What gifts make car life easier?

"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes) 12/20/2016 at 16:37 • Filed to: None

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What would you buy for someone who is a car nut? For me one thing would be cordless impact tools.

You charge em and then slap on some socket and can remove bolts in less than a second. It makes working on things so much more pleasurable and fast I cry a little every time I have to use ratchets. I need to get one like below so I cry less.

Up next would be gloves. All the kinds. Rubber. Leather .Work gloves. If the person be it you or someone else welds TIG gloves are great and make welds so much easier.

Rubber disposable gloves for protecting your hands from cancer and getting dirty and greasy. And even better make it easy to clean up when done. Raven by SAS safety work great for me.

For everything else mechanic gloves. I like this style because they are easy to take off when more dexterity is needed.

coveralls so you dont muck up your clothes.

TysMagic > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 16:40

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gloves, microfibers - tons and tons of microfibers, gojo, air compressor and air tools, ratcheting wrenches...the list goes on, a lot of what you’ve already got listed

S65 > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 16:40

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Engine oil that their car uses, or touch up paint in their colour, or a Jalopnik Gold membership

Frank Grimes > S65 12/20/2016 at 16:45

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Jalopnik gold makes a great stocking stuffer!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 16:45

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Counterargument to your first suggestion: the small impact drivers that are within most gift-giving budgets (generally one or other type of hex drive) are not that great for most auto-size fasteners (i.e. 10mm/ 3/8" shaft and bigger), and on anything smaller are easy to misuse. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great for driving screws and worth having (and gifting), but someone who doesn’t know how to apply enough tip pressure may just strip out all the Phillips on their door panel or whatever.

For bigger stuff, I recommend a corded 1/2 drive electric impact, and for the small stuff, I recommend a hand impact driver - i.e. for use with a hammer. Less to go wrong, harder to misuse, and a really good tool.

Chariotoflove > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 16:46

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I asked for a car jumper. I’ve been having some kind of problem with my RX-8 battery for several years now where the thing wears down at around 1.5 years. The warranty is 2 years; so, the dealer always replaces it at no cost and can’t find any evidence of an electrical drain. Still, the most recent stranding had me wishing for the jumper the AAA guy brought with him.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 16:48

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Free personal mechanic for life.

Pickup_man > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/20/2016 at 16:54

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I’ve got a 1/4" hex drive DeWalt with a 3/8" socket adapter and it’s amazing for things like motorcycles/3 wheelers/atvs/yard equipment, and works good for basic car stuff. Most Phillips screws really aren’t all that tight where a small impact will do any damage either, at least I’ve never had a problem.

Agree %100 on the bigger stuff, a 1/2" impact is definitely on my list.

Urambo Tauro > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 17:02

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Buying tools as gifts can be tricky. You need to know what’s already in their collection. Not just to avoid getting them something they already have, but for things like the cordless impact, where they might want it to use the same batteries as their drill.

If you’re not intimately familiar with the contents of their toolbox, it might be better to stick with consumable items like disposable gloves or towels. Or gift cards!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 17:07

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https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-1-2-in-Drive-Click-50-Foot-Lbs-to-250-Foot-Lbs-Torque-Wrench/3381202

Torque wrenches are the miata of tools, when someone says, “What should...” the answer is always torque wrench.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Pickup_man 12/20/2016 at 17:08

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I should acknowledge that my perspective is shaped by almost never working on anything less than 25 years old, so bringing a knife to a gun fight is not in my nature. That being said, there would be cars it’s good for, you’re right.

Pickup_man > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 12/20/2016 at 17:13

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Most of my wrenching is on a 17 year old truck from the rust belt, so I don’t even bother breaking it out when I’m working on that, but for my powersports toys which I’m constantly working on it’s a godsend. I opted for the hex drive instead of the 3/8" square because it’s really useful for screws, wood projects and such. So while I still think it’s an alright gift idea, if you’re working on anything other than powersports, just get the 1/2".

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > Chariotoflove 12/20/2016 at 17:13

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I use my car jumper mostly as smartphone/ iPad jumper, lithium technology rocks and I think it’s nice when products have more than one use

Chariotoflove > TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo 12/20/2016 at 17:22

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Gotta admit, I never would have thought of that.

Phatboyphil > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 18:11

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Unfortunately I’m the only wrencher among my family and friends :(

MonkeePuzzle > Frank Grimes 12/20/2016 at 20:01

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yes, cordless inpact is an excellent suggestion. just be sure its impact wrench (for sockets and such) not an impact driver which is more designed for screws

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > Chariotoflove 12/20/2016 at 20:11

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cluelessk > Chariotoflove 12/20/2016 at 22:44

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Lithium boosters don’t do well in the cold. Just keep that in mind.

Chariotoflove > cluelessk 12/21/2016 at 11:43

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Thanks.

Rykilla303 > Frank Grimes 12/21/2016 at 13:16

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craftsmen wobble extensions