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Becoming a mechanic |
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hassyfoto 
AMC Addicted 
Joined: Nov/16/2009 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 1723 |
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 Posted: Aug/28/2010 at 11:10am |
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Tools area a matter of preference. Snap-On, MAC, Matco are all excellent tools, the trucks arrive once week at the shop and broken or replacement tools are easy. You don't need tlo drive anywhere. If you call the truck, in many cases they will stop by the shop on an off day if you need something. The down side, they are expensive, if you fall behind on the credit payments, the truck dealers can be very aggressive in repo of the tools.
On the other hand, Sears, Kobalt, etc tools are not as durable, but will last a long time if properly cared for. Craftsman will replace broken sockets, but you must drive to the store or mail order for a a replacement which is time consuming.
Cheap tools are exactly that, cheap, but I always keep some cheap tools ( screwdrivers, pliers, scokets, etc.) around because those are the tools that I will bend or modify for unique situations. (example: access to a oil pressure sending unit, I cut the side out of a cheap socket to complete the job)
Good tools are worth the money, but cheap tools have a place in the toolbox as well. When first starting out, I would buy long term good tools and buy some cheap tools such as some screwdrivres, pliers, clamps, etc.. for now & slowly replace them a little later on, when you can afford it.
Just my 2 cents worth.
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Murphy's Law:
Any given mechanical job you decide to solve alone will imminently require a third hand, at its most critical moment |
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RamblinMan
AMC Nut
Joined: Sep/26/2007 Location: BG, Kentucky Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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Posted: Aug/28/2010 at 1:15pm |
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The convenience of the tool truck is a doube-edged sword. Yes, they come to you. BUT, if a tool breaks the day after he comes, you have to wait until the next week, or track him down.
The hassle of going to the store is a double-edged sword as well. Yes it's a hassle to go replace a broken tool. BUT you can go any day of the week.
I have seen the snap-on (or Mac, matco, Cornwell, etc.) Pretty much wreak havoc on guys who get in over their heads with the tool payments. I had a bad habit of buying tools cause "I liked them" and just having it put on my tab. The tool sellers play to this common habit.
I have developed a complete bias against credit. If I cannot cash-flow it, I don't buy it. Of course, I have 30 years of tools in my garage, so I have that luxury. If I went back to turning wrenches for a living, there wouldn't be much I needed. My metric tools are a little thin, but adequate.
The tool truck tools are definitely better tools, I just don't think they're 3-5 times better as the price would reflect.
Side note: I just came back from the flea market and $100-$200 would buy me all the American made wrenches I would ever need. They would be some of the vintage American brands (Proto, Industro, New Brittain, Eastco, Williams, etc). Many of those easily compare to Snap-On and were major DOD contracted manufacturers. Of course the warranty problem arises, but for the most part, those old wrenches look as good as the day they were new and $3-$10 per wrench is a screaming deal for true American-made tools.
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The Right Reverend of Blessed Acceleration
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fsj
AMC Apprentice 
Joined: Mar/31/2010 Location: Tucson Status: Offline Points: 32 |
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Posted: Aug/28/2010 at 11:06pm |
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I'm an apprentice tech too ( from UTI ) and I am starting out myself. While Snap On has some good stuff, I buy a lot from the independent guy ( Grey Pnuematic, Gear Wrench, OTC and even SK.. now out of business I think..) No reason to go out and buy all the most expensive sockets and other things. While I do have Snap On, Matco, and Cornwell those other brands are warrantied also. Not to mention our indepent tool truck is on time every time ( just sayin I want to know he's gonna be there to fix the broken stuff ). We lost our Snap On guy for months.. that's no good. However, I would recommend getting Snap Ons' 80 tooth ratchet and their flank drive wrenches and just mix and match from there. When you upgrade then you take the other stuff home! I worked with a kid that went berserker on the Snap On truck and was in debt waaaayyy over his head, he had tools he never even used but was payin out the ass for them. Just take it easy, like the guys said it's easy to get carried away. Good luck! |
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billd
Moderator Group 
Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 22793 |
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Posted: Aug/29/2010 at 7:10am |
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tools don't make the mechanic.
(as someon here is fond of saying - just because it says "professional grade" on the box....)
I ran my first business on Proto, Indestro, Craftsman, Ace, S-K (was S-K Wayne for a while) and misc gift tools, and auction tools.
I won the Plymouth Troubleshooting contest on Craftsman and misc tools. In fact, I set a record time - using Craftsman tools.
I was using mostly craftsman when I ended up on the college dean's list with a 4.0 (while those with snap-on were barely making it at all)
I built my reputation using a mix of mostly craftsman with a mix of other stuff tossed in as I could afford or needed.
To this day it's 80% craftsman..
So tools don't make the tech. And if you know how to use and care for them, even medium tools can last nearly a lifetime.
BTW - I recently broke a New Brittain socket - took it to NAPA and they actually recalled that they used to sell NB tools - and gave me today's equal as a replacement. First NB tool I ever broke.
Now - ever wonder why some tools last some folks longer than other? ;-)
Here's another take:
Our college class started with 30 folks.
Through the the months, they dropped like flies - most who left were those who were the neighborhood mechanic, or had worked with dad for years and knew they were destined.....
