What tools and equipment do you have in your garage that you could not live without and why? What tools and equipment would you add to your collection and why? I am looking for suggestions of hand tools, welders, blast cabinets, lifts etc... Please post picks and links if possible. Thanks Mike carcrazy455@yahoo.com
First of all plan the shop as big as you think you would need then double the size. You will need a complete set of hand tools, and an air compressor. A 4 post lift is nice for storage but a two post is better for working under the car. A good MIG welder is nice to have, a glass bead cabinet is great for removing corrosion. A good work bench with a vise is also a necessity. You will also need to find as Buicks as you can fit.
What tools and equipment do you have in your garage that you could not live without and why? My impact (IR 231) and my deepwell impact sockets (Craftsman) these aren't exactly necessary, but have made my life so much easier. Also a good floor jack (preferably an old cast iron one, not the chincy chinese ones), and four good 5 ton (at least) jackstands (again, the older ones, the tops are broader). What tools and equipment would you add to your collection and why? A ball joint installation tool. Used one the other day that my cousin stole from work. It worked so well I wondered why I ever used a press.
Do a search on this BBS, we've a long thread on this. Of course, pliers, BFH, and Duct Tape were the most popular items.
I just got a set of 16" channel locks at Sears. How many times have I had to grip something that regular plyers just wont do it.
I really like my ratcheting wrench set. Mine aren't reversible, but the reversible ones tend to have a thicker head on them. The beauty is in that they fit into small places and you don't have to remove them to keep turning!
The #1 thing to have a blasting cabnet it paid for it self the first time I used it. #2 is the flux core mig welder I got off E-bay
compressor & blast cabinet :TU: dont go cheap on the compressor.i got a devillbis from costco,10+ years ago.it worked fine untill i started doing bodywork.cant keep up with a DA,im beatin the snot out of it p
How much money do you have to spend. A lot of the stuff mentioned here already I haven't even got. Hows about a good oil filter wrench, an assortment of pullers, and a mechanics sthetescope. The last item, which is probably misspelled is invaluable when searching for that noise under the hood. Lastly don't go cheap, good tools will last forever, cheap tools you'll have to replace soon. If money were no object, I'd get a really good mechanic and a really good bodyman and give them an expense account!!! :laugh:
Regarding the stethescope, my uncle uses a long metal screwdriver with a wooden handle. The wood is two peices that rivet to the metal body. When the motor is running he puts the end of the screwdriver whereever he likes and he can hear the same things you can with the stethescope (works great on water pumps). He's been a mechanic for 50 + years, so I trust his word and I've also tried it. It does work. I've been looking for an all metal screwdriver for the longest time. Haven't turned one up yet. I can hear with the plastic ended ones, but not nearly as well as with the metal one.
Regarding the stethescope, my uncle uses a long metal screwdriver with a wooden handle. The wood is two peices that rivet to the metal body. When the motor is running he puts the end of the screwdriver whereever he likes, sticks his ear on the other end and he can hear the same things you can with the stethescope (works great on water pumps). He's been a mechanic for 50 + years, so I trust his word and I've also tried it. It does work. I've been looking for an all metal screwdriver for the longest time. Haven't turned one up yet. I can hear with the plastic ended ones, but not nearly as well as with the metal one.
My air compressor did literally pay for itself. Ages ago wife's car needed new macpherson struts. Rather than pay somebody else to do the work I used that money to buy the compressor and assorted tools. Did the job myself. Best tool investment I've ever made 'cuz now it's no problem for me to inflate the kid's basketball and soccer ball. :laugh: Really though, I use it for a "big" job 2 or 3 times a year. That's alot of jobs in 13 years.
The best tools The best thing I've got so far are my snap on cordless impact guns (1/2" and 3/8") and drill. Since my compressor is not hook up (I need to have a 220 outlet wired in the garage) I can still remove stuff very quickly. Great for taking off lug nuts, I did a brake job on a f250 dump truck with 1" lugs. The snap on cordless was able to remove all but one lug. That one had to lower truck down till weight was on ground. I bought them from a guy at work and some of the other workers were telling me I was pissing my money away buying that stuff, PLEASE, you know how much easier my life became. I would also say my engine hoist which although its not a frequently used tool has been great to have when I need it instead of renting one. Its also paid for itself from all the neighbors engine jobs that I have gotten paid to do. Allen allioop108@aol.com
This is all good stuff keep it coming. I already have most of the basic stuff like Craftsman hand tools, Ingersoll Rand compressor and IR2131 air gun, 4 post lift, engine hoist, engine stand, floor jack and stands. I am moving from a 1572 square foot garage to a new 3360 square foot garage and would like to add some specialty tools. I am thinking maybe a blast cabinet, tire machine, milling machine, lathe, drill press, welder or 2 post lift. I can not buy them all (I wish I could) so why should buy one over the other. Which tool will I get the most bang for the buck? What are some good brands and good places to purchase this equipment? Are those 3 in 1 machines (milling, drilling, lathe) any good or a waste of money? Thanks Mike carcrazy455@yahoo.com
Like you I have all the esential had tools, air tools etc... My parts wash sink is great before sending stuff into the blast cabinet. I am working on getting a lathe wired in, and the drillpress working. I don't use the tire machine all that much and would not recommend it unless it's really cheap, or you do a lot of side work on tires. Mine has paid for itself as most all of my equipment has doing my own work, family members, and side work. I still would like a band saw, and definately a Bridgeport type machine. The lift will have to wait, but no big deal for me, If the car runs, I can sneak it up on a lift at work. The welder and parts washer/blast cabinet have made my life the easiest at home. The two post -vs- four post lift depends on what your primary use will be. If mostly oil changes and under car repairs, the four post is better, if doing suspension work etc... the two post might be better. Tough call, and has not made my decision easy, I can't afford both.
Okay, if I were to really setup my garage, I'd have the typical stuff (making the sockets 6-point sets). I'd also have a compressor, parts washer, slop-sink to wash up at, space heater for winter repairs, a couple good floor jacks, and a computer with a touch-screen (so I could check out this board fore advice while fixing things).
I would have to say my compressor(2 cylinder Puma) is one of my favorite tools and the first big ticket item to go in the shop,althou I bought it cheap as it needed a rebuild which was very easy to complete.Then the welders,I have a good ole lincoln 225 arc,great allaround welder which I use to build some of the other tools I don't have.I am building a rotisseri right now.Then the pro mig 135 for the smaller stuff and of course a gas welding rig for cutting and helping with fabrication work.I am a carpenter by trade so I have found my sawzall to be a very handy tool for metal working also.And I like the more costly name brand hand tools also,but I have some of the cheaper brands that I have been using all my life.They hold up pretty well as long as you do'nt put big cheater bars on them. :laugh: Jeff
all about the hammers dont ferget about the big hammer...at least a 2 1/2 pounder..so many uses hard to not have one...course I have to go get another one cuz someone has taken mine, never have had a problem with people commin in my yard but went out there this weekend and hammer was gone, everything else I had left was there go figure. course now I have to spend the extra time to gather up everything and lock them in my shed bleh. people suck sometimes.
Get a set of wrenches. I used a cresent wrench until I got a set of wrenches and my knuckles feel much better.
