This one was super fun for me. Reminiscing about the tools ive used my career. What box build should we do next? Also I have linked up my whole tool cart inventory here ~ bit.ly/4iUrZOu Also also, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.
Father couldn't afford new tools so he acquired them second hand from wherever he found them. He's long gone, but I kept some of them, they're are likely older than 70 years. Have a set of Sears Craftsman socket and wrench sets given to me by dear and thoughtful friends, they are 50+ years old and still in my tool box. My tools don't match but I've managed to get along with what I've got. Nice to see how a professional sets up the go-to cart. Thanks for sharing.
Nice to hear I've got some tools given to me from a colleague, my uncles old tool set and the old apprentice who left the trade 💯💯💯 tool set doesn't match but that doesn't matter too much it all works which is what matters 💯💯💯
7:56 That 1/4 inch combo wrench is in there because you needed to use a torx bit but didn’t have any room for a bit driver and had to use the box end to hold and turn the torx bit. I know this because that’s the reason I have a 1/4 inch wrench mixed in with my metric 1/4 drive tools and bit drawer.
I like that plier organizer, in my box if it looks like pliers, its pliers and goes in to one overstuffed drawer that always gets stuck opening it. Nice work putting this all together. PS like the new to you 996.
19:13 that tiny driver is amazing, it has come handy in so many tight spots. Loved the video, I have acquired many of the same tools throughout the past two decades of wrenching.
My tool kit is mostly stuff I bought when my parents bought me my first car... Now my brother and I were living out in the sticks and every sleepover or any hangout with friends involved my parents driving us somewhere. As the eldest, I got gifted my driver's license at 16 and the next year a diesel mk2 jetta with the conditions of: here's your car, you put gas in it, you register and insure it. If it breaks, you fix it and we're never giving you a ride anywhere ever!! And really, I really got into that and bought the big Canadian Tire ratchet kit and the 3 ton jack... When I actually left home to live on my own, my dad said "Well, I guess I need to buy a jack now..." All these tools I bought in the late 90's and are still kicking around!!!
Thanks for the great rollbox build! Your knowledge gleaned from years of experience is priceless! BTW: When I read the title of this video the 3 tools that came to mind for VW repairs: 1. Curved pliers at 14:47 for hose removal. It's also fantastic for taking out sticky CIS injectors. Just be sure to put down some cardboard on the valve cover so you don't chip the paint when you rock the pliers of it for leverage. 2. Wheel bolt spud. Useful for mounting tires back on the vehicle; especially if you run wheel spacers. 3. Smallish 1/2 or 3/8 cordless impact gun like you described in your video at 22:55 . I changed the clutch in my mk1 Jetta, and there was no way I could've done that without one. Made the job soooooo much easier! Bought a cheap 20V impact from local discount tool shop for $75. Worth every penny, even for one time use! Cheers Charles and hope you had a great Christmas and have an even greater new year!
The sewing seem rippers dont get enough love, and alot of people never even consider those. If you work on electrical everyday, the seem rippers are you're best friend. Invest in a couple, you will use them often.
I mostly use a modified set of scissors from a first aid kit. The ones where the lower blade is longer and rounded so you can cut off bandages without cutting into the tissue below. I ground down that lower blade to a pointy end that still sticks out a lil and it's perfect for cutting off the cloth tape wrap of wiring harnesses.
I have one of those OG pocket screwdrivers from when you launched Crewmembers Garage! That's how long I've been watching you! Appreciate all your videos Charles!
20 years ive battled with various tools to get those metal trim clips left in situ, and never thought of angled long nose pliers, that’s what i love about this game everyday is a school day 😅
You should make a video on good obd readers. Some cheap some expensive, i know some you are capable of reprogramming airbags and some can only read codes while others won’t read certain cars. It all seems complicated so I feel like a lot of people would get use from a video like that
The HF magnetic paper towel holder is also a good to have on a cart. Another cheep tool I have in the pliers drawer is long flat and curved Hemostat forceps (Amazon). They are great for when you drop something non-magnetic or 12" of reach in a tight area. With them locking, you can also use the to pinch off small lines.
One thing i added to my Tool kit when i started working on VAG cars was a 1/4 inch low torque torque wrench for doing up all those 5 to 10 Nm little bolts in plastic housings
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Nice to see variety of tools that you might not know existed before. One of the most creative ideas I’ve heard lately, haven’t tried so no clue of the effectiveness, is using torque sticks to remove rusted on bolts. Supposedly they allow lots of impacts without twisting off the bolt.
Love vids like this. I'm a self taught DIYer. I have sciroccos and a mkiv as a kid. Moved on to Volvos now. It's nice to see what I should look for next in tools.
Great combination of tool choices Charles, two that I would add are a adjustable pipe wrench for removing gland nuts on struts (when replacing inserts, not vw specific) and there is an adjustable S wrench for tie rods and other extremely tight weird shaped fasteners.
