@Jason H well regardless expensive brands are out of reach for people like me. especially if automotive maintenance is a side thing and not a source of income.
I'm a 25 yr old girl, started driving last year and I'm really interested in maintaining my own car. I did my first oil change today and it's all thanks to you Chris fix!
Lmao. I dont lend to my family for that exact reason. My friends must leave a deposit when they borrow anything. Only to be returned when my set comes back complete
Chris, you are a staple to my son and I. He is 18 and getting into car repair. We are spending so much quality time together that I am in heaven. He is welcome to all of my tools and, actually, he knows there is nothing I wouldn't get him if it was reasonable. Thank you for inspiring both of us. My own dad was NOT mechanically inclined (to say the least) so I am playing catching up and enjoying every step along the way.
husky and gearwrench are great tools and gave lifetime warranty, this coming from a honda/acura tech I use big name brand such as snapon,matco,mac and even cheaper brands like icon, sunex, pittsburgh
My dad passed away last year. He had the best tool collection ever and I’m so lucky to inherit it. I’ve saved thousands working on my own car because of him, it’s just sad that now I’m really good at working on cars he’s not here to see. I would have loved working on cars with my dad.
i hope he wasnt like my dad,he was so smart and knew how to do everything and use alternate methods(jerry rigging)but he would easily get so pissed at the drop of a hat i couldnt work much with him and learn as much as i would like to.Thankfully now we have youtube and channels like Chrisfix!
I was born in a very poor country. My dad used to have a rusty box with all kinds of rusty tools on it. He loved that thing and I used to borrow any tool I needed. Now I left my country and moved somewhere else where I can actually afford new and shiny tools. I have them and I finally got my first car on which I'm working, yet my dad is thousands of miles away. I only whish I could share this with him, but I can't.
mine died a couple months ago (well my grandpa, my grandparents adopted me) and all of his tools have already been given away by my nana, and she knows nothing about tools so if i ask where she put a certain tool (because she moved all of them out of the logical places) she doesnt know what im talking about or if she got rid of it or not. makes doing anything pretty difficult and im already rebuying tools
I agree with you. The magnetic bowl is so cheap and it keeps all my nuts and bolts in one place....that should be on the list of must haves and I use it for any work in my garage or home when doing repairs. The worse thing though is to finish and job and you have nuts or bolts left over and the repair is complete and everything works! ( for awhile....)
@@papatorr3669 yup..I do all my usual repairs myself. I buy good tools for the things I need to do. Many professionals get lazy over time and greedy, taking advantage of their clients. Be independent and wise with your money. So glad to be a 'true amateur'/ LOL
@@lordofdunvegan6924 you mentioned having nuts and bolts left over. I made a mean comment. I removed and replaced an airbag control module from under a center console recently and ended up with extra nuts and bolts which I now have in a Ziploc bag and I'm still mad at myself! I've observed "professional" shops do the same thing for decades!
Been flipping through some old videos of yours & just wanted to say how much you've helped me & my friends over the years. I went from a teenager who didn't know how to change spark plugs to being able to fix nearly anything myself. Largely bc you showed me that I could. I really appreciate what you've done for me and the millions of others out there.
Same here Chris, I’m a delivery driver at Pizza Hut and with the amount of wear we put on our cars it can get expensive having to constantly go to a mechanic to fix your car. I got tired of it and started working on my car myself and with the help of yours and many other youtuber videos, I’ve managed to save thousands of dollars getting the job myself all thanks to people like you👍
Been driving Dominos for a year and I hate to say I'm late to the party but I'm ready to start saving and working on my car. It's already such a trooper and I gotta make it last :)
@@PlasticAddict301 what car do ya have? im on the lookout for genuine reliable vehicles for one of my friends. so far most toyotas and hondas are looking like absolute beasts.
This is me. Drive an old truck and work at Pizza Hut trying to find a better paying job. Got ripped off too many times and now multiple visits to a dealership over brake work of all things. Decided screw it and decided to start fixing things myself recently. Still $2000 in the hole through the dealership trying to get the brakes fixed (correctly, they keep screwing it up) but at least today I replaced the serpentine belt and belt tensioner myself! Glad I got a toolbox along with the truck when grandpa passed!
a shop tried charging me $100 to change the oil on my truck..... did it myself for $25..... that is what made me decide to do all the work on my truck myself..... so far I've changed CV axles, hubs, tie rods, ball joints, transmission fluid, thermostat, my oil..... I've saved so much money..... thanks Chris
I waited until the like 250+ set of tools from home Depot went on sale for $100 and I'm really happy with it. It comes with 2 lower plastic drawers which are kinda goofy, but it's well organized and I can still carry it around. Also, Husky does lifetime warranty and I've heard from friends it's as easy as taking a tool back to home Depot and leaving with a new one.
This video is oriented toward building a comprehensive home tool set (over time, of course) for someone who will do a lot of work on cars, with things like a roll-around tool cart and such. I’d like to give my experience from the point of view of someone who had limited resources and wasn’t aiming for a big home garage, being poor and moving frequently. I just wanted to fix a few things myself that didn’t require a lot of expensive specialized tools - brakes, clutches, water pumps, etc. I will also talk about brands, although I have no connection with any brand. My first piece of advice is that a tool set can contain many brands. Don’t eye those huge sets with envy. You will get a big set of one brand only by spending a lot of money, or getting inferior quality. Don’t rule out used tools. I started with a 3/8” drive ratchet. I bought it in high school, more than 50 years ago. I’m pretty sure it was 2nd hand. I still have it. It’s a classic 3/8” drive SK and it’s like an old and true friend. I knew even then that SK was a good one to get and that turned out to be true. I didn’t get a set because I didn’t have enough money. I just bought things as I needed them. Naturally, I built up a hodgepodge collection of sockets and extensions. If I were starting over today and had a little money, I would definitely get the SK again, but I would get a small set. The ratchet, with one extension and a set of either US or metric sockets is about $200. It includes a metal box with room for a few additional pieces. I would add another extension, a universal coupling and a spark plug socket. This little kit will last your entire life. You will need another box for more tools, but there is nothing wrong with that. My spark plug socket, by the way, is Snap-on. It’s an example of why sometimes you have to have another brand, which might be more expensive. In my case it was because I bought a car for which my socket wouldn’t fit, due to inadequate clearance at the top where the extension plugs in. The Snap-on socket has a narrower shoulder, so fits in a tighter space. I made do with a hodgepodge of inexpensive additional wrenches for years, bought as I needed them. Eventually, I reached a point where I had more money, and I upgraded to set of Proto combination wrenches. This was before Proto was bought by Stanley. Mine are really nice, but I don’t know what they are like now. I would say look over several different brands looking for affordable quality. There is no reason they should be the same brand as your sockets. A pouch that keeps them in order is nice, so finding the right one is easy. I have always had some oddball wrenches that don’t match anything. I used to have a short open end I used only to adjust the distributor on my Slant-6, now long gone. Now I have a double 10/13 mm open end which is my battery wrench, as I need just those two sizes to disconnect my battery. A wrench like that is easier to find in a box full of loose wrenches, or it can be kept in a separate kit. Ultimately, your tool set will reflect your individual needs, experience, and taste. It will be unique. You will probably keep your tools long after you have lost interest in working on cars, until you pass them on to some deserving family member.
Reading this made me feel like I was standing over the engine bay of my first car, talking to my grandfather, before learning to change the oil for the first time. What an awesome point of view, so expertly presented. Thanks!
I agree. Having a large collection takes time. By what you need when you need it. Buy quality.get the best you can with what you got. I do have snap on. But I dont rave over them. There are many brands that'll do the same job, just not as sparkly as they do it. Avoid large sets. End up with junk youll never use. I will say as I got older and earning more. I gave my beginner stuff to guys starting out and got better for myself. I have a thing for American made. But don't kill yourself over it
Couple things I highly recommend even if you are just starting out. Long needle nose pliers, straight, and 45°. Also a good telescoping magnet tool. Matco makes a magnet that has a solid flexible long magnet tool that I really like and it doesn't cost to much. And a good flashlight, ones with a magnet built in can be really helpful, or just a small bright light.
Great advice Chris. As a kid, I spent my school holidays in a service station. When I started to buy tools, an old mechanic advised. Never leave a gap in size, and buy two sets, one for each side. My most handy tools, are a couple of sets of open end wrenches, with a box (ring) spanner on the other end.
Not exactly the most ideal case but I've been slowly building my tool box the last couple years and my dad bought me a 225 piece Pittsburgh tool kit for about $100 at Harbor Freight to add to my collection. It has literally been my saving grace at times!
Nice idea, BUT the "positiv" Screw drivers actually come in 2 sorts: - Phillips - Pozidriv (sounds a bit like your idea) The are NOT the same and it is important to use the right ones or you will dull the screw quite quick. Look it up.
I'd like to add that good practice as a new mechanic is to not spend so much on a toolbox, but spend that money that you would spend on the box on a good 200 or 300 piece set of tools. it'll have almost everything you need besides specialty stuff and comes with a plastic box that organizes them. Better than tools that keep snapping leaving you stranded halfway through a simple rotor job.
I'm an automotive instructor and am going to show this to students. I always get asked "what tools should I get?" and hate hearing how the tool dealer sold these kids one tool for $200 when they can get full starter sets for the same amount. Great video with good useful info!
I would strongly suggest YARD SALES as a starting place for youngsters to buy tools. I have been going to yard sales for 40 years and couldn't count all the times I got a good quality tool for 10% of the new price.
@@jamevay Or I could drive to Harbor Freight which is around the corner from me and get a new tool in seconds (never had one break, but it's nice to have that security).
If your new to tools, just buy the cheapest ones you can and don't beat on them. They'll most likely last you until your friends barrow them and never give them back.
