tools....best bang for buck

[NBowlin]

I get out of the service here right quick, and I am planning on attending a 2 year diesel tech course. Here is a link to their what ever you call it http://www.nic.edu/programs/AppTech/DSLT.htm I am thinking it is going to be a basic over view though.



I need a little advice on what would be a good brand of tools to go with for getting started? I was thinking Cornwell or SK. Both of them sell sets that come with X number of various tools and a box set up. Is that a good way to go?



I am not sure which direction I will be able to go with all this, but I would like to get into the pick up truck light to medium duty world of things more so than heavy. Who knows though I will work where they put me to work.



Just lookin for some advice from a few of you who have done it is all. thanks

 

[DieselTweaker]

Nbowlin



Being a Mechanic I'm glad to hear your already looking at quality tools, Cornwell and SK are fine quality tools I had some of both before, but I had my tools stolen a year ago. I also recommend Snap On they have a large amount of Diesel tools too, including tool kit's for cummins. Good luck

 

[bmoeller]

I've used a few of the SK tools. Don't own any though. They seemed to be decent. At present, I pretty much only have Crapsman. The newer stuff doesent seem to be what it used to be. The wrenches seem to be made of a pooer material. The open end wrenches flex to much, causing them to slip off. Probably half my scars on my hands are from the Crapsman tools slippping. Would love to get a set of Flank drive wrenches from Snap-on. For home use, Craftsman tools are fine, but turn wrenches for a living, don't skimp. You'll regret it later. I don't turn wrenches at work like I used to, mostly trucking now, but I wish I had better tools.



If money was no object, I would only have Snap-on (S-o) in my box. I have a couple of their tools. One of the farmers I worked for during school had 99% S-o tools. He got REAL lucky. Found an ad in the paper. He got huge top box and roll-a-away set, FULL of tools for $7k. Probably $20k+ worth of tools and the boxes together.



Mac and Matco tools are pretty good.



IIRC, for people going to tech school, you can S-o toolboxes for 50% off or so. Get the biggest box you can afford. They are NEVER big enough. I keep adding to mine. Need a bigger roll-a-away now. Getting too heavy for what I have under there now.



Thank-you for your service to this Great country of ours. When get state-side, what part of the coutry are you going to be?

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

Snap-on has a tool purchasing program for full time enrolled students. The discount on tool and toolbox packages are 51%, putting them in the same price range as Craftsmen. Contact the poeple in the program where you are enrolling about putting you in touch with the local Snap-on Industrial Rep.

I'm a former Snap-on guy, and an Automotive College Instructor. Plenty of my students take advantage of that program. PM me if you don't have any problems contacting those guys. I don't know who the rep is out there, but I can dig up the phone numbers to get you started.

Good luck on your education.

Joe

 

[chriscumminsdiesel]

Being in this profession for many years now, I have been around many different brands of tools. Currently my collection is mainly Snap-On,Mac,and Craftsman. I have had great service from all. Snap-On and Mac are more pricey,but they give good service. I also like the Craftsman because you can find them more places if you need a replacement. Good luck in your schooling, I am a graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College. We always need more diesel technicians.

 

[NBowlin]

Holy cow! "The discount on tool and toolbox packages are 51%, putting them in the same price range as Craftsmen" I had no idea it was that big of a discount. I would go with Snap On, but I honestly didnt think I could realistically afford them. Right on I am even more excited. That is why I was thinking Cornwell and Sk cause they were a little more cost affective.



JoeBioDiesel is there a limit on what you can buy? ie. . certain tools, boxes, or dollar amount?



All I have now is like you Bmoeller the craftsman stuff, and all I could carry out of the auto hobby shop when they dermo'd a bunch of their stuff. They have been getting the job done, but they will make a good set to keep in the truck.



I'm doing 4 years and out for the Navy. It wasnt for me but well worth the time spent for the money for school, got to travel a bit, see a few things, and plus it financed this money pit of a truck I got myself tangled into. I am going to school in northern Idaho and then back to Oregon where I am originally from. Just gettin the jitters I spose.

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

I just checked their website. there's a new link for students.

Here it is.



http://www.snapon.com/student/



Joe

 

[BKenny]

Yeah, I went to UTI in Phoenix AZ for auto/diesel years ago. You could get tools for discount but when you going to school and working trying to pay your bills it was just a big tease for me. I could barley afford to pay for rent,gas and food they sure made it sound good though . I would like to beable to get that discount now that i can afford some . I have some Mac ,snap on mostly crafstman. It pays to have good tools so if you can afford it id go for it. I have just been buying specialty tools here and there and the good stuff for things i know im going to use i don,t do Mechanics for a living so i can get away with it

 

[chriscumminsdiesel]

Our company has a program for new hires, you can get a starter set from Mac and they take out so much a week. After it's paid for, it's yours.

 

[JLEONARD]

I'd have to agree with Snap On or Mac. My son has bought many of each of those during his time as a GoodYear tech, and now as a shop owner. Nice that they are guranteed also.

My personal tools are Craftsman, and although they are good, I think the other two are better and they feel better in my hands.

