Essential tools?

Benrly · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 24 May 2007 Karma :

Due to recent damage to some tools, I've decided to go the whole way and kit myself out with a new set of the essentials.

What would you say are the essential tools I need to head out and buy? Just to keep around for general maintenance etc.

SoND · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Karma :

Good socket set and allen keys. A good set will last you a lifetime.
Ring spanners
Screw drivers, make sure you get some big flat heads.
Hammer
Normal pliers and pointy ones.
Vise grips

Should keep you going for a while.
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Benrly · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 24 May 2007 Karma :

Which size sockets would you suggest? 3/8th because its nice and in the middle or one of the others?

halo123. · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Karma :

Hey i would say rather half inch as most torque wrenches are half inch and then you have to get a reducer.
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Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

3/8th drive socket set (8-22mm), Spanners (8-22mm) ,allen keys or sockets, screwdrivers, pliers.

Id go for the halfords professional stuff personally!
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Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

If you get some for a specific job figure out if your bike has imperial or metric sized fittings first.

I'm sat here with some shoddy 3/8" etc spanners when I need the metric versions.

There is NOTHING more irritating than having a spanner not fit by just a hair width and having to sit around because you can't carry on!

And yeah, the Halfords professional stuff is nice. They do a whole tray of sockets and spanners etc for about £55 and right now if you buy 5l of semi-synthetic engine oil (car oil, mind) then you get a free Halfords 8 piece screwdriver set which looks to be of good quality!

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Mind you, a good 1/4" drive socket set is probably the most used tool in my toolkit. You do need something meatier for big stuff though.

A multimeter is also handy. A cheap digital one is fine but if you can get an analogue one and know how to read it, do so, they are better, especially when looking for a fluctuating voltage.
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