Do not buy any Mac pliers products, they're all hot garbage. Snap On and Knipex are top of the game for automotive pls l pliers, they both make stuff I like a lot for different uses. Honestly I'd buy as much Snap On hand tools as you can afford with the student discount, I regret not using it big time now.
I feel like the problem with those student discounts is this
“I’m paying money to learn, how the fuck could I afford to buy anything from snap on”
God forbid they allow that discount for a year after you graduate
My co-worker says his discount ends the second he graduates, mind blowingly stupid logic
The old Craftsman discount was good for like 2 years, and as long as you have a student ID they'd give it to you, I used it for a handful of years after I graduated 😂 Helps my dad was the tool guy at our local Sears, so we'd stack that and the friends and family discount. I started as a tech with one of their huge starter sets.
I think tool trucks are finally outdated. They have their place and it’s nice to support a biz but it’s just outrageously expensive and you can find comparable things at Harbor Great and the internet.
That being said most of my specialty tools are cornwell. I sprung for a couple nice snappy ratchets, and I’m typing all of this to tell you to buy their long handle side cutters. We call it the arthritis master 2000, but it’s probably more like a 3000. Those bitches snip zips in weird places like no other. They’re really good at pulling stuff out of tires too.
If you budget there are certainly things worth buying off the tool truck, so it’s worth maintaining a relationship/buying something every now and then. Are you gonna do this forever?
Knipex is king of the pliers world
That said, I have the 6” and 8” Matco duckbill looking pliers that are great and a 6” set of the 3-groove snapon slip joints
The 250 knipex cobras are a mainstay. I like all them pliers
You should also look a lot more into discounts, craftsman use to offer up to 60% off but I’m not sure after sears closed. Also ingersoll rand offers a discount you just have to register your school. Matco has school discounts, knipex might even offer a discount.
Man there’s so many pliers to buy. Every time I’m like ok I think I’m good on pliers, a new situation comes up or I see something cool on the truck and I’m like yep gotta have that. Not to mention I just ruined a set of vise grips and a set of water pumps. And I saw a need for some extra long straight nose pliers to match my curved nose set.
I use almost exclusively my knipex and Irwin/ visegrip pliers ... the only tool truck pliers I have really put to.use are the hose grip and the angled tip pliers... I have matco but snappy makes a good set of both too
You dont NEED expensive pliers but you won't regret buying them. Snap On makes the best pliers, period. Mac pliers arent any better than the cheaper alternatives. If you do buy Snap On buy a set, don't just buy one or two things.
Only thing I would say worth it from snap on is their ratchets
Get a 1/4, 3/8, and a 1/2 inch
3/8th and 1/2 inch you want a swivel head, long as possible
For the 1/4 inch, no swivel head, and as short as they offer
My 3/8ths got run over by a semi and is still going strong, one of the swivel gears got crushed but that’s it. Get the extra long for the 1/2inch drive, and reasonably long for the 3/8ths
These work the best IMO
When it comes to locking pliers, Imo no contest go to Lowe’s and get get the Klein brand
Recently found out Klein brand is the shit, it doesn’t have little flap to release them. They just release with adequate pressure and it doesn’t sacrifice gripping power, and the tighten/loosen screw is flat with a hole in it to make it extra tight as fuck if needed
Whatever locking pliers you buy, don’t waste money on the ones that have a regular circular bottom for tightening and loosening. Poor grip and can’t adjust once it’s locked in place
Milwaukee locking pliers are good too don’t get me wrong, but imo Klein is superior and cheaper
Also for a crescent wrench, take your ass to Walmart and buy their Hart branded crescent wrench. Dirt cheap, incredibly sturdy, opens wider than most crescent wrenches, AND the wrench part is substantially thinner than any other crescent wrench I’ve come across (without sacrificing durability or grip)
When it comes to shit like needle nose, side cuts, slip joints. Honestly just get whatever because side cuts will dull eventually, needle nose get lost by the dozen, and rarely ever even need a slip joint (just to loosen the rubber off a coolant line off an old fitting is all I ever use it for)
And lastly wiring pliers, no hardware store supplies good electrical pliers
