In the market for tools

[Asiah119]

Gentlemen,

I'm in the market for some tools. When I was younger I would tinker with the 'merican cars that my family had (eg oil and mid level maint. type tasks). All of my father's tools went with him when he retired, and when I was living in an apartment with a car that I didn't care about not having tools wasn't an issue. Now that I have an not-special car I want to get back into working on it (and with all of the guides and DIYs here I should be able to).

As such, I look to you masters of the wrench to throw some recommendations at me for what the basics are that I would need in order to sucessfully take on projects especially oil, VANOS, brakes, and window regulators. I'll eventually need to be brave enough to pull the interior apart when the wrinkles on the A pillar get bad enough and to fix the sub rattle\repaint the rear deck.

I know that I'll need a set of metric sockets. What's the range that I should need? I recently stole a jack and stands from my father so those are taken care of.

[danewilson77]

I use the Kobolt series from Lowes. No haggle lifetime guarantee.

Get a metric 1/4" set, and a 3/8" set. Extensions (3" and 6"), sockets, and ratchets. Get a set of screw drivers. Get the oil filter socket, and a set of torx wrenches, plus Allen wrenches.

I would go with Kobolt, Snap-on, or Craftsman.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1399-Which-tools-are-must-haves-in-a-set-for-a-BMW&highlight=tools

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[HokieZHP]

+1 just don't cheap out on tools if you can. Buy once cause they'll last you a lifetime

[johnrando]

Also, last months Car and Driver had an article on starting a general mechanics tool set.

[JupiterBMW]

I once heard a very valuable quote about tools... "Only a rich man can afford cheap tools"... If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense, and its true.

That being said, don't waste your money on the really high dollar stuff like Snap-On and Mac. Those are great if you want to be the cool kid around, but they're hard to find. I have Craftsman for all my hand tools, easily available at any Sears and a lifetime replacement guarantee. Or you can go with Kobalt as DW said, same deal... For me, Sears is closer than Lowe's... But I digress..

Torque wrenches are great because properly torquing bolts is very important, and sometimes people skip that step. Not a wise move. I take the time to torque stuff, even lug nuts. Why people wouldn't torque those is beyond me...

A variety of sockets, 1/4" and 3/8" drive are best for carsn(interior and engine work). You will at times enjoy having a 1/2" drive set (suspension work), so I would get those too if budget allows. I have standard and metric, but really, you don't need them. Also, I would try and buy 12 point sockets instead of 6 as they're a little more flexible. And like others mentioned, extensions, adapter sockets, maybe a couple universal joints, and a breaker bar wouldn't hurt either. Cars typically have a lot of tight spaces, so the adapters and universals do come in handy.

Inspection mirror, magnet on a pole... Those are must haves... In addition, I have a set of dental picks and stuff like that (I call it my pokey tools drawer). Those are great for doing gaskets, removing o-rings, and picking grime out of small places...

Heck, I could write forever.. I should just go take a picture of all the drawers in my roll away... :biggrin

[Asiah119]

Thanks for the responses. I was driving by a Lowe's and found a few sets by Kobalt that look like they'll work for me. The only follow up that I have is if getting the deep sockets is worth the extra money?

[danewilson77]

Thanks for the responses. I was driving by a Lowe's and found a few sets by Kobalt that look like they'll work for me. The only follow up that I have is if getting the deep sockets is worth the extra money?

Yeah...I use the deepies every now and then. Definitely a weapon you want in your arsenal.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[JupiterBMW]

When you need a shallow socket, a deep one will work... When you need a deep socket, shallow sockets will leave you up shit's creek without a paddle! :thumbup

[HokieZHP]

Tight spaces sometimes require shallow sockets. Id get both prtsobally


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[HokieZHP]

This could be another option. I may pick up a set because I'm beginning to build my own tool set as well.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-30pc-max-axess-1-4-3-8-in-dr/p-00903282000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

These would replace deep sockets except for places where the screw is down in a hole.

[danewilson77]

I use the Kobolt series from Lowes. No haggle lifetime guarantee.

Get a metric 1/4" set, and a 3/8" set. Extensions (3" and 6"), sockets, and ratchets. Get a set of screw drivers. Get the oil filter socket, and a set of torx wrenches, plus Allen wrenches.