@@screamrad218 no problem I found that black Friday is the day/ few days to get amazing deals on tool sets. My first socket set cost me $50 and I not only still own it but use it all the time. There was a few things missing from it that I bought years later when I not only had the money but got irritated doing things without it, like a breaker bar. I bought a complete craftsman set that came with 3 socket sized wrenches and metric and standard sizes with screw drivers and pliers with the case. It might be more now but I've left it in my garage and they gotten rusty and beat up over the last decade and still work, and at the end of the day it's not how a tool looks it's if you can still use it without damaging what your using it on. I suggest getting a complete socket set with a breaker bar and maybe a set of sockets for removing rounded bolts because it does happen. I've been in the middle of doing brakes and rotors on my car and rounded off bolts that wouldn't come off and then had to wait for a ride to the store to get a set of sockets to get that bolt off, but that was recently so I went at least 10 years before needing it but there not expensive so it's up to you and your budget.
yo i been stuck on your videos since you taught me how to detail my car properly now I'm a big fan , I appreciate how genuine and honest you are and you really wanna uneducated people like me to understand and do things the correct way I think you dope and I'm a new subscriber
I started working on my own car a few years ago in highschool. I wanted to be able to do the basics like oil changes and brake jobs. Now I'm pulling engines and welding exhausts ( poorly I might add, but I'm doing it). My goal was to get the tools that will get me the farthest for the least money. Most possible jobs done for the least money (without danger). Looking back I accidentally did a really good job and would recommend it to others. I will list below a long list of tools but they will allow you to overcome a huge number of car repair jobs. I will also note, I am not much of a tool snob, but harbor freight doesn't make the greatest tools. However, they give the greatest value imo because all their tools have lifetime warranty, the customer service is great, and I've given my set pretty hard use and have never had a socket break. One time I broke a ratchet and they replaced my whole set for free. Another time the licking pliers broke and I got them replaced for free as well. I bought the 3 ton low profile harbor freight jack for 100 bucks on sale and I have never needed anything else. I got 2 pairs of husky 3 ton jack stands for about 30 bucks each. I originally got harbor freight jack stands, but after two recalls in a row, I bought husky. I got 3 ton everything because it's easier to work under a car knowing the things holding it up have a ton more capacity than what is on them. And I could do just about every car on the road. Then I bought the 130 dollar harbor freight Mechanics tool set. It was a medium size one. The biggest one was actually full of crap you don't need. I'm glad I couldn't afford that one because I would have bought it. Mine came with a ton of 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive long and shallow sockets, rachets, extensions, and joints. It came with Allen keys and screwdriver bits and pliers. I'd also recommend a 1/2" breaker bar, 1/2" torque wrench, and 3/8" torque wrench, and a dual 3/8 and 1/4 drive flexible head ratchet from harbor freight. Using coupons over a period of time I got all of those for between 11 and 16 dollars a piece. The dual head ratchet is my ratchet with the thinnest head and can fit in really tight spaces which isn't most of the time but is important some of the time. I'd also recommend getting a set of extractor sockets. The kind you hit on with a hammer. The number of times thats saved me in the past 3 months I've owned them is ridiculous. All in all, I think that's less than 600 dollars and will get you really really far. I've grown my collection past that but most of the improvement has been in speed and convenience, not capability. For example my 3/8" Milwaukee M18 compact impact wrench has sped up my work by maybe 20%, but not made new jobs possible.
I bought a snap on tools box that was pretty banged up for a fraction of the price. It helps that I'm an auto painter because I was able to to repair and paint the box to an original midnight pearl blue. I recommend anyone buy used and add a little elbow grease and you've got yourself a new box
I bought a husky car set from Home Depot on sell for $100. It has over 260 pieces. I love it. My first DIY I did was change the thermostat, water pump and radiator on my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
For $99 a year ago I got a husky mechanics 270pc set already in a box with everything. If you can name it it’s in there hand tool wise, oh and it’s lifetime warrantied from Home Depot.
Xbox gamer dewalt has some decent tools, but Milwaukee is at the top of the market when is comes to power tools, dewalt doesn’t come close. Tool trucks for instance, Snap-on, Mac, Matco and Cornwell, all sell Milwaukee power tools, Mac also sells both Milwaukee and dewalt. They all selling way more Milwaukee than dewalt or their own brands. Milwaukee 1/2 electric impact is cheaper then a snap-on but has more breakaway, the battery life last so much longer, everyone I know who has had a snap-on one has had it rebuild, at least once or twice within the first year. And they ended up trading it in for a Milwaukee.
If you live in a location where cars get rusty, another must-have tool is a can of Liquid Wrench or similar quality penetrant (I like PB Blaster) to loosen stubborn, rusted on nuts, etc. But be patient! If you don't have a rushed repair, pre-soak whatever you'll need to loosen and let it soak in and do its job for a few hours. You'll thank me and yourself, trust me! If it 's really, really stubborn, you'll want to gradually attempt to loosen and start working the parts apart and re-soaking with penetrant each time. When you put all the parts back together, go a step further and apply a light coat of Never-Seize to the threads so they will come apart much easier next time. Great video, Chris! And to end, a quote borrowed from another great TH-cam professional mechanic, "If I can do it, you can do it." Don't be afraid to learn how to work on your car, especially you girls and guys who think you can't or it's too hard. We (ChrisFix, neighbors, friends, other youtube channels) are here to help you and encourage you. YES, YOU CAN!
Na, you can probably still use it, but really, five them a call, and if they have only had a few like that, the may humour you and give yiu the discount
Man! Your tools are perfectly organized. Great job! Thumbs up if you search Craigslist for tools wayy too much. Buying a whole toolbox filled with tools is a great way for a beginner to get started.
Matt's Shop For sure. Im 16 in Australia and got a small handheld toolbox with 30ish sockets, 24 spanners, torque wrench, a ratchet plus heaps of other random bits and pieces for 100 bucks which is how much just the torque wrench would have cost me new. From a site aclled gumtree which is like the australian version off Craigslist
Microwave, mini fridge, couch, coffee table and bathroom also mandatory if you are to think of yourself as a serious garage dweller LOL! As a friend once noted: "The house is where the wife and kids live, I go there for the 3 S's, showers, social occasions and sex, otherwise this is where I live and it seems to make everybody happier and our time together better." Another guy I know has a bunch of acres and his garage/shop is almost a mile from the house. When he is there it may be for a couple of days, but when he is at home he is also there for a couple of days and neither situation interrupts or intrudes on the other and everybody is quite happy with this situation as there is no running to the garage for a screwdriver and then it's hours later...
Harbor freight hose gripping pliers. They're fantastic. They work great for getting wiring pigtails in hard to reach areas like a gauge cluster behind a dash, especially with my big ass hands. I unplugged every connector on my k20 civic with a set of those pliers and didn't break a single one. The ONE I did by hand on that car broke. Just to put you guys on one
Without even watching the video. I can tell you, as a professional mechanic, any tool that gets the job done is the best tool. Makes no difference if it's a snap-on, or a cheap ass off brand. ANY tool is better than not getting it fixed! Yes I have expensive day to day tools, but my set I carry arround with me in my car is a mish-mash of off brands, and misfits.
Dammmmmmnnnnnn I left my phone behind and just 3 people was around before they close the yard .I comeback to the place i was and my phone was gone ...I stand on the line and a ask for my phone and no one had it .... I try to call but my phone was already off
I got two large stacked tool boxes from an estate sale. The guy took care of his tools and Its been 6 months and I'm still finding new useful tool. It's like a bag of wanting
Kian Sutton I’m pretty slow when working on cars. Not because I don’t know what I’m doing, because I’m always wiping off dust and grease in my tools with a rag. And I’m always putting them back so I don’t lose them. There’s fast mechanics out there but they also have a big ass pile of tools that need to be put back at the end of the job and they are always greasy and grimey.
Or wind up with them all. Inherited a ton of quality tools and when we were moving everything out of my grandpa's house I lost the argument on whether or not the tools were being transported in my dads car or my moms. (I just didnt drive) The went in my dad's, I've never seen them since.
craftsman would be like the Subaru of tools. Not as fancy as the Snap-On but you can't kill it. Runs like new for practically forever. Super reliable and a great gold standard.
when buying your sockets make sure you don't just get 12 point you will need 6 point socket when you strip the 12-point or bolts also goes for wrenches they sell them in the 6 point and a 12-point
@@johnnycowboy_2167 I think 12 points for small stuff up to about 17mm metric is fine, past that the torque spec on larger bolts can often over stress the points on the nut and round it off, so 6 points are better for the big stuff as they reduce the risk of rounding off your nut/bolt head.
I enjoy my Kobalt mechanics set. $200 was okay for an organized set of varying sockets and three 90 tooth wrenches. The wrench variety was sad tho. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13. The amount of times I'd of liked a 14 or 15 was too damn high. Ended up having to buy a set of Kobalt pliers (which are solid btw). Next purchase is probably a full set of metric wrenches. Maybe I'll get some ICON or Tekton though. I use wrenches too damn much not to have a good set.
@@CheetahBigKitty You can also get used snap on stuff from techs trying to sell it to make their money back. Tekton is good though. I use it daily for my job, along with some of the snap on I have. Want a hint about Icon? It was designed by a former snap on employee. I had my snap on truck guy do a stress test with a 21mil snap on socket and a 21 mil icon socket. The snap on held pressure and broke at 120ft lb, and icon held pressure and broke at 135ft lb.
@Fusion 72 as an owner of a straight piped into coffee can exhaust ‘97 Civic DX I can confidently say you are 100% spot on about using Harbor Freight tools to keep it running🤣🤣
I both own a straight piped Civic and also tools from Harbor Freight that I use to fix it lol, hard to beat when it’s literally 5 minutes from me and always has what I need in stock🤷🏻
Patrick Wright yeah but still your tools break and there’s never will. Harbor freight sockets strip crack and suck absolute ass. It’s a joke child’s tools.
The trick is to keep borrowing them one at a time , he will keep replacing them thinking he just can't find [insert tool], and in 8 years time you'll have a whole free set. That's how I got mine, back in the day. Now my kids are due to be moving out soon, I'm changing the locks to the garage lol.
My dad still has his little green toolbox that he has had since i can remember. Its one of those toolboxs that you have to play tetris to get everything back into it and the lid closed. Man if those tools could talk.
ur attention to detail is insane. u got the tools you don’t recommend to show us. for example the ones that skips sizes. i’m watching all ur vids to build my future rally car
I've been using Husky from Home Depot for many years and I have to say that I'm happy with them. The only problem is that I bought them over the years and I don't have a nice set with a fitted case or cabinet to hold them. I think I'm going to invest in a set that has its own case to make it things more efficient. Thanks for another great video!
