At what level would you rate my tools?

[Case IH]

I am never satisfied with my collection of tools, I always think it isnt good enough, so I was wondering what others thought, how would you rate it:

1-Not enough to fix a bicycle
2-Enought to fix a bicycle
3-Enough to change oil on a car
4-Enough to do oil, brakes, front end, ect.
4.5-General Service auto tech
5-As much as an auto\diesel tech

 

[2oolhound]

Pliers, adjustables, wrenches... Where's the rest?

 

[GTO]

Three

 

[Case IH]

more pics

 

[bobcatdan]

If you have what you need to what you do, it is a fine set. There is no need to buy stuff you will never use of up grade if you already have tools you like. I have 35 grand plus in tools and still spending way too much. A chrome addiction is a *****.

 

[aussiek2000]

Not quite a 4, but pretty darn close.

EDIT: After new pictures, solid 4.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

yep its a four

 

[jjjrmx5]

Three

Agreed.

With no breaker bar and no hex or torx bit sockets, there will be no brake work nor much suspension work.

Need about 5 more drawers filled to reach the min. a base tech will need.

 

[porphyre]

Agreed.

With no breaker bar and no hex or torx bit sockets, there will be no brake work nor much suspension work.

Need about 5 more drawers filled to reach the min. a base tech will need.

Granted, I'm a shadetree and have only done brakes on four different models of car, but I've never needed a hex or torx for any of it.

 

[Case IH]

Agreed.

With no breaker bar and no hex or torx bit sockets, there will be no brake work nor much suspension work.

Need about 5 more drawers filled to reach the min. a base tech will need.

there is a breaker bar in the Pics and i do have any kind of smaller drive bits you can think of and a socket they fit into bu it wasnt worh taking a pic of just my bits in a drawer all by themselves

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I'd say about 4.5 then.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Granted, I'm a shadetree and have only done brakes on four different models of car, but I've never needed a hex or torx for any of it.

Most European cars and many Asian cars use hex cap screws to either attach the carrier to the hub or the caliper to the carrier or sometimes both.
Some Mazdas require a long hex bit to retract the caliper piston itself to insert the new pads.

Every car is different, but many use metric or std. cap screws.

And BTW, my response was based upon your first set of pics only.
With the added pics you seem to be 85% to 90% there for a workable mechanics box, but that's only my opinion.

 

[toolnut]

I would say a 4 with room to grow.

 

[thatcoder]

i don't see duplicates and triplicates, so i'd rate it a 3

 

[djd99]

Solid 3 I would of rated your box a 4 but I didn't see any large hex sockets needed for most front brake jobs otherwise you have a nice box alot of people would kill to have.

 

[ajchien]

I'd say 3.5

 

[Case IH]

thanks for all the ratings...what are somp products I should look into to get it to a 4-5 range other than diagnostic tools?

 

[flatheadguy]

Another 3. Nothing to amaze or surprise. Just a decent basic assortment.
Bigger question.....
Why do you ask? It seems to be a (fill in suitable word) question.

 

[HandyManny]

Only you can decide what you need to fix and if you're equiped to fix it.

 

[dan1120]

Solid 4. Need some more basic items to reach higher. You NEED swivel sockets, ujoints dont always cut it.

 

[Scout Driver]

3.5 You have a good start. Be proud of what you have. Take your time when expanding your arsenal. Buy quality and get the best deals that you can.

Scott

 

[lestat]

I am never satisfied with my collection of tools, I always think it isnt good enough...

One way to go about it is after every job, think about the tools you've missed (if any) or tools it would have come handy to have and put it on a list. For instance you you do suspension work, you might get away with a 3/8 set but what you really need is 1/2 so that goes on the list. You tackle a brake job and you would have find handy a vise grip pliers or a caliper wind back, it goes on the list... and so on. If you don't keep tabs you're much like a woman with a closet full of clothes who always complaining she's nothing to wear!

