Hi,

My Daughter (yes daughter) Melissa is lucky to get in the Auto-tech program and she is now a full time student learning to be a wrench. That could be her career down the road. Yes, she is a gear head NOT like his dad.

She needs to buy her own tools and it is coming up to roughly $6k (new). That is a lot of money for a college kid. So like any other parent, I would like to see if I can offer some sage advice. Thus this thread to get your collective wisdom in this matter. Here are my questions:

(1) The quotes are from Snap On Tools, and represents a whopping 58% student discount off retail prices. I know Snap On makes good stuff but they are very expensive. So should we stay with Snap On, or are there other better/cheaper brands out there to evaluate? Is there a chance that we can find these stuff used from some garage that is going out of business?

(2) She is trying to get a better tool box than the standard one:40" 7 drawers (1-bank) 15,253 cubic inch volume. The upgrade one is 54", 11 drawers (2 banks) but is an $1,006 add. She will get a $400 Snap On gift certificate with it so the net cost (should she get more tools) will be like $606. Is it worth-while to upgrade the tool box?

(3) Our beloved politicians just upped our sales tax to 9.25%. The sales tax alone is $494. Any suggestions on how we might mitigate the blow?

I told Melissa that if she springs for this, she had better be committed to this vocation, or else we will be selling tools on Rennlist or Craigslist for years.

So please tell me what you think? Thanks for the education as always.

CP

Buy from out of state? They will charge tax if they have operations in CA, but if you find a supplier with no CA operation they generally won't.

Problem is Snap On has CA presence so they will charge CA sales tax.

If we ship to Oregon they will not. Or buy used.

CP

A mechanic friend buys and sell on this site.: http://www.usedcartools.com/classifi...sh/ctools.html

Good luck to your daughter!

CP,
As a mechanic I am always looking for good deals on tools and own very few Snap-On tools. As an entry level technician that may/may not do this for the rest of her life it is important to buy the basics (wrench sets, socket sets, screwdrivers etc) and tailor the rest to the type of car she anticipates working on. A Diesel techs toolbox is going to be different than a motorcycle mechanics tool box and a tranny tech has different tools than an alignment tech.
When I left school we were offered 50% off the Snap-on prices and I barely bought anything. When I got my first job I bought the tools that I needed to get the jobs done as required and have slowly built up a collection.
I also never bought an expensive fancy tool box. My mentor taught me that a toolbox was just something to hold your tools. I have friends with $15,000 tool boxes with flames on them and all, but I would rather have a $1000 box FULL OF TOOLS.
I don't feel that the quality of Snap-On tools justifies their price but I do own some of their alignment tools and a few ratchet sets etc. As your daughter works she will find out from co-workers which tools to buy from whome because some are better than others. KD, Kobalt, Craftsman, Matco, Mac, etc. are ALL good tools that will last a lifetime. Certain Harbor Freight Tools are also great deals that will allow her to expand her tool base without breaking the bank (brake piston compressors and AC gauges come to mind). Let her try some tools out and see what she likes.
Good Luck to her, it is a rewarding career!

Very cool! GL to your daughter.

I looked at usedcartools as well, and the used ones are more than the new items priced for students. I guess in a sense it is good to know that these tools will at least hold their value if she buys at the right price.

CP

Chaoscreature,

The issue is that the Auto-tech program specifies what tools one must have to be in school. So she does not really have the luxury to accumulate her tools on the job so to speak. I gather your school may not have such tool requirement when you were there.

CP

I'm a "shade-tree" mechanic who inherited his tools from his grandfather who retired and sold his shop, less tools. So, I'm hardly an expert.

But, if you approach this from a cost of ownership standpoint, the Snap-on tools do not seem like a bad idea.

If you are getting 58% off retail, then there is a good chance that you could sell the whole package for close to what you paid for it down the road. Therefore cost of ownership would be very low. If she decided this vocation was exactly what she wanted to do, then she would likely need her own set of tools for her first "real" job anyway and she will need good quality. Basically, these tools will last her forever. Again, relatively low cost of ownership.

