Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Fastpedeller]

cml24 said:

5s Alive said:

V6 Pushfit said:

Great post and I got the Kleenex ready but no moneyshot:

Where’s the link?

http://www.trackace.co.uk/


I've been surprised by how innacurate tracking has been on friends and family cars when done by the fast fit centres.

Edited by 5s Alive on Saturday 21st May 21:19

I might buy that system, looks useful.

I used to use two metal box section pieces zip tied to the wheels so they stuck out in front, then measured the gap at set distances with tape measures. Not that accurate, but just as accurate as a lazy shop. This was on an old mini and it felt there was always a job that meant the tracking had to be reset and I was a poor student that was willing to pay 20 or whatever the garage wanted.

I just set up a few bricks either side behind the rear at wheel centre height - a laser level placed at each side onto a 'target board' and with a little fiddling an accurate pair of parallel lines are made. just take measurements with a steel rule from each of the (presumably undamaged) rim edges to the 'red dot' on the rule and it's possible to measure both front and rear tracking fairly easily (but time consuming )

[Arnold Cunningham]

Voldemort said:

I'm never one to put somebody off spending some money on a shiny new tool. But.... in case you haven't considered it, you can drive a car up onto a plank of wood and, voila, you can suddenly get an ordinary jack under.

This is what I normally do. Or use the extra long ramps I have and then jack it off the ramps.
But on occasion, namely when the damn thing is broken, or mid build, the low profile jack is also handy.

[beanoir]

A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!

[Sporky]

5s Alive said:

What kind of tools do I need to buy to cut and chamfer said wood. Mmm endless (expensive) choices.

Not tools. Machinery. At the very least a spindle moulder.

Edited by Sporky on Tuesday 24th May 15:45

[5harp3y]

amateurdad said:

Any recommendations for a reasonably priced low entry car jack?

ive got a green one of these, it's mega

https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/jacks/t...

[guitarcarfanatic]

The halfords one is seriously impressive - think it was £90?

Massive upgrade against my old sealey (both in practical terms and safety)

[5s Alive]

Sporky said:

Not tools. Machinery. At the very least a spindle moulder.

If only...

One of these is more suited to my skill set and budget.

[Arnold Cunningham]

5harp3y said:

ive got a green one of these, it's mega

https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/jacks/t...

Going a bit off topic, I also have one of these : https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/engine-...

Great for lifting things a long way. I use it to lift my boat engine out - needs to go about 10' in the air. Also used it tift the MG body off the rear subframe when I replaced the engine. It's a good tool.

[Brother D]

mikees said:

bungz said:

Wasn't sure about this but was perfect for whizzing the tongue and grove off a floorboard and channeling some plaster for wiring.

5th or 6th bit of Dewalt kit, all absolutely superb.

Your not a plumber are you……….?

Just got one as well! Man these are pretty handy - had to cut out a ceiling after a prolonged water leak and it worked a treat.

[bennno]

Every tradesman seems to covet it when working at the house, mini breaker bar.

Behind only my mini angle grinder as the best tool in the garage.

[SlimJim16v]

When looking at ali trolley jacks, compare the weight to the equivalent steel one. The difference isn't big, but the price is.

[gfreeman]

bennno said:

Every tradesman seems to covet it when working at the house, mini breaker bar.

Behind only my mini angle grinder as the best tool in the garage.

And to go with it just in case - a pair of top cutters
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281939914987?chn=ps&amp...

[amateurdad]

5harp3y said:

amateurdad said:

Any recommendations for a reasonably priced low entry car jack?

ive got a green one of these, it's mega

https://workshopping.co.uk/jacking-lifting/jacks/t...

Ended up going with the St Andrews flag one, simply because it was cheaper! (and I'm Scottish so obvs wasn't choosing one of the others!)

[James6112]

beanoir said:

A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!

Wera make some great tools
I have one of these. Coupled with a battery drill for the Wera bit extension it covers most jobs!

[anonymous-user]

AJLintern said:

I have a standard low entry jack from SGS,

So have I and it’s absolutely brilliant. I think it was under £100 delivered, don’t see why anyone would ever need anything more expensive unless they’re lifting it daily and need ali.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 24th May 22:20

[Sebastian Tombs]

bennno said:

Every tradesman seems to covet it when working at the house, mini breaker bar.

Behind only my mini angle grinder as the best tool in the garage.

I’ve got one of these and it’s so useful. It’s been the main tool I’ve used to remove my kitchen false ceiling and all the joists it hangs from. Next I’ll try it on the tiles.

[dickymint]

Brother D said:

Just got one as well! Man these are pretty handy - had to cut out a ceiling after a prolonged water leak and it worked a treat.

Umm I’d have done that quicker and neater with a Stanley knife

[davidexige]

bennno said:

Every tradesman seems to covet it when working at the house, mini breaker bar.

Behind only my mini angle grinder as the best tool in the garage.

A mini angle grinder sounds interesting, care to share any information about it. I probably don't need one but I think I want one

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

beanoir said:

A set of Wera allen keys. I wish i'd bought decent ones years ago after ruining several bike parts with small allen keys.

They're not cheap, but IMO have paid for themselves from not wrecking more bike parts!

Seems almost sacrilegious to say it on this thread, but I prefer the cheaper Bondhus set I have over my Wera ones to use on my (push)bike. The Wera ones will grip even when they aren't properly engaged, and I've nearly stripped a couple of bolts as a result. The Bondhus ones are rock solid and engage better IMO as they aren't tapered. The Wera ones look way nicer though

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/25009529542?iid=112486160...

[anonymous-user]

davidexige said:

A mini angle grinder sounds interesting, care to share any information about it. I probably don't need one but I think I want one

I bought an Aldi corded Dremel type grinder for about £14 and it’s had astonishing use over the last 3 years using quick change discs I bought elsewhere. Last was on Sunday cutting off seized wc cistern bolts in an impossibly difficult to get to position which it did with ease. I had tried absolutely every other method from grips to a socket but it was the grinder that saved the day.