I would go with Kobolt, Snap-on, or Craftsman.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1399-Which-tools-are-must-haves-in-a-set-for-a-BMW&highlight=tools

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

To add to my list....

Open end/box end wrenches (big and small). Go 5mm up to at least 18mm.

Qty 1, 3/8" breaker bar.

Qty 1, 12" adjustable wrench and 6" adjustable wrench.

One set of small/big vice grips.

Needle nose pliers.



Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[BCS_ZHP]

Lynchburg,
I've had bunches of tools and lost lots of tools to my brother, dad, friends, neighbors, whoever borrowed something and didn't return it. So separate of my existing tool box I set out to get my "desired" set about 10 years ago. I bought the Craftsman 3 box stack on special at father's day for about $300. Then 3 months later bought a 300 piece Craftsman set of just sockets and wrenches for about $200 for my b-day. (Both of these require a wife that allows you to buy yourown presents occasionally.) Last I budgeted $50 a month to fill the box and bought a screw driver set one month, pliers set another, torx & Allen sockets another, more wrenches another month, etc. You'll find you can get prettynmuch everything in under a year for about a grand and be able to work on just about anything. Later additions were $200 air compressor off of Craigslist and then an air gun from Harbor Freight tools. Caught the small jack on sale for $60, already had a big jack and jack stands from a Carlise run back in my muscle car days.

But be careful, it's addicting. I can not be trusted in the Craftsman tool section of Sears, so I now only venture in there with cash and no credit cards.

[Asiah119]

Dane, I'll be writing your list down and start making check marks.

Hokie, I've seen those socket sets but something about them seems more...breakable than the standard sets.

Fairfax Station, I don't have to worry too much about going crazy with the tools. For the foreseeable future my work space is going to be friends driveways and my storage is the basement. While I think that going and getting the compressor and all of the goodies that come with it would be fun A) I don't think my wife would ever go for it, and B) the garage + driveway thing can be hard to find down here so I doubt I'll ever have the space for the full on box and air. An electric impact on the other hand I can definitely see in my future.

Now its time to figure out how to tighten my e-brake. Expect questions soon.

[danewilson77]

Dane, I'll be writing your list down and start making check marks.

Hokie, I've seen those socket sets but something about them seems more...breakable than the standard sets.

Fairfax Station, I don't have to worry too much about going crazy with the tools. For the foreseeable future my work space is going to be friends driveways and my storage is the basement. While I think that going and getting the compressor and all of the goodies that come with it would be fun A) I don't think my wife would ever go for it, and B) the garage + driveway thing can be hard to find down here so I doubt I'll ever have the space for the full on box and air. An electric impact on the other hand I can definitely see in my future.

Now its time to figure out how to tighten my e-brake. Expect questions soon.

OK...sounds good. Just lemme know if you have any questions. I have built my entire tool collection from Lowes. Like Bruce said, I have tools I will never use (It's addicting :))

[Johal E32]

harbor freight is good for sockets. It's really just a hunk of metal..

For ratchets and such, get the Kobalt, MAC, Craftsman, or snap-on.

And for the breaker bar, I got mine from HF and it works good. Cost me $10, and perfect for taking wheels off

[Beau B]

I am a big fan of Craftsman, my dad gave me some of his old Craftsman tools that he had from the 1960's I ended up breaking one and took it back returned it and got a new one no problem. Also with the craftsman club they offer some pretty good sales to club members that they do nto advertise.

Beau

[WOLFN8TR]

+1 just don't cheap out on tools if you can. Buy once cause they'll last you a lifetime

Great advice. Learned the hard way years ago. Buy quality once.


Bayerische-Motoren-Werke

[M0nk3y]

I have the max-access socket set from craftsman. I love it, makes life easy

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[Crestwood1001]

^x2! For Christmas a few years ago I told my dad all I wanted was tools, he got me one of the massive craftsmen box sets (like 600$!) and to this day all I have added is a good set of torx bits (cheap ones tend I strip and get all chewed up) a few very large size Allen sockets, a torque wrench and breaker bar. Other then that I would say a mag stick and my all time favorite is my magnetic bowl lol that things great!