if a audio installer was to have the perfect tool box what tools would it include

 

Assorted sizes of socket wrenchs and screwdrivers, wire stripper and crimper, multimeter, and one of those paneling clip removers. Those would be the basics I can think of from the top of my head.

 

No such thing, it's a "living tool box". New cars come out and you need new tools, or a car comes in, let's say an old Jaguar that needs an antenna, and you realize you need a special socket to remove the antenna. I did installs for over 5 years, and always had cars come in and found I needed to buy more tools.

 

some Tylenol

I have a pretty good tool box. 112 piece ratchet set with 3 sizes of ratchets and a set of deep sockets for each size, a fluke 16 multimeter, assorted sizes of screwdrivers, assorted bits and bit driver along with my cordless drill. a box with almost every type of electrical connector you will need. a near complete channellock line of tools including large channel locks, wire cutters, wire strippers, some large wire cutters (for the 4awg and up) adjustable wrenches, 16 regular wrenches from 1/4" to 1", a soldering gun, soldering iron, heat gun, needlenose pliers, a mertic and standard set of allen keys. i have more but thats all i can think of off the top of my head

 

there's too much to list here. i started off with a small tool box. i've had to go to a roll away and chest to keep it all. it also depends on what area your gonna be doing. not everyone who's an installer doesn everything. we had on guy in my old shop that was AWESOME at alarms/remote starts/keyless entrys. he could bang out a new car in under an hour. radios and such he didnt like doing.

lets see.
assorted sockets 3/8 & 1/4 and assorted wrenchs
panel poppers
lineman pliers, needle nose, duck nose, plyers, large wire cutters(i use the sears ones with the throw away blades)
large soldering iron, portable soldering iron.
wire strippers.(i have 2 kinds, one that does 1 wire at a time and 1 that does 4 wires at a time)
allen keys
cordless drill with screw driver bits, drill bits, uni bit, extensions
a good selection of nut drivers
a small SHARP knife
a skewdriver(right angle screwdriver)
a ratcheting driver(i prefer t-handle snap-on. more torque)
assorted hand screw drivers
multi meter and probe of some type

now the more stuff you do, the more tools you'll need. like said before you never know. things like saws, sanders, spray guns, pry bars, special removal tools. it never stops adding up.



[Modified by jdmotorsports, 7:28 PM 2/1/2003]

 

EBP and JDM hit it on the head...your tool box is NEVER complete.
There is always a new tool or car that will require or make you job easier.
I guess the really is no right answer....if you are just starting out and want to
have as complete a box as you can for now use a combo of the list given. And
make as good choices as possible ( ie...a 7mm nutdriver verses a 1/4 7mm socket)..you will duplicate many tools. I'll add one to the list....Knowledge.

 

the only perfect tool box would have every tool ever made by every manufacturer in every size....because there is always something you won't have when you need it

 

i have spent over $30,000 in tools including my box and have been installing for a little over 5 years now and i still seem to find that i dont have everything i need. my theroy is if you use it once it paid for it's self. if i needed a tool to do a job i will buy it the next time the snap-on man comes in, that way i wont not have it again. but as audioroach said, knowledge is the best and most important tool.

 

There are other tools that just seem to find their way into your box like, CD's with test tones for setting up crossover points, mini amplified speaker for setting gains, home made noise sniffer for finding system noise, multimeter, polarity checker.Most of these are homemade, but can save you a headache and time.

 

My theory is with 30 grand in tools you should be able to do whatever the hell you need to. I have about 9 grand in tools and there isnt anything that I run up against that I cant do. Sounds like youve spent too much time buying from Crap-On.

 

i do alot of automotive stuff also. my box alone was $7,500 including the stainless steel top. i also have alot of air and specialty tools since my shop doesnt supply us with any tools other than basic power tools like routers and such. it doesnt help that i am a tool junkie. the way i look at it is that i make my living using my tools and having the right tool for the job to make it easier and faster makes me more money. at my shop the snap-on guy stops by twice a week, and the matco guy stops by like every other week.

 

und improvisation

 

like using a butter knife as a sloted screwdriver? i have been guilty of doing this before at home on something since my tools are at work.