What should be my first tools as a tech student?

[Nelson Leiva]

I am studying to be a technician and wanted some advise on what should be the first and most important tools to buy? thanks

Topic

[celticbhoy]

Don’t go into debt by buying everything from the snap on/ Mac truck. I recommend craftsman. Great quality, great warranty, very well priced. Feel the tools before you buy them to make sure they feel good in your hand. As for tools, wrench sets, pliers, sockets, ratchets, hammers, a good multimeter, basically just watch Eric’s video on tools in his workshop and at home.

[dreamer2355]

This has been asked many times.

I would do a search of the site 🙂

[SpawnedX]

http://www.cornwelltools.com/webcat/products.php?product=XPLMASBK-%252d-Apprentice-Tool-Set%252dBlack#

Everything in this set, from whatever brand you decide on, is what I would call the bare minimum to do C level work.

[Nelson Leiva]

thank you very much! that was very helpful. I will follow your advise

[mossyoak83]

I was going to recomend cornwell tools as well, they have a professional quality but are generally about %75 (sometimes more, sometimes less) the price of snap-on.

I know its hard but I would check around the general area where you plan to be work, because if you spend $5,000 on cornwell in school, and get out into the work force there may not be a cornwell truck even in the area to warranty tools. Where I work there are about 3 guys that have matco tools but no matco man. So now the hundreds they have spent in matco that are broke are useless.

In my case the general area where I live have snap on everywhere, quite a few cornwell, some mac & some matco. So I invested in the snap-on while in school because I know I can get the stuff warrantied. Just stuff to think about, because tools arent cheap and warranties are important.

[Nelson Leiva]

very helpfull information thank you for taking the time..

[EndSupremacy]

I don’t see it being very practical for an apprentice to spend $5,000 on his first set of tools. Stick with Craftsman or even Harbor Freight. True, Harbor Freight is not top quality, but for a beginner, it’s just right. Check this thread out to see what are some good tools to get at Harbor Freight:

http://ericthecarguy.com/component/kunena/11-Tool-Talk/31516-Re-Harbor-freight-tools?Itemid=0

[Tyler]

I would say buy some cheaper tools (craftsman, harbor freight, and such) when you first start out. I have seen a few newer technicians go out and buy a bunch of tools from the tool trucks on credit and lose them all when they can’t keep up with payments. and if you buy cheaper tools from the start and replace them with nicer ones when you can eventually you will have a descent set of tools for home.

[Jeff]

Buy a Nice set like this: https://www.google.com/shopping/product/10273439847229850496?q=craftsman&um=1&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=647&sa=X&ei=nuW6UICkIvOLyQHK9IDADA&ved=0CIMBEPMCMAQ&prds=scoring:tp

It has 1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″ drives, deep and shallow sockets and some combination wrenches.

This will get you started and you will use it time and time and time again! For the rest of your life if you choose.

Once you get started with this, write a list of tools that you had to borrow or needed to use more frequently than others. Keep searching online for those tools and GO TO GARAGE SALES!!! and even local house auctions if you can. I’ve seen Snap On, MAC, Craftsman and even other very high quality tools go really cheap. And remember, even if you buy them used, they still have the lifetime warranty.

I bought my first set, like I showed in the link, for $5 when I was 18! And I will keep it forever. And when I’m done with it I will give it to my kids.

Good luck in school!

[Author]

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