French Car Forum

HDI Dave · Post by **HDI Dave** » 06 Apr 2010, 14:06

CitroJim wrote:
The other rule is only ever lend tools to people you implicitly trust. Otherwise you find your collection will start diminishing.

Tools become immensely personal. I can't work properly with other people's tools and jealously guard mine.

but some Draper stuff is of questionable quality/utility. The Draper Expert stuff is usually borderline OK but steer well clear of cheapo Draper.

Aye Jim,i agree, tools become strangely comfy,like old friends!

Strange though, i've always found Draper to be pretty good.Maybe mine are the quality sets/tools. Only ever had 1 19mm socket break, when i lent it to a muppet, who had a 6 foot bar on a transit wheel nut....it was a left hand thread..eejut! I bought another 19mm socket,draper,and undid it for him

Oh, OP, Get a big old vice...vise?!! Invaluable to the home diy er.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 06 Apr 2010, 14:21

I can recommend Halfords pro range. It's worth checking their online prices first as you can then reserve and collect in-store and see just how much money you can save that way. I got a great deal on a beginners kit for my nephew at Christmas.

And I second the suggestion to try InExcess for quality and price. There's a small branch near me in Somerford/Purewell worth having a look round for individually sized spanners, sockets and other odd tools. I noticed they're also selling a nice looking socket set with each socket being an individual colour! Very clever methinks.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 06 Apr 2010, 16:03

agree a good vice and a good bench for it to bolt to...

and also a compressor as addo mentioned. I used mine and a cheap 1/2" air gun the other day to help with a rack change.. made a lot of the job quick and pain free

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 06 Apr 2010, 17:54

I will agree there, i have had a compressor for a while now for drying stuff off, painting and making light work of pumping tyres up but last year a bought a snap on air ratchet for £20 on Ebay and its worth its weight in gold, exhaust manifold nuts are no longer a pita , do need a good vice though!! and lending tools out is a no no for me too, i would sooner hire out the Mrs

D

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 06 Apr 2010, 19:22

D wrote
"i would sooner hire out the Mrs"

whats she like D although its quite a way to travle TEA HE,

and is she good at undoing tight nuts

Tobby buying tools is a life time job you can never have all the tools you need, you will always find you are short of something or other,

but add to your list a 1/2 inch drive two foor knukle bar,

regards malcolm

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 06 Apr 2010, 20:22

whats she like D although its quite a way to travle TEA HE,

and is she good at undoing tight nuts

well, late model, good body, mechanics sound but running costs are high and she can be tempramental.....................im so glad she never reads anything here

And tool wise........i have been collecting since i was 10, 12 years on and i still have nowhere near the gear i think i need.......i bet the list in this thread alone would set you back a few £K and that is just what is considered a minimum!, it seems to me every other purchase i make is an expensive 'once every six months kind of buy.......at some point i just ended up with enough gear to get by but i dont think i will ever stop eying up other tools!!.

D

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:13

I agree on the air. I'd be lost without my compressor and the few air tools I have. It's used for something nearly every day.

Vices. Toby, I have a big vice spare if you want it. FOC. I have two vices, a small engineers one and a big old agricultural one that used to be in a blacksmiths. It's great for holding hubs and other big items.

Nope, you can never have all the tools you need.

A good blowtorch is incredibly valuable as well applied heat can be just the thing to shift a stubborn fixing. Find a torch that gives a fine pencil flame. Cheap ones in DIY stores are OK for amateur plumbers but not for our purposes.

Maybe we could use this thread to draw up a fairly comprehensive list of necessary tools that will see most jobs done... It would be very useful.

Toby_HDi · Post by **Toby_HDi** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:26

It would be very useful Jim,

I'm looking to replace the missing items from my existing set and will then get some other basic tools.

Air compressors and things will have to come at a later date. As and when I need them.

Jim the offer of the vice is very kind, if you're very sure it would be much appreciated. I must find somewhere to mount it though

Thank you to all for your suggestions. I have a week off next week and am going to tackle some jobs on the Activa (probably Coupe too) and as I say, it's frustrating to keep finding I need something I haven't got.

Do wish I had a pit or a lift though

tonupteabag · Post by **tonupteabag** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:27

i love my tools full stop!!!!!! if they took my arms i'd cuddle them with my feet

red_dwarfers · Post by **red_dwarfers** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:38

tonupteabag wrote:i love my tools full stop!!!!!! if they took my arms i'd cuddle them with my feet

Is cuddling your tools a Devonian thing?

tonupteabag · Post by **tonupteabag** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:56

nah mate i'm a northener

i hate to think my poor little spanners and sockets getting cold!!!!!!!
hmm i think i've got taking care of my tools a bit on the excessive side

saying that though i own a mk1 xantia so i don't suppose my tools get a chance to be cold

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 06 Apr 2010, 21:59

um...............no

now a pit is on everyones wish list id of thought, i do have room for one now though and i will be bringing a jcb home next summer to landscape the garden sooooo

bit of an involved job to do right though and im sure pits are frowned upon these days....

D

Post by **CitroJim** » 06 Apr 2010, 22:19

Toby, the vice has your name on it...

tonupteabag wrote: hmm i think i've got taking care of my tools a bit on the excessive side

Not at all, I understand that perfectly. I'm jealously possessive of mine.

You can tell a Citroen owner's tools; they have a definite well-used look about them. A good burnished finish from hard and frequent use

Dean, pits are great things and do dig yourself one. The old H and S boys quiver and wring their hands a bit over them them due to the danger of unsuspecting folk falling into them, especially children and pets and the danger of heavier than air vapours and gasses settling in them and either posing a fire, explosion or suffocation risk. Propane, for instance, being heavier than air, can collect in a pit and either blow you up, suffocate you or do both.

There are, as a result, special lighting regulations for pits to avoid the danger of blowing yourself sky-high when switching on a light should the pit be full of flammable vapours.

As always, treat them sensibly and keep them covered with a stout lid when not in use and all is fine.

Post by **myglaren** » 06 Apr 2010, 23:02

My son spends most of his time in his pit.
Shame I can't position a car over him and have him work on it

xmexclusive · Post by **xmexclusive** » 06 Apr 2010, 23:13

Looks like Chinese Lexias are dropping in price.
Had an email offer at 130 US$ this morning.

John