I just got hired as an entry level tech at mini....(this is my first job in a shop so i dont have much for tools) Im wondering if you guys could chime in on some tool recommendations to maximise my efficiency and get what i need with my low budget. Im looking into an electric impact gun and a swivel ratchet per my mentors advice but im wondering if anyone has a list of necessary sockets and things that make life easier. Thanks in advance !

 

oh btw I have a full basic socket set, im looking for which sockets i should get in swivel and stuff.

 

Harbor Freight tools are inexpensive and they have a warranty. I use them all the time and I haven't broken one yet. You will be able to buy any tool you might need and not break the bank.

http://www.harborfreight.com/

Dave

Dave

 

You'll need a full set of metric sockets. 1/4-3/8-1/2. Good set of open end metric wrenches 8-22mm. As far swivel sockets go at least get a 10 and 13 mm 1/4 inch, a 13,15mm 3/8 and a 15,16,18mm 1/2 inch sockets. A full set of torx sockets T-8 thru T60 and a full set of allen sockets. A decent meter with good leads. Metric tape measure. An assortment of hammers including a large deadblow. Basic plier set and hose clamp pliers including cable operated ones. A fused jumper and let us not forget our safety glasses lol. From their just play it by ear. If ya find ya need it-- buy it

 

Thanks! Another thing, Im trying to find a tool i saw in the shop. One side measured brake wear and the other side measure tread wear. The measurement was read from the middle. Was this an automotive tool or just a tool that was repurposed???

 

As someone who is an x-auto tech... Start out with Craftsman ... Build up to Snap-On, Mac, or Matco.

You'll find that very few brands hold up to day to day use in a shop.

What happens is the cheaper tools wear out (literally) and start damaging fasteners..

Get a cheap starter box on sale from Sears and keep it until you out grow it... Go for ball bearing slides you can stuff a lot more weight into the drawers.

 

Wow if I observe a mini or any other brand tech working on my car with harbor freight tools I'm leaving with my car.

 

If I made my living with hand tools, I wouldn't own Pittsburgh Steel either. That said, I've broken many a Snap-On and Matco wrenches along the way. Nothing wrong with Harbor Freight stuff for Saturday afternoon piddling in the garage.

If you are a professional, the nice thing is that Snap-on, Mac and Matco will come to your shop weekly, sell you stuff, warranty stuff and of course collect your payment - they do typically carry "truck accounts". And they might have trade in items, boxes, mostly.

 

Thats not really called for. You can have your opinions about tools and that's fine but there is no need for the hostility.

 

Agreed, Its not the tools that will fix a car correctly. I also know that purchasing all snap-on or related tools when just starting out isn't practical. I started with full craftsman and I made it by till I could replace everything as I saw fit. The only issue I found was with the craftsman screwdrivers and BMW fasteners, thye didn't like each other lol. The wrenches and sockets were fine though.

 

Even though I have a lot of tools from Harbor Freight I would not recommend them if I was using them to make a living and using everyday. Craftsman tools are much better for starting out and are resonable in price. Harbour Freight is great for tools that you will not use much i.e big sockets, hammers stuff like that. Don't get caught up in the Snap On craze. Although they are great tools they are very expensive. And dont get the Snap On truck credit you will end up spending more than you think you will. The problem with the credit is you get the tool without anything out of pocket and before you know it you have a whole set of tools and a huge debt to the Snap on guy. Just my experiance and 2 cents

 

You must be new to the Internet.

 

IMO - If you are pretty sure you are going do this for a living, start right off in the opium den of the tool truck, just don't get too addicted. Get yourself what you need for hand tools, try not to get more than a few hundred dollars in the hole. You might have to get deeper than that to get started. Tool boxes & Cordless tools can be bought @ Sears, Home D, Lowe's etc at least for the first round of purchases.

I worked in Sears Auto while going to school, they supplied us w/ full boxes, I never saw so many broken tools. They simply will not hold up under the demands of a professional work day. I started w/ many Craftsman tools & quickly found them inadequate or too fragile & rather quickly relegated them to home use. I still have all my Snap On stuff bought since 1981, no need for replacements very often but on occasions when it is necessary I simply turn it in to the guy who comes to see me @ work once a week.

