December 7, 2023 Having the Right Hand Tools

Here are the hand tools a home mechanic needs.

If you want to do your own car repairs to save money or just because you like working with your hands, you’ll need the right hand tools. Some automotive hand tools are highly specialized to a specific job, like spark plug pliers, while others, like socket sets, can be used for a range of automotive repairs. Here are the tools you’ll need to successfully maintain and repair your car.

Socket Set

Every mechanic needs a socket set to loosen and tighten nuts and bolts in the engine and everywhere else on the car. In addition to a normal socket set with a ratchet handle, you should consider buying a set of flex sockets with a flex ratchet handle. Flex sockets have a joint in them so you can really get into those tight spaces.

Telescoping Magnet/Mirror Set

The first time you drop a socket or a bolt into your car engine, you’re going to wish you had a telescoping magnet rod. A swiveling mirror on a telescopic rod can also help you inspect parts of the engine that are hard to see. You can even get telescoping magnet and mirror sets that have flashlight attachments to shed light on those dark crevices and crannies.

Spark Plug Pliers

Grabbing a spark plug boot with a regular pair of pliers could damage the boot or the spark plug wires. Spark plug pliers have specially designed jaws that wrap around the boot to extract the spark plug without damaging anything.

Finger Ratchet

You can’t always fit a ratchet handle and socket into every nook and cranny in your engine. For those tight spaces, a finger ratchet will come in handy. It might not be your most-used tool, but it will certainly make a big difference when you need it.

Flexible Funnel

If you’re planning to do your own oil changes, you’ll need a flexible funnel to put new oil in your engine. You can also use one to drain the oil from your car without making a mess. You can bend the flexible funnel to direct the used oil right into your drain pan.

Oil Drain Pan

When you’re changing your own oil, you need something secure to drain the used oil into. A drain pan is best for this. It has a low profile so you can easily fit it under a jacked-up car, and it seals to keep the used oil contained until you can recycle it.

Out-of-sight Long-Nose Pliers

Ever notice that when you’re using a set of regular long-nose pliers, you can’t actually see what you’re grasping because your hand is in the way? You need a pair of out-of-sight pliers. This design has the jaws angled sideways so you can grab stuff without your hand getting into your line of sight.

Crows Foot Wrench Set

A crows foot wrench set can be one of the most useful hand tools you could buy for working on your car. These wrench heads attach to any properly sized extension bar to let you loosen and tighten nuts and bolts from far away. You’ll also get more leverage for breaking stubborn bolts free.

Work Light

You can’t have too much light when you’re working on your car. A magnetic work light is most useful because you can easily stick it to any part of the car in order to free your hands for the work. Look for a mechanic’s light with at least 1,200 lumens. LED bulbs are preferable since they don’t get hot, and many mechanic’s work lights are now rechargeable. Choose a light that can run for several hours on one charge. You might end up needing it in the house during a power outage.

Locking Extension Bars

One of the most frustrating things that can happen when you’re working on a car is when you pull the ratchet handle and extension bar out of the engine block, only to discover that the socket is still firmly wedged on the bolt. That won’t happen with a locking extension bar. The locking ring will keep your socket firmly attached to the bar until you unlock it. You need extension bars anyway to get to difficult-to-reach bolts and nuts, so you might as well get locking ones.

Do you have the right tools in your garage to do the repairs and maintenance your car needs? Tools are an investment, but having the right equipment can save you hundreds on car repairs. Make sure you have what you need, so you can keep your car in tip-top shape for the long term.

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