"Must Have's" for the Weekend Warrior ...

[-lecroix-]

Ok, here's a question for everyone, and I want everyone's input.

What are your most used hand tools for HOME wrenching. I realize the Pro Wrench guys have more use for the "I wish I had" stuff, but more curious as to what everyone uses at home.

Not a post concerning which BRAND, but what TOOLS ... and why.

My "Essentials" list:

1/4" Ratchet & sockets (SAE & Metric - deep & shallow - 6 point)
3/8" Ratchet & sockets (SAE & Metric - deep & shallow - 6 point)
1/2" Ratchet & sockets (SAE & Metric - deep & shallow - 6 point)
Extensions (1/4"-3/8"-1/2" - various lengths)
Allen drivers - (SAE & Metric - 3/8" drive)
Nutdrivers - (SAE & Metric)
Combination wrenches (SAE & Metric)
GearWrenches (SAE & Metric)
Screwdrivers (Flat & Phillips)
Allen - (T & L handle)
Pliers (Needle Nose, Side Cutters, Channel-Lock, Vise Grips, Safety Wire pliers)
Hammers (Dead blow, Ball Peen, Brass)
Punches - (Center punch, cold chisel, brass)


"Wish I had" List:
Universal / Flex Sockets (1/4"-3/8"-1/2" - SAE & Metric - 6 point)
GearWrench "Stubbies" (SAE & Metric)
Double Box End - (I have some but want a complete set - SAE & Metric)
More To Come as I think of them ...

 

[Jbullfrog]

Rhino plastic ramps and a good 6 wheel creeper
a drain pan bottle. I have a 2" tall flat plastic jug with the spout on the side and a funnel that screws on to it. It is great for oil changes. I will try and post a picture of it.

Sears has a set of LED lights with a magnetic clip that I have found indespensible. They come in a set of 2 for $19

A good magnetic pick-up tool

 

[Dodgepu360]

torque wrenches:
½ drive in ft*lbs
3/8 drive in in*lbs

 

[eschoendorff]

A decent vise. I am forever using mine.

 

[Jeeper]

Breaker bar

 

[Jay H 237]

gasket scraper
magnetic parts dish (after getting one I don't know how I worked without one!)
bench grinder with wire wheel on one side
flare nut wrenches (SAE and metric)

 

[TNToy]

How about a slight branch off of that one. Tools every home wrench-turner SHOULD have, but most don't.

1. A good prybar that won't flex when you lean on it as hard as you can. Mayhew has good ones relatively cheap. A good overall length is 30-36". The super-butch 42" and 58" bars are almost useless unless you're working under a lift.

2. A quality one-piece hammer - Something with a deadblow head and a steel face.

3. A good brass sledge hammer - Proto makes a really nice 2 pound brass hammer. 32 oz. (2 pounds) is a good overall weight for a hammer, both the deadblow and a brass hammer.

Everyone needs number three, just almost no one knows it. A prefect example is CV axles in FWD cars. Okay: You jumped up and down on a breaker bar and got the 36mm nut loose, only to find out that the axle is firmly rusted into place. At work I'll take an air hammer to it and buzz it right out, but most of you don't have that option at home. A brass hammer lets you wail on the axle as hard as you can without damaging the threads. It's amazing how much harder you can swing with (1)You don't have a hand in the strike-zone holding a punch or socket in place and (2)You can now swing with both arms and knock it out of the park.

 

[wythors]

Compressor
1/2" impact
3/8" air ratchet
1/4" air ratchet

Good set of scrapers
High quality wire stripper/crimper

 

[dink]

Tape measure
Duct tape
electrical tape
zip ties

 

[-lecroix-]

Thanks guys ... Good stuff so far ... but was actually looking for just hand tools.

 

[thesubhumans]

- Mig welder
- Air compressor
- Die grinder
- 1/2" impact gun
- Angle grinder
- And of course floor jack & jack stands

 

[ImportTuner]

- Mig welder
- Air compressor
- Die grinder
- 1/2" impact gun
- Angle grinder
- And of course floor jack & jack stands

What is a die grinder used for other than valve jobs... ? Just curious because that is probably the only air tool I don't have.

 

[MAD]

How about a slight branch off of that one. Tools every home wrench-turner SHOULD have, but most don't.

1. A good prybar that won't flex when you lean on it as hard as you can. Mayhew has good ones relatively cheap. A good overall length is 30-36". The super-butch 42" and 58" bars are almost useless unless you're working under a lift.

2. A quality one-piece hammer - Something with a deadblow head and a steel face.

3. A good brass sledge hammer - Proto makes a really nice 2 pound brass hammer. 32 oz. (2 pounds) is a good overall weight for a hammer, both the deadblow and a brass hammer.

Add - extending magnetic pick-up tool, wobble extensions 1/4" + 3/8" Dr., 2 fluorescent drop lights.

 

[Mario]

-Big socket set, or a least one socket that fit your CV axle nut. (27, 30 and 32mm in my case)
-Ball joint separator

Oh BTW, first post on this forum but I've been reading for a while...

 

[wilbilt]

Thanks guys ... Good stuff so far ... but was actually looking for just hand tools.

