Tools for a student

[mark4g63t]

For school I need to get some tools. I'm going for Automotive Technology. I was wondering if anyone has some words of advise or know of good deals/ discounts that manufactures give to students? I know Snap-On has a student discount and they finance but I believe they have a fairly high interest rate. I know Cornwell has student discounts but they don't finance.
Let me know what you guy's prefer and why. Don't want to regret my "first" big set of tools.
Thanks, Mark

[TkrPerformance]

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.

Just go buy craftsman tools. They will get you by. It is all the hand tools I use at work since things tend to grow legs. That way it is cheaper to replace. I have all my good snap on,Mac, ect at home.

Don't be the dumb kid to finance 20k for tools and a box from snap on. When you are in school with student loans to pay off also.

[93gtpeater]

I agree with mark. I work on cars all day at work. When I get home the last thing I want to do is work on my own shit. That's why I got into motorcycles. Craftsman will give you a deal on tools if you talk to the right person. Good luck getting a decent job when you get out. My brother had a hard time. Its been 2 years and he's still changing oil at a dealership.

[dsmghost]

Yeah I owe snap-on about $20k, but I do what I love and I'm good at it. I'm 23 years old and make over $50k a year. I work for a company that has a great education program (paid as well) so it's easy to keep up with technology, and they pay my student loans for me every month. I get 3 weeks of paid vacation every year, soon I'll get 6 weeks of vacation each year. They also paid for all my ASE tests, I am the lead tech in my shop and also ASE master certified with L1.

[dsmghost]

If its what you want do it. While in school you will get 50% off everything from any tool guy Mac, Matco, Snap-on, Cornwell etc.

Oh and I quit high school in 10th grade so I could start automotive technology at Saint Paul community college. I went for 1 year of a 2 year program because I had to work full time (financially). So I don't even have a high school diploma, or a GED and I make over 50k a year, I'm 23 years old. I could quit my job today and get a job at any of the 20 shops I would pass on my way home in a heartbeat.

[4seasons69]

Yeah I owe snap-on about $20k, but I do what I love and I'm good at it. I'm 23 years old and make over $50k a year. I work for a company that has a great education program (paid as well) so it's easy to keep up with technology, and they pay my student loans for me every month. I get 3 weeks of paid vacation every year, soon I'll get 6 weeks of vacation each year. They also paid for all my ASE tests, I am the lead tech in my shop and also ASE master certified with L1.

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

Back on topic. This is really a horse shit industry to get into right now. 95 percent of the shops out there just try and screw the techs over. If there is anything else you want to do for a living go into that and keep cars a hobby. I hate working on my own stuff now.

But if you're really serious about doing this for a career don't buy crapsman. It really doesn't hold up to the daily abuse you will put it through then when it does break you have to track down a seas to go get it warrantied. I look at it this way buy as much from snap on and matco as you can while you get your discount. It will save you lots on tools in the long run.

[mark4g63t]

Sounds good. I really don't want to "work" on all different types of cars or even at a dealership. I plan to own/ co-own a shop like MAP or DB or something similar. Not too crazy but something that I can go to work everyday and enjoy what i'm doing, not have to take it so seriously. But that's a long term goal and probably not going to happen right away.
Thanks for all the responses so far. I really appreciate it!

[93gtpeater]

Marco does have great tools. But that being said I will not pay 350 bucks for a metric set of wrenches. Some tools you can be cheap on. But any tool that is mechanical I would buy from Marco. Like a ratchet, ratchet wrenches, torque wrench. You have so many options.

[mark4g63t]

yea that's what my teacher has been saying. Tool day is today so i'm going to see what interest rates and stuff are.

[b00sted_spyder]

There's a huge difference in quality from craftsman to snap on. Snap on is a ton more money but they work better and has some features that craftsman dont. As for box, anything over 2k is rediculous in my book. That could be a tig welder!