Very useful Tools Thread

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

I know there is a lot of folks out there getting started in automotive diy work and haven't seen anything like this on any threads as of yet but would like to start a useful tools thread. Besides the basic wrench sockets set etc. so here it goes. (Would love for others to add to this list)

#1: Power probe set I have used this in so many different diag processes its not even funny. price of this tool isn't to bad I scored one for around $100.00 on a tool truck.

#2: 20 ton Hydraulic Shop Press. This has been a pretty handy tool to have. I know this is more of a shop equipment type tool but I consider it pretty handy when needing to do some suspension work etc. pickup reasonable press about$150.

#3: Handheld Scan tool I picked up one of these because at the time waiting on one in the shop cost you money and having my own saved me so much time. I've tried various scanner snapon, mac etc etc even some cheaper ones. This area tools can get out of hand so I went with OTC Trilingual Scan Tool for many different reason I picked this one over others because mainly I like it and OTC pretty much makes top notch diag tools. This was a middle of the row tool and got the job done. Price isn't to bad either running around 200.00

#4 Cordless impact drill set in various sizes. Skies the limit with this tool I've tried all kinds and do not favor any brands. I currently have Milwaukee seems to be the trend every tech I know owns a set and has had luck. I have a small set and large set for certain applications. Price range can get stupid but remember they will wear out over the years so I wouldn't invest a large amount. $100.00-$600.00 price range

This set I use for engine suspension ect ect ..\
This set for Dash work interior (notice the smaller size tools)

This is only a fraction of what it takes to get the job done but this is a highlight of some of my handy tools I use a lot of. I'll be adding to this thread as needed but feel free to add your personal handy tools to the list hopefully it will help someone out there getting started.

 

[UnderFire]

These trim and molding tools, they are useful for pulling door panels and basically anything plastic.

5 Piece Auto Trim and Molding Tool Set

Also a Digital Multimeter, should be in anybody's kit if they plan on electrical work, gives you a better idea of what's going on electrically than a test light would.

Don't forget your 10, 12, 14 and 17MM sockets and wrenches, you can take apart just about anything with those.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Impact driver: One of the best $20 I have ever spent. If I had this when I first got my 4runner, I might have alot more patience and skin left. I have both the 1/2" and 3/8'.

Amazon.com: OTC 4608 3/8" Impact Driver: Automotive

JIS screwdrivers: I haven't used them as much on the 4runner, but they are a godsend whenever you do encounter a screw on an asian vehicle (mostly my motorcycle). Phillips were designed to strip out, JIS was not. I use these CONSTANTLY now.

Valve grinding compound: For when you need extra grip on your screwdriver.
Valve Grinding Compound

Small MIG welder: For less than $200 you can get a welder, mask, apron, and non-HF spool of electrode, then you can fix/make tons of stuff that was impossible before. And it can be run on a regular 20A circuit.

90A MIG Welder

I agree on the press, though I have done most everythign with my HF 12-ton, I got it for about $120 on sale, though the 20-ton has a welded frame and is nicer. You can do most anything on the 4runner with the 12-ton.

For the electric drill, I would suggest considering the repair/replace policy. I bought dewalt on reputation, but now Rigid is offering a lifetime warranty on it's tools (including battery as I understand it). It just so happens that the home depot near me has a tool rental place that is an official rigid vendor, so if I had bought rigid, I could take a bad battery in there, and walk out with a new one for free. That is a BIG benefit.

Quick list of my other favorites:
1. 8" harbor freight 3-jaw puller - puller arms are good, but the links are crap, once you replace the links and bolts, you have a great tool.
2. Hiking headlamp - Makes nighttime repairs so much easier
3. Magnetic parts tray/bowls - have a bunch lying around so you don't lose your nuts and bolts.
4. heavy rubber mallet - especially if you have rust, it's invaluable.
5. Socket wobble extensions - great for hard to reach nuts and bolts.
6. Soldering station - for splicing wire the right way and not leaving them bulky and unable to be covered in heat shrink.
7. Propane torch - Cheap, and has so many uses, especially rust related.
8. Hex keys in 3 types - Wobble, non-wobble (standard), and socket mounted.

Another life-changer is a compressor an impact tools, but that is much more of an investment, so I won't officially include it in my list, though I will say that if I'd known how much it'd help with rust, I'd have gotten it a long time ago.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Impact driver: One of the best $20 I have ever spent. If I had this when I first got my 4runner, I might have alot more patience and skin left. I have both the 1/2" and 3/8'.

Amazon.com: OTC 4608 3/8" Impact Driver: Automotive

JIS screwdrivers: I haven't used them as much on the 4runner, but they are a godsend whenever you do encounter a screw on an asian vehicle (mostly my motorcycle). Phillips were designed to strip out, JIS was not. I use these CONSTANTLY now.

Valve grinding compound: For when you need extra grip on your screwdriver.
Valve Grinding Compound

Small MIG welder: For less than $200 you can get a welder, mask, apron, and non-HF spool of electrode, then you can fix/make tons of stuff that was impossible before. And it can be run on a regular 20A circuit.

90A MIG Welder

I agree on the press, though I have done most everythign with my HF 12-ton, I got it for about $120 on sale, though the 20-ton has a welded frame and is nicer. You can do most anything on the 4runner with the 12-ton.

For the electric drill, I would suggest considering the repair/replace policy. I bought dewalt on reputation, but now Rigid is offering a lifetime warranty on it's tools (including battery as I understand it). It just so happens that the home depot near me has a tool rental place that is an official rigid vendor, so if I had bought rigid, I could take a bad battery in there, and walk out with a new one for free. That is a BIG benefit.

Quick list of my other favorites:
1. 8" harbor freight 3-jaw puller - puller arms are good, but the links are crap, once you replace the links and bolts, you have a great tool.
2. Hiking headlamp - Makes nighttime repairs so much easier
3. Magnetic parts tray/bowls - have a bunch lying around so you don't lose your nuts and bolts.
4. heavy rubber mallet - especially if you have rust, it's invaluable.
5. Socket wobble extensions - great for hard to reach nuts and bolts.
6. Soldering station - for splicing wire the right way and not leaving them bulky and unable to be covered in heat shrink.
7. Propane torch - Cheap, and has so many uses, especially rust related.
8. Hex keys in 3 types - Wobble, non-wobble (standard), and socket mounted.

Another life-changer is a compressor an impact tools, but that is much more of an investment, so I won't officially include it in my list, though I will say that if I'd known how much it'd help with rust, I'd have gotten it a long time ago.

I like that Mig welder been considering one for the shop I had been looking at Hobart. How does that chicago work out for ya does it preform pretty good. WOW on the RIGID warranty that crazy wish I had that bit of info when purchasing my power tools that bit of info is valuable for a NEW DIY person getting started.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

One of these can prove invaluable especially when dropping a nut or bolt (or expensive tools) into a frame openings and such. It's the magnetic extendable kind that doesn't get stuck on every metal thing until you squeeze the handle in.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I'll add a infrared temp gun.

They are now cheep instead of 300 dollars and help diagnose many problems.

I have the Raytec model I bought in the early 90's and its was expensive back then.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I like that Mig welder been considering one for the shop I had been looking at Hobart. How does that chicago work out for ya does it preform pretty good. WOW on the RIGID warranty that crazy wish I had that bit of info when purchasing my power tools that bit of info is valuable for a NEW DIY person getting started.

It's been fine for me. I haven't used it in a while now, and I accidentally let it get flooded, so it may not work now, but I have done alot with it so far, made some various brackets for the XJ, random stuff on the 4runner, fixed some chair carts for my church (saved the cost of replacing them, so a couple $k), made numerous jigs for my press, fixed my press when I broke it, made various tools, etc. It's definitely been worth my $. It's a bit rough, but it does the job on thicker metal.

 

[davidch]

Get a grip. (on taps and dies)

Anyone working on vehicles the age of Gen 3 4Runners is likely doing a fair amount of rethreading. Often you'll be rethreading a hole in a place not readily accessible by a conventional t-handle tap wrench.

Consequently tap sockets are, I believe, essential. Look at Amazon and search for Lisle LIS70500. These sockets also work nicely on screw extractors. Read the reviews made by purchasers of this tool.

It's also very handy to be able to hold a die in a bench vise. Here's such a tool I've found just as handy and necessary as tap sockets:

Graham Tool Co, Inc. - Tap & Die Vise Block

That same tool will also hold taps.

 

[awpsome]

One damn useful tool.
Old faithful.

BFH

or this for those who can control such a beast.

 

[Nelsonmd]

One damn useful tool.
Old faithful.

BFH

Yeah, but many times, you want to knock the S#!% out of something without damaging it, hence

From Vaughn
From Eastwing

 

[GVL]

This falls into the basics category, but make sure you have a long extension for your socket set and a pipe for extra leverage when needed.

 

[Hammer2K]

<--- Yup. See my avatar? lol

 

[MTD]

My 3D is my number one because I can make all the things with it.

A close second is my welder, I am looking to get a new miller matic 180, but for now I have a harbor freight special.

Then my dremel tool, followed by the shop press that someone mentioned, and then my floor jack believe it or not lol

 

[T4R2014]

 

[mxer]

a good vise

.

Of course it has to be bolted down to a good heavy and sturdy work bench

 

[MTD]

a good vise

Not to be confused with a "good" vice

 

[AZ4Running]

Plus 1 on the power probe. Iam a mechanic and i use the crap out of my power probe.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Just to clarify one point, the OTC diagnostic tool is a great tool, and very handy, but unnecessary for the vast majority of us. You can get similar functionality through much cheaper readers, the cheapest being bluetooth OBD2 readers used with the torque app or similar (adapters are around $15-30, torque I think is $10, or lite for free). From there, just search the internet for the code definitions, or go straight to the FSM for the official diagnosis and fix procedure. The definitions in the diagnostic tool may not be model specific, so you'll probably want to go to the FSM anyway.

The only thing these cheaper items won't give you is the diagnostic data, but most people don't need to see diagnostic data. Shops will use the diagnostic data, but the vast majority of us won't really know what to do with it, or just never need it.

Again, nothing against the OTC tool, but for me and probably for most people, there are much better ways to spend $200 budgeted for tools.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Just to clarify one point, the OTC diagnostic tool is a great tool, and very handy, but unnecessary for the vast majority of us. You can get similar functionality through much cheaper readers, the cheapest being bluetooth OBD2 readers used with the torque app or similar (adapters are around $15-30, torque I think is $10, or lite for free). From there, just search the internet for the code definitions, or go straight to the FSM for the official diagnosis and fix procedure. The definitions in the diagnostic tool may not be model specific, so you'll probably want to go to the FSM anyway.

The only thing these cheaper items won't give you is the diagnostic data, but most people don't need to see diagnostic data. Shops will use the diagnostic data, but the vast majority of us won't really know what to do with it, or just never need it.

Again, nothing against the OTC tool, but for me and probably for most people, there are much better ways to spend $200 budgeted for tools.

Yea I could see were your coming from about this with new diy but I love mine so much , the vehicle info has been pretty close of course at the time of purchase I didn't really use that function to much on the scantool just for the live data stream and codes of course. Now that I have learned about the tech stream download for pc and all u need is the connector well that has been golden

 

[TCMach]

This falls into the basics category, but make sure you have a long extension for your socket set and a pipe for extra leverage when needed.

This ^ haha. Not only does it turn a breaker bar into a bolt breaking machine, but gives you extra leverage on a smaller ratchet when you can't fit a big one.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/102663750@N03/12278163125" title="IMG_4500 by Tyler Carvell, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/12278163125_8650df2126_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_4500"></a>

For me atleast my number two is kinda a set of tools. Drill, bits, tap set, dremel, welder. Basic metal working tools. I couldn't even imagine life without it.