Hey All,
I am starting my tool set from scratch for my new garage and I wanted to see what all you guys have and can't live with out. I have all of the small hand tools but lack the big robust shop tools needed for a good personal auto garage.

What kind of set ups do you guys have?

What tools can you not live with out?

And my biggest question; what would you recommend that I get for my next/FIRST big purchase?

I was thinking of an air compressor to power all of the air tools I am going to need, what do ya think?????!!!!

Ryan

 

Probably the single best purchase to date, aside from air and hand tools, was my parts washer. It has 1,000,001 uses and it puts an end to the dangerous pan of flammable fluids.

Stryder

 

Bench grinder with a wire wheel on it.
MIG welder
Set of torches with bottles
fridge full of beer.

 

Can't live without my drill press.

 

There are some other threads here on tools to start out with, check them out for more info!

I think the first tool I bought was a 5" vise to mount on my work bench. At the time I had already accumulated an assortment of hand tools. My second big tool was a good grinder with a wire wheel, number three was a good low speed drill press. I want a lathe now tho...

 

Lots of good lighting.preferable florescent

 

Sidewinder ratchets in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drives. Real labor saver!

 

a lift! it is wonderful not to have to crawl around on the floor. this "tool" to me is most important.

 

Awesome Guys!
I love hearing about all of your stuff! So how big of an air compressor would be good for my personal garage?

Ryan

 

Get one with the most CFM at 90psi that you can afford. Forget horsepower ratings....the small 5hp screw compressor in my shop makes over 20 cfm @100psi. A 60 gallon storage tank is more than adequate. If its too noisy, consider acoustic absorption panels and vinyl sound barrier (26-30 db block).

 

What would be least I should expect to pay for a good one at a reasonalbe cost? One that will get the job done but does not have the power to rip off the iffle tower at its base.

Ryan

 

Nice looking garage Ultgar, you did a lot with not a lot of room. I am going to try the same set up. Did you frame it all to fit so nice?
I like the overhead can lights.

Longneck

 

# 1 single best tool is the oxy-acetylene torch set. It has helped me loosen many nuts & bolts that I am sure my impact wrench would have struggled with or simply snapped off. Heat 'til it glows, let it cool, spray on some penetrating oil & spin it off. No sweat.

Compressor and air tools are #2. Spend more than you can afford on the compressor...

MIG welder and hydraulic press are tied for 3rd. MIG welder has a slight edge because a good MIG welder is less money than a good hydraulic press.

Nice garage, ULTGAR! It looks like it belongs in a brochure. I can only dream of that garage (for a few more years). My garage could only be a picture on the back page of the Demolition Times.

Cheers,
Eric

 

Ultgar do you use your garage? Its to darn clean!!! And I saw no projects in there. Anyways it looks very nice. Maybe I'll bend your ear about it sometime so I can build mine that nice.

Air tools are very nice. My favorite tool has to be my creeper stool. But a BFH is handy a lot of the time. Radio is a must.

One safety note, don't pound on things with your hands. I know enough people that have really bad wrists from using their hands as hammers.

Anyone seen that tv commercial where the dog brings that guy a wrench? I want a dog like that. "Duke I need a 7/16 deep socket with a 3 inch extension!"

 

The hand tools I use most are the 1/4" drive deep wells. Takes a lil more muscle to break stuff loose, but lot less to carry tools. And best is the big shop jack. 6000# truck on 39 dollar floor jack just takes too much work.

Dart