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Hey guys! So, after months of vigorous searching, I have found, applied and have been hired to a diesel truck and trailer repair shop as a student/Aprrentise. I will be working alongside senior mechanics for the rest of the semester until I learn these trucks to a Tee.
So, any tips for the new guy in the shop? I am rather mechanically as well as technologically inclined, I’ve worked on a different array of passenger vehicles in my high school auto shop, but never have had the chance to work on a diesel.
Any info would help! I’ll keep y’all posted about how it goes 😀
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Here are a few tips in no particular order:
Keep a good sense of humor… The other guys may try to prank or test “the new guy” to see what kind of person you are… Take it in stride… Most all those guys lived through it and it is a “rite of passage”… Have a thick skin….
Keep your mouth shut about all your “experience” unless asked (or related to the task at hand) and your ears listening to the guys who know what they are doing. Even if a guy tells you something you know absolutely everything about, let him finish… If you cut him off, he may believe you think you know everything and not help you out as much in the future (let you do it the hard way to learn a lesson)
Bring the tools to do the job… Don’t borrow unless you have to…(some people may never let you borrow their tools).. If you need to borrow a tool more than three times, you need to buy it…
Some guys may share experiences and help, others may not be so helpful… Try to find someone who is interested in helping you (they probably will have someone who is watching over you for a bit anyway..)
You will be at the bottom, so you are going to do some crap work… Do it, don’t complain and drive on… All part of the experience.
Don’t get cocky…. Nobody likes that in a new guy…
No matter how much you think you know, there is always more to know…
Bring a positive attitude everyday to work…
Work hard and do what your told (within reason of course)…
Have fun and make a difference. If you do a good job, they may be an excellent reference of your character and abilities after your apprenticeship is over…
-Karl
Thank’s Karl! Unfortunately, I barely own any tools for my self. Both my parents HATE how I am getting into the traits so they won’t help me with funds to buy my own tools. I guess I have to build up over time ahaha! I have a few small socket sets and ratchets, some wrenches and general tools, hopefully the boys down at the shop will be nice enough to lend me a pipe if I need one 😀 The owner of the shop is even buying me some coveralls and PPE, great guy! I do have two jobs as of now, but with bloody insurance and gas for my car on a 17 year old’s wage, I don’t have much disposable income to buy tools.
I don’t know where you live, but in the United States a Flea Market or Pawn shop can be an excellent place to get your tools very inexpensively..
For around $100 I can go to a nearby flea markets and buy darn near a whole tool chest worth of tools… I try to stick to U.S. or European makes but darn it, Taiwan is putting out some pretty good tools now. If you have a flea market near you, I would look there to fill in what you need.
Avoid going into Debt on the tool truck… Most tool trucks will give at least $500 credit to anyone working in a shop…. That $500 doesn’t go too far on a truck… I advise a Snap on dual 80 Ratchet to start… The rest can be acquired as needed down the road…
Good luck!
-Karl
Well, if I am going to buy tools, they’re going to be the best. Just the way I am ahaha. What would you recommend for starting? I really like the snap on Dual 80’s. Also a set of wrenches? Sockets?
that’s awesome you got hired on as a diesel apprentice; I’m taking diesel and hope to break into that eventually. Like said above, good attitude, leave your ego at the door and show up to work physically and mentally. Check ebay for used or vintage snap on, matco etc. You’ll still dish out some cash but I’ve saved hundreds of dollars buying older snap on ratchets and sockets versus new ones. I’ve known mechanics who had $10k + in debt to the snap on guy; bad situation.
Employers hire you because they see you as a potential investment to the company; being mentally prepared every day to not just ‘do’ the work but to ‘learn’ the work while doing it is what employers expect of you. Learning how the industry functions; customer interaction, work orders, etc. is the name of the game.
If you really enjoy what you do most of this will not be a concern and come fairly easy.
[quote=”Fiddy” post=86963]Well, if I am going to buy tools, they’re going to be the best. Just the way I am ahaha. What would you recommend for starting? I really like the snap on Dual 80’s. Also a set of wrenches? Sockets?[/quote]
I would recommend getting a Dual 80 off of EBAY… 3/8 and 1/2… Just to start.
