Apprentice tools

[Haydz]

Gday guys its come to that time in my apprenticeship (Diesel Mech) where the tradesmen are getting the shits with me using their tools. and the government money has come thru. and ive been saving myself.

i thought id put it to you guys what do you reccommend tool wise?

and whether you think its better to buy one big kit or get a box and build it up with the tools i want and need?

rough budget of 3000 for a basic starter kit which has to include a 1/2 inch rattle gun.

ive had a talk to a few of the blokes at work and some of them say to save up and get snap on etc and others say buy kincrome, sidcrome etc.

so any personal experience or just thoughts on what i should and shouldnt do.

thanks alot guys much appreciated

[one_and_only2004]

My brother, along with all the guys he works with buy nothing but Snap on. Apparently they have some super-awesome-crazy replacement warranty with all their tools. He's a diesel mechanic too so I'd say Snap on for the win.

[Maxxiz]

Yeah ive heard good things about snap on also. I'd probably say get a middle size kit, dont get basic and dont get advanced. If you get a middle one you can always add to it.. Good luck mate.

[TVR-190]

we have a bahco set here106 pieces, damn good set and hasnt let me down for working on the car. Weve got quite a few bahco tools. coast us $130, But id reccommend bahco stuff.

http://extranet.bahco.com/CONndc.asp...cmbLanguage=01

[minux]

I use kincrome, recommended by a transport company workshop manager. Figured if it was good enough for use on trucks was good enough for use around home.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

problem with kits is you get some stuff that you'll never use, BUT you will get alot of stuff that you will use probably cheap then you could buy it individually. snap on is very good brand theyve got a decent warranty too but that said sidchrome/kinchrome are good and probably wont break in a hurry. i certainly havent had any issues with the sidchrome or JBS tools i bought. i used to be an apprentice fitter and im not an apprentice mechanic my tools aren't quite suited to being a mechanic so ill need to buy some more. but ive never broken or had an issue with what ive got and ive given them a fair flogging.

[Dangerous Dave]

Bahco – True professionals’ love for increasing their performance by its ergonomics and design

have used some Bahco stuff, all very, very nice tools

[dirt drifter]

apparently "bluepoint" brand are snap-on tools but with bluepoint stamped on them and not as pricey as snap-on. if they have the same warranty as snap-on then they could be worth investigating, although from what i've heard breakages/wearing out of snap-on/bluepoint stuff is a very rare occurence

[Torquative]

hey haydz we recently had this discussion at work too, don't be afraid of the kingchrome/sidchrome stuff if you find it cheap enough. Snap ons great, but its not the be all and end all and some of the pricing leaves alot to be desired, especially for someone in your shoes.

I use some of dads tools when working on the car, and I use many kingchrome branded tools that are older then me, so they've stood the test of time.

[shifty6]

as far as spanners and larger sockets go, (think 1/2 inch drive) the "super works gold" stuff they sell at supercheap is actually pretty good.
ive had breaker bars with extra lengths of pipe on the back of them, hanging off sockets i bought at supercheap, and they havent broken yet.

their no-name sockets are shit, but the "gold" ones are good.
don't buy snap-on just for the fancy name.
maybe just buy snap-on for important things like torque wrenches n your rattle gun etc.

[Stressball]

Don't assume all tools by a particular brand are good or bad. There are always exceptions.

Snap On have the benefit of a lifetime, no-questions-asked replacement warranty. If you break it, they give you a new one. Very simple. The tools are damn high quality, but I don't know if they are really worth double the price of some nearly-as-good tools from other brands.

Kincrome and Repco have both changed their manufacturer in the past 12-18 months. Since then I bought a Kincrome torque wrench, and it failed within 10 bolts. The click mechanism stopped working, and it cost me two high tensile bolts and 2 hours of frustration trying to remove sheared bolts. Repco's new range are Repco 'Series 2' tools, I've heard good things about them.

Also, I know a few places that make use of unbranded tools from Trade Tools Direct and swear by them, but none of them are using them in applications as heavy duty as a diesel mechanic might use them.

