Tool-Time Tuesday ReCap: All 15 Tool-Time Tuesdays

For this week’s Tool-Time Tuesday, we are going to recap all 15 Tool-Time Tuesdays. We have covered a lot of essential and really useful tools that can greatly help any auto mechanic. These tools might be something that a necessity, such as a basic tool kit. Some of them aren’t necessary, but can make your life wrenching on the car much easier, like a car lift. 

Without further ado, here’s the list of the previous 15 Tool-Time Tuesdays:

1. Cordless Drills: Handy for quickly installing and uninstalling screws and small bolts. They can also be used to polish or sand small parts along with drilling holes into sheet metal.

2. Ratcheting Wrenches: Speeds up the process of loosening up and tightening down nuts and bolts when an air ratchet isn’t possible. These allow you to keep wrenching on a nut or bolt without having to take the wrench off. 

3. Voltmeters: Helpful for diagnosing voltage issues or checking for complete circuits using the OHMS feature. Great for checking your alternator to see if its charging as well. 

4. Hydraulic Floor Jacks: A necessity when getting the car off the ground to do anything under the car or to work on the suspension and brakes. These are also useful to help compress suspension when installing coil springs. 

5. Drop Lights: Priceless when working under dashes, under a car or under the hood. They take a beating but keep on shining. LED versions are super bright and won’t get hot like a fluorescent bulb version. 

6. Tool Kits: The absolute basics of auto mechanics. These kits include wrenches, ratchets, sockets and a host of other tools. They come in all sizes, but the bigger the better in this case as they offer more tools. 

7. Vacuum Bleeders: A handy tool that eliminates the need for a second person to pump the brakes or clutch when bleeding. 

8. Air Ratchets: The quickest way to uninstall and install bolts that requires minimal effort. 

9. Torque Wrenches: The only true way to get bolts to the right amount of “tight.” Helps to keep things together and working smoothly. 

10. Hammer Time: While most people think of hammers as a carpenters tool, they are handy when dealing with stubborn car parts. 

11. Dremel Rotary Tool: A handy tool thats perfect for cutting small items or polishing in tight spots. 

12. Bead Blasting Cabinet: The perfect tool to strip off grease, grime and most importantly rust when restoring or repairing parts. 

13. Pick Sets: Great for taking apart small items like locks, mechanisms or cleaning out built up crud. 

14. Car Lifts: Not essential but a hydraulic car lift saves your back and precious time when wrenching away. 

15. Test Lights: The perfect tool for finding shorts, broken wires, blown fuses or testing circuits.

All the tools listed above are great for working on cars. While some are going to be used just about every time you pop the hood, others will only be used sparingly. Give all the articles a read and see which ones you would like to add to your garage! You can find the full list of Tool-Time Tuesdays here as well.