Getting Tooled up.

[DaveDorson]

Figured it's worth chucking together a bit of a useful thread about what tools folks might want/need when doing their own work.  I may be a waste of my time, it may be useful to a few folks.

I'll break down into four main categories, Hand Tools, Cordless Power, Air (for those of us fortunate enough to have an air supply), and lifting and jacking.

For the most of us, I'm sure we'll have a few of these already from years of bothering old cars and being all silly and keeping them on the road when it seems like a bad idea.  I won't go into where you can buy stuff, but I will say unless you're buying battery impact tools (in which case I'm an advocate of buying the best you can afford straight away), my advise is usually to buy used where you can, cheap where you can't, and then replace with better if and when you break stuff.

 

Hand Tools:

You'll want some ratchets and sockets, as well as a suitable universal joints, extention bars, and if you're feeing mega posh adaptors for allen, torx, double square etc fittings.  I work in metric stuff, if you're working on older stuff, then consider buying imperial/AF where you need it.

My personal kit consists of the following; other brands are available.

• 1/2" Laser 4' breaker bar
• Bahco S240 Socket Set 24 Piece 1/2 Square Drive
• Bahco SL25 Socket Set 25 Piece 1/4 Inch Drive
• Bahco S330 Socket Set 34 Piece 1/4 and 3/8 Square Drive
• Bahco 808050S18 Stubby Ratchet Screwdriver Set
• Halfords Advanced Allen Sockets for 3/8" drive
• Halfords Advanced Torx Sockets for 1/2" drive
• Laser Tools Torx Sockets for 3/8" drive
• Neilsen TX Star Sockets for 3/8" drive
• Silverline 6mm to 32mm Combination Chrome Vanadium Spanner set in roll
• Bergen Offset Ring Spanners 10mm - 19mm
• US PRO 7pc Brake Flare Nut Spanners Wrench set 8-24mm B2044
• Bahco combination Ratchet Ring Spanners
• Silverline T handle allen key set, 4mm to 10mm with .5mm increments 
• Nylon Mallet
• 4lb lump hammer
• Various screwdrivers
• Gorilla Pry bar set
• Draper 3 piece grip pliers (Mole grips), large, medium, and small needle nose.
• Cheap side cutters
• Some grotty sets of pliers
• A cheap Jnr Hacksaw and various blades
• Various blunt chisels and punches used to pry and drift stuff.
• Some cheap hand files, I think they're Bergen.

There's some cross over there, but I do like to keep my tools in their impact cases to organise and transport and store them. I also prefer 6 point sockets over 12 point but I tend to have a few of each as odds and organise them on rails.  Spanner sets I tend to carry in tool rolls to keep them organised.  

I'm not covering storage, I do have a tool cabinet, and a bahco cantilever toolbox I carry stuff in when carrying stuff in the car, obviously not all the tools get used or carried all the time.

 

What you'll probably get away with:

• Square drive ratchets in 1/2", 1/4", 3/8", a rail of sockets suitable for each
  • 1/2" breaker bar
  • 1/2" sizes 13mm in to 32mm (deep as well as standard)
  • 1/4" sizes 4mm to 13mm (deep as well as standard)
  • 3/8" sizes 8mm to 19mm  (deep as well as standard)
  • Some Allen bit sockets for 1/2" and probably 3/8" in sizes 
  • Some torx bits
  • A good set of screwdrivers
  • A hacksaw, some blades
  • Some cheap chisels
  • Pliers and Wire Cutters, buy some nice ones, thank me later.
  • Pry bars, cheap ones from US Pro will be fine
  • Set of combination spanners, whatever you can afford
  • A set of ratchet spanners, not essential but a time saver.
  • Some good quality flare nut spanners
  • Nylon hammer
  • Lump hammer

That'll get you out of most trouble, and with a good quality tool box you will probably get that all in.

[DaveDorson]

Lifting and Jacking:

This one is easy really.  You need some good axle stands, you need a hydraulic floor jack, and you need some chocks.  

My personal kit consists of the following; other brands are available.

• Halfords 2 tonne Trolley Jack (carry this in my cars)
• 3 tonne low entry draper floor jack (workshop)
• 3 tonne low entry alloy floor jack (x2) (workshop)
• 3 tonne low entry blue point floor jack (workshop)
• Sealey 2 Tonne folding Engine Crane (used for race events)
• Sealey 3 tonne folding Engine Crane (Workshop use)
• Various blocks of wood
• A rubber "hockey Puck" to save bodywork
• 2 Tonne Halfords Axle Stands
• Halfords wheel chocks

I'm in the very fortunate situation that I have a workshop, with a ramp.  Really you don't need all the stuff I have..

