Tools To Start Working On Cars?

[watkins]

Actually Dremels are high speed low torque tools. Think of them as Hondas. 289742374289 rpm but no torque to speak of.

[LHOswald]

true story. if you ever see a honda with over 1000 hp it has 3 ft-lb of torque 1 rpm less than it does its horsepower.

example:
1000 HP@12000RPM
3 ft-lb@11999RPM

[theholycow]

Yeah, but the trouble is just how Honda-like is your Dremel? Are we talking 90hp 20tq that's going 4000rpm and barely moving a 1500 pound car? There's only so far you can take that and still have it be useful...and unlike a Honda, where you trade for efficiency, having less torque in your rotary tool carries no advantage at all.

I have a Craftsman cordless rotary tool, I think it's 12v. It's got the torque that I assumed that a rotary tool would have. I'd rather run a cord and use my generic corded one, because it has more torque at the same RPM. It's still not anywhere near as torquey as my drill but it's at least worth using. It has more torque than I thought Dremel-like rotary tools would have.

My wife has a 9.6v that she bought for manicure work (you can buy the same tool from a salon supply house for 5x as much but why bother?). It's pretty lame.

[watkins]

I love the convenience of cordless. I work outside a lot with no plugs nearby. When I eventually have a workshop I most certainly will also invest in a top of the line corded Dremel as well for the big stuff and the projects that go more than 2 hours.

[theholycow]

I have a long, frayed extension cord that runs from my basement to my Buick way out on the other side of my backyard. I also have two shorter cords tied together that I leave plugged in to my outside outlet at my driveway and draped over the dog fence in the back. I'm always ready.

[watkins]

No tangle of extension cords is so very worth it. Besides, I rent and apartment in a complex. I cant have shit running everywhere

[comingbackdown]

No tangle of extension cords is so very worth it. Besides, I rent and apartment in a complex. I cant have shit running everywhere

Unfortunately, this is correct. ...and with the average luck of the wicked awesome standardshifter, some idiot would come through and trip over it, or clothesline themselves on it (which I'd actually pay to see, especially if it was some ultradouche) and he'd end up getting kicked out and sued penniless at the same time.

[fa22raptorf22]

true story. if you ever see a honda with over 1000 hp it has 3 ft-lb of torque 1 rpm less than it does its horsepower.

example:
1000 HP@12000RPM
3 ft-lb@11999RPM

12,000 RPM? No sir, not a honda, but a rotary!

And some hondas do put down some torque.
My buddy's rsx with a turbo k24 puts down 480hp and 440 lb/ft

[4onthefloor]

On topic, I shall be receiving my ratchets, sockets, side cutters, duckbills, and lockwire pliers from Snap On sometime next week.............Now all I have to do is figure out how I'm going to pay for all that.

[DarkPilot]

On topic, I shall be receiving my ratchets, sockets, side cutters, duckbills, and lockwire pliers from Snap On sometime next week.............Now all I have to do is figure out how I'm going to pay for all that.

Are those your AME'ing tools? Though oddly AMEing tools are some of the best for working on cars too <_< >_>;; payroll deduction ftw. 25$/ paycheck

[4onthefloor]

Are those your AME'ing tools? Though oddly AMEing tools are some of the best for working on cars too <_< >_>;; payroll deduction ftw. 25$/ paycheck

Yeah, I'm just picking up a few things now while I'm still in school and can get a discount. I'll have to pick up some more things along the way while I'm working.

Question: What size of tool box do you have? Every technician I've come across has recommended the full size roller cabinet (minus the "extra top chest") but they cost an arm and a leg. I'm drawing a blank right now on specific sizes.

[DarkPilot]

Well this is what I use (The one on the left)

Though something more like

Is more useful.

[eggwich delfiero]

dang nice toolbox! I need to buy one later than sooner and I too crap my pants at how expensive they are. I understand they are needed, but man, they are pricey items. I can understand a vehicle lift being a few grand, but a steel box with drawers. Sheesh.
(Yeah I'm cheap.)

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my flexhead 3/8" stubby ratchet from Matco.

[4onthefloor]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Looks like I'm going to have to come up with the cash for a decent tool box. I'll deal with that in time. Thanks for the info.

Edit: To darkpilot

[DarkPilot]

Another tip is, keep checking out classifieds and used ads.

All SnapOn toolboxes have lifetime warranty as long as they have the snapon identity number attached to the back of the box. You can tell if its missing by the large piece of metal missing from the box. Mac boxes too are pretty good.