Your Essential Garage Tools

I'd definitely second a decent breaker bar, a short 18 inch one used in conjunction with a piece of steel tube is easier to use under the car than a really long one. Impact drivers are great but you frequently can't get on the bolts with them, plus you'll need a full set if impact bits and wobble bars. At least with a breaker bar and extension you can use your existing sockets.

These are also really handy:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-...nTJ_KQ9YS7PB_IJRBjqEygy4kHVMekswaAsOpEALw_wcB

And these:

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/am-t...ybXDdDAt6FQ8XNvmvhOpdZ9qn6L0EnE0aAhsnEALw_wcB
 
6 sided sockets / impact set.

Low range torque wrench e.g. 5-24nm

Wheel chocks - just a little extra safety if just lifting the front or back.

Thread tap set

Selection of various bolts / nuts - M7, M8 etc

Vice & mole grips

Irwin bolt/nut remover set
 
Thanks guys! Great suggestions. I've decided I'm going to move all those boxes from around the car and put them in another room, then get some shelving, a worktop base and some tool storage to keep it all neat. Then I can start buying some tools!
 
Rilot said:
A creeper is my favourite garage tool. It makes getting under the car and then back out again when I realise I've forgotten the socket I wanted, then back under again, and out again to get the correct socket this time, then back under again a breeze.
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Made me laugh. Been there many times :D
 
Rilot said:
A creeper is my favourite garage tool. It makes getting under the car and then back out again when I realise I've forgotten the socket I wanted, then back under again, and out again to get the correct socket this time, then back under again a breeze.
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Thing is, you need a nice workshop for one of those.

IE Nice smooooth floor.

None of that broken up old concrete or gravel!

(Otherwise it wont work)

(Seems like OP has one of these! :) )
 
Yea, mine is "smooth-ish" bumpy enough you'll need a decent one, as the tiny wheels still manage to get little bits in them.

Idea is to move all things as above, all wine and boxes will be moved over to the other space I have down there and I'm going to make a space like so:

J4TAzJC.png


You can follow my journey is you like https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoaRldp7Y81OEyY6N8QvNcw/
 
Aside from the obvious, decent gloves.

Often on a challenging bolt I have put on my old leather motorbike gloves. Certainly takes away the fear of losing some skin and/or blood. Not that I heed my own advice, I usually do myself some damage then pull the gloves out. But even just for cold winter days doing a basic service, some comfort goes a long way.
 
Orionaut said:
I am sure that you could find plenty of people willing to help you move the Wine!
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lol "move" not drink :P it's this forum that keeps it topped up when people tell me there are deals on! haha

@Dup I'll get some of those black disposable gloves for working on the car, but I think anything thicker and I'd struggle to get decent grip etc. I only have small hands :P haha
 
A 50 litre/8 bar compressor doesn’t take up a lot of room. Extremely useful for blowing debris out of components before you even consider the hundred tools it can power.

Copperease or another anti-seize compound - put it on stuff you want to take apart again

A range of Locktites for stuff you want never to come apart again.

A good set of Allen keys - L shaped with one ball end and T-bars in the common sizes

A dentist’s mirror - you can get ones with a telescopic handle now for looking behind stuff. Tali’s of telescopic handles, get a magnet with one for when you drop a nut or washer inside an intake manifold. The telescopic grabbers are worth their weight in gold.

A good set of straight splined bolt/stud extractors. Not the cheap taper kind as they will only bring you heartache and sorrow when you snap or wedge one of them in something expensive.

A set of cheap funnels in various sizes.

A big box of disposable latex gloves. Apart from the tap water you dilute screen wash with, every other fluid you put into a motor vehicle isn’t good for humans and you should minimise contact with your skin. This goes double for used/dirty/degraded fluids - especially used engine oils which have contain combustion byproducts and other nasty crap.

A good pair of wrap around safety glasses. Wear them all the time when:
- You’re cleaning something with chemical or compressed air
- You’re underneath a vehicle or working on something at face level or higher.
- You’re working on something containing springs or parts under gas or fluid pressure
- You’re soldering/filing/sawing
- You’re jetwashing something
- You’re using oils, fuels and other fluids

Sensible people wear the correct PPE when they get out power tools or hammers and chisels, but every single time I’ve had something hit me or nearly hit me in the eye, I’ve been doing something that I’ve done a thousand times before without issue.

Get a bottle of eyelash fluid. A big one if you can. The first time you marinate your eyeballs in super unleaded, you’ll find that the little eyecup of Optrex doesn’t do ****. If all else fails, use milk.

Have at least one fire extinguisher in your garage/workshop. The powder ones make a Hell of mess, but they will save you burning your vehicle/garage/house/street down when you mess up.
 
I wouldn't say anything is really needed as most jobs require special tools. Dormer drill bits is my most valuable find. They cut through anything like butter. My pull hammer has gotten me out of a few sticky situations as well.

Hydraulic acid is also a wonder when used in the right way.
 
You’re most welcome.

You might have to seek out a specialist automotive tool shop to get high quality tools. I only see Stanley and Facom in most French hardware/DIY stores.
 
I was just moving some of those boxes and a bottom one had in it: One of my angle grinders, router, circular saw, wood saw, soldering iron, 18v cordless drill, tap and die set, a rivet gun and some other bits ha I feel at least slightly less tool-less now.

I need the wife's car to arrive this weekend, so I can drive to IKEA and get some bits for storage tbh!
 
