Re: RE: best DIY mechanic tools?

["Russ Maki" <rinard@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I buy cheap ratchets, breaker bars and extensions, most of them Taiwanese.
The money saved goes into SK sockets and especially hex keys. If you want to
blow money on tools, hex (Allen) keys is the place, in socket and
traditional form. Socket-head screws are common on German cars and often
where they're exposed to dirt and corrosion. Hazet is another good choice of
fine precision hex wrenches. You want the best you can buy when tackling
these suckers!

BTW, I just got a set of Stahlwille offset box wrenches for Christmas. Yess!
They're all over eBay, and very nice.

Also, I second the enthusiasm for the Gear-Wrench combos. KD sells them,
along with Ace Hardware and a host of others. They seem to be the same,
regardless of price. So get the cheapest you can find.

Another favorite of mine is the new Vise-Grip that has a wedge cut out of
the fixed jaw. The wrench grips three sides of a six-side fitting (such as
on a brake line) in classic Vise-Grip form, except that it doesn't crush the
piece it grips. I've freed numerous rusty brake fittings with this wrench on
cars up to 20 years old (I've got the smallest version) with no significant
damage. Every old German crate I drive has new brake hoses, and I haven't
had to replace a brake line yet! BIIIG thumbs up.

Russ Maki
Ixonia, Wis.


> Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 14:01:23 -0800
> From: "Bob Kegel" <bobkegel@domain.elided>
> Subject: RE: best DIY mechanic tools?
>
> I'm still using Craftsman ratchets, sockets, and wrenches I bought 30
years
> ago. When the guts on my 1/2 in ratchet wore out, Sears gave me a rebuild
> kit with no hassle. The current production Craftsman ratchets are not as
> nicely finished as my older ones. Looks like they dropped a couple
polishing
> steps to save money.
>
> I  have a couple Facom ratchets and sockets I picked up for a bargain
price
> on E-bay. Can't tell the difference between a nut tightened with the Facom
> and one tightened with Craftsman.
>
> Bob Kegel
> '70 2002
> '85 635 CSi
> BMW CCA
> Puget Sound Chapter

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