These Tools Are Essential Pieces of Any Home Garage

Having a home garage may be a dream come true for anybody. Finally, being able to perform their own vehicle maintenance and minor repairs can be a big blessing for anyone's wallet. However, the excitement can wear off quickly when one is faced with the decision of what tools to invest in. There are many tools on the market that are recommended for home vehicle maintenance and repairs, regardless of the type of vehicle.

Unfortunately, not all of them are necessary for most people. Being able to wade through what tools are most important and which ones are accessories can be a big challenge. Luckily, we're going to go over our list of top must-have tools for any at-home mechanic. This will allow everyone to learn the tools that they'll need to spend money on today to ensure that they can work on their car in the future.

1 - Socket Set

To start things off, a must-have tool for any at-home vehicle mechanic is a socket set. Most parts of vehicles are held on via a bolt, which requires a particular size socket to undo. Since each car component will likely have a different sized bolt, a socket set is a great purchase because it has various socket sizes in the set. Most quality socket sets will come in both standard and metric sizes. Be sure to purchase one that also includes extensions and Allen wrenches.

2 - Pliers

Pliers are a must for any good at-home garage. It's best to stock up on a few different types to ensure that the right tool will be available for each job that you do. When looking at pliers, it's a good idea to consider a multi-tool option. These will usually have plier tines on the end and wire strippers on the body. This works as a multi-functional tool that allows one to grip a component or strip wiring for electrical projects.

3 - Torque Wrench

While tightening a bolt may seem like a fairly simple task, it's not as easy as it looks. When one tightens the bolt, they're using torque. Using too much torque can result in a sheared off bolt, which will require immediate replacement. Purchasing a torque wrench with a click-type system will allow the user to set a specific torque. Once the user reaches the specific torque needed for a project, the tool will alert them by clicking. As a general rule of thumb, torque wrenches should only be used to put lug nuts on. You should never use this tool to take them off as it could result in damage to the wrench.

4 - Wrenches

While it would be nice to get to everything with a socket wrench, that's not always the case. To have a complete at-home garage, one will need to invest in a wrench set. These tools are invaluable to getting just about every mechanical job done on any type of vehicle. When looking at wrench sets to buy, one should consider both ends of the wrench. The most versatile sets are going to be those which have an open-ended side for regular wrenching and a ratcheting box on the other side. This will allow one to remove the bolt without having to constantly reposition the wrench.

5 - Screwdrivers

No toolset is complete without a selection of screwdrivers. These are useful for both mechanical work and at-home maintenance chores. When choosing a set, it's important to consider all potential needs. It's best to have a variety of both flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers. Larger flat-head screwdrivers can double as a simple pry bar for smaller jobs. Tiny screwdrivers are a necessity for small electronic work that one may find themselves undertaking in their home garage. A screwdriver set tends to be one that constantly gets added to over time as new needs arise.

6 - Mallet

It's not uncommon for one to think that they can skip out on a traditional mallet because they have a hammer. The truth is that a mallet is very important when it comes to automotive work. A dead blow mallet allows the versatility of unsticking bolts and vehicle components without damaging them. A traditional hammer has a smaller surface area and is made of metal. This can result in massive damage to any vehicle component. A dead blow mallet, on the other hand, is made of hard plastic and has a much larger surface area that makes up its head. This ensures an even hit across a larger surface area that causes no visible damage to the vehicle.