8 Tools We’re Thankful For
About the time I hit middle school, I had a very particular reason to look forward to Christmas. My Grandpa John had taken it upon himself to use the occasion to build my collection of tools. I never knew what it would be, but after a couple of years, I eagerly anticipated some new and helpful addition to the toolbox he’d gotten me on the first go-round.
Most of us, myself included, aren’t fully decked out with a shop full of the greatest and most capable accoutrements. But as time goes by, projects give us excuses to buy new tools that build up the resources to get our jobs done. Over that time we build affection for certain implements, and every once in a while we discover something that we can’t believe we lived without. Here are just a few bits and bobs from our collections that we’re thankful for.
A Good Electric Impact
For me, it’s gotta be the battery-powered impact gun. That thing has cut literal hours off of jobs that I’ve done. When we rebuilt my Mitsubishi Montero’s front end, my DeWalt impact gun was probably the most-used tool when it came to knocking off all sorts of nuts and bolts. Are there instances where it’s a bit overkill? Sure. Is there something satisfying about using hand tools for certain jobs? Also yes.
But is there value in saving a little time when you’re doing more rudimentary projects on your vehicles? Always.—Nate Petroelje
A Power Ratchet
I am here for the battery-powered things, too. I love my M12 Milwaukee ratchet—it makes junkyard runs in 100-plus-degree heat far more bearable.—Sajeev Mehta
Wrenches That Go Way Back
These Craftsman ratcheting wrenches aren’t anything special, and 20-plus years of use means the action isn’t so great on some of them. I ought to buy a more precise set that gets more rotation out of every pull. But they were with me when I started wrenching on things in earnest and still get pulled out of the drawer for almost every project, and it’s out of gratitude for every nut and bolt they’ve turned that I can’t let them go. That 17-mm on the side gets to be in the group photo because just about every nut and bolt on the first two generations of Miata is either a 10, 12, 14, or 17 mm, so it’s gotten good use, too.—Eddy Eckart
Welders
The ability to join metal, especially at the price point that makes welders usable by home DIY folks, is a superpower. I don’t use mine often, but I brought it out last week to fabricate an exhaust for one of my motorcycles, and I continue to be amazed at how easy welding is considering what can be done with the process.—Kyle Smith
Modern Tech
The smartphone. Between the ability to FaceTime a knowledgeable friend or parent mid-project, look up a tutorial on YouTube before even starting, document a project for yourself, or find answers on a car forum mid-project, it’s the ultimate cheat code. Also, Bluetooth OBDII scanners, amirite?—Grace Houghton
Stubby Screwdrivers
Stubby screwdriver! Hard-to-reach places are sometimes only accessible with the trusty stubby. I like the thick handle that makes it unlikely to slip, even when you’re well into depths underhood. Plus, it’s adorable.—Eric Weiner
Sockets That Go Way Back
This Craftsman socket set was gifted to me by my parents when I was still in high school. It was a big stretch at the time to afford something like this, even though it’s just a basic set. But I’m thankful for what it started.
I don’t come from a family of car people. Occasionally, I still believe that falling in love with these machines was a total accident. But when my parents saw that I was serious about enjoying cars, they decided to do what they could to help further that. So this socket set showed up.
I remember using it to change the oil for the first time on my 1987 Porsche 924 S, which I’d bought from an older gentleman who couldn’t get into the car anymore. I think the whole ordeal took me six hours, because I kept getting stumped on little problems such as “Well, how to do you get the car in the air?” or “OK, so that filter won’t come off by hand, what now?”
I’ve since built out a decent tool box, and this Christmas, I’ve asked for help making the leap to a larger, more capable socket system. I’ll be grateful to have more capacity, but I’m always going to have a soft spot for this scraped-up black box with the clanky ratchet that occasionally binds. It kicked the ball over the hill, and now we’re well and truly rolling.—Nate Petroelje
Mobile Compressed Air
On-board air compressors. Whether it’s a unit integrated into a vehicle or, even more conveniently, a portable unit you can easily hook up to the battery of any rig, these little machines make going off-road—and getting back on it—a much more pleasant experience. Being able to air down your tires for comfortable crawling with the knowledge that you can fill them back up when the trail ends—or fill the tires of a stranded motorist—is great peace of mind. Even better, there are compressors for every budget and build.—Stefan Lombard
Welder – absolutely
I have never bought a cordless impact because I think they lead to bad habits. I have seen countless Youtube videos where people are doing assembly with cordless impacts. Disassembly I can get but you still run the risk of snapping fasteners because you don’t have the feel. Assembly – no way. You are banking on luck and it will run out
Wayback tools… I kept my Diesel mechanicking tools when I left the field even though I could have liquidated them for a nice chunk of change. I could have used the money at the time, but it is a decision I’ve never regretted
I still have the tools I bought in the late 60’s. I also have a small collection of my dads tools from the 40’s when he worked on a Sherman tank assembly line. I don’t use them, but I can’t bring myself to let them go. Personally I have never understood people who sell their tools.