I laughed when you said, “you may notice I have multiples of the same tool.” I have multiples of a lot of tools for the same reason. I don’t want to spend hours looking for one cause I misplaced it.
Yeah my boy just like you most of my tools I can remember purchasing almost each & every one & know just about how old each one is. I love my tools. My oldest two tools is when I got my first car & told dad I need some tools to do an oil change or whatever. He gave me a translucent orange handle flat blade screwdriver & a red handle pair of needle nose pliers -- that's it lol. I still have them 35 years later.
Very cool setup. You can rivet a magnetic bar to the inside of one or more of the lower shelf sides. This will help keep your cans in place. It works really well.
Another great video Charles! I was gonna say right off, it looks like a cart cleaning day video, only cause I've been there often enough 😂. So, I have the Oetiker hose clamp pliers & hose clamp cutters in the cart as well as a wide range of Stahlwille torque wrenches. Other than that, I would agree completely.
Pretty impressive that you manage to fit 90% of what you need in a roll cart. I've tried to do that again and again for the last 10-15 years but as a "whatever rolls in the door" mechanic it's just never been feasible for me. I guess I could separate everything into heavy equipment, small engine, euro cars, and american cars, but that'd take much more room than just one 84" workbench and a cabinet full of uncommon tools in their blow molded cases. Usually I just pack what I need, or think I'll need, on a 2 level service cart, and accept that I'll be running back to the big box at least a dozen times for additional tools. I've never had much luck shopping for tool truck tools secondhand, most people want 75% or more of the brand new value and refuse to budge on the price. The stereotypical "I know what I got" crowd at work. I've had much better luck buying industrial brands new, you often get the same tool and the same warranty, except it'll say Williams or Proto or whatever and you usually have to email customer service to get it warrantied, which considering how the last couple snapon and mac guys have treated me, is often what I had to do anyways.
I’m not big on a lot of the Williams but the Proto stuff is great stuff at least the extensions sockets and wrenches, rather spend the money new on 1 or 2 nice snap on ratchets than saving money on any other brand as I haven’t found something as nice but if warranty was gonna be a pain in the ass maybe I’d change my mind on that
Merry Christmas my friend! I'm an electrician by trade, not a mechanic, but I am an automotive enthusiast. I don't have the space (both physically and mentally) to put together a a nice tool set and dive into my automotive hobby like i would like to at this point, but I enjoy fantasizing about it through videos like yours. Keep up the great work!
If you have a socket or extension with the roll pin taped over, you can use a piece of heatshrink the good thick suff and they don't get caught on things and they look slick
I used a 1 drawer, open top cart from Harbor Freight. I keep sockets, ratchet, etc in the top. It only takes up 1/2 of it or so. I have trays for extensions. Trays for some hand tools like pliers and channel locks. I have Harbor Freight hangers off the end, one which holds cans and screw drivers and the other which is a tray and screw driver. An impact gun hanger on the back. I have 3 sets of box wrenches in the drawer, along with lug sockets, short breaker bar, zip lock bags. One thing I will get to eventually is modifying the handles to go on the outside of the cart and drilling holes inside the car to drop long things through. The other stuff stays in my tool box generally.
Grandpa gave me a few of his tools. They were..."well used" to the point of failure in some cases. Love him dearly, but he used a hammer more than he should have. I started with the cheapest that the clearance aisle had to offer and went from there. Upgraded when necessary, or when a job needed something I didn't yet have, but I've maintained my own vehicles very well and helped my friends and family with theirs a bunch. Sometimes "you get what you pay for", but sometimes you get lucky.
This is amazing thank you Charles. I appreciate the links to your Google Docs tool list, I have mostly everything I need but the pliers for the hose clamps are on my list, and a set of M12 Milwaukee tools are on my list now. Thank you.
Here's some that I've collected from watching videos of other people's toolboxes :) Use these pretty often 30 & 80 degree clip pliers Extra-Long magnetic hex bit holder Hose remover pliers (jaws open up, pushing hose out; less damage compared to using a hose pick or pliers with the rounded end) Flexible wire long reach hose clamp pliers (for those big intake clips) Straight & angled electrical disconnect pliers Terminal connector separator/removal tool (hooks on each end) Battery carrier Bull horn pry bar adapter (turns your 1/2 ratchet into an indexing pry bar) Brake caliper hanger (simple s-shaped iron)
TOOL RECOMENDATION- Streamlight is hands down the best and those pen lights are awsome! That being said, I actually recommend the O'Light Arkfeld pro instead for new and experienced technicians. The reason for that is, they are 100 bucks, rechargable, and have three lights in one. It has a light, laser pointer, and blacklight for leak detection. You should look into one to try and see how you like it.
