how to start off my collection of tools/hardware

[Angie]

Something else to add to your tool chest. Get a good voltmeter and line testers. ignore the tool rack specials' $4.99. .... splurge a bit on a voltmeter, take care of it and it will last you a life time. budget in about 40 bucks for a middle road tester.

 

[Hopman]

Has anybody mentioned a couple of good pairs of Vise-Grips and a good pair of Channellocks?

 

[OilPatch197]

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

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the craftsman 192 piece socket set! The new sets have the "trifold" case, but the cases will wear out over time, but the tools are just outstanding, the set rides in my passenger floorboard.

 

[Mudhound]

Yeah, good call on the pipewrench. I feel kinda dumb for not mentioning that one, as I have 8-10" model in my ammocan toolbox, along a utilityknife, roll of electrical tape,assorted punches/chisels, and a tubing cutter, handy for busted brakelines/fuelines and a small pack of assorted compression fittings. Other tools in there of course...

 

[Hopman]

Another thing I recomend is a good Leatherman or Gerber multi-tool. I've got a Gerber Suspension and I love it. If not that, a good Swiss army knife and a good sharp blade is an absolute MUST!

 

[OilPatch197]

not just any pipe wrench, a pair of channel-locks and a RIDGID 36" pipe wrench(aluminum made in USA) You might think its way to big but there are many uses for it especially working with big pipe. Its lasted 20 years for my dad and at least has 100 years left in it.

and speaking about tools, always have a pocket knife on you, either a Benchmade 940, a W.R. Case Trapperlock, or a spyderco Tenacious.... these are all excellent blades.

 

[kcm1582]

Something else to add to your tool chest. Get a good voltmeter and line testers. ignore the tool rack specials' $4.99. .... splurge a bit on a voltmeter, take care of it and it will last you a life time. budget in about 40 bucks for a middle road tester.

Instead of a volt meter get a digital multimeter. The craftsman model 82141 is a good starter one and is great in the tight spaces of a car.

 

[TheTopher]

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.

+1


Anybody ever watch Gran Torino? the scene where he gives the kid vise grips, WD40 and duct tape and tells him he can fix 90% of his shit with that.


Another brand nobody has mentioned...Kobalt, the lowes store brand.


Most all their construction type tools are made in china but their actual mechanics tools are actually outsourced to the same company that craftsman outsources too, Danaher. They're the exact same as the craftsman equivalent just with a different brand name stamped on them and a slightly lower price tag. Same guarantee too, although I've never had to use it.


Edit: My girlfriend saw me posting this and asked about it...I ended up spending about ten minutes telling her how great vise grips are and all the different uses for them.

 

[baxtej44]

i was looking at a tools catalog that i picked up at lowe's and was also wondering about kobalt... but figured it was probably foreign, so i didn't mention it haha.


but on the plus side, i picked up my mdf and my pvc port tube, and am building my sub box soon!

 

[koda6966]

I have a bunch of Kobalt tools for college. They were cheap, and get the job done. I'm slowly going to be upgrading to Craftsman though.

I'll snap a picture of my tool bag sometime.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

10mm EVERYTHING! I can't tell you how many things I haverun into on both my trucks that require 10mm sockets or wrenches. lol Wire cutters, One of those hex ended screwdrivers and some sets of the different inserts (Its better to have individual screwdrivers but this is cheap and easely stored/found), Duct tape, Good pair of gloves, will save you from bloody knuckles, Tire Iron, pair of jackstands, Jack... Could go on all day...

But I think you would be really happy with getting a tool kit from sears its the holidays and stuff is onsale! I picked up a 300 or so peice craftsman tool set for i think 150 or 200! I love it! Great starter pack and you can just add on tools you need as you start working on stuff that requires it.

Another thing is Snap on... Expensive? yes Free replacements like Craftsman? Yes. I am not saying everything snap on but you can go wrong with a good Ratchet They have most teeth in the head so even if you only have like an inch or two to move back and forth it still works.

 

[kcm1582]

i was looking at a tools catalog that i picked up at lowe's and was also wondering about kobalt... but figured it was probably foreign, so i didn't mention it haha.

Kobalt tools aren't bad, but for the difference in price craftsman is a better investment.

 

[adsm08]

Maybe it's because I'm more of a gear head than a computer guy, but...

Having gone through 6 years of college I'd say to get a cheaper computer. Weather a low-ish end desktop or a used laptop that'll run word. After a few years that thing is going to be obsolete anyways. Your tools? never. Much better investment.

I learned the hard way not to mess around with too much games and stuff. I never saw the use for a laptop in class except for internet anyways... Nothing wrong with good 'ol fashioned note taking. $5 for a stack of notebooks and a pack of pencils is a pretty tough price to beat.

I'm a computer geek turned gear-head. I second the motion. A computer will be obsolete in a few years and you can buy a low end Acer or something used for $200 tops and it will do what you need. Your tools will never be obsolete.

Also, when possible, as you remove standard sized fasteners from your truck, replace them with metric ones. I have been slowly doing this over the past 5 years and have almost gotten all of the little buggers. It makes the truck much easier to work on knowing that 99% of your bolts are metric, where they used to be almost half and half (I think the original owner was doing the same thing I am, only going the other way).

 

[adsm08]

Another thing is Snap on... Expensive? yes Free replacements like Craftsman? Yes. I am not saying everything snap on but you can go wrong with a good Ratchet They have most teeth in the head so even if you only have like an inch or two to move back and forth it still works.

They also have that nice little engraving by the direction pawl that tells you if its going on or off. I know most guys don't need it, but when you aren't great with little things like left and right, like me, its awful handy.

 

[AllanD]

Also, when possible, as you remove standard sized fasteners from your truck, replace them with metric ones. I have been slowly doing this over the past 5 years and have almost gotten all of the little buggers. It makes the truck much easier to work on knowing that 99% of your bolts are metric, where they used to be almost half and half (I think the original owner was doing the same thing I am, only going the other way).

Ok,, let's see if you can tell me exactly what machine screw fasteners
on your 1987 supercab are English...
Betcha you can't...

I'll give you a hint, there are TEN locations on a Ranger that
usually have english fasteners. Most are impractical or pointless
to change.

Anyone wanna guess where?

AD