Make sure your garage shelves are properly stocked for home automotive maintenance. Whether you are a hobbyist currently restoring a 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV or a beginner looking to tweak your current ride, there are a few tools that are absolutely essential for car maintenance. Having the following items on hand in your garage storage system promises to make any auto repair or upgrade project run a lot more smoothly.
Ratchet set
A ratchet along with a comprehensive set of sockets is the auto mechanic's best friend. The ratchet allows for a continuous wrenching motion without ever taking the tool off of the nut or bolt. You will want to make sure you have enough sockets of varying sizes to fit all the different types of jobs you may find yourself doing. Opt for a metric set to avoid worrying about doing advanced fractional arithmetic while working on a project.
Wrenches
Wrenches and ratchets together form the dynamic duo of the garage. Wrenches are multi-purpose tools that you are sure to use often on almost any project, automotive or otherwise. A ratcheting wrench combines the convenience of a ratchet with the functionality of a wrench, giving you the best of both worlds. However, unlike crescent wrenches, these varieties cannot be adjusted to fit different sized bolts. Invest in a couple of each, as both types are sure to prove useful at different times.
Pliers
The number of different types of pliers available to the home mechanic can be overwhelming. Needle-nose, locking, tongue-and-groove, slip-joint, snap-ring and lineman's pliers are all built to perform specific functions. You will want to eventually amass as many different kinds as possible, though at first you need only buy the specific type of pliers you need for the job you are currently working on.
Measuring tools
Measuring tapes, rulers, feeler gauges, calipers, micrometers and dial indicators provide valuable measurement capabilities. Depending on the size of your project, you are liable to need one or all of these tools. Be on the safe side and stock up on as many measuring tools as you can find. This way, you will never be in the position to have to "guesstimate" - a procedure which can prove disastrous when it comes to automotive projects.
Amassing an arsenal of automotive tools is a long-term process. As you begin to collect more and more items, proper garage organization will become more important than ever. Be sure you have all the appropriate Flow Wall storage solutions to keep your tools within reach.