I've been using the Ares socket rails for a while now - they're easily customizable, the sockets are very secure, not crazy expensive. Pretty sure they're not US made, but 🤷♂️
Some tools that have saved me A LOT of headache on VAG and others: 1. Extended hose clamp pliars. They reach like 30 inches and can make hard-to-reach clamps a breeze! They lock and hold the clamp. $40 2. Porter Cable 7424XP buffer. Not only useful for detailers but for mechanics as well. If you or a tech scuff a car or want to clear up some headlamps, this is invaluable! $130 3. Quality screw extractor and drill bit kit. 4. Quality solder pen. 5. Blue tooth OBD dongle ELM 327. With the Torque App, I can see countless data PIDs like turbo PSI, trans temp, pre/post catalyst temp, rail pressure, and so on. It's not a snap on Verus, but you can see 95% of what it does. An absolute must for the hobbyist. $8 bucks Not quite a tool cart tool item, but a bench grinder. I've modified countless tools to make them work. One even better is a used MIG. Sacrificing a tool has saved my bacon countless times. Lastly, I'll stress the importance of QUALITY torx & triple square. Cheap ones tend to deform easily. Pittsburg is probably a no-go on these. Keep to cheapo's in your trunk toolbox. Lastly, many large names like Matco have their generic brand. The tools are the same while being a third of the price. I scored a 3/8s ratchet set for $230 from Silver Eagle (Matco) and it did 80% of my wrenching as a new tech. Gearwrench is also amazing. A tool reviewer ranked them agaist top brands to cheap brands and it beat most, including snap on in nearly every metric. The link here: ua-cam.com/video/thLm3y3HjYI/v-deo.htmlsi=xvtdy_tkGAuM1Ar1
thanks for sharing, i use the digital torque wrench adaptor its small and fits on any ratchet or breaker bar. also the mini 1/4" hex ratchet driver is great for tight spaces.
9:41 I have the exact same screwdriver except the 8" version maybe. I got it to take apart a subwoofer cabinet in about 2003 and have been using it ever sense.
Great vid! For a tool recommendation, I’d add the Icon 1/2 Inch Digital Torque Wrench from HF. It’s super accurate, less than half the price of a comparable Snap On, and (most importantly) has a lifetime warranty. Even as a simple DIY’er/ enthusiast it’s been an invaluable part of my set up. Merry Christmas! Edit to add: I’m in on those branded pocket screwdrivers too.
10:40 Charles does a pen flip with a mk4 seat spring and it’s the first time I’ve seen anyone else besides me do that outside of high school 10+ years ago. Had to share, love the content, carry on 🖊️ 🫰
Hahaha Ray and I were joking about how many clips exist of me flipping things like that without even realizing it. You’ll notice I did it with the pliers tray 🤣
one of my favorite tools is actually a VW "specialty tool". 80-200 is the tool nr and not really that expensive either, last time I ordered one for my toolbox at work was around 300 Swedish krona which would be like 25usd or something, easily the best small pry tool I have used. just requires you to be a little careful when using since it is metal and pretty thin so quite easy to scratch things if you are not careful about that.
17:10 I have a great set of hose clamp pliers from amazon for $30 or $40. Several different ones. Swivel cups, fixed cup, remote/cable, offset, and a 180 degree pick to pull hoses off.
I'm a backyard mechanic or a do it yourself, at least for the stuff where I know what I'm doing. But you just created for me a list of new tools to look for. You should added in places like auto swap meets, you can find some quality tools there at reasonable price. I found all my gearwrench tools at them.
Charles, you have a lot of tools. Wow! I'm jealous. I would love to see a toolbox tour of all your boxes. Btw I love the 2 26 inch us general boxes you got. I have the same boxes but in blue. There really good tool boxes. 😎 Love the tool vids. Keep em coming! 👍
Love these tool vids man. You should grab the #2 and 3 Vessel Impacta JIS screwdrivers. I bought mine for working on my motorcycle and found that they work awesome on regular philps head screws that are not totally fubar'd. If there's anything left in the head to grab they'll get it.
Thank you so much for this info. This made my holiday.! I'm trying to fix a coolant leak from the oil coolant box on my TDI 3 L Audi, but I'm intimidated moving the intake manifold just seems like a real b**
Harbor Freight has become the new Sears to me. I have collected a lot of Craftsman tools for the last 35-40 years. I was wanting a full 1/4 and 1/2 socket set. Bought the middle line Quinn sets on sale. They are working out nicely. I splurged in some Icon long Allen sockets. I have a pair of Knipex locking hose clamp pliers. However, the locking mechanism kinda gets in the way sometimes.
Charles! Awesome video it’s super cool to compare what I have used to DIY and what compares to a tried and true professional! You mentioned you 3D printed the pen holder and it looked like you also printed the plier holder. I would love to see a video with your thoughts about how a 3D printer is useful in the shop and how/if you use it in your builds or day to day! Just another idea of something you can show your setup or share your thoughts
Every tech should specialise in a make of car. I only have one 12mm spanner, every set of spanner and sockets has the 12mm thrown out. Just one is kept because that's the adjuster nut size on the Malpassi fuel pressure regulators.