[Tree cutter]

If you want a bullet proof rattle gun then go with Ingersoll Rand. I would buy a good toolbox and stock it with the tools you need so you dont end up with a toolbox full of stuff you will never use. It will be heavy enough to move around with just the basics in it so you dont really need a heap of extra stuff to make it harder to move around. Kingchrome are good. Sidchrome is not as well finished nowdays since they merged with Stanley but are supposed to be just as tuff as the old Sidchrome tools. Bahco are good. I have tried Teng tools and havent bent or broken one yet, but i havent tried their ratchets because they look a bit dodgey to me. Metrinch are tough as but the chrome peels off and can cut you.I have used a 3/8 drive Metrinch ratchet with a bit of pipe 350mm long on the end of it then pushed on it with my foot to loosen flywheel bolts that i couldnt shift with anything else and the ratchet was unharmed. Stahlwille are top quality. Britool are good too. Snap on are good but overpriced in my opinion. I think a lot of people just buy them for bragging rights. If you have to have a shifter or nut F#@ker as i call them then you cant go past bahco. Most shifters get sloppy in the jaws and loosen off as you put pressure on them so they round off any nut you put them on.Don't get confused between Kinchrome and Kingchrome. Kingchrome is much better.

[Macca86]

Yeah dont be fooled into the 'oh if its snapon it must be the best'. Snap on are great dont get me wrong, but arnt the be all and end all. As mentioned above, superworks GOLD stuff is actually pretty friggin good. At my work myself and 3 of the 4 other guys have a fair bit of the superworks gold stuff with no complaints. The 4th guy buys nothing but snap on. Yeah he has a lot of nice gear, but holy christ you could buy a bloody nice car with the extra he has spent just to have an all snap on kit.

[S.T.K.E]

I use sidchrome at home. Great product. Last forever. Lifetime warranty.

[ari666]

i broke one of my blue point ratchet spanner thingies and when i showed the snap-on man, he snatched it out of my hand and literally RAN to get a new one from his truck...

lol, if you can afford them, snap-on are great but 3k wont get you far. kingchrome are fine. i use them everyday. the usual breakages/wearing out, but at their price you can replace them easily. although, if you wanna stretch to 700 bucks i would REALLLLY recommend a snap-on cordless rattle gun. the salesman got me to do up a wheel nut with my full-on breaker bar (its 1.5 meters long) and his rattle gun had it off in 2 seconds. no stupid air hoses to drag around too.

the best ratchet set i ever bought was from vic markets and was dirt cheap. i gave it away when i went travelling and havnt got the heart to ask for it back but it shows you you should shop around for tool. sometimes you walk into a dusty old store and there will be the best (something) you really need and its at a good price.

i would never get a full set. itll have bunches of crap you dont need and be missing a lot of stuff you will.

[Haydz]

Well currently i have a decent tool kit of different brands and they all seem alright. although im pretty heavy on tools. ive broken a few sockets and stuffed a fair few sidchrome 1/2 ratchets.

im contemplating going for snap on and just buying everything once if they have such a good replacement warranty. as ill look after it and not lose it. so if it breaks itll be replaced.

as the others can be a pain in the ass. trying to claim the warranty.

in doing that though ill have to build my kit up slowly. ive heard someone saying you can get the tools from snap on and pay them off. as like a direct removal from your bank account each week. im not sure how true this is though. anyone know any info like that as i cant find much on the website.

im waiting for the bloke to come round in his truck so i can have a chat with him. if i get a chance when he is there.

cheers for all the help so fat guys

[VZ_SS]

I use sidechrome, stanley, bahco, and stahlwillie at work as a fitter working on mining equipment. I've never had a poblem with any of them.

[TrikkBen]

I hear good things about Repco tools, apparently they copied Snap-On's stuff, so its spot on in design. Other then that I use KC Pro Am or Sidchrome.

[Snap-on]

Snap-on!! Hence the username^^

[Andrew426]

I would personally avoid blowing all your money away on snap on in the first hit. Im also an apprentice diesel mechanic, so I know what its like to be in your shoes. I would recomend buying one of those starter kits, A lot of guys will say "Nah its full of stuff you dont need" but a lot of that stuff is the gear you will never think to buy, but is extremely handy to have around.

