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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Tools

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Balatonm

01-08-2008 12:01:07




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I was wondering if you guys could help me, I've tried puting this on the survey but it keeps saying that it is full. I'm planing on going to votech for diesel machnics and i'm trying to decide what tool brand to go with. I've been thinking about ether MACK or Craftsman. Any body else have any ideas. thanks in advance, Anthony




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Hobo,NC

01-09-2008 18:52:10




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I would buy impact type tools first,,, impact sockets will B used the most,,, I have Mac but have sunex and GP,,, they perform just as well and haft the price,,,, then with chrome sockets go Snap-on, mac or SK. I have never had a craftsman socket hold up,,, I do use craftsman wrenches and extensions but thats it.

Air tools,,, Ingersoll Rand,,, only way to fly,,, Run from snap-on air tools,,, not worth the price,,, not any better than the rest,,,, may-B not as good. i did have to replace a 1/4" air ratchet that I use more than any other air tool I have,,,, got talked into a mountain brand,,, best 1/4' air ratchet I have owned,,, free replacement no questions asked if it breaks under warranty.

Tool storage,,, how you organize them is extremely important,,,, A tool box is not a place to pile your tools,,, organize so if one is missing you will know it,,, after each job B-4 the vehicle is moved put them back up,,, account for them,,, if they need to come back out it will come as second instinct to go back to were you store'em,,, not were you piled them,,, you buy'em you replace'em,,, its hard to pay for a good tool 2 times.

I have my big boxes and have a workstation,,, what I use most often is in a Roll'n werk station,,, I git paid to werk not walk back and forth to a big box,,,, keep both locked,,, Tote the keys in your pocket,,, I werk in my own shop and supply tools for my help,,, I inventory all of the tools rite regular,,, help pays for whats lost,,, tools are put up at end of work day,,, work areas are cleaned even if a job is not complete,,, tools put up,,,Flores seeped and moped,,, its not unusual rite in the middle of a job to STOP and clean up. I can do a brake job on a truck and you would think it fell out of the sky,,, no dirt no oil on the floor,,, yes its a overkill,,, I git paid from the time I start till I finish,,, that includes clean'n and put'n up tools.

Work clean,,, its not that hard once you git use to it,,, don't work for anyone who does not.

That B'n said,,, some times you will have to Waller in the grease,,, I don't like it but the only way to get it done

Keep up with your tools,,, if it makes life EZ"ER buy it,,, this type of work is hard,,, Man I luv gadgets,,, a real sucker for'em.

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Tom43

01-09-2008 12:17:01




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
See how you like diesel school first. Remember the worth of a mechanic is measured by the tool box of knowledge inside your head.



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Amarillo Doug

01-09-2008 10:15:36




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I have been a diesel tech for 25+ years and I started with a basic set of craftsman tools.I still have most of that set and still use them.I have also got Snap On,Mac,Cornwell,S.K.,Blackhawkand many more.All of them are good tools.Just DO NOT Go with the cheapies Like you get from Harbor Freight and there like! Get good tools whatever their brand and they will last you a lifetime of hard work.



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Sean McDonnell

01-09-2008 06:35:37




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I personally have always had craftsman tools and usually have bought the "professional grade". Not sure about other peoples experience in the last few years with Sears but mine has not been good. It may just be the stores in my area but I have had bad luck with them not wanting to completly honor the exchange policy. Last time I tried to exchange a 1/4" ratchet that had worn out they tried to exchange it for a regular grade. Store manager wouldn't even give me a rebuild kit for mine. He said it was either a cheapy or I could BUY the rebuild kit. Have not set foot in a sears store since. It's a shame they used to be great at honoring their policy. Anyone else run into this or is it just my bad luck?

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Nolan

01-09-2008 03:19:23




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
It's MAC, not MACK. One is a tool maker, the other a truck maker.

Vo-tech, you don't need to buy tools yet. Wait until you're there and see what sort of school discount deals you can get.

Craftsman is good, and the price is cheap. The warranty easily used. Break a wrench, stop by Sears on the way home and exchange it.

Snap-On and equivalent are good, and expensive. Warranty is harder to use as you've got to wait for a truck to come by, and be there when it comes.

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Bulldog

01-18-2008 19:15:52




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 Re: Tools in reply to Nolan, 01-09-2008 03:19:23  
why does everybody have to correct others mistakes on this site. worry about your self



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trucker40

01-08-2008 23:04:43




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
Buy the Craftsman tools to start with,as many as you can afford.As you get to where you see what you use a lot of,buy better tools like Mac or Snap On as you can afford them.There are other brands too.Snap On used to have Blue Point.If you need a special wrench,check and see if Blue Point or Sears has it.Snap On will get in your pocket on something you have to buy from them.I allways looked for stuff that others had traded in.You dont have to spend a bunch on stuff you dont use a lot,like obstruction wrenches.They are nice to have,but they can be made if Snap On or Mac wants a fortune for it.If you do become a mechanic you allways will be buying tools from now on.Tools make your life easier.For the money you spend on them Craftsman has good tools.If you choose to be a mechanic,the Craftsman tools can become your backup wrenches,and use Mac or Snap On for your main wrenches.If you are a mechanic for 10 years you will have enough in tools that you could have bought a new pickup probly,and still need something.

