to spend about $50,000-$100,000 for tools over the next 20-30 years if you make it a career.

i used to work with a woman mechanic at a deere const eq dealership.

ive been wrenching on const equipment for 30 years, & 7 years as a machinist,
at todays tool prices, i probably have close to $100K.

 

[pitterpat]

There are a few of us"girl" wrenches out there. I too have a classic VW Bug that I wrench on; among my garage and home projects.

 

[FOWLER]

As an apprentice I started with a craftsman big set and small top nest also, 26 yrs later i still have them all in my home shop now. Off the top of my head essentials would be;
Go straight for a Power probe, forget the test light imo
Multi meter
Line wrenches
Torque wrench
Allen sockets
Torx (and it's variants)
Hammer set including a composite dead blow
Drift Punch and chisel set
Any every type plier you can afford lol.
And though they can be pricey I can't function without my flex sockets (3/8 impact ball type)
Good luck

 

[86k10]

As an apprentice I started with a craftsman big set and small top nest also, 26 yrs later i still have them all in my home shop now. Off the top of my head essentials would be;
Go straight for a Power probe, forget the test light imo
Multi meter
Line wrenches
Torque wrench
Allen sockets
Torx (and it's variants)
Hammer set including a composite dead blow
Drift Punch and chisel set
Any every type plier you can afford lol.
And though they can be pricey I can't function without my flex sockets (3/8 impact ball type)
Good luck

I don't know if I would go without a basic test light even with a PP3. I like the quick hook up of a test light to test fuses instead of dragging out the PP and hooking up to the battery, especially if you keep it in the blow molded case.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I see this thread has fallen asleep. I thank you for your advice.
Take away: "If you borrow it twice, buy it."
Thanks folks, and if you're ever in Central jersey (off exit 8A) stop by and say hello.

-F

Yes on the borrow twice, then buy your own idea.
I started out the same way - I ETS'd in early 95 and went to wrenching on the outside with nothing more than a 2 drawer CM black "Rally Box" with enough basic hand tools to handle repairs to my own cars. Even with 5 years experience I had not built up much of a set of tools since they provide everything in Uncle Sam's shops.
Buy what you need to get the job done - you'll learn that as you go. And don't feel obligated to a brand or tool-truck tools.
Just remember: Buy quality, no matter what brand. Junk tools will hurt you. When something breaks under pressure, when it rounds off and you end up having to catch yourself --- you haven't saved much if you can't get the work done or worse yet, you get injured.

 

[Farhaj]

86K; thank you for the list! I'm a Soldier and have been forced to think in list formats. Thank a lot. HeavyMetal; wise words, thank you for the info.

-F

 

[928'er]

A woman mechanic? I've never seen such a thing.

Your in for a long hard road of buying tools man.

Farhaj didn't state his/her gender, so you're making a pretty big assumption.

 

[toolstools]

Farhaj didn't state his/her gender, so you're making a pretty big assumption.

Sure does. Multiple times.. reread..