Thanks for the responses guys! this has been alot of help, and I'm sure others that search the same question will be benefited by this as well.
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Thanks for the responses guys! this has been alot of help, and I'm sure others that search the same question will be benefited by this as well.
when I started school I had to get a bunch of tools before the school would let me begin. I went to home depot with a tool list from school and got everything needed, with exception of manifold and dmm from johnstone. then I discovered this site and have been lurking for a while, reading a lot about tools. I still have my original tool bag, keep it in my truck, but im about 90% done with a second set of tools. my second bag is all the cool tools ive discovered from reading tool threads here. I get comments daily about the tools classmates and even teachers don't know about, like hvac strap, valvecoretool.com tool, nylog, and even my veto.
I started out back in May. Best tools to get are a 6in1 or set of screw drivers. nut drivers, both short and long, preferably magnetic. since we're getting into AC season, I'd recommend a leak detector. my company bought the TIF, and I'm thinking about adding an infrared to my arsenal as well. Guages are a must, one that does both 22 and 410. A decent meter. I had a craftsman pro, because thats what my budget alotted me, and when i bought it i was working at sears so i got a discount. i have some good wire strippers, side cutters, a paint brush for cleaning out dust and webs from condensers.
and soon enough i'll be getting torches, a vacuum pump, recovery machine, digital manifold, combustion analyzer. the joys of seeing all my cash disappear into my tools
Northstarair, you said gauges that will do r22 & r410but I was taught never to use the same set of gauges with different refrigerant because you can contaminate the system. Is there a process to clean out the old freon or was I taught wrong? Just asking for my own knowledge.... I have only been in the field about a year and a half now and am just trying to learn everything I can.
This is a heap of mud.
It is an old tale that has resulted from some of the massive amount of MISinformation that is out there.
I have 2 manifolds in the truck and both of them have seen mineral, alkylbenzene and POE oil, at least one has also seen PVE and PAG oil.
The list of refrigerants is quite long. R-12, 134a, 22, 401a, 401b, 402a, 404a, 407a, 407c, 410a, 502, and 507 are just the ones that I can remember.
Normal practices of purging gauges on connection will prevent contamination.
I've always been told if you purge the lines, you're good to go, and thats how I. Hook em up, purge em. But yes, it would be ideal to have a different set for each. Everyone in my company does that with analog, but they use 1 set of digitals for everything
yellow jacket gauges
milwaukee hammer drill and impact 18v
snapon #3 and #2 screw drivers
Klien 11in1 with schrader bit
klien multi stubby
klien crimpers
klien strippers
big and small service valve wrench
txv service wrench
4" 8" 10" klien extra wide jaw adjustables
3/8 drive american sockets craftsman
1/4 drive snapon socket set american
3/8 ratchet and extensions craftsman
snapon 1/4 ratchet and extensions
snapon channel locks
klien linesman
plano box with misc wire nuts and ****
fluke 902
schrader tool with tube to store extra cores
snapon needle nose
greenlee dykes
channel locks
mirror
flashlight
stryker
turbo torch 8,11,14,32 tips (32 tip was a pretty penny..thanks for the tool account)
tape measure
snapon #1 and the size smaller than #1 screwdrivers
craftsman ratchet wrenches american
yellowjacket UV leak detector
lenox imp cutter up to 5/8 and imp cutter up to 1 1/8
ridgid 1 5/8 cutter
file
ridgid adjustable orange handle hex wrench 8" i think
long hollow shaft magnetic klien nut drivers 5/16 1/4
torpedo level
i need a piping bag.
dont forget the most important tool...the tool bag! veto propac LC
i still end of needing something more during the week. but i just got my license 4 months ago in ct with my D2 but start with a tool bag, screw drivers, make sure you get extra wide adjustables, strippers, channel locks, 11in1 is awesome.
One thing you may consider is to look at a few technical school sites and see if they have a required tool list and see what is on it. After looking at a few of those lists go out and look to see which brands YOU like best since tools are kind of a personal thing. Usually those lists will at least give you a good start.
This is a list that my company provides to everyone:
Vacuum cleaner
Pump-up sprayer/coil gun
manometer
inspection mirror
3/8 drill
tin snips
jumpers
fuse puller
furnace brush
hacksaw
scrath awl
grease gun
screw extractor/easy out
allen wrenchs
saws all
adjustable wrench (6" and 10")
pipe wrench (8" and 12")
channel locks
nut drivers
combo wrenches
socket wrenches
crimper
vise grips
lineman pliers
needle nose pliers
tape measure
extension cord (50ft)
drop light
flashlight/lantern
hammer (sheet metal or claw)
screw drivers ( 4"/6" flathead and #1/#3 phillips)
manifold/gauges
pulley puller
refrigeration wrench
and if you do oil:
smoke gun
draft gauge
oil pressure gauge
now, obviously, this is an incomplete list and can be added to, but as far as hand tools, i think it covers most every base
northstarair, thank you for posting that list, there are a few things that I would not thought of.
X2 for going to Johnstone at the beginning of the month.
So I was in Sears the other day and I discovered that all of the stuff that used to be made in the US is now made in China or Taiwan. Looks like I am shopping for a new tool brand, and I'll be swapping out my Craftsman stuff for something else. I'm not going to have one of my US Craftsman tools break on me, and get handed a Chinee replacement when I take it back to Sears.