I start "College" in a week!
 

Well I've been on the automotive technician and autobody collision repair waiting lists at DCTC for 2 years. They called me on Saturday telling me that I may register if I'd like to. So needless to say, I went on in and registered! It will cost about 2k a semester ( 2 year program) and the tools will vary depending on what brands I get.

This is very much so a spur of the moment thing, as I had not planned on going since its already August. I don't really know what to expect. Has anyone done this program? I realize getting 10k in tools is smart, but I'm working on a hardcore budget. Ideas for sufficient brands? I might have to just stick with craftsman but if something is compairable in price, but of better qualitiy, I will go with it. I'm starting off in the transmission portion of the coarse. Basic auto, auto, then manual.

I really don't know how I'm going to pay for school, but I'm going anyways. I didn't fill out the FAFSA because I totally forgot I was still on the waiting list. So getting financial aid for the first semester is completely out of the question. tools will be between 2k and 6k for what I need.

Any information about the schooling and / or Tools would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys. ( maybe I'll actually learn something and be able to make an impact in the tech forums efficiently ;) )

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

you could look on ebay. Shipping would be expensive though.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

I just filled my fafsa form out yesterday, I sure hope to hell that it'll go through and work for me this semester at dunwoody. Also, I have matco, but mainly mac n more-so snap on. Doesn't that school provide tools? I know that these tool companies can give a little off their charges for students, and you can also claim your tools with recipts on tax day. other then those 3 brands, csk, northern tool, and craftsman would prolly work. You can also do combinations of things..impact sockets go cheaper, but things like ratchets, torques sets, and such..go with the nicer stuff..you get what you paid for.

-A. Swift

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

Snap-on and Matco offer deals to students, usually 25% off or something along those lines.
If you plan on making your living off your tools, buy good ones. The saying goes "take care of you tools, and they'll take care of you."
good luck w/school!

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

I only have a week to come up with any sort of money for tools lol. The school has all of the major companies come to the school and offers a very good discount. I think its a tax write off for them. I was curious about what tools are more important to be quality. For instance, is it worth buying a snap on ratchet over a craftsman? Torque wrenches, best bang for the buck? I will make some sort of living off my tools someday, but there is always another day to buy more and better quality stuff.

I guess this is more of a question for the shops. Most ppl dont have the time or the money to have a huge amount of tools. So how would most of us know what is worth spending the big cash on?

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

Bottom line is, you pay for what you get. There is no comparison when it comes to tools. Snap-On, Matco, MAC are top of the line tools, crapsman is what it is, crap. Just buy what you can afford and deal with broken sockets, rounded bolts, and bloody knuckles untill you can afford good tools. Atleast you are not working for a shop and can get the crapsman "lifetime" warrenty. I started with companion wrenches, sockets from Norther Hydrolics(chromevandium), husky ratchets, crapsman "torque" wrenches, and Stackon carry around 22" box's(2).

~John

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

I am not a big fan of most Craftsman tools in general. I may not push tools real hard in my industry, but I do need to count on them. I use a lot of Snap-On stuff as the guy stops by weekly and has a truck account that I pay 10 dollars to each week with no interest charge.

Keep in mind with Craftsman that if it isn't the Professional series they usually won't warranty them if they know you are in the biz. So either know somebody at a Sears, or just don't go to same place often to swap all your broken Craftsman tools.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

Maybe i'll see you around, even though I have no idea what you look like. I'm in the ASEP program and start the 22nd. Just got done buying all my tools...a mixture of matco, snap-on, and craftsman.

There was a tool day back in July, but you must have obviouslly missed that. There will be another one however, and it is this month. I am not entirely sure on the date - hopefully it hasnt passed - but you can call the school and probably find out. At 'tool day' there are quite a few tool company reps handing out all their info (and of course their discounts).

I bought my box and tools for around $3k. Whatever you do, SHOP AROUND. I highly suggest NOT buying everything from one company. Alot of the tools are the same damn thing anyway, just with a different name on them. As long as you get the discounts from the 'main' companies, you should be fine. I can get you a craftsman and matco rep's number and whatnot if you want it. Everything hinges on that school discount though...

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

For school, get in and talk to anyone in student services that deal with finaid. If you qualify you'll get it no matter when you start as long as your starting at the begining of a semester.

This sounds like a huge jump and maybe you want to talk to someone about seeing if you can start next sememster? I jumped into school once without preparing myself, Huge mistake my parents are still paying for. Now, 7 years later, I am 2 semesters in to a planned education with a perfect 4.0 GPA. It's an Auto Tech program, there will be other openings. Just sleep on it.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

This same shit happened last year. I slept on it for a year. I want to do it, I just wasn't expecting an opening to come up. I have to fill out the fafsa and I will get some sort of aid, but it wont come until later. I will probably have to arrange payment for all tools and the first semester.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

ASEP ? Im not familiar with the program names. I was intersted in 2 programs and those are about all I knew anything about. I still dont know where my class room is ;) Im sure between me rolling my 1g, and you rolling your "0"g, we will cross paths.

Tuesday is the next " tool day". ( 2nd day of school). It will be much smaller than the previous one. I'm probably going to just figure out what tools I need for my current course and start there. I am a typical ass, broke DSMer.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

I have broken a few craftman wratchets and a few other parts for them. I use them because they are cheap and usually can get the job done. I also am not a commercial user so I still get free replacements.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

How do they find out if you are a commercial user, and if they found out, how would they keep track of it.

Everytime I exchange tools, it goes like this...

Me: This broke.
Him: Grab a new one

Then they ring it up as an exchange

There is no interrigation about where I work, nor do they look at any ID or anything.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

I am probably going to get a lot of crap for this, but the Stanley ratchets and sockets from Walmart are damn good. I like them way better than Craftsman and right up there with snap-on. I don't like the rest of their tools, just the ratchets. Some of my buddies can attest to my 1/2" drive Stanley ratchet with a 3' breaker bar on it. I use the stanley sockets in the air impact all the time and they are still going strong. Just a good way to save some cash in the beginning. They also have a lifetime warranty but I haven't broke a single one yet. I have broken snap-on and craftsman, but the stanley's took off the same bolt.

Re: I start "College" in a week!
 

If you are a commercial user of craftman, you will break things all the time and they wont keep returning things over and over again. They could catch on. I mainly break the rachets because I am sticking a bar on the end. Lately we have been using ace rachets from my brothers work since it is a pita going to sears in the middle of just about every project. They are closer and have a lifetime warranty also. We have broken a few of them also. Now we have a 3/4" breaker bar and if that doesn't break something loose, it isn't going to come loose. I don't really care what tools I use as long as it can get the job done.