These are the tools I use most!

[cowboy73]

I don't have as many tools as a lot of you guys. I certainly have a lot more since I joined. These are the tools I use most when working on my old crappy cars.

View media item 50901It has 1/4" and 3/8" drive SAE and metric sockets
This set cost me around $15 when I bought it about 17 years ago. It's made in Taiwan. The original ratchet gave out about 10 years ago. I replaced it with a Blackhawk one made in the USA. The spinner handle was a piece of **** from the get go. I chucked it about 16 years ago and replaced it with an Allen branded one that was made in the USA. I have replaced two sockets that I wore out, 10mm and 13mm. There are 2 or 3 I had to replace when my son lost them.... The original extension was also lost. I replaced it with a Popular Mechanics brand one from Walmart. This socket set has paid for itself many times over the years.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Same, except mine are Craftsman ! Get a couple more extensions and a 3/8" universal.

I have a 1/4" breaker bar for those stubborn little fasteners ! If you find you do a lot with small fasteners (home appliances, lawnmowers, etc.), a couple of 1/4" extensions and a universal is worth the money !

 

[F124C]

How refreshing to see someone post a small toolkit for a change, most everyone else on here seems hellbent on outdoing the previous poster's collection.

Don't worry, as long as your toolkit enables you to do whatever work that's required on your own car, you have enough.

I sometimes think back to when I started working on Jap. motorcycles as a teenager, I couldn't afford any socket set. Made do with a reasonable set of Heyco Open ends and Box wrenches.
Big event for me was when I finally managed to buy a Vessel Impact Driver. Not having this very useful tool meant I previously had to learn/devise several techniques for loosening very tight Jap. crosshead screws.
Didn't have a mallet either, used a hammer and a block of wood as a 'cushioned' drift.
Reckon I had more fun with less in those days.

Keep up the good work,

Al.

 

[cowboy73]

I have more tools than this. But this is usually what I reach for first! It takes care of most stuff. I have a drawer full of ratchets, extensions, other stuff.

View media item 17229
View media item 17227
That little cheap socket set takes care of most things.

 

[stikman56]

For years I built cars with a very minimum of tools. As I got older, I got more lazy and got more tools. I want "easy", not hard when I fix stuff now.

 

[Big Giant Head]

Haha! I still have my original socket set, cost me $5 in the 70's when I had to work on my VW beetles all the time. I've replaced the ratchet twice also, and I've had to put foam, or a sheet of newspaper folded up to keep all the sockets from falling out of their holes. I've cursed that set all these years for having no extensions, no U-joints, etc. but I've used it all this time. I'm going to pass it down to one of my kids, that may not have a tool kit already.

 

[harvey29]

I have a set almost identical I got from my grandpa almost twenty years ago as a birthday present. I still have mine and use it.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The best tool is the one that works for you and is paid for. Not a damn thing wrong with a set like that. My step-dad has used a set like that for about as long as I can remember.

 

[unslow1]

For years I built cars with a very minimum of tools. As I got older, I got more lazy and got more tools. I want "easy", not hard when I fix stuff now.

That seems to be the route I have followed also.

 

[sberry]

This is what I use the most.

 

[d.mcfarland]

How refreshing to see someone post a small toolkit for a change, most everyone else on here seems hellbent on outdoing the previous poster's collection.

Great point. A kit that works for the average guy is just as cool to me as the people who have payments on theirs.

That said, student loan payments aren't much different than tool truck payments.

 

[hifi_hokie]

I find a 3/8" drive set and a pair of Vice-Grips gets me through 90% of what I need.

One tool that I resisted the purchase of for a while, but now won't live without, was a good electric impact driver. Makes life with corroded fasteners so much easier.

 

[bczygan]

I have way too many tools because of this forum.

What gets used?

Mostly an old $2 hammer and whichever free HF screwdriver I can lay my hands on.

Wrenching? I try to avoid it. But if forced to, like the brake job my wife's car needs right now, a Craftsman RP lets me beat on it with the hammer.

Any repair needing more than that, just doesn't need doing. Drive it until it quits.

Bill (Not a master mechanic)

 

[bczygan]

This is what I use the most.

What else could you possibly need?

 

[trentonmakes]

BFH. Lol

 

[sberry]

You hit it hard enough it is a BFH

 

[SAATR]

A 4lb drilling hammer, followed by the 8, 14, and 20lb sledge hammers. All else are accessories.

 

[ilovevocs]

This is what I use the most.

Looks like my dads tool box. Taught me to do my first oil change with a claw hammer, slotted screw driver, and adjustable pliers.

 

[ilovevocs]

I have way too many tools because of this forum.

What gets used?

Mostly an old $2 hammer and whichever free HF screwdriver I can lay my hands on.

Wrenching? I try to avoid it. But if forced to, like the brake job my wife's car needs right now, a Craftsman RP lets me beat on it with the hammer.

Any repair needing more than that, just doesn't need doing. Drive it until it quits.

Bill (Not a master mechanic)

You sir sound like my father. He does tend to buy simple 2wd vehicles with a stable power plant a drive terrain, nothing hyped up or fancy. But he changes the oil, drives like miss daisy, and parks them in the back yard after about 250,000 miles. I call it the no Maintainance Maintance plan. Serves him well, I can't seem to figure it out. I think I'm too hard on the skinny peddle and like things that go fast with big tires. For me it's self inflicted. Dad seems to live a simpler life though, leaning more towards that theses days. Less is more.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Nothing wrong with keeping it simple. So long as you can handle what you need to, you are good to go.

 

[lauver]

Here's the top 15 tools I use, not necessarily in order of frequency:
1) 12oz ball pein hammer,
2) small assortment of punches/chisels,
3) 6" needle nose plier,
4) 6" side cutter plier,
5) 9-1/2" tongue & groove plier,
6) wire stripper/crimper plier,
7) 4" x #2 Phillips screwdriver,
8) 4" x 1/4" blade screwdriver,
9) 6v/12v test lamp,
10) 3/8" drive shallow sockets (10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm),
11) 3/8" drive shallow sockets (3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16"),
12) 3/8" drive flex handle ratchet,
13) 1/2" drive flex handle breaker bar with 19mm & 21mm deep impact sockets for lug nut removal,
14) 12" prybar, and
15) Mini Mag Lite pocket flashlight.

 

[Kracin]

most used over the years has been a 170+ piece mechanics tool set, channellock branded that i got at sams club back when i was 16. it's built 2 different cars from the ground up and repaired many more (of course with the help of a few other things that get bought to make the magic happen when you need a special tool), but i haven't had a single complaint from it over the years. 1/4,3/8, and 1/2 drive ratchets, sockets, deeps and shallows in a good assortment, as well as bits, adapters, and wrenches up to 5/8. over the years i've put pipes on the ratchets, double wrenched, and impacted with the extensions and sockets and havent even noticed a ding in the tools. the only thing thats broken has been the 1/2-3/8 adapter.... of course because i was trying to use it to adapt to a 3/8 socket and used a 1/2 breaker bar on it, smart self twisted the adapter off. but aside from that its been perfect.

similar to this, but not the same. mine came in a gray case with a similar layout, surprisingly i remember paying 60 when i got it, and the ratchets are all fine tooth 72 teeth i believe).

 

[kbeefy]

View media item 50901

My first set was almost identical to that. No nut driver. Bought it about 25 years ago.
I still have the 3/8's 6 point sockets... everything else has been replaced. They're still as good as anything short of tool truck quality today. Sad that the cheapest thing available then is nicer than the 'quality' Craftsman stuff for sale today.