We all want to have the best parts in our cars, nice tight ball joints to provide the proper feedback as we carve up the tarmac laid before us, beautifully smooth grabby brakes to give us the confidence we’ll slow before the next bend, and that engine roaring along perfectly tuned and set to our liking. Well maybe you just like knowing you will make it to work tomorrow before your boss, but whichever you take care of your car with tools. Tools come in many flavors of quality and style to fit any budget and need.
Not everyone needs the gigantic Snap-on box stuffed full of the latest greatest tools, sure it’s nice to have everything at your fingertips with life time warranties and a man that will rebuild your ratchet at a moment’s notice while allowing you to pay him 20 dollars a week on that 100k tab, but we all don’t have one stopping by our work twice a week. What we do need is a set of tools that won’t round off our bolts, won’t split the sockets at 9pm on a Sunday night and will provide us a good return on our investment.
Everyone’s idea on how to build a tool collection is different, here’s mine.
-Buy lifetime warranty tools from somewhere local to your house. I prefer Craftsman, the slight increase in initial buy-in is well worth not having to purchase a second one and you don’t need the receipt to get one warrantied. Another nice thing about Craftsman is that you can buy tool sets with a case you can easily take with you places.
-Make sure they feel good in your bare hands, its more important than you think.
-Use the tools correctly (only a hammer is for hammering)
-If something keeps breaking on you; upgrade it pronto
-Spend wisely, a hammer is a Chinese Tool Store item as is those once in a life time tools if they have them (huge axle sockets) and anything you are going to hit with that hammer.
-Rent or borrow those specialty tools for the first 2 or 3 times after that invest in them no one likes a mooch. eEuroparts rents special tools for a fraction of the buy in price for things like cam locking tools, fuel pump tools, etc.
-Keep them clean and organized (yes even inside of those deep sockets). Lightly oiling your tools will keep them from rusting.
-Check them over for cracks and wear, your ratchets should not have loose connections or wobbly heads.
-Buy the right sets for your car… Make sure you have Metric for Metric cars and Standard for Standard
-Did I say don’t abuse your tools, yeah don’t do that!! A ratchet is a great hammer but over time the internals will get loose and might slip.
-While you are ordering parts for your next DIY job check for the specialty tools that might make the job easier or even achievable (that t45 hidden under the intake, (yeah the only torx bolt on the entire car) you need to remove to get to the knock sensor is a doozy if you’re not ready for it)
Some people go one step cheaper on their first set and go Chinese Tool Store brand for everything, I’ve just never been happy with the fit and finish and their loose tolerances lead to rounded nuts and bolts and a very upset me. Axle bolts are fine… plus or minus a millimeter on 32mm is nowhere near as bad as on a 13mm. And yes buying Snap-on or other truck based mechanics quality tool sets is a fabulous idea if you have the spare money just make sure you can get replacements in a timely manner.
Remember this is my personal take on tools with my budget (small) in mind. I’ve been collecting my tools for over 20 years (I’m 34). A large number have been warrantied a few times, a lot were found at used tool stores (Sears will take back a 40 year old ratchet and give you a brand new one) and I have a few duplicates. It’s all housed in a large rolley box about half the size of my mechanic friends boxes. But it contains everything I need to tear my cars down and put it back together. What you need is up to you but I hope this helps to steer you. If you are good and organized, you can manage to get all the tools you ever need in a very small portable box, with a separate bag/box/tote for special things like wire brushes or power tools.
Wrench On! (or spanner)
Dave
PS for more specifics on what to fill your tool box with and some other amazing insights to the DIY mechanical life check out this post by Sam Williamson
Always buy quality tools when you need them. Having the proper tools to do a job can make the difference between a nightmare and a smooth project.
Multiple sources of combo wrenches, multiples of sockets, 6 and 12 point sockets, HI quality ratchets, and many many of them in eeach drive range. Decent compressor and air drive tools, (But my go to impact, 1/2 ” drige is Milwzukee Electric). Spring compressors, yes but don’t be silly , …..
One of these days I will have a barn sale, and all these over engineed fancy don’t work dubbies aregoing to go.
I agree with you. Quality is better than quantity, and you don’t have to buy all of your special tools at once. Most often I buy or rent special tools I need just before I start the project I will need them for. This way I build up my collection but don’t break the bank doing it and I only get the tools I will need and reuse. I also second not abusing tools. It is a sure way of ensuring you will have to buy that tool again.
Take care of your tools and they will take care of you!!!!