I agree.
I have never needed to weld anything, but I regularly switch my tires between street and off-road tires, and without the cordless impact, the job would be far more work and more time-consuming. I even bring it with me when off-roading because in case of a flat, I’d rather quickly spin off lugs than fight with the crappy tire irons that come with vehicles.
Lugs are one of the few exceptions I take for power off and on
Air tools are way better than plug in or battery power (providing you have a compressor.) Battery tools are ok for driving screws or small stuff but for power you need air. I know you are tied to an air hose or curly festoony line and sometimes difficult to use in some instances but nothing beats a brand name heavy duty air tool be it for removing stubborn fasteners, body work, metal cutting or torquing. I’m old school and won’t change.
yup, go with what you know, what you like.
me? i’m not keen on the concept of batteries (rare earth metals, not good recycling processes, etc). but my current gun, a ryobi, puts out 450 nominal ft lbs. it’s about as powerful as my 3/4″ impact. they have a more powerful gun that puts out around 600 ft lbs. my I/R 1/2″ was the strongest gun in the shop for years, but i can’t take it to self serve yards. and yes, when i do use something that requires air, those hoses get me to learn a whole new language that ain’t pleasant. glad i don’t need them anywhere near as often
You might want to do some research on that. Battery technology has come a long way. Modern battery operated tools are more powerful tools than their ancestors. I’m not saying you are incorrect (I own both battery and air powered tools) but I have a Dewalt battery powered impact driver that is small but powerful enough to break fasteners if I’m not careful. Its 10 years old so I’m sure a newer one is even better.
100% true. Pneumatic tools are more powerful and last a lot longer. When you factor in the cost of replacement batteries for the portables it hurts their appeal. Battery powered tools do have value in certain situations though.
Agreed, though modern cordless impact tools have torque settings. Run them up with the power impact set on low, then get out the torque wrench. Big time saver if you know what you are doing.
Vise Grip pliers have saved the day a few times for some of my projects.
Old tools are great. I still use Craftsman tools that were purchased in the late 60’s.
I bought some Craftsman locking pliers in 1972. Within a week, I blew the adjustment screw across the room. No way this should’ve happened – I weighed about 135 lbs at the time. I returned them and Sears replaced them. The second set broke in the same way within a few days.
I went down to the local hardware store and bought a pair of “Vise-Grips.” I still have them and they still work. I will never buy any other brand of locking pliers.
I look for tools on eBay, especially ones from mechanics that have retired.
If you are patient you can find some Snap-on, Matco. etc for reasonable prices.
I still have most of a basic Craftsman set purchased while in high school, 1964. And, yes, they did lead to automotive adventures for years.
I like my ratcheting wrenches, but the flex-head wrenches are even better. They can get into almost any crowded engine bay.
The wrench designed to open bleeder valves on drum brake wheel cylinders. A regular wrench will often strip the valve and then you have a real problem on your hands.
Almost forgot about those! You are spot on, Steve!!!
I’m a pipe fitter and we use tubing wrenches They are combination wrenches. The box ends are thicker and stronger with a slot so you can slip it over the tubing and then slide it over the hex fitting and remove or tighten it. Open end wrenches can ruin the fitting by rounding off the hexes and you are stuck to use vise grips or pliers to try and remove. They also work well for transmission cooler lines. I was stuck one time and didn’t have the right size so I slotted an old box end I had in my tool box and very carefully removed a brake line from a brake cylinder. Standard wrenches are thinner and usually will slip and round off the hex fitting if you try this trick.
I had a set of S&K Wayne tubing wrenches and they’d spread on you.
I bought some SNAP on and NEVER looked back. NOT cheap but sometimes the old saying “Pay ONCE, Cry ONCE” applies.
It’s called a line wrench.
They’re called flare wrenches. Indespensible tools….
JIS (Impact) Screwdrivers – Best tool ever, that you didn’t even know you needed! All those Japanese parts with the little dot on the fastener? They are JIS. The reason you always strip them is because you didn’t know to use a JIS tool. These screwdrivers changed my whole approach to Phillips head screws as the JIS tools just work better for all Phillips fasteners. Add the impact feature and stuck, stripped screws and screwheads are a thing of the past!
Would JIS be the same/similar as Pozi-Drive screws as used on MGB, AH, etc?
