Garage set up. Must have tool sets.

[danny_p]

killing 3/8s rachets happens

i've broken the fancy ones  snapon, teng, facom, signet   it probley one of the most used tools so going to die first

[Steve_PD]

If it helps, and you need somewhere to store all the tools....

Halfords have a deal on their rolling cabs and chests at the moment. Buy a 5 drawer professional cab and you get a 7 drawer chest free. They are made in the same factory as the snap on ones so quality is respectable.

dont believe that as I had the same one and the quality is not the best.
I got the second hand mac tools box on the left for less than I paid for my new halfords one on the right



mac tools one is 12 years old

[danny_p]

and for some tools not on the list yet

oxy acetaline / propane  - not sure what i'd do without it
stick welder - makes a usefull doorstop   but the rods are invaluable pokeing sticks once youve bashed the flux off
MIG welder -  be be stuffed witout a couple of them and mig wire is very useull for hangin up parts when painting
Tig welder -  can make funky stuff with it,  and  1.6 mm  308 ss tig filler rods are brilliant for bending replcement radiator hose wire clips out of, tungstens make good inpromtue scribes

vernire callipers, external and internal micromiters and tho gadges - just essential when makeing stuff
spirit level
string
tiger seal

decent battery drill -  almost as usefull as hammer
big selection of hammers -  my favoret tapping  hammer is a 1kg brass head jobbie   my favoret welting  hammer is a 24oz engineers hammer.   tho for some jobs there is nothing more effective than the 7 and 14 lb sledge hammers

[Diamond Hell]

Rails for sockets - SO much easier than having them in a stupid case, on which the plastic catches fall off.

CV boot clip pliers - enables you to do an annoying job properly - they're about £15 from GSF.

Bits of 2x4 (or larger) wood, NOT bricks to drive cars on/prop them up with (use caution).  Bricks crumble and shatter under weight.  Wood does not and is thus far safer.

Head torch - I cannot overstate how f*cking great head torches are.  Use one in an evening and afterwards you'll find it annoying that when you turn your head to look at something it doesn't automatically light up. 

Also I'd recommend a crawler trolley to get under cars easily and a beanie hat to stop yourself getting oil and sh*t all over the back of your head.

A good set of overalls is also of benefit - saves a lot of parent/wife-based aggro and CV grease is a git to get out of seats when you've not spotted that big gob of it on the back of your trousers. 

A good supply of lightweight gloves to help keep the cr*p off your hands, so everyone doesn't glare at you in work the next day.

And a press for bearings.

[SoundillusioN]

Rails for sockets - SO much easier than having them in a stupid case, on which the plastic catches fall off.

CV boot clip pliers - enables you to do an annoying job properly - they're about £15 from GSF.

Bits of 2x4 (or larger) wood, NOT bricks to drive cars on/prop them up with (use caution).  Bricks crumble and shatter under weight.  Wood does not and is thus far safer.

Head torch - I cannot overstate how f*cking great head torches are.  Use one in an evening and afterwards you'll find it annoying that when you turn your head to look at something it doesn't automatically light up. 

Also I'd recommend a crawler trolley to get under cars easily and a beanie hat to stop yourself getting oil and sh*t all over the back of your head.

A good set of overalls is also of benefit - saves a lot of parent/wife-based aggro and CV grease is a git to get out of seats when you've not spotted that big gob of it on the back of your trousers. 

A good supply of lightweight gloves to help keep the cr*p off your hands, so everyone doesn't glare at you in work the next day.

And a press for bearings.

Good point!

although i use paving blocks which are wider shallower and haven't crumbled (yet) 

a must have in my eyes is at least one person their when you are under the car.
axle stands and jacks can fail ... or if its a mk3 the jacking point will crumble away 

Or invest in a low level jack and support the cars on ramps.

[DubFan]

Probably add this set too:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_241361_categoryId_165727_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_List_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PLPz1

Trolley jack, 2 axel stands, wheel chocks and crawler trolley. £60

[Diamond Hell]

Probably add this set too:

Trolley jack, 2 axel stands, wheel chocks and crawler trolley. £60

I hate those sets, because they're narrow and unstable.  I got a heavy duty set from Euro Car Parts a while back, which is much better quality.  Cost a bit more, but the extra was worth it - much safer.

[Mitching]

I have a pit 
Shame it's 5' deep, and I'm 6'4".

Kettle for cock-free-tea. 

[tech1889]

i have a clarke low slung trolley jack would not live without it theres not a car it hasnt got under yet..

selection of pry bars

good quality axle stands.. i also have 4 12inchs tall stands for a car which when put on the car is well over a foot off the ground just a shame my jack doesnt lift high enough to put my car on 

i have the £100 halfords kit in my boot all the time and i have a good selection of snap-on at home..

as said CV pliers are cheap and make the job much easier..

cable ties.. jubilee clips.. fuses.. washers.. are all very usefull..

selection of breaker bars shortest of mine being 6inches and the longest being about a metre and ratchet 

various sockets and adaptors

blocks of wood to use as chocks

big hammers and especially a plastic one so it doesnt mark certain parts of the car 

many many things you pick up over time 

[Diamond Hell]

Kettle for cock-free-tea. 

The mere presence of a kettle does not guarantee cock-free tea.

The threat of cock-ed tea is caused by letting a cock into your workshop.

Thankfully this is only an issue if the aforementioned apendage is long enough to reach into a mug.

Turns out some aren't, which is nice.  This does not stop them from thinking about further ruining an (already dreadful) cup of tea by introducing their cock into your workshop mug.

Just don't do it.  Keep your workshops cock-free for peace of mind.