Hey all! I have a '93 Ford Explorer (and my fiance's Geo Prizm) that I'd like to start working on myself. Only problem is, I have ZERO tools. I've always borrowed other people's and now I need my own. I'd like to get some opinions on brands of hand tools, what pieces I will need, and what kind of money we're talking about. What about jacks and jack stands and all that? So if you were an amatuer mechanic starting your tool collection today, what would you do?? Thanks for any advice!
Advice needed for buying mechanic's hand tools.
- Thread starter fonzinator
- Start date
I've heard Craftsman (Sears store brand) are really good. Notfred uses them, and they've got a lifetime warranty. If one breaks, bring it back and they'll replace it.
I am a mechanic and I have Stanely tools. Stanely makes Mac, Homedepots, lowes, and a lot of others. Go to lowes and get the 300 peice set. Will have a little bit of everything you should need. Cost less than $200. If no lowes then get a good basic set from sears. There is a 10% off coupon at fatwallet right now.
Another vote for Craftsman - they're the best you can get for anything less than crazy money. Avoid the "made in Taiwan" stuff like the plague - unless you enjoy rounded off bolt heads and bruised knuckles.
You'll need:
Set of standard and metric sockets, 1/4" and 1/2" drive with wrench
Set of good screwdrivers
Set of box end and open end wrenches, standard and metric.
Wire cutters, crimpers, soldering iron, etc.
Brake bleeding kit.
At least 1 good hydraulic floor jack and 4 good jack stands. You never want to work under a car unless it's supported at at least 3 points.
Safety glasses.
I know you're asking about hand tools, but even a cheap compressor and air tools will save you a huge amount of time and aggravation when you work on your car. You can get a compressor complete with an impact wrench, ratchet and spray gun at Wal-Mart for $200 or so. Incredibly useful and well worth it.
Pawn shops are great places to get used hand tools for cheap.
You'll need:
Set of standard and metric sockets, 1/4" and 1/2" drive with wrench
Set of good screwdrivers
Set of box end and open end wrenches, standard and metric.
Wire cutters, crimpers, soldering iron, etc.
Brake bleeding kit.
At least 1 good hydraulic floor jack and 4 good jack stands. You never want to work under a car unless it's supported at at least 3 points.
Safety glasses.
I know you're asking about hand tools, but even a cheap compressor and air tools will save you a huge amount of time and aggravation when you work on your car. You can get a compressor complete with an impact wrench, ratchet and spray gun at Wal-Mart for $200 or so. Incredibly useful and well worth it.
Pawn shops are great places to get used hand tools for cheap.
Seems like Craftsman is getting a lot of votes. What about jacks and jack stands? What will I need in that department?
EDIT:Thanks for some great advice Phantom! So are air tools a totally separate road from hand tools? Would an impact wrench and rachet still use the common sockets from a hand tool set - or something different? Could I start with a hand tool set, then add the air tools later? Or would it be wiser to just start with the air tools?
EDIT:Thanks for some great advice Phantom! So are air tools a totally separate road from hand tools? Would an impact wrench and rachet still use the common sockets from a hand tool set - or something different? Could I start with a hand tool set, then add the air tools later? Or would it be wiser to just start with the air tools?
Working in your home garage, Craftsman tools will probably last you just about
forever. Plus they offer a lifetime warranty on their handtools.
When I started out as an auto tech. I started with craftman tools, they lasted
about year and then I had to start replacing them with professional tools;
Matco, Snap-on, etc. But, that was using them all day everyday.
If you decide to spend the big bucks on those tools, just
stay away from MAC. MAC made the only tools I've ever had problems with.
Craftsman tools will work just fine for you.
DD
forever. Plus they offer a lifetime warranty on their handtools.
When I started out as an auto tech. I started with craftman tools, they lasted
about year and then I had to start replacing them with professional tools;
Matco, Snap-on, etc. But, that was using them all day everyday.
If you decide to spend the big bucks on those tools, just
stay away from MAC. MAC made the only tools I've ever had problems with.
Craftsman tools will work just fine for you.
DD
Craftsman jacks and stands are good, too, no doubt, but they do not have a lifetime warranty (only 3 years, iirc), and cost an arm and a leg. I got mine from walmart for less than half the price, warrantied as well.
As far as tools themselves, I'd say just go buy a craftsman set for $100~200. Replacing craftsman tools on warranty is the easiest hing in the world; just walk into sears and say "this broke", then go get another one.
As a professional mechainc I started my tool set with Craftsman and still have some today. Get a good assortment of sockets and wrenchs, both metric and standard. A 2+ ton floor jack and some 3-ton jack stands, visegrips pliers, screwdriver set, and drain pans.
Here are a few tools I couldn't live with out:
Knipex® Alligator Pliers
Gear Wrenchs, SAE & Metric
Here are a few tools I couldn't live with out:
Knipex® Alligator Pliers
Gear Wrenchs, SAE & Metric
iamwiz82
Lifer
- Jan 10, 2001
- 30,772
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i agree with the air compressor thing. I bought a 20Gal 5.5HP compressor/tank at Home Depot for less than $200 with impact wrench and some other goodies. I need to get an air rachet now, though.
sockets can be interchanged between a regular rachet and an air rachet, however they make special hardened ones for air rachets since they provide so much more torque.
sockets can be interchanged between a regular rachet and an air rachet, however they make special hardened ones for air rachets since they provide so much more torque.
Sears runs specials where you get like a 2-300 piece kit WITH a pretty decent toolbox for around $250.
I bought the extra large one with like 350pcs and a nice box for like $325-350.
After about 7 years and three engine swaps I have collected a lot more tools and have moved to a larger toolbox.
IMO you don't need a compressor or impact wrench. get a dead blow hammer and a decent breaker bar and your in business.
Check yard sales as well, they sometimes have decent tools from a dead husband for cheap.
I bought about a 150 peice snap-on set for $10 from some wife who was mad at her husband and had divorced him or something
I bought the extra large one with like 350pcs and a nice box for like $325-350.
After about 7 years and three engine swaps I have collected a lot more tools and have moved to a larger toolbox.
IMO you don't need a compressor or impact wrench. get a dead blow hammer and a decent breaker bar and your in business.
Check yard sales as well, they sometimes have decent tools from a dead husband for cheap.
I bought about a 150 peice snap-on set for $10 from some wife who was mad at her husband and had divorced him or something
Personal preference here, but I can't stand air ratchets. I've never owned a 3/8s air
ratchet and never missed it either. I personally would go with a 1/4 air ratchet and
a for 3/8s get a good small impact gun with a good set of wobble sockets and extentions.
That 3/8s gun was my bestest buddy day in and day out, but those 3/8s air ratchets are
just slow, noisy beasts. Also, the hardend sockets are made for impact guns, air ratchets
actuall don't put out that much torque. Most times, you'll have to use some muscle to
break a bolt loose and then the air ratchet to finish taking it off. Thats why I like the gun,
just pull the trigger and all is good.
To each thier own though. I was the only guy in the shop without one.
DD
With a good set of extensions and wobble sockets, I could get to about 90% of
everything I needed to. For stuff I couldn't, I just used regular hand tools.
If you can't get a regular ratchet in there, you wont get an air ratchet in there
either.
Like I said, its just personal preference. I really just hate air ratchets.
DD
if you happen to be in the great white north, go to crappy t(canadian tire) and get some mastercraft stuff. They all have a lifetime warantee, and from what i remember snap-on makes them, for 1/4 the price. good stuff
Originally posted by: toph99
if you happen to be in the great white north, go to crappy t(canadian tire) and get some mastercraft stuff. They all have a lifetime warantee, and from what i remember snap-on makes them, for 1/4 the price. good stuff
got a source on that?
Craftsman tools are great, I've had to replace several of them and everytime I have just walked in and handed it to the clerk and they borught me another on eno problems, no hassles.
I still have some of my Grandfather's Craftsman tools, and my Grandson is using them now.
If you don't need the tools immediately, look for Sears ads in your Sunday paper.
They run tool sales all the time.
Get both SAE and Metric sockets and wrenches, but ratchets, breaker bars, extensions and adapters will work with both kinds of sockets.
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