Kid's First Mechanic Kit

[Lomac]

So apparently my wonderful experiences with cars wasn't enough to deter my eldest kid away from the automotive world and she's decided to make a career out of it. She plans on applying for one of BCIT's automotive courses over the next few months but doesn't own any of her own tools. While I have no qualms with sharing my own, I'd prefer she gets accustomed to having her own.

With that said, and the fact that I've been slowly accumulating and upgrading tools for the past 20-odd years (good god, has it been that long?) I don't even know where a good jumping off point would be. Her birthday is coming up shortly and I'd like to buy her a good solid foundational set of tools but what does that even look like these days? Her passion cars fall within the late-80's to mid/late 90's (S13 180sx is her dream car... remember when we could pick those up for $500?) but will likely be needing to learn how to work on more modern cars, and that may require more specialized tools than I'm actually familiar with at this point.

Any suggestions? Any decent all-in-one hand tool kits from Canadian Tire or Princess Auto? Maybe a line somewhere on a decent jack and stands? Any must have tools any of you would say are must haves for a beginner and which ones can be added later on?

[headhunt3r]

Sharing as a weekend warrior that fumbles around my cars when I can... I started with a husky mechanic set similar to this one https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hus...ce-/1001519204, and then bought separate pieces from princess auto. I've found PA stuff to be a toss up. If I use the PA tools a lot and find I need better I look to replace with something from Maximum (Canadian tire). If I don't use PA stuff much then I've saved myself money.

Edit - lots of socket sets on sale today at Canadian Tire, such as this set: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/m...3.html?loc=plp

[roastpuff]

Congrats on having a child that shares your passion! It's definitely a hope that I have in the future of being able to share hobbies with my (non-existent) children.

I think any halfway decent socket set would be a great start, and if you want to spoil her with power tools, any of the major brands (Milkwaukee, Dewalt, Makita etc) would be a good way to start for an impact driver/wrench. Like was mentioned above, the socket sets on sale at CT would probably be a good start!

[68style]

How long until she lights a car on fire like your old MX6?

[The Producer]

CT socket set, drivers, wrenches and pliers/grips when they're on sale (there's always one on sale) without Craftsman, CT became the easiest place to warranty/exchange tools

for a box - I'd find a used one. There's nothing cooler than a tool box w some patina

i could never have justified my toolbox new - but sometimes a deal comes along.

I can't speak to the automotive program, but in the AME program we couldn't use any of our own tools anyways. Could be a bit before she has to own her own stuff.

[GIZZ]

For decent budget socket sets and wrenches I would buy gearwrench. KMS sells it, goes on sale often. Or order it online.

When most of my snap on was stolen I replaced with with a mix of snap and gearwrench. Maybe screw drivers and non ratcheting wrenches get snap on and every other chrome hand tool gearwrench.

I like channel lock for pliers, cheap and good.

For stuff like hammers, jackstands, pry bars, punches go to princess auto.

Decide if she wants to do air tools or electric, I know newish techs that don't have a single air tool.

[nismodrifter]

Dad bought me a stanley mechanic set, in a case, like a decade ago, I still use it to this day for all my wrenching. From Canadian tire.

[rb]

I didn't even know you had a kid lol

[bcrdukes]

He quietly mentioned it but little did I know she's already graduating. Time flies.

Come to the Stock & Noob meet!

[Badhobz]

Man I read that thread title and instantly thought of this. Didn’t think it’s actual tools.

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

Man I read that thread title and instantly thought of this. Didn’t think it’s actual tools.

same lol

Had to read it thrice to be sure I was reading correctly

[ssjGoku69]

For my poor low budget purposes, I was told to just get cheap tools, then I can figure out which tools I use most so when they break, I buy nicer versions of those.

[EvoFire]

No jokes I almost suggested this
https://www.amazon.ca/Qaba-Education.../dp/B09HBV74PC

[Klondike]

My shop teacher from high school told me to buy Mastercraft tools from yard sales, jew them down to get them for cheap, then get it warrantied at Sears.

[teggy604]

BCIT auto program has all the tools you need to learn and work on projects. The only thing you need to provide are steel toe boots. Usually students have option to buy foundational tool box set at an discounted price after their program ends.

With that said, she got some time to decide on buying tools. If she wants to do apprenticeship at a dealership, she will most likely start off washing cars. Then moving on to helping techs etc... Once she starts apprenticeship then she would have a pretty good idea what tools she needs. Dealers will usually provide some allowance for tools, and you can also write those tools off as well. Also dealers have shop nights, so she can also work on her own car in the shop. Again if she find a good shop techs are pretty chill with lending their tools to newbies on shop night.

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by Klondike

My shop teacher from high school told me to buy Mastercraft tools from yard sales, jew them down to get them for cheap, then get it warrantied at Sears.

Wow lol

[hud 91gt]

My dad bought me a Mastercraft “Professional” socket set (Pre-Maximum) when I was 12. It was complete until this year when I’m down one socket! Shhhhiet. My dad was a mechanic, and although he had some snap-on/Mac a lot was the professional/maximum stuff from CT.

I’d go with one of those monster Maximum kits at 75% off.

[underscore]

Does the program she's taking provide the tools or does it have a list of required stuff she'll need?

For home use I got one of the bigger Stanley sets from Canadian Tire (wait until they're significantly on sale) about 15 years ago that goes from 6mm up to 21mm and it's been able to do nearly everything on my Celicas. So if she's aiming for some 80's/90's JDM car that should take care of a lot of it. Other than losing one 14mm and breaking one c̶l̶i̶c̶k̶y̶ ̶h̶a̶m̶m̶e̶r̶ ratchet last year it's been solid.

If you can, find one of the blue sets though. My main beef with this stuff is being all black it's a nightmare to find when you drop it somewhere.

[68style]

^
Don't listen to him, he can't get his Celica to sit level

[bcrdukes]

lol

[westopher]

Originally Posted by Badhobz

Man I read that thread title and instantly thought of this. Didn’t think it’s actual tools.

Definitely buying this though. Partly for my daughter but it's also on par for my skill level.

[Badhobz]

its looks cute as fuck. I kinda wanna buy a set to troll my brother in law when he asks to borrow my tools.

[snowball]

Mastercraft on sale (which is every other week) lasted me 15 years+

still use em in the background even though I have fancier tools, they last forever

[Badhobz]

A bit off topic, but has anyone ever broken a tool before ? if so what type and how did it break?

Im looking at my mastercraft socket set and i honestly cant imagine id ever break anything in here. It seems quite well built and the heavily used ones (10mm, 14mm etc) are still in good condition even though they get the most usage. I dont think i can justify spending Milwaukie money on something like this. I did buy a milwaukie drill (fuel impact) but thats only because i wanted more power for easy application.

[hud 91gt]

Ratchets. The mechanism breaks when abused. Lol.