Essential tools/equipment

Theoretical question:

Let's say that you were to have a garage with unlimited space, and you wanted to buy tools, equipment, cabinets, benches, etc etc etc. Start from scratch.

Keeping an eye on the dollar, what would you put in your garage?

A FLAT smooth floor. No doubt.

Let's say it's already got that, and you've got about 1000 sq ft to work with.

Good box with quality hand tools
Floor jack
Jack stands
Engine hoist
Engine stand (or two)
Shop press
Drill press
Work Bench with a good vise

Anything to add from there? Again, keeping an eye on the dollar, and assuming that the person in question has no aspirations to open a full service shop or anything.

Air compressor, air hose, basic air tool set (30-50 gal range will do most basic jobs around a shop and save your hands alot of pain)

Mig welder, opens up lots of possibilities, again, something simple and not crazy $$$

Epoxy floor coating, cleanup spills = easy

Other than that I'm missing shop press, drill press and bench + vice but I get by, though a press would be really nice for all the suspension stuff I fiddle with on the racecar...

A lift - I'm tired of crawling around on the ground. Lots of lights, good heater/ventilation, laptop. For storage, I just do some racks out of 2x4s and plywood. Use plastic storage containers for parts. Maybe a metal welding table. Metal working tools - english wheel, brake, roller, shot bag and stand, lathe/mill. I've pretty much got about all the mechanical stuff I need, welder, drill press, tube bender. Last year I bought a big stainless tool chest. A garden shed, so I can get all the lawn care crap out of the way.

oldtin wrote: A lift - I'm tired of crawling around on the ground. Lots of lights, good heater/ventilation, laptop. For storage, I just do some racks out of 2x4s and plywood. Use plastic storage containers for parts. Maybe a metal welding table. Metal working tools - english wheel, brake, roller, shot bag and stand, lathe/mill. I've pretty much got about all the mechanical stuff I need, welder, drill press, tube bender. Last year I bought a big stainless tool chest. A garden shed, so I can get all the lawn care crap out of the way.

You sound like you're quite a bit farther along both in experience and money than i am.

A small mill like a 6" Atlas-Clausing or even a smaller HF is SO HANDY that I would never want to be without one.

Raze wrote: Air compressor, air hose, basic air tool set (30-50 gal range will do most basic jobs around a shop and save your hands alot of pain) Mig welder, opens up lots of possibilities, again, something simple and not crazy $$$ Epoxy floor coating, cleanup spills = easy Other than that I'm missing shop press, drill press and bench + vice but I get by, though a press would be really nice for all the suspension stuff I fiddle with on the racecar...

Is epoxy coating different than some of those roll-on sealer deals? I've heard that the roll on stuff can and will delaminate if anything heavy is dropped on it, and they don't like casters with weight on them. IE: Loaded engine stand, hoist, etc etc etc.

In reply to 93celicaGT2: Quality air compressor. Once you've used an air rachet, why you'll see rainbows, birds will chirp, and your arms will scream at you why didn't you get ne before now? I'd put the air compressor above the shop press. Add Quality lightning with lots of outlets with enough amperage to back up the power needs. Welder of some type--even a cheapy to tack weld items until you bring the item to a quality welder/or have him visit your shop. Heavy duty, weight bearing, selft-standing shelves bolted to the floor and wall. Lockage cabinet. Fire-proof/resistant pail for oily rags. Battery charger with boost ability. 1/2 " capacity drill. 41/2" hand grinder. Search out yard sales, ebay, this site, pawn shops (!) for quality stuff at low bucks. Keep in mind you can buy harbor freight quality tools that are non-critical, not used much. My brake bleader pump, for example. I might use it twice a year. Stuff you'll use often (sockets--expecially impact socket, don't go cheap. They will let you down just when you need them the most (like watching a 10mm open end wrench become a 12 mm wrench while loosening a bolt. Timing light, and a QUALITY multimeter. Hard to beat Fluke brand.

Finally, reference books. A good shop manual for whatever you're working on. ANd Do NOt sell it or throw it away when you're done with the project. Never know when "that" car will creep back into your life. Plus some general bookson auto repair techniqes. Then, practice, ask questions, proceed, and learn. I don't know what you're experience level is, but, I hope this is of help without insulting. Sorry for the length. --Bob

Miller AC/DC TIG & MIG units
Tubing bender with rack full of dies
A Bridgeport with tooling
A lathe with a 40" bed and tooling
Metal chop type bandsaw with cooling
Metal upright band/jig saw
Sheet Brake
Forming equip (Planish hammer... shrinkers, etc)
A big press
Large parts wash cabinet
A 2 post lift
Chassis rotisserie
Computer with a printer, good speakers and an iPod dock for tunes.
100k BTU heater
Bigass AC unit

93celicaGT2 wrote:

Raze wrote: Air compressor, air hose, basic air tool set (30-50 gal range will do most basic jobs around a shop and save your hands alot of pain) Mig welder, opens up lots of possibilities, again, something simple and not crazy $$$ Epoxy floor coating, cleanup spills = easy Other than that I'm missing shop press, drill press and bench + vice but I get by, though a press would be really nice for all the suspension stuff I fiddle with on the racecar...

Is epoxy coating different than some of those roll-on sealer deals? I've heard that the roll on stuff can and will delaminate if anything heavy is dropped on it, and they don't like casters with weight on them. IE: Loaded engine stand, hoist, etc etc etc.

there's just different types, stages, etc. I have cheap single stage stuff down on mine (put by PO) and the tire spots had delaminated it looked like multiple times so i scuffed them up and repainted this weekend, and both the race car and truck have been sitting on them after only 12 hours of dry time (it says to wait a week) and no delamination. I think it's really all in the surface prep. the spots where it had delaminated the concrete was smooth and polished, which means they never bohtered to use etching primer or scuff it up. I've had no problems with my engine hoist, rolling toolchest, air compressor, or any other heavy object or tires delaminating the stuff, and it was the right price (free cause there was an extra gal of it in the basement when i bought the house). There are 2 stage epoxys that are really tough stuff by comparison, but i think the biggest bonus after cleanups is being able to see nuts and bolts and stuff you drop easily...

