Tools for budding mechanics

[MechanicMom]

Hi. I hope this isn’t a saved thread anywhere. I looked but didn’t see anything. Anyway, my son is a budding mechanic. He’s a senior in high school and plans on getting his automotive degree so he can work on cars for a living. He has some tools but not a ton. I pick up as I go. Mostly rummage sales, thrift stores, etc. I always assumed a tool was a tool. Turns out that’s not the case. What would be a middle of the road brand to look for if I were to buy new? I’m thinking Christmas gift?? I know MAC and Snap On are popular but expensive. Is there a brand that’s in the middle? Not expensive but not total garbage either. Thanks for your help!

Not sure if this matters but my son likes older cars.

 

[kd3pc]

best bet...continue the rummage store, thrift and yard sales. Use the mom card. Look for Stamped USA on the tool and names to look for would include the snapOn and MAC as well as older craftsman, S-K, Williams, Proto, BlackHawk, Indestro, and so on.

New tools to look for, that of good quality might include Kobalt, Gear Wrench and of course Craftsman (the new one). But I would just go used, and older.

1/4 inch, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive will be plenty to get him through school to his first real job.

 

[Davefr]

Anyway, my son is a budding mechanic. He’s a senior in high school and plans on getting his automotive degree so he can work on cars for a living.

They key words are "getting his automotive degree".

That will give him access to killer student discount deals from the tool truck brands like Matco, SO, etc. (50% off!!)

Just hold off on buying him any tools until he can get access to student discounts. It'll be the best opportunity he has to get quality tools at great prices.

For Christmas, just set some money aside for him to use after he's enrolled.

 

[Fedwrench]

Even at half off through the student discount program, truck brand tools are still expensive.

My advice is to watch you tube videos from flat rate master and similar about starting mechanics tools.

 

[M6erfan]

Two of the most popular mid range tools brands are Gearwrench and Tekton. Tekton has a great website to browse around on, they sell direct and offer free shipping. Also, Tekton has a super easy lifetime warranty should the need arise.

Gearwrench often has 'buy one get one' deals on their socket sets so keep an eye for those. GL!

 

[Davefr]

Even at half off through the student discount program, truck brand tools are still expensive.

Yes, but for the core hardline tools like wrenches, sockets, ratchets it's probably worth it if he's serious about the career. Even if he changes his mind, those tools will likely always be worth the price he paid in resale value.

The key is to avoid the other stuff like storage, etc.

 

[connorm]

When he's in school to get certified he's gonna get huge discounts at the "tool truck" companies. Mac, Matco, Snap on, Cornewell, etc. These are considered some of the best tools.

Before that, there are options to get him nice stuff. Personally, I really like the craftsman kits that come in a big plastic case. Decent tools, good storage system, and if/when he upgrades to nicer stuff the case is useful.

Depending on what he has already that's a great way to knock out a ton of tools, it'll have minimum a ratchet in 3 sizes, a ton of common sockets, and wrenches in common sizes.

I store some of the trays from that case in my tool box, 2 of them fit in one drawer sideways. When I get better stuff I plan to put the case back together and use it as my truck tools, same as I did before I got the gig I have (and before I was working out of a box in a shop)

Without knowing what kind of tools he already has it's gonna be hard to make a specific recommendation.

FWIW I'm kind of a mechanic. Not certified, not great by any means, but I work on stuff for the company I work for. My setup is based around a craftsman kit my parents bought me in highschool and I think it's one of the best things I ever got. It really gave me the stuff I needed to feel like I could build something and I rebuilt my first engine with mostly that kit.