No, they’re similar to Phillips. Here’s a video – https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=jis+screwdrivers&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVpqUhIZ-EJo
Close, but not quite. Here is a breakdown of some of the differences and history: https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/that-phillips-head-screw-isnt-what-you-think-it-is/
JIS and PoziDriv both work better than Phillips, but they are not interchangable.
This is really evident on Ski bindings, which use #3 PoziDriv.
I use JIS on Japanese motorcycles and Tape Recorders and PoziDriv on my Jaguar and BSA Motorcycle.
I have found PoziDriv on some American Cars such as the Saturn Sky, so be aware of them. A Phillips will strip out the head no matter how much pressure you put on it.
Pity you Americans and Brits never discovered the far superior Robertson head screws invented (and ubiquitous) here in Canada, instead are stuck with Phillips and Pozidriv screws that strip and cam out when the going gets tight. When my American brother-in-law helped me build our back deck he was so enamoured with the ease of use and efficiency of the Robertson head deck screws he returned to the US with a set of bits and several boxes of screws.
I googled “Robertson head screws” and they don’t look much different than the square drives we have in the U.S.
Thor, the hammer and a blue tip wrench.
The older you get, the more you will appreciate LED lights, especially with magnetic based. My latest is a bar type, about 14 inches long with adjustable magnetic feet on each end. Also, good quality auto diming welding helmets are great.
Yes on the Auto dimming helmet. Somehow the nod of the head always used to make whatever you were holding and going to just tack, move at least a quarter inch outta wack.
Can’t disagree with you there, I just purchased this Nieko rechargeable underhood light and can’t believe I’ve used trouble lights for so long… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTXC016?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
I’m thankful for every tool I own, isn’t everyone ? Agree on the mis-use of electric – or air – wrenches/drivers where feel is important; but they’re handy for struts & some things like lug nuts whose finish isn’t important. And I always start every threaded fastener by hand.
I agree with the flex head ratchet- I have a long one that I use for most things, and a stubby one that is also useful. A regular length ratchet is almost never used. As a side note, I saw that Eastwood is selling a set of ten different 10mm sockets as a set. They know the real world.
My SK ball-head 3/8 inch ratchet is my favorite (from way back around 1970) – and I have now gotten a 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch version from Princess Auto. Very fine pitch and very ergonomic. My most “valuable” tool is/was my 3/8 inch Snap-On air ratchet – I got the first one sold in Ontario – without which completing my automotive apprenticeship would have been much more difficult as I spent the better part of 2 years with a broken right wrist (Broke it twice). I don’t use my Lincoln AC/DC welder very often, but I am glad to have it taking up space in my garage (along with the Herob and Victor acetelyne torches)
I quit wrenching for a living almost 35 years ago but still have most of my tool kit.
I’m still using some of the wrenches I bought in the ’70’s. They work, need I say more. But for me, it’s the TIG welder. I make things I need or want, and have fun doing it.
I started with stick welding in the 70’s and now have a tig. Every time I upgraded, (from stick to flux wire to mig to tig), I thought it was the greatest. Each has their place and I can do any of them, but I rarely stick weld anymore!
Internet archives and videos of schematics, how-to’s, etc. have changed things for the better for me.
Deep wall sockets. Especially in the older times when there were not ratcheting box wrenches. A long picker/grabber for when you drop a nut/bolt into the abyss. Not all that often but now and then I get out the Dremel with a cutter disc to get off some small part in a tight area
Do not be afraid of the Lithium! Cordless Impact guns have opened doors and enabled me to tackle projects that I could not do otherwise. TG is correct about assembly being a place they can do damage. But I never use mine for assembly. Assembly is the Zen moment in the process. But removing that harmonic balancer without affecting my knuckles, rigging an impossibly long handle, figuring a way to hold the motor from turning. Priceless. For disassembly I find them to be safer and eliminate problems like a rounded off nut. Anyway; lithium power tools are my go to for thankfulness.
Wow, pretty nice “basic” set of sockets. I relate to a tin box with 1 ratchet, ext. or 2, maybe a universal, probably a flex bar and a set of shallow SAE sockets only, Definitely wouldn’t have looked anything like that full mechanics set. Funny how the times fly.
I worked in a hardware store in the late 1960s, and they had a socket set that had just about everything in a nice box at a price my minimum wage could afford. The tools were crap, but the box was excellent. I’ve long since replaced every tool in it with Craftsman equivalents, and it’s very rare that I approach a nut or bolt wothout that box.
I, too, have a socket set and some wrenches in got in the late 1950’s when I was in High School and still use them.
I like the feel of manual wrenches. I also drive and collect Model T Fords…… We each have our passion…. 🙂