|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 13:50:10 GMT
|
Hello all  anyone remember me?  Well I've recently had a love re-kindled thanks in no small part to digging out a certain brown VW Transporter and deciding that I really need to crack on and get things finished now I've started to spend money on renting a workshop and I've managed to fill it with tat already! I remember reading a while ago Dez did a great post in one of his threads about buying used tools from car boots, so in that sort of vein I figured itd be a good idea if some of us/you with workshops made a thread that gives an indication of what you'll need in your workshop to make working on your retro that little bit more pleasant. Perhaps if it works out well make it a sticky? I'll start with my own list. Benches, good strong benches to work on are a god send at times, especially if you need to take something off to clean/whack with a BFH or inspect. Vice, bench mounted.. every garage or workshop should have a good one, it's far better than sticking your foot on something and trying to take it apart, failing and whacking yourself in the chops with a chromoly breaker bar. Electric Drill. Seems obvious but they're such a handy tool that gets used so much, and often lacking from workshops Grinder. You need one.. that's all there is to it. Assortment of Spanners, Screwdrivers, sockets ratchets, bars etc. As Dez has said before, car boots are a great place to look for these, older tools are really a lot nicer than modern ones in my experience and I've collected mine up over 16 years or so, but always look at car boots and auto jumbles for bargains. Storage, Chests, cabinets and drawers, you need them to put your tools in.. Don't leave them all over the floor, otherwise you'll loose them.. and cry. Rags.. Keep rags handy, if for nothing else than to keep your tools clean. failure to look after your tools is a sin akin to buying a 54plate TDCi Mondeo and having it serviced at the main stealer every few months. Seriously though, look after your tools, they'll look after you. Bars, always handy to extend things, hit things, move things.. you want an assortment of bars, pry bars, levers and strong tubes. A Kettle. I'm sure you can figure that one out. A good strong Jack and stands. Always worth while, and please use the stands, don't rely on your jack for support. I've dropped a ford KA on my chest before and it's very unpleasant, I assure you. Wheel Ramps. For when you need to raise a car, but don't actually need the wheels off. I'm using mine at the moment to suspend the rear end of my Porsche 924S while I pull the broken gearbox out. Chains and lifting gear. I'm forever seeing people pulling stuff out of cars using bits of old tow rope, it's a bit scary.. most big stuff has support for proper hooks, chains and lifting tackle and it's not that expensive. If you are lacking chains, old seatbelts are a better proposition than rope, but remember it's probably fairly heavy and definately not soemthing you want to drop if you're taking it out with a crane! Die Grinder. Judgie's made me realise the use of these for getting to awkward places that need clearancing, chopping or grinding, hand tool, buy one. Brake Pipe Flaring kit.. Saved me a fortune and they're not expensive. If you're working on cars a fair bit, you'll find value in one . Mole Grips.. never have too many pairs, again car boots, see if you can get some genuine Vice Grip ones, they're lovely. I know there's a lot more that I use a lot and haven't listed.. but I want you all to have a go too |
| |
The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 13:59:52 GMT
|
|
i can recommend an old carpeted parcel shelf, good for laying your tools on when working on the drive, you can pick it up and drag it as you changes sides etc keeps the grit off,
also a bit of carpet for sitting kneeling laying on
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 14:19:25 GMT
|
I can recommend an old carpeted parcel shelf, good for laying your tools on when working on the drive, you can pick it up and drag it as you changes sides etc keeps the grit off, also a bit of carpet for sitting kneeling laying on What an excellant idea thanks never thought about that i am for ever having to get up fromlying under a car as i misplaced a tool (read lying on it ) lol |
| |
1998 Subaru Impreza uk wagon rebuilding into RWD FUN
1993 Range Rover 200TDi LSE
1998 VW Passat 1.9 TDi Estate
1992 Mercedes W124 3.0 Estate
2002 Citroen Berlingo 1900tdi
1984 Mercedes W123 2.0 Auto FOR SALE
|
|
scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 14:36:36 GMT
|
|
Buy a foam car creeper thing, much more comfortable for lying under cars for extended periods, I also use mine for dropping gearboxes onto sometimes...
Gloves: Welding gauntlets, riggers gloves and disposable latex jobs. I used to hate the disposables but I always wear them now. Much nicer on your hands! Welding gloves for welding but also for anything hot or dangerous like a twisted knot brush on the angry grinder.
Protective glasses: again used to hate them but I bought a set of wrap around dewalt jobs for a tenner and they are a massive improvement on the old goggles. Keeps rust and grit out your eyes, but aren't up to grinding.
Goggles, proper full goggles for grinding - metal in the eye is not much fun...
HAMMERS! I have several, a little toffee hammer for delicate jobs, a medium ball pein for general work and a large lump hammer for whacking things properly. Good handles are a must, pay a bit more for decent.
