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The Middle Class Mechanic
Registrace 20. 02. 2023
This channel is a Diesel Mechanic’s perspective and opinions on topics related and unrelated to the working middle class of America.
Diesel Technician Harbor Freight Tool Box Tour-Stay off the tool truck!
In between jobs at the moment, so here is an updated tool box tour.
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Video
Diesel Technician Tool Box Tour! (New to the trade) Harbor Freight cart and budget tools!!
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I’ve been in the industry 6 months at the time of this video. Most of these tools I’ve bought over the past year(s) working on my own car, now they are all work tools. I’m new to the trade and this cart gets new tools almost 2-3 times a month. I’ll keep updating the tours!
Bro what happened to your other videos???
Central PA here sub 4 sub!👋🤘🏻🔧 sweet tour man! Well worth the watch!!!
Thanks!
I have the shorter capri tools breaker bar and the flex is ridiculous. I dont trust it and it convinced me to not buy anymore of Capri tools and went back to my old duralast breaker bar
Yup. I’ve since replaced that breaker bar when it broke. When I need the torque i just use a 3/4 extendable ratchet now.
I have the same Mayhew torx set and they're OK, kind of cheaply made but they've held up well and were very affordable for USA made. But they sell torx/hex/triple square stubby bit sockets that are the titanium coated "dual drive" they're super short and you can use them with a ratchet or a wrench. Those are probably my favorite tool purchase in a long time and one of the most underrated tools on the market. Also the rocket socket bolt extractors are very good usa made for a great price
Also recommend the the Williams roundhead ratchets over those pear heads. High tooth count and very smooth cheap usa made. Way better ratchet imo You definitely don't need tool truck stuff, you can even get good usa made tools for a good price still. Williams has a lot of snapon stuff for cheap, proto has a lot of Mac stuff for cheap, Wright is affordable, Mayhew is gives you an amazing price for the quality. Trusty cook, wilde, sk, Martin tools etc.
All valid points! I like Williams and will probably slowly phase out my “cheap shit” for Williams when I start breaking things.
Snap on owns bahco.
Right. So buy bahco for half the price
@@Themiddleclassmechanic yep
northern tool got the best breaker bar wrenches and ratchets
northern tool and tekton got the best sockets icon got the best torx
Try Mayhew Torx. Good stuff too. Made in USA.
icon and doyle best tool brands in harbor freight and us general best tool box
I get the "why" auto mechanics wrenches either stop at 3/4 or 7/8 in sets. But i work in a hydraulic build shop. We regularly need sets that include 15/16 and 1". We even have the 1 1/16, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 reversible ratcheting wrenches. The oil industry uses 99% standard sizes. Metric only comes into play when its a custom European filter or some other custom part.
I use mechanic wire around an extension to make my own sizes.
That’ll do too. 👍
I love this idea. Too bad I already spent money on wrench holders
Yeah. I had some too. Really needed space savings, so here we are.
Wooooooooooooow 5⭐️
Absolutely genius. I bet the tool salesmans hate you now though.
I don’t go on the truck anyway. 🤷♂️
I subscribe to the philosophy of buy the affordable tools first, and save as much as you can. The tools you keep breaking, replace with the best possible tool you can manage (sometimes that means the tool truck) because those broken tools are firstly not strong enough to keep up, and secondly are usually the ones you use most often and are worth putting more money into. Also, tool boxes: tool boxes, no matter how fancy are storage and just keep honest people honest… remember: the box doesn’t make you money, the tools inside do
Yup! That’s a solid philosophy. I just caution people to do research first. A lot of stuff on tool trucks (not all of it) is just rebranded from a much cheaper version. Take snap on adjustable wrenches for example. Made by Bahco (now owned by snap-on I’m pretty sure) and can be had for 30-60$ on Amazon.
Great collection on buget tools that work. Give it a few more years amd you will realize there are certain tools that you cant get anywhere else but the tool truck. Wobble sockets, usa snapon or mac, cornwell hold up way longer. And some other tools. Starting out though i think your doing the right thing.