What you'll probably get away with:

• Trolley Jack
• Some scraps of wood to protect your bodywork
• Axle Stands, get some good ones though please!
• Wheel chocks, just use them.

 

[DaveDorson]

The next ones are not by any means essential, but they are going to make your life easier.

My workshop uses air a lot, we do tyres, we do paint, and as such we use the supply to run some tools as well, but in all honesty, you'll find that a lot of what you'd use air for, you can probably do with the right battery platform now, so it's growing increasingly redundant.

Obviously, if you're using air or battery impact stuff, then you'll always be using impact compatible sockets and bits with them, and absolutely would never just use your chrome vanadium sockets on your impact tools...

 

Air Tools:

The chances are, if you've got use of compressed air, you'll be using some of the tools here already, but if you're wondering if you need compressed air, you probably don't unless you're operating from a home workshop and plan to do stuff like body and paint, in which case you'll want a HUGE compressor, bigger than you expect you need, as well as extraction, etc etc.

At the very least, if you're going to use air, you'll need a mains power supply, and you'll want a compressor.  You'll probably think you can get away with a small one, and you'll probably find after a few months, you want a bigger one.  I won't cover compressors, sorry.   

My own gear is :

• Big Fuck off Compressor.. I need a bigger one Mines a 200 ltre ABAC one, single phase, belt drive.
• Hoffman Tyre Machine
• Wheel balancer (not strictly an air tool, but I balance and fit my own tyres)
• Retractable air line with quick release fittings
• Tyre inflator
• "blaster" (just a way to clean using compressed air)
• Underseal gun
• Various gravity fed and conventional paint guns
• mini grinder
• DA Sander
• finger sander
• Sand blast cabinet
• portable sand blaster
• air chisel/hammer and various attachments
• Bertha.. a massive air impact gun that I use when things really piss me off.
• Air ratchet, for smaller stuff, fairly useful when access is tight to swing a spanner or ratchet

What you'll probably get away with:

• Saving your money and buying battery stuff, and letting someone else handle the misery of body repairs 
• If you must... a compressor
• Tyre inflator
• Honestly.. just use battery stuff for the rest.

Battery and Impact Tools:

Decide what you need, and don't cheap out.  Buy the big stuff first, and you'll be surprised how much or how little you actually need. Your main investment will be the batteries, and if you're already tied to a battery platform, either look at adaptors, or look at buying that brand of tools.. unless it's Makita and you want a grinder.. in which case just forget it, Makita cordless grinders are shit.

My own gear is:

• DeWalt 4Ah Batteries and charger x2
• DeWalt 2Ah Batteries and charger x2
• DeWalt Cordless Grinder 115mm
• DeWalt DCF899 Impact Gun
• DeWalt DCD778 Drill
• DeWalt DCF787 Impact Driver
• Dewalt Impact Bits pack
• Some cheap Impact Drive 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" adaptors
• Deep Impact Sockets in 1/2" various.
• Shallow Impact Sockets in 1/2" various
• Good quality HSS drill bits
• Silverline Long and Short Reach Torx adaptors

What you'll probably get away with:

• A 1/2" impact gun and a 4Ah battery
• A grinder
• An impact driver
• A drill
• Some adaptors
• some drill bits
• various cheap impact sockets

As I've said before, if you're starting from scratch and don't have a battery platform, then you won't regret DeWalt or Milwaukee, but don't discount the Ryobi stuff either if you want a more budget friendly option.

I'm currently eying up some Milwaukee fuel 12v stuff for smaller work in tighter spaces, but what I have gets me by fine, so it's a want more than a need.

[DaveDorson]

If anyone finds this useful just let me know :), I'll add to it with some specialist stuff like Spring Compressors, pullers, caliper wind back tools, pressure brake bleeders, that sort of stuff.

Can also expand to include details of some of the more heavy workshop life savers we've bought, such as the bottom arm tool we bought recently that stopped a shit load of swearing when doing the front wheelbearing on the Mondeo and the work on my dads X Type.

[DaveDorson]

Buying tips..   Probably worth including as a foot note.

Your local parts supplier might also have an arrangement with someone like Laser, Draper, or one of the other folks who ship tools over from China and claim to be better than the stuff that's just shipped in from China.

Truth is, for most of us mere mortals that stuff is fine.  You might break stuff, you might not, and if you do break stuff, buy a new one, a better one if you must, if you're reading this, you can also use eBay or amazon though, and you may find the exact same tools under brands such as Nielsen, US Tool/US pro or Bergen, there are cheaper still tools available, but I let the wife buy those from places like Wilko for doing stuff about the house and garden.