Thanks for another great video Charles. 2 questions, I looked on that list you linked and didn’t see the Cornwell pliers or the Knipex mid length needle nose. Do you have part numbers for them? Thanks and have a good new years.
If a tech is hurting for a budget storage option, I’ve had good luck with taking empty oil and coolant bottles, cutting the bottom of the jug to height so it fits in my drawer of choice, and clean it out. You end up with a “free” storage tray for whatever you can fit in there.
I Almost have the same in my vw cart, I also have tha Milwaukee M12 right angle die grinder, with a wire wheel that's my favorite after the M12 impact, I also have the electric rachet, but it is still almost new, never really used it..
Charles, Terrific Content! Huge Thanks! No flare nut wrenches? Mine are Craftsman & Craftsman Pro, very reasonable $. Finally, All Hail John Fluke Mfg.!
There is also Koken that makes a 3/8 ratchet in a 1/4 ratchet body,they make good ratchets as well.They also make great extension bars whom was first for the wobble plus extension bars before Snap On before Snap On came out with them. Grey Pnuematic is a great alternative for the impact sockets and impact swivel sockets if you do not want to spend the Snap On prices
After working on my first vw, a turbo replacement on a 2.0tsi cc with everything going wrong. My favorite tool was about to be a can of gas and a blowtorch.
Great video! Keep up the great work! You are the main reason I bought my first Volkswagen! It's a 2024 Golf GTI. I love it but had a ton of issues with it. Mainly coding and module relearn. (Warranty replacement of parts) Will the TOPDON Scanner Diagnostic Tool help me with my relearn s and other coding issues? I already have an OBD11 but I feel it's limited. They dealer network near me is subpar. Thank you, Nathan
Anyone looking for good quality sockets, i would go with tekton. They also make nice wrenches. I dont like everything they make, but those 2 are amazing. Also the rewards program they have is also nice.
do you have any experience with koken z series sockets since they are super shallow? or any of the koken smaller ratchets? I am going to be working on a newer porsche 911 soon and looking to get a jump on my tool collection.. I know space is TIGHT
This one was super fun for me. Reminiscing about the tools ive used my career. What box build should we do next? Also I have linked up my whole tool cart inventory here ~ bit.ly/4iUrZOu Also also, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.
what do u think of an 08 2.5 rabbit. thinking about getting it for my kids first car... it has a inline 5
@@chevguy8587 thats the best engine VW has made since the 90s! 100% a great powertrain. The automatics had some issues, but the manual is perfect!
It looks like that link isn't working for me!
I fixed it. sorry about that
Merry Christmas!!! Makes me wanna clean my roll cart
Father couldn't afford new tools so he acquired them second hand from wherever he found them. He's long gone, but I kept some of them, they're are likely older than 70 years. Have a set of Sears Craftsman socket and wrench sets given to me by dear and thoughtful friends, they are 50+ years old and still in my tool box. My tools don't match but I've managed to get along with what I've got. Nice to see how a professional sets up the go-to cart. Thanks for sharing.
Nice to hear I've got some tools given to me from a colleague, my uncles old tool set and the old apprentice who left the trade 💯💯💯 tool set doesn't match but that doesn't matter too much it all works which is what matters 💯💯💯
7:56 That 1/4 inch combo wrench is in there because you needed to use a torx bit but didn’t have any room for a bit driver and had to use the box end to hold and turn the torx bit.
I know this because that’s the reason I have a 1/4 inch wrench mixed in with my metric 1/4 drive tools and bit drawer.
Came here to state the same. Otherwise, I have no SAE tools in either my roll cart or my main tool box.
@@bertwilson4311 same- that and screw extractors that use 1/4 inch bits.
Thank you for putting this out. Going to re-organize my tool box now. Merry Christmas!
AWESOME!! Thank you. Shoot me a pic when you're done
I like that plier organizer, in my box if it looks like pliers, its pliers and goes in to one overstuffed drawer that always gets stuck opening it. Nice work putting this all together. PS like the new to you 996.
Charles... I thought I was the only one who wrote on EVERYTHING but never thought to write the torque specs on things. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
19:13 that tiny driver is amazing, it has come handy in so many tight spots. Loved the video, I have acquired many of the same tools throughout the past two decades of wrenching.
I am a fiend for pliers! Definitely liking those selections
My tool kit is mostly stuff I bought when my parents bought me my first car... Now my brother and I were living out in the sticks and every sleepover or any hangout with friends involved my parents driving us somewhere. As the eldest, I got gifted my driver's license at 16 and the next year a diesel mk2 jetta with the conditions of: here's your car, you put gas in it, you register and insure it. If it breaks, you fix it and we're never giving you a ride anywhere ever!!
