Two Years into Fleet Service.

[shoggoth80]

So,
It struck me today that I am coming up on my two year soon enough at work.
It's interesting reflecting back on things a little, as I muse over tools, brands, origins, and use/abuse.

Most of the stuff I have for my work box is Craftsman, SK, Proto. I have some Gearwrench and Pittsburgh (my own ratchets that I threw into it). I think my Vise Grips are Carlyle? Might be Evercraft. Napa brand either way. Tools at work are issued. Some of it is probably older than I am.

Observations:

I wrench day in, day out. 40 hours a week, sometimes more. I work on everything...little trucks, maintenance vans, 2 tons, 7 tons, trailers, occasionally even tractors (but that's typically swapping out a flat in the field).

I don't baby my tools. I use them, hammer on them, cheater bar, lock wrenches, curse at them. Occasionally I modify them.

What's broke so far:
Craftsman 19mm socket. Broke it on a Caravan lug nut. Removing it, not torquing it.

12mm SK universal socket (12pt). Failed at the joint in a Ford's u-joint bolt. Least I think it was SK... the rest of them are SK.

SK ratcheting wrench 15mm/17mm. Blew the guts out of this on a rusted exhaust bolt. Also on a Ford.

Gearwrench roto-head rat. Stripped the teeth on this one. Again, rusted exhaust bolt on a Ford van. This was in the first couple weeks of getting hired on. Got it warranty swapped. Been kicking since.

IR Butterfly wrench. I broke two of these. Both times it gave out at the swivel Casting is either weak there, or I'm just unlucky. Got a Blue Point now. It works alright.

IR 3/4" gun. This is out for repair. The directional buttons kept falling out. Rocking an older (slower, but really beefy, with a long anvil) IR gun. It's pretty heavy... but it cranks off trailer and tractor lugs like no ones business.

SK 8mm and 13mm sockets. These are probably decades old to start with. My 8mm is starting to get wobbled out a bit. Same with the 13mm. These are very common sizes where I work. Lots of battery, alternator, and starter swaps. Guess that'll do it right?

For what it is worth, I also shattered the guts on 2 Kobalt air tools when I worked places where I had to supply my own. Two 1/2, and one 3/8". I cannot recommend them at all. Lol.

15mm Snap On mid length 3/8" impact. Yeah... it's wearing out. Lots of little GM starter swaps. Also, tool has been around for years before I got hired.

Straightened out a Craftsman punch today. Bent it. Snapped the ends off of a couple others. Filed and reprofiled in case I have to wail on something that hard again.

What hasn't broken (surprisingly)
The Pittsburgh 1/4" roto-head (I like roto-heads). I use the snot out of this thing for a 1/4 drive ratchet. Really good for the...what...$12 it cost?

13mm Pittsburgh impact socket. Can't really put a 13mm through hell. The fasteners just aren't big enough. I didn't have a 13mm in my issued box... so I tossed in a cheap one of mine.

Not a single Proto tool.

That's all I can recall for now. Maybe some folks might find this of value. Maybe some might find it funny. Maybe a couple will know the trials. Lol. Mostly, I'm just rambling.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Thanks for the insight and honesty here.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I am always curious of the the shops that issue tools. What exactly do you get as a starter package when you start? Do you get a box too?

My dad taught auto repair at the local high school. When he started in the 70's they used to get 10k a year for a budget. Tons of soap and paper towels, but also toollS and car parts came out of it. All the trucks stopped by. There was a huge, secure tool room loaded with all high end stuff. When he retired 3 years ago his budget was $500 and most of it went cleaning supplies. Point being the kids had a fully loaded tool room to play with.

 

[thesilverone]

Sounds like you need some breaker bars

 

[BlackjackNA]

Sounds like you need some breaker bars

Concurrence....

 

[theoldwizard1]

Great feedback from a pro !

 

[Sanny81]

Cool info. And I have to agree about not breaking a single Proto tool. I absolutely beat on my Proto punches at work working on forklifts and they are tough as hell.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Cool info. And I have to agree about not breaking a single Proto tool. I absolutely beat on my Proto punches at work working on forklifts and they are tough as hell.

No joke there! I still have plenty of Proto Los Angeles punches and chisels I inherited that have held up far better than my Mayhew set. None bent, and the chisels have never dented (unlike the Mayhews).

Also still have some Proto LA and Plvmb wrenches, ratchet, breaker bars, etc. and all have held up to multiple lifetimes of abuse.

 

[Rarified27]

It's so nice to read honest feedback on tools and WHY.

So much on this site is opinion, not experience and this post shows the latter's value.

Great Read!

 

[Dynasty]

Great post. Nice to hear budget tools like Pittsburgh can handle real world use by a pro.

 

[shoggoth80]

My toolbox was issued on I think my third week on the job. There is a basic tool list that everyone is supposed to have. We all have most of that list... I don't think anyone has ALL of that list. We all have things in excess of that list. Lol. Yes, the toolbox is issued too. I've got a Flight Line, some guys have Craftsman, some guys got lucky and got Proto boxes, and some others have (I think) MXL.