I use alot of husky stuff as well. my only problem is the husky impact sockets i use dont fit my milwaukee impact that well due to the friction ring instead of a pin. they stay on and all, but they pull themselves to the tip on the impact and flop around when i pull the trigger on the impact without the socket sitting on a bolt head or something.
I started with a $350 Craftsman tool set and a Dremel. Now I have quite the collection. Each time I needed a tool for a job, I would purchase it. If I thought I would use it a lot, I would buy a decent quality, if not, rando China brand. I now have a set that rivals my master mechanic Dad's set. Albeit his is all Snap-on and much nicer, but I still can get the job done in my small garage
David Linehan kobalt tools don’t completely suck. I have kobalt sockets that I’ve had for the past 5 years and have used them everyday. Although their ratchets could be a whole lot better. I have a15” 3/8 flex head kobalt ratchet that I’ve broken 3 times over the last two years. I do use it pretty much everyday. I also have. 1/4 ratchet that I bought and then broke it the first day the selected switch for on and off broke. I had it had it warrantied and the other lasted about a week until the same thing happened. Went onto the snap-on truck and bought a really ratchet. But I do have a 10” kobalt ratchet that my grandfather that he bough quite a few years ago and now I’ve had it for a couple years and never had an issue with it. But at the end of the day. Nobody makes a better ratchet then Snap-on or Mac.
In the end, the best tools are the ones that are actually in your toolbox (and not at the store). I'd rather have 100 Harbor Freight tools than 10 Snap-On's, and have to keep running to the store to buy what you need.
departmentofnatural awesomeness for $120 I got 3 ratchets, full set of sockets, full set of wrenches, pry bar, 2 sets of screw drivers, and a bunch of random things as well. For $120 at snap on I'd be lucky to get a ratchet maybe a set of wrenches. Sure they're good quality tools but at that price they're not worth it. You break a Pittsburgh tool? Take it in and swap it out. Don't have to wait for the rape truck to stop buy or open an online return. Definitely go harbor freight.
I disagree. Though snap on is over priced i would still rather have snap on then harbor frieght. There is a review i found while googling u.s.a. brands that give 10 good reasons you should buy U.S.A. tools and not overseas tools. You should look into it its actually interesting to read about
Ok I've been watching ur vids for maybe 3 months and next year I am going into high school and my elective is going to be automotive so by me watching ur vids is helping me
Hopefully your Auto program at your high school will be a hands on class, mine unfortunately was mostly text book and paper work. I had to convince my auto teacher to let me bring in my truck so the whole class can help me work on it lol.
The bottom of a Klein bolt bag makes a great storage solution for ten thousand sockets randomly thrown in lol also the bottom of my gang box randomly thrown in along with everything else lol
A great benefit to Craftsman and Snap-on is the lifetime replacement. Go to any authorized seller of either brand with whatever broken craftsman/snap-on tool and it's replaced for free.
Every respectable hillbilly would admit that he's also using wd40 and duct tape... if it moves and it shouldn't, duct tape, if it should move and it doesn't, wd40!
I've been using the Pittsburg 225 piece kit for a few years now. I have zero regrets and I use them a lot on 3 vehicles. All organized within the box. I do have the 1/2" and 3/8" Icon torque wrenches. Love them both...accurate and priced right.
I would agree for home use. As a professional I go with Snap-On hands down. By far the best quality, they come to where I work every week, if i'm in a pinch then my dealer can swing by asap no problems. Yeah defiantly pricey but when you're using those tools 45 hours a week you need the best reliability, and quality.
Oh yeah! 50/50 ATF/Acetone. Nothing beats it, and it's cheap as hell. My 16 year old son took off and rebuilt the entire front suspension from wheel to wheel on his 94 F150 4x4, using nothing but hand tools with it.
I have purchased many of my tools at estate sales. I've gotten Snap-on, Matco, Mac, Bonney and Craftsman, among others. I have made up some very nice sets but they are of various brands. All the good quality brands work well, so it's fine by me if there is a little mixing and matching.
I buy cheap but I look for the ones that have a lifetime warranty. They enjoy seeing my returns lol. But try to make sure it’s a return to store and not a factory return.
this is the best tip ever. if you are not filthy rich and can't afford and/or are not a crazy car guy like chrisfix I see no point whatsoever in buying expensive stuff. moreover for the price of 1 premium tool you can afford 10 chinese ones. with tools that you rarely or probably will never use it makes no sense. also this is the way to go. to buy the cheapest ones with lifetime warranty. if there some that you use often and don't want to wait for a replacement just buy those from a good company. everything else I really don't see any point.
most of my tools have been my father's that were passed on to me. a few brands are: Blackhawk, Thorsten, craftsman, Ingersol Rand, & snapon. a few recent over the last ten years are: Pittsburgh, and my most recent are Tekton. one thing to remember, if I got them all at once I could never afford them. So get them as you are able to afford them.
Hey Canadian here, just started working on my new truck (2010 Ranger) and found that investing in a good rust remover and some gun or tool oil is a great help to prevent rust from condensation in the cold weather, oh and don’t know if this is common but foam dance mats make great kneeling/tool pads
Howdy fellow Canadian! Just bought a 2011 Ranger FX4 this summer, looking at maintaining it myself as well! Going to be doing some fluid changes this weekend and I've been on Chris's channel for guides!
Starting out: Harbor Freight every hand tool. Sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers; all Harbor Freight. Whenever one of those breaks, upgrade to a higher brand. Like, if you crack a 15mm impact socket from Harbor Freight, upgrade it to a higher quality, like Cornwell, or MatCo.
I'd say don't jump straight from HF to a box truck. Maybe go up to craftsman or kobalt. If you break one of those maybe move up. Keep in mind both of those brands have lifetime warranties.
i was surprised he didnt mention that. or the non magnetic ones that have a claw like thing at the end. walmart has one in a set with a magnetic bowl for loose nuts and bots for like 5 bucks.
That is a good one! There are so many tools to cover which is why I rely on you guys to come up with other tool ideas! This one has saved my butt multiple times: amzn.to/28NOTVV
I just got my own 03 Mustang about 2 weeks ago and your videos are so helpful when planning out what I plan to do with my car. I got a lot of work to do, but watching your videos just makes me excited to get to work.
Very cool man! His videos are motivating me to get a little project car going. I've never done it in my life, I've always wanted to. I've done brake jobs, tune-ups, flushes, oil changes, and engine cleaning. I want to change out my suspension struts and coil. The shop quoted me 2000 for front and rear. Hell nah lol
About the socket drive torx, it really depends on what car you’re working on. My 2008 Dodge Ram requires them for a lot of things. A T45 for getting seatbelts off of seats, and a T47 and T50 for a bunch of other stuff. There are also a lot of torx studs you’ll need socket torx to turn everywhere.
A good [hanging] flashlight is super important! Might be the most important thing to keep on you. You usually need one for every job. Unless it's brakes. Outside. At high noon. On a sunny day. Also. For ratchet and socket sets: when he said "these are all quarter inch" He meant the "drive." kind of the size ratchet that you use. I suggest that your first set be a 3/8 drive METRIC set. Metric is more popular (even on "American made" cars). And a cheap 3/8 is usually stronger than a cheap 1/4 and will last longer. 1/4 is handy, especially for tight spots, but there are stubby 3/8ths... and your tool collection will grow.* THE MOST POPULAR SOCKETS / WRENCHES used (& misplaced lol) will likely by the 10mm *always*, 14mm 17mm and 18mm. 7mm and 8mm for body trim parts. When you buy wrench and socket sets buy the largest (reasonable) quantity possible. If you buy individually, you can end up buying 3 pieces for the price of a set of 10. A C clamp is a pretty useful tool for compressing brake caliper pistons. And a few other things. Also. Along the lines of a breaker bar, or if you can't afford one. A good, lengthy, heavy duty pipe that your ratchet fits in (the more snug the better) is a super difference maker. Leverage is everything. Some cheap ratchets will break if a bolt is too locked and you pull 200 lbs on it. PB Blaster and a cheap Mapp torch can be of big help.
My fav tool possibly ever is a CREE LED powered headlamp. Yea I look like a dork wearing it but no hanging or magnetic flashlight can get the light where you need it. And you are right on a sunny day it's still dark inside the wheel well or under the car! My light uses the LI-ION batteries that are popular with the vaping community and it lasts for a few hours before needing a charge. I usually tire out before it does.
Oh yeah! I use a headlamp for a lot of things like camping, fishing, and of course working on cars. I carry one in the trunk of my HOG trike in the event I'm ever on the road somewhere after dark and need to see. Luckily I am of an age where I don't give a rats a$$ how I look to anyone. Use one once and you will forget where the magnetic or clip on flashlight is. Its always pointed in the direction you are looking. Mine tilts up and down and has 3 "power settings", low medium, and bright. Think I paid $10 for it. Money well spent!
When I first started out, I bought a Craftsman tool set from Sears. It is pretty decent quality, especially for my use, but the best thing is that I signed up for their rewards program, and I got special offers to offset the cost. So I ended up getting a 330 piece kit for $100. It came with the basics (wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, deep and shallow sockets, 3 wratchets, etc.) Just be patient and wait for the right deal. That is of course unless you need the tools right away...
I feel like the craftsman version from sears is better than today's version you would get at Lowes. I wish things were made like they were used to be made. Its the same with the Die Hard batteries the ones at Advanced aren't the same as the ones that were sold at Sears.
Tool analogy Anything free or found is just the car your uncle gives you when he gets a new one, it’s just something different that still works fine, you’ll probably replace it in a few years but it’s nice to have one
Mannesmann is crap. But Würth got some good tools. also does Hazet and Stahlwille. Ks Tools is like a good midrange tool. All the experience i made with Proxxon is that I used it once from a friend and just broke a ratched at first use :D
The best tool set to get is the 204 piece dewalt mechanics tool set and order it through Amazon. Second Milwaukee impacts are better than most I used out of my 10 years of experience, so you want the m-18 Milwaukee impact guns. Torque wrenches is a must tool but I would save up for a Quality one
Bro I say this with complete honesty. You have the single best, most well put together channel on TH-cam. Helped me a bunch through the years. I pray for you and your channel bro. 💯
Werra is heavily underrated. I'm an aircraft technician and nothing beats the germans engineering. My boss owned a blue point 90° skrew driver and I always used to joke around that mine was better. It ratchets so much better then snap on because of the high return angel, not all about teeth. When we would be traveling working with other technicians they would always ask about mine and I'd let them try it and they would say "wow this things great" and I'd say out loud loudly enough for my boss to hear, "ya some people say it's the best". And he would get pissed off every time. Google werra tools, you won't regret it.
that harbor freight set was updated and is now sequential, a 1/4 and 1/2 set will cover 5mm - 19mm. Avoid the sets that come with the ratchet, they skip sizes
I was going to buy a impact wrench to do a brake job on my car to make it easier. I realised I could use a socket adapter on my impact driver it did the job saved myself $190. Always research the tools you want to buy first !
