What tools for Beginners?

I’m going to start doing my own mechanical work on my cars whenever possible. I don’t own many mechanical tools, besides a few cheap socket sets, and plan to handle all the typical maintenance like swapping all fluids, rotating tires, spraying frame, and tackling any issues that appear.


Right now, I’m out of state for a couple months without my truck. I figured I could try to catch a sale on tools while I have time to kill. I was wondering what kinds of tools you guys would suggest, brands, and any good deals to look out for between now and October.


Besides a Tekton Socket set, a corded/Ryobi Torque Gun, and a jack, I don’t know what else to keep an eye out for.


Any advice is appreciated!

 

A decent ratcheting wrench set is very helpful. A varied selection of pliers. A few types of vice grip. A breaker bar. A couple pry bars of varying sizes.

That will get you a long way with the basic sockets you already have.

 

Teckton are good tools. I’ve been using craftsman since I was a young man. I have few Kobalt, and a very few snap on tools also. I have a 72 inch cabinet full
Of tools, it’s addicting. If you can swing it get a battery operated impact. All of them are good, there are many opinions on all the brands. The Icon brand of hand tools are nice also. If you’re stuck on a corded impact the Chicago Electric is a beast, and it’s on sale now for $25 at Harbour Freight…It’s a bad mofo…
if you have the money get yourself a decent torque wrench also and a few good hammers including a dead blow hammer. Have fun, it’s very rewarding working on your own vehicles!

 

Add jack stands.

Found need for quality wrenches and sockets that don't break, and accurate torque wrench(es) (more info here).

Have found a lot of things are fine to get inexpensively like at HF such as breaker bar, mechanics ears (stethescope), creeper, body panel tools, slide hammers, some air tools, etc.

Consider can rent (usually for free at local parts stores) some of the specialty tools.

 

Get a set (or build) of ramps to as well. Really the only way to know what you need is to start the work….you have great basic advice already above but you will start to find nuances specific to you that you prefer. The rigid cordless impact has worked wonders for me. I have a lot of swivel heads for ratchets (get impact graded!!!). And some swivel head crescent wrenches….they make it a bit easier to get into the right spaces

 

If you are buying more sockets, I like 6 point sockets, much better for gripping a tight faster. And definitely only use 6 point for your wheel lugs or you will trash them. A set of deep sockets is invaluable too.
A few other basic tools not mentioned you will use eventually: drift pins, files, Allen and torx wrenches, various extensions for your sockets etc.
if you do have one already, a decent multimeter is essential for any electrical work.

 

What the heck is a corded Ryobi torque gun?

 

If you plan on doing anything electrical, get a good test light with a long lead. Wire strippers, needle nose pliers, wire clippers/micro cutters, dykes, solder sleeves/tap-its/scotch-loks/barrel connectors, shrink sleeves, and lots of patience.

Edit: the multi meter was already mentioned

 

Most important tool I have....a set of factory service manuals. It is like a small set of encyclopedias. Everything is covered from A-Z in great detail. Was about $500 IIRC, but if you want to DIY, it might be super helpful to have the factory data right there with you.

 

Something that belongs in a trash can.

 

Lisle electrical connector pliers, flexible long reach hose clamp pliers, tite reach hose clamp tool, motive oil change tool kit, indexing head ratchets, wobble extensions, and indexing ratcheting wrenches are just a few of my favorites.

 

I like most of what is posted here. Start with the basics and add a tool as the job requires. Brand means what it means, nothing more. Some tools don't need to be the best. Like a hammer. It's just a hammer. But ratchets are better when they're better. Store brands like Husky or Pittsburgh are honestly great starting points. If it breaks, you'll know you need to buy a better one next time. Or, get it replaced for free under the warranty.

Basics:

Cordless drill and impact
A box of the multi-bits that have nut drivers, various sizes of flat and phillips heads, 3/8" and 1/2" socket drive adapters, torx and allen or hex drive
Drill bits, buy once (not true) cry once. Get good bits and don't overheat them
Wrenches in SAE and metric (gear or ratcheting are nice, but not necessary)
Sockets in SAE and metric in both 3/8" and 1/2" drive
1/2" and 3/8" drive ratchets, extensions and wobbles
Screw drivers in flat and phillips (plus and minus as my kids called them)
crescent wrenches in various sizes
Vise grips in various sizes
regular pliers, needle nose, adjustable
a set , or one of those swiss army handled torx and allen / hex
Some cutting tools, powered or otherwise including metal blades, razor blades etc.
penetrating oil
hammers, a ball peen is a good start, a brass hammer or deadblow is cool, but can get away without
Some pry tools, various sizes
a good jack and jack stands
some good trouble or work lights
A multi-meter
OBD2 code reader and reset tool

 

I love tools. I am a heavy DIY user, and do some professional work as well on specific makes/models for folks in my area. I've found the following to work pretty well and have been using and abusing Tekton, Icon, and Sunex tools for several years. I've had good results with Ridgid/Milwaukee cordless tools for impact use (Ryobis seem to hold up well for exclusively DIY).

We work on Toyota's, if that's what you plan to stick with, you won't need any SAE tools.

Full set of tall and short impact sockets with extensions and universals 8mm - 30mm with no skips: SUNEX
They sell an amazing master kit that is very affordable and very high quality. As you progress through bigger and bigger projects this will cover 95% of things on every model of Toyota. You'll need a random size now and this will have it. You'll need some random large sockets like 32, 34mm, 36 and 57mm for some random stuff but can buy individuals. Mine are 10 years old and look new, and they have been absolutely beat on at least weekly. Get 6 Points, they have greater contact with a fastener and less likely to round off.

