Beginners toolset

Alright guys,

This is pretty basic but I figured someone just getting into the hobby might be able to use it. Everyone needs to start somewhere, but if you don't know what to buy and have never really worked on a car, it can be confusing.

Toolbox: You need a place to store your tools right? This is the most important thing to start with. There are a lot to choose from but a beginner only needs about five drawers. The best bet will be the lower cabinet of a modular system similar to those at sears which allow you to stack three tool boxes on top of each other. These can retail anywhere from $100 to $500. For a quality five drawer unit, expect to spend around $200. (tip: sears sells a five drawer project center for about $150 around christmas time)

Initial tool set: Buying all of your sockets one by one will add up quickly. Start by purchasing a 200-300 piece socket set from sears. The set will come with all of the basic 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sockets along with ratchets and a set of wrenches. This will be a good base to start from. Expect to spend $150-$300. Prices are much better around christmas also.

Additional tools: You will need to add these tools to your starter set on your own.
1. Set of screwdrivers
2. Set of pliers
3. Set of Vise grips
4. set of crescent wrenches
5. hammer (nothing huge or fancy, just a medium solid hammer)
6. extensions for your ratchets (if your set didn't come with any)
7. mechanics gloves
8. oil filter ratchet (i think that's what it's called)
9. jack and jackstands

This is a very basic tool set for the beginner. There is quite a bit more out there to spend your money on, but wait until you need it and you know what your're doing (don't worry, you'll know when you need it ). Otherwise you may buy tools you don't need.

One last word: Brands. You can buy your tools for cheap or spend as much as you want to. I bought most of my first tools at Harbor freight. They worked ok for the price but over half of what i bought four years ago is now the mangled tool pile. The socket set i bought at sears four years ago is cherry and all still there. Don't get me wrong, if your on a budget, get the cheap tools. But if you can, craftsman tools along with a few other higher end brands are a great value as they will offer years of use.

If anyone wants to, feel free to add anything i forgot. Remember though, this is a basic tool list for the beginner. No plasma cutters or 10 ton hydraulic presses.

don't forget the coat hanger and duct tape.

That's not a bad list. Years ago I was pretty wet behind the ears, and went to see a guy about a job at an auto shop. When he was asking me about experience, he said how many $ worth of tools do you own. I thought it was weird at the time but I see his point. A serious mechanic, has serious tools.

As a pointer, garage sales and flea markets are great places to buy tools.
Buy your name brand tools there, because the cheap ones sell for the same at HF or at the garage sale. About two years ago I went to a little garage sale, turns out it was a retired mechanic. He was getting rid of all his duplicate stuff, I snaged a box full of name sockets and wrenches etc for $75.00, Score!

Estate sales are great places too. I went to one where a mechanic had died, and they were selling off all his SnapOn , Proto, etc tools. I bought a bunch, and his Brother came up to me and said " I heard you say you liked Fords." So he brings out this big box of new bearings, pushrods, etc and hands them to me.

I have also scored some deals at Pawn Shops. But there are two kinds of Pawn Shops. Some take every socket out of the box and price it individually, and some just sell you what ever is in an unclaimed tool box. I would go throught the box and make a mental tally of the good tools inside, and if the price was reasonable, buy it. Then I would toss out the Jap stuff inside and keep the name brand stuff. Got a lot of SnapOn quality tools that way.

Don

Favorite weapon!

Halford,
Your list sounds good but I lke sledge hammers, I have several but... I really like to wack stuff sometimes!

BoB

Tools

Don don't throw away the Jap stuff keep it in a tool box with all the broken tools you have
That way when someone ask to borrow some tools you have some to lone.
They will only ask once!

Great idea!

hillbillychopper said:

Don don't throw away the Jap stuff keep it in a tool box with all the broken tools you have
That way when someone ask to borrow some tools you have some to lone.
They will only ask once!

Click to expand...

Chopper,
That is a great idea... thanks!!!

BoB

About the only thing I would be able to add would be a prybar set from HF, and a good quality drill. The reason I say "Quality Drill" is because the drill I use at home is a sears original and is older than I am...

hillbillychopper said:

Don don't throw away the Jap stuff keep it in a tool box with all the broken tools you have
That way when someone ask to borrow some tools you have some to lone.
They will only ask once!

Click to expand...

Actually, I do have a couple of drawers full of off brand sockets and wrenches. I use them when I need to make a tool to fit into some tight spot. I have them with welded on handles, and others bent into all kinds of shapes. They got me out of trouble more than once, and that way I'm not welding on a Craftsman or similar socket.

I notice you had jackstands in your list. To that I would add, buy a much bigger set than you think you need. HF are fine, but buy the biggest set they sell. Your life depends on them, and I have bent a few of the cheaper ones over the years.