Other things I added that your son might need/want: Missing sockets. Maybe he needs deeps, or 6 points (all the 1/2 stuff in my kit was 12, imo very little uses for 12 unless you're tightening ARP bolts) or he needs specialties. Good specialties are torx and allen sockets, long versions, etc.
Lots of extensions are good. IMO you can never have enough. Go grab a LONG 3/8 off ebay for him. You can get a used 2 footer from craftsman or even truck brands for under 20 bucks shipped. Don't always need it but when you do it's awesome.
Swivels are a good tool. Also called universal joints. They have a knuckle that allow you to get in tight spaces.
Hammers hammers hammers. Very important. Go get trusty cook, there might be a discount code somewhere on this site I think. look for posts by "hammersmadeinusa" They make hammers for a LOT of companies, even some of the biggies. They sell some packs that include useful hammers.
Prybars are useful.
Socket driver is a good stocking stuffer. basically an extension with a handle, IMO sometimes it's better than using a ratchet.
Pliers, cutters, clamps, brake hangers, caliper compressors, vice grips, tape measures, screw drivers, etc.
Tool storage is good but if he's going to school to get certified he's gonna get great deals on really good stuff. Simple. He can always keep anything he has now as his "home" kit or truck kit. Most of the mechanics I know either have a bunch of cheaper tools at home for minor stuff or they are constantly taking their tools from work.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Specialty ratchets, and snap on universals, wobble extensions, and flare nut wrenches are the only must have hard line tool truck stuff you really have to buy.

A nice collection of 6 point sockets, maybe a set of wright grips would make a great gift. 7-24mm

 

[_Riddle]

I'm a DIYer not a pro, but I really like my gearwrench 84t flex head ratchets. The 3/8" is my go to but the 1/4" also sees a lot of work in tight spaces. The 1/4" was used a lot when replacing the waterpump/thermostat housing on a VW 2.0t last month.

 

[The Fall]

Specialty ratchets, and snap on universals, wobble extensions, and flare nut wrenches are the only must have hard line tool truck stuff you really have to buy.

A nice collection of 6 point sockets, maybe a set of wright grips would make a great gift. 7-24mm

What he said.

 

[MFolks]

A set of drifts and punches,1/4" and 1/2" 6 inch long round brass drifts to help remove stuck parts,without damage.

 

[Shane6377]

You will get a variety or opinions but IMO tool truck brands (snap on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell) are not worth it at full price... and maybe not at discounted prices. There are several alternatives with equivalent quality. You're paying much more for truck service that your son may or may not have in the future.

Williams sockets are really good. I have the USA stuff but they also make Taiwan sockets that get good reviews.

SK Tool, Proto and Wright are also top tier USA brands. GearWrench and Tekton make good sockets and wrenches too.

Estate sales, garage sales, Facebook marketplace and EBay are also good sources for quality used tools.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[woody 73]

Tools for older cars are mostly SAE (1900-1975 give or take) So if your son wants to work on them you are in luck because the ground is littered with tons of older craftsman tools.

Now funny things started happening in the mid to late 1970's and the cars started having a mix of both Metric and SAE (fun times) enough to drive you crazy and again you can find metric craftsman but the pickings sometimes are harder.

1980's and up mostly metric so buy all the craftsman that you can find. Try going on the Ebay and looking for older craftsman sets that say made in the USA.

I have been going to garage sales for the last 40 plus years and 99% of what I find are Craftsman hand tools, why because they were cheap and got the job done.

 

[dylanmitchell]

SK tools makes good stuff and has 50 percent off for students.

https://sktools.com/content/sktools/en_US/vo-tech.html

50% OFF SKTOOLS.COM LIST PRICE*
FREE shipping on orders over $50
$5 flat shipping on orders under $50

Not sure if Milwaukee does student discounts but their new controlled torque 1/2 impact wrench 2769-22 is what I want for Christmas. The shop should supply power tools for tire changes and other automotive uses. Milwaukee 2861-20 and other mid torque from Ingersol Rand, Makita, DeWalt, etc. are other good options too.

 

[RKA]

I'll second the gearwrench and tekton suggestions (particularly tekton's easy warranty policy). Also, if you have a Harbor Freight near you, check out their sockets, socket wrenches, extensions and breaker bars. The other tools like screwdrivers and pliers are largely hit of miss for me, so I wouldn't recommend them, but they are different options so someone here might be able to give you specific suggestions.

The garage sales are good for odds and ends, but if you want a full set of sockets or wrenches, you might find what they have has already been picked over or some of it was lost over the years. But the previous posters are right, a lot of times the old USA stuff is better than what you'll find today, even if it doesn't look pretty. Just make sure it isn't worn out.

