How much do you spend on tools?

[DaisyMayFozz]

Unless someones been there before you and fitted some... Very frustrating!


my car is nearly all metric!!

[hanvyj]

Thanks everyone - it certainly gives me an idea of what I'm likely to have to buy if I get a minor.

[chickenjohn]

Don't go trying to make metric tools fit a Minor - it's folly in the extreme. Rounded nuts and skinned knuckles lie ahead!

agreed! Ditto trying to make AF tools fit Whitworth head nuts and bolts!

[chickenjohn]

When you get to the level where you have 2 angle grinders (one for cutting one for grinding) rather than keep changing disk, you know you're pretty serious.

Oh dear. I have got more than 2 grinders lol

I have four grinders- one with 1mm cutting disk, one with wire brush, one with grinding disk (or flap disc) and one with a soft pad and Zirconium Oxide 36grit paper on it. So I could really do with five!

[rayofleamington]

Ray - you haven't mentioned a trolley jack!

I did!

A good scissor jack will get you through nearly all DIY jobs. A trolley jack is worth having to save time but only if you do enough work to make it worthwhile. From personal experience the cheap new ones are not worth the cost of the petrol to drive to/from the shop. If you're getting one, get a good big one to keep in the shed / garage. Don't worry about load rating - the only important number will be how far it lifts (the more the better).

[MarkyB]

You can pick up good quality tools for a pittance at boot fairs.
Look for the words chrome vanadium cast into them, don't bother with anything else.
A 1/4 inch Whitworth ring spanner is worth it's weight in gold on a Minor, my favourite one cost me 10 or 50 pence.

Don't look for shiny, look for chrome vanadium, it's tougher than old boots!