And then of course you don't rest until you buy everything on the list Only then you are allowed to buy duplicates

 

[canuckian]

I'd say you have what it takes to be a strong 4 on your rating scale but it all depends on what you need to fix. I'd say you could do fine with most automotive applications but I don't see much smaller stuff to do under dash stuff or wiring/electrical or maybe motorcycles. If you don't do either of those tasks, you have no need for them so your tool set would be complete for you. A few more sets of different sized pliers never hurt anyone though!

all in all though, you have a better set than a lot of people have.

 

[schloe]

You need more tools to fix a bike than you need to change oil in a car, so i'm not quite sure what's going on with your rating system.

 

[2oolhound]

One thing is obvious, you need more tools! There's just too much negative space in those drawers!

 

[creativecars]

I asked my GF the same question..

She gave me much better ratings than my wife!!

Just kidding-- they agreed

 

[volpster31]

i hope YOUR drawers arent as empty as that toolboxes!!!!

just kidding..youve got a good assortment of absolutely must haves..as you go along youll pick up pieces you need & then youll be getting a 2nd box..i guarantee it

 

[Vicegrip]

Basic set for when everything goes right. Not much for dealing with rusty busted and crusty stuck stuff. Don't over think it. What you need will become evident when you need it.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Those tools are too clean, better get something going on.

 

[littletoes]

Well, since you love seems to be tractors....BIGGER STUFF!

Bigger sockets, bigger breaker bars, etc. A REALLY big impact wrench, something at least 1 inch driven.

Torque wrenches (farmers never to seem to use 'em though...).

PRY-BARS???

 

[Kev442]

4.5
You are just going to need to fill in special situation tools as needed.

I went back to my youth last year to prove I still had it and used this set I had as a road emergency set to remove a V8 and install a different one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/52-piece-socket-set-35338.html

This is all I had back in the early 80's when I started wrenching on my junk. It was called Royal at Kmart and had a "lifetime" guarantee! The only "cheat " I did was one deep socket to get the motor mount bolts.

 

[str8axle55]

I`d go 3.5 ish, you need more tools. A better air gun, more pliers, vise grips, large channellocks. A good multi meter, test light, wiring tools. It really depends on what you do most. There is always room to upgrade, you probly have more tools than some of the young techs @ my dealer. I`ve been a tech for 20 yrs, I have a sh*tload of tools @ home and @ work.

 

[powertrip]

What is that ratchet with the craftsman professional red and black handle?

 

[idoitproject]

Didn't see any torque wrenches, multi meter, long extension for transmission work, hose clamp pliers, there is more missing but these are basic. I would go 3/8 impact swivels with 1/2 to 3/8 impact extensions for clearance.

 

[Case IH]

Extensions are my weakness I only have two 3/8 ones and I do have a 1/2 in drive SK torq wrench up to 275ftlb I think.....where is a good place to buy swivle sockets for the cash?........I do have 4 pry-bars

 

[Lotek]

My advice would be to get some wear on the tools you have, not worry too much about who's is bigger.

 

[mrholeshot]

I would say a 4.

 

[MrSnicks]

3.5 The true test of how well your tool collection is would be if you need to buy or borrow a tool to get the job done, or "make do" and use your existing tools in ways not meant to be.

Changed the spark plugs in my wife's car and had to go buy a set of E sockets, fuel line disconnects and long torx sockets.

Patrick

 

[diesel research]

You have enough to do a brake job on most standard air brake diesel rigs.
7/16" socket (sometimes 1/2 or another close size) and a ratchet
Hammer (not big enough though, atleast 8lbs for the drums)
prybar

And there you have it, enough to do a brake job (excluding wheel tools)

If you can find a 1 1/8 wrench you can upgrade to "suspension qualified" (a solid 4)

Could get close to a 5 in many diesel shops.

 

[volvo420coupe]

a good starter set, but also a good time to stop buying tools and start a cash drawer for tools you need.

It seems that the tools you have dont have all that much wear and tear, or use in general. once you start using them you will know what you need as you need it.

Nothing is better than having the cash to go buy the tool you need than having already spent it on something you may never use.

Also pay attention to the tools more experienced mechanics use, you will need to spend some time with them to help your learning curve.

And the rating system? where's the spoke wrench?
Just kidding, most people can change a bike tire without knowing what a spoke wrench is.