how to start off my collection of tools/hardware


baxtej44

baxtej44

15+ Year Member

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Feb 8, 2009
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City
Omaha, Nebraska
Vehicle Year
1988
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I want to be able to pass my truck on down to my kids or grandkids some day, just like how it was passed on to me from my grandpa...

That being said, that obviously includes the fact that I will need to work on it over the years.


What are good quality staples that a simple beginning mechanic will need to have in order to keep everything working good, and be able to do simple jobs on?



The main reason behind this is I need small christmas items, so if you could keep them $30 or less, that'd be great.


Remember, staple items mostly. I don't need some specialized tool that I will only use once!
 
Wrenches and sockets. Get standard and metric.
 
any specific material, brands, or sizes(like the length or shape (crescent) on the wrenches?)

i have a small socket set now... is it worth it to get those ones that have like 30 different sockets? I have standard and metric right now, about 10 of each and a 3/8 drive ratchet i believe.
 
Basic hand tools....
Open end/box end wrenches
Sockets and ratchets 1/4,3/8,1/2 inch drive...3/8 being the most common.
All in standard and metric.
When it comes to hand tools....you get what you pay for.

At one time I probably had over 10K invested in hand tools,Snapon,Matco bla bla bla,but I used them everyday and made 75k a year easy.
In my book Stanley makes a pretty decent tool set for the buck.
You can score some great deals on the specialty stuff,Torque wrenches etc. at pawn shops.
 
any tool that is made in america and has a lifetime garuntee, is good, once you start working on vehicles though, those specialty tools come in really handy and can often be used for more than one thing....
wrenches
sockets
torx bits
screwdrivers
pry bars
an assortment of hammers
sawzall
engine hoist (not nessacarily for removing engines, they are handy for moving heavy things)
floor jack
a couple sets of jackstands
 
can't wait for spring time so that we can get a dumpster ordered, and we can get our basement cleared out so that i can have room for all of this.


any cheap means of storage?
 
Since you have a basement........build a bench and use pegboard.
To me a tool box is a pain the A$$.
I hate having to shuffle thru drawers to find what I need.
Stay away from the 97 piece made in china crap(I know stanley is made in china) for $20.
I bought these at Sears last week,I really liked them because of the rough finish,easy to handle when oily or greasey and they looked really beefy.
how to start off my collection of tools/hardware

When I pulled them out of the handy holder they came with......the other side
how to start off my collection of tools/hardware

I was a little let down..............I dont care if they have a lifetime warrenty.
Maybe its just me but I thought I was buying something made in the USA.
 
Hit up auctions and craigslist for toolboxes. Something like this is what I would start off with:

http://omaha.craigslist.org/tls/1488782543.html

I started with a box about the size of the bottom one and had it full immediately. I could probably fill at least two the size of that one easily.

If you have Menard's in Omaha, check out their Tool Shop brand...they are frickin cheap, and some of that stuff sucks bad but their sockets and stuff are actually decent. About 1/4 of my sockets are Tool Shop brand, including my 3/8 drive impact sockets and I haven't broken one yet after a couple years of daily use. It is worth getting the large tool set. I have probably 2-300 sockets in my possession right now and I use all of them except the tiny metric ones. Check your local pawn shops for sockets, I can usually get them for 5 cents each.

I have also had good luck with Ace Hardware brand tools, Stanley, and the other obvious ones like Craftsman, Snap-on, etc.

Best thing besides what is mentioned above would be a corded drill. I have a $30 Skil and it just will not die. Main thing is, don't cheap out on drill bits - get the ones with a lifetime warranty.

I am a tool whore.
 
if you have a harbor freight nearby, their tools are fine for the weekend mechanic and all of their brand of hand tools have a warranty easier to use than sears... that and they have some tool boxes that are ok, not great but if you were using them every day that would be a different story.

Ford likes to use a couple odd sizes of fasteners in certain areas, I would get an 18mm combination wrench and deep socket, as well as a 15mm combo wrench and deep socket, that and a 1 1/8" wrench or deep socket. that and get some torx bits for your socket sets, T55 is the biggest you'll need for the bed and I think the smallest they used is around T15 or T20.
 
what should i look for in a quality cordless drill?

brand? drive? battery voltage? anything else?
 
i think a new drill (to upgrade my 12v black and decker one), set of 30 wrenches or so, and a set of 30 or so sockets will be a good start...?


after that I can move on to sawzall, angle grinder, cut off wheel, BFH, etc
 
Sure, sounds good, I would still get a corded drill though, since you already have a cordless one.
 
There's a story that my Grandfather loves to tell about how before his father died he tore down an entire engine using nothing but a strait screw driver and a pair of vice grips.

Whether or not the above story is true is not the issue, the issue is that..

..vice grips are the shit. Get some. Beefy ones.
 
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