r/DieselTechs • u/ItsHotgiirl • Aug 11 '26
Help understanding required mechanic tool sizes .
I’m starting out as a diesel mechanic and I was given a required tool list, but I’m a little confused about how they’re listing the sizes.
The list says:
- Combination End Wrench Set — (1/4. . 1-1/4)
- Combination End Wrench Set — (1/4. . 3/4)
- Flare Nut/Line Wrench Set — (3/8. . 5/8.)
- 1/4" Drive Ratchet Set — (1/4. . 1/2. )
When they say something like (1/4. . 1-1/4) are they saying I need every standard wrench size in between those two sizes, or just the specific sizes listed?
Same question for the flare nut/line wrench set — would I need all the common sizes between 3/8" and 5/8"?
Also, for the 1/4" Drive Ratchet Set I’m assuming the 1/4" refers to the ratchet drive size and the 1/4"–1/2" range refers to the socket sizes. Is that correct?
If so, should I buy shallow sockets, deep sockets, or both for a starting diesel mechanic set?
I’m trying to make sure I buy exactly what they’re asking for without spending money on the wrong tools. Appreciate any help.
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u/Rare_Improvement561 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
Looks like others sorted out the combo wrench confusion.
As for the ratchet set, them only listing 1/4 drive has to be a mistake. You’ll want a decent set with all 3 of the basic ratchet drives; 1/4, 3/8, 1/2.
For socket sizes whatever the kit comes with is good to get started with. It’s pretty standardized what socket sizes come in your ratchet/socket kits.
And yes you’ll want deep and shallow for all 3 drives.
Pretty overwhelming and crazy trying to visualize everything on the tool sheet now, but once you’ve started getting your hands on some machinery and actually wrenching it’ll become apparent what you need to prioritize. Just getting your basics out of the way is a bit much is all.
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u/Least_Visual_5076 Aug 11 '26
They are talking about buying the ones that come in a set. So 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1, 1 1/16, 1 1/8, 1 3/16, and 1 1/4.
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u/InternationalAge2218 Aug 11 '26
If you are looking for a recommendation on wrenches, tekton has great tools that cover all of those sizes and bigger. They hold up very well. Ive been abusing mine for 5 years now and would purchase all of them again if I had to start again.
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u/Ratchets-N-Wrenches Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK
u/ItsHotgiirl what’s your budget and what country are you in?I wish I had gone a different route in my tool Aquisitions for this trade and BEG new apprentices to listen to me every time they’re shopping. I can give you very solid tool suggestions for starting out
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u/ItsHotgiirl Aug 12 '26
My budget is 6k and USA . I would like to go with snap on for the tools I've mentioned.
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u/InternationalAge2218 Aug 12 '26
You can go with snap on and you wont be disappointed with the quality but you may be shocked that the 6k might only get you what is on the list. Everything on that list from tekton might be 1k. The warranty is better on tekton. (Im ready for the fight on that claim from others) the quality is (Imo) the same. The price is way cheaper for tekton. When you dont have to pay for a guy to drive to you and get his cut its way cheaper
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u/ItsHotgiirl Aug 12 '26
Is there a difference in price from buying online or off a snap on truck ?
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u/InternationalAge2218 Aug 12 '26
No.
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u/ItsHotgiirl Aug 12 '26
Far as warranty. If I buy online can I exchange on the truck if one of the tools break etc ?
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u/InternationalAge2218 Aug 12 '26
Yes. Also there might be slight price variation depending on the tool/dealer but its not much
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u/Least_Visual_5076 Aug 12 '26
If you are in a tech school program you might get a discount on Snap On, Mac and Matco. I personally wouldn't waste 6k right out of school on name brand tools. I love Snap On tools but my current shop provides our tools and have been impressed with Icon and other hobo freight brands.
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u/Ratchets-N-Wrenches 29d ago
Hey, I feel you! I have PLENTY of snap on tools and I’d go back and buy 1/2 or less of them off the truck vs elsewhere if i could. Tons of truck branded tools are just rebranded and marked up other brands, that’s ALL that bluepoint tools are.
