Advice to my 18 year old Self (On Tool Buying)

A video I've been wanting to make for a while. I hope this video will help some of you out there who are starting your tool collections. It's only my opinion, and I'm not always right. I hope others will leave comments on tools they would recommend starting out with so that others can learn from them as well.

Here are some Amazon Affiliate Links for some of the tools in the video. As always, prices fluctuate, so prices posted in the video are from during filming.

[mlieser]

I started at a dealer right out of technical high school at 17 in '87. My first tools were Craftsman. The Snap-on dealer set a $300 limit due to my young age. He said that too many "kids" got in over their heads in tool debt and then stiffed him when they left the trade. Since my duties were limited to oil changes, PDI's and simple services I only bought the tools that I needed. My first impact gun was a well used CP with an extended anvil I bought at a farm auction. It still had plenty of power for my needs at the time. I bought a Craftsman top and bottom box on sale. I later traded that setup in on a used Matco top and bottom. As my experience and duties grew I bought the tools I needed. I kept my weekly payments low and didn't buy more until I had paid the bill off. Not every tool needs to be Snap-on. I had Craftsman, Mac and Matco. Having all Snap-on isn't going to make one a master tech when starting out. The tool doesn't make the repair. The mind that directs the tool makes the repair.

[evanforst]

my philosophy is get it fairly cheap and if you end up using it enough to break it, that's when you get the good one.
also important is that you will know what features to look for since you now have experience with that style of tool.

[benmullins]

Certain tools, yes buy the nice one when you can. My typical response to "buy once, cry once" is "buy it twice for a quarter the price"

[sethm]

I’ve been in the business for 6 years now best thing I have found is start cheap when those cheap tools break buy quality ones and just improve over time don’t go into debt not everything has to be snap on. Just go at your affordable pace.

[MegaShirra]

Worked as a truck mechanic for 12 years. Out the trade now. I never understood the guys with the huge boxes, jam packed with every socket, bit set and unique tool that never or very rarely got used. I spent my career working with a standard size top and bottom box, it was almost full. If I had to borrow a tool 2/3 times, I bought it.

I worked with a guy who managed to work out of a top box of half broken tools. It's amazing what this guy could do with just a 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 socket set, spanners, screw drivers and pliers.

[WhyFacetattoos]

Im 30 a father of 2 girls. Im a steel plant foreman at nights i do a LOT of maintenance at work and do a ton of home makeover and vehicle repairs. I have a serious problem with wanting to deck out my garage. This channel is great. I love seeing what to set goals for as i age up and my kids move out in 15 years. But now the thought of spending 200 dollars on a set of pliers is unfathomable to me. Even at work we run Milwaukee but im always watching your channel and torque test to see what we actually need at the shop so im not throwing our company's money away. I cant wait to see how many subs you have in a year. Great job man.

[Kingsoupturbo]

Things I wish I had when 18, cordless ratchet, real code scanner that shows realtime data, and more advanced sensor troubleshooting like an Xtool bluetooth, would have saved me millions of hours troubleshooting things.

[kadenkorhummel]

As a 20 year old who has been at a dealership for just over a year, I don't see the need to spend more than I have to. I will admit I have my fair share mac tools that I used my student discount, and a snap on ratchet that I also used my discount on before I graduated this past spring. And I love all of my Milwaukee battery tools. All of my sockets are Tekton or Sunex, and extension and bit sets are ICON, which I also love ICON brand. My box is the $600 US General 7 drawer which you can get on sale for less. It's a perfect box for me, which I have organized very well to fit as much tools as possible, with room to grow. For someone who is just starting in this industry, realistically, you need about 3k minimum starting out, but most people that I know my age agree that 5k puts you in the best spot. This big thing is staying out of debt, and buying as you go.

[lancesmith]

I have a rule: use once, buy cheap. Use often buy steep. This is a solid video.

[tylerwilliams]

STARTING TECHNICIANS: this video is great advice! follow it for sure 100%. dont dig yourself into a hole with the big brands. ALSO get your own tire pressure gauge, tire core removal tool, torque wrench. and then the tools you see you are borrowing more then try to get those also. thats the best advice i can give!

[PowerstrokeToyt]

Capri, sunex, icon, GP, lisle, husky and milwaukee all great for starting been doing it for 5 years now I still use tools from those brands

[camshaftP]

When I started out a dwell meter was a high tech tool. tools were basic, no soft handles or even vinyl dip.
Craftsman tools were readily available and priced and easy to replace, all US made (30 -40 years ago when I started) but now tools are always evolving so you will always want something better. I look for life time warranty and ease of replacement.
Good topic here.

[jackemarleeyoung]

when it comes to tools, i would always recommend getting something with a great warranty policy. Nothing better than not having to pay for replacing a tool/attachment.

I always tell the young guys starting out it’s better to have a lot of cheap tools than a few expensive ones in a big empty box. Stay away from cordless air lasts way longer and is cheaper. Upgrade to snap on or Mac when it breaks or is on sale. Take your old tools home to use there. Oh and if you borrow it more than once buy it. I don’t mind loaning out a seldom used specialty tool to someone starting out but if your trying to borrow a 1/2” impact and a 19mm deep every day we are going to have a problem.

[davidrenteriakjqpx]

Great video brother but you forgot to mention Sunex Tools.... As an auto mechanic + Aircraft A&P this brand saved me and 15yrs later those tools still look and work amazing!!!

[Slowcarfastbeans]

8:54 For oil filter loosening, the lobstah claw is the best and there’s a low cost version at Harbor Freight. I bought the Mac Tools version when it was considered new and it’s been the go-to tool for oil filters where you can access it 90 deg offset. If you need a standoff to engage the filter, then the right sized cup is best with a lot of leverage.

[ronnie_rbel]

Man your channel deserves so many more subs. I pray your channel blows up and I’m sure it will.

[OccamsAutomotiveRepair]

I've been pushing the Tekton hand tools.
I like the company, people, and warranty.
Everything is very affordable.

[thecorrnershed]

What a great video sir. I'm 61 and have accumulated tools all my life, but for starters, this may be the best I've seen. Well done!

[ViciousTech]

For the Toyota filter socket I recommend avoiding the AST one in the video. I recommend either the BluePoint or Matco one because you can use either a 24mm socket or 1/2" ratchet with or without an extension. The one in the video wears out after a while and the 24mm socket starts slipping especially if you have to use an extension. -Former Toyota Tech