BASIC TOOLS (To get you started)
1. Spanners (Set from 7mm to maybe 22, more common ones doubled up on.)
2. Ratchet and Sockets (Set similar sizes to spanners, will need various sizes in 1/2 inch drive and 3/8 inch drive and smaller ones in 1/4 inch drive too.)
3. Screwdrivers (flat head, Pozidrive, phillips, Torx)
4. Pliers (large medium small standard sort and adjustable pipe wrench type)
5. Hammer (various sizes, two golden rules for mechanic, when in doubt give it a clout, and if at first you do not succeed, try a bigger hammer)
6. Multimeter
7. Jack
8. Jack Stands
9. Ramps
10. Oil Filter Wrench
11. Oil catch Pan
12. Funnel
13. Scissors
14. many Rolls of blue paper towel
15. Electrical Tape (EDIT: and not forgetting the ubiquitous Gaffa Tape)
16. Hex Wrench (Set of metric and imperial, might seem daft but surprising how often you find a random fitting) )
17. LED Headlamp
18. Brake Cleaner Spray
19. Mechanic Gloves (Disposable and Non-disposable)
20. Hand Cleaner


INTERMEDIATE TOOLS (once you have the basics start adding these as needed)
21. Wire Terminal Crimper
22. Wire Terminals (set)
23. Torque Wrench
24. Set of pry bars and crow bars
25. Rolling Tool Chest
26. Breaker Bars for 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch sockets
27. Plastic trim Molding Removal Tool Set
28. Car Creeper
29. OBD2 Scanner
30. Service Manual
31. Brake Bleeder & Vacuum Pump
32. Circlip Pliers
33. Hose Clamp Pliers
34. mirror on a stick
35. Flexible Magnet PickUp
36. Socket Adapters
37. Cordless Drill
38. Angle Grinder
39. Torx Wrench (Set)
40. Ignition Spark Tester


ADVANCED TOOLS (getting to almost be a professional mechanic now)
41. Air Compressor
42. Tire Inflator with Gauge
43. Impact Wrench
44. Impact Sockets
45. Digital Caliper
46. Female Torx Set
47. Jump Starter
48. Underhood LED Light Bar
49. Radiator Pressure Tester (Kit)
50. Brake Caliper Wind Back Tool (kit)
51. Cylinder Compression Tester
52. Cylinder Piston Rings Compressor (kit)
53. Bearing Adapter Kit
54. Laser Thermometer
55. Machinist Vise
56. Rethreading Set
57. Heat Gun
58. Rotary Tool Kit
59. Wifi Video Scope
60. set of Autodata books.


That lot should get you out of 99% of situations I would guess.

 
Last edited:
Great list! Thanks @Entai I think I've actually got some random ones off that list too. Some I have but they're crap so would replace them, like screwdrivers, sockets and pliers etc, but I have...

BASIC TOOLS (To get you started)
1. Spanners (Set from 7mm to maybe 22, more common ones doubled up on.)
2. Ratchet and Sockets (Set similar sizes to spanners, will need various sizes in 1/2 inch drive and 3/8 inch drive and smaller ones in 1/4 inch drive too.)
3. Screwdrivers (flat head, Pozidrive, phillips, Torx)
4. Pliers (large medium small standard sort and adjustable pipe wrench type)
5. Hammer (various sizes, two golden rules for mechanic, when in doubt give it a clout, and if at first you do not succeed, try a bigger hammer) - Got
6. Multimeter - Got
7. Jack
8. Jack Stands - Got
9. Ramps
10. Oil Filter Wrench
11. Oil catch Pan
12. Funnel
13. Scissors
14. many Rolls of blue paper towel
15. Electrical Tape
16. Hex Wrench (Set of metric and imperial, might seem daft but surprising how often you find a random fitting) )
17. LED Headlamp
18. Brake Cleaner Spray
19. Mechanic Gloves (Disposable and Non-disposable)
20. Hand Cleaner


INTERMEDIATE TOOLS (once you have the basics start adding these as needed)
21. Wire Terminal Crimper
22. Wire Terminals (set)
23. Torque Wrench
24. Set of pry bars and crow bars
25. Rolling Tool Chest
26. Breaker Bars for 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch sockets
27. Plastic trim Molding Removal Tool Set
28. Car Creeper
29. OBD2 Scanner - Got
30. Service Manual
31. Brake Bleeder & Vacuum Pump
32. Circlip Pliers - Got
33. Hose Clamp Pliers
34. mirror on a stick
35. Flexible Magnet PickUp
36. Socket Adapters
37. Cordless Drill - Got
38. Angle Grinder - Got
39. Torx Wrench (Set)
40. Ignition Spark Tester


ADVANCED TOOLS (getting to almost be a professional mechanic now)
41. Air Compressor
42. Tire Inflator with Gauge
43. Impact Wrench
44. Impact Sockets
45. Digital Caliper
46. Female Torx Set
47. Jump Starter
48. Underhood LED Light Bar
49. Radiator Pressure Tester (Kit)
50. Brake Caliper Wind Back Tool (kit) - Got
51. Cylinder Compression Tester
52. Cylinder Piston Rings Compressor (kit)
53. Bearing Adapter Kit
54. Laser Thermometer
55. Machinist Vise
56. Rethreading Set - Got
57. Heat Gun - Got
58. Rotary Tool Kit
59. Wifi Video Scope
60. set of Autodata books.

Slowly does it. Thanks for that, will help me put it together in stages.
 
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