Christmas list tool recommendations

[bbig119]

I'm new to wrenching and trying to build up my tool collection.

On my Christmas list this year are:

Car Jack and stands
Torque Wrench (1/2")
Cordless Impact Wrench

I'd like to know what brands or specifics you'd recommend for these items. Basically my parents and girlfriend won't know what to get so I need to be fairly specific on what is good or what not to get. Although it would be great, nobody I know is gonna drop $500 on a torque wrench for me, so good valued items that are relatively easy to get are more useful to me.

I know there are a number of tool related threads on here, and some of them are a little dated or some recommended items are tough to find now.

Thanks for your help

Bryan

[Ross]

Have a look at the recent threads regarding cordless impacts. Expect someone to pay ~$300 for anything worthwhile.

[shogun]

http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=torque+wrench&Submit=Go

[Dave M]

Think about what type of work you'll do most and get the most suitabletorque wrench . This 10-150 ft/lb (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239) has a great range. Many I've seen start at 25 ft/lb and are therefore useless for a bunch of common repairs.

Oh, and definately head the advice and do some research on the cordless impact. After hearing the stories here, I just bought a corded one for $70.

Good luck and have fun.

[bbig119]

Have a look at the recent threads regarding cordless impacts. Expect someone to pay ~$300 for anything worthwhile.

I spent a good bit of time with that thread this weekend. From what I was able to find, I agree, between $250 and $300 for one of these.

However, the one that Bill raves about isn't really much cheaper than a (Dewalt (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=6344). So I'm not sure where I'm at with this... Hell its alot of money for a tool that right now mainly aim to use for lugnut removal and installation.

[bbig119]

Think about what type of work you'll do most and get the most suitabletorque wrench . This 10-150 ft/lb (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239) has a great range. Many I've seen start at 25 ft/lb and are therefore useless for a bunch of common repairs.

Oh, and definately head the advice and do some research on the cordless impact. After hearing the stories here, I just bought a corded one for $70.

Good luck and have fun.

Wasn't the verdict on that $70 impact that its a POS?

[markus]

basically heres my toolbox. I was a porofessional wrench and quit not too long ago. Avoid Snap-On unless you absoloutley need the best. But anwyays id go to sears and get myself a nice mechanics tool set for $150. They have metric ones now too I think which is what you will need. Its a great setup for the home mechanic who just works on his car on the weekend. You will need various metric sockets, shallow and deep 6mm-24mm. Also dont underestimate the 1/4 inch drive stuff. I have a complete Snap-On 1/4 inch drive set from 4mm to 13mm deep and shallow. Get some water pump pliers, small and a nice big set for those brake jobs. A c-clamp, vice grips of all sizes, also get a nice heavy BFH because they come in handy. A nice screwdriver set can be had at sears for 20 bucks. Also get a nice 3-ton jack because these cars are heavy. I would also recomend getting items as you go along, like pickle forks and sprng compressors and if you really get into it a peake research tool. A benchtop vice and a cutting wheel is also good to have as well. Id avoid electric impact guns because the ones I haved used literally sucked ass and had no power in reverse. get an aircompressor and use air tools. Also a big cheater pipe is good to have. Hope this helps.

[Dave M]

Wasn't the verdict on that $70 impact that its a POS?

Yep, thats why I bought a corded one :D

[shogun]

You are not a professional using these tools every day.
Therefore a cordless impact wrench for less than 100 $ will do in my opinion.
Cordless has some advantages, if you just need it now and then.
Have a look here
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=impact&Submit=Go

The torque wrench Dave M recommends is quite nice nice. Can be used for most of the 'daily' applications
Actually I have a similar one and a large one. Large one is for example for the front axle nut which on my 750 needs 290 Nm to fasten it.

I would also recommend this one to buy

21 PC. 3/4'' DRIVE HEAVY DUTY METRIC SOCKET SET
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=5494

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1793

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=31203
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93574
and maybe a DEEP SOCKET SET

And now I better stop ;-)

[bbig119]

You're probably right about the impact. I'll be putting my lugnuts on and torquing them to 80-90 ft-lbs, so its not gonna have to break super tight lugs off. Dave, you think your $70 job could do 80ftlbs?