Thanks! Time will tell. Good luck out there. 👍👍
Man I found about tekton too late. I have the miwlaukee 3/8 and 1/2 impact sockets and I have no complaints with them, it’s been just over a year and a half and no problems at all but knowing the price comparisons and the warranty with tekton is amazing no problems
Tekton sockets are hard to beat but I’m sure the Milwaukee’s are treating you fine. Thanks for watching. 👍
@@Themiddleclassmechanic they are treating me just fine but I do love my tekton chromes 200%
Where are the screwdriver rack from its magnetic?
Yes, from Harbor freight. 👍
13 years in. I’ve been deep on both sides of the quality spectrum. I’ve found the sting of buying of a quality tool only happens once. The sting of using an inferior tool happens every time you pick it up.
Then don’t pick up the inferior tool anymore. Knowing when the tool is truly inferior is the key and if it is a bad tool, replace it. My whole point was: Is it really costing you time/effort and money or do you just want the much more expensive tool cause it “feels better”. Time will tell when you buy tools. 👍
Love the setup great video
Thanks! 👍👍
I got a set of harbor freight 1/2 impacts that have lasted me forever being a diesel tech haven’t broken one yet the 15/16 has been through hell and was on a truck going across country for 6 trips stick between a crossmember and a frame bolt
Yup! Hard to beat it.
Milwaukee makes a really tough breaker bar
Thanks, I’ll look into it!
19:33 - That wrench extender is also a good way to torque an odd fastener, you can use a 1/2 torque wrench on it to set a desired torque
And at 23:08 Irwin also sells left turn drill bits for that extractor set, they are worth it! Half the time the bits will turn out the broken bolt without even having to use the extractor
Good to know, I’ll check it out. Thanks!
wow, FINALLY a smart guy. So many fall for that easy over priced tool financing and it ruins them. Your conservative approach tells me that you would be responsible for your clients also. Not just wasting money throwing parts at a problem. However, please allow an old guy to warn you of the job hopping just because you may be a little unhappy. It may bit you in the butt, and you said yourself you're only a little over a year out. And already at 3rd job? As someone who hires and fires, just saying this would be a red flag for me. But your grievances may be valid. only you know that. Still really glad to see that you are intelligent enough to avoid them dang tool trucks. Those are the bane of shops everywhere.
Thanks! Good advice and I totally agree. I guess I’ll clarify for anyone reading: I feel job hopping wasn’t a good thing years ago. These days, especially with inflation and record bad economic conditions, you have to take care of yourself. Companies these days expect everything for little pay or benefits. You have to show your worth and be compassionated for it at least up to industry standards, if not, roll the box out. I’ve gotten a $6 raise in just over a year, mainly because the company “couldn’t afford to give raises this year”. The list of skills needed to be a well rounded and worthwhile tech is massive and that doesn’t account for the tooling and training either with constantly more difficult systems hitting the market every year. I’m only hitting on one of the many gripes I have with this industry. Maybe that’s another video. Thanks again!
Your drum break tool that the paints coming off I have a idea for ya trace it on paper and write down all the measurerments and tap it to your lid of tool box so that way you can always check the measurerments if it all wears off
That could work. I’ll probably just keep counting the notches form now. lol
Bremen vise grips from harbor freight are top notch. Cheap and very durable. Plus you can tighten with a 1/4 ratchet.
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll look into them.
Stay off tool trucks so you can piss it away at the tattoo parlor. 😂 Sorry I’m not a tattoo fan but you do you!
I have family that owns a tattoo shop, it’s all free for me. 👍
@@Themiddleclassmechanicbruh luckyyyyyy
It’s a nice perk. 🫡
Hell yea family tattoo shop I wish I am the family tattoo and auto tech all my family comes to me for art or there car fixed I guess im a jack of all trades but its hard to tattoo your self in many places so I still have to pay for mine 😢
Way to go on staying off tool trucks. As your career progresses you’ll find out what last and what don’t.
Exactly! That’s the goal.
I agree with ya 95% Sometimes the truck just has that one off item that you kinda just gotta bite the bullet to get Trust me I’m not sticking up for the tool truck that and I have maybe 10% snap on because I too like to stay off the truck when I can
If there's anything you buy from Snapon pliers, all of them are by far the best.
Yeah, I’ve noticed that. I think Knipex might still be better, but it might depend on the specific plier or hand tool. 👍
They took Estwing out of Home Depot. The Tool Trucks are high dollar!
HF quality has increased so much in the last few years. I wish they had this stuff 20 years ago.
