Tools - Opinions

[Chris LR]

Just a quick survey of what tools people own/use when working on their cars?

As some of you may be aware I'm to become a fully skilled Mechanic soon and I've started to build up a set of tools....

It's a mix of Snap-On, Draper and cheap shit....It's stored In a big metal box with 2 padlocks, screw heads drilled out and nut heads rounded off. It's also got rivets and spot welds too.

[novaboy_southwest]

i just got a socket set and a few bits from my tool box as i am a chippie but i do have acsess to a full garage tool set when needed all snap on and in a gient snap on tool chest also all the ramps and lifs and rolling road air tools so basicly a work shop when needed free

[rallyslag]

Grinder, mig and a big hammer!! :lol:
Apart from that a vast set of sockets and spanners and loads of 13mm's.

Recently went to the expense of a 13mm ratchet spanner, ?10 but well worth it. Also got a well nifty 1/4 draper socket set

[mikeoxford]

one of them big halfords professional tool set ranges, 100 pieces for a 100 pounds

except it made its way to my house a rather unconventional way - so it was a litlle cheaper ;)

erm

trolley jack
torque wrench
valves spring compressors, quite a bit actualy :S

i always though i never had any!

[Neil.]

this tool set my sister brought me from marks & spencers, it's the best, got all socket sizes, spark plugs sockets, pliers, screw driver with different 'bits', tie raps, wire brush, spark plug measurer, ajustable spanner, and all in a briefcase size breifcase!

[MattyWoo]

this tool set my sister brought me from marks & spencers, it's the best, got all socket sizes, spark plugs sockets, pliers, screw driver with different 'bits', tie raps, wire brush, spark plug measurer, ajustable spanner, and all in a briefcase size breifcase!

Yeah i got one of them off my sis for christmas, that lives in my car.

In the garage i've got a mixture of different makes but mostly halfords, their professional range is top quality stuff!!!! (apart from when u drop the socket set in a gravel filled scrappy and spend 30 mins lookin for the bits and dont find them all :( lol)

[ollster]

ive got snap-on large socket set (over13mm), and for the smaller sizes ive got a proto small socket set, very good stuff this particular socket set is 20 years old (was my dads) and and i have never broke the ratchet, extensions universal joints etc. Got lots of sykes & pickavant tools too, my favourite being the hydraulic nut spliter which is possibly the most usefull tool you can buy when working on old cars :!:.

[Stuart]

mix of halfords pro stuff, some teng (but im never buyigng teng ever again!! they are poo), and some "home made/butcherd" toolsfor those "tricker things"

ratchet spanners (both ends with rings with industrial steel insets) are fantastic, v handy for hard to reach places.

jsut need to get a good strong set of flat screwdrives, mainly for leverage purposes lol

PS dont get a snapon breaker bar, they twist the head out way too easily. the halfords one is much much stronger

[privatepie]

i have lots of tools most being snap-on a few halfords and others knocking about a nice big 2lb ball pein hammer (can't do a job without 1)
just got a new troley jack and axel stands from machine mart for ?70 and i think is worth the money buying a good jack and axel stands could save ya life

[Nova-Boy]

Stack on box (not snap on :( ) with 3-4 socket sets (small, Big and a strange on thats sizes aren't right!) Every spanner from 5 to 30mm. Screwdriverd, pliers, allen keysetc etc. Crinders hammers drills ect etc. Pulleys clams and engine lift.

A garage full of stuff.

Eveything you would need to re-build a car and Racing bike. Need to have all the tools for a weekend racing. You never know whats going to happen!

[locky]

I HAVE 2 use Snap on and Draper! If i use cheap tools where i work they will last a max of a day! although i bought a big allan key set from hyper value which is good! i use these tools on my car, i bring em home, or my boss will let me stay on in work, he only lives up the rd from me so im able 2 drop the keys 2 him! The good thing bout using snap on is the lifetime warranty, but read the small print! :o

[Fester]

absolutely loads of stuff in the garage at home, grandads stuff passed on to my old man, more stuff hes bought and other specialised stuff which ive bought, some is good quality, some is random brand stuff

theres usually something for most jobs :)

[Stuart]

ive found draper to have slipped in the quality rankings over the past few years.

some of the oddball german stuff is quite good, although its light. we get a set of tools with the combine, so they must be up to the job lol

[ade]

I've been told I live in B&Q - I go in and head straight for the power tools section!

Bought a router and a circular saw the other month - aint even used em yet!

Got a whole mix match of tools, boxes and drills etc. Too much too list!

[Chris LR]

I've got to admit that some of the draper stuff is very good value...

Drain plug set (chrome), 7 pcs including 3/8 T bar was about a tenner, Hex key set Metric and Imperial 20pcs ?6.

I've found a few bits of Stanley in the Index bargain bin... Large Hacksaw ?6, Knifes ?3, Screwdrivers ?1-3.

[Slatter]

Ive got a few tools Draper Expert and stuff at home

But at work Its SNAP ON all the way

Me or boss has got most things u would ever dream about in our tool boxes

[Cjscooby]

I have access to a Full Snapon Tool Kit as my mate rebuilds classics in the middle of a MK2 Jag atm so i just rob what i can lol

[MattNovaSport]

Also Halfords professional tools,

Full set of Imperial/Metric Sockets
Range of Spanners
Range of Rachet Spanners
Solid Hammer/Rubber Mallet
Mole Grips
Pilers

All halfors, no problems with them at all, socket wrenchs need taking to bits and greesing when you first get them but that is all.
Only non-halfors item,

Expensive torque wench (only item I spent plenty of money on, important when doing up head bolts etc).

[Ste_Nova]

mostly halfords stuff... snap on stuff for things that i break a lot 3/8 extension bars etc

hammers and other bashing tools are all draper

power tools are all de-walt

got access to full garage with all snap on etc ramps etc but don't need to use it that often

[Chris LR]

Why bother paying silly money on torque wrenches?

Draper, ?24 40 - 230NM

I have a set of cheap axel stands and a cheap jack, they work ok but don't like em, the stands have a single piece base instead of 3 individual legs - which i like. The jack is so slow and doesn't go very high either.

[Benjoyce]

dads got 4 HUGH cabinets full of snap on stuff, worth a mint, but its the best! can't beat it. also got trolley jack, compressor, etc all the usual stuff, pluys loads of vvvv.unusal tools which i'd never dream that'd make that are only used for like 1 purpose and get used every 10yrs or something!!!