Torx bits/drivers
Quality wire strippers and crimpers
Digital multimeter

 

[mulepackin]

-GOOD droplight and halogen area lights. Can't work on what you can't see
-Battery tester, brushes, wrenches and charger
-Oil filter wrenches to fit your applications
-Grease gun
-Antifreeze tester
-Torx drivers. Most newer vehicles are loaded with Torx fasteners
-Micro screwdrivers
-Test lights and variety of jumpers for fixing trailer wiring
-Fuse puller
-Wire stripper/crimping tool
-Variety of funnels
-Good (not expensive) multimeter
-Inspection mirror
-Variety of clamps
-Tire inflation gauges, inflator blow gun (if you have a compressor, I don't
know how anyone can get by without one)

I'm sure there is more that I'm just not thinking of right now.

 

[mulepackin]

Wilbilt must have filed his reply while I was composing mine.

 

[kartracer55]

Decent range of 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 sockets. (metric for newer stuff)
Metric Wrench set
Hammers!!!!
Screwdrivers
Allen wrenches
Torx & Hex drivers
Pliers.

Unfortunatly, the way new cars seem to be going, you NEED specialized tools just to work on them. Tune up on a 3.0 Mitsubishi engine? Entire upper intake has to be removed.

Jim

 

[thesubhumans]

What is a die grinder used for other than valve jobs... ? Just curious because that is probably the only air tool I don't have.

I like to put a cut-off wheel on it to cut out a rusty section on my car or to cut out a new patch panel and if my cut is less than perfect i'll use the carbide cutter to smooth any bad cuts so that i get a perfect fit on my ****-weld.

It's kinda hard to explain, i actually use the cut-off wheel more than the carbide cutter.

 

[wythors]

What is a die grinder used for other than valve jobs... ? Just curious because that is probably the only air tool I don't have.

Put a cut-off wheel on it and you can cut things. Put the proper arbor on it and use Roloc discs to clean up metal surfaces. You can use it as a drill in a pinch. Put a grinding bit on it and you can smooth out rough edges. My die grinder is one of my favorite tools.

 

[-lecroix-]

My die grinder is one of my favorite tools.

Mine too. I have 4 of them, all 90 degree models. I use mine mostly for finishing welds on body panels.

1 for Roloc - 60 grit
1 for Roloc - 120 grit
1 for Roloc - 240 grit
1 for anything else (stones, Roloc bristle pads, etc)

 

[MAD]

What is a die grinder used for other than valve jobs... ? Just curious because that is probably the only air tool I don't have.

If you ever had your dremel get tool hot to hold with bare hands you might need one.

 

[kartracer55]

What is a die grinder used for other than valve jobs... ? Just curious because that is probably the only air tool I don't have.

90* die grinders are great for surface prep pads to clean up gasket surfaces and stuff

Jim

 

[boiler7904]

Set of taps and dies for both new threads and for rethreading
Hacksaw
Various files
Floor jack and jackstands sized for the application

 

[SteveU]

Some sort of heat source, we have to replace the cv boots on the wife's car today & it got down to 2*F last night & is only 6* F now. Doing any work in those temps is NOT fun.

 

[Dodgepu360]

I don’t think a timing light has been mentioned yet
Also if you are maintaining a vehicle that is ’96 or newer one of the ODBII diagnostic scanners would come in handy

I would say just to buy stuff as you go along no need in buying tools you might need someday maybe

As for the “it would be nice list” I would love to have a tire balancer
I like to rotate my tires every time I change the oil in one of my vehicles and it would be nice if I could balance them too instead of taking it in and paying someone to do it when I start to feel a little vibration, probably help the tires last a little longer too

 

[MAD]

Also if you are maintaining a vehicle that is ’96 or newer one of the ODBII diagnostic scanners would come in handy




A high impedance 12 Volt LED test light (Not with an incandescent bulb) is pretty essential for troubleshooting sensitive electronics on pre-OBDII mid 1980s- mid 1990s fuel and ignition systems. Cheap too.

Oh yeah, a Real factory type shop manual (not Chilton manual)

 

[kartracer55]

Also if you are maintaining a vehicle that is ’96 or newer one of the ODBII diagnostic scanners would come in handy

Id disagree. Decent ones are like what, $200? Id probably put this under the "it would be nice" catagory. For the amount of times a check engine light comes on, its almost not worth it. I know at my shop, if a customer is a regular, and we arnt really busy, we will pull the code and possibly reset it no charge. Computer Diagnose is 85/hr, 1/2hr min. That light would need to come on 5 times or so to justify the cost, and even then, if its not something you can fix, your going to pay the shop anyway.

Thats just me though.

 

[mike944]

The only thing i can think of that seems to be missing from this thread is a set of remote hose-clamp pliers. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00947390000

We had a discussion on them a few weeks back. If you work on newer cars, that use spring-type hose clamps, you need one of these.

Anybody who tries to tell you this is a "nice-to-have" has never actually used them.

 

[christian]

I don’t think a timing light has been mentioned yet
Also if you are maintaining a vehicle that is ’96 or newer one of the ODBII diagnostic scanners would come in handy

Autozone will pull your codes for free. Takes no time at all.

