What tools/equipment can't you live without?

as has been said, big hammer, irwin bolt grips - not often used but when they are needed they are worth every penny, Bahco socket set - got a 1/2inch one but my little 1/4inch seems to be used all of the time.

Loving the amount of brutality coming through on this thread!

In the spirit of whacking / grinding / burning things I'm going to throw in safety glasses...

Lowlight said:

Loving the amount of brutality coming through on this thread!

In the spirit of whacking / grinding / burning things I'm going to throw in safety glasses...

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Sensible man!...


Why are you on this forum exactly?

jacks, ramps, hammers, wire brush/wheel and penetration fluids are the main tools that have made things alot easier so far. a clean and lubricated nut or bolt is always easier to remove and a couple of hammers to help shock the internal crap loose helps the penetrating fluid do it's job. my stilsons have also helped remove my knackered shocks when I did the lift

Compressor, impact gun, angle grinder

Quite fond of my ratchet spanners, assorted wrenches, wrecking bars and strangely circlip pliers!

some good idea's here.
iv already got a snap on impact gun but it needs a new battery as it doesn't hold it charge, i think that will be my first purchase
and a new compressor and my is rubbish.
then an angle grinder and a cutting tool.
iv already got my fair share of sockets, spanners, hammers, pry bars, grips etc

wera ratchet spanner. love em.

34064 said:

Oxy acetylene gear angle grinder with 1mm cutting discs battery impact gun decent 6 sided sockets and a collection of hammers

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It'd probably worth investing in half a pound of comma's and full stops anorl.

bushwwacker said:

It'd probably worth investing in half a pound of comma's and full stops anorl.

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Dobt have punctuation in Dorsat

beer, guaranteed to bring the mates around so plenty of "expert" advice

tub of swarfega

g-mack said:

tub of swarfega

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Swarfega is ****

Swarfega, and almost any sort of 'soap' works really well with a teaspoon of sugar (works as an abrasive) tipped into the hands and rubbed .. Sale works too, but hurts if you have any cuts ...

Same way when laning I often use sand or dust first when the hands get really oily, 'cos it mops up a lot of the surface oil rather than spreading it about.

Paul D said:

Swarfega, and almost any sort of 'soap' works really well with a teaspoon of sugar (works as an abrasive) tipped into the hands and rubbed .. Sale works too, but hurts if you have any cuts ...

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+1 The sugar really improves the performance of hand cleaners!

IIRC Comma hand cleaner has little plastic granules to give the effect of the sugar without mixing it yourself.

Turboman said:

+1 The sugar really improves the performance of hand cleaners!

IIRC Comma hand cleaner has little plastic granules to give the effect of the sugar without mixing it yourself.

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If you mean the Manista stuff made by Comma then that is the dogs baws, has never failed to get me clean and makes Swarfega look utter crap

the_wolf said:

If you mean the Manista stuff made by Comma then that is the dogs baws, has never failed to get me clean and makes Swarfega look utter crap

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Manista! That was the name on the tip of my tongue! It is good, Swarfega can be improved with the sugar though!

James_mac said:

some good idea's here.
iv already got a snap on impact gun but it needs a new battery as it doesn't hold it charge, i think that will be my first purchase

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if its a 12v one cut up the battery and use it to make a lead so the gun can run off a car battery

the_wolf said:

Swarfega is ****

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you want this

Manista is awesome and a centre feed paper towel dispenser is also incredibly useful.



A hand spray with paint thinners has also been very useful over the restoration.

A parts washer is on the wish list, also want to dig a pit.