what hand tools to buy

[grumpyvette]

If your starting out thinking you want to be a professional mechanic, you really need to get some schooling and certifications before anything else or your very unlikely to get hired,tool will be important but get the schooling, degrees first, if your just doing it as a hobby,thats a different ball game, in either case, a lot of guys will tell you MAC and SNAP-ON tools are the better choices but let me point out that , the whole idea behind being a mechanic is about a mix of KNOWLEDGE and SKILL used in diagnosing and knowing whats wrong from a few tests, one of the more common mistakes I see guys make is getting far in debt for an impressive tool box and some tools before they start making a reasonable profit.
my advise would be to keep a constant watch on craigs list and the local bargain trader magazines , and visit local pawn shops, for a complete tool set, or partial tool sets, from some retiring mechanic or mechanics widow that you can pick up for 40-60 cents OR LESS on the dollar
Ive seen several freinds buy complete filled snap-on or mac, tool chests at estate sales for $4000-$8000 that would very easily cost 4 times that amount if each item was purchased individually,it would be difficult to over stress how important having the correct tools and the skill to use them are on modifying parts, frankly I can,t imaging a shop without some basics like a couple welders and a drill press and a belt sander, air compressor
and die grinders etc.
you can frequently pick up small handfuls of used major brand name life-time guarantee wrenches at yard sales and pawn shops for far less than list prices
kobalt,
stanley
SK
craftsman,
mac,
HUSKY
snap-on,
all make some decent tools
youll find most sets include a good deal of small tools that build up the component count making it appear that your getting a good value, but they are seldom used, youll want a good set of SAE & metric open end and box end wrenches
several 3/8" and 1/2" ans 1/4 ratchets with both deep and shallow sockets, for each size drive,(preferably in 6 point, in most cases)
an assortment of torqx bits and Allen keys and ignition wrenches and screw drivers,a decent torque wrench, and multi meter won,t hurt either, but only buy the small stuff and the larger tools as you need them
I have no idea what amount of cash your looking to spend , but if you shop for a basic mechanics starter set sears has some deals
and most of us start out with one and add too it as required

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-52...ool-Cabinet-Set-Black-HOTC5218B1QES/204825971
at $598 this is a good value

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G4
http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/spin_p ... .9,0.5,0,0

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ckType=G16

http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/009332 ... .9,0.5,0,0

heres a really nice basic starter set
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G6

but ID bet most of us started off with a less expensive set like this
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G2

I know I did

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[grumpyvette]

a set of quick release tools for late model gm fuel lines and a/c line disconnects.
ACETOLENE TORCH
ADJUSTABLE LENGTH PUSHROD
ADJUSTABLE POINTER ,
adjustable stand,for dial indicator
assorted pliers/vise grips
air compressor
air ratchet
Allen wrenches
200 amp ARC WELDER
ASK QUESTIONS
ASSORTED FILES
ASSORTED SOCKETS,OPEN AND BOX WRENCHES 1/2",3/8".1/4" DRIVE
ball joint press tools
ball joint separator forks
battery charger(full size shop type)
Bench grinder w/ wire wheel
big huge screwdriver which doubles as a pry bar
(ONLY KIDDING BUY A DARN PRY BAR SET)
BORE GAUGE
brake spring pliers and retaining spring tool
CAM BEARING INSTALLER
CAM DEGREE WHEEL
CAM INSTALLATION HANDLE
CARBIDE BURRS
CC Buret Kit/PLUS STAND
checking springs
chisels (assorted sizes/types)
clamp for compressing calipers
CLUTCH PILOT
coil spring compressors
compression testor
COMON SENSE
CRANK SOCKETS
creeper
Crows feet wrenches
coolant system pressure tester
CYLINDER HONE
DENT PULLER
DEPTH GAUGE
dial indicator,
Die grinder
Differential Set-up Kit
distributor wrench
DRIFT PUNCHES (assorted sizes/types)
drain pans all sizes
dremel tool set to cut rivets etc.
DRILL PRESS
drop light/(floresent prefered)
dwell meter for the older cars
EASY OUTS
ELECTRIC SOLDER GUN
Electrical tape
engine hoist
ENGINE LEVELER
ENGINE STAND
Feeler Gages
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
flexible dwell key for point distributors
FREEZE PLUG INSTALLER
FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE
full set of assorted hammers all the way up to 5 lb hand held sledge or mall hammer
full set of tap and dies metric and standard
full set of torqze tip screw drivers and sockets male and female all sizes
full size vice
Gasket scraper
Gear Pullers
gm disk brake caliper allen key 3/8 and 5/16
grease gun
harmonic balancer puller
HARMONIC BALLANCER INSTALLER
HONING STONE
12 ton hydraulic press
IR temp sensor gun
jack stands (4) 12 ton minimum) and a 2 1/2 -3 ton full size service floor jack
JEWELERS FILES
LAPTOP COMPUTER
leakdown tester
LIFTER BORE HONE
LIFTER GROUVE TOOL
LUIS TOOL
magnet
MAGNETIC PICK UP TOOL
MAGNIFYING GLASS
MANUAL LUBE PUMP
MICROMETERS
MIG WELDER
Mini Valve Spring Tester
MIRROR
multimeter
normal screwdrivers all sizes
NUT SPLITTER
OIL CAN
oil filter and regular spin on filter wrenches.
Oil filter wrench
Oil Pump Primers
ONE NEW SOLID LIFTER
PB BLASTER OIL
pipe cutter
PISTON RING COMPRESSOR
piston stop,
pitman arm puller
Plasma cutter
PLASTIC HAMMER
pneumatic chisel
pneumatic impact guns 3/8 and 1/2 drive
pressure bleeder for brakes
PRY BAR
PUSHROD CHECKER
putty knife
ramps
rear caliper piston turning tool
REFERANCE MANUALS
RIFLE CLEANING ROD AND BRUSHES FOR OIL PASSAGES
ring expander pliers
RING GAP FILER
rochester idle mixture adjusting tool
ROD BOLT GUIDES
ROD BOLT STRETCH GAUGE
SCAN SOFTWARE
SMALL FLASH LIGHT
snap ring pliers internal and external
SPRING COMPRESSOR
standard set of drift pin punches,alignment punches,[censored] and cetering punches.
steering column lock plate compressor
steering wheel puller
Stethoscope
STUD INSTALLER
TAPE MEASURE
test light
TIG WELDER
three or four of every size socket and wrenches
timing light
Tire Pressure Gauges
TORQUE WRENCH
transmission jack
tubeing cutter
tubeing flare tool
tubeing bender
Utility knife
VACUUM GAUGE
Wire crimper
wheel chocks (keep cars from rolling)

