Tools To Get Started As An Auto Tech 2023 Edition

Electrical tape on sockets work also.

Why not just buy impacts and forgo chrome ?

Malco, and i mean malco not matco vice grips

huskys 3/8s also used the same ratchet head as matco and icon for a while i bought one to rebuild my matco in a pinch. the exterior is slightly different but same guts.

I'd go for the cordless impact from the start, love em. Especially if your at a tire shop doing lug nuts all day.

Malco is making the original Vise-Grips again, made in the same factory by the same workforce in the USA.

Don't buy anything for the first couple of months. Not a single tool. If you can't borrow everything you need from your mentor you're working in a freak show. When you see cheap stuff on marketplace etc, thats when to buy. With respect if you spoke like you did in this video in a shop you'd have your pants pulled down. Absolute bs waffle

I like my milwaukee vice grips. They seem to bite well and take abuse pretty good

Quick note on the lug nut sockets - I've broken quite a few over the years, I finally broke down and just purchased the common ones from MAC. Initial sticker shock sucks, but at least he replaces it no questions asked when I give it to him.

I would add:
form-a-funnel for oil filters/drain plugs that spill onto the frame/steering-rack/everywhere
ball-point pens and white paint pens
magnetic trays for organizing fasteners
utility knife/box cutter
small picks for o-rings
hose-picks
3/8" & 1/2" breaker bars (HF are not bad for the money)

One last tool. HEARING PROTECTION. Earmuffs or earplugs especially if you're doing tires and using an impact air wrench all day long. I count it as a tool because it is a tool that will save your hearing for the future and keep you making money by being able to hear the strange ass noises in cars when you're doing the diagnostics in the future.

I have gearwrench brand long pattern combo wrenches. They're not Snappys, but they're close - for a LOT less money. I like these, and the stubby non tab flex combo wrenches. Flip it over to reverse, it's flex head. 99% of the time I use oil filter pliers. For chrome sockets I really like the Astros with the UV glow paint in the numbers. I personally have Tekton impacts, I got the printed / laser engraved number only ones on sale for dirt cheap - they now have BOTH that and the stamped numbers for when the other wears out - which is awesome. For ball joint sockets, I have Gearwrench.

IF you can afford it, I do recommend the MID torque Milwaukee, particularly if it's got the dual voltage charger. Then you can get the 12v impact driver - which is 100% my favorite driver ever. The 18v kits come with a DUAL voltage charger, so you don't have to buy the 12v kits - but the 12v kits come with a 12v only charger. Always get FUEL though, with a very few notable exceptions you won't need as a mechanic. If you can't afford it, the mid torque ryobi brushless is pretty good - I have one, it does the job. Back when I was pro-mechanicking (in the rust belt!) - the "gold standard" IR 231 air gun was rated the same as the ryobi - 600 rev, 450 forward - and it hardly ever wasn't enough power. Get the big dog high torque later, when you can afford it if you need it. OR you can get that same IR for a lot less now - but its now made in china, idk if it's as good as the older ones.

Tekton

I wanted the cobras right off the hop but the kobalt ones I had couldnt break fast enough so I just bought em and gave them cheapy kobalt ones away haha

i have the flex head 3/8 and 1/4 120xp gear wrench and they have the locking detent and its actually pretty nice. the 1/4 shit the bed pretty quickly installing lights on fleet trucks and removing bumpers. I also really enjoy a 1/4 electric ratchet for interior stuff but I know thats kinda specific

Hey can you make a more detailed list I just got out the army and started taking up the trade the school I’m attending snap on guy has a electronic starter kit recommendation and a basic I don’t want to buy hand tools and electric that dose the same job would appreciate your feedback

Recently turned 28, got into the industry right out of high-school so its been a decade. Started off with a Mastercraft box (canadian tire brand) and bought the NAPA brand sockets. Through the school program I slowly upgraded over the 4 years I was in school (apprenticeship program) and by the end of school, my wrenches, ratchets, and 3/8 and 1/4 sockets were all mac and snap on. I found a deal on a very lightly used master series KRL box a couple years later. Now, after a decade of being on the bench, the majority of my tools are snap on and Mac. Ratcheting wrenches are still gear wrench, pliers are half snap on, half knipex. Don't bother will tool truck brand power tools though. All my air tools are IR and all my cordless is Milwaukee. Some stuff like half inch impact sockets aren't worth the money for tool trucks. I like going with the Napa house brand stuff because it gets delivered to the shop instantly and they never ask questions about warranty.

For Vise-Grips, get "Malco Eagle-Grip" locking pliers. That's the BEST you can get right now. That's who actually makes the Snap-On locking pliers. The Snap-On version is literally made by Malco in the Malco factory alongside the Eagle Grip pliers. They are the same exact pliers, except one in engraved "Snap-On" and one has Malco's name on it.

I wouldn’t recommend buying air impact to get started. Should always by cordless electric.

Snap on puck light is my favorite. $60 off the truck or the icon is $60 but it’s much bigger

You have some good videos, i think changing your thumbnails could really help, i have to click on your video list and rear the small righting to get the subject of the video, but if the thumbnail had a few big words like a lot of other channels i think it would help.

Wait what the hell is triple square?

Omg oil filter cups Damm I forgot

This was the best video ever,after my interview with German auto repair shop

I have them tools

That was a great video for new techs

Hey can't find the super panel clip remover brand he brags up. Anyone know what they are or where to find them? Hit his links they don't seem to be in there.

#1 advice: Stay out of auto mechanic field and flat-rate. Get a union skilled job making upwards of $50/hr.

Wright for wrenches for the price of a snappy set you can keep a second set of wright in the box while the warranty comes in and eagle grips are available all over at half the price of the snap on truck

Wobble plus extensions from snapon, worth every penny. Especially for thermostats on the 4 cylinder chrysler engines.

Helpful videos for us young techs thank you

Gearwrench is a really good option that's affordable

You nailed it

Definetly don’t bother starting out with Snap On pliers. I had some extra money to spend so I bought them through the student program. They are beefy but honestly too beefy, I’d much rather have started with channel locks or another brand. Not everything the tool truck brands have will work for you so don’t go crazy buying from them.

I do have to say I would strongly suggest going with a full size 6 drawer roll cart instead of one like the harbor freight 5 drawer, if you can afford it. I would have quickly outgrown the 5 drawer but it is a great cart.

What do you think about Tekton tools?

I bought the swivel spark plug socket set thinking I would use them a lot, i find myself using the deep straight ones and the snap on double swivel ones

The flat rate master's got that trigger discipline

Good video

More important than any tool you'll ever buy , invest in your ergonomics. If you want to do this for a long time, you will need to take care if your back, knees, and hands.
Get a topside creeper, get nice comfy knee pads, a set of Kevlar heat sleeves, and always keep quality boots on your feet. The tools are no good if it hurts to use them.

Doing small engine ect work, a good screwdriver REALLY helps. Every joe and sally has previously stripped every screw head so having a good driver can litteraly have it come out, and throw it back in. New would be best but doesn't always happen.

What are the panel clip pliers?

I love the Milwaukee torque lock locking pliers

The ONLY thing, I feel one cannot be cheap on is the Toyota Oil filter wrench. The cheap ones break the plastic on the oil filter cap. There is an aftermarket metal oil filter cap upgrade too. My shop works on almost everything. The neck light from Harbor Freight is pretty cool too. CTA is legit too.

Draper expert are worth the the money any day , can’t go wrong with them

Those autozone duralast tools. They finish a job or what? Some people want to bless me with a couple tools and they want me to give a couple names not too expensive that work good enough.