The tool truck brands I would avoid for now. First, it's expensive which means you can't buy other tools he may need. Second, it's expensive and until he completes his education and has a few years of experience, he won't know whether this really is something he wants to make a career out of. Do you really want to throw a lot of cash towards pricey tools at this stage? Stick with the basics for now. When he's ready, he will decide which items are worth replacing with high $$$ tools.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I did a price breakdown of the student discounts of the "truck brands", and given inflation what I'm paying for my tools through them is about what I paid for tools back 40 years ago. Not cheap then, not cheap now, but that 50% off sure adds up.Just remember those student tool programs are usually only good for 2 years once you start them, one of my cohorts in school didn't realize it, and by the time they were well into the program and decided to upgrade, they had run past that 2 year window...

Another thing I did before I enrolled, I did a lengthy search on "automotive technology class tool lists" to get an idea of what I needed to upgrade from my ancient stock of stuff. Ended up with 9 or so different lists, and went thru each to build a master student list for what I wanted and needed.

Really important, tho... Don't limit yourself to metrics only (some people say to do this). In school, a LOT of the "donated engines, transmissions, and chassis components" are old stock from a wrecking yard... in our last basic engine 150 class, out of 7 engines, exactly 2 (one Honda, one Canadian GM) were metric, the rest standard. If all you had was metric and got assigned to that Iron Duke or 302 or 318 or Stovebolt 6 (ours was the 302), you would have to "borrow" the school tools (think the worst of a toolroom mishmash) to do your assignments. Worse, our team got shifted to the Canuck GM 3 weeks back... so we used both. But the REAL biggie is when you get out in the "real world" you will need both. Because most real shops will work on whatever comes thru the door. You can't work on it, guess who loses out?

Also - people say don't spend a lot on the toolbox - while there's some truth to that (do you really need an 8' Epiq with side lockers and a hutch for class?) make sure what you get has the space to put tools AND is in good enough shape to roll on and off the floor daily. My 45 year old C'Man 26" combo is a great box, but the casters are now shot, the old sliders are stiff, and the locks (VERY important in a school scenario) need adjusting repeatedly to lock all the drawers.

 

[yrly]

I’d hold off on tool truck stuff until 100% sure that’s the direction he’s going to stay in.

Right now I’d buy a fair comprehensive Husky/Craftsman etc. set, then move on from there.

Ultimately he may find personal preferences for certain things one way or another. There is a reason my avatar on this site is for Metrinch even though I have tons of other stuff.

 

[Citation]

Look at the deal home Depot has on 200 sockets for $80. They are more that sufficient for starting off. He will still need ratchets and other tools but this is a great buy and is very complete.

 

[dylanmitchell]

You can start out with basic tools and buy things you've had to borrow more than a couple of times. This will tell you what you really need. Quality affordable brands like Gearwrench and Tekton can be replaced with better tools when you wear them out. And if you look at E-bay you'll see pro tools being sold by auto techs who decided it wasn't for them or overbought.

 

[richfinn]

It's really hard to recommend what tools or what brand to buy until he figures out what kind of mechanic he is going to be. Trucks/Cars/Agricultural/Motorcycles or
Auto-Electrical/bodywork all have different tools. If he is going to be working on his passion for old cars he will need different tools to a mechanic in a dealership.

The school tool list would be a good idea!!!!

Dont buy $5000 worth of Snap On metric tools just yet
get the basics and spend the cash on books and good training

 

[Citation]

This is the deal I was talking about
https://slickdeals.net/f/13686548-husky-200-piece-socket-set-home-depot-79-00?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1

This is a complete enough set that it will cover most of what he would need as he is learning. As he grows in his job he could replace the sockets he uses a lot but keep these for less used sizes.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have a suggestion for you. Consider the comfort of how a tool feels in one's hands. Old and used, sure there is room for that, but ergonomics is something that should be considered especially with ratchets and wrench profiles. I grew up using "raised panel" craftsman wrenches and ratchets. I hated them, but I found others that felt good in my hands. An example: I prefer the feel of Matco 88 ratchets and my son prefers Snap-on. Please take that into consideration before you pull the trigger. Let him know that you are taking an interest in what he desires to do and give him the opportunity to shop with you. You both will be happy that you did.