Used is a great place to buy tools.  Not the boxes of over priced shite on Facebook market place that someone's pilfered off a driveway when it was left out for the scrap transits, but car boots and autojumbles do occasionally unearth the odd bargain.  A brand new set of £17.00 at trade axle stands for a tenner is £7.00 more beer money than I would have had otherwise.

There's a tool guy inside at Newark Normous Autojumble in the main hall bit who isn't expensive, but also can't add up.  Get him when he's busy and you'll be surprised what you can save vs online prices too. If you do go tool shopping you may want to take a cart of some type to carry stuff about with too.  Newark often unearths some of the heavier tools like pullers, vices and clamps that you won't want to be carting around while queuing for some shit tea and an over priced burger.

Don't discount tools because they look dirty and rusty.  with stuff like sockets and spanners, check for signs of wear on the contact areas, screw drivers are often chipped and damaged so inspect those too.  I've had some lovely britool, snapon and old draper stuff from autojumbles, as well as metal working hammers and dollies that just needed a bit of a clean up before they were serviceable items again. 

 

 

[St.Jude]

Would like to add some things here:

• When using the impact wrench, 6 point impact sockets are needed, as well as an impact wobble bar.
• Actually, just fill your kit with 6 point sockets in general. Use 12 point sockets only if you're absolutely desperate.
• Torque wrenches - don't buy cheap like I did. Minimum spend £90. 3/8" and 1/2". 
• View screwdrivers as consumable items
• Oil filter removal band thing, like this: https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/automotive-tools/halfords-advanced-professional-oil-filter-removal-band-926543.html  - This is, hands down, the absolute best tool I've ever bought out of all the tools I've bought. 100% of the time it's never once let me down.
• Magnetised telescopic tool things, for the inevitable fishing of dropped bolts and nuts in the engine

[Split_Pin]

I'm very much in the 'What you'll get away with' category and buy stuff when I need it.

Ryobi stuff is decent, I have the drill/screwdriver item. I meant to buy the impact driver but I haven't needed it yet.

Welding equipment was my steepest learning curve and I'm still not there yet. I've only needed to use it a few times so far and will always let someone who knows what they are doing carry out bigger jobs/where aesthetics are important. But it's handy for stupid wee holes that crop up or to temporarily sort a blowing exhaust and so on.

[Bren]

I bought a 100l compressor to run air tools. But having airlines along the ground is a PITA. I have a cordless ryobi impact gun which is preferable to the air powered snap on item I have. I would like a cordless ratchet though.

The compressor is great for blasting dirt away from things - put to good use yesterday when I did the vectra injector.

Tools are getting better - I am not sure snap on etc will be able to justify their high prices forever.

[DaveDorson]

1 hour ago, St.Jude said:

Would like to add some things here:

• When using the impact wrench, 6 point impact sockets are needed, as well as an impact wobble bar.
• Actually, just fill your kit with 6 point sockets in general. Use 12 point sockets only if you're absolutely desperate.
• Torque wrenches - don't buy cheap like I did. Minimum spend £90. 3/8" and 1/2". 
• View screwdrivers as consumable items
• Oil filter removal band thing, like this: https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/automotive-tools/halfords-advanced-professional-oil-filter-removal-band-926543.html  - This is, hands down, the absolute best tool I've ever bought out of all the tools I've bought. 100% of the time it's never once let me down.
• Magnetised telescopic tool things, for the inevitable fishing of dropped bolts and nuts in the engine

How I forgot to include torque wrenches is beyond me!

[St.Jude]

1 minute ago, DaveDorson said:

How I forgot to include torque wrenches is beyond me!

I did think that, but i thought "No, this man's Yoda. He can torque a bolt to 1nm just by touch alone"

[DaveDorson]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm very much in the 'What you'll get away with' category and buy stuff when I need it.

Ryobi stuff is decent, I have the drill/screwdriver item. I meant to buy the impact driver but I haven't needed it yet.

Welding equipment was my steepest learning curve and I'm still not there yet. I've only needed to use it a few times so far and will always let someone who knows what they are doing carry out bigger jobs/where aesthetics are important. But it's handy for stupid wee holes that crop up or to temporarily sort a blowing exhaust and so on.

Heat and Welding is a category within itself really.  I've got a couple of Mig's that I use and a hobby weld bottle as well as a BOC contract on a big bottle as we do a lot of welding work.

There should also really be a bodywork category for anyone who really is a masochist and wants to ruin their life by getting into doing panel beating and fitting, rust repairs and reprays.

