right i'm gonna chuck my oar in....
whats your budget?their is no point me saying buy a £400 set of sockets if you can only afford a £80 halfords ones
but basic hand tools are a must,
Decent screw drivers, i see far to many screws that have been butchered by people using cheap screwdrivers, i have a set of cheap screwdrivers that i use when deliberately butchering stuff... or opening stuff you should budget about £50 for a decent set of screwdrivers
Spanners starting off with just a normal metric combination spanner set (ring one end and open the other) i like ones with a slight offset budget £100 for spanners that won't take your fingers off and will grip the fastener correctly you want to go from about 6mm up to at least 19mm and then buy the larger sizes individually (you can go upto 105mm in laser but its about £400+vat )
Sockets,
1/2" drive should take you up from 10mm to 32mm, 6 sided wall drive (although you will need some 12 sided 14mm for instance)
3/8" drive should go from 8mm up to about 22 or 24 mm, again 6 sided wall drive
1/4" drive from 4 or 5mm up to about 14mm , 6 side wall drive
all the above should be in normal short sockets, plus 3/8" and 1/4" will need to be in deep (some 1/2" too)
also i find torx and allan bits are better in socket form rather than in 'driver/key form
Socket accessories,
ratchets, extensions(various sizes) and universal joints for all of the above, plus breaker/power bar for 1/2"
torque wrenches, 1/2" that goes from about 40nm - 200nm should see you good on most jobs don't forget they need calibrating once a year
Hammers and striking implements
a medium ball pein hammer will get you a long way, you may find it not suitable for all jobs though, supplement it with a large ball pein hammer, a copper/hide hammer and a club hammer (a dead blow hammer is also a good idea)
cold chisels and punches various..... don't get the real cheap ones as they can shatter
Larger items
trolley jack, go for the best one you can afford avoid the cheap crap peddled on eblag and hobby ones they are not really upto the job! a standard chassis workshop one is best (value of money wise)
axle stands, same as the jack avoid the **** ones!!! nobody wants to see ' crushed under landrover in the obituaries '
angle grinder 4,1/2" with a selection of cutting and grinding discs
safety items,
eye protection!!!!!!!! weather its goggles or the skydiver/sunglasses type for the £10 they cost they can not only save you some pain or your sight i know someone who's life was saved by his!!(if you don't think its possible let me know and i will tell yer the story)
gloves, examination type and thick rigger glove type
overalls, they don't just keep you clean they protect you too
OH AND FINALLY
a radio to keep you company while you while away the hours replacing bits you have broken
