Are you new to the world of basic automotive possession? Are you questioning what instruments are important for a newbie mechanic?
source
Get information about the best car maintenance tips, car service advise, hacks, news and updates about the automative world and more.
Good vid Andy. Pretty much covered all the essentials. I would add a leather or brass mallet though. I have also found that Lidl Powerline tools are actually quite good for the price too. Yes, yes, I know, Lidl? What? They are actually quite good quailty. I've had a screwdriver set from them for over ten years now (it cost less than a tenner and has many things in it) and it has been abused in all the ways possible, used as pry bars, chisels, all that sort of nasty stuff. But, guess what? They are all still in very good shape. If you are on a very tight budget just go and have a look.
Not a tool but a must is a box of Elastoplast.😎
FYI – For torque wrenches, always zero out the torque wrench before putting it away.
Something in the ‘nice to have’ rather than essential, is an oil filter strap wrench or chain wrench. I inherited my dad’s old one with a nylon webbing strap which perhaps doesn’t ultimately grip as well as a chain, but is better for confined spaces.
Hey Andy… here are two emergency go to tools or close enough? Duck Tape and Zip Ties.
i just bought a 1969 sprite and am so happy,thanks for all that you have taught me and that i will get to know how to do on my car! keep up the great content!
I really like that magnet flashlight, every time you have it in a video I remember to buy one, I'll have to grab one this time. I usually just drag an LED shop light under the car with me, but it's far too large for use under the bonnet.
The best tool in my shop after everything on your list is an electric impact driver. Battery powered. Can remove any bolt or shatter it in the effort. Either way, the bolt is coming off. But I don't use it to tighten nuts, that what the torque wrench or socket set is for.
Also, I see you put your metric adjustable wrench in your imperial wrench drawer. You should rectify that before you go looking for it in the wrong drawer.
Well covered, I'd add a claw & magnetic pick up tool with LED light, a cheap one of those is fine – and I'm being serious when I put bluetac is a great tool and repair medium, my front badge and gear knob have been stuck on with it for years and holds a broken rad captive cage nut (with broken matchsticks as spacers and reinforcement).
You can use 12 sided sockets designed for imperial (or metric) hex fixings if things aren't overtight and they're handy if your ratchet hasn't got fine tooth movement where getting a six-sided socket to line up and/or ratchet is very awkward or not possible.
Dear Andy!
I've watched all of your inspiring, informative and entertaining videos.
Then I purchased a 1973 Midget 😁👍
I am looking forward to see more of your brilliant content coming up. Thank you for sharing all your experience!
Greetings from Germany 👋🙂
Toni
Thanks Andy. Just about to start fettling my MGB and there were several things on your list that I hadn't thought of.
I'm going to be spending more on tools that the rust repair on a midget