[J-Ri]

One thing I would recomend is don't buy any chrome sockets. Impact sockets work fine with a ratchet, but chrome sockets don't always work so well with an impact. Impact sockets are a bit more, but if you buy them first, you won't need to buy a second set.

I started out with Snapon tools. Why? The college I went to pushed them on everyone, and everyone bought them. I now buy Matco, for two reasons. First, snapon dealers are widely known as... well, you'll figure that out soon enough. Second, our Matco tool guy will waranty anything. I broke the end off some needle nose pliers removing an internal snap-ring by squeezing and hitting the pliers with a hammer (to break it loose from the rust). When one side broke off, I put the other side in a vise and snaped it off. I told the guy exactly what I did and he warantied it anyway. Snappy on the other hand will do anything to get out of warantying something.

When you start working in a shop, you may find that other technicians don't mind sharing their tools. On the other hand, some won't let you touch their tools. At the shop I work at, everyone shares all their tools. It really makes a lot more sense than having four valve spring compressors in the shop when you use one maybe once a week (same goes for any specilty tool). That way we have four times as many tools! You'll still need the basics, but wait until you know your co-workers before you buy specialty tools.