Breaker bar - for breaking things. Longer the better.
Digital Vernier calipers - only a few £ form china, makes measuring things accurately a doddle.
Bench grinder - for when the angry grinder isn't up to it or you need both hands.
|
| |
1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 15:15:00 GMT
|
|
Ear defenders.
I said EAR DEFENDERS! ;D When you can get a proper set of Peltor ones for about £15 from screfix, it's silly not to. Comfy enough to wear all day, and far more effective than cheap ones.
A work light/ lead lamp. There are some realy nice LED ones about at the moment - Ryan (RTLKYUUBI) has a rechargable one with in-built magnets to hold it in place. Alternatively, a high wattage energy saver in a straditional lead lamp is good - they don't break every time you look at them, unlike a filament lamp.
If you are working in an unlit area, a building-site style floodlight on a stand is nice to have, although power hungry.
Socket sets - obviously. A good range of both metric and imperial sockets is essential - even if you're only working on one variety of car. When faced with a worn or rusty bolt head, choose the socket with the best fit, not the one it 'should' be.
1/2" drive is great for big stuff, and 1/4" is great for diddy stuff like carbs or distributors. To me, 3/8" falls into an unhappy space in the middle - not man enough for proper bolts, but too big for tiny stuff. Use your breaker bar for applying force - ratchets are easily damaged.
If you are going to be setting up an engine, then the following are pretty much essential:
Feeler gauges - for setting points, valve clearances, and occasionally things like choke linkages. Laser sell a set of about 20 dual-marked gauges for £5, and they have enough blades to keep the step sizes down.
Timing light - for setting, erm, timing. Ideal where you have a fresh, stock engine that was designed for 95 RON fuel. Where the engine is tired, modified, or was designed for 4 star it's useful to find a starting point for tuning by ear.
Colourtune - for setting the idle mixture and diagnosing running faults.
Micrometer - for setting clearances on a car with shimmed tappets.
Length of hose - for balancing twin (and other multiple) carburettor setups by ear.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd like to add a few things after my experience yesterday lowering my daily after work.
Keep spares.. as many as you can for the cars you're most likely to be working on, stuff like CV boots, rack gaiters, tie rod ends, top mounts.. because you know that when you're going to do a job you'll find these are kaput and you don't have any to hand :rolleyes:
|
| |
The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
|
|
MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,789 
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 11:54:52 GMT
|
I can recommend an old carpeted parcel shelf, good for laying your tools on when working on the drive, you can pick it up and drag it as you changes sides etc keeps the grit off, also a bit of carpet for sitting kneeling laying on We use a couple of old sofa cushions. Much easier on the knees Also a quantity of good quality thin cutting discs make short work of any pesky spring that's too long  |
| |
Last Edit: Jul 21, 2011 11:57:22 GMT by MrSpeedy
|
|
filmidget
East Midlands
Mostly Lurking
Posts: 1,652
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 12:14:28 GMT
|
|
Decent quality tea bags, and a well-stocked biscuit tin.
|
| |
'79 MG Midget 1500 - Still patiently awaiting attention
'02 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Elegance(!) - Better than you might think
'03 Mazda MX5 - All new and shiny looking (thanks to Antony at Rust Republic)
'09 Renault Clio - Needs to go.
|
|
Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 12:24:57 GMT
|
welcome back dave. the thread of mine you refer to is HERE , if that helps at all. A Kettle. I'm sure you can figure that one out. on no accounts use this for other jobs, like boiling up the ends of the hard plastic diesel pipes on your mates transit to make them soft enough to push onto the new fittings. makes your brew taste funny for weeks. few things are sacred, but tea is one of them. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 12:41:56 GMT
|
For me the most important things is having sockets and spanners exactly where they should be so you can find them when you need them:  And tools from car boot sales are a major no no - so much worn out curse word. Much better to start with a Halfords trade card and a big set of halford professional tools - everything you need in one place and strong enough to take major abuse. Charlie |
| |
Last Edit: Jul 21, 2011 12:44:13 GMT by charlie
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 12:58:27 GMT
|
|
laser all drive sockets, like metrinch only way cheaper
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 13:27:16 GMT
|
For me the most important things is having sockets and spanners exactly where they should be so you can find them when you need them: And tools from car boot sales are a major no no - so much worn out curse word. Much better to start with a Halfords trade card and a big set of halford professional tools - everything you need in one place and strong enough to take major abuse. Charlie Being organised I agree with, but as I know what I'm doing when I go looking for tools, I'd say that buying from car boot's certainly isn't a major no no I'm afraid. I've had some proper bargains where people have cleared out their late fathers stuff, and I can get a hoard of well looked after, quality tools with loads of life left for less than the price of a halfords socket set. I agree, Halfords do some lovely tools (they really do), but as a wise man once said to me, if you've got old/cheap tools, use them till they break or you loose them, THEN spend out on nice stuff. |
| |
The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 13:28:16 GMT
|
welcome back dave. the thread of mine you refer to is HERE , if that helps at all. A Kettle. I'm sure you can figure that one out. on no accounts use this for other jobs, like boiling up the ends of the hard plastic diesel pipes on your mates transit to make them soft enough to push onto the new fittings. makes your brew taste funny for weeks. few things are sacred, but tea is one of them. Cheers Dez I'd never boil anything in my kettle other than water for tea/coffee. Mess up my brewing tools and I'll likely do you some damage. :tick: |
| |
The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 15:55:10 GMT
|
|
If you have a bench grinder, a wire wheel is an excellent addition, great for cleaning up bolts and genraly getting the curse word out of things. The best spanners are the longest ones ( for normal use ) and a rachet with a long handle is also very useful. Torque wrench is essential, allen key and torx sockets.
