Auto mechanics - need your advice.

Jinster81

Banned
Hi all. I know some of you guys are auto. tech or in other trades. And I know that most auto.techs are at least dabbling in at least 1 other trade. I am at a point that I need to learn another trade. What would be a good second trade for an auto mechanic? Those in the trades please let me know..

Thanks all for your inputs.. they are golden to me..
 
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Hi all. I know some of you guys are auto. tech or in other trades. And I know that most auto.techs are at least dabbling in at least 1 other trade. I am at a point that I need to learn another trade. What would be a good second trade for an auto mechanic? Those in the trades please let me know..

Thanks all for your inputs.. they are golden to me..

Plumbing
 
Im a tech, dont do it.

your only gonna make a max of about 80k per year
you have to stress your self to work hard and fast without making a mistake or you fix it for free.
when theres no work you make no money.
I have about 35k in tools (you have to buy)
will take you 3-5 years of aprentiship.
kills your body over time
try a nice office job
 
if you are an autotech, I would expect welding could be a good secondary option.

In the long run both are likely to be hard on your body, mosty trades are.

use your auto knowledge and work on an engineering degree, lots of transferable knowledge
 
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Hi all. I know some of you guys are auto. tech or in other trades. And I know that most auto.techs are at least dabbling in at least 1 other trade. I am at a point that I need to learn another trade. What would be a good second trade for an auto mechanic? Those in the trades please let me know..

Thanks all for your inputs.. they are golden to me..

focus on opening your own shop instead of learning another trade. you will only get so far in life working for others, do what everyone else does and live off the hard work of others
 
Im a tech, dont do it.

your only gonna make a max of about 80k per year
you have to stress your self to work hard and fast without making a mistake or you fix it for free.
when theres no work you make no money.
I have about 35k in tools (you have to buy)
will take you 3-5 years of aprentiship.
kills your body over time
try a nice office job

35k in tools??? Dude stay away from the snap on/mac truck.
80k? go to a different dealer, a good tech at a busy dealer can make upwards of 120k a year.
The rest is pretty much bang on.
 
Considering the complexity of cars today a knowledgable auto tech has a good grip on most trades.
 
umm, most people don't have the aptitude for both academic and trade skills. I rarely meet academics who can fix stuff or tradespeople who can sit through lectures.

lol +100
 
35k in tools??? Dude stay away from the snap on/mac truck.
80k? go to a different dealer, a good tech at a busy dealer can make upwards of 120k a year.
The rest is pretty much bang on.

Most of the shops i have worked at 35k for tools would be on the lower end.
 
Hydraulic Technician. Works well with your auto skills and opens a bunch of doors. Had a mechanic friend in Aus branch of into hydraulics and end up at a gold mine earning 200k+.
 
Most of the shops i have worked at 35k for tools would be on the lower end.

I have about 15-20k in tools ive accumulated over the years and that's way more tools then I need.
I guess if your spending 8k on a snap on box and $400 for a set of 6 of there sockets it will accumulate to that amount.
But I don't think we have 1 guy in the shop with I've 20k of tools.
No sure about trucks and coach techs but most of the special service tools are supplied by the dealer you work at.
35k in tools is an exaggeration IMO.
 
Some things are obvious. You're either a doer or a thinker, a Wozniak or a Jobs. Can't be both. Unless you are a Da Vinci and those don't come around too often.

Not to mention that its probably more efficient to just do what you are good at and pay people for everything else rather than trying to learn what other people have been doing for years.
 
I have about 15-20k in tools ive accumulated over the years and that's way more tools then I need.
I guess if your spending 8k on a snap on box and $400 for a set of 6 of there sockets it will accumulate to that amount.
But I don't think we have 1 guy in the shop with I've 20k of tools.
No sure about trucks and coach techs but most of the special service tools are supplied by the dealer you work at.
35k in tools is an exaggeration IMO.


My tool box was ~$10k and the locker was ~$2.5k but I did get the cover ($600) and a key chain out for free :rolleyes:
It also weighs more then 2500lbs loaded and I can roll it around with 1 hand. I've spent more then $3k on wrenches alone. Heck my Mac extra long combination wrenchs were more then 2k alone, on sale.

A lot of the special tools are supplied by the shop, but you spend more time looking for them, and then fixing them then it's worth. I hate broken shop tools. My general rule is if i have to borrow it twice in a week i'll buy it. Well when its on sale. I've spent a bit more then the average truck guy, but not that much more and I have 60-70k including box. I would say the average truck guy is sitting around 50k. My last year as an apprentice I bought the box and a bunch of other stuff but I got a ton back at tax time. That was before the $500 annual limit for deduction. Actually it was the last year of the unlimited deduction for apprentice's


Of course we also work straight hourly with a performance bonus. Flat rate is for chumps.
 
Of course we also work straight hourly with a performance bonus. Flat rate is for chumps.
I make a pretty decent living on the flat rate system, sounds like spending 70+ on tools is for chumps.
 
I make a pretty decent living on the flat rate system, sounds like spending 70+ on tools is for chumps.


This system is much better. You get your normal hourly rate for all hours worked. If you bill 80% of your worked hours you get $2/h bonus for all hours worked. 85% is $3 90% is 4 and 95%+ is $5/h for all hours worked. I liked getting a bonus for doing what your suposed to be doing anyways.

I don't mind spending 70k in tools, at least I didn't drink it like a lot of coworkers
 
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