Tools for a student

[dsmghost]

Fuck get me a job there! I make good money but for a horse shit company.

We are looking for a qualified tech, my boss would probly love to steal you from youngstedts. Hit me up if your serious or just want to come check out the shop. AJ 503-504-2809

[blesi660r]

You want job security! Fudge automotive and go to school for machining swiss is where the moneys at. Im 26 with a high school diploma ONLY and this year alone with no OT im cresting 50k... now tack on 16+ hrs OT a week or more and yea you catch my drift.. I also wanted to become a mechanic and soooo freekin glad I didnt, and honestly the reality of you owning a shop like db or map is not a realistic goal when thinking about youre future.... sorry to be so blunt but you will hate yourself in 10 years.

[Chim55117]

I don't usually post a whole lot anymore, but this thread hit close to home.

If you want to own a shop one day, it's unlikely that you're going to get there and have the skills and know how to do so as someone coming from a mechanic background. Being a good mechanic does not guarantee that you will have the skills needed to take care of finances, billables, or handle accounts with vendors and suppliers - these are things that you go to business school for. At the end of the day, a great mechanic is a great mechanic - not necessarily a great shop owner or manager. Specialization is the name of the game. Chris Carey went to the U of M for business management if I recall correctly.

Now, I do realize that there are always exceptions to the rule, but this is a pretty well established and accepted knowledge.

If you want to work at a dealership or a well-known shop, by all means, you're on the right path.

If you're serious about wanting to own or manage a shop one day, sink your interests into business school - learn finances, supply chain, marketing, and the like - these are what will help you succeed in the automotive business ownership.

I went through just about the same thing you're going through right now and went to school for business instead of actual mechanics - yes, it's not as fun, your friends might make more money than you initially, you get out 2 years later, but your earnings potential is greatly increased in the long run.

Best of the luck either way though!

[89_Colt_GT]

My .02, I went to Century for automotive, ended up changing oil and tires all day for 3 months. A job any monkey can do.

It definitely killed the hobby of cars for me.

I have a buddy who jumped through all the hoops and now works at a Porsche shop. He makes less than $20/hr, owes $50k in student loans and $20k to snap-on.

I went to St. Paul College for 'Sheet Metal Tech', I learned how to weld, do Autocad and design goofy HVAC fittings from scratch. Fresh out of school, I was on the 'out-of-work' list for less than 45 minutes because of my Autocad skills.

What should you take home from this?

If you don't mind dirty fingernails, scalding hot oil burns, freezing cold salty slush dripping down your back, Go for it.

Advantages to working at a shop. 9/10 chance you'll be able to work on your own pile (if you feel like it after a 9 hour shift)

[98gstaherns]

For hand tools i see nothing wrong with craftsmen. The machines I build are all built by hand and its all i ever use and they don't fail. Well besides the stupid 1/4 ratchets. I have had snap on and matco and really for the price of just hand tools i dont see it. Power and air tools i would spend the extra money on. Check craigslist also never know what you will find, like others have said dont waste money on a bling bling box just get what ya need and save where you can.

[M1L3S]

I didnt read all responses , but the best thing I would do in your situation is look into a school called newgate. Its in Minneapolis. They offer free automotive and autobody. This will give you a chance to see if you like the work. Because the reality is your not going to be working on nice awsome cars. You will be working on moms mini van etc in the real world. It's a great way to gain experience in the field and decide if you like it without paying a dime.

Now for the best part! They have contracts with both snap on, matco tools and all major tool companies. You can buy brand new tools from anywhere from 30-75% off.

This will allow you worst case scenario to get a decent starter box going and gain real world knowledge and decided if its something you want to continue to pursue. If not you can leave free and clear with tools and enough know how to at least fix freinds and families auto issues.

Sorry for the novel. Hope I helped out. Pm me if you want more info.

[89_Colt_GT]

^^ I once vomited after opening an elderly ladies door to be roundhouse kicked in the face by musty, military grade seat urine. That was the day I quit.

[1QUICK4]

First don't go into automotive I would go in to something elce. I don't like working on stuff all day Then just look at my cars and don't want to touch them. Do it as a hobby not a job.

I agree with everything Mark said. There's a reason my Chevelle has been down for 11 years haha :(
You will end up hating something you used to love. Also it doesn't pay like it did 15+ years ago


I also agree on Craftsman tools. If you are starting out buy a >500$ roller box from Sears and a basic mechanics set. Lifetime warranty and you can upgrade later when you have the cash. That's what I did and now I have $50K worth of the big 3 at work and all my old Craftsman tools and box at home which comes in handy when I actually feel like working at home.


Go into Machining or Welding instead of wrenching if you want to be a laborer. If I could do it all again I'd never have started turning wrenches for a living

[CornFed2.4]

I'm not a mechanic so my day is little to none but I do wrench on my own shit so maybe I can get a little credit or be helpful.

I bought husky stuff from the depot and have returned at least one of everything minus sockets because they had broke. Yeah they have a warranty just like craftsmen but at the end of the day if I did this for a living I'd want something that I don't have to go get replaced because it broke.

time=money so less down time the more money you make.

Also I can chime in on the mechanic to owner thing a little.

It's not that hard. If you wanna be the one who wrenches and not so the bookeeping them hire an accountant/tax person.

I have my own carpet business now after watching our union crap on itself and to tell you the truth, I wouldn't be employed by anyone ever again. The key is to keep your clients happy and things go smooth. While union we worked 40 hrs a week and took home right around 65k a yr. I work about 30 hrs a week now on average and make more now.

Do what you want owning a business isn't hard and buy the right tools the first time don't waste money now on cheap stuff cause you'll end up buying again later.

[1QUICK4]

I bought husky stuff from the depot and have returned at least one of everything minus sockets because they had broke. Yeah they have a warranty just like craftsmen but at the end of the day if I did this for a living I'd want something that I don't have to go get replaced because it broke.

time=money so less down time the more money you make.



True to a point but remember that you can buy 5 Craftsman or husky to one Snap on equivalent lol
And all tools break, the only difference is if you brake a Snap-On you need to wait a week to get it warrantied or longer if they have to order it. Craftsman you can go down on your lunch break.

Would I recommend craftsman for a guy wrenching 40 hours a week and using/abusing them all day every day? Nope. But they work great for the 2 years you're in school and while you're a semiskilled/lube tech haha