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Old Ford Mechanic

01-08-2008 20:54:57




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
First tools i bought came off a Snap-On truck back in the 1970,s. Five bucks a week payment.Bought tools off trucks up through 2001.But i found over the years that a lot of tools were good.Bought several sets from guys who were laid off or lost their job over the years too.Sold some to other guys,kept some that i needed for myself and traded some on other things.In doing this,buying from pawn shops,farm sales and inheriting a few i now have four top chests and a couple of bottom boxes full.I have one box i keep all the Snap-on and Mac stuff in and all the other boxes have a variety of brands.I have found that New Brittan,Williams,Fuller,Armstrong,Napa,Blackhawk and several other brands work as well for me as any in the hand tool line.Some speciality tools are better in first line brands but,all in all in my 35 years as a mechanic i have learned that the highest priced are not that much ahead as long as you stay in a good brand.And a good mechanic will learn to be an expert in picking his tools.The best advice i can give is always pick the right tool for the job.In other words' no vise grips or a cresent wrench on an oil plug".If i were him i would buy the set that i could most afford to start out,then upgrade as i could.A mechanic will always be updating and adding tools to his box while he is in the trade.Its just part of the business.

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CRUSADER

01-08-2008 19:43:48




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
Check with the instructors. They should have a list of the common hand tools needed for the course. I'd go to Sear's and get the Craftsman tools, or start checking out the pawn shops (that's what I did) or check out whats for sale that you need on ebay. You can usually get some good tools for a lot less money there. Wait until your working in the shops before you start buying off the tool trucks. Whichever you do is your decision, but remember a good tool can and will last a lifetime. Most of the tools I have I bought when I was working in the garages before I joined the service in 1985. They still look decent and work as good today as they did then. Good luck in your tech school class. I have a decent conglamoration / set of Snap-On, Mac, Craftsman, SK, Bonney, Blue Point, New Britain, Davies-Mayhew, and a bunch of other good tools along with some of the taiwan and chinese made.

Jim

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T_Bone

01-08-2008 19:40:51




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
Hi Anthony,

I'll give you the same advice I gave my son when he dedided to be a diesel wrench. Buy a basic set of good quality tools, open/box ends, sockets, entensions, screw drivers, pliers, allen wrenchs, etc: that usaully can be bought cheaper in a kit form.

Don't fight buying major brands as they make the best in there tool class, Estwing, Kline, Vise-Grip, Diamond, Snap-On etc;.
I suggested he buy a common run of the mill Craftsman set, about $150, 12drawer chest and roll away, about $350, then see what will be needed after he got some knowledge at school. That lasted him about 2yrs then he sold them to another prespective student for what he paid for them.
He then bought a mixture of snap-on and ? for the common tools each paying cash as he went by setting aside 25% of each pay check. In a years time he had a fine set of quality tools that he needed, paid for in cash, that would last him a life time.

Another source is watching the paper for retired or passed away mechanics. Wife's very seldom keep there tools after there pushing up daisy's.

Last: Are you sure you want to be a wrench? About 45yrs old, if you last that long, your body will feel like a hundred years old with severe joint pain. My son was ASE certified diesel/gas at 18yo and he didn't last but 8years before finding other work. The last 2yrs he worked PT as a small engine/equipment wrench and made $40k plus and enjoyed the work more than diesel mechanics of heavy equipment.

Go with a Union shop. It's alot less headaches then trying to fight employers on your own.

T_Bone

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Balatonm

01-09-2008 11:46:28




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 Re: Tools in reply to T_Bone, 01-08-2008 19:40:51  
Thanks T_Bone, and very budy that posted. You've been a lot of help. I've got a good veriety of basic tools, Screw drivers, Pliers, Renches, Sockets,etc... I'm Starting on my first project(A 1959 ford 981D) for highschool. So I gess you could say I've got the bug. My instructer said that I was going in head first to the trade.Owell.



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rockyhawaii

01-08-2008 17:44:52




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I've turned wrenches all my adult life in one way or another, and in that time I've broken ONE fine-tooth Craftsman ratchet, which I was abusing at the time. Craftsman is also more readily available. But Snap-on and Mac look prettier in the tool box, I'll give them that.



