So to all the Techs/Mechanics out here

[81911SC]

What are some of your favorite tools you use and bought?
That you use the most and find the most handy and in general good tool.
For me, I'd have to go with two electric Makita drill/driver combo.
So quick for interior work and has enough balls to do some work under the hood too.
One of my best purchases, o and it was from the depot, not the truck. :goodjob:

[punkr6]

My Makita cordless impact is by far the best money I've ever spent....

[bdydrpdmazda]

yes, battery powered impacts can be your best friend

[Humphrizzle]

i like my torque wrench and buffer.


i also like my metric Snap-on set.

[DeeAOne]

i love my 200pc craftsman set. the three man socket drives and most of the wrenches you will ever need, and it all comes in a nice little case.

[99jdmLs]

yes, battery powered impacts can be your best friend


im gonna agree....my best investment so far. :goodjob:
then id have to say ratcheting wrenches.

[81911SC]

Yea, ratcheting wrenches are the pee pee.
I got a gear wrench XL 12 piece I think it is from our Matco guy and love them.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Yeah Makita 3/8 impact is my favorite. Second to that would probably be either my matco boxed end rachet wrenches, or my socket end wrenches, as they are tits for timing belt jobs on hondas.

[HatchHero]

makita impact and flashlight. My small pen size led flash light. and 3/8 snap on air impact.
as for the makita that shit will never die. ive dropped it in a bucket of old tranny fluid and that shit did not miss a beat! it was 400 for the whole set from matco. remember to retain your receipts for tax purposes!!

[TommyD1919]

3/8 bluepoint electric impact (liked it better than the snap on)
Snap on electric 9.2 screw gun
And Miller auto darkening welding helment (best money ever spent) my eyes thank me everyday.

On a side note did you all know that as of FEB. 2010 the majority of all snap on hand tools (sockets, rachets, etc..) will be made in good ol china. My snap on guy had a corp. rep. on his truck and told us that.. Ol well Matco it is...

[HatchHero]

3/8 bluepoint electric impact (liked it better than the snap on)
Snap on electric 9.2 screw gun
And Miller auto darkening welding helment (best money ever spent) my eyes thank me everyday.

On a side note did you all know that as of FEB. 2010 the majority of all snap on hand tools (sockets, rachets, etc..) will be made in good ol china. My snap on guy had a corp. rep. on his truck and told us that.. Ol well Matco it is...

huh soo... quality is going down on snap on tools??

[95droppedhatch]

i love my makita 3/8 impact but my heart belongs to my Sata jet 3000rp spray gun

[envision]

Crank Pulley Tool (Honda)
Snap On Digital Torque Wrench
swivel sockets

[green91]

ir2135qti (i hate loud tools)
snapon yaks22
3/8" swivel sockets

I do hate a few matco tools but theres no way in hell i will purchase any more of that overpriced garbage. Id rather have Chinese made Snap-On.

[gambit4000s]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/42500/42426.JPG
best 1/4 i've ever had

[Big Baller]

3/8 bluepoint electric impact (liked it better than the snap on)
Snap on electric 9.2 screw gun
And Miller auto darkening welding helment (best money ever spent) my eyes thank me everyday.

On a side note did you all know that as of FEB. 2010 the majority of all snap on hand tools (sockets, rachets, etc..) will be made in good ol china. My snap on guy had a corp. rep. on his truck and told us that.. Ol well Matco it is...

That is 100% false

[81911SC]

ir2135qti (i hate loud tools)
snapon yaks22
3/8" swivel sockets

I do hate a few matco tools but theres no way in hell i will purchase any more of that overpriced garbage. Id rather have Chinese made Snap-On.that's a half inch impact right? If so I love that gun

[green91]

Yes, but the one most everyone has is the 2135Ti.. mine is the QTI model (q for quiet). Ive had to order them online, ive never seen anywhere that actually retails it. Same power but very little noise.

http://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-2135QTI-2-Inch-Titanium-Technology/dp/B000E25LSA

Ive had my current one for 5+ years and running, and bought a second one to keep at home.

[dorin48]

Yea, ratcheting wrenches are the pee pee.


Undeniably the best.

