what to buy

[dakota1820]

ok so i am an auto tech discount . i have a student loan to help buy tools. i can get a 50% discount on snap on tools but good lord even with the discount they are expensive. their starter set which leaves out quite a bit of things you would need is 1000 my cost. would it be wise to buy Craftsman tools instead? i have tools now for personal use a lot of them being craftsman and i haven’t been disappointed. i have broke craftsman but only when abusing them never while using them correctly. what would you guys honestly do?

Topic

[W00DBar0n]

Since you are just starting out, i would just buy cheaper tools like craftsman. Can always upgrade down the road once you are MAKING MONEY.

[dreamer2355]

[quote=”W00DBar0n” post=31137]Since you are just starting out, i would just buy cheaper tools like craftsman. Can always upgrade down the road once you are MAKING MONEY.[/quote]

+1

I would not spend allot of money on tools right off the bat as you may find after 6 months in the field, you may not want to fix peoples vehicles anymore and be stuck with all that debt.

I would look at Craftsman or even used Snap On, Mac and Matco tools to start with.

If you insist on buying the better tools right away, just get the basics.

I am not sure if you work in the field as a technician or not but you should have a tool vendor(s) visiting your shop on a weekly basis.

[W00DBar0n]

[quote=”dreamer2355″ post=31283]
I would look at Craftsman or even used Snap On, Mac and Matco tools to start with.

If you insist on buying the better tools right away, just get the basics.
[/quote]
+1
A good plan is to look for a retiring mechanic and buy their higher quality tools, sometimes pawn shops will have good deals on high quality tools. I found a fairly new Snap-On 1/2″ super duty impact gun for less 150$ at a pawnshop a few weeks ago, and it works great. They are about 400$+ new.

[jeffk14]

There is some good advice here. Whatever you do, avoid going into debt to buy tools. There are way too many less expensive options out there (like buying used or choosing less expensive but perfectly useable brands) to need to go into debt. Don’t just dive right into a huge tool truck account right off the bat. JMHO.

[Suby Dug]

Craftsmen tools suck….Period.

I was in the same boat you were in, years ago, at tech school. We had our tool fair like the 3rd day of school, and the big 3 were there representing themselves. A didn’t have the money to buy the “good stuff” either, fortunately for me there was a local outfit vending S&K tools and they were within my budget, and a much better tool. I still use some of them to this day…13 years later.

Also I think Napa, carries a decent line, and like others have said, check the local toll pawn shops.

[SpawnedX]

HF and Craftsman, then as they start breaking replace them with quality tools. Don’t fall for the tool truck for everything, some other companies make better quality for less, Chicago Pneumatic makes excellent air tools, better than anything Snap-On offers outside of the new MG impact guns. GearWrench for ratcheting wrenches.

Snap-On boxes are the best bang for the buck for professional, but the US General 44″ at HF for 350.00 will get you through the first few years. Because tools > tool boxes when you are new.

[celticbhoy]

[quote=”Suby Dug” post=31483]Craftsmen tools suck….Period.

I was in the same boat you were in, years ago, at tech school. We had our tool fair like the 3rd day of school, and the big 3 were there representing themselves. A didn’t have the money to buy the “good stuff” either, fortunately for me there was a local outfit vending S&K tools and they were within my budget, and a much better tool. I still use some of them to this day…13 years later.

Also I think Napa, carries a decent line, and like others have said, check the local toll pawn shops.[/quote]

If you’re going to say Napa’s Ultrapro tools are decent and that Craftsman sucks then I think you need a refresher.

Craftsman makes very good tools, the best bang for your buck. If you break wrench, ratchet, socket, etc. bring it to Sears and as long as they see craftsman on the tool, you get a new one, no questions asked (in most circumstances). Majority of my tools are Craftsman and even further into my career as a technician, majority of my tools will still be Craftsman. Look for used Snap on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, tools as well, but don’t go into debt from the tool truck.

[celticbhoy]

[quote=”Suby Dug” post=31483]Craftsmen tools suck….Period.

I was in the same boat you were in, years ago, at tech school. We had our tool fair like the 3rd day of school, and the big 3 were there representing themselves. A didn’t have the money to buy the “good stuff” either, fortunately for me there was a local outfit vending S&K tools and they were within my budget, and a much better tool. I still use some of them to this day…13 years later.

Also I think Napa, carries a decent line, and like others have said, check the local toll pawn shops.[/quote]

If you’re going to say Napa’s Ultrapro tools are decent and that Craftsman sucks then I think you need a refresher.

Craftsman makes very good tools, the best bang for your buck. If you break wrench, ratchet, socket, etc. bring it to Sears and as long as they see craftsman on the tool, you get a new one, no questions asked (in most circumstances). Majority of my tools are Craftsman and even further into my career as a technician, majority of my tools will still be Craftsman. Look for used Snap on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, tools as well, but don’t go into debt from the tool truck.

[John B Kobberstad]

[quote=”celticbhoy” post=33448][quote=”Suby Dug” post=31483]Craftsmen tools suck….Period.

I was in the same boat you were in, years ago, at tech school. We had our tool fair like the 3rd day of school, and the big 3 were there representing themselves. A didn’t have the money to buy the “good stuff” either, fortunately for me there was a local outfit vending S&K tools and they were within my budget, and a much better tool. I still use some of them to this day…13 years later.

Also I think Napa, carries a decent line, and like others have said, check the local toll pawn shops.[/quote]

If you’re going to say Napa’s Ultrapro tools are decent and that Craftsman sucks then I think you need a refresher.

Craftsman makes very good tools, the best bang for your buck. If you break wrench, ratchet, socket, etc. bring it to Sears and as long as they see craftsman on the tool, you get a new one, no questions asked (in most circumstances). Majority of my tools are Craftsman and even further into my career as a technician, majority of my tools will still be Craftsman. Look for used Snap on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, tools as well, but don’t go into debt from the tool truck.[/quote]

I agree

[John B Kobberstad]

[quote=”celticbhoy” post=33448][quote=”Suby Dug” post=31483]Craftsmen tools suck….Period.

I was in the same boat you were in, years ago, at tech school. We had our tool fair like the 3rd day of school, and the big 3 were there representing themselves. A didn’t have the money to buy the “good stuff” either, fortunately for me there was a local outfit vending S&K tools and they were within my budget, and a much better tool. I still use some of them to this day…13 years later.

Also I think Napa, carries a decent line, and like others have said, check the local toll pawn shops.[/quote]

If you’re going to say Napa’s Ultrapro tools are decent and that Craftsman sucks then I think you need a refresher.

Craftsman makes very good tools, the best bang for your buck. If you break wrench, ratchet, socket, etc. bring it to Sears and as long as they see craftsman on the tool, you get a new one, no questions asked (in most circumstances). Majority of my tools are Craftsman and even further into my career as a technician, majority of my tools will still be Craftsman. Look for used Snap on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, tools as well, but don’t go into debt from the tool truck.[/quote]

I agree

[Author]

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