You are not a professional using these tools every day.
Therefore a cordless impact wrench for less than 100 $ will do in my opinion.
Cordless has some advantages, if you just need it now and then.
Have a look here
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=impact&Submit=Go

The torque wrench Dave M recommends is quite nice nice. Can be used for most of the 'daily' applications
Actually I have a similar one and a large one. Large one is for example for the front axle nut which on my 750 needs 290 Nm to fasten it.

I would also recommend this one to buy

21 PC. 3/4'' DRIVE HEAVY DUTY METRIC SOCKET SET
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=5494

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=1793

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=31203
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93574
and maybe a DEEP SOCKET SET

And now I better stop ;-)

[Rigmaster]

You're probably right about the impact. I'll be putting my lugnuts on and torquing them to 80-90 ft-lbs, so its not gonna have to break super tight lugs off. Dave, you think your $70 job could do 80ftlbs?


Honestly, you're better off using a 1/2" breaker bar to do lugbolts- then torque them down with your 1/2" torque wrench. The electric impact wrenches are not all that great- corded or cordless (IMHO). I have a Dewalt corded 1/2" impact and it has trouble breaking loose lugnuts that are more than about 100 lb/ft- or those that have a little rust/corrosion holding them on...

If you have a cordless drill, then just get a 3/8" socket adapter bit (sort of like a screwdriver bit with a 3/8" square socket holder on the end)- stick the 17mm socket on there and use this to spin the lugbolts on and off- AFTER loosening them with the aforementioned breaker bar. I have done this many times and it works great.


If you're looking to augment an already decent tool collection- I'd highly recommend "wobble" socket extensions and a good collection of gearwrenches. The wobble extensions used to be really hard to find- but I saw a set at Advance Auto the other day, I think it was 4 pieces- 1/2", 3/8" X2 and 1/4" for about $10. Same with gearwrenches- they are available at alot of stores now.


Bret.

[Digita1 Ecstasy]

It doesn't always have to be about wrenches and impacts. Detailing products imo are just as important. Maybe because I might have a brain anyurism if I find any sort of dirt, dust, swirl, or imperfection in my paint.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Optical1/IMGP3232-1.jpg

Thanks to this.

http://www.properautocare.com/74uldema.html

Its a good polisher for beginners since it isnt very abrasive and you wont damage your paint, though it wont remove the swirls only mask them by robbing the light relfection.

Now, this will turn your car into a Mirror.

http://www.properautocare.com/makhigspeedp.html

Though use extreme caution, when I first tried it on my Dailydriver i burned through the paint and damaged it pretty bad. Need a soft touch with this.

None the less great products. I would love some extra Zaino for xmas too.

[Ross]

The Milwaukee one(18v #9079-22) I ended up with is good after the factory exchanged the first one that was not. It removed the head bolts on my M30 and it will loosen lug nuts. Retails for $350, I was lucky and paid half. You should be able to get one for somewhere in between.

[Airborne001]

Buy a nice air driven impact and get yourself a pair of $8 hearing protectors...AND MAKE SURE YOU USE THEM!!!!

[bbig119]

I'd like to do air, but I'm in an apt complex which means two things in terms of going with air. 1) I'm not sure if the noise of a compressor would be a problem, and 2) I'd have to drag a long extension cord out of the apt to get power for the thing. Its doable but not ideal. At this point air just isn't the best option, so I either go cordless for some of these things or do it by hand-- which is fine. There is a limit to what kind of work I plan to do in the apt parking lot right now. If and when I get my own driveway and garage, I'll seriously look into going with air tools.

[Jon K]

Guys - I found that if you go to AutoZone to their tool aisle look at the GreatNeck products. They are EXACTLY the SAME as Duralast, bout about 80% cheaper. I bought a 100 piece tool set with 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets with a giftcard and I ran into some same or something and got the whole set and I had a $5 credit remaining on a $35 gift card. I just went out yesterday and bought the metric deep socket set, an extendable mirror, pickup magnet, among other things.

