Diesel Apprentice tools?

[jeep72]

What should I start out with my first year Diesel mechanic tool wise? :woohoo:

Topic

[Nick Warner]

Your school should’ve given you a tool list, but most don’t list any air tools in them.

You need sockets and wrenches at least to 1 1/2″, A good assortment of hammers, get a good impact. I go with SnapOn, and as a student you get 1/2 off list price for SnapOn, Matco and Mac tools so I would spend every last dime on them that you possibly can while a student. Get a good 12v test light, a BluePoint multimeter, prybars, picks (short and long).

Once you get into the lab at class you will see more of what you need to get, and you’ll see more of it as you get into your first job and work with the guys. Most will be good about letting you borrow some of their stuff to do the work so long as you are respectful of their tools and them. They’ll tell you some of the tools they find indispensable.

If you want I can draw some blueprints of some of the custom tools I’ve made myself that really help out. If you take a welding class and a basic machine tooling class you will be able to get class credit for duplicating these and they will make your life so much easier for chassis and clutch work. Thats going to be the bread and butter for a new tech in the diesel field.

SnapOn makes a hand cleaner called Nitro Gold. Sells for about $24 a jug. Get it and use it. The orange crap will destroy your skin with enough years of use. I’m having some major issues from it now. Nitro gold is the only stuff I can use anymore. Be nice to your skin now before its too late. You’re going to be immersing it daily in all sorts of chemicals and it will come back to haunt you by the time you get to your 30’s if you don’t.

I always keep a roll-up of Harbor Freight wrenches and a set of the impact sockets in a drawer of my box. If you hate your knuckles and want to complicate your job, try using them to get work done. I don’t. I keep them for when I need to cut up or heat and bend one to make a custom tool. Ford L9000 motor mounts, among other things, are spots you will find where that cheap custom tool helps. I use the sockets when I’m making a custom tool I want to turn with my ratchet or need a driver and the socket will fit in the bore size.

Lisle makes a cheap 3 stone brake cylinder hone that I use when rebushing spring eyes. Before you install the new bushing you need to clean the bore up well or the new bushing will need to be reamed to fit and hard to install. I put the hone in my air drill and clean it up nicely.

For an air hammer, you absolutely need the PH3050 by SnapOn. There is no other .401 shank that can come close to it and you need all the power you can get with the big diesels.

You’ll find certain tools I’ve pointed out are rather expensive. I had quite a bit of sticker shock when I got into the business and learned the hard way that anything less is a waste of money. If I could do the job with a cheaper tool I would. I’ve found out what works. I’ve make a lot of tools myself and they perform well. Others I’ve gotten from my tool reps. Get to know your tool truck reps. They might know of a tool that will make your life much easier. A good tool guy is worth his weight in gold. I got lucky to have several very good ones and they get a lot of my money.

Keep an eye on your local pawn shops too. I’ve found great deals on the expensive stuff. Last weekend I got a set of Snap On allen sockets through 19mm for $80. They’re a $230 set.

[Author]

Replies