The one tool you cannot restore a car without?
Discussion
Afternoon all
Just laying on my hotel bed, thinking about what I'll do to the BMW when I get home, and now thinking what else I needed to make life easier for myself.
To anyone who's undertaken the same, what tool or tools would you say were vital to you in your restoration? What made your life that much easier, or something much easier to do during your restoration?
I probably need loads of tools still, but what have you got that I need to buy?
Just laying on my hotel bed, thinking about what I'll do to the BMW when I get home, and now thinking what else I needed to make life easier for myself.
To anyone who's undertaken the same, what tool or tools would you say were vital to you in your restoration? What made your life that much easier, or something much easier to do during your restoration?
I probably need loads of tools still, but what have you got that I need to buy?
I've already got the welder (without the ability to weld!), angle grinder, dremel, finger belt sander (I think it's called something like that), a 18v drill with a sheet metal cutting tool on it, all bits to go with said tools etc. no oxy burning stuff or plasma cutter though.
I seem to buy little hand tools as and when I get to something to do and I need it.
And I bought the missus the most important tool mentioned so far
I seem to buy little hand tools as and when I get to something to do and I need it.
And I bought the missus the most important tool mentioned so far
Hmm not sure about one particular tool - tough one.
However a few mentionables; decent compressor for all air tools, grinders as have already been said, safety gear - googles and the like, all thrown in with a shedload of patience...
That said, I'm not sure any of what I'm currently doing and planning to do would be possible without some form of high lift or in my case a rotisserie:
and before anyone says it - the compressor in shot isn't the 'decent' one - that's hiding at the back
However a few mentionables; decent compressor for all air tools, grinders as have already been said, safety gear - googles and the like, all thrown in with a shedload of patience...
That said, I'm not sure any of what I'm currently doing and planning to do would be possible without some form of high lift or in my case a rotisserie:
and before anyone says it - the compressor in shot isn't the 'decent' one - that's hiding at the back
A lift! It will pay for itself a hundred times over. I have a four column lift because the floor in my workshop isn't of a sufficiently high quality concrete to support a car on a two column. Given the choice, two column is better as it gives more access to areas like suspension, but you have to have a good strong base to handle all the extra leverage exerted by one. As has already been said as well, cheque book, credit card and patience aided by copious alcohol for when it all goes pear shaped!
I'm not sure there is "just one tool" that's some miraculous panacea against all woes.
What does make a real difference, though, is having the right basic kit. Plenty of the usual handtools, organised so they don't hide when you need 'em. A grinder with several spare discs - both cutting and grinding. Heat. Good penetrating oil. Air's really really nice, especially rattlegun - I've not tried a battery rattlegun, not least because of the flexibility of having air for tyres, blowgun, spraying, waxing etc. A range of ways of getting underneath easily. A solid vice. Parts washer. Engine stand.
<insert long list>
What does make a real difference, though, is having the right basic kit. Plenty of the usual handtools, organised so they don't hide when you need 'em. A grinder with several spare discs - both cutting and grinding. Heat. Good penetrating oil. Air's really really nice, especially rattlegun - I've not tried a battery rattlegun, not least because of the flexibility of having air for tyres, blowgun, spraying, waxing etc. A range of ways of getting underneath easily. A solid vice. Parts washer. Engine stand.
<insert long list>
te", "Waxoyl" and "The Sun")
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