Must have tools for your DIY garage

Most useful socket set, wrenches, pliers

I love to work with the best tools I can get. Seriously, it makes a lot more fun with the right stuff. Spending more money on great tools makes quite a lot of sense. Most important, you don’t buy things twice. These are the tools that I use a lot, the real must have tools, the essentials, the tools you really need to maintain your vintage car. They are all metric by the way.

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Tool Storage

Well first of all, I want to talk about storage. Some like to have the tools on a wall, easy to access. Personally, I prefer a tool trolley which I can easily drag around. I bought this one here from Hazet. Yes, I am a Hazet fan, I love the quality of the tools. Unfortunately, Hazet doesn’t support me to say that. Bought all the tools myself.

So this is it, the Hazet tool trolley. Of course, you can buy it as a trolley full of tools, a nice assortment. It’s just perfect. But since I bought tools before the trolley, I did it the other way around. It’s got a lot of space for tools and my nuts and bolts assortment and I use the big drawers for my power tools.

Socket Set

First of all, you need a socket set. Many years ago I bought stuff like that from places like Walmart or Home Depot. Better get good stuff in the first place, I bought tools many times but this here stays forever. It is a bit more pricey but the quality is outstanding. 

This socket set for example. It’s the perfect set, it contains all the stuff you would buy one by one in one nice set. From big to small, screwdriver sockets, torx, really everything you need, nice and clear.

Ratcheting Wrench Set

What you really really need is a ratcheting wrench set. It’s super handy if you don’t have much space and it makes working on your classic car even more fun. I really love them, as I wrote in my article. It also comes with square adapters, really cool. Thats a set I never want to miss. If I go on a road trip, I always take that set with me. 

Double Ring Spanner Set

There is not much to say about this double ring spanner set other than it’s extremely useful. Have this for many years and don’t want to miss it.

Screwdriver Set

Bought this screwdriver set, it was on sale so I thought I took it. At first I didn’t use it that much but meanwhile I can’t image how to work on my stuff without it.

Hammer & Punch Set

My lovely girlfriend brought home this hammer & punch set the other day. It contains all the stuff that I usually lose or that is somewhere but not where you expect it to be. A hammer, a soft hammer, drift pins (need them a lot), chisels, centre punch. A great set that I use a lot.

File Set

Well not everyone likes to go into these details, but for me a file set belongs to the Must Haves. So this is the file set I bought. Love them, really.

51 Piece Screwdriver Bit Set

Over the years I accumulated a box of bits, most came from a box of screws that contained a matching size bit. Not bad in quality but at the same time I lost so many of these. So it was time to buy a set where I see when one is missing so I can look for it right away. Awesome set, everything you will ever need.

Hexagon Screwdriver Set

Something you need everyday. Especially the extra long size 3 if you want to adjust CO on your CIS-Porsche 911. I prefer sets so I don’t lose anything, easy to see if one tool is missing.

Torque Wrenches

Let’s talk about a very important tool: a torque wrench. When I was young, I didn’t know about the importance and always tightened the screws as tight as possible. Stupid me. Back then. 

Now I know why it is so important and I have this little book from Porsche with all the torques.

I got two different ones, this is small one that has a 1/2″ drive and a range from 10-60 Nm.

And this is the bigger one, with a 1/2″ drive and a range from 60-320 Nm.

Pliers

Pliers, another interesting subject. Even though I might appear as the biggest Hazet fan out there, I would recommend some other pliers. Not saying that Hazet pliers are not good, just saying that there are better ones out there. The brand is named Knipex and is from Germany as well. High quality as usual. Unfortunately and to my surprise, I couldn’t find a set so I show you what I bought.

First one was the Allrounder Water Pump Pliers. Adjustable and this time it really holds to the adjustment. Phantastic pliers.

Thats an Ultra-High Leverage Lineman’s Pliers. Must have in any garage. Really a great tool.

And a Long Nose Pliers with cutter, very useful as well for all purposes.

A must have for me are these two pliers, an internal retaining ring pliers and an external retaining ring pliers. Without these pliers, you have no chance to remove or install retaining rings.

Thats the internal retaining ring pliers I have:

And that is the external retaining ring pliers:

Very useful self-adjusting Grip Pliers:

Here’s my beloved Gedore Wire Stripping Pliers, love that, read more about it in my article. Similar pliers are available from a large number of manufacturers.

Spark Plug Wrench

This Spark Plug Wrench is a very very good tool, especially if you’re working on old Porsches. Learn more about this Spark Plug Wrench in my article.

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