And really, I really got into that and bought the big Canadian Tire ratchet kit and the 3 ton jack... When I actually left home to live on my own, my dad said "Well, I guess I need to buy a jack now..."
All these tools I bought in the late 90's and are still kicking around!!!
Thanks for the great rollbox build! Your knowledge gleaned from years of experience is priceless!
BTW: When I read the title of this video the 3 tools that came to mind for VW repairs:
1. Curved pliers at 14:47 for hose removal. It's also fantastic for taking out sticky CIS injectors. Just be sure to put down some cardboard on the valve cover so you don't chip the paint when you rock the pliers of it for leverage.
2. Wheel bolt spud. Useful for mounting tires back on the vehicle; especially if you run wheel spacers.
3. Smallish 1/2 or 3/8 cordless impact gun like you described in your video at 22:55 . I changed the clutch in my mk1 Jetta, and there was no way I could've done that without one. Made the job soooooo much easier! Bought a cheap 20V impact from local discount tool shop for $75. Worth every penny, even for one time use!
Cheers Charles and hope you had a great Christmas and have an even greater new year!
Knipex pilers wrenches are one of my favourite tools and something I wish I had known about sooner.
I love these toolbox videos,lots of fun and gives me more ideas for what I should buy, 2nd year as a tech for me!
Thanks!
Thank you so much!!!
The sewing seem rippers dont get enough love, and alot of people never even consider those. If you work on electrical everyday, the seem rippers are you're best friend. Invest in a couple, you will use them often.
I mostly use a modified set of scissors from a first aid kit. The ones where the lower blade is longer and rounded so you can cut off bandages without cutting into the tissue below. I ground down that lower blade to a pointy end that still sticks out a lil and it's perfect for cutting off the cloth tape wrap of wiring harnesses.
hell yes! you will ruin wiring even if you're careful with a razor! they're a life saver.
I am only a hobbyist mechanic and I really want some of those Knipex pliers. I have heard from so many people that they are awesome!
I have one of those OG pocket screwdrivers from when you launched Crewmembers Garage! That's how long I've been watching you! Appreciate all your videos Charles!
20 years ive battled with various tools to get those metal trim clips left in situ, and never thought of angled long nose pliers, that’s what i love about this game everyday is a school day 😅
You should make a video on good obd readers. Some cheap some expensive, i know some you are capable of reprogramming airbags and some can only read codes while others won’t read certain cars. It all seems complicated so I feel like a lot of people would get use from a video like that
Definitely need a run of Humblemechanic merchandise!
The HF magnetic paper towel holder is also a good to have on a cart. Another cheep tool I have in the pliers drawer is long flat and curved Hemostat forceps (Amazon). They are great for when you drop something non-magnetic or 12" of reach in a tight area. With them locking, you can also use the to pinch off small lines.
I have those HF holders all over the shop. Not one has paper towels on it haha
One thing i added to my Tool kit when i started working on VAG cars was a 1/4 inch low torque torque wrench for doing up all those 5 to 10 Nm little bolts in plastic housings
Custom Inner axle joint alignment tool is genius ! Stealing that !
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, ideas and videos. Nice to see variety of tools that you might not know existed before. One of the most creative ideas I’ve heard lately, haven’t tried so no clue of the effectiveness, is using torque sticks to remove rusted on bolts. Supposedly they allow lots of impacts without twisting off the bolt.
Love vids like this. I'm a self taught DIYer. I have sciroccos and a mkiv as a kid. Moved on to Volvos now. It's nice to see what I should look for next in tools.
Great combination of tool choices Charles, two that I would add are a adjustable pipe wrench for removing gland nuts on struts (when replacing inserts, not vw specific) and there is an adjustable S wrench for tie rods and other extremely tight weird shaped fasteners.
I laughed when you said, “you may notice I have multiples of the same tool.” I have multiples of a lot of tools for the same reason. I don’t want to spend hours looking for one cause I misplaced it.
Yeah my boy just like you most of my tools I can remember purchasing almost each & every one & know just about how old each one is. I love my tools. My oldest two tools is when I got my first car & told dad I need some tools to do an oil change or whatever. He gave me a translucent orange handle flat blade screwdriver & a red handle pair of needle nose pliers -- that's it lol. I still have them 35 years later.
Very cool setup. You can rivet a magnetic bar to the inside of one or more of the lower shelf sides. This will help keep your cans in place. It works really well.
Another great video Charles! I was gonna say right off, it looks like a cart cleaning day video, only cause I've been there often enough 😂. So, I have the Oetiker hose clamp pliers & hose clamp cutters in the cart as well as a wide range of Stahlwille torque wrenches. Other than that, I would agree completely.