Now, I am sure a few hours on the web will yield some great options for finding massive toolboxes for pennies on the dollar if you are willing to spend the money. It's overkill for her, but I've seen $100K boxes selling for $15-20K. The $2K to $5K market is not as aggressive though so I would expect to see $10K boxes going for $4-5K. So, if she is getting $14K worth of tools for $6K, it might not be possible to do better in the used market and you don't exactly know what you are getting with regard to specific sizes and configurations. At least with the set she is getting new, they have probably determined what crucial tools need to be included.

Someone with a strong knowledge of individual tool value could probably get a better deal on a used tool package, but it seems like the student deal from Snap-on is the way to go for the newbie mechanic.

Oh yeah, go with the bigger box! She will need it.

Hi CP,

1. Snap-on makes some very nice, high quality tools but for the best value, I would recommend Sears craftsmen tools for wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers. All of their basic tools are lifetime warranty and you can find Sears anywhere. Between Snap-on and Craftsmen, you might also try Proto and Matco tools.

For specialized tools, like micrometers, multi-meters or torque wrenches, do not get craftsmen. Good mics are by Starret or Mitutoyo. Good multimeter is Fluke, Good torque wrench is snap-on or Proto.

2. On the tool box, I would also spend more money for higher quality. Look for the gauge of the metal and look for roller bearing slides to guide you to making the best selection for you. I have a craftsmen with roller slides. Its OK, but the drawers sag and rub on the bottom with heavier tools.

3. Ways to mitigate tax.. Buy from out of state where you can.

My brother tried to do this and did not have a good experience. Maybe it was his personality, but he found that working at Toyota was too political...you had to be buddies with the service writer to get the more technical jobs rather than oil changes. Oil changes also paid less (lower margins) so he finally decided to do something else. My brother was definitely qualified to do the job, but he found he could make more money at the local refinery and less hassle too. So now that's what he's been doing the last 8 years.

Maybe you could get some input from the folks that work at specialized shops like Steve Werner form Rennsport.

Also, have you tried to guide her into Automotive Engineering? Might have more options, better pay?

PM me if you have more questions. Hope this helps.

craigslist

I was looking for a bargin way to accumulate some tools, and found lots of 10-20 yr mechanics selling tool sets.

IMHO, for basic stuff, Sears Craftsman sets are the best, most readibly available, least expensive way to go. Lifetime guarantee, no questions asked, no receipt, at any Sears store. No matter what she buys, be sure to get one of those electric engraving tools and put her last name or initials on every piece. No matter what she gets, it won't be enough. There will always be that special tool needed for a specific job. What gets me is the electronics required: OBD scanners, GT1, AUTOLOGIC, etc. It's not just wrenching anymore.

CP,
When I said out of school, I was referring to leaving my high school automotive program which did not have any tool requirements.
I should have said ex-mechanic, I worked full time as a mechanic to get myself through college.
Getting an engineering degree will open up more opportunities, but good technicians can make a lot of money, $100k+ per year is not unheard of and is more than I make with my Mech. Engineering degree.
If she does what her heart tells her to, she will have no regrets.
BTW which school is she going to, UTI, Wyotech, other?

Whatever tools are choosen, is there a possibility of a student loan?

If I could get Snap On for 58% off I'd be in hog heaven! If true, they are smart. They figure if you start with them, you probably will get spoiled and won't settle for less and you'll continue to buy from them, at full price of course.

You can pick up good deals here and there in the used market, but in a school environment she probably doesn't have the luxury of waiting around for those deals to come around. There are other good tools out there, Proto, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, etc. If you do go Craftsman, go with the professional series. But I'd still lean towards the Snap On with that kind of discount. I consider buying used at around 50% off new (as long as it is is very good condition) a good deal, you can get that new. Find your local Snap On rep, as they take trade ins, trade ups, repos, etc. and you can pick up the specialty stuff as well as the basics at below new pricing also. I've done that with my impact gun and lift.

What's really going to kill her is the electronics, like the Solus, Modis, Vantage, etc, scanners are UBER bucks!