The next few posts will cover a few bits of software I use on a regular basis. I'd like to think we're very productive for a small company and the reason for this is a combination of our experience, skills and the choice of tools which we use. No matter how much experience you have or how skilled you are, trying to repair an aston martin with a special offer pack of spanners from Homebase isn't going to get you very far. If we're going to run with the garage metaphor for a minute, your average cowboy garage will have just enough tools to hide the problems in your car so you think it's fixed. They aren't going to invest in a well equipped and clean workroom, the gaffer wants to keep all the money so he'll hire the guys noone else will have at the rates he can get away with. The staff have no motivation and, even if they wanted to do a good job, they wouldn't be given the time or the tools to manage it. Your next choice of where to take your beloved automobile is guy down the road who 'knows a bit about cars'. Faced with most simple problems, this guy will be able to point you in the right direction. Anything complicated and he'll scratch his head and you'll have wasted a day or so. Now it might be time to try the big boys. They've got big adverts and special offers and can get prices for things you wouldn't beleive. They can also manage most of the jobs you'd need handling but they do this by plugging your car into a big machine that tells them whats wrong and then tells them what to do. This is fine if you've got a Ford Focus or a Vauxhall Vectra but anything 'a bit special' and they'll refer you back to the manufacturer. What you need now is the specialist garage. These guys have worked on nearly every car going and they'll have the environment in which to manage the jobs they get. Custom tools that they've built to manage certain tasks. Skilled staff who have worked in the industry and have years of experience. They know how to organise their workplace and know which task requires which spanner (3/8" Whitworth for that custom end bearing, BSF tap and die for that stripped valve clip...). We're constantly building our custom tools and know where to find the ones already available. I hope you like the following posts, if you use any other extraordinary tools, I'll try to make a 'recommended' list.