Recommend Me Some Tools!

[S T A R 3 3]

hey guys

I've never been a 'hands on', self fabricating guy and usually resorted to buying and having it installed by my mechanic. Because of this, I've never owned my 'own' tools.

I've been looking to make a 'cooling plate' for my stagea and thought it would a simple straight forward project that I could do myself.

Could anyone suggest any tools that I could purchase to start me off that can help me on the smaller projects?

Thanks in advance

[turael]

Handheld Grinder, should come with cutting and grinding disks. Maybe get a flapdisk for it too

Gloves/gauntlets

Clear full face protector

Earmuffs

Cordless drill

Tape measure

Paint pen or equiv to mark with

Square

File, sandpaper

Clamps - Irwin clamps - the beefy ones on the left are sweet

Probably all you need to make a cooling plate aye?

[S T A R 3 3]

Appreciate it muchly..!

Feel free to recommended tools that could come in handy in other applications, not just the cooling plate hehe

[turael]

You'll be wanting the standard set of tools if you haven't got em - decent spanners and sockets.

For jap work I like to have some stubby spanners (much shorter versions) on hand.

Also some ratcheting spanners are handy and speed things up.

Here's a few more ideas to get you started:

Hammer

Vice

Drill press

MIG Welder

Dropsaw

Extension cords - the ones on rolls are pretty handy

Work lights

LED lights with magnets to help you see

extendable magnet pole things to get bolts you drop

Trays to store bolts/nuts in etc

Drip trays & oil pans

Breaker bar

rattle gun

[Duncan]

why not check the cool tools thread

[Craved]

why not check the cool tools thread

too many distractions in there, dont want to send him broke

[S T A R 3 3]

Haha there are alot of cool tools in the cool tools thread, some of which were over syllables long.

Guys, appreciate the input. Thank God its pay day tomorrow.

[fyjosh]

just pick up tools as you go. assuming you have all the standard auto related tools, i would get:

angle grinder, will change your life.

Mig welder, which will make you want a Tig welder...

drop saw.

a good vice.

weld stuff and learn about different materials. nobody welds stuff good for ages, if somebody tells you otherwise they're talking shit. my first welds were terrible lol.

when you start learning about welding, whole new oppertunities will open up for you in terms of making your own parts, braces, cages, everything. all i can say is go your research into what type of welder you want (basically only Mig or Tig) and how you should sue it and what to use it for.

speak to some members who are know to be big fab specialists, being an NS member i'd refer to str8e180 and other influential members for advice. it will help you in the long run and i know a lot of people in the trade will be more than willing to give advice.

good luck with it =]

[XRATED]

Just make shure you buy decent tools... Buy them once, look after them and you should have them for ever.

[Craved]

Just make shure you buy decent tools... Buy them once, look after them and you should have them for ever.

+20

[RustyR32Gtst]

A nice, low profile trolley jack.

Chassis stands.

Shelving for polishes, paints, oils ect.

Stereo/I pod dock.

900 watt Ashby and Abbott grinder on stand with a multitool on one end and a spindle with different polishing wheels on the other end (my favourite tool in the garage).

Rags.

Bar fridge.

And you'll probably need a solid work bench with a nice square, hard edge to fold your alloy sheet on on.

Edited July 22, 2011 by RustyR32Gtst

[S T A R 3 3]

just pick up tools as you go. assuming you have all the standard auto related tools, i would get:

angle grinder, will change your life.

Mig welder, which will make you want a Tig welder...

drop saw.

a good vice.

weld stuff and learn about different materials. nobody welds stuff good for ages, if somebody tells you otherwise they're talking shit. my first welds were terrible lol.

when you start learning about welding, whole new oppertunities will open up for you in terms of making your own parts, braces, cages, everything. all i can say is go your research into what type of welder you want (basically only Mig or Tig) and how you should sue it and what to use it for.

speak to some members who are know to be big fab specialists, being an NS member i'd refer to str8e180 and other influential members for advice. it will help you in the long run and i know a lot of people in the trade will be more than willing to give advice.

good luck with it =]

thanks for this.. I do have the basic auto related tools, albeit supercheap spanner sets, screwdrivers, socket sets etc..