Stock in your preferred manufacturer for 10mm sockets.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: That's a hell of an impressive shop you own there.

triumph5 wrote: In reply to 93celicaGT2: Quality air compressor. Once you've used an air rachet, why you'll see rainbows, birds will chirp, and your arms will scream at you why didn't you get ne before now? I'd put the air compressor above the shop press. Add Quality lightning with lots of outlets with enough amperage to back up the power needs. Welder of some type--even a cheapy to tack weld items until you bring the item to a quality welder/or have him visit your shop. Heavy duty, weight bearing, selft-standing shelves bolted to the floor and wall. Lockage cabinet. Fire-proof/resistant pail for oily rags. Battery charger with boost ability. 1/2 " capacity drill. 41/2" hand grinder. Search out yard sales, ebay, this site, pawn shops (!) for quality stuff at low bucks. Keep in mind you can buy harbor freight quality tools that are non-critical, not used much. My brake bleader pump, for example. I might use it twice a year. Stuff you'll use often (sockets--expecially impact socket, don't go cheap. They will let you down just when you need them the most (like watching a 10mm open end wrench become a 12 mm wrench while loosening a bolt. Timing light, and a QUALITY multimeter. Hard to beat Fluke brand. Finally, reference books. A good shop manual for whatever you're working on. ANd Do NOt sell it or throw it away when you're done with the project. Never know when "that" car will creep back into your life. Plus some general bookson auto repair techniqes. Then, practice, ask questions, proceed, and learn. I don't know what you're experience level is, but, I hope this is of help without insulting. Sorry for the length. --Bob

Nope, that was good.

Air compressor should have been on my first list for sure.

I don't need any major metal working stuff, i don't have the knowledge to make use of it, and the most extensive work i'd be doing would be taking a solid rust free Celica and dumping a new motor in it, and rebuilding the suspension again.

mndsm wrote: Stock in your preferred manufacturer for 10mm sockets.

Sage advise, there.

radiant heat in the floor!!! 4 post storage lift and a 2 post work lift.

pretty much everything has been covered as far as I can see except for media blaster and a hammock

Pallet racking. Everyone underestimates the value of quality storage. Get some that goes to the ceiling (I hope you have a high ceiling in your shop/garage), and get a ladder. Heavy stuff on bottom (use your engine crane to lift engine blocks, etc off the floor) and light stuff up top.

My dad recently built a 3,900 square foot garage in Ohio, heated and drywalled. He bought used pallet racks, which weren't necessarily cheap, but have been invaluable.

In his garage, he installed a high-capacity exhaust fan (in one of three sections). This helps with painting, obviously, but also blows out exhaust fumes and helps cool the place.

His other "must have" is the four-post lift that has casters. He can move it from bay-to-bay, which helps it stay out of the way. Believe it or not, his 3,900 sq ft garage gets cramped at times.

2 stage air compressor, doesn't matter on tank size. Once you have one of those, you will wonder why you even dealt with a crappy single stage that runs ALL the time. I happen to have an old, circa 1979, Craftsman 20 gal, 2 stage, 240V portable compressor deal. Takes 3 min to fill up and at least 20 to empty running something that whole time. Plus if need be, I can jack the pressure to 175psi if I have a really stubborn nut to loosen.

As much as I would classify a lift as a must have, I'd rather have a quality compressor over a lift.

I would also get a small lathe and a combo mill/drill press.

Brian

Good lighting is critical, epoxy floor is a very good idea (I used the Costco stuff and love it), these two things will make all your tools work better...because it allows you to work better.

Obviously besides a complete set of sockets and wrenches the next most important thing is a good compressor and air tools...an impact gun at the very least. I've saved countless hours since I got my air tools.

After that, a lift is a WONDERFUL thing! I was spoiled when my friend had lifts at work. It makes the mundane jobs like exhaust replacement ridiculously easy and hard jobs doable.

definately air, and plumb the garage so you have overhead pulldown hoses that aren't all over the floor tripping you.

Storage, a couple work benches, and more storage.

Air compressors are great because air tools are cheaper than the electric equivelent. Get a decent one, though. If nothing else, a cheap oilless jobby will drive you insane with the noise.

Also, get a load leveler for your engine hoist. I don't know how I lived without one.

triumph5 wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: That's a hell of an impressive shop you own there.

THat is my theoretical shop. My real shop is a mish-mash of crap loosely cobbled together from other people's yard sales. That is how I know how it SHOULD be. Someday...

after the prerequisite reasonably normal stuff i.e. hand tools, air compressor, jack/stands, etc.

-my stage 1 stuff: -220v electrical. opens up lots more tool options. especially nicer compressors and welders. -good heavy workbench/vise -oxy/acetylene torch with multiple tips -nice big slop sink -engine crane/leveler/stands -MIG welder -excellent lighting

--my stage 2 stuff: -LIFT LIFT LIFT -TIG welder -floor press -parts washer tank -tire mounting machine -plasma torch -drill press -12" sanding/grinding wheel -tubing bender and notcher -bench grinder/wire wheel -corner balancing scales

-my stage 3 stuff: -biggest used bead blaster i can find -nice used metal lathe -metal brake and shear -upright band saw -chop band saw -small milling machine