Craftsman is the Roman Empire. At one time it was vast and strong, now it is just a bunch of rubble in the dust. Masterforce is my cat, sometimes she is the best thing ever and other times all she does is piss me off.
I use craftsmen (EDIT: I meant Stanley) only because if it destroys itself I can just go down to walmart and swap it out. Also it's cheap. Also it doesn't really destroy itself enough to warrant a problemo.
I just upgraded from that same little black toolbox to a huge 41 inch Hammerhead tool chest that I inherited from my uncle. Gang.... Chris ain't lying. Organization isn't "one of" the most important things. It's the single most important thing for a diy mechanic. You're going to have enough frustration with the car. You don't need the added frustration of going on a scavenger hunt for tools. Especially if you are working in the driveway in South Texas heat.
Here's a tip I heard from an aircraft mechanic:
"Buy cheap tools to start and the tools you break are the ones you use the most, so upgrade them."
@Jason H Yeah but not every body can afford snap on, mac, matco, and etc... but you do you.
@Jason H well regardless expensive brands are out of reach for people like me. especially if automotive maintenance is a side thing and not a source of income.
@Jason H Ok you don't need to brag about it.
Top tip 👌🏻
@Jason H Never heard of these tools. Just looked them and WOW!!
I'm a 25 yr old girl, started driving last year and I'm really interested in maintaining my own car. I did my first oil change today and it's all thanks to you Chris fix!
Been 3 months, time to change again 🤣
@@richardparker471 Been 10 hours, time to change again 🤣
@@mobbdeep615 been 10 seconds change again
@@DA_BEAMERRRR been 10 milliseconds , time to change again 🤷🏽♂️.
@@richardparker471 bruh you killed her🤣🤣🤣
Friend: -Do you have a 10mm socket?
Me: -Yes I do. Do you want to know why I have one?
Friend: -Why?
Me: -Because I don't lend it to anyone.
Lmao. I dont lend to my family for that exact reason. My friends must leave a deposit when they borrow anything. Only to be returned when my set comes back complete
Beshev Games who's asking you for one, this never happens in reality
10 mm sockets ought to be sold in lots of 10, or get the bulk price when you buy 20 or more. That way you might be able to find one when you need one.
Me: Where is my 10mm socket...
Me: ... probably in the last car I worked on. Somewhere.
Me in reality: Its in the customers car.
Accumulate tools over Time
Chris, you are a staple to my son and I. He is 18 and getting into car repair. We are spending so much quality time together that I am in heaven. He is welcome to all of my tools and, actually, he knows there is nothing I wouldn't get him if it was reasonable. Thank you for inspiring both of us. My own dad was NOT mechanically inclined (to say the least) so I am playing catching up and enjoying every step along the way.
That's what I like to hear! I'm so glad you are teaching him and I'm sure you are still learning a lot as well!
wish my dad would help me🥲
So wholesome, hope you guys are having a great time!
Wish I still had my dad around. Would always help him change the oil 😞
husky and gearwrench are great tools and gave lifetime warranty, this coming from a honda/acura tech I use big name brand such as snapon,matco,mac and even cheaper brands like icon, sunex, pittsburgh
My dad passed away last year. He had the best tool collection ever and I’m so lucky to inherit it. I’ve saved thousands working on my own car because of him, it’s just sad that now I’m really good at working on cars he’s not here to see. I would have loved working on cars with my dad.
Hopefully he’s looking down and watching! Make him proud!
i hope he wasnt like my dad,he was so smart and knew how to do everything and use alternate methods(jerry rigging)but he would easily get so pissed at the drop of a hat i couldnt work much with him and learn as much as i would like to.Thankfully now we have youtube and channels like Chrisfix!
I was born in a very poor country. My dad used to have a rusty box with all kinds of rusty tools on it. He loved that thing and I used to borrow any tool I needed. Now I left my country and moved somewhere else where I can actually afford new and shiny tools. I have them and I finally got my first car on which I'm working, yet my dad is thousands of miles away. I only whish I could share this with him, but I can't.
mine died a couple months ago (well my grandpa, my grandparents adopted me) and all of his tools have already been given away by my nana, and she knows nothing about tools so if i ask where she put a certain tool (because she moved all of them out of the logical places) she doesnt know what im talking about or if she got rid of it or not. makes doing anything pretty difficult and im already rebuying tools
Beautiful stuff, great to hear.
A magnetic bowl or two. Seriously one of the best investments ($6) and I use them all the time. No more lost nuts/bolts/screws etc.
Tregeta or sockets, a couple guys at work lost 3 sockets together in I think 2 days, found one though 😂 snap on impact sockets aren’t cheap
I agree with you. The magnetic bowl is so cheap and it keeps all my nuts and bolts in one place....that should be on the list of must haves and I use it for any work in my garage or home when doing repairs. The worse thing though is to finish and job and you have nuts or bolts left over and the repair is complete and everything works! ( for awhile....)
@@lordofdunvegan6924 the sign of a true amateur!
@@papatorr3669 yup..I do all my usual repairs myself. I buy good tools for the things I need to do. Many professionals get lazy over time and greedy, taking advantage of their clients. Be independent and wise with your money. So glad to be a 'true amateur'/ LOL
@@lordofdunvegan6924 you mentioned having nuts and bolts left over. I made a mean comment. I removed and replaced an airbag control module from under a center console recently and ended up with extra nuts and bolts which I now have in a Ziploc bag and I'm still mad at myself! I've observed "professional" shops do the same thing for decades!
Been flipping through some old videos of yours & just wanted to say how much you've helped me & my friends over the years. I went from a teenager who didn't know how to change spark plugs to being able to fix nearly anything myself. Largely bc you showed me that I could. I really appreciate what you've done for me and the millions of others out there.
Thanks a lot!
Same here Chris, I’m a delivery driver at Pizza Hut and with the amount of wear we put on our cars it can get expensive having to constantly go to a mechanic to fix your car. I got tired of it and started working on my car myself and with the help of yours and many other youtuber videos, I’ve managed to save thousands of dollars getting the job myself all thanks to people like you👍
Been driving Dominos for a year and I hate to say I'm late to the party but I'm ready to start saving and working on my car. It's already such a trooper and I gotta make it last :)
@@PlasticAddict301 what car do ya have? im on the lookout for genuine reliable vehicles for one of my friends. so far most toyotas and hondas are looking like absolute beasts.
@@Septagrimyeah Toyota is best. Camry Corolla Venza Prius depends what you need and for what price but they all last good long times
This is me. Drive an old truck and work at Pizza Hut trying to find a better paying job. Got ripped off too many times and now multiple visits to a dealership over brake work of all things. Decided screw it and decided to start fixing things myself recently. Still $2000 in the hole through the dealership trying to get the brakes fixed (correctly, they keep screwing it up) but at least today I replaced the serpentine belt and belt tensioner myself! Glad I got a toolbox along with the truck when grandpa passed!
Don’t forget to buy a locking safe/vault for your 10mm and 13mm sockets.
15, 17, 19 are my most common ones.
I got 99 sockets but a 10 mm ain't 1
@@brendanl9011 what brand
@@dylanphillips9745 mastercraft. Does the trick but when they go missing not to much of an investment
Can't find my 15mm :/
a shop tried charging me $100 to change the oil on my truck..... did it myself for $25..... that is what made me decide to do all the work on my truck myself..... so far I've changed CV axles, hubs, tie rods, ball joints, transmission fluid, thermostat, my oil..... I've saved so much money..... thanks Chris
It's so satisfying seeing you opening them draws and seeing all those filled spaces, anyone else?
I came a little tbh
Yeah especially the 10mm spaces filled
I'm too busy noticing that everything is brand new and unused.
Clean is one thing but, once a tool has been used, it'll never look brand new again
i was thinkin same
YES TRUE
I waited until the like 250+ set of tools from home Depot went on sale for $100 and I'm really happy with it. It comes with 2 lower plastic drawers which are kinda goofy, but it's well organized and I can still carry it around. Also, Husky does lifetime warranty and I've heard from friends it's as easy as taking a tool back to home Depot and leaving with a new one.
If it moves and it shouldn’t: Duct Tape
If it doesn’t move and it should: WD-40
That's right all you need is duck tape and WD 40
Have you tried Flex Tape though? That's the stickiest tape ever 🙃
@@jessicah3450 ya you right
Duct Tape: the handiman's secret weapon
If it’s stuck and won’t come loose TORCH
This video is oriented toward building a comprehensive home tool set (over time, of course) for someone who will do a lot of work on cars, with things like a roll-around tool cart and such. I’d like to give my experience from the point of view of someone who had limited resources and wasn’t aiming for a big home garage, being poor and moving frequently. I just wanted to fix a few things myself that didn’t require a lot of expensive specialized tools - brakes, clutches, water pumps, etc. I will also talk about brands, although I have no connection with any brand.
My first piece of advice is that a tool set can contain many brands. Don’t eye those huge sets with envy. You will get a big set of one brand only by spending a lot of money, or getting inferior quality. Don’t rule out used tools.
I started with a 3/8” drive ratchet. I bought it in high school, more than 50 years ago. I’m pretty sure it was 2nd hand. I still have it. It’s a classic 3/8” drive SK and it’s like an old and true friend. I knew even then that SK was a good one to get and that turned out to be true. I didn’t get a set because I didn’t have enough money. I just bought things as I needed them. Naturally, I built up a hodgepodge collection of sockets and extensions.
If I were starting over today and had a little money, I would definitely get the SK again, but I would get a small set. The ratchet, with one extension and a set of either US or metric sockets is about $200. It includes a metal box with room for a few additional pieces. I would add another extension, a universal coupling and a spark plug socket. This little kit will last your entire life. You will need another box for more tools, but there is nothing wrong with that.