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bradk

01-08-2008 16:55:02




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
When I went to vo-tech in the 80's I bought a Craftsman set at discount.Pretty disatified to say the least.

To be honest,Mac tools aren't really that much more.And a Mac truck comes there regularly...Heck,I'd go for the Mac.

You'd have to look pretty hard to find any Craftsman tools in my shop anymore.Got sick of breaking the stuff all the time.Either traded them in and took it in the shorts or just threw them away.

As a shop owner,broken tools is down-time and lost revenue.~brad

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Bud in WV

01-08-2008 16:04:15




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I don't know how the new Craftsman tools are, but when I was a "hands on" steam turbine mechanic, Craftsman is what we used. We had to provide our own tools back then. There were certain places that nothing but the thin walled Craftsman sockets would get in - and then we hung a 3/4" or 1" IR impact wrench on it! I can't remember but a few busting - and they were replaced at the local mall after work....while we enjoyed the sceanery there. It usually took at least half the crew to swap out 1 broken socket!

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Tuggle

01-08-2008 14:10:10




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
A friend of mine went to auto body school and upon graduation, Snap-On offered them complete tool set at half price. He worked at it for about 2 years, quit and sold his tools for more then he paid for them. He is know in the military seeing the world.



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msb

01-08-2008 13:48:03




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
Don't go off the deep end buying expensive tools like Snap-On until you have a few years of experience under your belt. You just might decide twisting wrenches is not something you want to do all your life.Buy a nice basic set of Craftsman. If you decide to stick with the trade,Snap-On and other dealers take trades or you could sell the Craftsman tool outright later on when you are bringing in the BIG bucks.Used tools are the easiest things in the world to sell. Its that macho in man that brings men to their knees at tool sales.

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Balatonm

01-08-2008 12:28:50




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
I've really thaght about craftsman because of the lifetime tool warrenty and there is a dealer a 20mim drive away from where i live, but i've talked to some of the guys at the school and they say that the MAC truck is there most often. But nobody said that you have to get one tool brand.



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Mountainman_77

01-08-2008 12:23:02




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
For your best buy I'd go with Craftsman -- I bought Mac when i went to Vo-Tec and am not all that terribly thrilled with their quality for what you pay .I've heard Snap-On's quality has gone downhill some the past few years.S-K allways stood up for me good but to get a tool warrantied was next to impossible . Craftsman is reasonably priced and they usually dont ask much when you get something warrantied. Also watch for local auction sales -- some of those older brand tools were dang good quality , such as Indestro and Bonney.Usually can get good deals.

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Brokenwrench

01-08-2008 12:18:37




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 Re: Tools in reply to Balatonm, 01-08-2008 12:01:07  
Talk to your instructors, or even some shops in the area you plan to work in, if you know yet. Like I said in the post below, find out who has good coverage around you, and who is good to deal with down the line.

I don`t own one matco or craftsman tool for instance. No dealer in my area, no use for me to buy their stuff.

Personally I`d stick with Mac or Snap-on. They`re the biggest for a reason. If the tool programs are like they are around here for tech schools, I`d look real hard at mac. Their program is very flexible, and allows you to buy tools year round at a discount as long as you`re enrolled in school, not just on a tool day. I think snap-on has changed their program now as well, check into it.

My advice would be to do your homework ahead of time, and don`t get caught up in all the pretty promo stuff they put out there for tool day.

Another thing to consider, is I believe you can only buy one tool box on the program, so if you can, buy the biggest one, they ain`t ever gonna give you 50-60% off again. Also if you can be in a position to get most of your tool purchasing done before you graduate tech school, you`ll save yourself alot of money. Once your out and you step on any tool truck, it`s full bore pricing like the rest of us wrench pullers..
Good luck, hope I was some help BW

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Larry in Mo

01-08-2008 14:40:21




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 Re: Tools in reply to Brokenwrench, 01-08-2008 12:18:37  
From my experience with Craftsman, get the higher quality tools that have the smooth polished wrenches like Mac or Snap-On. The ones with the raised panel that says "Craftsman 3/4" etc, make your hands sore after a long day. Their ratchets are different levels also. LE



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petetx

01-08-2008 16:23:53




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 Re: Tools in reply to Larry in Mo, 01-08-2008 14:40:21  
been told i,m older than dirt. 45 yrs as combination machinist worked on everything from turbines to pumps and a few more in the petro chem plants it,s hard to beat craftsman for quality and replacement i once took in a handfull of punches and chsiels they replaced em all even a few busted craftsman ratchets that were bought at hock shops



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John in Ct

01-09-2008 07:24:12




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 Re: Tools in reply to petetx, 01-08-2008 16:23:53  
Check out Ebay. If you know your prices you can sometimes get some good deals on used Snap-On stuff. I have been filling my box one socket/ wrench at a time and buying some sets too.



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