Classic Car Restoration Tools for Paint & Body Work

Completing vehicle refurbishment work yourself with auto restoration tools and supplies saves a lot of money that would be used to pay someone else to do the repair or replacement of parts. These savings will reduce the overall investment, or can be used for additional restoration parts or upgrades for your vehicle.

Using car restoration workshop equipment, tools, and supplies allows you to renovate your vehicle's looks, which can create a noticeable transformation, depending on the condition of your classic car before restoration. The investment in restoring your vehicle will also increase it's value, should you choose to sell it.

The first place to learn how to restore a car is either with books or videos that will provide knowledge on proper use of automotive restoration tools for your specific application. This can include online resources such as vehicle owner forums, websites with restoration instructions, and more. If there are local car clubs that are currently restoring a classic car, volunteering as well as asking to help or watch the process will provide a great foundation and deeper dive into learning how to restore a car as well.

The amount to budget for a car restoration depends on numerous factors. The first is the year, make, model, and vehicle. A classic car that is less popular or is rare generally will cost more to restore than vehicles that have a large aftermarket offering of components. Another factor is how much restoration is required for your vehicle. Making a list of all of the components that need repaired or replaced will allow you to create a total for your budget. Depending on the project, restoration can be meticulous, requiring everything to be replaced, rebuilt, or repaired, down to the last nut and bolt. Restoration can also cover only items with major damage, leaving components with a small amount of wear and tear alone. Car restoration tools also need to be factored into your budget, depending on what you already have and what you need. In the end, the budget will need to match your goals and definition of a restoration.

The answer to this question depends on which parts of the vehicle need restored. General auto body repair tools and equipment include a floor jack, air tools (like a die grinder and others) along with wrenches and sockets. Many car body restoration tools have specific functions they perform. This includes a rotisserie, which allows you to mount and rotate a body for easier access to all areas and a sheet metal brake, a tool that helps you replace damaged body areas by bending metal into the shape you need. Researching and planning each repair will help you to determine which tools you need.

The auto body restoration supplies needed for a classic car restoration is dependent on what work is required to reach the goal for the vehicle. Example auto body shop supplies can include surface conditioning discs, acetone and paint thinner, sandpaper, and paint. These supplies primarily are used to strip, clean, prep, and paint body surfaces to help restore them to "new" condition. Other supplies may be required, depending on your needs. Careful investigation and preparation will help you have everything you need.