TOOLING ALONG

Any automotive restoration work generally requires a lot of tools and specialized machines. None of them are cheap. With one or two exceptions what was utilized for this restoration was home hand tools. The following is a list of what was used to restore the 1956 DeSoto Seville 2 door hardtop. There were NO highly specialized or professional body or mechanic power tools, hoists etc. There were some unorthodox and or creative uses of  things found around a house as will described and seen in later posts.

Three (3) large cottage cheese cartons full of 6 and 12 point sockets cleaned, sorted and sized to form a set of 1/2" sockets from 3/8" to  1 1/8" inch found at auction at a farm implement shop for $5.00
Craftsman 1/2" drive socket wrench
Several sets of 3/8" socket sets from K Mart and Craftsman
1 Milwaukee 4 1/2" hand held grinder/cut-off
About a 10 or 12 Harbor Freight 4 1/2"  hand grinders @ about $8.00 ea- They were half of the total price of  the Milwaukee, ran just as well but had to change the brushes: run 'em 'til they are toast
2 1/2 Ton Collapsible shop crane/engine hoist
Miller Portable MIG welder
Air compressor
Air Chisel
Machete from Harbor Freight
Stanley Open/Box wrench set from 3/8" to 1 1/4"
Long Frame 3 Ton floor jack
Home made Car Rotisserie
Sharp spray gum
DeVilbiss Finishline HVLP spray gun
Harbor Freight 2 spray gun HVLP set
Miscellaneous screw drivers
Hand impact breaker
Various ball peen hammers
Borrowed oxygen-acetylene torch set
one hand carved log
8 lb sledge hammer
Concrete blocks
Probably 10 dozen Harbor Freight 4 1/2"  metal cut-off wheels
Probably   5 dozen Harbor Freight 4 1/2" metal grinding wheels        
6" bench vice
2 Black & Decker Workmates
Lawn furniture
Collapsible/folding ladder
Picnic table
18" Bending Brake