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Tools for school

Old Doug

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The young guy that was at the shop came back to work about 30 days ago and next week starts a tec school wear he has to have a basic set of tools witch i think is a good ideal but he is going to buy all snapon were he gets a student discount I tryed to talk him out of it but i am old and dumb. If he didnt know so much i would give him every thing he needed and he wouldnt have to go $5000.00 in det. I hope he makes it as a mechanic but going $ 5000.00 plus schooling could be a high dollar lesson.
 

Mike L

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I think that’s pretty typical. I’ve worked with a couple kids who did that. They got a one shot deal for a 50% discount on snap-on tools. They basically had to take out a loan to buy tools but there was no limit on the amount of tools they could buy. I suppose it will weed out some kids who aren’t real serious and if not then the rest of us be getting a deal on some barely used tools.
 

hosspuller

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What does the school call a "basic" set of tools ? Seems like Snap-on is doing the drug dealer style of marketing. Give them a cheap taste, then when they're "hooked" jack up the price.

I wonder if a "basic set" could be bought at Sears, HD or such for less than 1/2 price Snap-on.
 

thepumpguysc

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We had a guy who did that.. or should I say, fell for that..
He rolled-in the first day w/ a WHITE tool box {snap-on}.. FULL of snap-on tools..
"ONE" of the problems {besides a WHITE toolbox} was he didn't own a Ballpeen hammer.!! He only had Claw foot hammers.. WTF are they teaching.??
 

kshansen

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I would have a serious problem with the school if they did not say exactly what tools they consider a "basic set of tools". If they are not smart enough to be able to define what that is I would have no faith in them knowing enough to attempt to teach anyone doing work beyond what a JiffyLube employee would do.
 

kshansen

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What does the school call a "basic" set of tools ? Seems like Snap-on is doing the drug dealer style of marketing. Give them a cheap taste, then when they're "hooked" jack up the price.

I wonder if a "basic set" could be bought at Sears, HD or such for less than 1/2 price Snap-on.
To me that would be the best place to start. Then if after a couple years one finds they "need" a higher grade of tools they could always take the "cheap tools" home for working on the lawnmower or such.

Heck, one could probably get by for a couple years with the tools you can get at Harbor Freight! Some of their tools have gotten to be much better over the years, maybe not Matco, Mac, or Snap-on quality but for what one would pay for one Snap-On ratchet you could get a full set of 1/2 inch drive tools!

Also if by the time the kid is old enough to be going to a tec school he should have the basic tools at home already! Or did he decide a week ago after not getting accepted at the local Community College that he was all of a sudden going to go to this tec school and in two years be the head wrench for some winning NASCAR team?
 

DIYDAVE

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I'd go HF, knowing what I know now. I betcha them SO tools sprout wings, and start flyin away, at school!:(
 

JD955SC

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I didn’t have money in school for Snap On even at the 50% off. Hell I don’t have money for Snap On now and I make damn good money.

I advocate for Gearwrench, Carlyle, Tekton, Harbor Freight (they have some good stuff), etc. Yeah you use the tools to make your money but don’t let them be what you have to work for to pay for. My toolboxes and tools are cheap and paid for.

If he won’t listen to the voice of experience then he will have to learn the hard way. You can buy a lot more of cheaper tools for the same money and be much further ahead than the guy with a three quarters empty toolbox and always borrowing from coworkers
 

BigWrench55

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Well I met a lot of mechanics over the years, that thought the bigger their snapon box is. The better the mechanic they are. And many of them had just a few tools to put in each drawer. I personally stay away from those trucks and try to encourage up and coming mechanics to do the same. But you can't reach some people. Some think it's a badge of honor to tell you how they spent on a snapon truck. :rolleyes:
 

Old Doug

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Also if by the time the kid is old enough to be going to a tec school he should have the basic tools at home already! Or did he decide a week ago after not getting accepted at the local Community College that he was all of a sudden going to go to this tec school and in two years be the head wrench for some winning NASCAR team?
That jared my brain he has a set of craftsman. What they want you to have is sae & mm wrenches,3/8 sockets sae & mm shallow, 1/2 sockets sae shallow, screw drivers,one hammer. gasket scraper, some pliers and a roller tool box. That could easily be put together for around $ 700.00 if you had a little time $400.00 would get it. I didnt have many tools when i was in high school. Tools must have been exspensive when i was growing up.
 

Jonas302

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The truth is we should rise up and outlaw mechanics having to buy tools to come to work
Many a young person has gone deep into dept that way I really truly don't believe that snap on makes all the best tools some are great but by all means not all of them
When I started school I made a toolbox from recycled plywood and kitchen drawer slides that got me though school and three years at work until I bought a used toolbox It was always full of very useful tools that everybody always wanted to use
 

Old Doug

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When I started school I made a toolbox from recycled plywood and kitchen drawer slides that got me though school and three years at work until I bought a used toolbox It was always full of very useful tools that everybody always wanted to use
My first roller cabnet i built out of bed rail, sheet metal from a sign and plywood.
 

hosspuller

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While we're discussing tools... What's the advantage to a 12 point socket over a 6 point? You're going to use it with a wrench with lots of fine teeth... more than 12 … So position is moot, unlike a box wrench. Seems like the 6 point is stronger. Most if not all impact sockets are 6 point. I don't see any difference in clearance around the bolt head.
 

thepumpguysc

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Funny u should ask that HOSS..
I had a 6pt water pump bolt that would not move last week.. I was using a 12pt 10mm.. broke 2..
THEN I realized they were 12 pt sockets.. put on a 6pt which allowed for much more torque to be applied to the bolt.. w/o rounding the bolt or breaking the socket..
I was told to ALWAYS match the socket w/ the bolt head.. 6pt bolt head = 6pt socket.. 12pt head = 12pt socket..
But even after applying heat, I ended up breaking the dam thing anyway..
 

Nige

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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
The truth is we should rise up and outlaw mechanics having to buy tools to come to work
Many a young person has gone deep into dept that way ...........
I believe that a person is more inclined to care for tools if they have bought them from their own pocket rather than being handed a toolbox by their employer. However - that does not mean that the tools the person buys have to be the most expensive ones on the market, only that they be suitable for the work to be performed.
 

thepumpguysc

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To be totally honest.. when I first started.. VERY FIRST JOB.. ALL my tools came from HF..
& I STILL have some if not ALL of them.. They sit unused for the most part, but I still need to make a special tool now & again..
Someone made fun of my tools ONCE.. They were in my tool box UN-INVITED & grabbed the wrong drawer.{HF drawer, special tools}.. I looked'm dead in the eyes & said, "Those HF wrenches have made MORE MONEY than your snap-ons will make in your lifetime." That shut'm up pretty quick..
 

Tarhe Driver

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Ever notice the really nice toolboxes frequently for sale on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, often with tools, for pretty good to good prices? The only thing they're all missing is financing. Wonder how many are being sold by aspiring mechanics who have been caught in a financial bind? Saw an obituary today of a successful man; the obit included, "In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your retirement."
 

thepumpguysc

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I SEE A LOT of those.. & the first sentence is>> "bought these as part of school requirements"..
"decided to change careers".. "all brand new"..
But some of these guys are trying to get ALL their money back.. WAY TO HIGH..
 

Mike L

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When I started I had a bunch of craftsman tools from my childhood and still have some of them but I’ve bought a good plenty of snap on tools and will continue to do so. I rarely buy from harbor freight and when I do it’s probably something I’m going to cut up and repurpose. Not saying they don’t have some decent stuff but if I’m 50 miles from nowhere I want something that’s going to hold up to the abuse. Buy once, cry once.
 
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