Essential Garage tools?

[HoTWire]

We've had a thread or two like this before, but I'm keen to get a little guide for how to get started in the world of retro cars up and running, so I'm writing up the previous thread we had on starter retros to make it all nice. Next step is kitting out your garage.

What are your garage essentials, pretend we're starting with an empty garage and putting our tools together from scratch.

Amazon, Ebay, Halfords(?), tooled up, etc. links always helpful.


I'll start with an essential as far as I'm concerned, somewhere organised to put your tools :



www.tooled-up.com/product/sealey-6-drawer-red-grey-tool-chest/179184/

It doesn't have to be a huge if you don't have a lot of tools, but having something more organised than a tool box has been hugely useful. Particularly if you keep it fairly organised, don't put your screw drivers in the spanner draw just because it is open when you've finished doing your work!

[Wilk]

Oxy/propane set up. Always good to have heat on stubborn fasteners

Decent jack relevant to size/height of vehicle along with ample supply of axle stands
SGS engineering
www.sgs-engineering.com/

[highvoltage]

Good quality 3/8 drive hex socket set and ratchet.
The old Halfords pro stuff was really good,the newer Advanced less so..but still adequate.
Alternatively Signet,Bahco and Teng all make good gear for much less money than Snap On or Mac etc.

A little 1/4 drive set is very handy too,this Bahco one is very good for the money.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bahco-BAHSL25-Socket-Set-25-Piece-Metric-1-4in-Drive-Ratchet-Socket-Set-/221299453840?hash=item338679af90:g:Jm4AAOSwdrRXGNMx

Good ratchet screwdriver,i bought a used Snap On personally and it probably sees more action than any other tool in the box.

Spanners..good ones make life a lot easier because they fit and don't slip.
Roebuck are about the best budget ones i have seen.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/roebuck-gearless-combination-spanner-set-of-7pcr-/112170427188?hash=item1a1de0e334:g:6s0AAOSw65FXtg4E
Alternatively get round the autojumbles and car boot sales and buy used Snap On,older Britool,Mac etc.

Avoid buying really cheap stuff,at best you will buy it twice.. at worst it will injure you !

[avengertec]

A selection of hammers

[strikey]

before you worry about any tools... a sturdy bench & vice , decent lighting.....and a kettle!!

[accord83]

Starting out? A bulb holder and wires for checking circuit continuity, also a 12v buzzer and wire so a circuit can be tested if the switch is out of sight from what is being tested (unless you are deaf). A multimeter will come later. Some drifts in steel and alloy, in varying thickness and length, all this stuff is cheap but will be invaluable, if only used once. A decent engineers ball pein hammer, not some ex chippys nail ripper.

[andyborris]

Not sure what they're called, the screwdriver that has a flexible shaft and a small socket on the end for hose clips, saves your knuckles.
link

And talking of knuckles, always hold a spanner with a unclenched hand, if it slips (and it will!), it's your palm that hits something, not your knuckles...which hurts, a lot!

[VW]

Adjustables
Mole grips
Pliers
Crimping tool and wiring connectors
Stanley knife

[Woofwoof]

Oct 25, 2016 16:13:43 GMT HoTWire said:

We've had a thread or two like this before, but I'm keen to get a little guide for how to get started in the world of retro cars up and running, so I'm writing up the previous thread we had on starter retros to make it all nice. Next step is kitting out your garage.

What are your garage essentials, pretend we're starting with an empty garage and putting our tools together from scratch.

Amazon, Ebay, Halfords(?), tooled up, etc. links always helpful.


I'll start with an essential as far as I'm concerned, somewhere organised to put your tools :



www.tooled-up.com/product/sealey-6-drawer-red-grey-tool-chest/179184/

It doesn't have to be a huge if you don't have a lot of tools, but having something more organised than a tool box has been hugely useful. Particularly if you keep it fairly organised, don't put your screw drivers in the spanner draw just because it is open when you've finished doing your work!

No, Hotwire I wouldn't thank you for a tool box, don't even own one now. I use a tool rack instead which I find is a million times better overall.

[colnerov]

Following on from Andy Borris's post a first aid kit, or at the very least a roll of toilet paper and masking tape for dealing with the 'chassis rash'.

Colin

[awoo]

I would echo the tool box thing as in I've never had one or needed one. Also you need tools to put in the thing first of all.


Adjustable spanner would be one thing worth having. I have a plethora of odd tools but that is one hella useful basic tool that covers a lot of bases.

[dazcapri]

Pry bars saves breaking all your screwdrivers
Ratchet spanners they save a lot of time
A breaker bar don't use your rachet

Don't be a tool fool you don't need all the gizmos and gadgets to fix a car I've got those obstruction spanners (s shaped,half moon jobbbies) never needed them.
If you do buy snap on try contacting the local rep I paid less for my spanner set off him than they were asking on eBay.

[arsonist]

Having recently just started my tool/garage collection, I can add a few smaller, but (for me anyway) essential items.

A few sets of pliers, especially some decent needle nosed and ones that can cut through wire.
A small inspection lamp for getting light into those awkward dark spaces.
A solid wire brush for getting the curse word off your inevitably crusty car parts.
An inspection mirror. I've actually got a small makeup mirror which has now been used multiple times so far for hunting down hidden housing bolts/reaching awkward screws you can't see etc.

They're ones that might just be specific to me, but have proved mighty useful nonetheless!

[Wilk]

Impact driver and good quality array of screwdrivers. Right tool for right application

[accord83]

A bit of magnet Araldited to an old extendable aerial, or if your posh just buy one ready made, invaluable for dropped bits, as is one of those long flexible grabbers for non ferrous bits.

[billybunter]

Inspection lamp you say.

Battery one I say. Fed up with bulbs going on my old inspection lamp.

www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/86842/led-work-lights-and-inspection-lamps-2016-group-test

I bought the 3 one in the list and have been impressed. Not the cheapest purchase but loads of light.

Yet to try it out for an evenings work.

[93fxdl]

Mobile phone, to call for assistance/fire brigade if it all goes wrong and taking pictures so you can see how it should go back together.
Fire extinguisher, again if it all goes wrong.
May sound a bit negative, but I am a great believer in, if you have it, you won't need it
Ttfn Glenn

[welshpug]

www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-200-piece-socket-and-ratchet-spanner-set



hard to beat that really, add a breaker bar and a torque wrench and you're sorted for almost everything.

www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/rolson-digital-multimeter

a multimeter!

www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-workshop/trolley-jacks/halfords-5-piece-lifting-kit

might not lift that far and you'll need to drive up on blocks of wood for silly low cars, BUT £40!!!

[saabsled]

Welder.

I own an old Ford....

[b3nson]

Tools in the right sizes for your car, it's a curse word when most modern kits are all metric and you have an old British car with Imperial fittings.