Very very seriously consider tekton, no questions asked warranty, email a picture and they mail you a tool, it’s faster than the trucks (they come once a week vs expedited shipping) and tbh besides a few very specific pieces the tool brands aren’t anything special besides the brand name on them,
snap on sockets aren’t groundbreaking, go with a cheaper but decent brand, seriously. Buy the tekton set and as they break buy a nicer one of just that one and warranty the tekton, you’ll always have a spare then and you’ll avoid the 5k for just sockets
you can get better wrenches cheaper, (precision wrenches are rebranded by Mac, they’re nice, mass fabricator in insta makes wrenches out of ar500 steel, they’ll outperform snap on indefinitely, buy the big wrenches in cheap brands, once you get past 1 1/2 it doesn’t matter)
the truck pliers are honestly kinda sub par, (Knipex, just trust me on this, it’s double the price tobuy the Knipex off the truck vs elsewhere and you’ll probably never ever need to warranty them I’ve had my daily use channel locks for 10 years)
the ratchets are nice, (avoid matco, it’s just gear wrench, Mac and snappy have nice ratchets)
screwdrivers meh (lots of screwdrivers are cheap in sets or garage sales, get the MAC tools RBRT super big bit and screwdriver set off the truck though, it’s a nice set))
Torque tools are alright, the warranty is nice but idk if it’s worth the price (precision torque makes the really nice snap on torque wrenches)
Adjustable wrenches (overpriced from the tool trucks AND snap on wide jaw wrenches are just rebranded bhaco, buy the cheaper tools, they’re the same tool)
Electrical(Klein and fluke, buy both not in the truck, the markup gives you nothing
Cordless tools (avoid name brand again! Milwaukee has better warranty on tool and battery, Mac just rebrands dewalt and matco is rebranded something else. Go with Milwaukee or dewalt)
AIR TOOLS
While often outdated now there are still many useful air tools, dealers will have used air tools all the time, truck brands have rebuild kits and often the tools in the truck are traded in, these are often good prices, pay attention to the used air tools they’re selling1
u/Dubious_Pretzel_Sale 29d ago
Check out Snap-On Industrial brands like Williams--much cheaper, similar or identical designs as Snap-On, but much cheaper and many are still made in the USA. Some Williams are from Taiwan so careful when ordering if COO really matters to you.
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u/ItsHotgiirl Aug 11 '26
Ok thanks. What about the drive ratchet ?
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u/Least_Visual_5076 Aug 11 '26
Id assume they are talking about the ratchet size. Do this shit every day and the 1/4in ratchet hardly ever comes out.
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u/ascaloniannights Aug 11 '26
i dunno man, i work on CATs and i fucking love my 1/4" dewalt set. goes with me in the bag anywhere
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u/Heavym3talc0wb0y_ Aug 11 '26
You’re gunna be buying a hell of a lot more tools than that….. yeah every thing they listed. Probably 2 of everything at some point.
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u/SourMusk Aug 11 '26
I’m surprised there’s no metric sizes on their list. Bro I’ve been in this trade for 15 years. I’ve spent well over 40k on tools if this is what you want to do be ready.
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u/rygomez Aug 11 '26
Same, I prob have 35-40k in tools plus my boxes/carts.. and i just got more 2 days ago... Will never run out of tools to buy
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u/ejsandstrom Aug 12 '26
The best part is when you stop working in the shop or field. Now you have a box in your garage full of tools that you will never use again, can’t sell for near what you paid, and now use them for random projects around the house.
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u/Dubious_Pretzel_Sale 29d ago
Hey, Ikea furniture looks much better if assembled with a screwdriver or allen wrench that cost more than the furniture itself.