Right!? Stuff like that really helps out new techs. Everything is so damn expensive anymore you gotta save money where you can. 👍
@@Themiddleclassmechanic There are definitely some tools in their line that I would say a new tech could buy today and expect to have for their whole career. Pittsburgh is still Pittsburgh, but some of the Icon, Chief and Doyle are impressive.
Oh definitely. I just bought some Pittsburgh Pro 1/2 impact sockets. I’m gonna beat the daylights out of them and see what happens.
Cookie or Snack or Food Drawer! Great idea now you need Beef Jerky!
I’m a donut guy at heart but maybe I’ll make space for a snack drawer.. 🤫
@@Themiddleclassmechanic chicken and waffles or chicken and donuts that's fried chicken!
Snap On is great but Icon is in the budget! OK.
I’ll get more snap on stuff when they raise my hourly pay. 😄👍👍
I had some Snappy like that awesome. Harbor Freight Icon good Also or Doyle tools.
Yup, I agree. 👍
Doyle and Icon are professional quality all day
From what I’ve got from those brands so far, I don’t have any complaints. I will continue to use them on these big rigs and update. 👍
The button adjust on my Doyle knockoffs of the knipex cobra is smoother than my actual knipex pair. You really have to break in the knipex to work smoothly. Prefer the knipex because they open wider but those Doyles are a homerun. Matco sells the exact same pliers as the Doyle the PL7, PL10, and PL12 are just green handle Doyles for 5x the price
Doyle cobra pump pliers are the exact same tool as Matco. For the 12" it's 105 bucks off the Matco truck, 23 bucks at the Freight all day. So you're paying 82 bucks for the Matco logo 😂
The Matco is rebranded Knipex cobra pliers. You can get Knipex cobras on Amazon for $30-150 depending on size. I just go straight for the name brand German pliers. They are truly unmatched. I’d like to try the Doyle out though to compare. Thanks for the idea! 👍
You’re the only other person I’ve seen keep an IFAK in their tool box. Nice dude!
Yes sir, have the training to use it to, that’s more important. Good luck out there! 👍
I also keep a refuge medical kit on my toolbox. Especially as a welder, seen too many close calls that could have been bad. Never hurts to have it and not need it! 🙏👍
Im not a pro but heavy wrencher. I hear what you say about not always going tool truck. But i also see the other side. For impacts and many rebranded items def makes sense to go with oem over rebrand. When it comes to sockets ratchets etc all depends as you may end up paying the same over time. Snapon front loads there warranty into price which means that ratchet will last you the rest of your life. I always deal directly with company not dealer and i can say first hand their customer service is wicked awesome especially if you get the right person. This has def pulled me more towards snap on for alot of my purchases "buy once cry once,"
Yeah, can’t argue the benefits to tool truck warranty. Comes in handy for chisels, bits, etc too. I just can’t justify the price of the other stuff in my opinion. If my 60$ ratchet begins to wear, I’ll just get another one. Larger ratchets I understand buying snappy brand or tool truck brand. So much force on them, you need the best you can get.
Buy once cry once is true to an extent but it’s better to have a lot of cheaper stuff starting out than a few expensive tools. Especially if your unsure if the trade is for you. You can upgrade overtime and your not borrowing a lot. If you mainly use t25 and t30 torx get snap on. But the rest you use once a year the cheap ones are ok. If you mainly do electrical and diagnostic a $1000 fluke meter is necessary. But if your a driveline and suspension guy a $150 meter is fine but a good 3/4 impact is necessary. I have mostly Mac and a bit of snap on. But my triple squares I use once every 3 years are from princess auto (Canadian harbour freight).
I’m not completely sold on spending thousands on a tool that a 200$ tool does just fine. I agree there are some times you gotta spend the money but most the time people just want the “nice to have” tool. Things are too expensive these days to justify getting a job done 10min faster if you’re hourly. The pay rates here in the US are years behind in my opinion, mostly anyway.