[DaveDorson]

2 minutes ago, St.Jude said:

I did think that, but i thought "No, this man's Yoda. He can torque a bolt to 1nm just by touch alone"

I'd not go that far, I just work on my own stuff of an evening and weekend, and seem to hate myself by restoring old VW's, buying rusty Honda's, and running around in a MK3 Mondeo that most people dismiss as a boy racered up old banger estate car. 

[DaveDorson]

1 hour ago, Bren said:

I bought a 100l compressor to run air tools. But having airlines along the ground is a PITA. I have a cordless ryobi impact gun which is preferable to the air powered snap on item I have. I would like a cordless ratchet though.

The compressor is great for blasting dirt away from things - put to good use yesterday when I did the vectra injector.

Tools are getting better - I am not sure snap on etc will be able to justify their high prices forever.

The retractable lines make life a lot easier, and being able to blast a load of crud out the way is a proper god send yeah.

I only really use the "Bertha" when my DeWalt won't shift something stubborn, and that doesn't tend to happen a lot these days.

[DaveDorson]

If you're in the fortunate position and have a workshop space, a decent sized garage or similar, then something that can't really be underestimated is the need for a good clean workbench, and  big vice bolted to it properly.

You can use and mis-use a vice for a lot more than just clamping stuff in while you blast it with the MAPP gas blow torch and then hang off it with a breaker bar and scaffold pole to get that rusted to shit fitting out.  They can be used as a poor mans press with a variety of sockets and drifts, very handy for fitting wishbone bushes and the like, as well as using them as a make shift anvil for beating stuff into shape over, they really are handy and you'll wonder how you ever got by without them once you've got yourself one.

Buy and old rusty one that's been sat in a garage un-loved and then advertised on FB market place, taken to an auto jumble, or hauled along to a car boot by someone who doesn't want to take it home; then give yourself a day or so to take it apart, clean it, repair it and paint it, and it'll do you for life.. alternatively, spend loads more on a far more inferior item from the likes of Machine Mart.

If you do have the room for it, it's also worth buying a good drill press, it will make your life easier if you ever need to take something apart and drill something out, they come up cheap on marketplace all the time.

Make yourself a pin board of some sort to hang and organise your spanners pliers etc, or buy magnetic wall mounts for them, it will make your life easier if you don't have, or can't afford a good tool cabinet with room to store and organise all your kit.

[sierraman]

I think Snap On will keep going, they’re difficult tools to justify if you are DIYing it but it’s the warranty you get that probably counts for most trade users. That said most 10mm spanner’s get left somewhere daft never to be seen again so that’s no good. 

I got into welding a while back, I’m quite of the opinion you need a good one if you are seriously going to be welding cars up. Mines a gasless but it’s ‘good enough’ to stick two bits of thick metal together to make a gate or whatever. I’ve tried it on thin metal and it’s hopeless but then again I might need a sill welding once in a blue moon so it’s not the end of the world. 

The compressor I’d say is an essential for some jobs, rustproofing, using air chisel etc. 

[DaveDorson]

4 hours ago, sierraman said:

I think Snap On will keep going, they’re difficult tools to justify if you are DIYing it but it’s the warranty you get that probably counts for most trade users. That said most 10mm spanner’s get left somewhere daft never to be seen again so that’s no good. 

I got into welding a while back, I’m quite of the opinion you need a good one if you are seriously going to be welding cars up. Mines a gasless but it’s ‘good enough’ to stick two bits of thick metal together to make a gate or whatever. I’ve tried it on thin metal and it’s hopeless but then again I might need a sill welding once in a blue moon so it’s not the end of the world. 

The compressor I’d say is an essential for some jobs, rustproofing, using air chisel etc. 

If they honour the warranty, a lot of the franchise owners with their vans don't, or will try really hard to find a way out of it.

I've not broken any of my Bahco stuff yet, but it's only a few years old..it's part of the SNL group (SnapOff's parent company) though and comes with a warranty, just not a chap on a van who will either fix or replace stuff if they deem you've not been misusing or abusing the tools.

Halfords can be hit and miss with the warranty on their pro stuff,  but most of the time they just swap stuff out for me, I guess it depends on the staff in your local store.

As I said initially, it makes sense to just buy cheap, break stuff and replace with better as you go, you'll find a lot of the time you didn't need that lovely snap on stuff, and the draper, US-Pro, Nielsen, or Silverline stuff is just fine.

[DaveDorson]

It's worth noting, I'm not a mechanic or fitter by trade either, so my view on the value of tools is likely less than others.