[jdmdb8itr]

well all my tools, i use them all the same

[Barefoot]

my list of favs

snap on soft grip hand 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 ratches
snap on 3/8 cordless impact
snap on hose clamp pliers
snap on swivel impact sockets
snap on bass ball pin hammer
snap on compression tester
snap on scanner
snap on radi. compression tester
snap on single and daul piston brake piston tool things
snap on ratching wrenches

use those at the time

[TommyD1919]

That is 100% false

if its a lie the snap-on rep. told it. He said they just purchased a china based company to start building the hard line (sockets, rachets, etc..). He said not to worry though they will still be built to the snap-on standards. Snap-on made in china is what he said. To me.. not second hand info..He said it to me

[Starrfire]

blue point ratchet wrenches
Blue point big 3/8" socket/ratchet set
Snap on 7.6 volt cordless screwdriver
Snap on Screwdriver set
Chanel lock side cutters
Snap on body hammers
Dent fix ring hammer
Snap on 3/8 torque wrench
Cornwell honda crank tool
Blue point valve adjustment tool
Cornwell "Go-no go" feeler guages
Snap on swivel 1/4" ratchet
Blue point Kiwi pliers

Lots of other goodies but

[Starrfire]

if its a lie the snap-on rep. told it. He said they just purchased a china based company to start building the hard line (sockets, rachets, etc..). He said not to worry though they will still be built to the snap-on standards. Snap-on made in china is what he said. To me.. not second hand info..He said it to me

Probably for Blue point. I own and look at a lot of blue point stuff. Personally I would now buy Ingersol-Rand air tools over Blue point for the same price. A much better quality. And some of the Snap On stuff I have is made in China, look at the electronics you have that are made by them. My 7.6 volt cordless screwdriver is made in China, My Snap On heat gun is made in the Czech Republic. So Snap on is way overpriced but you might not regret the purchase if you use it every day though.

[TommyD1919]

Nope not bluepoint... The snap-on line... The bluepoint is already made across the water.. Snapon is overpriced.. No doubt.. But the quality is great, case in point, my 1/4 set from snap on was over $500.00 alone. I wanted it for a long time but couldn't pony up the money for it, then right around christmas they offered it with a "free" metric 3/8 subset. So I got it.. Thats insane (on my part too) to pay that kind of money for a 1/4 set but hey I wanted it...

[Big Baller]

if its a lie the snap-on rep. told it. He said they just purchased a china based company to start building the hard line (sockets, rachets, etc..). He said not to worry though they will still be built to the snap-on standards. Snap-on made in china is what he said. To me.. not second hand info..He said it to me

Funny the 5 people I know that work for Snap-On 2 of them corporate all say that you are full of shit. Two of my best friends are dealers, one of thems dads a dealer and two of my good friends are corporate....so in short you are wrong.

[TommyD1919]

Well like I said before I'm just saying what I was told, by what I would think would be a reliable source. But to be honest I hope your right and another american icon of a company doesn't set sail. This is one time I would like to be "full of shit".

[81911SC]

Damn good thread

[TommyD1919]

Big baller is correct, I am apparently full of shit.

I spoke to my snap on guy today and he said the rep. was new and very misinformed. He said Snap-On purchased a tool company in china and they would be making some things such as claw hammers and such.. Not the sockets and such... He showed me a hammer that said snap-on and was made in china.. Evan a adjustable snap-on wrench that was made in spain... Sorry I passed on the info but hell I thought it was reliable.. If i knew how to rep. I would def. rep Big Baller...

[Big Baller]

No worries man, just trying to squash the misinformation

[green91]

Big baller is correct, I am apparently full of shit.
If i knew how to rep. I would def. rep Big Baller...

I'll rep him for ya, and you too for admitting defeat

[Starrfire]

Hell i have the mini Snap on file set that is made in Portugal, the snap on heat gun is made in the Czech Republic, and my 7.6 volt cordless screwdriver is made in China. I wonder where most of the electronics they have are made? I would say China if I had a guess.

[4DRGSR]

I love my 4 way Gearwrench set. I need 2 wrenches to work on most imports. The first wrench runs 8mm,10mm,12mm,13mm and the second is 15mm,17mm,18mm,19mm. They have saved my ass many times over. But my fav is my Chicago Pneumatic cp7750-2 it is great for everyday work with 1/2" drive and 800ft/lbs. rev/ 600ft./lbs fwd, and for the money, it's a steal!

[Schroeder]

Gear Wrenches, Hands down. After that I would say Snap-on Ratchets.

[Schroeder]

Nope not bluepoint... The snap-on line... The bluepoint is already made across the water.. Snapon is overpriced.. No doubt.. But the quality is great, case in point, my 1/4 set from snap on was over $500.00 alone. I wanted it for a long time but couldn't pony up the money for it, then right around christmas they offered it with a "free" metric 3/8 subset. So I got it.. Thats insane (on my part too) to pay that kind of money for a 1/4 set but hey I wanted it...


I feel your pain. For some of the smaller stuff on Aircraft I had to purchse a "Good" 1/4 Socket set. The Crapsman wasn't a good enough on the smaller sizes. Ken Pankopff the Mac Tool Rep was more than happy to sell me what I needed though.