Yes for sure all comes down to personal preference and lots of research. I think if I were pro and really trying to be budget friendly I would start with used tool boxes, etc as that seems to be a trap for alot of guys going in debt. Other stuff like impact sockets and alot of hand tools can save alot with top tier tsiwan stuff. That being said I try to go usa made as much as possible especially with lang and lisle etc
But once cry once needs to kinda fall off the wayside. Because when you can’t rely on your rep to get it warrantied on the spot you have to send it in and deal with corporate and at that point the warranty is the same with everyone else not in the truck. I say that because there’s reasons why you hear such up and down stories with people and their tool trucks rep. It’s not an isolated issue with a few guys when they bitch and complain about their rep. Even snap on break more than the fanboys like to admit and yeh the come back is warranty is worth it … is ?? Because unless my tool breaks a day or two before the truck comes I’m waiting a full rotation of visits from the truck for it to be warrantied. At that point jus like my miwlaukee warranty with hand tools every time that I called the number before leaving for work it would hit the mail that night and I’d have it 3 days later, which is just like the example of snap on if I broke something after the truck came for the week. I had Milwaukee ratchets for a while and they never broke (not counting the 1/2 I broke by putting an impact behind it) I’m talking regular hand use my ratchets never broke. I bought snap on becuase I wanted two sets one for work and one for home. I could of bought another miwlaukee set for the house but when my rep told me he can get me two sets not full price but new I said fuck it bought 1/2 flex head ratchet set and regular 3/8 ratchet set for 650 for the two brand new. Anyone who knows snap on and their listed prices it cost 650.00 for just the half inch but I got both for 650.00 so In that specific instance I said fuck it and bought both snap ons and brought the Milwaukee home You don’t need snap for 90% of basic hand tools snap on makes specialty shit you can never order from other brands and for that 100% understandable
After 35 years in the trade I agree with you on impact sockets for the most part. Buy truck brand 12 points for head bolts. Willams ratchets are good but they have a lower tooth count that snap on Mac Or gearwench. Gearwench ratchets feel nice till they break and your knuckles bust lol. I mainly use Mac in 3/8 and 1/2 for that reason. I still use 1” for wheels my cordless dewalt rips them off to but it kills the guns. After 2 red ones and 2 yellow ones it gets expensive. Quality wrench’s only make a difference about 20% of the time. Don’t have to be snap on or Mac. Proto wright or SK(old ones) make a difference on tight rusty or siezed fasteners. I pay the truck price for punch’s chisels and pry bars from Mac rebranded Mayhew because of easy lifetime warranty. Same with drill bits. Mac cobalts lifetime warranty only have to buy once. You have a good set up for only a year in. I always prefer to see a guy starting out with lots of cheaper stuff and upgrade as needed that a huge box and nothing in it borrowing everything. Oh and for a 1/2” breaker bar get a used old Mac off eBay indestructible better than anything. Mines 30 years old and I’ve pushed on it with a loader to crack stuff lose.
Thanks for the info. I only use my 1/2 impact occasionally for wheel nuts to extend its life. I’m not rebuilding engines, nor do I intend to but I’ll look into better set anyway. As far as 1/2in drive ratchet for stubborn bolts, I’ll look into the Mac breaker bar. I need something super sturdy in that range. 👍
@@Themiddleclassmechanic I got an old junky Snap On used paid $20.00 great tool. Yeah 1/2 drive about 24 inch. Breaker Bar Chrome.
Thank you for the video
Thanks for watching!
Great cart. The trick is to shop Amazon & pay for the tools you need not what you want. Smart choice on tools a wrench holds & moves a bolt it doesn’t have to cost $30 if they’re cheaper alternatives. I started with a Craftsman box,traded up with used Snappys & now I have a 68” Epiq,power top & hutch. It’s loaded with tools that I use. Been a mechanic for 40 years so take your time & shop prices. Tools don’t make the mechanic skill makes the mechanic.
Yes! I found no need to step into a tool truck yet. One day, maybe I will but only until I NEED a tool and cant get it anywhere else. That’s rare. 👍
I have the same cart, love it. Are they making the side table for them now? Or did u use the one from the 5 draw?
I think they make them compatible now for both the 5 drawer and the full bank. Same tray. Here’s the part number 59444. 👍
@@Themiddleclassmechanic thanks brotha !
Sweet toolbox!
Thanks! 👍🤟
Great first video, bud. Can't wait to see how you grow as a tech.
Thanks. 👍
Had to pause the video for this comment, please turn your camera sideways and redo this video. It's a great content idea but if I wanted to watch it in short format I would go to the shorts section.
Thanks for the feedback!
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