yossarian19
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Grass Valley, CA
Figured this might be useful to somebody...
I've bought & used multiple sets of tools, both as an amateur and a professional mechanic. Here's what I'd recommend to the new DIYer / hobbyist, or pro for that matter.
First, I recommend against Snap-On, Mac or Matco tools with a few exceptions.
Craftsman makes all the quality you need, especially the "Professional" line of tools.
To start off, you'll want:
1 set Craftsman 1/4 drive 6 point metric sockets
1 set Craftsman 3/8 drive 6 point metric impact sockets
1 set Craftsman 1/2 drive 6 point metric impact sockets
1 Craftsman 3/8 drive 13mm 12pt impact socket (for unit bearing bolts)
1 Craftsman or parts store cheapo 36mm 6pt 1/2" drive deep well socket (for axle nuts)
1 Set Craftsman Professional combination wrenches, metric, + 21, 22, 24mm wrenches. Either Craftsman Pro, regular Craftsman or Ebay some Matco, Mac or Snap-On
For ratchets / breaker bars, I like the big name stuff. Craftsman's high end ratchets have a nice action, just as nice as the big names really, but don't have the length. I'd start with
18" 1/2 drive ratchet, big name brand
10" 3/8 ratchet, big name. Orbital head is nice but not necessary
6-7" 3/8 ratchet, big name or high end craftsman
1/4" ratchet, big name or high end craftsman.
Drive accessories... start with Craftsman impact extensions in 1/2 and 3/8, plain chrome stuff in 1/4. I haven't yet found a set of locking extensions that last worth a damn, Craftsman or Snap On. Go impact with universal joints & your 1/2 to 3/8 adapter. Go with the impact stuff even if you don't have a compressor or impact gun. It's heavier duty & if you oneday get a compressor & gun, you won't break your sockets or have to buy a new set.
Now for pliers..
I prefer Knipex. They are spendy but in my experience the money is well spent. Whatever you do, don't buy cheap channel lock pliers. You will hurt yourself when you really crank on them and the joint slips out of place, whether or not the pivot nut is tight. Trust me on this one. I'd start with
1 18" pair channel locks
1 10" pair channel locks
1 8" pair slip joint pliers
1 pair needle nose
1 pair 8" cutters. Can never remember if I mean "diagonal" or "side" cutters.
There are more specialty pliers that I've bought and used but this is the basic set that will get the job done. Hose pliers, hose clamp pliers, long pliers, spark plug boot pliers... they are all handy, but I prefer to buy tools once I've got an established need for them. Cheaper that way. You may never do enough work consistently enough to bother with the specialty crap.
Pry bars. Used carefully, these will be your best friends. Used recklessly, you will get hurt and damage parts.
Buy yourself a set of Mayhew pry bars off amazon. From what I gather, Mayhew (made in USA) supplies the big name brands with theirs. Why pay Snap-On prices for a Mayhew bar?
Hammers. Again- be careful...
Pick the biggest ball peen hammer that you can swing comfortably. Buy it.
Now get another that is maybe 1/2 the size. You'll want this one more than you might think.
Get a 2 lb plastic or rubber mallet.
Now a hand sledge. These can be hard to use effectively but when you need a BFH nothing else will suffice but a 2 lb 18"+ hammer. Jeeps being Jeeps, you'll use this one plenty.
A small (under 10 pc) set of drifts / punches and a small set of metal chisels will help, too. Sometimes you need more focused energy than a hammer alone will give you.
Torque wrenches... there are a few good threads on torque wrenches on this site. I went with Ebay snap on for my 3/8" wrench and have been happy. Note that you don't need to use a torque wrench or everything but it's damned handy, and will help teach you the proper "feel" of a tightened bolt in various sizes. If you are clumsy / neurotic like me, it's all too easy to strip / break bolts while you anxiously wonder if it's tight enough, torquing all the while. A torque wrench will hasten the learning process.
Get a few five gallon buckets with lids & a 2 gallon drip tray for changing fluids.
I recommend old pie tins, coffee cans and bits of tupperware to put hardware in. Magnetic trays are also nice. 3x5 index cards are also handy so in a larger project, you can write things like "valve cover" and throw that note, as well as the valve cover hardware, into a can. No memory required if you leave yourself a clue.
Get a MAP torch. May as well get a torch head that will burn MAP safely as well as propane. MAP is hotter and hotter sometimes = better.
From here... you've got all the hardware to get jobs done. Now it's the know-how.
Don't be bashful about asking for help. The forum is a damned helpful place if you come correct, meaning, humbly and without attitude.
