Tool Talk

[Dave Sherburne, NY]

My grandson will be graduating soon from a Tech school and he already has a job lined up at a Chrysler dealership. He has a bunch of tools, but I know he will need more. Any suggestions for tools we should get him to celebrate his graduation. Tools that an 18 year old is not likely to have. I don't work on newer vehicles so I don't have any idea what is needed for newer cars.

 

[Janicholson]

Internal and External snap ring pliers. Some with removable tips some with flat expander tips, some that convert.
Another Idea is a plastic faced hammer, a brass hammer, and a dead blow hammer.
Really good razor scraper, and gasket scrapers are also needed. Jim

 

[Steve@Advance]

Just guessing at what tools he will need will result in expensive duplication and omissions.

There will be no shortage of specialty tools needed for his job, but until he finds out what he will need, there will be no way to know. With the high tech requirements of servicing today's vehicles, good chance the employer will supply most of the diagnostic equipment.

Maybe ask what he thinks he will need, possibly a nice roll around tool box would be a good start. Other than that, I would think a card with an offer of supplying what he needs would be appreciated.

 

[SPMN]

Most tool trucks offer gift certificates, that way you won't duplicate what he already has

 

[Moonlite37]

Possibly bought many of the highest quality tools at the school and was given special discounts on the very best. If you give him anything that does not fit in with what he has, he may be disappointed. His supervisor may require him to have a certain brand of high quality tools (SnapOn) When I worked in a farm equipment shop, I got little respect for my Montgomery Ward (Power Craft 100)and Western Auto (Wizard) tools. They may even have some control of what kind of a chest he may have. Perhaps discuss with him and let him choose and you pay. Now at far beyond a normal retirement, Ii have a mismatched bunch of tools with little value. SnapOn tools 59 years old are more valuable than they were when bought. I am not a fan of SnapOn because they are overpriced but have some from my uncle who worked on Durants,Stars.and Auburns.They do not do the job any better, but a mechanic in a high quality dealer shop must have the highest priced. Some people judge thw mechanics by the name on their tools

 

[marloweg]

give him a tool gift card for the tool truck that goes to that dealer .Service manager will tell you

 

[chadsd]

streamlight stylus pro, you can never have too many flash lights.

 

[Gambles]

Another vote for a tool gift card. Giving tools as a gift is like giving somebody a six pack of beer that they've never had. It will be wrong.
Or give tools that they've specifically asked for.

 

[moresmoke]

I got that grief over tool brands when I was a shop mechanic too. It never seemed to bother the other guys when they needed something I had that no one else did. Yeah, my 1" socket set might have been lower class, but I had it.

To the OP, the gift certificate idea is probably best. It would also be best if you make the offer before he graduates. Most of the tool truck tools are 50% of retail when bought through the tech school.

 

[M-MAN]

X 2. I carry 2 in my shirt pocket all the time. Small, light weight, and bright. I'm bad to hold one by my teeth when working with both hands.

 

[dr sportster]

Gift card is best > Who knows what he has and what he needs.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Its hard to say with out knowing what he already has...

1) Power Probe 3 and Digital Multimeter Kit

2) 10 PC. 120XP™ UNIVERSAL SPLINE XL FLEX HEAD GEARBOX™ RATCHETING METRIC WRENCH SET


Note on the ratcheting end I want the deep drive flex end that sticks out about
1/4" from the drive end... The other end I want a box end to break the faster then use the flex end Very handy gods gift to a mechanic...

https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/...g-double-box-flex-head-ratcheting-wrench-set/

3) FHL80 snap-on long handle ratchet the best bar none a joy to use... They also have it in flex head the combination would make a nice gift..

4) Thermal Imaging Camera Attachment for his smart phone, flir one pro... Sky's the limit on what you can do with it...

https://www.flir.com/products/flir-one-pro/

5) If on a budget a Power Probe PPMTKIT01 Micro Torch Kit are you can get a good one from lowe's are Home depo...



https://www.amazon.com/Power-Probe-...amp;keywords=power+probe+butane+soldering+kit

One thing I would not buy is a snap ring pier set that has add on universal tips... I would go for the kill like this it will serve him a lifetime and WORK! It will not be a tool that trashes up his tool box drawers...



https://store.snapon.com/Fixed-Tip-Convertible-Forged--12-pc-Retaining-Ring-Pliers-Set-P636950.aspx

A good tap and die set, drill bit sets, fractional, letter and number sets... Cordless tools Milwaukee is #1 in my book... Vice grips all sorts of specificity pliers hose clap pliers are on top of the list for continuous compression hose clamps... Guess WHUT chrysler uses a fudged up hose clamp it would be a must for a Mopar wrench...

https://www.moparessentialtools.com/item-detail.aspx?itemid=4630018&type=tools

And this look at frequent brought together a couple othery types of hose clamp tools and a hose remover tool...

https://www.amazon.com/Drake-Off-Road-4525-Cable-Type/dp/B000F5JM0O

Even a better deal has the Chrysler tool in it...



https://www.amazon.com/Huoqi-Pliers...85Z&psc=1&refRID=0A3XF2DHF00BXRXY685Z

 

[gab]

That's a tough call, maybe just ask him for a few suggestions. I still stop in now and the at the dealer I retired from. A bunch of kids have come and gone in the last five years, some fired some quit but they all have them big Snap On or Matco bench tool boxes that cost almost twice as much as I paid for a three year old Corvette in 1981 so chances are they aren't going to want some department store junk tools or something that he already has.

 

[Dr. Walt]

Dave: If he's still paying down his Tuition Payments, you could offer to "Pay Off" his tuition so that he starts his new job with a "clean slate" , and everything that he earns is HIS. (No tuition payments) . Would be a great way to start a new job.