Why don’t shops just have their own tools???

[Anonymous]

Ok, first off, if I hadn’t married a mechanic I would know nothing about cars or anything to do with them. Since I married one, I know a little, but not much.

One thing about the auto repair industry that I just plain don’t get is how each mechanic is expected to have thousands of dollars worth of tools of their own. I don’t understand why it is done this way when you are working at a shop. Why don’t they have their own well stocked selection of necessary tools on hand for whomever is working at the time to use?

It just makes no sense to me to expect someone to put that kind of investment into tools for a job that typically has rather low pay.

I’m keeping an eye out on craigslist and ebay hoping to score a retiring mechanics collection and save some $. I still need to talk with the hubbs (aka WrenchTurner) to get an idea of what’s what in the world of overpriced tools. Other than hunting for used, any suggestions on on how to save on tools? Is there a site, store that seems to be preferred over others?

Thanks 🙂

Topic

[Bluesnut]

One problem with the shop buying all of the tools would have something to do with a lot of those tools coming up missing. After a shop had half a dozen 1/2″ ratchets walk off in one week the shop owner would tend to get irritated. And I don’t mean this to be taken as your husband is a thief. Not at all.

Buying used is not a problem as long as the tool is not some never heard of before name junk made in China.
Craigslist is an option and buying Sears Craftsman tools when they offer sale prices on multi-piece assortments will also work well because Craftsman tools are equal to anything else out there.
Another great source for cheap, used tools of high quality might be from an aircraft or machine shop salvage store if there is one your area.

For what it’s worth, my tools consist of everything from a minor amount of Taiwan stuff on up to Mac, Snap-On, and some high end German made tools few have heard of.
Sometimes those brand name, tool truck tools are made by the same company producing them for a dozen other vendors who may be thought of a low end tool sellers.
Some years ago (after it broke) a Snap-On Blue Point item revealed a manufacturer stamp that was the same as the item sold at Wal Mart.

Hope that helps you out some.

[Tyler Killgore]

On a much smaller scale my stepdad and I have to share tools every once and a while. It results in my tools frequently coming up “missing” and found in his toolbox. Granted my tools are craftsmans and snap ons while his are cheap wally world sh*t, but the same will probably happen if a shop supplied tools. Not saying that they will necessarily be stolen, but they have a habit of being misplaced (left in trunks of cars, engine bays, etc.). Even the craftsman DIY stuff is pretty good quality and I haven’t had any issues. You can usually find REALLY good deals at sears during sales. If power tools are needed Harbor Freight stuff is cheap and when it wears out it is cheap to replace. We had a corded drill that I bought for 20 bucks, lasted four years, and I melted the trigger in the on position (my whoopsy, not its fault) and I still used it for a couple of months until I got tore up because I slipped and it attacked me. So hope that helped.

[Krys Kozlowski]

Again, me, European guy, sorry to bother 😉

In Poland, Germany, Sweden, and numerous other countries down here, all shops provide all tools. I rarely heard that anything went missing, though I suppose it does. Perhaps it’s just a cultural thing?

[Tyler Killgore]

I think it is just because in America we have set into the mindset of “well it’s not ours, so what does it matter.” And it may not happen often, but it could happen. Also stocking full sets for one or two mechanics isn’t a big deal. But what if you start getting 6,7,8,12 involved. Plus what if someone breaks a socket (its happened to me before) and they need another one for the job. Who is suppose to run out there? Also the owner of the shop might cut corners in the tool department. I cannot count how many harbor freight sockets I’ve broken, but I’ve only broke one craftsman socket.

[W00DBar0n]

Last shop i was in provided tools.
Roughly 50-80$ million in tools, and that number gets bigger all the time as they order new specialty tools.

[drthrift035]

Great posts. Thanks everyone.

[Author]

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