You can get by without impacts for a long time, so a good set of chromes that span 8mm - 24mm is going to hit MOST things, but I usually just grab my impacts these days because they are easier to grip when they have oil on them, and I can switch from hand wrench to impact quickly when I need to hit the easy button on a stuck bolt.

Breaker bar: Most are good. 1/2" drive - 18-24" handle will do most things.

Click or Split Beam Torque Wrench 1/2" drive. My Tekton and Icon have been great; for DIY use they will hold up well.

Hand wrenches 8mm-24mm (go for no skips if you can): Highly recommend getting a quality set, you'll never need another set. Not rounding off that ONE bolt a cheap set does, will likely save you the extra money/time you spend on them. Precision pays with wrenches; Tekton is a pretty good value again; I am particularly fond of my Icon Anti Slip set as the extra bite has saved the day on vehicles with rusty fasteners. Start with a set of fixed wrenches and you may want to add some flex head ratcheting down the road.

Brass Hammer/Drift. Totally underrated tool. Tekton's is awesome. Any sticky fastener gets a couple of hard hits with this before I work it. Diff plugs (notoriously soft/sticky threads) get a solid hit and come out easy with one of these!

Pick set; (bigger than dental picks, but same theory) - lots of good sets on Amazon, HF's have worked pretty well but are soft metal.

Pry Bar

Grease Gun with NGLI #2 / NGLI #2 with Moly. Toyotas love grease, and the $30 now and greasing stuff every oil change saves $$$$ in the long run.

Miscellaneous Toyota "clips and plugs" assortment: Amazon or other - you will brake plastic clips on everything from door panels to splash guards and its awesome to just pop open the little tackle box of clips and put a new one in so that you don't get random rattles or dirt where Toyota doesn't want there to be rattles and dirt.

Jack Stands: 3 Ton + with a safety mechanism that locks the teeth in place such as an insert pin or locking lever.

Quality Jack; 3 ton+

Lights: One to hold in your hand and one to stick onto surfaces to work under. Everyone has their preference, but I've found the cheap $10 COAST pen lights are awesome for inspections, and the Klein rechargeable magnetic swivel lights are hard to beat for doing brakes, underhood, and suspension work.

Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner and Torque App: Under $30 all in and you can use in real time to monitor all kinds of vitals on the vehicle.

Crescents/Adjustable wrenches: I have almost completely ditched the oldschool adjustable wrenches and exclusively use two pairs of Knipex. One is the flat tooth and the other is serrated tooth. The 10" Variety do almost everything and grip fasteners without stripping and will break things loose than my adjustables couldn't. If you get a full set of hand wrenches that are quality, you will barely need an adjustable.

 

Inspection mirrors, magnetic pick up tools, and extra long ratcheting wrenches are hàndy.

 

I forgot to add one of the most important items for DIY auto service - get a torque wrench.

 

I wrenched for years without a proper torque wrench. Brake jobs, tire rotations, oil changes, alternator and starter replacements. Know the materials your working with and adjust accordingly. That being said, I'm a huge fan of them. Recent GM 6.2 engine swap is near impossible without a ft/lb and an in/lb torque wrench. Steel on steel, aluminum on steel, plastic on aluminum, aluminum on aluminum. Lots of variety and easy to over or under torque things. Then it breaks or leaks.

 

I would say that a good battery powered light with a magnet is such a nice thing to have. It sounds silly, but once you have one, you'll hate to work without it. And I've been gathering some Gear Wrench tools lately, I really like them

 

How'd you all forget a heat source? MAPP or propane with a piezo start + PB Blaster.

 

I live in the south. Rarely an issue

 

I do too, but came from the north. Still one of those 'when you need it, you need it' items, IMO.

 

I think instead of making a huge shopping list, why don’t you write out what your next maintenance job (or two) is on the truck, look it up on YouTube, and buy the tools you’re missing to do that job.

Oil change. You’ll need a good socket set, filter wrench, shop towels, nitrile gloves, garage jack (Daytona from Harbor Freight), and jack stands. And of course, oil and a filter. Want to make future oil changes easier? Get a Fumoto valve for your truck to install in place of the oil pan drain plug.

Brake job. Torque wrench (up to 150 lb is adequate), flare wrenches (you’ll want a kit with a 10mm for breaking open those bleeder valves), PB Blaster, brake grease. You’ve got the jack, jack stands, nitrile gloves, and socket set from the oil change you did before.

Tire rotation. You’ve got the gloves, sockets, jack, and jack stands. Maybe an 18v impact with 1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2” drive bits would speed things along.

Differential gear oil swap. OEM gaskets/washers, maybe a length of 1/4” or 3/8” diameter tubing (depending on how difficult the front diff fill plug is to reach), everything else you’ve already got.

This is how I’ve acquired everything. I just buy what I need to do the next job.

 

Buy good used tools, buy all you can right now, inflation will continue.

 

Try going to garage/estate sales, sometimes you can find quality tools for pretty cheap.

 

I'll add pawn shops, and don't ever pay marked price either! Min. 20% less.

 

I’d just put a list together of everything people have rattled off and look on Craigslist, OfferUp, fb marketplace for someone listing their whole toolbox and all its contents. Look through the photos and match things up. I’ve seen plenty of sales where you get a standard craftsman toolbox plus most things people have listed above for ~$500.

best of luck!

 

I forgot 2 additional items …. Beer and band aids!

 

I'll add to that too...saline eyewash and eye wash cup!

 

Ok, I’ll say it out loud. Eye protection. Get some quality safety glasses. Don’t grind anything metal without them. Crawling under a vehicle and looking up is also a good way to get shit in your eyes.

 

How about we add safety glasses. Your truck has been rolling around outside for years, random shit will fall out of it into your eye every time you are under it.