Recommended Tool Gifts for Christmas

Are you looking for some Christmas gift ideas related to an affordable tool or two for the DIY mechanic? Look no further with two recommendations I use that some DIY car maintenance and repair mechanics don’t have in their toolbox only because they may not know that there are affordable tool options to upgrade their garage with.

DIY Your Spark Plugs and Save Money

In an earlier article we learned how to properly change the spark plugs on a 2016 Toyota Corolla that is applicable to many other makes and models. The value of the article lay in two videos that complimented each other toward learning good technique, the proper tools needed, and filled-in a couple of omissions.

This value extends even further when you consider that something as simple (usually) as changing your own spark plugs can save you as much as a few hundred dollars.

However, there is another value you should consider if your goal is that to save money: the price and value of tools today.

Tools Have Changed…Some for the Better, Some for the Worse

Back in the day when you were a kid, your old man likely did a lot of the family car maintenance and repair. And, likely as not, there’s a good chance all of his tools were Craftsman brand because Sears was still a major shopping venue back then and was well stocked with most of the Craftsman brand tools a home garage needed.

However, times have changed. Sears is gone and Craftsman tools are now relegated to home improvement stores like Lowes and ACE Hardware---but are not nearly as well stocked. Furthermore, that lifetime/replacement guarantee disappeared once the new retailers of Craftsman tools began to refuse broken tool replacements unless they carried exactly the same tool as sold when Sears was still around.

I know because I’ve tried with no success.

Harbor Freight tools on the other hand are becoming a more familiar name than Craftsman. And what is remarkable is that the name recognition and its garage cred is changing from a purveyor of cheap Chinese tools that break, to cheap Chinese tools that are getting better in quality while priced competitively against similar quality high-priced tool brands.

Although I do still own quite a number of Craftsman tools I bought 40 years ago, the tools in my tool chests are more populated by other brands, half of which come from Harbor Freight shopping the past few years.

Which brings to the point of this topic: useful tools that are affordable and make great gifts for DIY home mechanics.

Affordable Great Gift Tools for Spark Plug Changing

In the aforementioned article, links were provided of examples of the tools needed for changing your spark plugs. In today’s article, I will point to two that I recently bought: A boxed set of spark plug sockets that will cover pretty much whatever make and model you own; and, an inexpensive way to turn a ratchet into a torque wrench to help you avoid overtightening your spark plugs and wind up stripping the threads in that aluminum engine.

Recommended Tool #1: Quinn 14-Piece Spark Plug Set

While you only really need one specific size spark plug socket for your car, it’s nice to have on hand a complete set of varying metric and SAE sizes in case you switch makes of cars over time and/or like to help others (like family members) with their basic car maintenance and repair.

The benefits aside from the size variety is that they come with rubber inserts to protect the spark plug; some come in flex-style design to help access difficult-to-reach spark plugs; and, some are extra deep to reach into deep recessed wells.

Another nice feature is the inclusion of a 3-inch, 6-inch, and 10-inch extension bar.

But better yet is the price of $69.99 that has been pretty consistent this year. However, a Christmas 20% off Quinn tool coupon makes it an even better deal that cannot be beat.

Here’s a tool review of the Quinn 14-Piece Spark Plug Set:

Is THE Harbor Freight Quinn Spark Plug Socket Set A SEMA Drop?

Recommended Tool #2: Quinn Digital Torque Adapter 3/8” Drive

As discussed in an earlier article, you can “feel” a torque that is close enough to get the job done. However, until your hands have learned “the feel” you are at risk of overtightening your spark plugs and risk damaging the spark plug hole threads---an expensive goof or other spark plug related problem.

Good quality toque wrenches are expensive. And if you do engine repairs, you will need at least three sizes of torque wrenches that offer not just a range of torque values covered but also provide enough length to give you the lever advantage you need.

Fortunately, however, if it’s just spark plugs, oil pan, valve covers, etc. that require only a few ft. lbs. of torque and a small lever advantage, you can get by with just one torque wrench. Unfortunately, even a small torque wrench of good quality is still pretty expensive and outside of most DIY budgets…until now.

The Quinn Digital Torque Adapter is an innovative solution to the expensive torque wrench that comes in a small package that can be used with an ordinary ratchets and sockets. According to the Harbor Freight website:

Convert any 3/8 in. drive ratchet or breaker bar into a precision torque wrench with this digital display torque adapter. Three LED indicator lights and a progressive audio notification alert the user when desired torque value is reached.

According to the products specs, it offers:

• High quality display for easy measurement readings
• Memory function records last 50 torque readings
• Easy-to-read digital display provides measurements in ft. lbs., N-m, kg-m
• Accurate within +/- 2% clockwise and counterclockwise
• Torque range: 5.9-59 ft. lb.

Current pricing is a meager (in comparison to a dedicated torque wrench) $39.99. Use a 20% HF coupon and it’s crazy not to own one.

For a review of how well it works, here is an informative video:

Quinn Gen 2 Torque Adapter Testing

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: 10 Cheap Cars That CR Recommends Update

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