So I graduate tech school for auto in about 10 months and I wanted to know what other tools I should buy. Right now I have basic hand tools mixed between snap on ratchets screwdrivers and a mix of craftsman and Cromwell sockets extentions combo wrenches pliers. On my list of things to buy are ir impacts, impact sockets 3/8 1/2 and swivel, swivel sockets, pry bars, cordless impacts, torque wrenches, ratchet wrenches, tap and dye set, hammers. I also have a fluke meter. So any ideas on what else I should buy? Thanks!
What tools should I buy
- Thread starter ruby9090
- Start date
genevabuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2012
- Messages
- 227
Punches and chisels
scrapers and picks
snap ring pliers
hose pliers
extensions
adapters
various hex and torx tools
ratcheting screwdriver and bits
feeler gauges
breaker bars
line wrenches
Snap On or MAC hard handle screwdrivers
various vice grips and pliers
brake tools
battery tools
torque wrench
scrapers and picks
snap ring pliers
hose pliers
extensions
adapters
various hex and torx tools
ratcheting screwdriver and bits
feeler gauges
breaker bars
line wrenches
Snap On or MAC hard handle screwdrivers
various vice grips and pliers
brake tools
battery tools
torque wrench
Last edited:
crewchief888
Well-known member
good filter wrenches
i prefer the pliers type for what i work with.
my band type wrenches are lisle & OTC.
good torx & allen bit/sockets
i've tried a lot of them over the years, SO gold bits are worth their weight in gold.
i prefer IR impacts, 1/2"dr 231 & 3/8"dr 212,
rest of my air tools are a mix of SO, CP, IR, bluepoint, astro and even HF.
probably the best "lesson" you can learn starting out, is you dont need everything the day you start, or weeks/months down the road.
for example, if you only need a 1/4" dr 7mm chrome swivel, why buy an entire set of them you may never use?
if you find that you are using them more and more, then possibly buy a set, you'll always have an "extra" of the size you use all the time.
i've been buying like that for 30 years, if i had a nickel for every 3/8" dr 9/16th deep socket i have, i'd be a millionaire
as mentioned numerous times on GJ, keep your tool buying within your budget
i prefer the pliers type for what i work with.
my band type wrenches are lisle & OTC.
good torx & allen bit/sockets
i've tried a lot of them over the years, SO gold bits are worth their weight in gold.
i prefer IR impacts, 1/2"dr 231 & 3/8"dr 212,
rest of my air tools are a mix of SO, CP, IR, bluepoint, astro and even HF.
probably the best "lesson" you can learn starting out, is you dont need everything the day you start, or weeks/months down the road.
for example, if you only need a 1/4" dr 7mm chrome swivel, why buy an entire set of them you may never use?
if you find that you are using them more and more, then possibly buy a set, you'll always have an "extra" of the size you use all the time.
i've been buying like that for 30 years, if i had a nickel for every 3/8" dr 9/16th deep socket i have, i'd be a millionaire
as mentioned numerous times on GJ, keep your tool buying within your budget
cole_CT
Well-known member
Thats some good advice!good filter wrenches
i prefer the pliers type for what i work with.
my band type wrenches are lisle & OTC.
good torx & allen bit/sockets
i've tried a lot of them over the years, SO gold bits are worth their weight in gold.
i prefer IR impacts, 1/2"dr 231 & 3/8"dr 212,
rest of my air tools are a mix of SO, CP, IR, bluepoint, astro and even HF.
probably the best "lesson" you can learn starting out, is you dont need everything the day you start, or weeks/months down the road.
for example, if you only need a 1/4" dr 7mm chrome swivel, why buy an entire set of them you may never use?
if you find that you are using them more and more, then possibly buy a set, you'll always have an "extra" of the size you use all the time.
i've been buying like that for 30 years, if i had a nickel for every 3/8" dr 9/16th deep socket i have, i'd be a millionaire
as mentioned numerous times on GJ, keep your tool buying within your budget
crewchief888
Well-known member
Thats some good advice!
ty ty ty
the business of "wrenching" is hard enough sometimes, especially when you are just getting started.
massive tool debt isnt what you want as a young guy doing LOF.
i'd been at 3 or 4 dealers in my 1st 5 years of wrenching, settled in to my "specialty" then added tools as i needed them, sometimes buying sets, but mostly buying single tools for specific jobs, and then filling in those (mismatched) sets.
most of the time i tried to hold to my weekly tool budget, but there were times i was writing $250+ checks every week.
glad those days are over now.
all my tool buying is now with "disposable income" from scrapping, and an occasional sidejob or tip from a customer.
i'm slowly filling up a 2nd/3rd set of tools in the garage, adding welding/fab stuff that i've "done without" or years, mainly from pawn shops, flea mkts, and the occasional garage sale.
i buy used, name brand & truck brand hand tools out of the $1 bins at the pawn shop, USA made welding clamps, for under $5 ea, and some stuff from HF.
i try to s t r e t c h every dollar of that disposable income.
i actually think it's easier to buy good quality, less expensive, tools now than it used to be.
we really didnt have much of a choice 20-30 years ago, CM, SK and truck brands were pretty much as there was for good quality tools.
with brands like kobalt and gearwrench, (just to name 2 of many) around now, good quality and low price have gotten a lot closer