 

[...dave]

Kinda depends on what you're working on, but a few that i'll add to the list:

LED light on a headband (some of the best money i've ever spent)
Box cutter/shop knife (i have four or five, so that i can usually find one)
A good set of scissors (see above... for some reason my wife won't leave my damned scissors alone)
A handful of old wire coathangers (practically free, and they work as fish tape, contour gauge, slim-jim, and temporary brackets)
Carpenter's string
Mity-Vac
Turkey baster (you'd be surprised at how often i end up using this!)
Assortment of funnels
Assortment of vacuum caps and spare hoses
Double-flaring tool
Slide hammer/puller kit
Itty-bitty ratcheting screwdriver
Soldering iron
Safety glasses (i'm so sick of trying to blink rust and undercoating out of my eyes)
C-clamps (5-7" range for brake calipers)
Set of dental picks


i don't have much need for L-handle allen wrenches or nutdrivers, personally.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Didn't see thread files mentioned, very handy. Goes along with the taps and dies and thread restorer dies, but the thread files are extremely handy, both fractional and metric.

Lots of different extensions for the socket sets. I have a set of the 1/4 drive ones with the lock sleeves, the socket is positive locked on, cannot lose it, very valuable. Keeps sockets from winding up in some hidden spot in the frame.

I bought one of those fluted oil filter sockets that fits my filter (there are a dozen or more different sizes and flute counts) and it has proven invaluable. My filter hangs down next to the oil pan (2.0 chrysler product). Band type filter wrenches just didn't work.

Charles

 

[1320stang]

Good post, I guess I ought to post the list of tools I've been using to get by on. I've pretty much been able to tackle just about any job I've taken on with these tools, I typically only add if it's something I need. I perused you all's lists which helped me to remember some of the same stuff you all have, plus add a few things of my own that I didn't see listed.

1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 6pt & 12pt shallow sockets in both SAE and metric
1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 6pt deep sockets in SAE
a couple of CV sockets, 27 & 32 I think
A few 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 extensions, nothing longer than 6"
1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 wobbles that I rarely use
1/2 torque wrench
1/2 breakover bars, one 18" and one 24"
combo wrenches in both SAE and metric
flat, phillips & Torx screwdrivers
a few nut driver bits and torx bits
Allen wrenches, L shaped
Pliers, regular, needle nose, side cutting, linesman, channel locks, vise grips
special pliers, cv boot, internal and external snap ring, hemostat
Hammers, 2# sledge, a brass ball peen I made in foundry class, rubber
Slide hammer
impact driver
punches and chisels
floor jack
two pair of 3 ton jack stands
cheap 4 wheel creeper
compact flourescent drop light
500w halogen on a stand
lousy chinese vise
oil changing pan
metal strap type oil filter wrenches
putty knives for scraping gaskets, one stiff and one flexible
mechanical wire stripper and a good set of crimping pliers
4" angle grinder with sanding disc attachment and knotted wire cup brushes
bench grinder with wire wheel on one side
40 gal. tank style parts washer
mig welder
magnetic pick up tool and a claw tool
digital multi meter
a variety of spring clamps (great when changing timing belts)
Vise Grip bar clamps (pull the roll pin and turn the clamp around to pry apart)
C clamps
different size and shape funnels
grease gun
turkey baster
a big metal syringe like tool to **** fluid out or put fluid in
antifreeze tester
an old computer power supply to bench test electrical components (5v & 12v)
tire gauge
a tire plug kit in a pinch (live 8 miles from town, prefer patches)
an electric die grinder/cutoff tool
various size and shaped files
hacksaw
timing light
shop vac
utility and razor knives
single edge razor blades
soldering iron

 

[toms73novass]

This is my #1 must have tool.

I have two of them. No matter what I am working on I can see with this! There is never a shadow in my way or a light in my face.

It is hands down the best tool I have ever bought. Nothing is more fustrating that not being able to see. It is very bright and the batteries last a longggg. Time. I would only buy this type, I have tried others and they are too bulky and not bright enough.

I actually have 2 because I like them so much. My first one is probably 4-5 years old and still works like a champ. I actually have only replace the battteries in it once.

 

[-lecroix-]

Ya got a brand name or a link? Sounds like something worth looking at.

 

[wrpeterson]

Linky

 

[-lecroix-]

Nice ... Thanks!

 

[ImportTuner]

Autozone will pull your codes for free. Takes no time at all.

Autozone has a reader ... you want a scanner which does more than just read stored codes ..

 

[toms73novass]

Linky

if you check ebay you can do better.

I picked up my second one for 23.50.

There are several models. you want the one that is linked it has the brighter light.

 

[mulepackin]

A headlamp is a very useful item. I have three. Beats a minimag in the teeth all to heck. I always have one with me when I'm in the attic or crawl space working on things. Just as handy on vehicles. Check any of the outdoor catalog company websites. Petzl is the brand I prefer ( I use them for my outdoor pursuits extensively). I also have this little attachment for my mini mag that pops over the end, looks like a whale tail. Makes holding it in my mout alot easier, but I still drool all over everything.