Favorite Hot Rod Tools

I have two that I really like.. The first is my tap and die set.. You can make new threaded holes or fix bad ones.. You also can make threaded rod or clean up threads.. I use mine almost everyday.. My second favorite are my welders.. I don't think you can build a hot rod without one.. I'm not a very good welder but I love to weld.. What are some of your favorite tools???

 

Welder and grinder. That's basically all I had when I started on my truck.

 

Measure tape, leveis, welder, and 4 1/2" grinder get the most use in my garage right now. That will all change as the build progresses though. As for my favorite, I love all my tools equally!

 

Milwaukee portable bandsaw has been invaluable. Mounted in a bench vice. My first build and it has been so helpful.

 

hammer

 

Welder for SURE. Then probably a tie between the grinders, a hammer and my vise. That vise is always holding **** while I "adjust" it with the hammer. If I had to pick two I'd be in trouble.

 

Since everything that bolts on seems to need three hours of machine work, my mill and lathe.
If I could only have one welder, I would keep my heliarc.
Of course my Snap-on tool box and tools.

 

I don't have a whole lot of tools right now but I would have to say my hammer and dolly sets. Hopefully someday when I get a welder I can say my welder

 

I use all electric tools since I do not have a compressor. I like the Matabo
4 inch cut off tool/ grinder, Milwaukee 4inch grinder, and a Makita end grinder a lot and use them daily. I also like my new Trumph sheet metal "profile nibbler" This tool cuts sheet metal up to 14 gauge in just about any shape desired. It takes a bit of practice to get really accurate cuts. The tool is a big time saver. The only thing I don't care for is the hundreds of tiny quarter moon shaped drops it produces. They stick to a shoe instantly and must be swept up as soon as your cut is completed.

 

My vintage Craigslist purchased King-Seely-Craftsman 9inch disc 6X48 belt sander, my vintage 1951 King-Seely-Craftsman drill press (my Dad bought it used in '62), and my 1/2 drive Plomb ratchet (my Dad bought it new in 1940 when he went to work for North American Aviation). My 1983 R&D Kamas solvent parts washer. My 1983 Sanborn air compressor.... oh and my two year old Lincoln 180-C MIG. Oh yea my son bought me a small 4 1/2 inch Milwaukee angle grinder for fathers day, what a *****in tool, how did I ever get by without it.

 

buy one of them big cheap magnets that HF sells and put it on the floor near were your t******* ,wrap it in a cloth so its easy to clean off the t*******s , Just hold it over a 5 gallon bucket and pull the cloth off and they are taken care of .

 

My favorite tool is my propane plumbers torch as I use it to heat up the bolts and bees wax them to take them off with out snapping them ,second one has to be the heat gun , to help remove undercoating without fires , and the undercoating they used in the 40's/50's is some good stuff from what I have been running into . and my air powered s****er is also a favorite . and my ......

 

Bridgeport mill


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Well, that would be mine as well...if I had one.

 

Dremel or other small die grinder sort of thing with the right bits is wonderful for parts that almost fit.

I have an old, stubby Craftsman open end 1/2x9/16 wrench from my father I'd probably have a breakdown if I ever lost it.

I miss having air tools! Had lots of stuff stolen a while back, haven't replaced yet. Air ratchet is a wonderful toy.

Big f'n hammer. Maybe not to use on the car.... but you can smash other things with it when you need to release stress!

THINKING CHAIR!!!!!!!! Doesn't matter if its a literal chair, cooler, curb, whatever..... someplace to sit, think, stare.... slow down and make sure you're doing it right!

 

I know a lot of tools in Hot Rodding, if I name just one I may upset some people!

Doc.

 

Cigar lighter for thinkin about stuff...

 

A good centre punch,makes drilling turn out good. JW

 

Rattle can primer

 

My brain, my eyes, and my hands. (Although Dane's cigar lighter runs a real close second.)

Roger

 

1) for guys that build there own cars, welder, grinder, hammer.

2) for the guys who don't build there own cars. (phone book)

 

My 3/8 drive Proto socket set. I use that more than anything. But I do more engine work than body work. It's the first set of quality tools I invested in, now I will never go back to craftsman.

 

i have never found enough mill work on my cars to elevate my mill to favorite status---die grinder tops my list...

 

Good answer 'butcherted'...

 

Or... asking stupid questions on the H.A.M.B.

 

Vise grips...used them to hold broken shifter in place, to steer car around shop when steering wheel was getting refinished (don't recommend it for the hiway, though, unless contestant for Darwin award!)....getting stuck bolts out, even got a broken thread out of a block once.

 

Harbor frieght 4.5" grinder(gone through 3 already for truck build) and my Hobart 187 welder.....

 

That is a good idea, I do use some round magnets to hold patch panels and such for tack welding. I would guess the nibbler makes 50+ moons per inch. The little ****ers look shell casing spewing from an automatic weapon!

 

A GOOD vise for holding work while using all the other tools you use.

Blue

 

This and a 4" grinder are my "go to" tools.


Can't say welder is one of my favorites as that is what I do for a living.