By Stephen M

While I'm sure most of our readers have a garage that would put an F1 team to shame, being a car guy inevitably means being broke from time to time. Being broke means having to improvise rather than call Snap-On. Here, then, are a few handy tools to have around the garage, many of which are already in your home.

1) Modeling clay (Play-Doh or silly putty will work as well)
A little dab will keep a nut in a socket at any angle, especially useful for those hard to reach studs. It won't mar a surface, but has enough adhesion to act as that much-needed third hand to hold a part in place or out of the way. It can also be used as a temporary bumper on finished surfaces when maneuvering in tight spaces (think starter replacement in newly painted engine bay). Lastly, it can be put in to service as a poor man's plastigauge. I wouldn't match main bearings with it, but you can find out where a given part is hanging up by coating the non-fitting side with a thin layer, test fitting it, and looking for impressions.

2) Aluminum foil
Great for crafting impromptu heat shields for valuable bits when soldering or using the little blue wrench. Also good for makeshift parts trays, though truth be told I prefer Chinet for that. Perhaps most useful for masking off engine compartments before painting. You can wrap throttle cables, wiring harnesses, and other painful-to-remove bits and spray away.

3) Laptop computer
If you're reading this, you're already well aware of the immense amount of automotive information available online. Countless How-To guides and community forums exist to guide you through just about any project. Consider, though, the advantages of having this wealth of knowledge literally at your finger tips. I wouldn't counsel buying one just for this purpose; rather, I'd suggest resigning yourself to the inevitable knicks, bumps, and oil stains and start dragging your existing laptop into the garage with you. Add a cheap webcam and you've got a poor man's boroscope.

4) LED Headlamp
For you, not the car. You can get an LED headlamp that will run for 100+ hours on a few AAs. Check the camping section of the local outdoor place. You can never have too much lighting, and it's nice to have light wherever you look, AND have both hands free.

5) Toaster oven
Great for drying/curing small parts, loosening stubborn sub-assemblies, and interference fits. Also good for softening/melting assorted bushings. Check with other household members before dedicating an oven to toxic chemicals, though. Nobody likes Pop Tarts that taste like crinkle finish.

6) Old heavy blanket / comforter
Concrete floors tend to be unkind to dropped lenses, bulbs, and well-aged bakelite. A thin layer of padding laid out under the work area can save a few curses, as well as a few aches and pains. Sockets tend to stay where dropped, too, rather than rolling off under the largest immovable object in the garage.

7) Cordless drill battery
Specifically, a 12 or 14.4 volt version. Great for trouble shooting automotive circuits, and should provide plenty of current to spot check a fuel pump or window motor. If you're feeling really ambitious and have an old reversible drill whose motor's gone south, you can cut it open and use the reversing switch to change polarity on the leads.

That's seven handy tools you already have in your house, if not in your garage.