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Master Mechanic Tool sets

1629 Views 33 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  slimpartywagon
So back in October some one stole all my hand tools... when I say all, I mean all. All I currently have is a set of staking pliers a #2 philips , and a 6” crescent. They broke j to my Bronco and stole all of it while I was pulling the engine.

So now I am in a position to get a new tool set. Originally I was just going to get me the tools needed to finish reinstalling the engine and a few other tools to make life easier again while adding to the kit later on down the road. But today I was offered a job where I need a full set of tools. 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2, 3/4” drive ratchet sets ranging from 4mm up to 40mm and 5/32” up to 4” (maybe larger) sockets both standard and deep well. A full set of wrenches up to 2”. Hammers, screw drivers, pliers, pry bars, snap ring pliers... everything. Now in the past I had a decent collection of Craftsman tools mixed with Mac and Snap~On for the larger and specialized tools. I’m looking for ideas of a decent brand of tools that offer a complete professional grade “Master Mechanic” tool set.
My google foo has been returning cheap junk, and Snap~On tools are way over priced for their tool sets and Craftsman tools have lost their quality.
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You dont need to buy nothing under credit. Buy a $100 on sale 1/4;3/8/1/2 tool set from lowes for hand tools. Buy the large Chromoly socket sets from Harbor Freight (sheeit) for impact 1/2; 3/4th; and 1". Buy channellocks plier set. Buy the rest speciality tools used off ebay. 0 debt. All tools that last. Most shops are using cordless milwaukee tools. You can sometimes find them cheap as pallet returns from home depot that people are selling.

I need a full master mechanic set by next Friday... right now I have $89.00 to my name for the rest of the month. I need the tools for a job I start on the 15th of February... this is a high end John Deere dealership with an exceptional reputation, not just some small hillbilly used farm equipment shop that repairs junk to resell it. The reason this dealership is so good is because of its exceptional mechanics... This isn’t the first time I have had to start over buying tools... but HF tools don’t work on agriculture equipment... besides closest HF is 3 hours away and again $89.00 to my name at the moment.
Now with one month of working I will be breaking even with a loan on the tools... I’ll be making close to 50/hour... and my resume backs up my paycheck.
You can also buy it on a low interest credit card if needed or one that does so much time 0% interest. Cheap purchase price; less interest to pay. All the shops get you in telling you need to spend a million dollars on tools; let me tell you a little secret you dont. I have 750 million mega construction fleet shop experience where I showed the mechanics the same thing. They ring you in with big hopes of making money but the guys are in and out of the door very often. The income stops but the debt doesn't.

FYI chromoly HF sockets are same quality if not close to the tool trucks.
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Theres many alternatives some of the guys used to use pad locked steel cages as a toolbox in a construction company fleet shop I worked at. He worked there many years with barely any snap on tools and did great work and no one was the wiser to not having a expensive toolbox or what brand his tools were. All you need is a tool that doesn't fail. Ratchets are a common failure if you wanted to buy a premium tool there. Pry bars for cman USA was made by mayhew same as the tool truck manufactures. Never seen a non usa one fail either that lowes sellls now days. I built my tool set out of clearance and deal tools. A lot came from sears before their demise. Rest is tools I found over years that I use for a good majority as a junkyard or mobile box.
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I usually wear walmart clearance boots (currently herman survivors) for working on vehicles and rough things like the junkyards. All their boots that have been clearanced have something wrong with them. Current pair squeaks as I walk. Sole loose. On the other hand my justin boots are 8 years old and don't have any hang ups. I just don't like wearing them in mud and broken glass and dragging them on their sides on the concrete gravel all day. Essentially if you have to do a lot of sheit work it's good to have boots and clothing you can abuse and not care about. Everytime I wash my junkyard clothing it's so dirty it looks like I should just throw it away.
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That's looks decent even though I would of went with channellocks pliers.
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