You won't go wrong with any quality brand.....

Good luck in school.

Jay

 

[David Oxland]

I'd wait and get some hints from instructors unless there's a big rush to buy stuff. Get a feel of what's going on and how some of the stuff that you see works

 

[NBowlin]

"You could get tools for discount but when you going to school and working trying to pay your bills it was just a big tease for me. I could barley afford to pay for rent,gas and food they sure made it sound good though"



yeah i know what you are saying there. My schooling is going to be payed for though thru the gi bill. married its 1200 a month for a full time student. tuition is 4300 a year as a resident. then she has a good job already add what ever i can make we should be ok. i think i just gotta get these twins on before i leave this rock :-laf

 

[Andy Perreault]

I second what Joe BioDiesel and others said about taking advantage of the Snap-On student discounts. I loaded up on tools while I was in aircraft mechanic school a few years ago. At the school, the Snap-On rep was a new hire gal. The discount program is only supposed to be for certain tools, but she said, "Just order anything you want. I'll tell them I didn't know. " I wish I could have bought more, but I was in the process of buying a house at the same time. The one thing on which she did stick to the rules was the rollaways. I wanted to get one of the wide monster ones, but the student catalog only listed certain ones, so I had to get one that's a lot smaller than I wanted.

Also, the school had student discount catalogs laying around from Mac, Matco, and Cornwell tools, but no reps from those companies ever came around to chat or show off their wares. Plus, the Snap-On gal was a gorgeous babe. Whenever she'd come in, with her long blonde hair, tight jeans, and black leather jacket, all work would come to a stop and all the guys would stand there with their mouths hanging open.

Andy

 

[QRTRHRS]

NBowlin

You may want to PM Will24. He's been going to diesel tech school for quite some time now. Maybe compare some notes or whatever.

 

[RACE427]

Snap On Tools and Matco Tools

Snap On offers up to a 60% discount to Vo-Tech College students who are attending full time. You can never go wrong with Snap On tools. Matco has a similar program available to college students in a Vo-Tech setting. Your college instructor will have all the necessary paper work that needs to be filled out. It is even worth taking out a loan to purchase these tools while you are in school. Once you graduate, the discounts are gone... forever!! There is not a tool dealer in the country that can match the discounts of this factory direct special prices to you!!! In fact, the tool dealers cannot purchase these sets at the same prices they are being sold to you!!

Good luck!! Diesel Mechanics, there is a 68,000 tech shortage in the U. S. as I type this!!! Hope this helps.

 

[Snow man]

Def go snap on hand tools if you can afford it. I do like S-K ratchets however,they are very hi quality,and fine teeth,very strong also. I preffer most IR air tools to snap on however the snap on 3/8 air ratchet is the best out there,very strong.

 

[DieselTweaker]

I have to agree on the IR air tools 3/8's impact 2112 and the 1/2 2131 impact they rock.

 

[RBergman]

you get what you pay for... . the craftsman pro-grade is good stuff for the money. work tools are all snap-on,mac,matco,craftsman,and a few cornwell

all are good i try to be realistic when i buy my tools(i don't buy any off shore tools unless i have no choice) some tools just don't matter who makes them

they are all the same and i go with price.

you will learn over time whos who and makes what tools

the way it used to be matco,craftsman,fluke and several others where owned

my danaher mfg look at the products and you will find no difference

mac/stanley and blackhawk as well as proto (i think) same!

i have been working on trucks-heavy equipment for 14 years

(well now i work on transit coaches) 50% my tools i have bought used

over the years and the others new i like used better for the savings

a lot of people are stuck to a brand and that cool!

i am stuck to the customer service i get

most of the time i buy from the big names it is specialty stuff

the sad part is i have about 60,000 in tools at work

and it just does not look like that much money

 

[RACE427]

Tools never have enough!!

If you are serious about Diesel Mechanics you will be purchasing tools throughout your entire career. They estimate after 20 years in the business you will have spent at least 80K on tools for your livelyhood! If you doubt this, I have been buying tools since 1968 when I was attending Automotive High School in Brooklyn, NY. Best school I have ever attended!!

 

[Andy Perreault]

Once you graduate, the discounts are gone... forever!!

Yep, Race427 is right about that. I know a few guys who got on with the airlines and they were really regretting that they didn't buy tools while they were in school.

One of the guys at my school was an Ebay enthusiast. He bought a lot of tools there, and he also bought some from pawn shops, too. During the quarter that we worked on sheet metal, he bought an air drill (I think it was Chicago Pneumatic) on Ebay, but it was a very loud drill, and he didn't like it. After that quarter was over, he sold it on Ebay for more than he paid for it!

You also might want to keep an eye on the classified ads. Recently in my area, there was an ad for a Snap-On rollaway with tools that read something like "... auto mechanic retiring from the business, over $35,000 invested, must sell... " I think the asking price was $8,000 'or best offer'.

Andy



Oh yeah, one more thing: in regards to air tools, the Snap-On rep that I mentioned in my first post said that Snap-On had recently started carrying Sioux air tools. I was able to buy them at the same student discount. Sioux is a top brand. You might want to inquire about that.