Thread: let's buy tools

So I'm going to school for auto tech, and hope to be in a garage this summer. I'm in a position where i can buy some tools now, so what are some of the forum's favorites? i have socket sets and combo wreches, but not much more than that. here's what i've kinda been tossing around:

air compressor with impact gun, air ratchet, grinders and cut off wheel
ratcheting wrenches, i love them so much
i need an engine stand for my build, so i'll throw that in
dial calipers and a micrometer
my own pair of wire strippers
circuit test light
a new soldering iron
maybe a really powerful dremel? that's not for cars as much, but i've needed them before
SES/CEL scanner

and i really really really want a copy of HP Tuners software

any input?

Buy all the snap on stuff you can while you are in school. Other stuff you need
power probe
fuel line disconnect set
dmm
swivel sockets
ball joint press
any thing else you have money for

that snap on stuff is expensive as hell lol

Yeah because its ment to last and do its job everytime.

i don't doubt that at all

Yup 90% of my stuff is snapon. Guy shows up every week and warranties my stuff no ?s asked.

i feel like i could rack up a 5-figure account in the matter of 10 minutes lol. how often do you use air tools in a garage setting? i've been able to use hand tools for just about everything i've ever had to do

I use them all the time. Pretty much every job besides an oil change.

breaker bars and a good ball pein would be good,

my snap on guy doesnt know half the **** he sells.

so i have mosly mac and matco both lifetime warrenty.

but seriously buy as much as you can afford if you get a school discount

Let me say, I've never regretted the Snap-On stuff I've bought. If you are looking to start ... aim straight to the deep sockets (90% of what you do) and I'd personally recommed the ball pivot impacts. Don't think about the price, they are priceless in most situations. Screw drivers etc as well.

Scan Ebay and Craigslist for deals on SnapOn. To have it warrantied, you don't have to be the original purchaser.

As for ratcheting wrenches. Gearwrench XL's are fantastic and have most of the benefits of SnapOn. Don't mistake this for being as good as SnapOn, but they'll do just fine for what you'll be doing for years to come. Lifetime warranty as well.
Amazon.com: Gear Wrench 85698 12 Piece XL Lock Flex Ratcheting Comb Wrench Set-Metric: Home Improvement

Prybars.. want to buy one set? Gearwrench 82248 is FTMFW
Amazon.com: GearWrench (KD 82301) 3 Piece Indexable Pry Bar Set: Home Improvement
Amazon.com: GearWrench (KDT82248) 48" Extendable Pry Bar: Home Improvement

On air tools. I'm a fan of the ingersol guns/air ratchets. Quiet, powerful and very durable. I picked up a used 3/8 Titanium IR gun off a forum for $75 shipped. Can't tell you how amazing that gun works. It'll rip out almost anything that my 1/2" gun will.

Compressor - get something with a fast recovery, good storage and 150psi. 120 can work, but 150 does the better job hands down. I found a deal in the used section of Sears. It's common for someone to buy a tool like a compressor or chain saw, use it for a couple of days and return it. That's a nice price drop on a nearly new item. Browse this section at your local stores and nab the deals.

Reversible snap ring pliers.
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Spring clamp tool, don't question it. Buy this biatch now..lol, probably 5 of my friends own one after using mine.
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Trim panel tools, I use the smaller ones for clips and connectors in the engine bay. Not necessarily this set, but this is an idea.
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Torque wrenches, Impact sockets *black ones* you should have a set of deep well and shallow well in 1/2 inch drive.. clamps,vise grips... Basically your list could never end because at one point you'll use each and every one of your tools.. Look into some of the specialty tools also as most modern cars require them someplace to remove parts. So far you are pretty good with what you'll need and the things others have mentioned too.

Was about to say, ask your instructor if you get a school discount. Friend of mine got 40% off with their school discount on Snap-on tools. After school though I recommend Husky from Home Depot and Harbor Freight tools.

I've had my Husky tools for a long time. I haven't broke any of my sockets. I did break the 1/4" and 3/8" extensions and wore out the 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets after 15 years and replaced them easily. Friend has 1/2" drive Husky impact gun that ran circles around the snap on and Mac tools guns in his UPS shop working on their tractor trailors. Broke bolts loose their's couldn't without having to step up to the 3/4" or 1" impacts. They had a Hurricane compressor for air supply.

I recommend staying away from craftsman. You'll be going to the store constantly turning in sockets for the lifetime warranty.

I have alot of Harbor Freight tools. Their tools are really good for the money, especially with the coupons and lifetime warranty on hand tools. Seems like I have at least 1 of everything they sell since I'm there constantly. They also have alot of specialty tools (compression tester, fuel injector noid tester, spring compressor, etc.). There are some items to stay away from though. Just ask, I can probably give you a review on it.

