Jerry Wayne Odom Jr.

Auto Shop Tool Sets



Thinking about buying tools for my own shop



classic mustang One thing to remember when you're trying to restore an old car or work on any project as a hobby is that Murphy's Law applies to you. For all those who don't know Murphy this is his law....

     If anything can go wrong, it will

Funny enough it was coined by a gentleman whose job was an engineer working on aerospace projects back in the early 20th centry. Thats appropriate because re-engineering is basically what I'm trying to do. My Mustang project is a great example of this law in action and the primary problem is finding the right tool for the jobs. At my dad's I've got access to a full shop complete with air compressor, MIG Welder, Cutting Torch, Socket wrenches, Air Impact Tools, drills, saws, grinders and a partridge in a pear tree but for some reason you can't ever find that one wrench at the right length when you need it. So in an effort to avoid Wayne's law of disappearing tools when I build my shop I'm going to start making a list of what you always need to get something done on an automobile. I say something because something could be absolutely anything.

  1. BFH, MFH, BPH = Big F*cking Hammer, Medium F*cking Hammer, Ball Pin Hammer because you're always going to have to pound something the hammer has been the cornerstone of human engineering for hundreds of years.
  2. Assorted Pry bar set - Yes you will need every type of crowbar imaginable so you might as well have an entire section of your shop devoted to them.
  3. Air Compressor and Impact tool set - When working with automobiles the impact comes before socket wrenches despite what you see in pictures. Trust me you're not going to be like old man whoever in the movies casually tuning your vehicle. You'll be looking to get it done quick n hard.
  1. Complete Socket Wrench Sets - Yes you're going to need every socket wrench they make including deep sockets, swivel sockets and a complete assortment of extensions.
  2. Angle Grinder - Complete with a set of grinding wheels you can use this to smooth out or modify about any kind of metal.
  3. Metal Saw - I'm suprised at how much I actually use this thing in working on my car. Always some piece of metal to be sawed.
  4. Gas Cutting Torch - For when there isn't any other way to get something off, cut it off.
  5. Screwdriver Set - Screwdrivers almost fall under prybars for me though I'm sure screwdrivers would live longer if I always had a full assortment of prybars.
  6. Tape Measure - Yeah you need it.
  7. Pliers, vice grips, channel locks, cutters and clamps - Why is it that you can never seem to have enough pairs of these things even though you only have two hands. I constanly need 3 or more pairs of vice grips to accomplish tasks.
  8. Hand Wrenches, adjustable wrenches - Always needed.
  9. Jack Stands, 2 floor jacks - floor jacks are always needed.
  10. Test Light - To figure out where you screwed up your wiring.
  11. Jumper Cables - It never starts the first time.
  12. Engine Stand - It didn't start the second time.
  13. Shop lights - You can never have enough light especially when welding or under the hood.
  14. Drills - There was a hole there until I replaced that panel and/or painted over it.
  15. Magnetic Tool Picker - Because when you drop a tool it always falls where you can't reach it.
  16. Metal 4'x4' tables - At least 3 of them. One for your toolbox, one to work on and one for your junk.


Wow thats my 3 minute list. Meaning that I just typed that entire list without stopping once. You know they could've made cars a little more simple? Its as if you need more individual tools than a car has parts to put it together or keep it together. One size fits all would've been so much nicer.

Buying Auto Shop Tools

So where am I to go to get all this "stuff" I need to put a decent shop together?

  • Harbor Freight Tools - Located on South Sherwood Forest Blvd. in Baton Rouge, Harbor Freight supplies discount tools to the masses. You can find anything from a Die Grinder set to what you need to crack a safe. Its great.
  • Greater Baton Rouge Flea Market - Located on Airline Highway in Prairieville you can find a ton of used tools and just "tools" especially the big stuff for cheap. Why they have so much "stuff" is beyond me but if you want to pick up some cheap automotive tools then there is the place to go.
  • Classified Ads - I've got to think people are dumping their tools when they give up on using them for whatever reason. However I haven't had much luck searching The Advocate for Tools.


Buying tools online is probably not the way to go for most stuff. Tools are heavy and shipping can be a killer. I have to shop for real good deals on Ebay to find parts that are worth the deal after shipping costs so I'm not so sure about buying automotive tools online especially the big stuff. However when it comes to specialty stuff you might be better off buying online than running around town trying to locate a tool. As you can see from Ebay's Automotive Tools listings there isn't much in selling tools online unless its the big stuff.