students holding helmets

Auto Collision Repair Tool List

Tools for the auto collision repair/refinish program are provided by the college for students. To keep costs down, auto instructors and the program's advisory committee made the decision to provide this benefit for Southwestern students; however, if students want to bring their own tools, that is fine as well.

Upon graduation, your instructors, as well as the advisory committee members, do stress the importance of the purchase of tools for everyone seeking employment in the field. You cannot be hired without them. Matco tools, Mac tools, Craftsman and Snap-On tools are offered as sets at greatly reduced prices while you are a student at SWCC.

Your instructors and the advisory committee have compiled the following list with costs in mind, but also what they consider as a minimum requirement for an entry-level technician. Please engrave your tools to prevent them from getting lost or stolen.

Socket sets

  • ¼” drive socket set – standard - ¼” to ½”
  • ¼” drive socket set – metric – 5mm to 13mm
  • 3/8” drive socket set – standard – 3/8” to 7/8”
  • 3/8” drive socket set – metric – 8mm to 19mm
  • ½ drive socket set – standard – ½” to 1”
  • ½ drive socket set – metric – 10mm to 21mm
  • Torx drive socket set – 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 & 55
  • ¼ ratchet and extensions – 3”,6”,12”
  • 3/8 ratchet and extensions – 3”, 6”, 12”
  • ½ ratchet and extensions – 3", 6”, 12”

 

Body Tools

  • Door trim panel tool
  • GM window crank clip remover
  • Vixen/body metal file
  • Heel or toe dolly
  • Rubber block sander
  • Board File 2 ¾” x 17 ½”
  • *Wet sand bucket – 2 to 5 gal
  • *Large sponge
  • *Mudboard
  • *Plastic spreaders
  • *Putty squeegee 3M#05518
  • *Hand sanding pad 3M#05530
  • *6” DA Sander pad 3M#5576

Wrench sets

  • Standard combination set 5/16” to 1”
  • Metric combination set 6mm to 19mm
  • Crescent wrench 10” or 12”
  • Allen wrench set – standard - 1/16” to 3/8”
  • Allen wrench set – metric – 1.5mm to 8mm
  

Air Tools

  • Palm design 6” DA air sander
  • 3” air angle die grinder
  • 3/8” air drill
  • Paint gun (please wait until second semester to realize the gun you want and to obtain school discounts)
 Pliers
  • Standard pliers
  • Channel lock
  • Needle nose
  • Side cutter
  • Vise grip locking plier
  • Tin snips

Miscellaneous Tools

  • Air blower
  • Metric tape measure
  • Hacksaw
  • Flashlight
  • Drill bit set 1/8”to 3/8”
  • Tool box large enough to hold tools and lock

Screwdrivers

  • Straight screwdrivers - #1, #2, #3
  • Phillips screwdrivers - #1, #2, #3
  • Torx screwdrivers – optional, but recommended
  • Offset screwdrivers – optional, but recommended
  • Punches, chisels, and scrapers
  • ½” cold chisel
  • 5/32” & 3/16” punch
  • Center punch
  • Pick or awl
  • 1½” putty knife
  • Razor blade scraper
  • Hand wire brush

Hammers

  • Body pick hammer
  • Ball peen hammer
  • Rubber mallet
  • Maul hammer – recommended, but not required

 

 

 

 

Safety Tools

  • *Safety glasses
  • Headphones
  • *Painters suit
  • *Painters head sock
  • Leather welding gloves
  • Clear face shield
  • *3M cartridge type paint mask (has to be 3M to be OSHA fit tested and able to hook up to our air supplied respirator system, no others accepted)
  • #07177 Small, #07178 Medium,
  • #07193 Large - P95 Series (Don’t open package prior to class)
  • *3M Pink HEPA filters to attach to 3M Paint mask for dust filtering #07184 P100 filter