What tool to buy

[Ramage97]

So I am wanting to become a technician after I get out of college next year. I was just curious to know what tool brand should I start buying so I can get a good collection going. I want the product to be cheap, but also reliable. So besides mac, or snap what would you all recommend?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Buy cheap (HF) or used first. After you get a good job, THEN worry about brand names but do not go into debt chasing brands !

 

[Moe_Hushlin]

So I am wanting to become a technician after I get out of college next year. I was just curious to know what tool brand should I start buying so I can get a good collection going. I want the product to be cheap, but also reliable. So besides mac, or snap what would you all recommend?

When I sold Appliances years ago this was my favorite line when my customer wanted the top of the line but inexpensive, "Good things aren't cheap & cheap things aren't good."

Sold a **** ton of French door refrigerators btw.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T377A using Tapatalk

 

[signcrafter]

I don't limit myself to one brand. I try to find good deals on good quality tools. For sockets and ratchets and bit sockets I like gearwrench. For impact sockets I went with sunex. Specialty tools I've gone with a little of everything and a lot of them I bought used.

 

[Parrothead]

Tekton - has a 30% student discount

They’re affordable even without the discount and you’re making money right away.

 

[ptgarcia]

Tekton - has a 30% student discount

They’re affordable even without the discount and you’re making money right away.

^ This. Then if things break or you find a particular tool inadequate you can replace only those tools with something better, saving you a ton of money in the process.

 

[Holmesx10]

Tekton like others have said or find decent Taiwanese brand tools. Usually you get near USA quality at near Chinese prices. If you don’t have any sockets invented yet I would personally look at dewalts 192 piece socket set. It comes with 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drives with basically no skips except for the 23mm which imo is not needed.

No wrenches so you can buy whichever brand you want which is either good or bad depending on your feelings of wrench sets that never seem to go up to a big enough size if you buy them from a tool kit

 

[bobemmerich]

For general socket/wrench sets, Stanley should be a good bet. They're decent, and can be bought at any WalMart or Lowes. For specialty tools, I'd say try to pick up used stuff (sensor sockets/wrenches, filter wrenches, etc...)I agree with TheOldWizard...Don't go into debt over tools. As long as they're not abused, they should last a long, long time.

 

[cesski]

For anything ratcheting, I say go with the big names. I bought almost all my tools pre-owned or bnew thru eBay and pawn shops.

 

[bob15]

Go to pawn shops, flea markets, swap meets and look around for quality US made items. Ebay, c-list and the GJ classifieds are also good places to start.

Don't go into truck debt right off the bat. You might find turning wrenches isn't what you really like to do after-all.....

 

[cowboy73]

Make a detailed list of what you need, then search it out on ebay, CL, etc. Find out what a new one of each tool costs so that you have an idea when you are getting a deal or getting screwed. Carry the list with you. Hit up pawn shops, flea markets, yard sales. A lot of tools are sold that still have plenty of life left in them.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Buy cheap (HF) or used first. After you get a good job, THEN worry about brand names but do not go into debt chasing brands !

It's kinda hard to say it better than that.

If you insist on truck brands, check out auctions, pawn shops, yard sales and swap meets. DON'T OVERPAY!!! Tools bought on the secondary market will work as good as new tools

 

[travisn1]

Snap on gives 50% off to college students, any major. Other brands might as well.

 

[shawndp]

Snap on gives 50% off to college students, any major. Other brands might as well.

Any major you say?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

So I am wanting to become a technician after I get out of college next year.

In what field? General Automotive, Auto Body, Diesel, Industrial Maintenance, HVAC, etc? Helps to narrow down what you'll be using day in and day out.

I was just curious to know what tool brand should I start buying so I can get a good collection going. I want the product to be cheap, but also reliable. So besides mac, or snap what would you all recommend?

Matco also has a 50% student discount that's easy to sign up for. Basically means you get the Matco warranty and label for the same price as the OEM manufacturers.

NAPA has a student discount program, as well as a few others. There was a thread a while back that was compiling a list of student discounts. Also don't forget to sign up for Amazon Prime Student with school email address, cuts the yearly cost in half.

 

[Robinson1]

Get on ebay and search "hand tool lot"

Surprising number of large lots of mixed sockets and wrenches. If you were so inclined a person could build a pretty nice set with a couple of these lots and have a ton of duplicates for making speciality tools.

I've bought several lots in the past. Cherry picked the good stuff and resold the rest. Usually get most of my money back.