[fade2blk500]

Makita electric 3/8" impact
IR 2115qti
IR 2135qti
3/8 soft grip swivel snap on wratchet
3/8 swivel impact sockets. 10-19mm
snap on hose clamp pliars, straight, 15 degree and 45 degree
tons more, there are very few tools in my box that im not fond of.
Tool box isn't huge but it holds all my tools just right.. classic 78, except mine has the aluminum top.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/47800/47724.JPG

[jdmdb8itr]

my sata gun

[driftyboy]

#1 - gear wrench set
#2 - deep well wobble socket set

[CaTcH22]

Prolly my
Bluepoint 3/8 impact gun, my 3/8 Bluepoint air ratchet, and my awesomtacular 4-in-1 gear wrench. Love that thing.

[JJSPEC Racing]

Prolly my
Bluepoint 3/8 impact gun, my 3/8 Bluepoint air ratchet, and my awesomtacular 4-in-1 gear wrench. Love that thing.

I call BS. I think your favorite is the plasma cutter. It is :boobies:

My favorite tool, my Miller TIG unit. You can make some nice stuff with it!

[Z0_o6]

my snap-on 9.2 electric screw gun, my 3/8" Matco impact, and my set of S&K ratcheting wrenches probably see the most routine use.

[CaTcH22]

I call BS. I think your favorite is the plasma cutter. It is :boobies:

My favorite tool, my Miller TIG unit. You can make some nice stuff with it!
Holy shit, forgot about the plasma cutter! Thats the best wrench I have. Its the most precise, or the most destructive, thing you can hold in your hand.

[ATL86]

I do a lot of suspension and brakes, so I'd have to go with my favorites being:

1. Snap-On MG325P 3/8 impact gun (most used tool I have)
2. Snap-On ratcheting, flank drive combination wrenches (nearly unbreakable and they don't flex like Gearwrench)
3. Snap-On adjustable pliers wrench http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/36200/36112.JPG (great for frozen tie rods)
4. Makita 9.6v 3/8 cordless impact (2nd most used tool I have)

[AnthonyF]

I'm actually not a fan of battery powered tools. My shop uses all snap-on equipment. My private garage is 50/50 Snap-on/cheap-o's.

-Ant.

[greasemunkey]

battery ratchet drill thingy
stud gun
valve spring compressor tool for b-series heads
all air tools
60 point snap on ratchet is my favorite though....some fuc$er stole it

[.:Stirfry:.]

vice grips
the universal tool!

[NAIZBST]

My Makita cordless impact is by far the best money I've ever spent....

:goodjob::goodjob: me too

[Barefoot]

:goodjob::goodjob: me too
should have got the snap on more power.

[TommyD1919]

I have/had the bluepoint 3/8 electric impact, was going to trade it in for the snap-on one but for some reason I really liked the feel of the bluepoint one... Maybe because it was paid for too... But it met its death the other day when the boom on a forklift was let down on it. Snap on guy sent it in to see if it can be fixed but who knows.

[JJSPEC Racing]

Holy shit, forgot about the plasma cutter! Thats the best wrench I have. Its the most precise, or the most destructive, thing you can hold in your hand.

You got to use it to cut the nutz off an Accord, today:eek:

[Aeroscout977]

Shop towels, zip ties, and zip lock bags. The only thing worse than a job done dirty is a job done wrong. And dirty is wrong.


Ps: I love my 40-200 inch pound torque wrench, and my digital micrometer.

[green91]

Speaking of nice tools, anyone interested in a set of snapon techwrenches :)

[Aeroscout977]

Speaking of nice tools, anyone interested in a set of snapon techwrenches :)

how much? How old? What torque ranges? And recently calibrated? I'm interested.

[green91]

Ive had em for a few years, ive used them to build 3 motors so they haven't even see much use. ive got te 3/8" and 1/2". they just sit so why not let go of them.

[Aeroscout977]

Ive had em for a few years, ive used them to build 3 motors so they haven't even see much use. ive got te 3/8" and 1/2". they just sit so why not let go of them.

What are their torque ranges? And are they in inch pounds or feet pounds?

[81911SC]

What are their torque ranges? And are they in inch pounds or feet pounds?probably foot lbs

[i4_garage]

Snap on 1/2 cordless impact!

[Aeroscout977]

probably foot lbs

I'm from the south I can say "feet" pounds all I want!

[green91]

Im sure the 1/2" is in ft lbs, ill have to check on the 3/8's range once i go back to work (snowed out so far today)

[Aeroscout977]

Cool let me know their torque ranges whenever the damn icecapades are over lol

[JDMGRNAV6]

def my socket set
cordless impact with two batteries lol gotta have them
clutch alignment tool:goodjob:
and prolly my pitman arm