Hamish,
I don't know about New Zealand but here in the States, the best hand tools
are Sears Craftsman as they are guarnteed for life. If you break a socket
take it back and they will give you a new one. If you use your screwdriver
for a pry bar (not reccomended) and break off the tip, take it back and
they will give you a new one.
Hope this helps,
Jim V.
At 04:56 PM 8/16/98 +1200, you wrote:
>
>I'm about to start some serious car restoration work (as opposed to
>tinkering out on the driveway). I have an adequately sized space
>in a garage in which to work, which is a new experience. I have
>a reasonable amount of experience in what I want to do in the
>restoration but almost no experience of decent surrounds in which to
>do the work.
>
>I need to go from garage corner to workshop suited to various
>restoration tasks - welding, mechanical repair, dismantling and
>reassembly. I'm looking for any advice or tips on how to go about
>setting up a workshop - have not been able to find any good info
>in the library (any pointers to suitable books appreciated).
>
>- workbenches - I want to build one from angle/box iron as an initial
>project. Any advice (size/shape/surface material/plans/etc)?
>- air tools - what size compressor is needed to run drills/grinders
>without having to wait for the compressor all the time.
>- any advice about converting the empty space into a suitable area.
>- Tools. (Sockets, screwdrivers, panelwork, air/electric tools etc).
>What are some names of "can't go wrong if you buy this" brands. I'm
>tired of cheap sockets that wear out in a few months, especially ones
>that look the part but aren't.
>- Hand tool storage - what is a good way to store various tools.
>- Gas welding - I have done some gas welding, but if I want to go into
>a shop and buy a complete setup for doing automotive panels and some
>box tube/angle iron construction what do I need to ask for and what
>would a good setup cost.
>- Spot welding - For the restoration I am doing a dedicated spot welder
>is appropriate (I have researched this). What are good brands/prices/
>duty cycle. Home wiring here in New Zealand is 240V at 10 amps - is
>this sufficient?
>
>Even if you only want to answer a couple of these please send me
>an e-mail as it will go a long way to relieving my ignorance :-)
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Hamish
>
>--
>Mini Cooper Web: http://www.mini.org/minirestoration/CooperWeb.html
>Mini FAQ: http://www.mini.org/minirestoration/Technical/TechFAQ.html
>
>
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