As a junior technician I feel goosebumps, great video
Pretty impressive that you manage to fit 90% of what you need in a roll cart. I've tried to do that again and again for the last 10-15 years but as a "whatever rolls in the door" mechanic it's just never been feasible for me. I guess I could separate everything into heavy equipment, small engine, euro cars, and american cars, but that'd take much more room than just one 84" workbench and a cabinet full of uncommon tools in their blow molded cases. Usually I just pack what I need, or think I'll need, on a 2 level service cart, and accept that I'll be running back to the big box at least a dozen times for additional tools.
I've never had much luck shopping for tool truck tools secondhand, most people want 75% or more of the brand new value and refuse to budge on the price. The stereotypical "I know what I got" crowd at work. I've had much better luck buying industrial brands new, you often get the same tool and the same warranty, except it'll say Williams or Proto or whatever and you usually have to email customer service to get it warrantied, which considering how the last couple snapon and mac guys have treated me, is often what I had to do anyways.
I’m not big on a lot of the Williams but the Proto stuff is great stuff at least the extensions sockets and wrenches, rather spend the money new on 1 or 2 nice snap on ratchets than saving money on any other brand as I haven’t found something as nice but if warranty was gonna be a pain in the ass maybe I’d change my mind on that
The VIM magnetic rails are the truth; worth every penny. Count me for some of those HM pocket screwdrivers also.
Lisle makes a good hose clamp plier. I have their spring clamp ones for the last 18ish years and they are still going strong.
I love this video because it shows the younger techs that snapon/tool truck brands arnt everything. Great job
Merry Christmas my friend! I'm an electrician by trade, not a mechanic, but I am an automotive enthusiast. I don't have the space (both physically and mentally) to put together a a nice tool set and dive into my automotive hobby like i would like to at this point, but I enjoy fantasizing about it through videos like yours. Keep up the great work!
Well considered selection of hand tools. It's amazing what one collects versus what one actually uses. And, experience speaks louder than hype.
yep! now if we go through my main box, you'll see a TON of things I barely use. HAHA
If you have a socket or extension with the roll pin taped over, you can use a piece of heatshrink the good thick suff and they don't get caught on things and they look slick
Invaluable video for me to save time building my at home cart!
I used a 1 drawer, open top cart from Harbor Freight. I keep sockets, ratchet, etc in the top. It only takes up 1/2 of it or so. I have trays for extensions. Trays for some hand tools like pliers and channel locks. I have Harbor Freight hangers off the end, one which holds cans and screw drivers and the other which is a tray and screw driver. An impact gun hanger on the back. I have 3 sets of box wrenches in the drawer, along with lug sockets, short breaker bar, zip lock bags.
One thing I will get to eventually is modifying the handles to go on the outside of the cart and drilling holes inside the car to drop long things through.
The other stuff stays in my tool box generally.
Grandpa gave me a few of his tools. They were..."well used" to the point of failure in some cases. Love him dearly, but he used a hammer more than he should have. I started with the cheapest that the clearance aisle had to offer and went from there. Upgraded when necessary, or when a job needed something I didn't yet have, but I've maintained my own vehicles very well and helped my friends and family with theirs a bunch. Sometimes "you get what you pay for", but sometimes you get lucky.
This is amazing thank you Charles. I appreciate the links to your Google Docs tool list, I have mostly everything I need but the pliers for the hose clamps are on my list, and a set of M12 Milwaukee tools are on my list now. Thank you.
Here's some that I've collected from watching videos of other people's toolboxes :) Use these pretty often
30 & 80 degree clip pliers
Extra-Long magnetic hex bit holder
Hose remover pliers (jaws open up, pushing hose out; less damage compared to using a hose pick or pliers with the rounded end)
Flexible wire long reach hose clamp pliers (for those big intake clips)
Straight & angled electrical disconnect pliers
Terminal connector separator/removal tool (hooks on each end)
Battery carrier
Bull horn pry bar adapter (turns your 1/2 ratchet into an indexing pry bar)
Brake caliper hanger (simple s-shaped iron)
Hose clamp pliers: Knipex 85 51 250 AF (locking), 85 51 250 C (non-locking). I have the locking version and are my favorite hose clamp pliers.
TOOL RECOMENDATION- Streamlight is hands down the best and those pen lights are awsome! That being said, I actually recommend the O'Light Arkfeld pro instead for new and experienced technicians. The reason for that is, they are 100 bucks, rechargable, and have three lights in one. It has a light, laser pointer, and blacklight for leak detection. You should look into one to try and see how you like it.
I made some socket trays that are similar to those ones . I had no idea a company is actually making them like that.
I like the Astro Pneumatic lights. I splurged on a pair of the magnetic/inductive charging lights.
Thanks Charles - have a great Christmas 😁
The westling socket organizers are the best, no other option. They aren’t the cheapest but not the most expensive either, 100% made in the USA also.