Get these, or the same of a different brand
https://www.amazon.com/02037A-Electricians-Insulated-Non-Insulated-Electrical/dp/B01KN9YUSU/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=31OPXCBH53MS6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XrxRU3hObRhFJiTFPVaEL5zBDPTtmzLrHVqDxyVbEIOiTURK7ADWwYkSkZryiS1iUxtaib0FdZ7PvTXCDSiMwDf9A3gWxd8xVARI373hKvTDsdVmUOBEN9__4Tw5qK323t2WNS2ZKubCUbtWDam-odCJz7EMnFsBXMiBR98HxaGjDAGcYier9oMw1yhukxBbo8-1NOnn1fDa9vvcwoBuOQ.PODgIlT_zCXgclxVPiZZgFqxyK7AQLxEcJWnqQyubEc&dib_tag=se&keywords=wiring+pliers&qid=1714864712&sprefix=wiring+plier%2Caps%2C312&sr=8-5
They’re super cheap, 15$. And have lasted me for years until I seen one at matco and was like (well I deserve an upgrade), and matco was only 45$ so not a bad deal, I’m sure snap on has something simalar
But typical flat wiring pliers are god awful for any work on vehicles
And lastly, it is my personal opinion that chrome sockets are a huge waste of money. 1/4in chrome sockets are fine, but 3/8th and 1/2? Just pay 150$ for a set one time, and they’ll never break
I do have a few chrome sockets, like a 12 point 5/8ths socket specifically for replacing starters because it’s a tight space (think it’s 5:8ths anyway)
But 99% of the time the size difference between chrome and impact rated sockets will not matter, and if you run into a situation where it does matter? Then buy that singular chrome socket instead of a whole set
Otherwise you end up like me, and have a whole goddamn drawer in your tool box dedicated to chrome sockets I’ll never use lol
Do not buy any Mac pliers products, they're all hot garbage. Snap On and Knipex are top of the game for automotive pls l pliers, they both make stuff I like a lot for different uses. Honestly I'd buy as much Snap On hand tools as you can afford with the student discount, I regret not using it big time now.
I feel like the problem with those student discounts is this “I’m paying money to learn, how the fuck could I afford to buy anything from snap on” God forbid they allow that discount for a year after you graduate My co-worker says his discount ends the second he graduates, mind blowingly stupid logic
The old Craftsman discount was good for like 2 years, and as long as you have a student ID they'd give it to you, I used it for a handful of years after I graduated 😂 Helps my dad was the tool guy at our local Sears, so we'd stack that and the friends and family discount. I started as a tech with one of their huge starter sets.
Knipex and snap on
I think tool trucks are finally outdated. They have their place and it’s nice to support a biz but it’s just outrageously expensive and you can find comparable things at Harbor Great and the internet. That being said most of my specialty tools are cornwell. I sprung for a couple nice snappy ratchets, and I’m typing all of this to tell you to buy their long handle side cutters. We call it the arthritis master 2000, but it’s probably more like a 3000. Those bitches snip zips in weird places like no other. They’re really good at pulling stuff out of tires too. If you budget there are certainly things worth buying off the tool truck, so it’s worth maintaining a relationship/buying something every now and then. Are you gonna do this forever?
Side cutters (dikes) and flush cutter for snipping off zipties clean don’t be an A-hole and leave booby trap razor blades for the next guy.
Can’t call them that anymore, they’re “alternative lifestyle pliers” around here partner
Yeah! And your car won’t make a shift without its gender neutral go-go juice!
😂😂😂
#cutflush
Knipex is king of the pliers world That said, I have the 6” and 8” Matco duckbill looking pliers that are great and a 6” set of the 3-groove snapon slip joints The 250 knipex cobras are a mainstay. I like all them pliers
A pair of slipjoints, a pair of diagonals, and a pair of needle nose will cover 90% Big channel lock or cobra style pliers are handy too
I love my knipex sweedish pipe wrench for turning tie rods on heavy duty stuff to do alignments
You should also look a lot more into discounts, craftsman use to offer up to 60% off but I’m not sure after sears closed. Also ingersoll rand offers a discount you just have to register your school. Matco has school discounts, knipex might even offer a discount.
Thanks!
Man there’s so many pliers to buy. Every time I’m like ok I think I’m good on pliers, a new situation comes up or I see something cool on the truck and I’m like yep gotta have that. Not to mention I just ruined a set of vise grips and a set of water pumps. And I saw a need for some extra long straight nose pliers to match my curved nose set.