My spark plug socket, by the way, is Snap-on. It’s an example of why sometimes you have to have another brand, which might be more expensive. In my case it was because I bought a car for which my socket wouldn’t fit, due to inadequate clearance at the top where the extension plugs in. The Snap-on socket has a narrower shoulder, so fits in a tighter space.
I made do with a hodgepodge of inexpensive additional wrenches for years, bought as I needed them. Eventually, I reached a point where I had more money, and I upgraded to set of Proto combination wrenches. This was before Proto was bought by Stanley. Mine are really nice, but I don’t know what they are like now. I would say look over several different brands looking for affordable quality. There is no reason they should be the same brand as your sockets. A pouch that keeps them in order is nice, so finding the right one is easy.
I have always had some oddball wrenches that don’t match anything. I used to have a short open end I used only to adjust the distributor on my Slant-6, now long gone. Now I have a double 10/13 mm open end which is my battery wrench, as I need just those two sizes to disconnect my battery. A wrench like that is easier to find in a box full of loose wrenches, or it can be kept in a separate kit.
Ultimately, your tool set will reflect your individual needs, experience, and taste. It will be unique. You will probably keep your tools long after you have lost interest in working on cars, until you pass them on to some deserving family member.
Great analysis
Thank you sir
Reading this made me feel like I was standing over the engine bay of my first car, talking to my grandfather, before learning to change the oil for the first time.
What an awesome point of view, so expertly presented. Thanks!
That’s crazy
I agree. Having a large collection takes time. By what you need when you need it. Buy quality.get the best you can with what you got. I do have snap on. But I dont rave over them. There are many brands that'll do the same job, just not as sparkly as they do it. Avoid large sets. End up with junk youll never use. I will say as I got older and earning more. I gave my beginner stuff to guys starting out and got better for myself. I have a thing for American made. But don't kill yourself over it
everyone know that early mechanics just borrow the best kind of tools, their dads tools.
Ah man, the first time I change my oil, my scissor jack started to bend over so I borrowed my dad's hydraulic jack. 10/10 would recommend dad's tools
wish my dad had tools
Tavim same
@@tavim5481
He is not your dad then.
Every dad has tools, I'm not a dad yet, and i already got a tool box with tools.
S/O to those of us who don’t have dads around and are learning things ourselves. You got this! I believe in you.
Couple things I highly recommend even if you are just starting out. Long needle nose pliers, straight, and 45°. Also a good telescoping magnet tool. Matco makes a magnet that has a solid flexible long magnet tool that I really like and it doesn't cost to much. And a good flashlight, ones with a magnet built in can be really helpful, or just a small bright light.
Always have a drawer full of 10mm sockets. You have to make them feel at home or they will leave your toolbox.
10mm and 13
and 8
u s. general tool chest
10 or 12...... Most always 12
And keep that 7mm also. YOU WILL NEED IT. deep well and shallow.
“This discount is up for a week”
**me watching 4 years later**
🤣
same here..
Hi how are you
Lincoln Dreesen me
*cries in the dark*
Great advice Chris. As a kid, I spent my school holidays in a service station. When I started to buy tools, an old mechanic advised. Never leave a gap in size, and buy two sets, one for each side. My most handy tools, are a couple of sets of open end wrenches, with a box (ring) spanner on the other end.
Thanks for sharing!
@@chrisfix i just got an old Chevy with a bad wiring harness, could you try and make a video about replacing one?
What do you mean by buying two sets??
Not exactly the most ideal case but I've been slowly building my tool box the last couple years and my dad bought me a 225 piece Pittsburgh tool kit for about $100 at Harbor Freight to add to my collection. It has literally been my saving grace at times!
Why dont they call them postive and negative screw driver
haha never thought of that!
Agreed
Nice idea, BUT the "positiv" Screw drivers actually come in 2 sorts:
- Phillips
- Pozidriv (sounds a bit like your idea)
The are NOT the same and it is important to use the right ones or you will dull the screw quite quick. Look it up.
Phillip wouldn't appreciate changing his tool name..
Peyton Essex because it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard about it
That toolbox (loaded) is $1983.99 if anyone is wondering
EDIT: The toolbox is much cheaper now but it sells out quick
I'd pay that upfront tbh an incomplete toolbox would drive me mad
Not only is it loaded but it has all the cutouts done. That can be a huge pain in the ass if you haven't had to do it before.
i was thanks lol
That price is a fraction of my uncles snap on box
Can you provide a link?!
my tools are like a cop car...never around when you need them but always there when you don't.
I am gonna try
😂😂😂
Same
This is so true 😂
Plus half the time they don’t work
I'd like to add that good practice as a new mechanic is to not spend so much on a toolbox, but spend that money that you would spend on the box on a good 200 or 300 piece set of tools. it'll have almost everything you need besides specialty stuff and comes with a plastic box that organizes them. Better than tools that keep snapping leaving you stranded halfway through a simple rotor job.
I'm an automotive instructor and am going to show this to students. I always get asked "what tools should I get?" and hate hearing how the tool dealer sold these kids one tool for $200 when they can get full starter sets for the same amount. Great video with good useful info!
Thanks Colin!
I would strongly suggest YARD SALES as a starting place for youngsters to buy tools. I have been going to yard sales for 40 years and couldn't count all the times I got a good quality tool for 10% of the new price.
"tool dealer" you could have just said the snapon truck, fucking selling ratchets for 170$ a piece.
@@Skidtire What snap-on sells is their service. when the tool breaks, they will come to your garage and fix it in their truck on the spot.
@@jamevay Or I could drive to Harbor Freight which is around the corner from me and get a new tool in seconds (never had one break, but it's nice to have that security).
If your new to tools, just buy the cheapest ones you can and don't beat on them. They'll most likely last you until your friends barrow them and never give them back.
You can also keep on eye out at garage sales and pawn shops to buy extra loaner tools cheap that you know you'll possibly never see again
I just hope my harbor freight tools break on my friends.
Thanks, Mark! I’m very new to tools here.
@@screamrad218 no problem I found that black Friday is the day/ few days to get amazing deals on tool sets. My first socket set cost me $50 and I not only still own it but use it all the time. There was a few things missing from it that I bought years later when I not only had the money but got irritated doing things without it, like a breaker bar. I bought a complete craftsman set that came with 3 socket sized wrenches and metric and standard sizes with screw drivers and pliers with the case. It might be more now but I've left it in my garage and they gotten rusty and beat up over the last decade and still work, and at the end of the day it's not how a tool looks it's if you can still use it without damaging what your using it on. I suggest getting a complete socket set with a breaker bar and maybe a set of sockets for removing rounded bolts because it does happen. I've been in the middle of doing brakes and rotors on my car and rounded off bolts that wouldn't come off and then had to wait for a ride to the store to get a set of sockets to get that bolt off, but that was recently so I went at least 10 years before needing it but there not expensive so it's up to you and your budget.
yo i been stuck on your videos since you taught me how to detail my car properly now I'm a big fan , I appreciate how genuine and honest you are and you really wanna uneducated people like me to understand and do things the correct way I think you dope and I'm a new subscriber
Awesome! Glad the video was helpful! Welcome aboard!
I started working on my own car a few years ago in highschool. I wanted to be able to do the basics like oil changes and brake jobs. Now I'm pulling engines and welding exhausts ( poorly I might add, but I'm doing it).
My goal was to get the tools that will get me the farthest for the least money. Most possible jobs done for the least money (without danger). Looking back I accidentally did a really good job and would recommend it to others. I will list below a long list of tools but they will allow you to overcome a huge number of car repair jobs.
I will also note, I am not much of a tool snob, but harbor freight doesn't make the greatest tools. However, they give the greatest value imo because all their tools have lifetime warranty, the customer service is great, and I've given my set pretty hard use and have never had a socket break. One time I broke a ratchet and they replaced my whole set for free. Another time the licking pliers broke and I got them replaced for free as well.
I bought the 3 ton low profile harbor freight jack for 100 bucks on sale and I have never needed anything else. I got 2 pairs of husky 3 ton jack stands for about 30 bucks each. I originally got harbor freight jack stands, but after two recalls in a row, I bought husky. I got 3 ton everything because it's easier to work under a car knowing the things holding it up have a ton more capacity than what is on them. And I could do just about every car on the road.
Then I bought the 130 dollar harbor freight Mechanics tool set. It was a medium size one. The biggest one was actually full of crap you don't need. I'm glad I couldn't afford that one because I would have bought it.
Mine came with a ton of 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive long and shallow sockets, rachets, extensions, and joints. It came with Allen keys and screwdriver bits and pliers.
I'd also recommend a 1/2" breaker bar, 1/2" torque wrench, and 3/8" torque wrench, and a dual 3/8 and 1/4 drive flexible head ratchet from harbor freight. Using coupons over a period of time I got all of those for between 11 and 16 dollars a piece.
The dual head ratchet is my ratchet with the thinnest head and can fit in really tight spaces which isn't most of the time but is important some of the time.
I'd also recommend getting a set of extractor sockets. The kind you hit on with a hammer. The number of times thats saved me in the past 3 months I've owned them is ridiculous.
All in all, I think that's less than 600 dollars and will get you really really far. I've grown my collection past that but most of the improvement has been in speed and convenience, not capability. For example my 3/8" Milwaukee M18 compact impact wrench has sped up my work by maybe 20%, but not made new jobs possible.
Awesome man!!! Keep at it!
For toolboxes, I wholly recommend buying 2nd hand. Sometimes they're a bit beat up but with a quick sand down and a bit of paint they come up lovely 👌
I personally like the aged look of an old toolbox, gives me confidence in my skills whenever I use my grandfather's stuff
I bought a snap on tools box that was pretty banged up for a fraction of the price. It helps that I'm an auto painter because I was able to to repair and paint the box to an original midnight pearl blue. I recommend anyone buy used and add a little elbow grease and you've got yourself a new box
I bought only one new box
A Crapsmam in 1971
Harbor freight also has a scratch and dent section for their boxes, so if you dont mind your tool box a little beat up, its a good option
I bought a husky car set from Home Depot on sell for $100. It has over 260 pieces. I love it. My first DIY I did was change the thermostat, water pump and radiator on my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Awesome! That is a good starter set!