I've bought & used multiple sets of tools, both as an amateur and a professional mechanic. Here's what I'd recommend to the new DIYer / hobbyist, or pro for that matter.
First, I recommend against Snap-On, Mac or Matco tools with a few exceptions.
Craftsman makes all the quality you need, especially the "Professional" line of tools.
To start off, you'll want:
1 set Craftsman 1/4 drive 6 point metric sockets
1 set Craftsman 3/8 drive 6 point metric impact sockets
1 set Craftsman 1/2 drive 6 point metric impact sockets
1 Craftsman 3/8 drive 13mm 12pt impact socket (for unit bearing bolts)
1 Craftsman or parts store cheapo 36mm 6pt 1/2" drive deep well socket (for axle nuts)
1 Set Craftsman Professional combination wrenches, metric, + 21, 22, 24mm wrenches. Either Craftsman Pro, regular Craftsman or Ebay some Matco, Mac or Snap-On
For ratchets / breaker bars, I like the big name stuff. Craftsman's high end ratchets have a nice action, just as nice as the big names really, but don't have the length. I'd start with
18" 1/2 drive ratchet, big name brand
10" 3/8 ratchet, big name. Orbital head is nice but not necessary
6-7" 3/8 ratchet, big name or high end craftsman
1/4" ratchet, big name or high end craftsman.
Drive accessories... start with Craftsman impact extensions in 1/2 and 3/8, plain chrome stuff in 1/4. I haven't yet found a set of locking extensions that last worth a damn, Craftsman or Snap On. Go impact with universal joints & your 1/2 to 3/8 adapter. Go with the impact stuff even if you don't have a compressor or impact gun. It's heavier duty & if you oneday get a compressor & gun, you won't break your sockets or have to buy a new set.
Now for pliers..
I prefer Knipex. They are spendy but in my experience the money is well spent. Whatever you do, don't buy cheap channel lock pliers. You will hurt yourself when you really crank on them and the joint slips out of place, whether or not the pivot nut is tight. Trust me on this one. I'd start with
1 18" pair channel locks
1 10" pair channel locks
1 8" pair slip joint pliers
1 pair needle nose
1 pair 8" cutters. Can never remember if I mean "diagonal" or "side" cutters.
There are more specialty pliers that I've bought and used but this is the basic set that will get the job done. Hose pliers, hose clamp pliers, long pliers, spark plug boot pliers... they are all handy, but I prefer to buy tools once I've got an established need for them. Cheaper that way. You may never do enough work consistently enough to bother with the specialty crap.
Pry bars. Used carefully, these will be your best friends. Used recklessly, you will get hurt and damage parts.
Buy yourself a set of Mayhew pry bars off amazon. From what I gather, Mayhew (made in USA) supplies the big name brands with theirs. Why pay Snap-On prices for a Mayhew bar?
Hammers. Again- be careful...
Pick the biggest ball peen hammer that you can swing comfortably. Buy it.
Now get another that is maybe 1/2 the size. You'll want this one more than you might think.
Get a 2 lb plastic or rubber mallet.
Now a hand sledge. These can be hard to use effectively but when you need a BFH nothing else will suffice but a 2 lb 18"+ hammer. Jeeps being Jeeps, you'll use this one plenty.
A small (under 10 pc) set of drifts / punches and a small set of metal chisels will help, too. Sometimes you need more focused energy than a hammer alone will give you.
Torque wrenches... there are a few good threads on torque wrenches on this site. I went with Ebay snap on for my 3/8" wrench and have been happy. Note that you don't need to use a torque wrench or everything but it's damned handy, and will help teach you the proper "feel" of a tightened bolt in various sizes. If you are clumsy / neurotic like me, it's all too easy to strip / break bolts while you anxiously wonder if it's tight enough, torquing all the while. A torque wrench will hasten the learning process.
Get a few five gallon buckets with lids & a 2 gallon drip tray for changing fluids.
I recommend old pie tins, coffee cans and bits of tupperware to put hardware in. Magnetic trays are also nice. 3x5 index cards are also handy so in a larger project, you can write things like "valve cover" and throw that note, as well as the valve cover hardware, into a can. No memory required if you leave yourself a clue.
Get a MAP torch. May as well get a torch head that will burn MAP safely as well as propane. MAP is hotter and hotter sometimes = better.
From here... you've got all the hardware to get jobs done. Now it's the know-how.
Don't be bashful about asking for help. The forum is a damned helpful place if you come correct, meaning, humbly and without attitude.