Don

Thats so true on the estate sales, I bought a bunch of old monster and i mean big rig monster size wrenches at one once in a big pile. Dirt cheap and i've never used them but at the bottom of the pile when i started digging. A full set of extra extra long 3/8" extensions. The longest is just shy of two feet i think. They have come in handy more then once and i've never seen anything like them anywhere.

Don, how the heck did you bend a jackstand? I've had my HF 2 1/4 ton stands for years and even used them to support the front end of 72 sedan deville (one of the biggest yachts ever made). I'm really curious to know.

Sledge hammers are good also, the only reason i didn't put it on the list is that most beginners will only buy so many tools. A medium size hammer should meet the needs for smaller spaces and some heavy hammering. If you can though, get a sledge too. (i still need to buy one, i just forget as soon as i put away the regular hammer)

heres a bit tip. if your ready to buy some highend tools call up any of your friends whos son or maybe daughter is in a hands on feild of schooling. they give the absolute best deals to students. i know my dad has couple 100 k in his 2 box snap on set and that alot of kids are coming out of school with a degree and one killer set up of tools. this goes for welders...tools......etc.

No, I've never bent one of the HF cast ones, but I have bent those ones that are stamped steel with a metal band around them. You know, the ones with the round tubes going down inside, and you insert a pin into the hole.

I tossed all those years ago so my Sons wouldn't be tempted to use one of them.

The HF cast iron ones are really pretty good for the money, and I have a bunch of them.

Don

ok, that makes more sense. I was wondering what you were up to for a second. Building a tank? lol

Yup..Sears has alot of sales thruout the year ...some good deals...

Well I have a little story about jack stands. Up here we have a store called Princes Auto. Same as your Habour Freight. I was working for a collision shop were the owner desided is was time to get some new equipment. He picked up some new floor jacks and 6 ton jack stands from this store. A new set for every mechanic.

I had the rear end of a Geo Metro up on these new stands and was working on the left 1/4 panel while sitting on a stool. Suddenly the stand on that side failed and the car began to roll towards me. By the grace of god the other stand didn't fail and the car was light enough to not fall off the other stand or I wouldn't be here to tell this story.

I went to the manager, brought him out to see this. The next day all those stands were gone.

The moral here is don't scrimp on something that your life will depend on.

Don't know if anybody is reading this anymore but I may add something from my very limited experience, a multi-meter. The one tool I cringe every time I have to pull it out. May be a five minute fix, may be a full afternoon of misery. Worst part is you never know how long it's gonna take till it's already done!

Don't forget an 18" bendable pick-up magnet. And a propane torch. They're both less than 10 bux. And some spare #2 Phillips bits (less than a buck each). Oh, and a bottle opener......

roddguy1 said:

Well I have a little story about jack stands. Up here we have a store called Princes Auto. Same as your Habour Freight. I was working for a collision shop were the owner desided is was time to get some new equipment. He picked up some new floor jacks and 6 ton jack stands from this store. A new set for every mechanic.

I had the rear end of a Geo Metro up on these new stands and was working on the left 1/4 panel while sitting on a stool. Suddenly the stand on that side failed and the car began to roll towards me. By the grace of god the other stand didn't fail and the car was light enough to not fall off the other stand or I wouldn't be here to tell this story.

I went to the manager, brought him out to see this. The next day all those stands were gone.

The moral here is don't scrimp on something that your life will depend on.

Click to expand...

Roddguy, Princess Auto is one of my favourite hangouts, besides a strip bar ! I do agree with you on some of their stuff, though. Anything "heavy duty" (i.e.: vise, trouble lamp, grinder, air impact) doesn't stand up from what I found. I use a lot of their hand tools for my trade (auto glass, so I'm not reefing on anything too seized) such as sockets, dead blow hammers, screwdrivers, etc........ I'll scratch jack stands off my list now. By the way, where are you ? Is there a Princess near you ?

This is a good list to keep fresh for any beginners.

I bought a mint Makita sawzall on garage sale several years ago for $25. You can do most basic fabricating with a good sawzall, cheap welder & a 4.5" grinder. Look for local mechanics and carpenters to have the sawzalls.

sixtall said:

Roddguy, Princess Auto is one of my favourite hangouts, besides a strip bar ! I do agree with you on some of their stuff, though. Anything "heavy duty" (i.e.: vise, trouble lamp, grinder, air impact) doesn't stand up from what I found. I use a lot of their hand tools for my trade (auto glass, so I'm not reefing on anything too seized) such as sockets, dead blow hammers, screwdrivers, etc........ I'll scratch jack stands off my list now. By the way, where are you ? Is there a Princess near you ?

Click to expand...

I'm in Kitchener, there's a Princess Auto out by the 401 near Conostoga College.