I started with a powerbuilt bottom cabnet, and one of those teng top cabnet/starter kit things. The sockets and spanners in this only go up to 19mm though, so I also have a 20 year old sidchrome 1/2 inch set., and am looking at buying a king tony 8mm-32mm spanner set. I am fairly happy with the teng rachets and sockets, but they dont take hard-out abuse (like being fitted to a 3/4" rattlegun) as well as the old sidchrome sockets do.

You also want to keep around a grand for the million little bits and pieces you will need to pick up, stuff like torx sets, impact hex keys etc. Its a real prick when you need more tools, but your tool account is already gone.

Also, koken is a bloody good brand - dont overlook them just because they are made in japan.

[wildss]

sp tools have some good packages available.
my mate whos an automotive machinist bought a $3200 tool box and he loves it.

i will however recommend the wurth rattle gun, its a bit pricey $600+ but its an excellent bit of gear

[Panama]

Hi Haydz, I’m a diesel mechanic for Scania. As an apprentice at Transperth we were supplied with Repco tools.

I find that Kincrome and Repco are great but their ranges are limited for the more specific tools snap on can supply.

You will do well to buy the "long" series of combination spanners from Repco, they are a godsend.

As tree cutter said the Ingersoll-Rand brand of half inch rattle gun is pretty damn good. I have a 1000 foot pound (1350nm) one and there's not a lot it can't undo if you oil it regularly. I paid 495 for mine about 4 years ago but they will be cheaper now. I often lend it to people whose snap on/blue point rattle guns can't undo certain nuts/bolts.

I’d be buying the 1/2"socket set and ratchet from Repco (one with deep sockets and normal sockets, ratchet extensions and uni-joint) I’ve never broken a socket but my 17mm copped a flogging until I found out snap on sell double hex impact sockets.

Kincrome toolbox as they are a bit heavier duty and often cheaper than Repco,

Things like hammers, pry bars, air blower and hack saw I’d get from Bunnings and just go cheap.

Screwdrivers, the Sidcrome and Repco are pretty good.

I’d still buy the long 1/2" breaker bar from snap on. It’s about $150 but I've done amazing things and I’ve seen other people abuse them to no end before they break, then you get a new one free.

1/4" and 3/8" drive stuff kincrome is good.

Kincrome do a great digital multi meter for a decent price.

If you are looking at getting ratchet spanners, get the kincrome ones but make sure they are flex head as they come in really handy.

All in all I still think snap on make great tools, but to start out I’d try avoiding them because you will do better to replace anything you break with a snap on item instead of buying them up front. That way if you never break some things, you don't have to fork out massive amounts of money unnecessarily.

If you need any more help on this just pm me.

[Haydz]

All awesome information there guys.

i did consider repco for tools as they have the exchange in store warranty. but i find the new series of toolboxes dont seem too strong and or have the flexibility to add on side benches and cabinets as i have seen other manufactures do.

Im going to keep looking out for tools. and see what is on offer before i make up my mind. this is definitely giving me a good idea as to the brands to go for and what everyone else has done.

re: wurth rattle guns work just bought a 3/4 wurth rattle gun and it is amazingly strong. there hasnt been a nut or bolt that thing cant undo yet.

and if any one of you are interested im doing my apprenticeship with Toll Fleet. and we cover all sorts of Trucks, Trailers, Plant and Cars.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

Well currently i have a decent tool kit of different brands and they all seem alright. although im pretty heavy on tools. ive broken a few sockets and stuffed a fair few sidchrome 1/2 ratchets.

im contemplating going for snap on and just buying everything once if they have such a good replacement warranty. as ill look after it and not lose it. so if it breaks itll be replaced.

as the others can be a pain in the ass. trying to claim the warranty.

in doing that though ill have to build my kit up slowly. ive heard someone saying you can get the tools from snap on and pay them off. as like a direct removal from your bank account each week. im not sure how true this is though. anyone know any info like that as i cant find much on the website.

im waiting for the bloke to come round in his truck so i can have a chat with him. if i get a chance when he is there.

cheers for all the help so fat guys

yeah the do offer that option, its pretty handy.

[ari666]

oh, just another silly thing. the snap on plastic mallet is the BEST THING EVER! no crap. its full of shot (bits of steel like in a shotgun shell) so when you need to knock off stuff like brake drums it impacts and really does the job. AND you can walk around shaking it like a maracus doing the samba all day everyday.

(ok, im done now)