@@chrisfix I'm getting a 200 and some piece husky tool set.
I own the same set for two years. I always polish my tools. Lol
Black and Dekker is like a riced out 1998 honda civic with a busted out tail light but somehow lasts 10 years
Yes they last but are the most crap
@@gplusgplus2286 what about DeWalt ?
Nicolas Morillo stanley, black and decker, Dewalt, facom all the same group. Stanleyblackanddecker.
@@gplusgplus2286 don't forget the most expensive one mac is also part of stanly
Lol I have a 2001 accord that has a busted headlight but will not die
For $99 a year ago I got a husky mechanics 270pc set already in a box with everything. If you can name it it’s in there hand tool wise, oh and it’s lifetime warrantied from Home Depot.
“How to get tools for free?”
The secret ingredient, is crime.
I use to buy 100 tools for 10 dollars but now they have cameras
Cheers Super Hans 😅
That, or if you work in a big shop/site where some sneaky bastards pilfer your shit when you're not looking/are away.
no just get 7 million followers and sure you will have 20000 tons of free tools
There is no secret ingredient, it is just you!
Always keep dirt cheap tools on hand for certain sacrificial situations! Like when you round a bolt head off, you can hammer on the next size down !!!
Thanks for the tip!
buy harbor freight wrenches, pliers, and such, and their boxes are decent. buy craftsman socket sets and ratchets. buy milwaukee and rigid power tools
I say dewalt power tools because screw milwaukee
@@johnnycowboy_2167 Milwaukee's last a little longer
@@jacobsweat1520 ive had the same dewalt fir over 10 years
Makita's are real nice
Xbox gamer dewalt has some decent tools, but Milwaukee is at the top of the market when is comes to power tools, dewalt doesn’t come close. Tool trucks for instance, Snap-on, Mac, Matco and Cornwell, all sell Milwaukee power tools, Mac also sells both Milwaukee and dewalt. They all selling way more Milwaukee than dewalt or their own brands. Milwaukee 1/2 electric impact is cheaper then a snap-on but has more breakaway, the battery life last so much longer, everyone I know who has had a snap-on one has had it rebuild, at least once or twice within the first year. And they ended up trading it in for a Milwaukee.
If you live in a location where cars get rusty, another must-have tool is a can of Liquid Wrench or similar quality penetrant (I like PB Blaster) to loosen stubborn, rusted on nuts, etc. But be patient! If you don't have a rushed repair, pre-soak whatever you'll need to loosen and let it soak in and do its job for a few hours. You'll thank me and yourself, trust me! If it 's really, really stubborn, you'll want to gradually attempt to loosen and start working the parts apart and re-soaking with penetrant each time. When you put all the parts back together, go a step further and apply a light coat of Never-Seize to the threads so they will come apart much easier next time. Great video, Chris! And to end, a quote borrowed from another great TH-cam professional mechanic, "If I can do it, you can do it." Don't be afraid to learn how to work on your car, especially you girls and guys who think you can't or it's too hard. We (ChrisFix, neighbors, friends, other youtube channels) are here to help you and encourage you. YES, YOU CAN!
Great suggestion!
And even a torch sometimes, it can’t be tight if it’s liquid
"You're gonna need that 20 and this will just drive you nuts."
Isn't that what a socket set is supposed to do?
gawd
LOL
🤦 Goddammit 🤣😂🤣
Wait a minute
DAMMIT
It’s been three years something tells me I missed out on the discount
You and I brudda 🤣 .. its cool tho . I went on their page, saw the prices and ill just keep going harbor freight 😂😂 .
Na, you can probably still use it, but really, five them a call, and if they have only had a few like that, the may humour you and give yiu the discount
Man! Your tools are perfectly organized. Great job!
Thumbs up if you search Craigslist for tools wayy too much.
Buying a whole toolbox filled with tools is a great way for a beginner to get started.
Matt's Shop dude I wouldn't have thought of that. such a great idea
Matt's Shop For sure. Im 16 in Australia and got a small handheld toolbox with 30ish sockets, 24 spanners, torque wrench, a ratchet plus heaps of other random bits and pieces for 100 bucks which is how much just the torque wrench would have cost me new. From a site aclled gumtree which is like the australian version off Craigslist
SinghTheKing nice deal... I traced a snap on logo in sharpie all ghetto to troll on my boss who always says I need to get a snap on box...😎
The dude even has a toaster oven so he doesn't have to go inside to eat... damn.
Microwave, mini fridge, couch, coffee table and bathroom also mandatory if you are to think of yourself as a serious garage dweller LOL!
As a friend once noted: "The house is where the wife and kids live, I go there for the 3 S's, showers, social occasions and sex, otherwise this is where I live and it seems to make everybody happier and our time together better."
Another guy I know has a bunch of acres and his garage/shop is almost a mile from the house. When he is there it may be for a couple of days, but when he is at home he is also there for a couple of days and neither situation interrupts or intrudes on the other and everybody is quite happy with this situation as there is no running to the garage for a screwdriver and then it's hours later...
Harbor freight hose gripping pliers. They're fantastic. They work great for getting wiring pigtails in hard to reach areas like a gauge cluster behind a dash, especially with my big ass hands. I unplugged every connector on my k20 civic with a set of those pliers and didn't break a single one. The ONE I did by hand on that car broke. Just to put you guys on one
Without even watching the video. I can tell you, as a professional mechanic, any tool that gets the job done is the best tool. Makes no difference if it's a snap-on, or a cheap ass off brand. ANY tool is better than not getting it fixed! Yes I have expensive day to day tools, but my set I carry arround with me in my car is a mish-mash of off brands, and misfits.
#truth
Same here, my truck has master craft and Stanley
Spot on right on target ....
For me the Snap on makes you money. And the Craftsman and harbor freight get you out of sticky situations, when you’re not expecting it
Chris is like the cool uncle the shows us cool stuff😂😂👍👌❤
haha
For real though
bleh blah my cool uncle didn't show me cool stuff...
It hurt
Lol just a meme
I thought that was AvE
lmao i have an uncle like that.
To get free tools: go to a pick a part and look in vehicles for tools other people left behind.
It's funny, my last trip to the junkyard, I lost a screwdriver but found a wrench.
True. I once found a SnapOn socket wrench in the engine bay after I got my struts changed.
Last time I was in the junkyard my friend list my tool box, a WHOLE ASS TOOL BOX
Dammmmmmnnnnnn I left my phone behind and just 3 people was around before they close the yard .I comeback to the place i was and my phone was gone ...I stand on the line and a ask for my phone and no one had it .... I try to call but my phone was already off
@@0flyswatter0 So did you leave your name and number in case someone could describe the tool and where they may have left it?
I got two large stacked tool boxes from an estate sale. The guy took care of his tools and Its been 6 months and I'm still finding new useful tool. It's like a bag of wanting
Finally somebody who looks after there tools and has them squeaky clean
Kian Sutton I’m pretty slow when working on cars. Not because I don’t know what I’m doing, because I’m always wiping off dust and grease in my tools with a rag. And I’m always putting them back so I don’t lose them. There’s fast mechanics out there but they also have a big ass pile of tools that need to be put back at the end of the job and they are always greasy and grimey.
I do that sometimes if it's late and I'm tired I will put them all together and go in and get up earlier to put them away and start the day
They’re *
@@cinnamonbunsss2698 hove you politics back up where it came from
@@TheRandomDead
Top tip: DON'T LET YOUR DAD TOUCH YOUR TOOLS. HE WILL MESS UP EVERYTHING
Or wind up with them all.
Inherited a ton of quality tools and when we were moving everything out of my grandpa's house I lost the argument on whether or not the tools were being transported in my dads car or my moms. (I just didnt drive)
The went in my dad's, I've never seen them since.
I’m just getting into cars and I WAS going to use my dad’s tools but they are so unorganized that I would never find what I need lmao
Top tip: Don't let your kids touch your tools. You'll never see them again.
@@alecb8509 basically dont ever let anybody touch your tools, not even your own seed/blood. Its good advice.
True my dad dropped my nice tools onto cement finally scratching some badly
My number One rule, sadly s NEVER LEND OUT MY TOOLS, people never return them or return damaged and never offer to pay to replace
craftsman would be like the Subaru of tools. Not as fancy as the Snap-On but you can't kill it. Runs like new for practically forever. Super reliable and a great gold standard.
Ingersoll Rand: like a Chrysler. 70% of them come out the factory broken nowadays, but when they're a well made one, they work *very* well.
when buying your sockets make sure you don't just get 12 point you will need 6 point socket when you strip the 12-point or bolts also goes for wrenches they sell them in the 6 point and a 12-point
You wanna start with 12 point because they can work for 6 Point bolts
michael Thomas true
Jonathan Leedy I think it’s best to get 6 point sockets and 12 point wrenchs. That way you are covered either way until you can buy both.
@@johnnycowboy_2167 I think 12 points for small stuff up to about 17mm metric is fine, past that the torque spec on larger bolts can often over stress the points on the nut and round it off, so 6 points are better for the big stuff as they reduce the risk of rounding off your nut/bolt head.
No reason to ever use a 12 point socket
Tool Analogy: Kobalt is like a Honda, reliable, cheap, and pretty cool in terms on functionality
I enjoy my Kobalt mechanics set. $200 was okay for an organized set of varying sockets and three 90 tooth wrenches. The wrench variety was sad tho. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13. The amount of times I'd of liked a 14 or 15 was too damn high. Ended up having to buy a set of Kobalt pliers (which are solid btw).
Next purchase is probably a full set of metric wrenches. Maybe I'll get some ICON or Tekton though. I use wrenches too damn much not to have a good set.
@@CheetahBigKitty You can also get used snap on stuff from techs trying to sell it to make their money back. Tekton is good though. I use it daily for my job, along with some of the snap on I have. Want a hint about Icon? It was designed by a former snap on employee. I had my snap on truck guy do a stress test with a 21mil snap on socket and a 21 mil icon socket. The snap on held pressure and broke at 120ft lb, and icon held pressure and broke at 135ft lb.
