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Becoming a mechanic |
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Page 123 7> |
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Tyler Williams 
AMC Apprentice 
Joined: Mar/13/2011 Location: Alberta Status: Offline Points: 39 |
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 Topic: Becoming a mechanicPosted: Mar/20/2011 at 12:00am |
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I also have the IM51 and I am very happy with it. Not sure about the current MG series, never used one yet. Stay away from the Blue Point guns, my apprentices that try to cheap out buy them and they dont work very good at all. They probably are similar quality and power as Craftsman and other cheap tools. It drives me crazy when I hear the sound of a cheap/weak air gun from the other side of the shop banging away on something for 5 minutes, when my gun in the flick of the trigger could bang whatever it is loose.
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In the family collection there is:
1965 Marlin, 1966 Marlin, 1967 American Rogue Convertible, 1968 Javelin, 1969 AMX, 1970 Javelin, 1973 Javelin AMX, 1973 Ambassador, 1974 Gremlin, 1975 Pacer |
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Nash Flash
Supporter of TheAMCForum 
Joined: Jan/26/2010 Location: Louisiana Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Posted: Mar/14/2011 at 1:38pm |
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As for myself, I would not know about current air tools. I have enough to do me no more than I do being retired and just having hobbys for the most part. BUT, if you ever come across an old air wrench by a company called MARFLOW, get it ! The company has probably been out of business for years with foreign junk flooding the market.
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Your AMC Friend in Louisiana
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Uncle Bud
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Joined: Feb/23/2011 Location: Slidell, La. Status: Offline Points: 358 |
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Posted: Mar/14/2011 at 1:30pm |
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saw the SnapOn truck at a shop so i stopped and asked if i could nave a look, i thought i had died and went to heaven. most of my tools are craftsman and most are over 30 years old. their quailty now is nothing.
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Buddy
1964 American 440H "Tortue Grande Vitesse" |
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Peter Marano
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Kenosha WI Status: Offline Points: 1347 |
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Posted: Mar/14/2011 at 10:50am |
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I got the SnapOn IM5 (1/2" drive impact) when they were introduced, then replaced it with the IM51 that also was not acceptable. Is the latest SnapOn 1/2" impact good? Edited by Peter Marano - Mar/14/2011 at 10:50am |
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Tyler Williams
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Mar/13/2011 Location: Alberta Status: Offline Points: 39 |
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Posted: Mar/13/2011 at 11:29pm |
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If on a budget the absolute tools to get from Snap-On are:
Punches and chisels (yes the $700 set is worth every penny) Prybars Ratchets Screwdrivers O-ring picks (you wont believe the abuse you can put a pick through) All air tools (except there die grinders, I have been through lots of them and finally gave up) Then buy cheap tools to fill the rest of the drawers and over time replace them with Snap-On. This is not what I did, but is possible for those on a budget.
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In the family collection there is:
1965 Marlin, 1966 Marlin, 1967 American Rogue Convertible, 1968 Javelin, 1969 AMX, 1970 Javelin, 1973 Javelin AMX, 1973 Ambassador, 1974 Gremlin, 1975 Pacer |
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Tyler Williams
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Mar/13/2011 Location: Alberta Status: Offline Points: 39 |
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Posted: Mar/13/2011 at 11:23pm |
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Obviously Im sure he already has his tools, but at a 50% off option it is a no brainer. Snap-On all the way. Go to the bank and get a $20,000 loan, unless you have that kinda money available, and then go shopping. I have approx $45,000 worth of Snap-On tools in my box and I wish 50% of that was still in my pocket.
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In the family collection there is:
1965 Marlin, 1966 Marlin, 1967 American Rogue Convertible, 1968 Javelin, 1969 AMX, 1970 Javelin, 1973 Javelin AMX, 1973 Ambassador, 1974 Gremlin, 1975 Pacer |
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Nash Flash
Supporter of TheAMCForum
Joined: Jan/26/2010 Location: Louisiana Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Posted: Mar/13/2011 at 1:25am |
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I went to work as a motorcycle mechanic before cars in 1973. Some of my tools I still use date to even before then. My first Craftsman set dates to 1965 when I was 12 years old. Many of those same pieces are in my rather voluminous collection still. I buy only good quality tools whether new or used and all made in the USA if at all possible because I care about the country my grandchildren are growing up in. I love finding good deals on used tools. I recently bought a Snap On tool box set (roll around cabinet and chest pair) stuffed with odd hardware, new miscillaneous parts and some tools including a like new Snap On 3/8 butterfly air wrench with slip whip ALL for $60 at a garage sale!! Yeah, I know, that kind of deal doesn't happen often but it does on occasion when you keep your eyes open. Good luck,
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Your AMC Friend in Louisiana
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billd
Moderator Group 
Forum Administrator Joined: Jun/27/2007 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 22774 |
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Posted: Mar/05/2011 at 12:01am |
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I've got 3 air ratchets sitting in a drawer - none work - although one of them bought back in the 70s was NOT cheap. I think it just needs some TLC, perhaps a kit. It's still solid otherwise. the other two are cheapies I picked up for a pittence (wonder why)
I've been through 2 circular saws, am on my 3rd - one was a gift, a $49.95 B&D given to me by my ex-wife's employer back in about 81. It did last quite a few years for "home-owner" use. Then when it gave out, I got a Skil - just a notch up, but still a sub-$100 saw. It lasted a couple of years and I said ENOUGH! My next one was a much nicer and much more expensive Porter-Cable. It should last me as long as I need it for my hobby work, and the things I do now and then for others.
Power tools are a whole nuther animal - if you cheap-out on air tools/impacts/air ratchets, compressor, etc. you are asking for it. When they go, it's a whole lot more to get fixed or replaced and a lot more hassle.
I can say on my wood working stuff, I've had really good luck with DeWalt. Yeah, there's better, but their stuff hasn't let me down. I'm still using a 14.4v drill/driver bought in about 2000 - one battery is toast, the other believe it or not is still working at about 50% capacity. The drill has been dropped, and beat a bit, but works great - and it's been used a lot, building decks, drilling heavy steel with 5/8" bits, etc. I got about twice the life expectency out of the batteries from what I hear.
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tyrodtom
AMC Addicted 
Joined: Sep/14/2007 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 2814 |
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Posted: Mar/04/2011 at 10:58am |
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If you're going professional you need to look at a power tools.
That is one area it doesn't pay to cheap out on. A warranty is nice, but you're slowed down until you can replace the tool. So get a tool that isn't as likely to need you to fall back on it's warranty.
That will mean higher initial cost, but cheaper in the long run from having to buy more cheaper tools, or lose of production when a tool breaks. I guarantee it'll break the day after the tool truck ran, or 11 pm when you're working late up against a tight schedule.
A $150-$200 air ratchet may seem like nonsense when you see them plenty of them for $50, but that higher price will buy you a well made tool that will outlast it's cheaper copy many times over.
If a air tool isn't made with exacting precision in the first place, it won't last, no matter how often you oil it.
I have a few air tools i'm still using that I bought in the middle 70s. But on air ratchets I cheaped out for several years. I had to replace them every year or so until I took the plunge and spent $250 on one, that was about 15 years ago, i'm still using it. It reached retirement with me, but it's getting no rest.
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66 American SW, 66 American 2dr, 82 J10, 70 Hornet, Pound, Va.
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BigBadJav
AMC Apprentice
Joined: Jul/09/2009 Location: Colon, Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 81 |
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Posted: Mar/02/2011 at 11:44pm |
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Yep that's about it.
I can tell you this: If you go SK, spend the money for 1/4-inch drive stuff and get snap-on. I've split every 1/4 drive S-K socket in my set and had to replace them all with snap-on.
In fact, for sockets and ratchets, Snappy is the only way to fly.
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ASE Certified Auto Tech, 14 yrs. experience. If I can't fix it, it ain't Broke!
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Peter Marano wrote: