Request: Pull it yourself style junkyard tool kit advice

[franksta]

So I've discovered a pull it yourself junkyard within convenient proximity to my house. I went on Friday to check it out and took what turned out to be way too many of the wrong tools. It was one of those huge suitcase style Craftsman kits. It has 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ratchets and sockets and a few combination wrenches. Most of it turned out to be dead weight.

Obviously if I know ahead of time what I'm trying to get I can prepare for that and bring the necessary tools. But the genius of this kind of junkyard is just walking through and seeing what catches your eye. I'm looking for tool suggestions to remove the "It caught my eye" stuff.

Also rather than bringing my "good" Craftsman stuff I'm going to build a kit from harbor freight or similarly priced tools. This way I'm not out much money if they get lost and I can build the set for not a lot of coin.

Based on Friday's experience here's what I will bring next time:
3/8" Ratchet, extensions, and sockets.
An assortment of screwdrivers
Dykes or other instrument to cut wires




TL;DR: Looking for essential tools required at pull it yourself junkyard

 

[NutBucket]

A hammer....the bigger the better.

And a large prybar.

 

[iamwiz82]

Dogbone wrenches are efficient uses of space.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Can't you look at your own car to figure out what's needed? That's what I usually do... remove old part, save all tools used in process, bring tools + regular kit stuff in car, only take needed tools inside junkyard and have more in car/truck if needed.

Also bring PB blaster and a small torch, if that's your style.

 

[Jimzz]

Best tool... Personality and be nice.

I have let others use my tools and borrowed a couple(within eyesite of course). Also had someone pull on a hood while I hit it with a hammer.

Also look in the cars for their jacks. Allows you to jack cars up without bringing a jack. Just make sure to put a tire or other item under the car.

Make a list of what you want and what else you may need and base your tools on that. Also if you can have someone to come with you that is even better. I hauled my neice with me and had her carry some tools after I loaded up on parts.

 

[franksta]

Good stuff here, thanks.

The yard doesn't permit pry bars larger than 36", no open flames, and nobody under the age of 16. I think there are other stipulations as well but those are the ones I remembered. I'd really like to not go by myself next time as I'm paranoid about having my attention focused on something and not on the things going on around me.

There was a guy that needed a radio removed but didn't have a socket small enough. I removed the radio for him and he cut some wires for me.

All of the cars are already up in the air. They take 2 wheels, one laying down and the other upright on top of it. They weld them together and use them as supports. I was skeptical but if I was going to get under anything I'd shake it really well to see if it was solid. I'm not going to die under some crappy wrecked car in a junkyard while laying in a puddle of gear oil.

 

[herm0016]

2lb hammer, breaker bar, pry bar. general socket and wrench set, pliers set. Big adjustable wrench.
This is about what is in my truck at all times anyway.

 

[Plugers]

A dewalt cordless drill.

I also made a harness with crimp on spades that fit the dewalt battery terminals. If you ever see a power seat you want you can use the battery to directly manipulate the seat motors to get to the bolts.

I guess any cordless drill battery would work though.

 

[phucheneh]

The tool sets from Sears do okay, but they include a lot of non-optimal stuff and a lot of things that are outright useless.

I do not recommend Craftsman wrenches. Ever. They're made of dogshit pot metal. 12 point boxes will strip bolts and the jaws of open ends will bend. Sockets are okay but are not any sturdier than a much cheaper Stanley set. Ratchets are garbage.

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-990...rench+set+flex

Keep those around for long enough, and you'll want to find a Gearwrench employee and rabidly fellate him. They're that useful.

Couple those with a good flex-head (pref locking) 3/8" ratchet and a set of deepwell sockets. Add in a wobble joint and various extensions.

I have a Snap-On ratchet of that variety. The 80 tooth mech is awesome. However, I want to throw it back in some tool guy's fucking face, because the lock is garbage and makes it a $100 paperweight. Seriously- I carry it in my car so that the next time I see a Snap-On truck at a random shop, I can walk on and tell him that I want to return it, since it can't be repaired to work properly.

http://www.amazon.com/Armstrong-11-9...+ratchet+3%2F8

That, however, is probably fine. Very similar if not identical to the 60 tooth Matco I normally use. The flex head, much like on the gearwrenches, is invaluable, especially when coupled with a decent selection of extentions and a decent wobble. But I would never buy a flex ratchet without a lock.

Past that, you start to get a lot more specific.

http://www.amazon.com/PROF-SCREWDRIV...rds=astro+bits

Those are nice to have in a pinch to cover any torx/allen/whatever needs.

Can't think of anything else 'essential' at the moment.

edit: oh yeah- a GOOD adjustable wrench. I have an old-ass Snap-on one that I commonly use for stuff like fittings- it is honestly less prone to stripping than cheap line wrenches are.

Also these are the best pliars on the planet. I dunno if anyone else makes this style.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681237&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[The Boston Dangler]

based on what i saw at the junkyards, a hazmat suit would be good. puking directly on the cars might be an improvement seriously tho, i couldn't tell ya what nasty animals died in there. also, the fresh cars often still had blood from their crashes

 

[franksta]

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-990...rench+set+flex

These are on my list of things to get for home use. They cost about as much as I want to spend on the whole junkyard kit. I'm not taking anything to the junkyard that I'd be upset about if it got left behind.

Couple those with a good flex-head (pref locking) 3/8" ratchet and a set of deepwell sockets. Add in a wobble joint and various extensions.

I have a Snap-On ratchet of that variety. The 80 tooth mech is awesome. However, I want to throw it back in some tool guy's fucking face, because the lock is garbage and makes it a $100 paperweight. Seriously- I carry it in my car so that the next time I see a Snap-On truck at a random shop, I can walk on and tell him that I want to return it, since it can't be repaired to work properly.

I have exactly 2 SnapOn tools. Both are 3/8" drive ratchets. One is about 30 years old and the other is one of the new 80 tooth designs. They aren't flex heads but I could see that being very useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Armstrong-11-9...+ratchet+3%2F8

That, however, is probably fine. Very similar if not identical to the 60 tooth Matco I normally use. The flex head, much like on the gearwrenches, is invaluable, especially when coupled with a decent selection of extentions and a decent wobble. But I would never buy a flex ratchet without a lock.

This could be very useful and the price isn't outrageous.

Past that, you start to get a lot more specific.

http://www.amazon.com/PROF-SCREWDRIV...rds=astro+bits

Those are nice to have in a pinch to cover any torx/allen/whatever needs.

Great recommendation. No sense taking a ton of individual drivers when I can take this convenient assortment.

Can't think of anything else 'essential' at the moment.

edit: oh yeah- a GOOD adjustable wrench. I have an old-ass Snap-on one that I commonly use for stuff like fittings- it is honestly less prone to stripping than cheap line wrenches are.

Also these are the best pliars on the planet. I dunno if anyone else makes this style.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681237&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Adjustable wrench is already on my list. I'll keep an eye out for that style but I'm not holding my breath.