|
|
|
Your donations help keep this valuable resource free and growing. Thank you.
|
Becoming a mechanic |
Post Reply 
|
Page <1 34567> |
| Author | ||
AMC instigator 
AMC Addicted 
Joined: Sep/13/2009 Location: Cook Minn. Status: Offline Points: 955 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Posted: Sep/15/2010 at 10:05pm |
|
|
Then what the folks at the shop where I worked would do was have the young new guys take it off, so he got the blood blister. Yeah I already fell into that trap when I was 6
 Mean bast-rds well at least I can laugh now. SH
|
||
 |
||
|
purple72Gremlin
AMC Addicted
Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 10085 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Sep/15/2010 at 11:02pm |
|
|
||
|
||
|
bobtdms
AMC Apprentice 
Joined: Aug/16/2010 Location: Northern MI. Status: Offline Points: 36 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Oct/14/2010 at 8:40pm |
|
|
As long as you buy quality tools with a good warranty you'll be ok. I agree that it's a good idea to have spares of your most relied upon tools if you can swing it.
Something to watch out for with the tool trucks like snap-on, mac, matco and cornwell is the construction and overall tool design. When comparing tools of the same type between brands they are not all equal in quality/performance. example: snap-on and mac brake caliper presses tend to be much bulkier and more of a pain to use than the $50 kit I bought and used for 10 years from harbor freight. I've seen guys in the shops I've worked in have problems with a given tool of one brand and everyone else in the shop with a differant brand of the same tool had no problems. Do some shopping around and compare individual products rather trying to remain loyal to one specific brand. Whatever you buy, just remember you'll be using it 40 hours or more a week. A lot of people I've worked with were cool enough to let you borrow tools from time to time. I tried to use the rule of if you borrow it 3 times you should buy your own. Another tip for the tool trucks is wait for the sales flyers (can have some great deals in them). I wish you luck with the ASSET program, when I did it from 99'-01' my sponsoring dealer gave me the shaft hard. Their last asset did the same to them so they did me one better. Learn all you can from the people you work with (especially the old guys) and any training seminars (if you can stay awake through them) The real world is nothing like the classroom and you'll likely learn way more on the job then any classroom. That being said, that little piece of paper you get when you graduate will get your foot through a lot of doors. Good luck with your career. |
||
|
1972 Jetset blue 360/auto jav/amx. (driver)
projects: 1973 fairway green 401/auto jav amx. 1972 jetset blue 304/auto jav sst |
||
|
||
|
poormansMACHINE
AMC Addicted
Charter Member Joined: Jun/28/2007 Location: Shoemaker-Levy9 Status: Offline Points: 12357 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Oct/14/2010 at 9:00pm |
|
I've got a neighbor down the street that comes over to borrow tools. His usual pattern is to try me first, then off to Sears. When he's done, he'll return his purchase to the store. |
||
|
||
|
purple72Gremlin
AMC Addicted
Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 10085 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Oct/14/2010 at 10:36pm |
|
|
||
|
||
|
Richtom1
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Oct/22/2010 Location: Florida Status: Offline Points: 52 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Nov/11/2010 at 8:37pm |
|
|
I spent nearly 20 years as a mechanic. Since your livelyhood depends on it buy the best!
Almost all my tools were Snap-On interspersed with Mac and specialty tools from Germany. Yes they are expensive but they were also expensive back in the 60's when I started out. As the years went by my tool assortment grew as well. Richard |
||
|
||
|
pushrod
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Nov/02/2010 Location: York,pa Status: Offline Points: 43 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Nov/12/2010 at 7:54am |
|
|
When I work I had nothing but snap on, then moving my box got stolen. When I got back into it I didnt want to spend all that $$$$$$$$$$$$$ again. Now all I mainly buy is SK. At like 1/3 the cost. We have a affordable tool truck and some hardware stores sell sk. So there not harder to replace. I think there right up there with the top tool co's. Have the same 6pt 3/8 socket for 15yrs and I used them hard. The only down fall is when people walk in to shop, I dont get the WOW factor becouse I dont have a big snap on box
|
||
|
||
|
billd
Moderator Group 
Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 22774 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Nov/12/2010 at 8:04am |
|
|
I can live without the "wow" factor - and I made a living fine off what I have. I guess I didn't mind showing that most mechanics weren't exactly raking in the big bucks- and honestly, we weren't, and all I could afford was all I could afford..
And I still have and still use most of the tools I started with, and guess what? I do fine, still put out top-notch work. The tools I had didn't stop me from being one of the top mechanics in central Iowa, nor did the snap-on tools the other guys had make them any better mechanics - I still produced circles around them, and had the lowest come-back ratings. Like ron here says just because it says professional grade on the box.......... LOL - the tools don't make the mechanic, the mechanic makes the tools work, and the better the mechanic, the better he can use what he's got. Gee, some of my stuff is even home made! Remember those angled fancy drivers for getting to idle mixture screws? I think snap-on sold one for 20-some bucks. I made one... for 5. and I still have and use it today! A piece of brake line, a chunk of heavy speedometer cable guts, a short extension which I cut, using one piece for the end, the other piece I ground into a screwdriver configuration, and wah-lah - a really nifty tool for getting to those really hard to reach idle mixture screws! And I saved over 20 bucks! My engine hoist- I made. Engine stand- I made, and it's tall, I don't have to stoop. Others love to borrow it because it's built taller than normal and will hold a pretty hefty engine. I guess I was the McGyver of the mechanic world..... That reminds me - I need to find a way to get some snap-on stuff replaced since I don't work in a shop, I never see a truck or sales person. I've broken a couple of their tools and need them replaced............ |
||
|
||
|
purple72Gremlin
AMC Addicted
Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 10085 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Nov/12/2010 at 8:40am |
|
|
No one would be impressed with my tool boxes...............but then I never did go wow on tool boxes.........just me. Tools dont make the mechanic...........I have a bit of everything........Some of my tools I bought used. and the one tool box I bought used too.
|
||
|
||
|
pushrod
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Nov/02/2010 Location: York,pa Status: Offline Points: 43 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Nov/12/2010 at 9:33am |
|
|
The only down fall is when people walk in to shop, I dont get the WOW factor becouse I dont have a big snap on box
billd & purple72gremlin I aguree with you. My comment didnt come out right. I dont need a wow factor. The money I save on tools I can put in my cars
|
||
|
||
|
Post Reply
|
Page <1 34567> |
Tweet
|
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Click for TheAMCForum Rules
Topic Options
AMC instigator wrote: