Tools

ChevyManSS350

ChevyManSS350

Club Member
The snap on guy came to my school today and give his whole two cents on snap on and why would I should buy it. It turns out since I am a student I get 50% off anything I buy. Snap on tools are so damn expensive with the discount, so I was wondering for a young guy who just started wrenching, what is a good stater set? Like tool boxes, tools, or what should I buy to where I finally get a job I'll have the basic stuff to fix cars. I go and take my state test in 3 weeks so if I pass and get my state cert. I plan on going out and finding a job then.
 
even at 50% off snap on is still really high but if you can afford it you should buy a 1/4 and 3/8 snap on ratchets. as for most hand tools most name brand US made tools are pretty good(s-k,proto,wright, most craftsman ect) check ebay and pawn shops for snapon and matco and you can decent prices. basically just stay away from the new chinese 100pc sets for 20 bucks. craftsman boxes are cheap when you get em on sale and thats good enough to start out
 
I personally prefer Matco. And they are much cheaper then Snap-on. But like boosted said, stay away from cheap ass chinese tools. GP has pretty good sockets on the cheap and you can usually have the tool truck guys get you them.
 
For at home I really like kobalt- the wrenches are more comfortable than craftsman, and I never break them, and the boxes are Ford blue. You can get them at Lowes
 
Craftsmans is best to start out with IMO, there cheap and pretty reliable. When you get more serious I like matco and snap on, There stuff is really high quality, especially the boxes.
 
My breakdown on general tool purchase

Matco Wrenchs
Snap on sockets
Mix of Snap on and OTC specialtie tools.

Impact swivels " a must have item" I prefer the matco's. they last longer and work better then everything else I have tried.

Scanner. Snap-On. If you planning a carrer at small shops buy a MODIS. If you plan on being a dealer tech. Don't Bother.

Tool Box. either or. I like my matco box alot but the snap on has some nice features as well. Both great box's. Buy what you can get your best deal on.
 
Sean said:
My breakdown on general tool purchase

Matco Wrenchs
Snap on sockets
Mix of Snap on and OTC specialtie tools.

Impact swivels " a must have item" I prefer the matco's. they last longer and work better then everything else I have tried.

Scanner. Snap-On. If you planning a carrer at small shops buy a MODIS. If you plan on being a dealer tech. Don't Bother.

Tool Box. either or. I like my matco box alot but the snap on has some nice features as well. Both great box's. Buy what you can get your best deal on.
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Easy way to drop 10k :icon_eek:
 
Snap On sells a few great 3/8" and 1/4" ratchet and socket sets in the less expensive Blue Point line up. Pretty affordable and nice complete sets that come in a plastc case. I bought a few sets for at home and the race trailer, but they'd be great starter sets as well. If you plan on staying in the industry, I'd definitely be looking at a quality tool box while you get the discount(Snap On or Matco are nice boxes). Good luck!
 
Sean said:
My breakdown on general tool purchase

Matco Wrenchs
Snap on sockets
Mix of Snap on and OTC specialtie tools.

Impact swivels " a must have item" I prefer the matco's. they last longer and work better then everything else I have tried.

Scanner. Snap-On. If you planning a carrer at small shops buy a MODIS. If you plan on being a dealer tech. Don't Bother.

Tool Box. either or. I like my matco box alot but the snap on has some nice features as well. Both great box's. Buy what you can get your best deal on.
Click to expand...

I would go with the new Mac Edge sockets and the snap on or matco rachets those two are the best I have used. I would stay away from crappyman tools they have gone way down hill if you do get them plan on having a drawer just for broken tools and you'll spend the difference in price on gas going to Sears to get new tools every other day. :2cents:
 
If your serious about a carer as a mechanic, then save your money and buy someones entire collection on craigslist. I see huge sets for 10k and up that have many specialty tools that people took a life time to assemble that are either retired or retiring, and sell off at 10 cents on a dollar or less.
 
i think they give you huge amounts off on stuff you cant really afford anyways lol at least thats how it worked when I went to school.

Snap on ratchets... maybe ratchet wrenchs, sockets for now go crapsman... i rarely break a socket unless its pure junk or mis-used.
 
Buy what you can afford, DO NOT get in over your head. Don't start out with so much debt that you can't afford anything else, like food or a dependable vehicle to get to work.

The first tools I bought were some cheap ass Alltrade tools, made in Tawain. I kept them in a .50 cal ammo can, that was 22 years ago. I still have some of them today.

Buy what you can and be smart about the purchases. If you're only going to use a tool once or twice, and it's available from Craftsman (lifetime warranty) buy it from them. Take the difference in price and put it elsewhere.
If you need some screwdrivers, and don't have much money, start out with some Craftsman, then upgrade to SO,MAC, Or Matco when you can afford it. Then take the Craftsman stuff home and use it at home.

Most of all, just use some common sense when you make your purchases.
 
ive had good luck with craftsman tools, plus there is always a sears around to pick up more at. I dont know a snap-on truck guy to get stuff when I need it

I also have a channellock kit I bought from costco for like $50 that I keep in the car and use alot in the garage. it doesnt have every size, but its fairly complete, and ive never broken a tool
 
Most of your high end hand tools are made by the same company- Danaher. Your paying the Snap -On man top dollar for the on the spot financing- not the tools. Kobalt was made by the same comany as Snap on- now they are made by the same company as Craftsman and Matco (Danaher). I have no problems with SO or Matco but your silly to pay full price for it when they have the "student " price or you can get it half price on ebay.
 
i bought a $75 set from lowes with everything I need. I liked it so much I bought 2 more to just have around. Couldnt be happier. They arent the highest quality, but i still freaking love it.
 
Detroit Gearbox said:
If your serious about a carer as a mechanic, then save your money and buy someones entire collection on craigslist. I see huge sets for 10k and up that have many specialty tools that people took a life time to assemble that are either retired or retiring, and sell off at 10 cents on a dollar or less.
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X2. I have been slowly amassing tools, and have mostly Craftsman, but a few select SO wrench sets. Now is a great time to buy complete tool sets. There are some deals out there. Sadly some of it is misfortune, some of it is a bad choice on the sellers part, but as long as both parties are happy with the deal, so be it.

twistedstang said:
Most of your high end hand tools are made by the same company- Danaher. Your paying the Snap -On man top dollar for the on the spot financing- not the tools. Kobalt was made by the same comany as Snap on- now they are made by the same company as Craftsman and Matco (Danaher). I have no problems with SO or Matco but your silly to pay full price for it when they have the "student " price or you can get it half price on ebay.
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I have heard that before on boxes, didn't know that about the hand tools. I have not found a reliable choice for screwdrivers. The tool truck stuff does last a LOT longer in my experience.

THOR84GT said:
I would stay away from crappyman tools they have gone way down hill if you do get them plan on having a drawer just for broken tools and you'll spend the difference in price on gas going to Sears to get new tools every other day. :2cents:
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You'd have to go through a HELL of a lot of gas. Unless you work at a big shop, the tool trucks only come by maybe once a week, and I often found I had to go find them. Sears is open 9-9. I usually have a spare tool anyway, as I am always leaving a tool under the truck, or losing it in my pocket. Getting back to screwdrivers, the Sears stuff wears easy, but is easy to replace, the SO stuff seems to last longer, but you have to have access to the drug dealer... er tool dealer to replace them.
 
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