Favorite tool thread

[BimmerToad]

air compressor
flare wrenches
and a lift (if I had it)

[surebimmer]

Pocket screwdriver most used tool every day.

3/8 snap on impact gun.

Pry bar.

[FredK]

Mini sledge

[325Projectz]

manwell labourers

and



and a plasma cutting (mainly for stealing cars)

[E30/M30]

Telescopic magnetic pick up thingy - being a bit of a clumsy waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles this has saved me lots of grief !

[Jscotty]

This is my favorite tool also- Well actually mine is a combination axe/sledge hammer. I call it "The Equalizer Multi-purpose Tool" (patent pending) and it solves most of my problems.

manwell labourers

and



and a plasma cutting (mainly for stealing cars)

[equate975]

Air compressor hands fucking down.

I can't believe I did any auto work without one before.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916728000P?vName=Tools&cName=Compressors+%26+Air+Tools&sName=Air+Compressors+%26+Inflators

Thats the one I got, there was a sale last x-mas I believe it was $200 or so. The impact is garbage though, I went through 2 of them and each of them I could stop with my hand. I complained enough that they let me exchange for a better one. That one is nice, but I don't know which model it is.


Also, this ratchet is my all time favorite.

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=944730&Ntt=944730&catalogId=&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=1000004%204294967242&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

I got one at home depot maybe a year ago thinking it would last me for a while. I love the microtough deal on it. I ended up busting it a few months ago using it as a hammer, I went to home depot to return is expecting them to tell me to ship it in for a new one (lifetime warranty) and to my surprise they gave me a new one.

Best $20 you will ever spend.


Edit:

Wtf is up with you people and electric impact guns. I have yet to see one that wasn't a total POS.

[Rigmaster]

I LOVE my snap on 1/4" drive swivel head ratchet- the BEST tool in the box. I found it in the nose of a wrecked E34 I bought for parts- like a mechanic dropped it down in there and forgot to get it.

I bought a couple of similar ratchets made by Genius Tool recently- like these:

http://www.toolgopher.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=15982

http://www.toolgopher.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=28451

The Genius tool ratchets are pretty much a knock-off of the snap on, but not quite the same quality feel. Definitely worth the $$$$ though, since the snap on versions go for like $80-100 each on Ebay and more if you buy new.

Other than that, I love my Stanley 1/4" drive flex screwdriver/ratchet handle- bought it at Wally World a couple of years ago- it's basically a screwdriver handle on a long tightly-wound spring that ends in a 1/4" square drive where you attach a 1/4" socket. PERFECT for those 6mm hose clamps all over the E30 that are a bitch to get to with a regular screwdriver. Last time I looked, they no longer sell them at WallyWorld- not sure where to find them now.

Wobble ratchet extensions are very handy too. I use a couple of them together to help get up to the top tranny/engine bolts when dropping an E30 transmission- they give enough wobble to make it work, but are solid enough to twist those damn torx bolts out.


I'm sure there are others, but those are a good place to start.

[mrsleeve]

1 ratcheting box ends (craftsman pro series)
2 1/2 drive impact (ingersol 2135ti)
3 a toss up between a 12lbs sledge an 4 1/2 inch grinder

[robtech]

angle grinder/sawzall are among my favorites

welder

ratcheting wrenches

and you cant forget...no toolbox is complete without a variatous assortment of zipties

[Pinepig]

My Lincoln 185 TIG and the lift.

I love both of those.

[george graves]

13mm flex head gear wrench

Mini Pry bar

[madjurgen]

best bang-for-your-buck cordless impact?

[Axxe]

1) 36" pry bar

2) 24" breaker bar + 6' pipe

3) IR Impact

[pwforprez]

axe to beat the parts car when something goes wrong on the good one... i needed it alot today.. and now i have no spare body panels but it was needed