I love them! Its a tough pill to swallow but they are outstanding
I've been using the Ares socket rails for a while now - they're easily customizable, the sockets are very secure, not crazy expensive.
Pretty sure they're not US made, but 🤷♂️
Im more of a vim rail guy myself
100% agree with Westling
VIM Mag Rails are the other option that matches Westling.
Some tools that have saved me A LOT of headache on VAG and others:
1. Extended hose clamp pliars. They reach like 30 inches and can make hard-to-reach clamps a breeze! They lock and hold the clamp. $40
2. Porter Cable 7424XP buffer. Not only useful for detailers but for mechanics as well. If you or a tech scuff a car or want to clear up some headlamps, this is invaluable! $130
3. Quality screw extractor and drill bit kit.
4. Quality solder pen.
5. Blue tooth OBD dongle ELM 327. With the Torque App, I can see countless data PIDs like turbo PSI, trans temp, pre/post catalyst temp, rail pressure, and so on. It's not a snap on Verus, but you can see 95% of what it does. An absolute must for the hobbyist. $8 bucks
Not quite a tool cart tool item, but a bench grinder. I've modified countless tools to make them work. One even better is a used MIG. Sacrificing a tool has saved my bacon countless times.
Lastly, I'll stress the importance of QUALITY torx & triple square. Cheap ones tend to deform easily. Pittsburg is probably a no-go on these. Keep to cheapo's in your trunk toolbox.
Lastly, many large names like Matco have their generic brand. The tools are the same while being a third of the price. I scored a 3/8s ratchet set for $230 from Silver Eagle (Matco) and it did 80% of my wrenching as a new tech. Gearwrench is also amazing. A tool reviewer ranked them agaist top brands to cheap brands and it beat most, including snap on in nearly every metric. The link here: ua-cam.com/video/thLm3y3HjYI/v-deo.htmlsi=xvtdy_tkGAuM1Ar1
Harlequin magnetic trays! Great set up Charles!
They are so good. Sadly they are discontinued:(
Love these videos. it's been a massive help in building my boxes. Thanks Charles! Merry Christmas & Happy new year to you & your family!
thanks for sharing, i use the digital torque wrench adaptor its small and fits on any ratchet or breaker bar. also the mini 1/4" hex ratchet driver is great for tight spaces.
9:41 I have the exact same screwdriver except the 8" version maybe. I got it to take apart a subwoofer cabinet in about 2003 and have been using it ever sense.
i love these videos thank you for this gift!
Nice job Charles. These are also must have for anyone who owns an out of warranty VAG product. 😂😂😂
Great vid! For a tool recommendation, I’d add the Icon 1/2 Inch Digital Torque Wrench from HF. It’s super accurate, less than half the price of a comparable Snap On, and (most importantly) has a lifetime warranty. Even as a simple DIY’er/ enthusiast it’s been an invaluable part of my set up.
Merry Christmas!
Edit to add: I’m in on those branded pocket screwdrivers too.
Great video! Although I mainly work on older Corvettes I do have a couple of VWs and Audis so I’m interested in what I might need.
10:40 Charles does a pen flip with a mk4 seat spring and it’s the first time I’ve seen anyone else besides me do that outside of high school 10+ years ago. Had to share, love the content, carry on 🖊️ 🫰
Hahaha Ray and I were joking about how many clips exist of me flipping things like that without even realizing it. You’ll notice I did it with the pliers tray 🤣
one of my favorite tools is actually a VW "specialty tool". 80-200 is the tool nr and not really that expensive either, last time I ordered one for my toolbox at work was around 300 Swedish krona which would be like 25usd or something, easily the best small pry tool I have used. just requires you to be a little careful when using since it is metal and pretty thin so quite easy to scratch things if you are not careful about that.
17:10 I have a great set of hose clamp pliers from amazon for $30 or $40. Several different ones. Swivel cups, fixed cup, remote/cable, offset, and a 180 degree pick to pull hoses off.
I'm a backyard mechanic or a do it yourself, at least for the stuff where I know what I'm doing. But you just created for me a list of new tools to look for. You should added in places like auto swap meets, you can find some quality tools there at reasonable price. I found all my gearwrench tools at them.
Charles, you have a lot of tools. Wow! I'm jealous. I would love to see a toolbox tour of all your boxes. Btw I love the 2 26 inch us general boxes you got. I have the same boxes but in blue. There really good tool boxes. 😎 Love the tool vids. Keep em coming! 👍
Thanks!!! I will say be careful on overloading the drawers. The right box, bottom drawer is broke because I overloaded her hahah
I don't have mine overloaded. I try to distribute the weight in them. I wonder if you can upgrade the slides on them with better ones?
Love these tool vids man. You should grab the #2 and 3 Vessel Impacta JIS screwdrivers. I bought mine for working on my motorcycle and found that they work awesome on regular philps head screws that are not totally fubar'd. If there's anything left in the head to grab they'll get it.
