Mechanics Tool Supply

The people at EZ Red Products have put together a great flex head ratchet set that belongs in every technicians collection hand tools. The set (part number EZRMR482F consists of all three of the most popular ratchet sizes, 1/4”, 2/8” and 1/2” drive, each has a flex head that swings a full 180 degrees in order to get into practically any place you’re likely to encounter. That’s not all. Each ratchet features extendable length that compliments the usefulness of these professional mechanics tools. The 1/4” drive ratchet extends three stops to reach from 6-3/4” up to 8-3/4”; the 3/8” drive extends four stops from 8-1/2” to 13-1/2” and the 1/2” drive goes from 13-1/2” all the way up to 19-1/4” of added reach and torque.

They all feature 72-tooth construction; a durable micro comfort grip; chrome vanadium steel shafts and a lifetime warranty on the head operating assembly. Essentially it’s all the hand ratchets you’re likely to ever need and the set makes an excellent backup for those out of the ordinary needs that seem to come up.

Was trying to think of that “perfect” tool a while back that I always want in the box ready to use. Decided that the manual impact tool from Lisle Manufacturing is the one for anybody into hobby work on older cars. Those old classics always seem to have the bolts that won’t break loose. You try and try and only succeed in stripping the head of busting the bolt or even a knuckle for your effort.

The manual impact wrench seems to solve those problems. Put a little oil on the stuck bolt and let it soak in then put the right socket in the tool or maybe even a twist socket, get on the bolt and hit the top with the hammer and it will practically always break loose. The next step(s) is to smile and ratched the thing off as if it was a brand new bolt without a grain of rust. Beats heat and saves a lot of time with letting oil seep into rusty areas.

Can’t even begin to say how many times that little magic tool saved us from confronting the impossible and giving up. No torches for heat are needed and the back breaking part is replaced by the hammer hit; quick and easy and it works almost every single time.

The part number for these great little hand tools is L29200; it’s made by Lisle Manufacturing; it’s available at Mechanics Tool Supply and you need it in your tool box if you ever deal with bolts that won’t break loose.

Seems that most of the time a few screwdrivers is about all you need.  You keep going back to those same few over and over again because they meet the need at hand. But, there’s always those special times when you need a special bit, or a ratcheting driver, a T-handle or a stubby handle to speed everything up.  That’s the time to add an actual “set” in a case to your toolbox selection of mechanics tools and hand tools. That set that has everything you’re likely to need out of your normal day to day work.

An excellent one to look at is the KD8940 by Gearwrench. It’s a set of screwdrivers in a case that includes three handles, 30 popular bit configurations and six shafts ranging from 3-1/2 inches up to 11 inches long and even a shaft that allows you to combine shafts for even more specific length selection.

Being in a case, it fits easily into toolboxes or service carts so it’s out of the way while you’re doing normal work yet it’s right there the moment you need to step up from the normal selection of drivers. Doesn’t cost much, doesn’t use up much space and saves a lot of time fishing around for exactly the right screwdriver when special needs arise.

Add to all that, the fact that it carries the Gearwrench name and it’s a must have for professional technicians and serious amateures everywhere.

So you have a dent in the door. Somebody down the street got macho and kicked it in. Cute! You can spend hundreds down at the body shop or you can fix it yourself with one of these mechanics tools that not too many at-home mechanics actually have but all of them should have.

If you’ve ever gone to a fast food restaurant and bought a meal for two or three people, you’ve spend more than a small slide hammer and we all know the lasting value of a meal vs a slide hammer.

These handy tools work for practically anything that needs a controlled nudge or a pull. Slide hammers are far better than a hammer in cases where “just the right” amount of impact is needed and of course, try to pound that dent out of the door with a hammer.  Have fun removing all the upholstry and hoping you can get to the dent even than.

S & G Tool Aid has a slide hammer they call the Junior Slugger Slide Hammer (part number S&G Tool Aid 81500) and it belongs in every handy-mans garage.

These things are so handy! Isn’t it great to be able to view and purchase automotive tools online?

There’s just an endless multitude of uses that the K-Tool 2520 Vibro Engraver can be used for. You can mark customer’s components with a number or letter so that if their car is ever stolen, there’s no doubt who really owns that piece and theives can be traced back to wherever the part was discovered. Not a bad add-on sale for the security conscious customer that will bring in a couple extra dollars and win the loyalty of the customer. Imagine major parts being engraved with the birth date of the owner - easy to remember and certainly not likely to be duplicated anyplace else.

Mark your hand tools, tool boxes and air tools so there’s no question that you own them - just in case the issue ever comes up. This great little engraver is also good for dating component rebuilds that you perform so you don’t have to rely on paperwork or memory. Just mark that starter with:  rebuilt June 30, 2010. No question about it in the future when that information might mean the difference between doing the job again or not. You can also put some identifying additional number or code on it so there’s no doubt you did the work.

You can date your cart so you know when you purchased it. If it should last for five years and it needs to be replaced in about four years, you may not be sure if you’ve had that cart four, five or six years. If you’re in your sixth year you may wish to buy from the same maker. If you’re in the fourth year, you may wish to buy something a bit better. That’s valuable information that can save you money on mechanics tools and equipment in the long term and of course that means increased income after expenses that you probably wouldn’t even be aware of otherwise - all for the lack of a little engraver.

