need tool advice
in [Technical]
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From: Kruse on 14 Dec 2009 21:40 On Dec 14, 6:43 pm, Camilo <campasc...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > $50-$75 price limt > While Snap-On is a good tool, $75 would barely buy him a Snap-On 1/4 combination wrench. Plus, are you SURE there is a Snap-On tool jockey in your area? At my previous place of employment, the Snap-On man simply stopped showing up without warning. My vote is to give him a Craftsman gift certificate. To everybody here who claims these aren't good enough, (and in some areas they leave a little to be desired for the professional mechanic) he could get a small set of decent quality Craftsman tools that could be used for an emergency take-along set in his car/truck that includes a carrying case. They frequently go on sale and that money would get him a nice little emergency set for that amount of money.
From: Nate Nagel on 14 Dec 2009 21:47 Camilo wrote: > Odd question here: My nephew is going to school to be a professional > auto mechanic. He hasn't really begun to amass his tools, and I'd > like to buy him something for Christmas. > > Criteria: > > $50-$75 price limt > > A tool that he will use throughout his career > > Something that can be "excellent quality" within my price range, not > necessarily "the best", but something suitable for beginning > professional auto mechanic and would be good enough to be appreciated > later in the career as well. > > Something that one COULD skimp on if he wanted to (and my nephew will > tend to do that at first), but where a "$50" tool is much better than > say, a $15 one. > > Ideas that have been given to me are a good (e.g. Fluke) electrical > meter and a dial or digital caliper or micrometer. Unfortunately, > even "moderately priced examples of these things seem to be $100 or > more. > > Any ideas for a $50 tool that a beginning pro mechanic would > appreciate? > > Thanks much! > > Cam I'd try to pick something that doesn't come with the standard bigass mechanic's tool set, because he's probably going to buy that on credit himself... I like your ideas but agree that good ones may be out of your price range... maybe a pair of pickle forks and an engineer's hammer? I bought myself this last xmas... http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kd41690.html Also, if you can find out what brand he prefers (Snap-On, Mac, Proto, whatever) a gift certificate might be in order, esp. if he *is* going to be buying his "master set" on credit. (that's actually how I ended up with the tools in the link above; I'd amassed enough gift cards at Sears that I needed to blow them on something, and I kept breaking cheap Pitman arm pullers working on rusty old cars) nate -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel
From: Steve W. on 14 Dec 2009 21:49 Camilo wrote: > Odd question here: My nephew is going to school to be a professional > auto mechanic. He hasn't really begun to amass his tools, and I'd > like to buy him something for Christmas. > > Criteria: > > $50-$75 price limt > > A tool that he will use throughout his career > > Something that can be "excellent quality" within my price range, not > necessarily "the best", but something suitable for beginning > professional auto mechanic and would be good enough to be appreciated > later in the career as well. > > Something that one COULD skimp on if he wanted to (and my nephew will > tend to do that at first), but where a "$50" tool is much better than > say, a $15 one. > > Ideas that have been given to me are a good (e.g. Fluke) electrical > meter and a dial or digital caliper or micrometer. Unfortunately, > even "moderately priced examples of these things seem to be $100 or > more. > > Any ideas for a $50 tool that a beginning pro mechanic would > appreciate? > > Thanks much! > > Cam Sears gift card or a Mac, Snap-on, Cornwell, SK gift certificate. http://www.mactools.com/ http://www.snapon.com/ http://www.cornwelltools.com/ http://www.skhandtool.com/ -- Steve W.
From: Camilo on 14 Dec 2009 22:14 On Dec 14, 3:43 pm, Camilo <campasc...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Odd question here: My nephew is going to school to be a professional > auto mechanic. He hasn't really begun to amass his tools, and I'd > like to buy him something for Christmas. > > Criteria: > > $50-$75 price limt > > A tool that he will use throughout his career > > Something that can be "excellent quality" within my price range, not > necessarily "the best", but something suitable for beginning > professional auto mechanic and would be good enough to be appreciated > later in the career as well. > > Something that one COULD skimp on if he wanted to (and my nephew will > tend to do that at first), but where a "$50" tool is much better than > say, a $15 one. > > Ideas that have been given to me are a good (e.g. Fluke) electrical > meter and a dial or digital caliper or micrometer. Unfortunately, > even "moderately priced examples of these things seem to be $100 or > more. > > Any ideas for a $50 tool that a beginning pro mechanic would > appreciate? > > Thanks much! > > Cam Is an infrared thermometer of any use to an auto mechanic? I'm definitely thinking of trying to find something that wouldn't come in the big set of standard tools I'm sure he'll invest in soon - some little gizmo that either might be ovelooked or "cheaped out" on - where $50 would buy something decent and handy (not necessarily essential - but handy). Thanks for all the great suggestions so far, too. Cam
From: Nate Nagel on 14 Dec 2009 22:17
Camilo wrote: > On Dec 14, 3:43 pm, Camilo <campasc...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> Odd question here: My nephew is going to school to be a professional >> auto mechanic. He hasn't really begun to amass his tools, and I'd >> like to buy him something for Christmas. >> >> Criteria: >> >> $50-$75 price limt >> >> A tool that he will use throughout his career >> >> Something that can be "excellent quality" within my price range, not >> necessarily "the best", but something suitable for beginning >> professional auto mechanic and would be good enough to be appreciated >> later in the career as well. >> >> Something that one COULD skimp on if he wanted to (and my nephew will >> tend to do that at first), but where a "$50" tool is much better than >> say, a $15 one. >> >> Ideas that have been given to me are a good (e.g. Fluke) electrical >> meter and a dial or digital caliper or micrometer. Unfortunately, >> even "moderately priced examples of these things seem to be $100 or >> more. >> >> Any ideas for a $50 tool that a beginning pro mechanic would >> appreciate? >> >> Thanks much! >> >> Cam > > Is an infrared thermometer of any use to an auto mechanic? IMHO yes, I lost mine and miss it. If you find a good one for a reasonable price please post back! nate -- replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply. http://members.cox.net/njnagel |