Analogy: Harbor Freight tools are like the straight piped hona civic that races down your street at 3AM
LOL
Accurate
Harbor freight is some shit
@Fusion 72 as an owner of a straight piped into coffee can exhaust ‘97 Civic DX I can confidently say you are 100% spot on about using Harbor Freight tools to keep it running🤣🤣
I both own a straight piped Civic and also tools from Harbor Freight that I use to fix it lol, hard to beat when it’s literally 5 minutes from me and always has what I need in stock🤷🏻
I bought a 52” snap on box for 600 found it at a yard sale from a retired machinery engineer he was a nice guy helping me out alot
Patrick Wright yeah but since you decided to make the comparison yours is a lot worse quality than his.
Patrick Wright yeah but still your tools break and there’s never will. Harbor freight sockets strip crack and suck absolute ass. It’s a joke child’s tools.
Chrisfix is just one of those people you can look up to and trust every word he says. Just an amazing dude!
oddly this is one of my biggest stresses on moving out. im going to remember how much i rely on my dad's tools when im on my own
I feel you bro
The trick is to keep borrowing them one at a time , he will keep replacing them thinking he just can't find [insert tool], and in 8 years time you'll have a whole free set. That's how I got mine, back in the day.
Now my kids are due to be moving out soon, I'm changing the locks to the garage lol.
My dad still has his little green toolbox that he has had since i can remember. Its one of those toolboxs that you have to play tetris to get everything back into it and the lid closed. Man if those tools could talk.
That is really how I got started! I used my dad's tools which helped! But then I started getting my own as I worked and now I dont touch his tools!
ur attention to detail is insane. u got the tools you don’t recommend to show us. for example the ones that skips sizes. i’m watching all ur vids to build my future rally car
Thanks a lot! And I needed a good example haha
I've been using Husky from Home Depot for many years and I have to say that I'm happy with them. The only problem is that I bought them over the years and I don't have a nice set with a fitted case or cabinet to hold them. I think I'm going to invest in a set that has its own case to make it things more efficient. Thanks for another great video!
What you can do is, companies sell specific cuttable foam pads that you cut to fit your tools
I use alot of husky stuff as well. my only problem is the husky impact sockets i use dont fit my milwaukee impact that well due to the friction ring instead of a pin. they stay on and all, but they pull themselves to the tip on the impact and flop around when i pull the trigger on the impact without the socket sitting on a bolt head or something.
DON'T LOSE YOUR 10MM SOCKET!
+xcvll28377eopie :P lol
xcvll28377eopie :P lol that’s always the first one to disappear
xcvll28377eopie :P right!!!
It was here 5 minutes ago
xcvll28377eopie :P bruh just lost mine about a day ago
*My tool analogy:*
Craftsman is like BMW. They don't make them like they used to.
such a sad story there... miss the old Craftsman
It’s crapsman now
I have craftsman with lifetime warranty...where can I get them replaced?
This sentence is true Now more than ever
@@liveandletlive2894 take them to any Sears or Lowe's
I started with a $350 Craftsman tool set and a Dremel. Now I have quite the collection. Each time I needed a tool for a job, I would purchase it. If I thought I would use it a lot, I would buy a decent quality, if not, rando China brand. I now have a set that rivals my master mechanic Dad's set. Albeit his is all Snap-on and much nicer, but I still can get the job done in my small garage
Kobalt tools: (my favorite) like a Toyota Avalon, reliable, around forever, nice, but not over priced, and they’re right down the street
Blaine Rohlfs they’re snap ons sister company
So is blue point. But I don’t know if they’re around much anymore.
@Aaron Ziebart I think you took it a little to serious lmao
Do they return their defected tools in the store?
David Linehan kobalt tools don’t completely suck. I have kobalt sockets that I’ve had for the past 5 years and have used them everyday. Although their ratchets could be a whole lot better. I have a15” 3/8 flex head kobalt ratchet that I’ve broken 3 times over the last two years. I do use it pretty much everyday. I also have. 1/4 ratchet that I bought and then broke it the first day the selected switch for on and off broke. I had it had it warrantied and the other lasted about a week until the same thing happened. Went onto the snap-on truck and bought a really ratchet. But I do have a 10” kobalt ratchet that my grandfather that he bough quite a few years ago and now I’ve had it for a couple years and never had an issue with it. But at the end of the day. Nobody makes a better ratchet then Snap-on or Mac.
In the end, the best tools are the ones that are actually in your toolbox (and not at the store). I'd rather have 100 Harbor Freight tools than 10 Snap-On's, and have to keep running to the store to buy what you need.
#truth
sminthian 1 snap on cost as much as 100 harbor freight tools
genius...its true
departmentofnatural awesomeness for $120 I got 3 ratchets, full set of sockets, full set of wrenches, pry bar, 2 sets of screw drivers, and a bunch of random things as well. For $120 at snap on I'd be lucky to get a ratchet maybe a set of wrenches. Sure they're good quality tools but at that price they're not worth it. You break a Pittsburgh tool? Take it in and swap it out. Don't have to wait for the rape truck to stop buy or open an online return. Definitely go harbor freight.
I disagree. Though snap on is over priced i would still rather have snap on then harbor frieght. There is a review i found while googling u.s.a. brands that give 10 good reasons you should buy U.S.A. tools and not overseas tools. You should look into it its actually interesting to read about
Ok I've been watching ur vids for maybe 3 months and next year I am going into high school and my elective is going to be automotive so by me watching ur vids is helping me
I'm glad the videos are helpful!
Hopefully your Auto program at your high school will be a hands on class, mine unfortunately was mostly text book and paper work. I had to convince my auto teacher to let me bring in my truck so the whole class can help me work on it lol.
james norton that’s how mine is and it sucks but when I bring my car in I do it mostly because the class has all the tools to get the job done
Start going to yard sales Dylan. Great way to buy tools for less $$$.
It's funny and amazing that your garage is more sofisticated than many mechanic garages! Even professional ones.
Throw all you tools in a single drawer and spend a whole hour trying to find a non existent 10mm
>draw
>hole
Christ
It's always that 1/2", 13mm, 10mm, or 3/8 that always grows legs and walks a way when you need it most.
5 gallon bucket is all you need to store tools
The bottom of a Klein bolt bag makes a great storage solution for ten thousand sockets randomly thrown in lol also the bottom of my gang box randomly thrown in along with everything else lol
@@rustyshackleford7265 don't blaspheme
A great benefit to Craftsman and Snap-on is the lifetime replacement. Go to any authorized seller of either brand with whatever broken craftsman/snap-on tool and it's replaced for free.
Hand tools not the electric stuff
Top Flight
Husky also. lifetime guarantee
i love my HUsky tool
The sad part is that in Ohio the seats are all dissappearing
*Sears
i usually just use vise grips they double as wrenches and a hammer
haha i hope this is just b8 m8
i wish it was
Every respectable hillbilly would admit that he's also using wd40 and duct tape... if it moves and it shouldn't, duct tape, if it should move and it doesn't, wd40!
Sounds good at first. until you wants to remove it again 5 years later .
My grandfather always said "Every tool is a hammer, except a screwdriver, that's a chisel."
I've been using the Pittsburg 225 piece kit for a few years now. I have zero regrets and I use them a lot on 3 vehicles. All organized within the box. I do have the 1/2" and 3/8" Icon torque wrenches. Love them both...accurate and priced right.
I would agree for home use. As a professional I go with Snap-On hands down. By far the best quality, they come to where I work every week, if i'm in a pinch then my dealer can swing by asap no problems. Yeah defiantly pricey but when you're using those tools 45 hours a week you need the best reliability, and quality.
professional my ass you're like 16 lmao
i'm dying hahaha
Who the hell uses WD-40 as a penetrating oil? Dumb motherfuckers, that's who.
This is amazing penetrating fluid: th-cam.com/video/2WuVBFTzoKc/w-d-xo.html
Oh yeah! 50/50 ATF/Acetone. Nothing beats it, and it's cheap as hell. My 16 year old son took off and rebuilt the entire front suspension from wheel to wheel on his 94 F150 4x4, using nothing but hand tools with it.
How to get free tools: borrow from a friend on a permanent basis.
There’s also crime
Mr Krabs broski you should know i'm always down for crime
@@mrkrabs6425 not if you say you’ll bring them back!
ok chris fix is one of the youtubers that no one hats :) super helpfull to beginer car guys
You'd be surprised haha, but I'm glad you find the videos helpful!
@@chrisfix no worrys have a grate night and i hope this made it a good night/ day
I have purchased many of my tools at estate sales. I've gotten Snap-on, Matco, Mac, Bonney and Craftsman, among others. I have made up some very nice sets but they are of various brands. All the good quality brands work well, so it's fine by me if there is a little mixing and matching.
I buy cheap but I look for the ones that have a lifetime warranty. They enjoy seeing my returns lol. But try to make sure it’s a return to store and not a factory return.
this is the best tip ever. if you are not filthy rich and can't afford and/or are not a crazy car guy like chrisfix I see no point whatsoever in buying expensive stuff. moreover for the price of 1 premium tool you can afford 10 chinese ones. with tools that you rarely or probably will never use it makes no sense.
also this is the way to go. to buy the cheapest ones with lifetime warranty. if there some that you use often and don't want to wait for a replacement just buy those from a good company. everything else I really don't see any point.
Worker used 1 1/2 open end Chinese wrench which broke apart without using a cheater. Lifetime warranty did not cover his medical bills.
most of my tools have been my father's that were passed on to me. a few brands are: Blackhawk, Thorsten, craftsman, Ingersol Rand, & snapon. a few recent over the last ten years are: Pittsburgh, and my most recent are Tekton.
one thing to remember, if I got them all at once I could never afford them. So get them as you are able to afford them.
***** I wasn't out to offend anyone. It was asked during the video where most of us got our tools. So I told my story.
+Kelly Medley he wont bcuz u a nigga like 75% of fatherless african americans
George W craftsman is the best
George W same here George I got thorsen Proto snap on Bonney Armstrong craftsman and some Taiwan
this is the best mechanical channel on youtube in my opinion, straight to the point and no bullshit
Thanks a lot Josue!
Hey Canadian here, just started working on my new truck (2010 Ranger) and found that investing in a good rust remover and some gun or tool oil is a great help to prevent rust from condensation in the cold weather, oh and don’t know if this is common but foam dance mats make great kneeling/tool pads
Howdy fellow Canadian! Just bought a 2011 Ranger FX4 this summer, looking at maintaining it myself as well! Going to be doing some fluid changes this weekend and I've been on Chris's channel for guides!
