what's in your tool box?

[oscar]

i was talking to my friend sandy last night who isn't very mechanically minded and he wanted to know what kind of tools he'd need to have in his possession to be able to do basic work on his car. it got me wondering guys, what do you have in your tool box.. do you guys swear by one specific brand such as snap-on or mac tools?


i swear by bahco tools! a lot of people don't realise that in europe, when you buy that expensive snap on tool set.. what you are actually buying is a bahco tool set with a different colour trim + a snap-on stamp instead of the bahco stamp. being owned by snap-on you get the lifetime guarantee as standard, about 1/3 to 1/2 the price of snap-on yet they are the same tools

i'd recommend this for anyone - bahco s910 - £130 or so

 

[Jarre]

i have in both cars the same kit. can do loads with it. It's a small Facom toolbox
at home i have more stuff, but this is the basic for in the car: (also lifetime warranty)

 

[oscar]

i have in both cars the same kit. can do loads with it. It's a small Facom toolbox
at home i have more stuff, but this is the basic for in the car: (also lifetime warranty)

facom make excellent tools jarre your other tools are they facom also?

 

[poweller23]

This is my little tool box set, Just about does the job

 

[Jarre]

facom make excellent tools jarre your other tools are they facom also?

yes indeed. my ex-gf worked at such a store so i could buy all that with a big discount. we are seperated since a few weeks so no more tools for me :evil:

 

[user 980]

I have a bahco set although it was only £50. I just got a decent set to start with and over the years I've just added any extra bits that I've needed. No point buying one of the sets with 1500 pieces as to work on the car you don't need much

 

[LCplParks]

I've got a halfords professional socket set, got it half price on offer and it's really good quality it's got a lifetime warranty so you can't really fault it to be honest.
As for other things I've got a tool box with all sorts of stuff in it one things your mate might want to get if he's doing bits on his car is a 8mm sump plug bit so he can change the oil

 

[oscar]

I've got a halfords professional socket set, got it half price on offer and it's really good quality it's got a lifetime warranty so you can't really fault it to be honest.
As for other things I've got a tool box with all sorts of stuff in it one things your mate might want to get if he's doing bits on his car is a 8mm sump plug bit so he can change the oil

good suggestion, although he wouldn't need an 8mm square drive because he drives v-dub. i'm trying to convince him out of it don't worry lol. you can buy some really good quality drain plug sets which have hex and square drive heads such as laser / draper from your local motor factors or halfords. positive halfords stock laser gear?

 

[LCplParks]

Ah right fair play I got mine from the local shop but halfords most probably do them.
To be fair a toolkit is just something you build up as and when you need things, you buy the odd bit here and there and eventually you end up with everything you could ever need

 

[singlespeed]

My main tools are Halfords Profesional. 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets from 6mm-32mm (imperial stuff too) and ratchets. Combination spanners (open one end, ring the other) and a set of the ratchet ring spanners. Very good value when theres a sale on and I've only broken one socket which was getting way more abuse than it was designed for. Still got it replaced in store on a Sunday afternoon :?

^^ The problem with many of the 100-200 piece kits is you think "wow, loads of tools" although, unless you have a classic or american car, you can probably discount a third of them as there will be loads of imperial sockets included.

Torqx bits
5 point star bits (for VAG motors)
7mm allen key socket for brake guide pins
Decent 2lb hammer
a set of punches (saves knackering screwdrivers* and socket extensions)
Big flat blade screwdriver for abusing when levering, hammering things apart.
Torque wrenches
Oil filter removal tools but I hate doing an oil Cx at home... Too messy.
Blow torch - some heat can really help free off seized bolts

Kamassa 3/4 drive socket set 17mm-2.5" (was handy when I worked on trucks)
F*off big spanners

 

[waitey]

Loads of crap, I'm more proud of the mechanix gloves as they're **** hot and good for all sorts that requires good grip

 

[manofhow]

i think i am with neil, most of the tools i have got are halfords own

 

[Ollie133cup]

I love my tools . Currently have a Limited edition red n black snap on tool box. Filled with Bahco and snap on tools along with the some facom screwdrivers and punches. Also keep my Makita 18v impact gun and drill/driver in it.

Cant bring myself to but any other makes , brand whoreage at its best.

 

[singlespeed]

1/2 price on Halfords Profesional socket sets and tool kits (spanners)

https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs...1_catalogId_10151_categoryId_255203_langId_-1

 

[oscar]

1/2 price on Halfords Profesional socket sets and tool kits (spanners)

https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs...1_catalogId_10151_categoryId_255203_langId_-1

please nobody buy halfords tools! sorry neil but NO NO NOOOO the bits get chewed through like anything under excessive use and will snap the heads off! and the sockets are such poor quality and have rounded sockets in the past where i had a backup (of a backup set) as a ''just incase'' and it was the worst hundred quid i have ever spent. halfords pro ranges were excellent back in the day when facom made them but now they're just one massive sigh. can't say they're okay for occasional home use when you can get top of the range for the same price if you know where to look.

for the very same money or close to it (£100 starting, see the below picture) you can buy bahco (it is bahco who make the snap on's tools in europe) full sets of roughly the same quantity. you are basically getting snap on tools with none of the bankrupting costs! why halfords when you could go snap on ... kinda!

 

[singlespeed]

Halfords, definitely not

Halfords professional served me for a year in a HGV garage so im sure they are adequate for a weekend mechanic

Granted, the Bahco kit is nice too, especially if you find it with a decent offer on it. I have a fair ammount of their kit... adjustable spanners, files and hole cutters

 

[oscar]

aye the professional ones haha that's what i meant! i have however bought a ton of laser tools out of halfords with the trade card discount. you get like 40-65% off car parts and consumables like copper grease to light bulbs! you guys should all get one

 

[singlespeed]

To be fair, I havent bought much in the past six years so the quality may not be what it used to be :?

 

[oscar]

neil up until around 2007/8, halfords ordered their professional range from the same taiwan factory where facom made their tools but since 2007 onwards it appears they stopped ordering from there and now order their range in from india and quality has slumped downhill which i suppose is where my, and a lot of peoples dislike of halfords range of pro tools come from right now. the quality of your tools are far superior, basically facom tools with halfords professional stamps on them which is lucky. in fairness though the stamp on the tool isn't what is important. it's how you use them right? i've had an ebay breaker bar for an age. unbranded 3/4 '' drive for cracking hub nuts on 4x4's. it's still going!

 

[Noesph]

Loads of bits and pieces, all different ages and makes, some hand made by me. I do quite like Wera tools though.