Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

Having decided to retire I have literally tons of tools in stock to part with. For the past few days I've been making lists and sorting. I have lots of my own tools that I could replace with new,but if the old are still serviceable that seems a waste,I have lots of tools that I keep for specific jobs etc.
This starting me thinking.
If I had to keep just one set or box of tools it would be my Elora master socket set,I've had it for years,always the first thing I take under a car with me,no matter if its BSW,BSF,AF or metric there's a socket to fit,if I'm not cremated they might as well bury me with it,what is your most essential tool?.
For luxury,I have a beautiful set of King Dick AF ratchet spanners.Not essential,they do nothing that ordinary spanners can't but they speed up so many jobs and make certain tasks with limited access so much easier.What luxury tool do you value highly?
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

peppiB · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:53 pm Post subject:

An Elora Master socket set I bought in 1964! Very Happy

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Britool 3/8 drive Imperial socket set. I have tools for both my cars, but My Mk1 Escort has the Britool set, and King Dick spanner set in it. I also have a 3/8 Metrinch socket set which is compact and easily carried and has got me out of the mire on more than one occasion. Failing that, it's a 2lb ball pein hammer.

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

A small lump hammer, about 4 lb. is the go. A good wrecking bar should be in any man's kit ! A good size cold chisel is also needed.

I had a front wheel bearing seize on my Landrover. It spun on the shaft. The only way to get it off was to hit the inner race with the cold chisel and hammer and break it . My mate stayed with the car and cleaned up the shaft. We were on a lonely dirt road. I got a lift to Marulen, on the main road, then I got a lift with a semi-trailer to Goulburn. Bought a new bearing and tin of grease. Got a lift with another semi-trailer back to Marulen. Started walking down the dirt road and a woman in a car came along, I flagged her down and she gave me a lift, after I explained the situation. She was not going that far but gave me a lift back to the Landrover. This was all on a Saturday morning, I was lucky they had the bearing I wanted and that they were open on Sat. morning. It was my fault that the bearing seized, I thought it was fed with oil like the back axle . We were soon on our way and only lost about 4 hours time.

goneps · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 6:36 am Post subject:

Tools are no different from other possessions in that what starts out as a luxury quickly becomes essential. Air tools certainly fit that category, but the 1/4" drive socket set I bought fairly early in my tinkering career has to be one of my best-ever purchases—couldn't manage without it. Despite being an inexpensive "no name brand" from Taiwan it's proved to be of excellent quality and includes some useful accessories such as a 6" flexible extension that's invaluable when used with a cordless drill.

Richard

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4284 Location: South Cheshire

I remember my Grandfather recalling that back in the 50's a group of car owners clubbed together to purchase a socket set, such was the premium cost of a socket set in those days!

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

Ashley · Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 1426 Location: Near Stroud, Glos

My son has the Britool 1/2" drive socket set I bought in the sixties. It's still working fine and very useful for R-R & B because they used BSF well into the fifties.

Minxy · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 273 Location: West Northants

Because I worked on cars I have a comprehensive set of Snap-On tools. I certainly don't think they are necessary for hobbyist use but I do think they take some beating if funds allow. Because I worked in rallying we had a tool allowance from Audi on the basis that tools often got left or trod in the mud etc etc so I built up a rather impressive tool kit. When I came out the motor trade and had my tools at home in the garage they had to be insured separately so the insurance company asked for an inventory - it worked out at between 14 - 16k in value which they refused to cover so I set about selling an awful lot off, most of which I got my money back on.

Penguin45 · Joined: 28 Jul 2014 Posts: 384 Location: Padiham

Big compressor. Change your workshop experience for ever.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

christine lowery · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 8:55 pm Post subject:

the Tools I would never give away are an old Triumph fork leg as a helping hand. and the large stilson that fits in the end
chris Twisted Evil

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7271 Location: Derby

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4284 Location: South Cheshire

Da Tow'd · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:27 am Post subject:

"It is the use of tools rather than possession of it which gets the job done"
Vincent Taylor

Maybe not a tool or a luxury but I sure like my 10,000lbs. two post hoist
Hank