The K-Tool engraver is a slick little tool. It operates on 115V AC and has a variable speed control that lets you determine the depth of engraving so that you can use it on a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic and other surfaces - very versitile.

The Astro Pneumatic 9448 100-Piece Security Bit Sets collection from Astro Pneumatic Mechanics Tools is a must have for anybody trying to deal with secure fasteners. This collection of automotive hand tool accessories will fit practically any security requirement likely to arise in the shop or even in the home for that matter. Think about it for a moment, 100-PIECES!

I don’t know if anybody has managed to invent the 101st fastener configuration that’s tough to deal with; actually surprised that there’s even 100 different configurations requiring special bits to loosen or tighten. Sure of one thing though, you’re not likely to encounter many situations where this set won’t meet your needs.

Hex, slotted. Phillips, Poze-drive, spline, square, tamper proof in fractional, metric and Torx. You name it and if it;s a quarter inch drive, it’s in this handy kit. Also has all the adapters you’re likely to need to fit the bits to whatever hand tools you use for driving.

Packaged in a compact case, it stays organized and doesn’t use up much space in the tool box.

Basic tools from a solid established name like OTC! That’s the first thing to come to mind when looking at the advantages of the OTC 4600 Stinger Punch and Chisel Set. You just know right out front that you have value and you know that this set will last for years and years. In fact, the only real threat to this set is losing pieces because they’re practically indestructable. They’re the kind of mechanics tools that belongs in every professional’s tool box right there with all or his other automotive hand tools.

The set contains steel punches ranging from an eighth up to a quarter of an inch wide at the business end and up to 6-3/4 inches long. Should cover practically any need that likely to confront a technician in a normal shop.

This durable set of heat-treated chrome vanadium steel punches and chisels comes in a convienent storage tray and includes three cold chisels, two center punches, five pin punches and five taper punches. The complete set that should be in every technicians arsenal of automotive tools.

Aside from computer-based diagnostics mechanics tools it’s a special event when something really new comes along. The people at Grey Pneumatic have broken the mold and introduced the Duo Socket and it could represent a revolution in sockets.

The concept is simple (another clue that they’re onto something). Instead of buying an impact socket for air tools and a chrome socket for use with hand ratchets, Duo Socket is both. That’s right, you can use the same socket with your impact wrench and with your hand ratchet. You don’t have to buy two sockets any more, just one and you use it for all applications.

These sockets feature the advantages of thin-wall chrome sockets AND the strength and durability of impact sockets. They also have all the latest features that make them more pleasant to use. They’re etched and roll stamped so there’s none of the old holding them to a light at exactly the right angle in order to see if it’s a 1/2″ or a 7/16″.  No guesswork, no need to learn Braille and feel your way over the size stamping.

There’s a number of sets available in 1/4, 3/8″ and 1/2″ drive sizes with a variety of socket sizes in each.  Individual open stock sizes will be available soon too.

Remember a long time ago when we were first starting to see people work on cars? Back when they were simple and all the parts and places were easy to get to? That’s been a while ago but most of can remember that some people seems to be upside down and side ways for hours on end while another guy was able to get the same job done in a comparative few moments. Not only was he fast and efficient, he didn’t even seem to get covered with grease and dirt and he wasn’t out there doing the job over again next week.

Ok, it might be that some people are just more adept at this kind of thing but I’d bet that it’s more likely that the clean, fast and efficient guy had the right mechanics tools in the first place. What comes to mind when I think about this memory is the task of changing a water pump. Not an intellectually challenging concept but it’s frustrating to turn a wrench and the whole shaft you’re trying to remove a fastener from turns right along with you. Before long there’s a bar or big screwdriver propped into the fan or wherever you can get it in the hopes stabilizing the shaft; that works sort of but it still seems that you end up with a foot on the bumper and another someplace in Western Iowa and the shaft still turns.

Eventually you collect a few tools to handle the problem but professionals need to be ready for anything that drives or gets towed into the shop and that’s why Astro Pneumatic makes the AP 7895 available. It’s a 10 piece set that handles practically every fan clutch wrench requirement you’re likely to encounter and comes in a tough plastic case so your collection of automotive specialty hand tools are organized and easy to find when needed.

The set is a value for the dollar and it’ll speed up service work and thereby increase income - not to mention a lot less swearing when the car with the unusual fan clutch configuration rolls into the bay.

Now is a good time to inventory your collection of tools that have a greater need in warmer weather and be ready - unless of course, you’d prefer to be the greasy upside down guy - your call.

Grey Pneumatic which has quickly taken over the impact socket market is preparing to launch it’s “NEW” Duo Socket. This product has nothing to do with the computer industry, yet is revolutionary just the same. Grey Pneumatic, also known as GPsocket has combined the strength of an industrial impact socket with the sleekness of a chrome socket. In addition to reducing the amount of mechanics tools piling up in a toolbox, the “New” Duo Socket will save on the mechanics tool budget by having to buy only one set of sockets which will serve the purpose of two sets. Mechanics Tool Supply is expecting the full line to be available April 10, 2009.