Can I also recomend Barrier hand cream. Gloves will keep your hands mostly clean but barrier cream will make washing any dirt off very easy.
|
| |
|
|
mauricewalsh
Part of things
bmw316i ,transit, 2barkas b1000, reiger scirocco storm
Posts: 217
|
|
Jul 22, 2011 20:38:42 GMT
|
|
may I add ... aroof over the ''workshop area ''is very handy... on a serious note .. if you can mount strip lights oround the walls about 4inches off the floor do it , its a god send, even better if you can mount in the floor 3feet apart like rail tracks.... i also found 1 of the dremil type machines of endless use aswell as a small gas torch
|
| |
be a survivor not a victim
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 22, 2011 20:48:05 GMT
|
|
Following a number of near misses and minor accidents at Area 52, I bought the unit a first aid kit and burns kit for christmas last year.
As far as I know, I'm the only one to have used the first aid kit (more than once..) and the burns kit hasn't been needed yet but safety is something overlooked too often.
Goggles and glasses dotted about within arms reach to prevent lazily just grinding without protection, even if it means 5 pairs per double garage..
FWIW, I use a combination of cheapy tools bought new that have refused to break, some nicer new stuff (including a Halfords Pro socket set) and car boot second hand stuff. Old second hand stuff seems to be better made and/or cared for better in my experience
|
| |
...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
|
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2011 19:22:15 GMT
|
When you have run out of spanners/hammer/sockets and things you will hardly ever use i got this..  It is awesome the amount of heat it puts out, I use it to heat up everything from frozen exhaust manifold nuts to heat shrinking and metal beating and it's also great for the BBQ On mapp gas it's as hot as oxy acetylene |
| |
|
|
dazcapri
North East
Enter your message here...
Posts: 1,059
|
|
Jul 24, 2011 20:46:25 GMT
|
|
Dez pretty much hits the nail on the head with what's required in his thread the only thing I would add is if your just starting out buying tools I would buy a set of spanners. I know Dez and others say buy them as you need them but if you need a certain size for a job and don't have it your stuck, especially if it's your daily and it's needed the next day, you can always buy the second set a bit at a time and just buy the most used sizes. Buying second hand is a good way to get a bargain I got a britool ratchet and elora 15/16 socket ( to fit my ball joint splitter) for less than a fiver the other day. Also buy the best you can afford I changed the belt tensioner on my van the other day first I used a cheap spanner that I carry in the van and it just slipped my Snap On spanner took it off with no problems. The only other thing is if your buying off E bay stuff like Snap on it'll say list price 400 quid to try and bump up the price I.ve seen stuff on E bay going for what I paid new list price and actual price are 2 different things. last thing anything you do buy new keep the receipt you need it for warranty at most places these days.
|
| |
Mk3 Capri LS
|
|
dubwarrior2
Part of things
"Open up, its the filth"
Posts: 576
|
|
Jul 24, 2011 22:44:24 GMT
|
I can recommend an old carpeted parcel shelf, good for laying your tools on when working on the drive, you can pick it up and drag it as you changes sides etc keeps the grit off, also a bit of carpet for sitting kneeling laying on I've got a stack of the blue waterproof, crash mats, that my police station decided to replace. Very comfy and waterproof, so good for washing away evidence..............er, I mean oil and grease. |
| |
|
|
bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
|
|
Jul 24, 2011 22:58:50 GMT
|
|
Zip ties! and not for bodging either, use them to hold bits out of the way when otherwise you would need 3 hands. Brilliant for holding say a calliper when changing a disc.
Magnetic pick up tool, for when you drop a nut in a most inconvenient place.
Masking tape for labling electrics or anything that needs to be in a specific order.
Swarfega or similar.
Cheapo scissor type jack. I use this for changing tie rod ends and ball joints. Place bottom on top of ball joint and jack up against the wheel arch and you can do the joint up.
|
| |
Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
|
|
|
|
anyone remember me? 
