Getting Started: Choosing Basic Tools

On-road RC racing cars are very sensitive to minor adjustments.  This means carefully building, maintaining and setting up your car is very important if you want it to perform at the highest level possible.

Your instruction manual will likely provide a list of recommended tools required for building the kit.  For most of these tools, you can get away with using whatever you have access to but, there are a few that are worth invest in high quality when you are able to.

Most Important Tools

1.5mm Hex Driver.  This will be used primarily for tightening your pinion gear screw.  This screw is small and the last thing you want to do is strip the screw from using a low quality or warn out tool.  Invest in a good quality 1.5mm hex driver and you won't regret it.

​2.0mm Hex Driver.  A 2mm hex driver is among the most used tool in EP touring cars.  Although the quality of this tool isn't quite as important as a good quality 1.5mm for your pinion gear, you'll be using this tool a lot and a good tool will help avoid stripping and/or damaging the screws on your fancy new RC car.
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7.0mm Nut Driver.  This is for your wheel nuts.  You're also going to use this one a lot.  The quality of this tools isn't quite as important as your hex drivers but, if you're shopping for tools and it's within your budget, consider getting a quality 7mm nut driver to match your other tools.

Brands

There are many good RC tool brands to choose from including Hudy, MIP, Arrowmax, MR33, Protec and many more.  You want to focus on quality and availability.  My favourite brand is HUDY due to their high quality and the fact that HUDY makes virtually every tool we need so it's easy to have a complete set.

Avoid

Avoid the temptation to buy the no-name brand online tools.  The "deal" may look too good to pass up but the frustration from stripping and damaging screws just isn't worth the hassle.  Buy fewer tools and focus on quality.

Replacement Tips

If you already have a set of tools with removable tips, you may be able to upgrade the tip to a Hudy.  This will be cheaper than buying a complete Hudy tool.  You can upgrade the tip of the most important tools and keep the others as-is for now.

Where to Buy

• Hunters Toys and Collectibles is your best local source for racing equipment.
• KaosHobbySport is owned by a fellow racer and ships throughout Canada.
• Tonisport in Germany are touring car specialists and have always treated me very well.
• AmainHobbies is always an option if you can't find what you need locally.

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