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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
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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
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They don’t make the SK ratchets/sockets that I got in 1972 when Dresser Industries owned them.
ANY one who puts lug nuts back on with an impact is a putz. Spin them on with a four-way and properly torque them and you can take them off with the crap factory tools that came in your car/truck/jitney/whatever….
What? If my tool doesn’t have a motor on it, I’m not using it. When electric screwdrivers first came out I thought who would need a thing like that. I’m 82 now, I need that motor.
Had to change an Acura axle half-shaft a few years ago due to a torn boot. The cheater on the 1/2″ drive breaker bar on the correct axle nut socket wouldn’t budge the axle nut (32mm). For some strange serendipitous reason, there was a guy selling a Makita 1/2″ drive 18V impact driver with bag, charger, and 2 batteries for half of what it was on Amazon at the time. Guy said he needed money bad to get his truck out of an impound lot. Whatever. Got it home and it made short business of getting the axle nut off. I’ve since used it dozens of times for winter/off-winter tire swaps. It makes zipping lug nuts off a breeze, needless to say. I don’t know how I got by for so long without one. Since I had the batteries, soon after that I bought the cordless Makita tire inflator. That has been a godsend also, precluding dragging the 120V extension cord – for the old failed Slime inflator – all over the garage and driveway.
How about a multimeter and a torque wrench?
Santa brought me a torque wrench and a set of Penncraft sockets from JC Penneys for Christmas one year. I was 13 years old and it was 1968. My parents, I mean Santa did not realize the difference between metric and SAE sockets. The sockets were metric. I didn’t say anything, but there was not a lot of need for metric sockets in 1968. A few years later we got a Toyota, and I used to buy VW bugs for $100. I still have the 13 MM socket. Everything else has been lost. Makes me think of my Mom and Dad every time I use the 13 MM.
I haven’t sold my tools after 30 years out of the business. All the tools mentioned are go to tools for projects at home. I even keep a few off brand tools around to modify (cut, bend, grind) into specialty tools.
Love my air tools which I have used for over 50 years and still use them .Love the tools that handle door trim and inner fender clips it is a nice set from OTC .Love 1/4 inch flex sockets very handy .Of course any tools that help one remove and install timing belts as well as tools to remove and install drive belts. If one does a large number of brakes the caliper tools that drive back pistons are a nice addition .I could go on but will end this comment.
A quality calibrated torque wrench (actually a couple) should be on this list.
Amazing how many of those tools are old Craftmans. I’ve got a lot of old standard and metric sockets, ratchets, wrenches and screw drivers from the early ’70s. I road raced motorcycles back then and if one broke, well there was always a Sears and their “Warranty” in what ever town I was near.
Craftsman was the go-to for most people back in the day. Anything cheaper wouldn’t last long or work well, and anything better would get stolen.
Since this is a “Car” page………..I’m going to comment here anyway! Lol.
I LOVE Motorcycles! Have been riding them since the early part of 1994 and will never ever STOP riding them either!
Anyway,one of my most useful tools I use in the garage……….is a “JIS” screwdriver! For those of You who are completely Unaware of what that is………..a “JIS” (Japanese Industrial Screw) are put on ALL Japanese made motorcycles,regardless of year! They basically look like any “Phillips” head screw,however…….if you DARE to try to tighten one or loosen one with a “Murican” made Phillips head screwdriver……….you’ll very quickly see how fast a screwhead can become STRIPPED within the blink of an eye! Because the measurements between a JIS screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver,are SO MINUTE,anyone who doesn’t know any better,would instantly think “WTH is the difference if I use a phillips head on this JIS screw? ” Haha,well……you’ll very quickly find out as You slide the phillips head into the JIS screw head,as it just won’t “Feel” right! Meaning it doesn’t “sit” even within the head of the screw! It’s sort of catywompus if you’ll excuse my word-usage here<<<. BUT,the phillips head DOES sit in far enough on a JIS screw,that anyone figures "What's the difference? This will work" until You try MAKING that very first turn of the screwdriver and You QUICKLY "feel" the Phillips head turning,but the JIS Screw remains STUCK in place! So You think "Okay,I'll just try this again! " and you attempt a second time at it,and once again,the very same thing happens! After about 3-4 attempts,You quickly see that the JIS screw head,is now starting to get VERY STRIPPED! So then,a knowledgeable friend of yours,comes over,sees what you've done,and laughs and says "Here,try this" as he hands you his JIS screwdriver!
With You already KNOWING how "stripped" the screw is,You instantly think "Ugh,this is NEVER going to get loose! " UNTIL…………..you slip the JIS screwdriver INTO the screw fully and slowly start to turn it and INSTANTLY……….You see the SCREW AND DRIVER turning at the same exact time! LOL. "Wow,how did this even HAPPEN? " You wonder?!?!? Because You have a friend with KNOWLEDGE of JIS screws! LOL.
-You're Welcome.
Sajeev, the real question is why you need 2 extensions for that deep socket that really doesn’t need any extensions at all. The 3/8 to 1/4 adaptor makes sense, tho.
Absolutely did not need it, but when it is 102 degrees in the shade (and there is none at a junkyard) I don’t waste time disconnecting extensions. I just need to yank off parts and get back into my air-conditioned truck!