My department head calls yesterday and asks if I want to submit a grant to purchase equipment for next year. The grant must be used for major equipment (no consumables etc.) This will be my first year in this shop so I dont really have a feel yet for what we need. The shop is for small engines, Auto 1 and Auto 2. We have (as far as I can tell from the small amount of time I've been able to look around...) 3 hoists tire machine brake lathe south bend lathe dist. machine engine scope bead blast cab. valve grinder valve seat grinder hyd. press engine block cleaner pressure washer rollarounds with tools tools, pullers, testers, special equip. etc. that I havent had a chance to inventory yet... and I'm a number of other things I havent seen yet. Can you guys see anything on the list that is missing??
two post lift, metal bandsaw, mig welder, for that frame off a roadster project they all want to try, and electronic diagnostics, if you're gonna teach em, might as well get them used to new cars, after the basics, of course.
we have a stick welder, o/a setup and two migs that I noticed - dont know the condition of any of them been thinking about a plasma cutter? tube bender? ?????????????
A scan tool would be great. A Snap-On that's up to date. The kids are going to have to know how to work on computer cars for sure. Jeff
Do you have a uni-spotter? Pricey but necessary to do the most basic dent repair. How bout a lil dynamometer for the small engines?
If you're doing fab work then yes, plasma, tube bender, chop saw, grinders, lots of clamps, a big vice, etc. If it's for a highschool, maybe get an eye wash station and a good first aid kit.
tig welder might be a little much. If they don't have a welding class or some kind of class like Ag then why not. It could be used to repair aluminum heads
Our metal shop has tig, milling machine (which I think is broken), dont know about a bandsaw and they have a pipe bender - pretty sure its not a tube bender. Our curriculum isnt really focused on fab so I may have to rethink some of those type tools. A scan tool would be perfect (depending on what we already have) what are some other thoughts?
I'd say up to date scan tools that can be upgraded when the time comes. Possibly special tools for the small engines classes if they aren't there already. It's a lot easier to teach the kids to do it right with the proper equipment. From what I can see of your list I would think about upgrading equipment if it was old or on the way to being obsolete. Try to get trade ins from the vendors so that you don't have to worry about surplussing the equipment there. It looks like you are walking into one of the best equipped highschool shops around so it is a bit hard to make suggestions.
You should see if the kids want to go on that Drag Race High show on Speed. I believe that would be a HUGE morale booster for the kids as well as the staff. And on top of all of it, fun as hell. I think even if it is an automotive class, fabrication is just one part of the automotive lifestyle. I agree with the welders, benders, plasma cutters, vice grips, vise, chop saw... that type of thing will get kids to want to do things if they see what you are making with the same tools. Just my $.02 Remington
Lots & lots and lots of hand tools - wrenches, sockets - all that. My biggest gripe from high school auto shop class was that all the fuckers who got to class before me (his pet students), always grabbed up all the tools and there was absolutely NOTHING left when I got there to be able to do a damn thing (my class the period before auto shop was all the way on the other side of campus) and the ass hat of an auto shop teacher did not care & booted me from class because I couldn't ever get anything done - even though there were no tools to do it with. Still hate that fucker.
Get set up with a tool card system and rotating tool room assignments so this kinda shit doesn't happen. Yeah everybody's got to be the tool bitch for a day or two, but a lot less stuff is going to grow legs and disappear. Get inventoried and get organized, sounds like fun!
I know they're consumables, but safety first. Make damn sure everybody's got glasses/goggles and hearing protection. I already assume you have a standing rule about going out into the shop, from the classroom, and having safety gear. Small engines, huh?.....can you say "Junior Dragster"? I can see it now......planting a freshman into an alky-burning, 5++++ horsepower rail at the local dragstrip and calling it a class project. Maybe the tubing bender and associated gear isn't all that far-fetched. Roger
now wait a minute here, you got to get a 50" plasma flat screen to hang in the shop! for tech video's and stuff.
The ad. is very supportive, but for some reason they seem dead set against any painting/bodywork?? For the small engine class I do have a couple minibikes I'd like the kids to get interested in, that way they are doing engines but also getting introduced to drivetrains, brakes etc. as well. For the hand tool situation it sounds like the current teacher assigns 2 students to a roll around, hopefully everyone then has access to the basic tools. Have to see how that goes, may have to use a tool cage. Visited with the welding teacher last night and he suggested I upgrade the mig - who can recommend a 220 mig?
At our school the Auto program purchased extra roll around toolboxes and stocked them with the basics and then assigned them to each student. At the end of the year an inventory is taken and returning all the tools is a portion of their grade. Seemed to work good making the students accountable for their tools and teaching some responsibility.
Call Lincoln or Miller to see about the Migs. They may have a special program for shop classes. Snap-on, Matco or Mac also have tool programs for students and schools. I'd say a drill press is mandatory. A good one, not a little bench-top model. With that, you will need a couple COMPLETE sets of drill bits. Probably good to get set up with a drill bit "box" that has several of each size. You'll need full sets: fractional, numbered and lettered. Teach the kids that there are specific sizes for tap and dies. Good tap and die kit. Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener. Forget trying to do them by hand on the bench grinder. Unless you're good at that, and can teach the kids how to do it. I always end up with dull bits and scorched fingers. A stationary belt sander/disc grinder is very handy. Two bench grinders: Course and fine stones on one, medium and fine wire wheels on the other. Parts washer. Didn't see that on your initial list, though you do have a blast cabinet. -Brad
Fix it and get a rotary table to go with it. Nice for re-drilling bolt patterns on brake drums, among other things.
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