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Sear ... p=ZX503796

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUN-CP9001

http://www.etoolcart.com/autoxray-scann ... x6000.aspx

GOOD KNOWLEDGEABLE FRIENDS

_________________

 

[grumpyvette]

this is one area (hot rodding and modifying cars) where having a decent welder , and ideally a plasma cutter and a mill, and a few local salvage yards is a huge plus, especially if youve got some fabrication skills, a few brackets, and access to some metal supply frame material and a tubing bender, makes the project far more cost effective

heres a few tools, and info links that make those projects far more cost effective, if your like me its a problem because you eventually find your addicted to having the correct tools and as your tools and skills increase so does the endless list of projects, but the cash available never seems to keep pace

http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/Milling-M ... Feed/G6760

http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2 ... ode=907405

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-48766

http://www.harborfreight.com/16-ton-hyd ... 35336.html

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1018

http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2 ... ode=907404

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=970

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-sho ... ce=linking

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=98

I am simply pointing out what my experience has shown, that most projects are constantly changed or upgraded,
Ive helped several friends built t-bucket based cars , and without fail its the constant need for the small adapters,component brackets,gussets,accessory mounts, transmission, suspension,engine mounts ETC. thats a huge drain on the budget ESPECIALLY if they need to be custom made for the application or if your into CHROME or POWDER COATING, to match the car color

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=1519&p=3482&hilit=powder+coating#p3482

 

[grumpyvette]

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance- ... 4/10002/-1

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetai ... toview=sku

use of a camshaft install handle generally reduces the chances of damaged cam bearings

http://www.zoro.com/g/Snap Ring Tools/00059785/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lil-49200/overview/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cnl-927/overview/

if your serious about this hobby its eventually going to require the acquisition of some specific tools, heres a FEW basics other than the obvious wrenches sockets ratchets and screw drivers

 

[watahyahknow]

if you work on one brand of car you might not even need a full set of spanners sockets and the like and should use the money saved for specialty car brand tools
in my car i need torks bits the only socket i need is a 15 for the wheelnuts and 13 for the exhaust nuts
you be supprized at how mush of the tools in a mecanics toolchest are hardly if ever used
nicest would be as a beginning mecanic to buy an empty toolbox with the bare basic socket set open end spanners and ringspanners , a set of screwdrivers , one or two hammers steel and plastic , allen wrenches or sockets testlight/multimeter and a set of different pliers , sure buy the airwrench and ugah dugah while youre at it , keep a bit of cash at hand for emergencie purchases and borrow the tools you dont have yet but need for the job from youre colegues , write down wat you used and get it to put in youre toolbox asap and ocasionally buy said colleque a beer a pack of smokes or bag of chips as thanks
going this way might make jobs take a bit longer at the start but allso prevent you toolbox from overflowing with tools you whont use , i know i know the inside of the snap on truck is like stepping intoo walhalla but controll youreself and dont say shut up and take my money

 

[Grumpy]

SNAP-ON AND MATCO, and most other TOOL TRUCK tools are VASTLY OVER marked UP, in my opinion.
now theres no question the quality's good, but its hard to justify
$2500 for a wrench set

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husky, COBALT, ICON, and OLD CRAFTSMAN and some HF tools make up most of my tool sets
Ive got several dozen mostly purchased at a significant discount from pawn shops

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