 

[dagofast]

Hi. I hope this isn’t a saved thread anywhere. I looked but didn’t see anything. Anyway, my son is a budding mechanic. He’s a senior in high school and plans on getting his automotive degree so he can work on cars for a living. He has some tools but not a ton. I pick up as I go. Mostly rummage sales, thrift stores, etc. I always assumed a tool was a tool. Turns out that’s not the case. What would be a middle of the road brand to look for if I were to buy new? I’m thinking Christmas gift?? I know MAC and Snap On are popular but expensive. Is there a brand that’s in the middle? Not expensive but not total garbage either. Thanks for your help!

Not sure if this matters but my son likes older cars.

First, congrats on being a great mom! My parents kicked in some funds when I bought my first tool set over 50 years ago from Montgomery Wards. (I still have and use them) Second; buying tools is going to be lifelong endeavor for your son. Seriously, if he stays in the trade, he'll still be buying the occasional tool here and there until he retires. And if he is a sick puppy like most of us, probably beyond retirement. But having raised 2 kids of my own, I can tell you their interests and plans can (and DO) change. So, DON'T go hog wild on a buying spree. I'll echo the comments on buying him a nice set of starter tools. Like most men, he'll need most of that stuff anyway.

40 years ago I'd have said just go to Sears but nowadays I'd look to Husky (Home Depot) and a few others as Sears is dying out. The set of sockets that Citation linked to above is a smoking deal. Order them. Then hit up a nearby HD and get ¼, ⅜ & ½" ratchets and some extensions. Also toss in some combination wrenches in SAE & Metric. ¼" to ¾" or 1" should do for the SAE wrenches and 5mm to 19 or 24MM should do in the metric wrench set. While you are there and if you have a few bucks left, toss a nice set of screwdrivers in the cart. He'll still need various pliers, wire cutters, crimpers, hammers, punches etc. But remember, its a journey, not a destination. And he'll still have birthdays and Christmas every year.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-4-in-Full-Polish-72-Tooth-Ratchet-H14FPRAT/202923410

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-8-in-Full-Polish-72-Tooth-Ratchet-H38FPRAT/202923413

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-2-in-Full-Polish-72-Tooth-Ratchet-H12FPRAT/202923408

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Combination-Wrench-Set-44-Piece-HD-378944/309648479

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Screwdriver-Set-15-Piece-246340150/204663546

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would recommend slowly filling up the tool box over time. There's nothing wrong with cheap tools as long you use good judgement and stay away from tools that obviously look like garbage. With cheap tools, it's pretty much a matter of putting them through their paces and seeing what works well and what needs to be upgraded. Tekton and Gearwrench are decent mid price range tools if you want to be on the safe side. Harbor Freight is worth checking out if you read the reviews on their website and do your own visual quality control assessments.

As for use of tool truck brand student discount programs, I would caution against using them. Unless you have experience in the trade, you won't have a nice long list of tools you know you want for sure. And even then, the one time outlay is huge if you place a big enough order to make it worth your while. Even after the discount, there are still cheaper options out there that will do the job just fine. If you happen to miss out on the discount, there's always the option of buying these tools used. If you are patient and know what you are looking for, Snap on tools can be had for more than 50% off list price used. This is especially true for tool boxes.

 

[Moose97]

When my son graduated high school I bought him a large mechanics set of Craftsman tools. I threw in a screwdriver and plier set and a 4 drawer tool box. All in all I think I spent about $400 on it.

 

[RKA]

You can start out with basic tools and buy things you've had to borrow more than a couple of times. This will tell you what you really need. Quality affordable brands like Gearwrench and Tekton can be replaced with better tools when you wear them out. And if you look at E-bay you'll see pro tools being sold by auto techs who decided it wasn't for them or overbought.

Good point! And another outlet to get some deals are local pawn shops.

 

[ZRX61]

Nothing wrong with Husky Pro Series combo wrenches from Home Cheapo.

 

[The Fall]

If you're working on old domestics, it's all SAE. And clutch bits (early 1950s Chevys) and 8-point sockets. We get a few early 1980s GM cars in -- El Caminos mostly -- and that's when some metric fasteners start showing up.

I think we use metric tools four times per month. It's all SAE.

