Tool suggestions for home spannering

[matthias73]

I've never actually had to buy any tools before because they've always just been in the shed or readily available at work. That's not been the case for a while and I want to populate my garage with decent (lifelong) tools for working on my own car. I won't be pulling engines to bits but I will be doing brakes/pads/oil/filters and potentially try my hand at a thermostat or two.

I have Halfords voucher currently waiting patiently to be used, so I'll be getting stuff from them for the most part.

So far in my head I've come up with:

Decent socket set.
Decent screwdriver set.
Pliers
Hammer
clamps
torque wrench
hammer.
bigger hammer
oil catch can (and etc for oil changes)
axle stands/wheel stands
decent light
beer fridge
wall hooks for spare wheels
oil
filters


Think I'm missing anything?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Breaker bar
Impact wrench
Spanners
Mole grips
Cable ties
Gaffer tape
WD40
...

[matthias73]

You see, that's all stuff I take for granted. But I don't actually have it.

When I got my first place it slowly dawned on me that things like salt and pepper had to be purchased and weren't magically part of a house

[SlimJim16v]

BFH (club/lump hammer)

[stupidbutkeen]

fridge full of beers and a magnetic extenable pick up thingmajiger

[finishing touch]

I bought my socket set when I was 18. I'm 61 now. Yes I've broken half a dozen and had to replace them as single items.

Sockets are in three sections within the box, AF, Metric, and yes... Whitworth.
The Whit still gets used as I have a Harrison lathe and that seems to be the thread of choice on most old British machinery.

Paul G

[Swanny87]

Break bleeding kit?

[alabbasi]

Floor jack. Axle stands are pretty useless without one
Toolbox
A decent compressor and air tools is always nice.

Edited by alabbasi on Sunday 19th February 06:21

[PositronicRay]

Just start off with a basic kit + Jack and axle stands, then add stuff as and when.
No point in having things you'll never use or duplicate.

For instance my impact screwdriver has 1/2 drive, so I can use this with my socket set for hex bits etc.

[Riley Blue]

matthias73 said:

I won't be pulling engines to bits but I will be doing brakes/pads/oil/filters and potentially try my hand at a thermostat or two.

If that's what you're planning to do, don't over-equip your garage. You should be able to do those jobs without power tools; a trolley jack, axle stands and oil catch tank are probably the only things you couldn't carry in a small tool box.

[Rat_Fink_67]

A magnetic tray is very useful for throwing nuts, bolts and split pins in etc and knowing they can't roll away!

[Salesy]

Dont forget an inspection lamp or flexible magnetic torch.

[eltax91]

A cheap camping head torch. My garage is full of tools acquired over 10 years of dicking with cars, bought one of these 3 months ago and it's awesome for keeping your hands free whilst working and still allowing you to see.

I'm East Midlands (like I think you are). Feel free to pm me contact details, if you are ever stuck for specialist tools you don't need all the time you can borrow if I have it

[robinessex]

Buy as needed. Ebay stuff is pretty good these days, but delivery can be long

[HustleRussell]

Oil filter removal tool
2' breaker bar and deep 6-point socket for wheel bolts

[G600]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

This looks like a good start

[Riley Blue]

G600 said:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

This looks like a good start

OP could buy everything he needs for the cost of that.

[AdamIndy]

When you buy an inspection light I would advise getting an LED rechargeable one. Nothing worse than dragging a cable around and finding it's not long enough to get where you want to go.

A tool you won't use much but will be invaluable when you do is a tap and die set.

If you will be stripping/rebuilding engines then a few tools you will need are

Piston ring pliers
Piston ring compressor
Feeler gauges
Angle measuring tool for head bolts.

Also get some male and female torx bits. They are used on a lot of cars.
Allen keys.
Stanley knife
Wire brush
Pry bars
Punches/chisels.

If you have room, a decent work bench.

Before you know it your garage will be rammed with tools and no room to work in there!

[GreenV8S]

matthias73 said:

I want to populate my garage with decent (lifelong) tools for working on my own car.

I think you're approaching this the wrong way. Good tools are expensive and buying a lot of tools speculatively will soak up a lot of money for no benefit. Rather than try to populate the garage from scratch, you would far better off buying what you need when you need it, making sure you buy good quality. Most importantly IMO is looking after the tools you have - which means cleaning them after use and sorting out decent storage so you can lay hands on the right tool easily and your tools aren't being knocked about.

[redandwhite]

Get yourself a halfords professional socket set , decent floor Jack and axle stands etc. Then buy the tools as and when you need them , rather than buying everything under the sun.

Halfords socket set has a lifetime guarantee on it all (not case) but wait until it's on offer to buy.