Granted the Pittsburgh stuff doesn't get beat a lot... but at 1/4" drive and 13mm, there isn't much beating to do. I've used the little thing to tighten probably beyond what you would use a 1/4" to tighten (door counterbalancers, small ratchet is the only thing that will get in there besides a wrench. These get reamed on pretty hard), rebuilding 7pin connector sockets, door mechanisms etc. It's been doing well for a budget grab.

The why and how of tool failure is probably more important than the fact that it failed. Pushed hard enough, everything fails. Lol.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Cool info. And I have to agree about not breaking a single Proto tool. I absolutely beat on my Proto punches at work working on forklifts and they are tough as hell.

I love my Proto and Plomb punches. Great tools.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[oldldh]

I concur with the two posters who suggested that you need some breaker bars...

Badly...

Longer is better...

HF has some decent ones for not a lot...

GearWrench does too, but they're more expensive...

 

[shoggoth80]

I got breakers. I just don't use them a lot. They tend to go on the backside of fasteners when I have to gun something off or on. If I have to do a repair in the field, like a common flat...I grab the 1/2. The 3/8" doesn't serve me much. I'm likely to hit something with an impact if I can't just crank it loose.

Some of these tools are as old as I am, so take that for what it is. I got my box after someone retired from the service. There's an older SK ratchet in there...1/2" flex head, with one corner of the selector chipped off (it's a cross pattern) that just cranks on everything. I've occasionally hit stuff I can't physically turn with it (and it is as long as any of my breakers...I Kinda don't get a choice here)... and it's held up.

Anything that I bring in basically becomes gov't property...as we aren't supposed to bring in our own stuff. I've already called a couple ratchets of my own as "willing to lose" because I like rotoheads that much. But, as much as I like where I work, I'm not keen on making donations to them.

 

[Ponchoguy]

I got breakers. I just don't use them a lot. They tend to go on the backside of fasteners when I have to gun something off or on. If I have to do a repair in the field, like a common flat...I grab the 1/2. The 3/8" doesn't serve me much. I'm likely to hit something with an impact if I can't just crank it loose.

Some of these tools are as old as I am, so take that for what it is. I got my box after someone retired from the service. There's an older SK ratchet in there...1/2" flex head, with one corner of the selector chipped off (it's a cross pattern) that just cranks on everything. I've occasionally hit stuff I can't physically turn with it (and it is as long as any of my breakers...I Kinda don't get a choice here)... and it's held up.

Anything that I bring in basically becomes gov't property...as we aren't supposed to bring in our own stuff. I've already called a couple ratchets of my own as "willing to lose" because I like rotoheads that much. But, as much as I like where I work, I'm not keen on making donations to them.

I assume you mean a "city fleet" shop (or township, etc). You might be able to get SK to send you a kit for that ratchet to fix it up. Just check with your boss and let him know you're going to do it.

 

[daddy2coull]

i've been on the tools 23 years now, in all that time i think i've had a ratchet kit in a snap on 3/8 dual 80 and a no3 pozi screwdriver blade. i've never had to warranty a socket that i can recall. all of my gear is snap on.

 

[shoggoth80]

I don't get to choose the brands I have in my toolbox, unless I bring them in. See above posts for why that isn't such a thing. If I had my choice, it would probably have a fair share of different brands in there. The USPS doesn't look at so much a brand, as I think they do warranty/price. Though it seems that attitude is changing a little. There is a LOT of Craftsman around the shop. For what it is worth, there used to be a Sears right down the street. Not there anymore.

 

[Fedwrench]

I am always curious of the the shops that issue tools. What exactly do you get as a starter package when you start? Do you get a box too?

My guys get a mixture. For a box we were using the KRSC46F series cart but, recently switched to KRSC326F version for improved mobility between bays.
The core of their tool set is what Snap on calls Metric Set A. To this we add proto impact sockets, a digital tire inflator, ratcheting wrenches, automotive specialty tools like cable operated hose clamp pliers, brake service tools, serp belt kit, oil filter sockets, oil filter pliers, trim tools, a DVOM, and usually IR air tools. The Proto impacts are becoming more popular though. The rest of the set is tailored to the tech's taste. The intent is to outfit the individual tech with about 95% of what they need to do their job. OEM scan tools and other specialty tools are shared and stored in Vidmar cabinets or on shelves which makes up the other 5% of what a tech needs. We buy mostly US made stuff but, you'll also find knipex, gearwrench, vim, and Carlyle items too.
We have a Snap on industrial account but, everything is handled online. I don't have any tool trucks visiting ever. I make extensive use of online vendors from amazon, FoxRunTools, MSC, snap on, tooltopia, to Zoro. We break very few tools. Although we rely on publications like PTEN for new product releases, we get by fine without a tool truck.

I have about 12 years in fleet work. I may miss some of the tool truck dealers I've had and the free swag but, I don't miss a weekly tool bill. I still buy my own tools as I like what I like and want to be free to do whatever I want with my tools but, online vendors meet my needs just fine.