Get the necessities - long handle swivel head 3/8 ratchet, metric sockets (6 pt) deep & shallow, extension set, screwdriver set - all from the truck guy, Snap On is my preference but the others make good stuff too, see what you like the feel of), I don't like anyone but Snappie's screwdrivers. For 1/4 inch stuff it might make sense to get an S-K "master set" that gives you deep & shallow SAE & metric w/ handle, extensions, etc in a case. Snappie's is astronomically priced (but really nice). Buy your wrenches from truck too - buy "12 pt extra long" combo wrenches - when you need the leverage it is there, not so w/ normal length wrenches. Look for Craftsman, Dewalt, Milwaukee cordless tool set that should get you started - 1/2 impact, drill & flashlight should be priority. Don't use money for smaller impacts & don't expect the cordless stuff to perform or last like the truck brands but they will get you by for quite a while @ a third of the price. 1/2" Impact sockets best from truck but you may get away w/ cheaper stuff. If nothing else get 19 & 21mm thin wall impact sockets so you won't have trouble fitting them into the wheel holes on some cars. Get a 2 lb cross peen hammer wherever you want, pry bars only from the truck, get the "strikable" style.

Take advantage of special deals when they are the right thing to jump on. If you know anyone at is going to auto school, see if they have deals available to them. They are often offered the big truck brands @ appx 1/2 price just to get them hooked on a brand, just have to pay for it all @ once.

The reason I suggest taking the dive on the hand tools is simple, what good is Sears' warranty when you are a kid in a flat rate service area w/ a broken 10 or 12mm socket or ratchet @ 10 am on Monday morning? Do you want to have to ask someone for a tool because you can't break a bolt loose or break your 6" Craftsman ratchet or worse hurt your hand when your long handle Strap On would have broken it loose effortlessly? You don't know if you have sympathetic techs working w/ you or whether when asked to borrow a basic hand tool they'll tell you to go buy one or what unnatural act you can perform on yourself.

Just my opinion but I worked as a bike service guy since I was 16 & have worked in the auto service biz since I was 19 - I've seen a lot regarding use of tools. The only auto pros I regularly see get by w/ cheaper hand tools are auto body guys, they don't regularly stress them like a service tech. They do however have top notch specialty tools & air/cordless tools.

 

As for Mini-specific tools, you will need a tensioner tool for supercharged Gen 1 cars. Get the special tool for removing the window glass regulator bolt. Motive bleeder. Brake tool (absolutely necessary for rears.). Bolts for putting the front end in 'service mode.'

 

I wasn't being hostile, just offering my opinion. Craftsman is good stuff so is kobalt. However the few things I purchase at harbor freight I consider disposable, one use or a few it will eventually break.

 

The dealer has all the mini specific stuff but thanks for the input

 

Thank you that was really helpful. Tomorrow is my 2nd day and will be the first round of temptation....starting off big too with the snap on truck....then matco and mac later in the week. As of now the only tool ive bought for this job...(actually was a gift) is a new Ridgid cordless impact. I have a lot of tools from my dad and a xmas set I got. mostly husky/craftsman along with a northern tools air impact and impact socket set plus a cheap 1/2 torque wrench.


It guess I am very fortunate because on my first day the guy teaching me asked what i had for tools and i told him flat out not much that will do me any good here =). He told me not to worry I can work out of his box (lots of snap on....god help me)


Since I lucked out with a shop full of nice guys im going to grab the essentials ( like the oil and brake sockets ) and then just play the weekly specials to try to put together my collection cheaper.

 

agree with the caveat that for sockets you need good ones -especially torn and allen ones get craftsman or snap on. The quality is better you will strip less and turn more.

 

I was pretty disappointed with the Snap-On Allen-head sockets. An M5 or M6 (forget which) one twisted pretty badly when I was trying to use it to break a bolt loose.

Some of the old mechanics I know say that most hand tools haven't been as good in the last couple of decades.

Might be worth poking around some pawn shops? Not sure...

 

Lol you realize a few hundred dollars only gets you a 12 piece 3/8 socket set from Snappy right? http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

I would spend the money on the most used tools. Craftsman works fine for getting started. I would upgrade the ratchet right away though. It'll take you awhile to wear out the actual sockets.

Don't forget torx, e-torx, triple square, and allen. OTC makes a "Master Torx Set" that is good for starting out. <$100 for torx, e-torx, torx plus, and security torx in S2 tool steel. VIM makes good affordable triple squares. Read up on GarageJournal. Lots of people asking the same questions you are.

 

Harbor Freight. I did not know there was a Pittsburgh in China? lol.

 

HaHa - just down the road from broksosoon. You must not own any.

 

Keep an eye on the Tools section of Craigslist. I'm not sure where you're located, but in my area there are TONS of Snap-On and MAC tools and tool boxes for sale.

 

wow, reading all this, i was under the impression that the dealership would provide you with all the tools you needed to do your job. i was going to say ive done fine with harbor freight tools, but ive probably used them thrice lol, just for oil changes and tire rotations.

best of luck to you OP

 

Yea, um.. Dealers don't give you tools... It's not abnormal for techs to spend 10-30k in tools.

Professional grade tools are very expensive.

And, contrary to what people seem to think here, craftsman and harbor freight are not professional grade.

However some dealers provide tool boxes, and uniforms... But that's about it.