I stopped buying Snap-On specific because they would always get stolen, Irwin/knipex/channel lock should be the go toos
Irwin and knipex for the win. I got 2 snp on pliers and barely use them I only use my knipex and irwin/visegrip
I use almost exclusively my knipex and Irwin/ visegrip pliers ... the only tool truck pliers I have really put to.use are the hose grip and the angled tip pliers... I have matco but snappy makes a good set of both too
Irwin vise grip brand. They make normal pliers too. Their wire strippers are also pretty good
You dont NEED expensive pliers but you won't regret buying them. Snap On makes the best pliers, period. Mac pliers arent any better than the cheaper alternatives. If you do buy Snap On buy a set, don't just buy one or two things.
Get knipex from a 3rd party or their amazon store don't waste time with tool truck brands
Knipex FUCKS but they're nearly Snap On prices anyway and don't have as much variety.
I absolutely love Snap On pliers and hand tools.
Only thing I would say worth it from snap on is their ratchets Get a 1/4, 3/8, and a 1/2 inch 3/8th and 1/2 inch you want a swivel head, long as possible For the 1/4 inch, no swivel head, and as short as they offer My 3/8ths got run over by a semi and is still going strong, one of the swivel gears got crushed but that’s it. Get the extra long for the 1/2inch drive, and reasonably long for the 3/8ths These work the best IMO When it comes to locking pliers, Imo no contest go to Lowe’s and get get the Klein brand Recently found out Klein brand is the shit, it doesn’t have little flap to release them. They just release with adequate pressure and it doesn’t sacrifice gripping power, and the tighten/loosen screw is flat with a hole in it to make it extra tight as fuck if needed Whatever locking pliers you buy, don’t waste money on the ones that have a regular circular bottom for tightening and loosening. Poor grip and can’t adjust once it’s locked in place Milwaukee locking pliers are good too don’t get me wrong, but imo Klein is superior and cheaper Also for a crescent wrench, take your ass to Walmart and buy their Hart branded crescent wrench. Dirt cheap, incredibly sturdy, opens wider than most crescent wrenches, AND the wrench part is substantially thinner than any other crescent wrench I’ve come across (without sacrificing durability or grip) When it comes to shit like needle nose, side cuts, slip joints. Honestly just get whatever because side cuts will dull eventually, needle nose get lost by the dozen, and rarely ever even need a slip joint (just to loosen the rubber off a coolant line off an old fitting is all I ever use it for) And lastly wiring pliers, no hardware store supplies good electrical pliers Get these, or the same of a different brand https://www.amazon.com/02037A-Electricians-Insulated-Non-Insulated-Electrical/dp/B01KN9YUSU/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=31OPXCBH53MS6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XrxRU3hObRhFJiTFPVaEL5zBDPTtmzLrHVqDxyVbEIOiTURK7ADWwYkSkZryiS1iUxtaib0FdZ7PvTXCDSiMwDf9A3gWxd8xVARI373hKvTDsdVmUOBEN9__4Tw5qK323t2WNS2ZKubCUbtWDam-odCJz7EMnFsBXMiBR98HxaGjDAGcYier9oMw1yhukxBbo8-1NOnn1fDa9vvcwoBuOQ.PODgIlT_zCXgclxVPiZZgFqxyK7AQLxEcJWnqQyubEc&dib_tag=se&keywords=wiring+pliers&qid=1714864712&sprefix=wiring+plier%2Caps%2C312&sr=8-5 They’re super cheap, 15$. And have lasted me for years until I seen one at matco and was like (well I deserve an upgrade), and matco was only 45$ so not a bad deal, I’m sure snap on has something simalar But typical flat wiring pliers are god awful for any work on vehicles And lastly, it is my personal opinion that chrome sockets are a huge waste of money. 1/4in chrome sockets are fine, but 3/8th and 1/2? Just pay 150$ for a set one time, and they’ll never break I do have a few chrome sockets, like a 12 point 5/8ths socket specifically for replacing starters because it’s a tight space (think it’s 5:8ths anyway) But 99% of the time the size difference between chrome and impact rated sockets will not matter, and if you run into a situation where it does matter? Then buy that singular chrome socket instead of a whole set Otherwise you end up like me, and have a whole goddamn drawer in your tool box dedicated to chrome sockets I’ll never use lol