For wrenches, Craftsman professional are very good for the price (EBAY is great place to get them as well) If money is an issue, you can also get good prices on S-K, Armstrong, Wright, etc…
Sockets I always recommend USA made… New Craftsman is made in China.. Find old craftsman… Usually you can find sockets for 25 to 50 cents each at a flea market… Once again, sets on Ebay are very affordable…
Line wrenches I recommend Snap on or old USA made Craftsman Professionals (dont get regular Craftsman Line wrenches, they spread very easily)…
For 3/4 inch drive stuff, look at Craftsman… If you are really on a budget, try Harbor freight… They have the big stuff at a reasonable price…
Essentially you should start off with what is in here.. Doesn’t need to be Snap on, but shouldn’t be really cheap stuff either… You will find how quick the cheap stuff breaks…
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=641770&group_ID=675876
D: That looks like a beutiful kit! But like I said, I can’t afford it as of now ahaha! I met with my workers today and they’re amazing guys and said I can use there stuff anytime I need too 😀
Great that they will let you borrow tools. Clean them up better then you received them and return as soon as you are done with them. Use tools as intended. Don’t borrow a screw driver and use it as a pry bar. All the tips that the other guys posted are spot on. If you are going to make a living working on cars spend money on good tools. If a tool breaks in the middle of a job it will be time wasted to get another/replacement tool. Also live within your means as stated above. Don’t go in debt over your head with tools. Buy used cheaper tools and replace the ones you use the most with good tools when you can afford to.
+1 above…. And if you a break borrowed tool, you owe them a replacement ASAP —> From the unwritten man rule book…
-Karl
Congratts on the apprenticeship. That’s a big deal! Also nice to hear the guys you’ll work for/with are cool. At the end of the day really limit your borrowing. Eventually it gets old looking for your tools when the same person keeps borrowing them. Especially when its a relatively cheap tool.
Don’t buy snap on right away, when you’re established and making some money then look into it. For now go to Canadian tire and buy one of the big boxed sets that has full sets of metric and imperial wrenches, 3/8″ and 1/2″ ratchets and some even have a 1/4″ set too. The big sets have all the extensions and flex joints too. After that go and buy a big breaker bar in 1/2″
Buy a full set of their screwdrivers and then leave the robertsons at home.
You can buy a set of Mastercraft line wrenches fairly cheap there too, if youre working on diesel you will want these right away.
If you’re working on trucks you will need big heavy tools. I would buy a set of hammers, and a set of pry bars. Id hold off on the impact tools until you have a little in the bank. Do not buy a cheap ass impact gun, it wont work long. And again on truck stuff it needs to be tough! Get a couple sizes of needle nose plyers and a few pairs of channel locks. Make sure you get a big pair. Id also buy a set of vise grips too.
I actually like the mastercraft ratchets a lot. Good in the hand, tough and full warranty no question asked.
As for tool boxes, craigslist and flea markets! Buy bigger than you think you need so you can add tools without looking like a slob or running out of room. A helpful tip FYI is to go to Costco. For like $450 you can buy a Homack kit that has a decently deep roller cab, a good middle chest and a tall top. They also sell another top and bottom combo that’s uber big for like $650. Sure its not bling but it does the job. Ive never had a super bling tool box set up. Doesn’t hold me back. If you cant afford a combo right now buy a roller cab first! That way when you can afford the other half it has somewere to go.
Its unfortunate to hear your parents aren’t so stoked on your carear path. Mine were supportive and helped me with the initial tool buy. Always remember that all good tools have resale value. A lot of my stuff ended up with my brother when he got into the trades.
I read above someone siting the golden man rule of tool replacement. This is key. More times than I wanted I broke tools I didn’t own. It sucks, but it happens. Own up to it right away and do whatever you have to do to to replace it fast or warranty it.
Another nice thing to do is to wipe down someones tool box from time to time if you borrow their stuff. It was basicly law where I worked. I didn’t mind it to be honest, but I did get real sick of looking at a Snap On set up painted to look like a 57 Chev Bel Air! haha.
Best of luck to ya, hope you like getting really dirty!
After thought tip: I’m not criticizing anyone for their choices in life so don’t hate on me, and I say this with the best intentions, You’ll notice a lot of mechanics smoke, some shops allow it in the workplace still, most don’t. Every ware I worked I basicly smoked second hand it was that common. If you’re not a smoker already do your best to stay that way. You wont be a millionaire as an apprentice, You’ll want to save all the tool money you can keep. And at youre age if you plan on having a social life with the opposite sex wear gloves at work. I wish I had learned that earlier in life, I would have spent far less YEARS worth of time scrubbing my hands and nails clean on Friday nights! banana:
You might follow eBay as a source of quality tools at inexpensive prices. There’s also flea markets or surplus stores.
I will also add that you do not have to buy Snap-On or Mac tools and pay inflated prices with the assumption that the name alone makes it the best. Some SO and Mac tools are total garbage and like Craftsman, they’re farming some stuff out to wherever.
After a couple of broken mechanic’s creepers broke over the years I bought one off of the Snap-On truck one day. It was the Blue Point trade name and about a year later a caster broke off of it. The manufactuer’s stamp on the caster (on the surface out of sight where it mated with the creeper) looked familiar. Going and digging out one of the broken creepers I had, I discovered the Blue Point creeper was made by the same company that had produced the cheap no-name creepers that had broken. The only difference was the inked on logos and the color of the material used on the headrest.
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