We graduated 19. of those 19, only 1 was able to achieve A's.
11 of them found out that working as a mechanic, then finding out what they needed to know to do the job right or be certified were two different things at times.
It might be tough - so be prepared!
I like wha fsj and ramblinman have said - there's some wisdom in all that.
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amcguru
Supporter of TheAMCForum 
Joined: Jul/24/2007 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 372 |
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Posted: Aug/29/2010 at 11:40am |
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I have primarily a mix of Snap-on & Matco with a few fancy Hazet & Stahlwille pieces in the mix. They each have there own strengths and weaknesses but they are all quality tools. Another thing to consider is the sales reps in your area. The only tool reps around here are Snap-on...the rest are all out of business. Fortunately, our Snap-on guy is one of the best. He give's every tech his cell # and will make a special trip to replace a must have tool.
My final word of advise is Learn. Learn everything you can from the tech in the shop who has spent many years in the industry and can fix anything that comes in the door...not the guy who can knock out a four wheel brake job & 60k service in 2 hours. Parts changers are everywhere but good techs can be hard to find. Shop owners & service managers know this. Learn how and why things work, not just how to replace them. I see new tech's every day that are lost if the symptom doesn't fit the diagnostic tree. That's when an understanding of how a part works pays off and gives you the skills needed to fix the problem on the first visit...not the second or third. These skills will also help to secure your position in the shop during a slow economy. Edited by amcguru - Aug/29/2010 at 11:54am |
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NAMDRA #3646 "I believe the best social program is a job" ~ Ronald Reagan |
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tyrodtom
AMC Addicted
Joined: Sep/14/2007 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 2876 |
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Posted: Aug/29/2010 at 12:29pm |
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I worked with a guy years ago who just couldn't resist , bought a $3000+ Snap-On rollabout toolbox, didn't even have enough tools to fill it. We kidded him about putting a wrench per drawer . He kept it a secret from his wife as long as he could, but eventually she found out. I won't say that toolbox caused a divorce, but it sure didn't help.
I always enjoyed looking thru the tool trucks when they'd come by the shop, but I always tried to keep my purchases on a cash bases only. As a result, even though i'm a bodyman, i've probably got about as many mechanic specialised tools as body tools. But now that i'm retired, i'm putting them all to use.
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66 American SW, 66 American 2dr, 82 J10, 70 Hornet, Pound, Va.
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billd
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Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 22793 |
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Posted: Aug/30/2010 at 8:37am |
AMEN. man, those echo my very thoughts (and 1 reason 11 dropped out of our class over the months) My first real shop boss was an "old-timer"......... he could listen, test drive, feel, and figure things out. My 2nd full-time boss had worked with cars almost since the very first cars. he knew the tricks. I learned a ton from those two. K-Mart auto wants quantity 4 profit, the customer wants quality - the first time. But if u r good, really good, u can do quality work quickly as u diagnose it correctly the first time. 0 comebacks, happy customers. I got my first job out of college because I could diagnose with a scope actually better than the service manager............... |
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1968AMC770Wagon
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Joined: Jan/09/2009 Location: CT Status: Offline Points: 1140 |
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Posted: Aug/30/2010 at 9:31am |
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I'm thinking about SK tools. I want somewhat of a happy medium. I dont want to be in debt, but I want good tools. The problem i see with SK is the time to get a warrantied tool replaced because they dont have the tool truck. NAPA also makes a "Pro Grade" line of tools, does anyone have experience with napas line?
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Zach Orcutt
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bigbad69
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Status: Offline Points: 3662 |
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Posted: Aug/30/2010 at 9:44am |
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If you're concerned with breakage and speed of replacement, you could always keep an assortment of cheaper back-up tools. That way you're not left in the lurch when you main tool breaks or "walks away". I'm not saying you need a complete second set of tools, just the basics you can't live without.
FWIW, my tools box is filled with Craftsman, and they have done me well. But I'm a hobbyist, not a professional. I don't know how well they would hold up to the heavy use of a pro, especially now that I see the "imported" label (i.e. Chinese) on most of their hand tools. |
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69 BBO Javelin 390 T10 "The Neverending Project" |
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billd
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Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 22793 |
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Posted: Aug/30/2010 at 10:03am |
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I dunno about the current NAPA line-up, but the new brittian stuff used 2 b tops.
I like my s-k stuff a lot, too. have a great 3/8" s-k ratchet. I agree on the "backups" - I've got very nearly enough basics for both buildings........... I made a good living with my tools - so it can be done, and rarely did I ever buy on credit. IMO, the better mechanic or tech u r, the longer any tool will last u. My problem is that most of my stuff is from years if not decades ago, so it's harder 2 comment on this week's tool quality. My tools date from the 1920s up to current, with the bulk bought in the 70s, 1975 when I got a big break on craftsman tools 4 being in the plymouth troubleshooting contest. My snap-on stuff is from the 70s and 80s. so what would I do now if I broke a tool? well, sears is 15 minutes away, and snap-on, mac or matco, who the *&^$# knows!!! I could get my craftsman stuff replaced right now, today - what about my other stuff?? Edited by billd - Aug/30/2010 at 10:04am |
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amcguru wrote: