Tools for the newb / amateur mechanic..

[retinasurgeon]

Planning on working on my own car, and I am wondering if someone has a good compilation of newb tools. Any tools you think an amateur mechanic must have to work on these cars. Would be great to use your experience to lend some guidance to work on a project car. Your help is appreciated.

[flyboyx]

go to sears and buy the biggest craftsman set you can afford.

keep in mind, you don't need sae wrenches to work on a bmw but it might be nice to have them for other projects. i rarely use my english wrenches anymore. once in a while though.

just making a cursory search, i came up with this:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-311-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00953311000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

seems like their best deal right now. looks like you will still need pliers and screw drivers.

[Reichart12]

Do you have anything now? The basic metric socket set both deep and short along with metric wrenches and allen key hex sockets are going to get you started. (of course a ratchet to use all that too)

[Kershaw]

After 10 years of wrenching, I still use my 300+ piece craftsman box set all the time. Sure, my tools have greatly greatly expanded past that, but it is definitely the place to start. The set flyboy posted looks like a great deal. It has 6 point, 12 point, shallow and deep, racheting wrenches, torx, and hex. The only thing is it doesn't come with a built for it toolcase, so you'll need to buy a case and foam to organize things.

I'd add PB blaster and a craftsman 18" breaker bar to my starter tool kit.

[TimeMachinE30]

Keep your eyes peeled for deals.. if you got some time set up an alert for the tool set you like at slickdeals.net. Otherwise Home Depot has a good deal locally with a full kit and nice box for well under a $100. Take a trip to your Sears and home improvent stores; there could be a leftover or two from Christmas.

I am partial to my Gearwrench and Milwaukee electric tools. I have not paid full price for a thing.

I buy the specialty tools as I take on a new job.

[ghatid]

There's a sale right now at Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-205-Piece-H205MTS/205897982?cm_mmc=CJ-_-1225267-_-10368321&AID=10368321&PID=1225267&SID=ef07aa16c92e11e5bb67de4661984ff80INT&cj=true

It's a good price, although the tools aren't going to be the super bestest in the world. Should be good for a beginner, you can buy better tools if you think it's gonna be something you do more.

[retinasurgeon]

Thanks for all the great replies! Keep em coming! This is great information for the newbie / amateur.

[TimeMachinE30]

These deals only last so long. There are two deals right now at Home Depot. Keep your sights on Slick deals and use Camelcamelcamel for those special buys.

[packratbimmer]

Get all the 8, 10, 13, 17 and 19MM tools you can find. Most fasteners are those sizes. 1/2" tools will work on 13MM fasteners and 3/4 tools will work on 19MM, but the purists would like to see the MM on the wrench. A 6 point 12MM wrench works great on rusted manifold nuts too.