Tools

[Miguel]

Hey eric Iwant to know what kind of tools would u reccommend for an entry level tech starting out in the field would u need expensive tools or tool boxes?

Topic

[steven jacobsen]

You don’t need expensive tools. I started out with a good cheap wrench set, sockets, etc. and a box that was just a bit bigger that what i needed. Once you start making money then you upgrade a little at a time. My first upgrade was a 3/8 ratchet. I had several cheap ratchets and every weekend I was taking 1 or 3 of them back for warrenty. Once I upgraded that ratchet was beat on hard for over 10 years untill it needed warrenty. Now that all my tools are upgraded the old ones are in a box at home and the good ones are in a good box at the shop.

[Harrison]

As Eric’s said in a few of his videos, good quality hand tools pay dividends. If you’re starting your auto tech career I’d definitely do the same. I work on cars as a hobby, as I’m studying civil engineering as a career, but I still find heaps of worth in good quality tools. One of the first sets of tools I bought was a high quality, lifetime warranty socket set. You can feel the weight and the quality every time you pick them up. I love it.

Obviously being a tech, you’ll be using them a lot more often than the average home mechanic. For us, breaking a poor quality ratchet might not be so bad, we can head down to the store that day or later and get a new one. When you’re in the middle of the job, from what I’ve learnt from Eric’s flat rate videos (remembering I have no professional experience in the industry), you don’t want to be breaking tools on a daily basis. If a poor ratchet is only good for x amount of use, obviously as a technician you’ll reach that a lot faster than a regular guy.

[steven jacobsen]

The last reply is exactly what I meant but he said it better. Buy the best stuff you can afford but unless you are rich to start with you will have to upgrade tools when you can.

[joseph bullock]

you can start with a craftsman set if you dont have the money to do snapon, mac, ect. then just fill in as needed. craftsman is not bad stuff, especially for the price. get a bulk set for $200-$300.

[Brian]

I know this post is over two months old, however I recently started to rebuild my tool set after it had been stolen about a year ago. I was looking at a Craftsman set, but after stopping in at an O’Reilly Auto parts store I came across the GM Performance Parts Tool sets and just to give it a try before deciding found them to be as good quality set as the Craftsmen brand IMO. The first purchase was a GM PP Multi-Function Wrench 8-1, and “Basic” Socket set for around the house w/ ratchets/ wrenches/ screwdrivers all for under $200.00 all in all not bad. I am now seriously considering looking at the 209 pc. GM PP Tool set ($499.99) to actually get started with building my tool set again.

GM Performance Parts – Automotive Tool Set
Part Number: GM5643
limited lifetime warranty
UPC: 700305656437
209 Piece
Contents:

47 – Deep sockets in 1/4″, 3/8″ & 1/2″ drive (both SAE & metric)
58 – Regular sockets in 1/4″, 3/8″ & 1/2″ drive (both SAE & metric)
32 – Combo wrenches in SAE & metric
12 – Screwdrivers
7 – Pliers & Vise wrenches
14 – Hex keys (both SAE & metric)
9- Ratchets, Speeder handles & Hinge handles
5 – Extension bars
7 – Adapters & U-joints
12 – Star bit sockets
6 – Spark plug sockets

*All in all seems like a good deal for the price. The main thing is they feel good in my hand… something I can’t say for a Craftsman set I had years ago (Although for the record they were a very basic Craftsman quality set).

[Steve]

I’m not a mechanic but I do use tools and do work on my car. I’ll throw my two-cents worth in. Buy a decent basic set and then build on that set as you need to and can afford it. First, don’t throw your money away on cheap sets like the “dollar stores” sell. Craftsman is a good starter tool (from Sears) and I’ve never had an issue with them. There are others in the same price range from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. I’m not sure on prices right now but no doubt you could buy a basic starter set of mechanic tools for $150 or less at those places. You can accumulate specialty wrenches and tools specific to certain repair jobs as you need them and then will keep them for your toolbox.

[Brian]

I am defiantly going to go and “Feel” them out before I buy. As I specified before I had a Craftsman set years ago… They worked well and held up till they got stolen, but they did not feel right in my hand.. dare I say they were a little rough, some tools had some sharp cosmetic features that annoyed me. The GMPP tools do not feel that way to me, but they are more expensive:

209 pc. GM PP Tool set ($499.99)
Craftsman 540 pc. Mechanics Tool Set ($1,234.99)

For the money obviously the Craftsman would be a much better buy, but at what cost. A basic 209 pc. set is a great set to get started with and then built around that getting more specialized tools if and when needed, or slowly upgrading to Mac, or Snap-on when able.
Decisions, decisions…. 🙂

[Author]

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