Also check out some Ingersoll-Rand tools. They make great impact guns, though I use the Harbor Freight Earthquake impact myself (basically an Ingersoll-Rand copy). It's on the heavy side, but lots of power.

If you'll be working on any Honda's, you'll need an impact screwdriver and some heat for their brake rotor screws.
Impact Screwdriver Set with Case

Some other tools:
1/2" Impact Wrench and Quality Impact Wrenches- Harbor Freight Tools
3/8" Professional Air Ratchet Wrench Kept getting stuck when I first got it, but after a couple days with constant lubing, it wore in and it is strong.
11 Piece Snap Ring Pliers Set
Oxygen Sensor and Diesel Injection Socket Set
11 Piece Noid Light and IAC Tester Set
1/2" Extendable Ratchet I love this thing, works great in the wheel well area when trying to find a long enough wrench and you can't get enough leverage without bumping into things.
3/8" x 1/4" Dual Drive Extendable Ratchet
7 Piece 1/2" Drive Metric Impact Swivel Socket Set
7 Piece 3/8" Drive Metric Impact Swivel Socket Set
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece...set-67913.html
7 Piece 3/8" Drive SAE Impact Swivel Socket Set
8 Piece 1/2" Drive Internal Impact Star Socket Set I've broke other sets, this set holds up.
There's a set of security star sockets with the hole in the center (couldn't find a link to the set at the moment)
6 Piece 1/4" Drive Star Bit Set
Haven't used this 1/4" drive set yet, but is now on my list to get.
7 Piece 1/4" and 3/8" Drive External Impact Star Socket Set
4 Piece 1/2" Drive Impact Extension Set Haven't broke any yet
2 Piece Universal Impact Joint Set
7 Piece Impact Socket Adapter Set
8 PIece High Visibility 3/8" Drive Deep Wall Metric Impact Socket Set No 15mm in the set, but use constantly.
3 Piece 3/8" Drive Impact Wobble Socket Extension Set
9 Piece 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" Drive Wobble Socket Extensions
So many more, but ran out of time.

Without question
Ingersol Rand Titanium Impact wrench - best bang for the buck. Half the guys at the dealership I worked at ditched their Snap-on/mac impacts and picked up Ingersol's after I got mine. 1,000ftlbs will break the toughest bolts loose. (only one I ever struggled with was a honda crank bolt LOL)

As far as wrenches save some money and go craftsman. Never had a problem with them and they're half the price of snap-on/ mac/ matco. Even cut one to make it fit a tight spot and they still swapped it out for me for a new one.

my new favorite tool is the IR 3/8 impact ratchet. it just kicks ass and you can take lug nuts off with it

thank you guys for so many links, i'm sure that took forever

Originally Posted by RegalGS98s

I recommend staying away from craftsman. You'll be going to the store constantly turning in sockets for the lifetime warranty.

WHAT?

almost all my sockets are craftsman. have a few snapons and matcos and havent broken any of them using a IR titanium 1/2 drive impact. i work on semis and use my impact alot.


OP....dont be afriad of craftsman, just dont get there innovative crap. thats all Chinese. get there sockets, ratchets, that type of stuff and youll be set. snapon, matco, mac(if you can find them), cornwell(good quality and cheaper of the dealers), ive even seen a few SK trucks.

also if you have a good basic set you will be good to get started. You will definitely find out what all you need when you start wrenching in a shop.

Originally Posted by sportred04

WHAT?

almost all my sockets are craftsman. have a few snapons and matcos and havent broken any of them using a IR titanium 1/2 drive impact. i work on semis and use my impact alot.


OP....dont be afriad of craftsman, just dont get there innovative crap. thats all Chinese. get there sockets, ratchets, that type of stuff and youll be set. snapon, matco, mac(if you can find them), cornwell(good quality and cheaper of the dealers), ive even seen a few SK trucks.

I have a set of Crapsman. Split one of the sockets 4 times in a row going back and forth to Sears for exchanges. Got tired of it and stopped at Kmart (before they joined with Sears) of all places and got some Chinese Junk to break the bolt loose. As far as other tools from Sears. I got a 4 1/2" grinder from them. When I finally went to use it, it quit after using it for a week. I didn't find the receipt until 7 days after the 1 year warranty expired. They wouldn't budge on it at all, just said buy another one. Went to Harbor Freight. Got their Magnesium Grinder for half the price and still working to this day. I've had other Harbor Freight tools break and turn them in 2 months past warranty and they still honor it. On another issue, found out thru a large class action lawsuit Crapsman lied about the power rating on my lawnmower. They wanted to know all sorts of info so I didn't enroll cause all they would do is extend the warranty. Friends and I havn't had good luck with their tools.