Tools make work a whole lot easier. With the right tools, you can turn a difficult task into a simple one. This not only can you finish your work faster, but you can also do it using it in a shorter period. Many tools in the market can benefit a mechanic. That being said, some tools are more essential than others. So, what tools does a mechanic need?
Here is a list of all the essential tools that are good for beginners or experienced mechanics.
List of What Tools Does A Mechanic Need:
Impact Wrench
It is also known as a windy gun, rattle gun, torque gun, impactor, air wrench, or impact gun. It is a socket wrench power gadget used to produce high torque output using minimal exertion. It does that by storing power in a rotating mass and delivering it to the output shaft.
They are with ½” socket attachments. They help remove tight nuts and bolts from areas prone to rust like caliper bolts and ball joints. If you go with an air-powered impact wrench, ensure it does not have a metal finish around the holding area.
That keeps you from the cold sink effect with most tools, especially when working on a cold day.
Impact Driver
Are impact wrenches and impact drivers the same? No, they are not. They may have a similar design but do different tasks. While the impact wrench is for heavy-duty tasks, the impact driver is for smaller ones.
They have a hex bit socket where different adapter types can fit. They tighten small or medium-sized corrosed bolts. They are also perfect for in house DIY projects.
Torque Wrenches
A torque wrench is a device used to tighten bolts and nuts to a predetermined torque number. It allows you to tighten bolts and nuts to the proper tension. It also helps in avoiding damage by over-tightening or coming apart of joints from under-tightening.
Torque wrenches are not only useful in the automotive industry. You can also use hem in-home repairs where you need to fasten bolts or nuts to a certain degree. They come in ¼” for small bolts (0-30nm) and ½” for larger bolts.
How do they work? Torque wrenches have calibrations to exert a specific amount of torque to fasteners. What is torque? It is the amount of force needed to rotate an object. Its measuring units are lb., lb.in, or N.m.
How much torque you need depends on the length of the wrench and the force on the handle. There is an internal mechanical indicator on the handle connected to a calibrated scale. It indicates when you reach the desired torque.
Torque wrenches also have a display screen or easy-to-read scale, which shows how much torque you are applying. You can change the settings to increase or reduce the torque. For more torque, turn the handle clockwise, and for less, turn it counter-clockwise.
For effective results, when using the tool, you should calibrate it once it reaches 2500-3000 repetitions.
Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are small yet essential tools for your car to function. What are spark plugs, and how do they work? For your car to run, gasoline combustion must take place for energy production.
Spark plugs are the ones that produce the spark to ignite the fuel/air mixture for power production. Alongside the timing and electrical equipment, spark plugs make up the ignition system.
Spark plugs can withstand millions of explosions before they wear out because of their durable material. But when do you need to change your spark plug? Over time the explosions cause weaker sparks, which may fail to fire or to misfire.
That reduces your engine’s efficiency. When you notice the misfiring, rattling noises from your engine or longer ignition time, you should change your spark plug. Even without those signs, it is best to replace it every 20,000 to 30,000 miles.
Yet, other extended-life spark plugs have a lifespan of 100,000 miles. How do you choose the best spark plug? Often, the repair shop attendants will help you with this. You must first know if the plug is the right one for your car.
Next, look at the material. Some materials like platinum are expensive but are longer lasting than materials like copper. It all depends on your budget.
Air Compressor
Air compressors change power into energy using gasoline and diesel engines or electric motors. That energy is then stored in compressed air, which has several uses.
You can use it to fill impact wrenches, blow out carburetor fuel passages, or dust your garage. They are cheaper than their battery counterparts and have higher horsepower. Their cubic feet per meter (CFM) rating is also higher.
But, they produce more noise than the battery ones. When buying an air compressor, ensure that the CFM matches the kinds of jobs you intend to do with them.
To increase the life of your air compressor, check for any leaks, change the oil often, and keep it in safe operating temperatures.
Break Clean
This is a must-have for all mechanics as it removes all kinds of dirt on the engine. It contains chemicals like acetone, heptane, carbon dioxide, and trichloroethylene. For safety, ensure to have gloves on when handling it.
It is handy and fast, but it also empties rather fast. To save yourself some money, buy a brake cleaner dispenser. It is a basic tool but will save you a lot as it regulates the amount of brake cleaner you use.
Jack Stand
When repairing a car, you need enough space to move, which requires that you suspend it. A jack stand is a tower or tripod shaped tool designed for supporting a car’s weight during the repair.
For extra support to an elevated vehicle, place the jack stand under the car’s frame or axel. You can use them on level or hard surfaces and only for vehicles within the stand’s weight limits.
When choosing a jack stand, consider your car’s weight and the height you want to achieve. Unlike other ways of supporting a suspended car, jack stands are safer. Ensure that you pack your vehicle and the ignition is off before using your jack stand.
To maintain your jack stand, ensure that you oil it often. When buying a jack stand, it comes with a floor jack.
Floor Jack
You can use floor jacks to lift vehicles for repair, but they cannot be relied upon for support. When choosing the best floor jack, consider the following:
• Material
• Saddle formation
• Height.
They work better on a level and smooth grounds.
For safety, inspect your jack every time before use for any cracks or leaks. There are different floor jacks depending on how much your car weighs and how high you want to lift it. They include;
• Scissors or mechanical floor jacks
• House jacks
• Bottle or piston jacks
• Hydraulic jacks.
House jacks are the largest because they are used to lift a house.
Related Reads: Best Tool Backpack for Mechanic.
Breaker Bar
They are also called power bars. Breaker bars are long non-ratcheting bars used to break tight fasteners. This is enabled by their extra length, which allows you to apply more torque with less force.
Since they have no moving parts, breaker bars don’t break easily, and if they do, they are cheaper to replace. While it is easy to mistake it for a torque wrench, they are two different tools.
Breaker bars need less strength to get more torque. However, torque wrenches need continuous adjustment of the handle. When buying a breaker bar, consider the length. The longer the tool, the better.
Also, consider how the head turns. Look for a head that rotates in 180 degrees. It makes it easier for you to work in any direction.
Oil Filter Wrench
Oil filter wrenches are tools designed to remove spin-on type oil filters. They are cylindrical and smooth canisters with knurling at the bottom. When oily, they become difficult to use.
How do they work? First, you attach a loop of the chain around the filter. The bar is then turned by hand in an anticlockwise motion until the chain wraps around the oil-filter. You then use an adjustable spanner or socket wrench to turn the bar further in the same direction. This increases the chain’s tightness. It also grips into the oil filter’s soft metal casing and stops spillage.
When choosing an oil filter wrench, here are some considerations to make.
• Oil filter’s size
• How much space you have around the oil filter
• The tightness of the oil filter
Socket Set
Socket sets are convenient and versatile toolkit accessories. They give you the flexibility to deal with different types and sizes of fasteners. They tighten or lose different types and sizes of bolts and nuts.
They come in one box or case of different interchangeable attachments.
Safety glasses
Your toolbox needs to have safety glasses if you want to keep your eyes safe from light, dust, and debris.
Ensure that they have dark lenses and firm frames for more efficiency and longer life.
Final words
As stated before, there are certain essentials that every mechanic should have. The three stated above are perhaps the most essential of those essential tools. The good thing about these is that they are small, and thus can be carried easily. Additionally, in the right places, you will find that they are inexpensive, and are readily available. Get yourself these essentials. Once you do, you can be assured that the tasks will be lighted a lot.