[brick8]

Stay away from the cheapo air wrench packages at Sears. I got one for free (ratchet, impact wrench,etc.) with a big compressor that I bought. The free coiling hose cracked immediately (although it was pretty damned cold out when I tried to use it) and the impact wrench really stinks. Going to put a bigger impact wrench on this year's list.

[markus]

go ingersol rane. craftsman air tools blow donkey balls.

[bbig119]

Thanks for your help so far, I definitely think some of those torque wrenches from harbor freight will fit the bill!

I'm trying to find a floor jack though and its kinda hard to pick out what's good and what's **** from looking around online.Bill had a post a little more than a year ago recommending this jack (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PBI&mfrpartnumber=647530), but it doesn't appear to be available from partsamerica. So, back to the drawing board. I've heard mixed comments about craftsman, and if possible its worth while getting jack with a universal joint. I found a couple others at parts america that look decent-- what do you think?

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PNE&mfrpartnumber=280039

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PBI&mfrpartnumber=640757

There's no particular reason why both are from partsamerica other than the fact they have a decent selection of jacks.

One think I should point out is that I don't have a garage and live on the second floor of an apartment building. Having a lightweight jack in this case is appealing, but I don't know if its a bad idea to use on these cars.

Thanks for your help

[Bill R.]

i know also go through a number of them also. As far as something light enough to be hauling up and down stairs, this combination aluminum steel 2.5 ton jack is a very good one for the price. One of other mechanics i share info with has one and likes it very much. I have an all aluminum jack that really isn't quite enough for lifting e34's very often. The one that would probably meet your needs best is this Torin (http://www.amazon.com/Torin-Big-Red-Aluminum-T84025/dp/B0001E65UE)

If you shop around on the net you can probably find it for less elsewhere. I remember seeing it for 99.00 one time. The floor jack that i like the best for the price is too heavy to carry up and down stairs and its being dropped by parts america but the Checker's store's still have them in stock and will usually discount the price substantially to get rid of them.

Edit, Omega also makes very good floor jacks and i like this one alot for going under lowered bmw's... its very low. But its quite heavy and wouldn't be a good choice for what you want.

(http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11737)


Thanks for your help so far, I definitely think some of those torque wrenches from harbor freight will fit the bill!

I'm trying to find a floor jack though and its kinda hard to pick out what's good and what's **** from looking around online.Bill had a post a little more than a year ago recommending this jack (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PBI&mfrpartnumber=647530), but it doesn't appear to be available from partsamerica. So, back to the drawing board. I've heard mixed comments about craftsman, and if possible its worth while getting jack with a universal joint. I found a couple others at parts america that look decent-- what do you think?

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PNE&mfrpartnumber=280039

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3397&mfrcode=PBI&mfrpartnumber=640757

There's no particular reason why both are from partsamerica other than the fact they have a decent selection of jacks.

One think I should point out is that I don't have a garage and live on the second floor of an apartment building. Having a lightweight jack in this case is appealing, but I don't know if its a bad idea to use on these cars.

Thanks for your help

[brosher]

I just asked Santa for a new floor jack because mine **** the bed today...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200326626_200326626

Northern tool also has some good deals on tq wrenches.

[bbig119]

i know also go through a number of them also. As far as something light enough to be hauling up and down stairs, this combination aluminum steel 2.5 ton jack is a very good one for the price. One of other mechanics i share info with has one and likes it very much. I have an all aluminum jack that really isn't quite enough for lifting e34's very often. The one that would probably meet your needs best is this Torin (http://www.amazon.com/Torin-Big-Red-Aluminum-T84025/dp/B0001E65UE)

If you shop around on the net you can probably find it for less elsewhere. I remember seeing it for 99.00 one time. The floor jack that i like the best for the price is too heavy to carry up and down stairs and its being dropped by parts america but the Checker's store's still have them in stock and will usually discount the price substantially to get rid of them.

Edit, Omega also makes very good floor jacks and i like this one alot for going under lowered bmw's... its very low. But its quite heavy and wouldn't be a good choice for what you want.

(http://www.tooltopia.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11737)


That Jack looks like it might be the right fit for my needs. Thanks for the tip. For what I'll need it for, it'll suffice until I have appropriate space for something like that omega jack.

Thanks