Tools?

[VU-UTE]

How's it goin guys will be starting my apprenticeship soon as a diesel fitter Just wondering what tools Do you guys recommend and should I buy a kit or just build up

Muchly appreciated

[Ed]

probably best to build up a tool kit once you start as you will figure out tools you need, soo buy them as you need them. Otherwise you will buy a kit and half of the stuff will sit there and never be used

And good luck with the apprenticeship mate.

[edals]

Just start with the basics tools, then buy tools as you need them, no point buying heaps of tools that have no use mate. Just like i have found with cars, buy the tool as you need it.

[Drawnnite]

good luck with the apprenticeship.
im sure youll enjoy it alot.

normally you can get fairly good deals on some kits.
just to start off anyway. as said above basic set. (see what they recommend at the ocmpany)
no need to go over the top though (ie snap on as the first tool kit =P)

eventually youll find you need this and that and youll go buy those additions.
after which it will add up bloody quick. and youll be needing mroe storage =P
trust me on that part =P

[naf33n]

1/2 inch socket set
spanners, metric and imperial, try get a few bigger ones, up around 36mm etc
screw driver set
allen keys or better yet a "bits set" with allen, torx and all the other odd little bits and pieces
pliers, side cutters, long nose pliers, vice grip sand multi grips
hammer
test light, i know your not a auto sparky but it still will come in handy, all the fitters at my work have them

then once you start work you will quickly find out what else you need,

[Catchy]

you'll also need a good old crowbar and a multimeter, but i wouldn't suggest purchasing your own tools until you start working by yourself, probably 6+ months.

[Andrew426]

Set of pinch bars, 1/2" socket set, 3/8" 6 point socket set , spanners 8-19mm as well as 22, 24, 27, 30, 32. A few adjustable crescents (6", 10" and 12") as well as other general hand tools. screw drivers - 1,2 and 3 in philips, flatblade and posi - get decent quality ones like snap on or the tips will wear and slip. Hacksaw, 24oz ball pein hammer, 4lb mallet, soft faced hammer, ruler, tape measure. Cold chisels, paralell and tapered punches are all handy but not really needed just starting out. Same with stuff like rattle guns and impact sockets, you dont really need them starting out you can borrow them off other guys.

What kind of diesel apprenticeship is it? road transport? plant and equipment?

[ClairBear]

Check to see if you still get the (from memory) $800 per year tool allowance for apprentices.

Found link. It's changed, for the better, as it appears you get regular tax free payments.

http://www.australianapprenticeships...uly2011%29.pdf

[one_and_only2004]

My brother is an apprentice diesel fitter - he bought a repco tool chest (one of the big $1500 ones) and he is progressively buying more and more snap-on stuff to replace the broken repco tools - the ratchet spanners are just plain terrible.

I regularly buy him things like a snap-on air rattle gun or ratchets off ebay for half price - most people will provide you with a tax invoice if you ask.

[Andrew426]

I regularly buy him things like a snap-on air rattle gun or ratchets off ebay for half price - most people will provide you with a tax invoice if you ask.

Snap-On reps have a lot of room to move on their prices, if you haggle with them you can get the prices down pretty low, get free tools thrown in, tshirts etc. Ebay isnt always cheapest.

[Andrew426]

I regularly buy him things like a snap-on air rattle gun or ratchets off ebay for half price - most people will provide you with a tax invoice if you ask.

Snap-On reps have a lot of room to move on their prices, if you haggle with them you can get the prices down pretty low, get free tools thrown in, tshirts etc. Ebay isnt always cheapest.

[51QAS]

You normally find you're good with anything that has a lifetime warranty. Depends what you deal with at work. My old work didn't have a snap on truck, we had a different one (can't remember at the moment)

A lot of mates swear by snap on though, but a lot of wank factor is apart of owning snap on :P

[FstStig]

A lot of mates swear by snap on though, but a lot of wank factor is apart of owning snap on :P

Well without Snap-On I doubt we would of seen the socket or rachet until many years later. Snap-On have been around for 90+ years, developing tools and special equipment not just for cars, but also Space crafts, Air Planes even the Naval ships. They are also known as the first company to develop the tool of 5 to do the job of 50. So really not much of a "Wank" factor comes to owning Snap-On, owning a well known good quality is nothing to be a "wank" about.

[87RB30VL]

So... This ISN'T a thread about guys like this?

[Catchy]

Also depending on what equipment your working on, purchase a decent cap and plug kit. You'll use it when removing hydraulic hoses etc.

[RiCeY]

I started with a roll cab and top box full of tools from KC PRO AM for $800. Served me well and still have most of the tools.

Started buying snapon stuff but its too overpriced in Australia. Plenty of quality tools that are much cheaper.

[VU-UTE]

Thanks for the replies guys helped heaps

[Potta9]

As an apprentice I bought a rollcab and topbox first . Which had basic tools in it and then each thing I realized I needed was written down. And at the end of the week I'd try to cross a few things off at a time. As a diesel fitter alot of stuff that comes in these big apprentice tool kits will be pretty useless but you can never have enough tools so it's all good to have for the future.

[VU-UTE]

I'm gonna be working on earthmoving equipment Andrew

[zapper-l67]

I'm gonna be working on earthmoving equipment Andrew

Well your going to need Big tools for that job.. May I suggest Lebanese tools, they make a full range of cheap large tools you can use on earthmoving equipment.
Look them up on the net, Cheap Lebanese Tools.

Zapp

[hendorulz]

i would definately recomend good brands for tools u use all the time like spanner and socket sets. i have sidchrome and JBS and they both hammer.
as ive worked in maintenance in industry for a while i have seen allot of crap spanner sets they realy dont last and dont grib aswell