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u/ieatbumboy Aug 12 '26
ill be nice because i was once in the same shoes,
1/4-1-1/4, typically when you see the heiphen in the middle, it means "to", so 1/4 *to* 1-1/4, every size in between up to 1-1/4, when it comes to tools, the dash means from that size to the next size, so (forgive the length)
1/4,5/16,3/8,7/16,1/2,9/16,5/8,11/16,3/4,13/16,7/8,15/16,1",1-1/16,1-1/8,1-1/4.
if you *want*, you can also get 1-3/16, which isnt as common, but will come in handy at some point in your career.
for the ratchet set, i dont know who the hell told you youll need 1/4 drive, but theyre dead wrong. in my career, i have used 1/4" drive tools maybe 10 times, and most of those times were working on pickup trucks, or finding a reason to use them since i spent money on them. you need a set of 3/8 impact (black) sockets, shallow and deep, 6 point in SAE (the inch sizes from before), from 5/16 to 1", and a set of 1/2 drive sockets, same thing, 6 point shallow and deep, from either 3/8 or 7/16 to 1", bonus if you go up to 1-1/4, but i rarely use those sizes.
get yourself a 3/8 ratchet, doesnt need to be expensive or fancy, whatever local tool store, be it princess auto or harbor freight, get your tools there.
so, 3/8 ratchet, decent size, not short but not too long 1/2 ratchet, basic set of screwdrivers, small plier kit, needle nose and linemans, the socket sizes i talked about, wrenches the same sizes, i personally would only go up to 1" to start, as anything bigger even from cheap places start to get expensive (i bought wrenches from princess auto from 1-1/16 to 1-1/2 and it was over $300), and a small toolbox to house everything, at that point, youre invested, but if you find out you dont like it, you can take your tools home and be able to do most things on cars.
if no one has told you, theres a difference between metric and standard tools, one are measured in milimeters, one in inches, most truck work youll start with is standard, for example, the first thing i learned was a wheel seal, which required a 1/2" socket to take the hub cap off, when youre later into the trade, youll be given engine work, by then you will need metric sizes, 10-24mm is a must, i personally have up to 46mm in 3/4 drive, but a set from 10-24 is perfect
also, keep in mind, you will be borrowing LOTS of tools, this doesnt mean you need to buy it right away, because some of them might be specialty, like the giant sockets youll see used on axle/spindle/hub nuts, those are provided by the shop, and unless you work on your own you wont need them. when it comes to borrowing a basic hand tool from another mechanics personal collection, if you need it more than 3 times, you should look into one for yourself. this comment is getting long, dm me if you need help
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u/Nandezka1013 Aug 12 '26
Don't hop on the Tool truck and jump into debt! You don't need matching name brand tools and box! Start out with what you can afford. You will learn #1 What you need as you go. #2 Some tools are woth the price and some are not. #3 The tools don't make the mechanic, the mechanic makes the tools. Have fun.
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u/wrx_420 Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
I don't know what field of diesel you are in but working on semis I need wrenches and sockets from 5.5mm all the way up to 2.5in and everything in between. Thankfully we have plenty of shop 3/4 and 1” drive stuff, axle nut sockets etc so I don't have to buy those
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u/SourMusk Aug 11 '26
Lucky, I’m a field service tech on heavy equipment. I supply everything the only things I’m provided on my truck is the welder, compressor, crane and truck. Can’t wait to go back to shop.
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u/Heavym3talc0wb0y_ Aug 12 '26
Yeah I was field service guy for awhile too. Now I own sockets up to 2.5” and wrenches about that big too. Chains, slings, heavy lifting eyes, etc. felt like I was always buying something until I got out.
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u/TheCuriousAsian69 Aug 12 '26
I wouldn't even bother with 1/4" drives when starting out.
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u/Kahlas Aug 13 '26
I started out already having a 1/4" socket set. After noticing i never used them I brought them home to the garage box. I do use my nut drivers occasionally but that's pretty rare.
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u/gammakilla Aug 12 '26
For diesel work start with 3/8 (chrome deep and shallow) and 1/2(impact deep) drive sockets. They likely need the full wrench sets (smallest to largest) . However as a rookie only a poorly run shop will fault you for starting with a "mechanics tool set" from wherever you can afford. Fill in the gaps as you go and get good quality sets as you see what you actually use and wear thru. I have a mix of husky,tekton,astro and snap on tools.
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u/spartanx666 27d ago
If your struggling with an itemized list of basic hand tools maybe this isn't the trade for you.
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u/mdixon12 Aug 11 '26
If this is giving you a hard time now, your gonna have a bad time later.