Great video. I would love to see a toolbox tour of the ICON.
16:00 I use those for hose clamp on Subaru the Groves help grab the tabs both face on and 90°
VIM DD2 Ratchet crows foot is a life saver
Merry xmas! It gives me lots of idea for building my next cart setup, also a vw tech 👍🏼
I love pawn shops recently found snap on pneumatic coolant pressure tester for 100 and a 1/2 Techangle for 240
Please elaborate on the seam rippers
Very nice tools boxes mate looking good 😂😢😮😅
Thank you so much for this info. This made my holiday.! I'm trying to fix a coolant leak from the oil coolant box on my TDI 3 L Audi, but I'm intimidated moving the intake manifold just seems like a real b**
Harbor Freight has become the new Sears to me. I have collected a lot of Craftsman tools for the last 35-40 years. I was wanting a full 1/4 and 1/2 socket set. Bought the middle line Quinn sets on sale. They are working out nicely. I splurged in some Icon long Allen sockets. I have a pair of Knipex locking hose clamp pliers. However, the locking mechanism kinda gets in the way sometimes.
Charles! Awesome video it’s super cool to compare what I have used to DIY and what compares to a tried and true professional! You mentioned you 3D printed the pen holder and it looked like you also printed the plier holder. I would love to see a video with your thoughts about how a 3D printer is useful in the shop and how/if you use it in your builds or day to day! Just another idea of something you can show your setup or share your thoughts
Hose clamp pliers, knipex makes a good version.
Really like this videos man keep it up
Mayhew offers a USA made triple square set for about $35-40. Good product and great value
Every tech should specialise in a make of car. I only have one 12mm spanner, every set of spanner and sockets has the 12mm thrown out.
Just one is kept because that's the adjuster nut size on the Malpassi fuel pressure regulators.
Thank you sir, you are the greatest. What a rockstar!
HM Pocket Screwdrivers!!! Let's go! I will buy multiple for myself and as gifts. Also... Merch bro. Hats, stickers, shirts.
Thanks for another great video Charles. 2 questions, I looked on that list you linked and didn’t see the Cornwell pliers or the Knipex mid length needle nose. Do you have part numbers for them? Thanks and have a good new years.
Hell yea on the pocket screwdrivers. I’d buy a dozen to give as gifts to other VAG enthusiast!
Big fan ! Could you potentially do a video or the rear main seal/flange on a TSI ?
Well done lad!
Happy holidays!🎅🎁🎄🎊
If a tech is hurting for a budget storage option, I’ve had good luck with taking empty oil and coolant bottles, cutting the bottom of the jug to height so it fits in my drawer of choice, and clean it out. You end up with a “free” storage tray for whatever you can fit in there.
CDI torque wrenches are the same as Snap On for 1/3rd the price. They literally say “Snap On” on them
I Almost have the same in my vw cart, I also have tha Milwaukee M12 right angle die grinder, with a wire wheel that's my favorite after the M12 impact, I also have the electric rachet, but it is still almost new, never really used it..
Charles, Terrific Content! Huge Thanks! No flare nut wrenches? Mine are Craftsman & Craftsman Pro, very reasonable $. Finally, All Hail John Fluke Mfg.!
There is also Koken that makes a 3/8 ratchet in a 1/4 ratchet body,they make good ratchets as well.They also make great extension bars whom was first for the wobble plus extension bars before Snap On before Snap On came out with them. Grey Pnuematic is a great alternative for the impact sockets and impact swivel sockets if you do not want to spend the Snap On prices
I really need to get some of their tool. I hear great things.
I use Dewalt but yeah my impact is my most used tool too, Merry Christmas!
After working on my first vw, a turbo replacement on a 2.0tsi cc with everything going wrong. My favorite tool was about to be a can of gas and a blowtorch.
Ahh.. the blue wrench.
Great video! Keep up the great work!
You are the main reason I bought my first Volkswagen!
It's a 2024 Golf GTI. I love it but had a ton of issues with it. Mainly coding and module relearn. (Warranty replacement of parts)
Will the TOPDON Scanner Diagnostic Tool help me with my relearn s and other coding issues? I already have an OBD11 but I feel it's limited. They dealer network near me is subpar.
Thank you,
Nathan
Would love a shop chemical video!
Anyone looking for good quality sockets, i would go with tekton. They also make nice wrenches. I dont like everything they make, but those 2 are amazing. Also the rewards program they have is also nice.
Tekton also has the 3/8 in 1/4 body.
What brand is the screwdriver holder
Merry Xmas 🎄
1/4” wrench might be for using bits in tight spaces.
We want those mini Humble Mechanic screwdrivers 🙏
do you have any experience with koken z series sockets since they are super shallow? or any of the koken smaller ratchets? I am going to be working on a newer porsche 911 soon and looking to get a jump on my tool collection.. I know space is TIGHT