Times are tough, and more of us than ever before are looking for ways to save money. One area that some people are trying to economize on is on their car repairs. There are lots of tutorials online as well as manuals that you can pick up in stores that tell you precisely how to repair any number of problems with your car or truck. However, it isn’t always as easy as you might think to fix your vehicle yourself. For a start, you need to have the right equipment and tools to hand to make sure that you can get started on any project that you have in mind.
Of course, you don’t want to spend too much money on your toolkit for car repairs. So, here are just a few of the key essentials that you should invest in if you want to save a little money by carrying out your own work on your vehicle at home. Here are some of the top items you’re definitely going to need for your own home workshop.
Basic Tools And Equipment
There are a number of basic tools which you may already have at home if you already work on any kind of simple DIY projects in your house. Most people have screwdrivers and wrenches, for example. These are useful not only for home projects but for vehicle repairs too. Here are some of the top tools and equipment that will prove to be beneficial for a wide range of repair jobs around your home and vehicle workshop.
- A range of screwdrivers in different sizes and types
- Hex keys
- Wrenches including an open end wrench, crescent wrench, a torque wrench and an oil filter wrench
- Ratchet drivers in several sizes. You’ll certainly need a ¼ and a 3/8 size and you may also benefit from having a ½ size too.
- Cutting pliers
- Sockets and extensions
- An LED or fluorescent work light
- Channel locks
- A breaker bar
Safety Equipment
Don’t forget that you’ll also need to stay safe while you work on your vehicle. Although you may not think of car repairs as being a dangerous job, you could still get burned or hurt. Here are some of the items you should definitely have in your workshop to keep you suitably protected on the job:
- Eye protection such as safety goggles or glasses
- A fire extinguisher
- Thick work gloves
- An oil spill collector
- Line wrenches
- Rags
Electrical Equipment
Although manual tools will be all you’ll need for many car repair jobs, there are some pieces of electrical equipment and power tools that you’ll need for certain tasks. These include:
- A circuit tester
- Wire snips and wire strippers
- A digital multimeter
- A crimping tool
An Air Compressor
You’re certainly going to need an air compressor if you’re working on your vehicle. If you don’t already have one, you should definitely invest in one. After all, you’ll find it very useful, not only for powering a wide range of air tools but also for inflating tires. There are lots of types of air compressor on the market today, and some can be very costly, so it’s important to choose the best one to suit your needs without exceeding your budget. After all, you’re probably repairing your vehicle at home to save money, not spend more on equipment to get the job done! Air compressors come in all shapes and sizes and can be oil compressors or oil-free. Some are also a lot louder to run than others. All of this needs to be borne in mind before you make your purchasing decision. Many homeowners find that they need to choose a quiet running model to avoid disturbing their neighbors. You can find out more here about how to choose the right air compressor for your requirements. You’re sure to get the answer on Aircompressors.reviews.
With these pieces of equipment and tools in your home workshop, you’ll be in a good position to embark on your first vehicle repair project. Don’t forget though – stay safe and use the right protective equipment and always check the manual before you start work. With any luck, you’ll save money!