OP, if you've read these posts you've gotten some great info at no cost. Truck tools were only worth it to me at 50% off (with a few exceptions) and the industrial tools like Williams USA, Proto and SK (more mechanic oriented) are very solid tools your son will never need to upgrade from. I'm proud to use those tools.

What folks are saying about reselling the truck tools if it doesn't work out are correct. You can sell them on eBay used for roughly the 50% you paid for them. It won't be much of a hit.

Just to get him going and if money is tight, I'd probably get a big GearWrench socket set. But USA-made tools are the way to go. Others can disagree. That's fine. Also, if he gets into a Jr. college auto program, half the program is just preparing for the ASE tests. He won't be turning many wrenches, unfortunately, and the school will have a big tool supply room. It might be best to drop some real money when he lands an entry-level job at a dealership or independent shop.

 

[yrly]

If you’re gonna spend $22 on a ratchet you might be better off doing this as a separate Standard and Metric stuff if he likes old cars which will have SAE.

This is a nice SAE socket set, I picked one up the other day, has a nice ratchet, breaker bar and a good assortment of 3/8 extensions. It’s really worth it just for the accessory assortment.

https://www.sears.com/dewalt-3-1-2-...lerId=Sears&prdNo=15&blockNo=15&blockType=G15

I’d get something like this then a more comprehensive metric set (I wouldn’t buy the corresponding metric set to the linked one though).

 

[RedneckWelder]

For a single brand source Gearwrench is pretty damn good and reasonable cost

 

[jmckay]

Hi. I hope this isn’t a saved thread anywhere. I looked but didn’t see anything. Anyway, my son is a budding mechanic. He’s a senior in high school and plans on getting his automotive degree so he can work on cars for a living. He has some tools but not a ton. I pick up as I go. Mostly rummage sales, thrift stores, etc. I always assumed a tool was a tool. Turns out that’s not the case. What would be a middle of the road brand to look for if I were to buy new? I’m thinking Christmas gift?? I know MAC and Snap On are popular but expensive. Is there a brand that’s in the middle? Not expensive but not total garbage either. Thanks for your help!

Not sure if this matters but my son likes older cars.

For the average North American it can be summed up by 2 choices. American or offshore. If has been my opinion ( 40 years ) that offshore tools offer dramatically better value fir equal quality. I went through this very same issue with my son. I chose Tekton. Gear Wrench is another good brand. I’ve used both brands in my profession, they are both excellent. I would recommend a good tool box, not a giant one but a portable. I chose a Milwaukee pack out.

 

[RJMadigan]

As an aircraft mechanics instructor I get this question all of the time. My advice to my students is buy what you need and can afford now, upgrade and replace as you make money. Don't be tempted to dump a huge pile of cash on a tool truck tool box. The same sized item from Harbor Freight is going to hold your tools just fine and will take a lot of abuse over time just fine. As an auto mechanic (I am an ASE Master Auto / Heavy truck mech as well as an FAA licensed A&P) I can tell you that the one advantage to the tool trucks is that when you're working and break one of their tools in the middle of a job the warranty is a phone call to your dealer and a replacement is often in your hand in an hour. That's important when you're working. But, in my experience, it's not that much of an advantage over other warrantied tools. As others have said the student discount deals are often phenomenal but you are still looking at a lot of cash. The "yard sale" approach is a great way to find quality, U.S. made tools at a pennies on the dollar. Watch for estate sales of retired mechanics.

As the plan is to work automotive then he'll need both metric and standard wrenches and sockets. You can get away with cheaper wrenches but cheap sockets will break so spend a little more for quality on those. He'll be buying ratchets until he finds what feels best in his hand. Yes, mechanics do have favorite tools! I have a drawer full of ratchets but that one flex head Matco 3/8" fits my hand best. My 1/2" old Craftsmen is my go to in that drive. There's a thousand manufacturers of screwdrivers but the the old school Craftsmen is comfortable to me. Experience will make those decisions down the road.

One piece of advice that I got from an old timer when I was starting out was that all that you need to do the job is a small set of basic tools; sockets, combo wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.. Everything beyond that just makes the jobs easier and faster so you can complete more work and make more money.