Starting out: Harbor Freight every hand tool. Sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers; all Harbor Freight. Whenever one of those breaks, upgrade to a higher brand. Like, if you crack a 15mm impact socket from Harbor Freight, upgrade it to a higher quality, like Cornwell, or MatCo.
I'd say don't jump straight from HF to a box truck. Maybe go up to craftsman or kobalt. If you break one of those maybe move up. Keep in mind both of those brands have lifetime warranties.
Pittsburgh hand tools have a lifetime warranty so not a bad deal
Yeah I’d say craftsman one you’ll never break it 2 lifetime warranty
Husky: like a Honda. It’s reliable and not to expensive and with lifetime warranty.
@Jason H And all the wibbly wobbly precision wrenches, and ill fitting torx and allen heads your heart could desire!
Patrick Wright well in a Honda your life is short. No think about it Honda’s are usually beginner cars and beginners do handbrake turns into trees
Husky surprised the shit outta me when i bought some box wrenches on sale, I've got a bunch more of their stuff now
Andres Guevara and embarrassing to be caught with
true
A telescopic magnetic pickup tool with a flexible head and flashlight is also very helpful for when you drop a screw (or in my case, a screwdriver!).
Yup, and one of those pick-up devices that disabled people often use. They are great for things that aren't attracted to magnets.
+wholeNwon I got my old people picker uper at a dollar store.
Yup. I bought some screwdrivers there years ago and still use them...soft grips, magnetic tips and very solid.
i was surprised he didnt mention that. or the non magnetic ones that have a claw like thing at the end. walmart has one in a set with a magnetic bowl for loose nuts and bots for like 5 bucks.
That is a good one! There are so many tools to cover which is why I rely on you guys to come up with other tool ideas! This one has saved my butt multiple times: amzn.to/28NOTVV
I just got my own 03 Mustang about 2 weeks ago and your videos are so helpful when planning out what I plan to do with my car. I got a lot of work to do, but watching your videos just makes me excited to get to work.
Very cool man! His videos are motivating me to get a little project car going. I've never done it in my life, I've always wanted to. I've done brake jobs, tune-ups, flushes, oil changes, and engine cleaning. I want to change out my suspension struts and coil. The shop quoted me 2000 for front and rear. Hell nah lol
Don’t buy snap on until working on cars makes you 80k + a year
Or you make alot of money doing something else and just want really good shit lol
@@xTheNameisEthan they're not that great, a lot of their products are made overseas anyway
@Never Gonnatell never FINANCE snap on **
Maxima there not crap they are the best you can buy but to expensive
The only snap on I have is an air impact gun from like 20 years ago still running strong
About the socket drive torx, it really depends on what car you’re working on. My 2008 Dodge Ram requires them for a lot of things. A T45 for getting seatbelts off of seats, and a T47 and T50 for a bunch of other stuff. There are also a lot of torx studs you’ll need socket torx to turn everywhere.
I am a student working at a pizzaplace myself right now :P dont even have toolbox, i put my tools in the trunk of my car inside a paperbox :P
Kristoffer Brandtzæg nothing wrong with that!!!
Kristoffer Brandtzæg there’s always a come up. Trust the process, you’ll make it. Just keep grinding.
Haha I have all my tool in my trunk too. In the beginning i found a set tools on the side of the road and ever since then I’ve been building it up😂
I bough myself an old mine box from the 1940’s for some of my tools.
I regret having spent $3000, on a way too good of box. I wish I had got a craftsman from Sears for so much less.
Ima be honest best youtuber you cover everything in your vids hope to see more drift videos
A good [hanging] flashlight is super important! Might be the most important thing to keep on you. You usually need one for every job. Unless it's brakes. Outside. At high noon. On a sunny day.
Also. For ratchet and socket sets: when he said "these are all quarter inch" He meant the "drive." kind of the size ratchet that you use. I suggest that your first set be a 3/8 drive METRIC set. Metric is more popular (even on "American made" cars). And a cheap 3/8 is usually stronger than a cheap 1/4 and will last longer.
1/4 is handy, especially for tight spots, but there are stubby 3/8ths... and your tool collection will grow.*
THE MOST POPULAR SOCKETS / WRENCHES used (& misplaced lol) will likely by the 10mm *always*, 14mm 17mm and 18mm. 7mm and 8mm for body trim parts.
When you buy wrench and socket sets buy the largest (reasonable) quantity possible. If you buy individually, you can end up buying 3 pieces for the price of a set of 10.
A C clamp is a pretty useful tool for compressing brake caliper pistons. And a few other things. Also. Along the lines of a breaker bar, or if you can't afford one. A good, lengthy, heavy duty pipe that your ratchet fits in (the more snug the better) is a super difference maker. Leverage is everything.
Some cheap ratchets will break if a bolt is too locked and you pull 200 lbs on it. PB Blaster and a cheap Mapp torch can be of big help.
My fav tool possibly ever is a CREE LED powered headlamp. Yea I look like a dork wearing it but no hanging or magnetic flashlight can get the light where you need it. And you are right on a sunny day it's still dark inside the wheel well or under the car! My light uses the LI-ION batteries that are popular with the vaping community and it lasts for a few hours before needing a charge. I usually tire out before it does.
Oh yeah! I use a headlamp for a lot of things like camping, fishing, and of course working on cars. I carry one in the trunk of my HOG trike in the event I'm ever on the road somewhere after dark and need to see. Luckily I am of an age where I don't give a rats a$$ how I look to anyone. Use one once and you will forget where the magnetic or clip on flashlight is. Its always pointed in the direction you are looking. Mine tilts up and down and has 3 "power settings", low medium, and bright. Think I paid $10 for it. Money well spent!
When I first started out, I bought a Craftsman tool set from Sears. It is pretty decent quality, especially for my use, but the best thing is that I signed up for their rewards program, and I got special offers to offset the cost. So I ended up getting a 330 piece kit for $100. It came with the basics (wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, deep and shallow sockets, 3 wratchets, etc.) Just be patient and wait for the right deal. That is of course unless you need the tools right away...
I feel like the craftsman version from sears is better than today's version you would get at Lowes. I wish things were made like they were used to be made. Its the same with the Die Hard batteries the ones at Advanced aren't the same as the ones that were sold at Sears.
Great stuff Chris fix been in the trade 20 years myself its good to give back to the people at home :-)
Awesome! Thanks a lot!
Tool analogy
Anything free or found is just the car your uncle gives you when he gets a new one, it’s just something different that still works fine, you’ll probably replace it in a few years but it’s nice to have one
U guys got stuff for free? Damn
“Best tools to get”
Me: duct tape and zip ties
This was funny till i spat my food, so i had to wash the dishes.
Take my dish soap and wash your car
I use Würth, Wera, Proxxon, Stahlwille, KS Tools, Hazet and old DDR Tools ;) greetings from Germany ! :)
BobBobin Es giebt doch nix besseres als gute deutsche Quallität
True i love my brüder mannesmann and hazet tools
Mannesmann is cheap shit, bought like 3 or 4 tools from them and they all suck ass. Very average
Mannesmann is crap. But Würth got some good tools. also does Hazet and Stahlwille. Ks Tools is like a good midrange tool. All the experience i made with Proxxon is that I used it once from a friend and just broke a ratched at first use :D
I have never had 1 problem with my mannesmann tools and I work on cars a lot, but I also use S&K and hazet alot.
The best tool set to get is the 204 piece dewalt mechanics tool set and order it through Amazon. Second Milwaukee impacts are better than most I used out of my 10 years of experience, so you want the m-18 Milwaukee impact guns. Torque wrenches is a must tool but I would save up for a Quality one
Bro I say this with complete honesty. You have the single best, most well put together channel on TH-cam. Helped me a bunch through the years. I pray for you and your channel bro. 💯
Werra is heavily underrated. I'm an aircraft technician and nothing beats the germans engineering. My boss owned a blue point 90° skrew driver and I always used to joke around that mine was better. It ratchets so much better then snap on because of the high return angel, not all about teeth. When we would be traveling working with other technicians they would always ask about mine and I'd let them try it and they would say "wow this things great" and I'd say out loud loudly enough for my boss to hear, "ya some people say it's the best". And he would get pissed off every time. Google werra tools, you won't regret it.
Wera*
craftsman is like a old ford truck. tough reliable strong and gets the job done
No there not Ive bought so many over the years and they break so easy vs snap on
*chevy
I think he means old USA-made Craftsman, the stuff from 20 years ago. I got a decent amount of it and it works great.
+Ryan but not everybody has the money for snap on
having good tools is like having a good woman
that harbor freight set was updated and is now sequential, a 1/4 and 1/2 set will cover 5mm - 19mm.
Avoid the sets that come with the ratchet, they skip sizes
Thanks Chris, always a pleasure to listen to and watch your videos. Glad to be a part of this channel.
I was going to buy a impact wrench to do a brake job on my car to make it easier. I realised I could use a socket adapter on my impact driver it did the job saved myself $190. Always research the tools you want to buy first !
Craftsman is the Roman Empire. At one time it was vast and strong, now it is just a bunch of rubble in the dust. Masterforce is my cat, sometimes she is the best thing ever and other times all she does is piss me off.
Dang that Craftsman example is on point!
I use craftsmen (EDIT: I meant Stanley) only because if it destroys itself I can just go down to walmart and swap it out.
Also it's cheap.
Also it doesn't really destroy itself enough to warrant a problemo.
+Exhilarating Bass that's because wal mart isn't a craftsman supplier. Ace hardware, Sears, and farm and fleet are the ones I know of
+Zach Harris oh snap.
You're right all this shit says Stanley on it.
Stanfuckley lol!!!!!
I never knew walmart would take Craftsman tools???
+ChrisFix they don't, he messed up
I just upgraded from that same little black toolbox to a huge 41 inch Hammerhead tool chest that I inherited from my uncle. Gang.... Chris ain't lying. Organization isn't "one of" the most important things. It's the single most important thing for a diy mechanic. You're going to have enough frustration with the car. You don't need the added frustration of going on a scavenger hunt for tools. Especially if you are working in the driveway in South Texas heat.