I went to bunnings *shudder* and picked myself up an angle grinder and a cordless hammer drill. All mid-range in terms of prices. Naturally, I felt like such a no0b walking around comparing and swapping tools repeatedly.

The bigger tools such as the drop saw - i would love. But, because Im renting, i have no where to put them..

[Craved]

A nice, low profile trolley jack.

Chassis stands.

Shelving for polishes, paints, oils ect.

Stereo/I pod dock.

900 watt Ashby and Abbott grinder on stand with a multitool on one end and a spindle with different polishing wheels on the other end (my favourite tool in the garage).

Rags.

Bar fridge.

And you'll probably need a solid work bench with a nice square, hard edge to fold your alloy sheet on on.

$550 - bluepoint

$90 - 3 tonne

$100 - bunnings 150kg rated

??

$180 for grinder and $180 for the linishing attachment $20 for spindle + sisals and polish

$100? fridge

= $1350

thanks for this.. I do have the basic auto related tools, albeit supercheap spanner sets, screwdrivers, socket sets etc..

I went to bunnings *shudder* and picked myself up an angle grinder and a cordless hammer drill. All mid-range in terms of prices. Naturally, I felt like such a no0b walking around comparing and swapping tools repeatedly.

The bigger tools such as the drop saw - i would love. But, because Im renting, i have no where to put them..

hope it was a 5inch grinder, i will never use a 4inch by choice these days (not sure why lol) - makita 5" is about $99 @ bunnings.

drill bit sets!!! buy a nice ranged set - im using Bordo sets from 1mm to 13mm and was around the $125 for the kit from a tool shop, havent seen these in bunnings etc

[S T A R 3 3]

900 watt Ashby and Abbott grinder on stand with a multitool on one end and a spindle with different polishing wheels on the other end (my favourite tool in the garage).

[Duncan]

Just make shure you buy decent tools... Buy them once, look after them and you should have them for ever.

I don't really agree with that.

It's better to have the right, cheap tool to use, than the wrong, expensive tool because you can't afford the right one.

Other than the basic sockets and spanners, which are wroth buying good ones to save your knuckles if they break

[Craved]

I don't really agree with that.

It's better to have the right, cheap tool to use, than the wrong, expensive tool because you can't afford the right one.

Other than the basic sockets and spanners, which are wroth buying good ones to save your knuckles if they break

i also agree lol

but there are limits

buy a good branded drill versus a low end brand. BUT use a cheaper pin punch/chisel set over an expensive one. for example.

better to buy good metal shears over the aviation snips for cut quality if he makes this radiator panel.

cheaper screw drivers work as good as expensive ones

list goes on, there is a time and place for cheap OR dear tools

[XRATED]

Get some ideas... and go broke-

www.snapon.com.au

he he.

I love my snap on gear...

[Rowdy]

i also agree lol

but there are limits

buy a good branded drill versus a low end brand. BUT use a cheaper pin punch/chisel set over an expensive one. for example.

better to buy good metal shears over the aviation snips for cut quality if he makes this radiator panel.

cheaper screw drivers work as good as expensive ones

list goes on, there is a time and place for cheap OR dear tools

I dont agree with these points at all. cheap chisels go blunt and mushroom too fast, cheap pin punches snap for no reason, and cheap philips heads round off.

although fairly high range, my Wurth 1/4" socket set with assorted interchangeable screwdriver and torx bits is amazing. they prvide so much more positive grip and feel than any other screwdriver ive used. probably one of my favourite tools

Having said that, once you have a bit of experience you will be able to tell a good tool from a crap one, irrespective of price/brand etc.

man, everyone loves tool threads dont they?

[Craved]

for what he would use them for, those cheaper tools would work fine

snapping pin punches on 2mm steel/alloy is a bit crazy, doubt he'll head into high grade 10mm plate steel or stainless.

rounding screwdriver heads usually means you are using the wrong pitch and head size for the screw head, but by cheaper i didnt mean target screw driver kits lol

[r33_racer]

My pick if I could afford some is definitely Stahlwille http://www.stahlwille.com/

Cant beat german engineering!

Ahh looking at that site is getting me randy. Think I may have to go on a shopping spree