• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Tools for an apprentice?

cameron92

cameron92

Grand Pricks
I am starting an apprenticeship as a mechanic in the next few weeks.

I need to know what a good set of starter tools would be. Names of tools, brands and whatever else you can reccommend is appreciated.

So far I think I will need:
An impact gun
Torque wrench
I have a basic tool set (sockets, wrench's. But they are mastercraft..)

That's all I can think of, I will mostly be doing oil changes and tire changes to start. Like I said any recommendations are appreciated!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk
 


Buy the tools as the jobs call for them then you have them for the next time. I buy cheaper tools for the most part but do occasionally buy nicer tools. I have a 28V miluakee impact and it's amazing.
 
If you are starting on oil changes and tire rotations, pick up a 1/2" gun.. Ingersol is typically a solid gun. Then get a 1/2" impact socket set. IIRC I picked mine up from Home Depot, the husky brand. They are technically lifetime, but you have to send them in. Sears would be another I would recommend if they are local. That way you can lifetime them nearly any day. You won't need both metric and standard as they are close enough at that size to make due w/o worries. I have just a metric set as most newer cars are metric only.

Whenever you buy sockets, get six point only. Aim for lifetime. this is one of the reasons much of my stuff is Craftsman. There's a SEars less than a mile away from me.

99% of the time I use deep 3/8" 6 point sockets when working on motors. There is occasion to pull out the 1/2" impact, but it's mostly 3/8". I tell guys to always hand me a deep well socket. It's rare that the shallow sockets are used, but they do get some use in the tight spaces.

Buy a hose clamp tool when you can. It's about the best $40 a guy can spend.
Then....buy a gearwrench 82248, you'll never regret that baby. It's the ultimate axle removal tool, along with many other things.
A multimeter
A basic test light
A soldering iron (home depot has a nice weller say 100/140watt for ~30)

Aim for those things and you'll cover a majority of the stuff you would need.

Nice to have
Pivot head ratcheting wrenches
E torx set
Torx set
Bolt extractor set
A basic two jaw puller
 
mastercraft is canadian tire which you bring tool in and get warranty on the spot granted they sell that piece individually.
 
3/8" air wrench and a 3/8" air impact, 6 point sockets, tool cart or rolling tool box, any pick-up tools. ask the senior mechanics to get an idea. most of them should be cool
 


I will definitley be trying to find tools with lifetime warranties. I have a Sears, Home depot and canadian Tire all close by.

I think I will pick up most of these things mentioned as well as an oil filter wrench and probably a breaker bar/johnson bar (whatever its called)

Any other tools you can think of, please let me know. Thanks.
 
Get yourself a set of torque sticks, or a universal torque stick if you are going to be doing rotations on different makes/models of cars. Mine is a 90ft/lb universal stick from Matco. Use it all the time, and they are for the most part decently accurate...accurate enough for wheels at least. Slam your socket on the end and hammer the nuts on.

Jay
 
98GPGT2D said:
Get yourself a set of torque sticks, or a universal torque stick if you are going to be doing rotations on different makes/models of cars. Mine is a 90ft/lb universal stick from Matco. Use it all the time, and they are for the most part decently accurate...accurate enough for wheels at least. Slam your socket on the end and hammer the nuts on.

Jay
Click to expand...

I will look for those, I will mostly be working on Fords (:th_thumb-down:) lol.
 
The best filter wrench I have used is one that looks like a big pair of pliers. It works so much better than the strap type wrenches. You can get in some tight places with them. Also, ask what the shop has available for shop tools. They might have torque wrenches or torque sticks available for shop use and you could save some money using them and buy other tools to get started.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top