TECH: Garage Survival Kit for Newbies

Other than myself......what other tools should a new guy have as a bare minimum in his garage?

I’ve finally reclaimed my garage from toys, lawn equipment and general disarray. So now I’m outfitting it. Many of the books I’ve read give a listing of tools needed. However, budgets can be slim so getting a listing of absolute must haves can help curb reckless spending. Since it is TECH week, and in the same spirit as SoWhat’s 101 Tech Tips, I figured I’d get another from you guys as well and maybe help a few other newbies like me.

Specifics, (ex. “bench grinder. But nothing less than a six inch.” , “This brand is ****”, .etc.) are always welcome.

<font color="#999999">If a big thread of this is available elsewhere I may have missed it. Please post a link so I don’t waste any bandwidth.</font>

Thanks.

 

My .o2 cents. Get a bench vice. I don't have one right now and I sure do miss not having one. Very usefull!!


FONZI

 

Angle Grinder's are, IMO, a necessity. I use my Milwaukee 4 1/2" the most, it's light and I like the paddle type trigger for safety.
Get a selection of cut off wheels, grinding wheels, and flap discs.
Also, you'll need some sort of an air compressor.

 

It kind of depends on what your going to tackle.
After a decent socket set, bench vise and a couple of hammers, buy the tools you need.

Trying to equip a shop with all the tools that everyone recomends (they probably needed them) is a little like asking, "How High is UP??"

Every time I start a job, and I find that a certain tool would make it go easier, faster or save some grief; if I don't own it, then I consider buying it.

If the tool is something your only going to use once, (or a least not again for a long time) consider renting it.

 

You must also have a fridge full of cold beverages and a stereo.It's easier to get your buds over to help if you ply them with beer!!!

 

After I got a bench grinder, I didn't know how I lived without it. Equip one with a wire wheel.

Drill press is great to have. I'd rank it up with the must-haves.

A vise is also required.

A long-handled gasket s****er. It's like a screwdriver, with an inch-wide blade. God I love mine.

A tool chest to keep your tools organized.

Pegboard. Miles and miles of white pegboard.

Two of every sized wrench.

I better stop before I get on a long-winded roll.
-Brad

 

Pry bars! Save your screw drivers. I bought a set of 5 in various sizes from about 8" to 24" from the local farm store (TSC) for around 15 bucks. Also good -

Big floor jack and jack stands, ratchet, not pin type

Wheel dollies, I'm getting some whenever the car comes home.

For cheap tools hit the yard sales and auctions, but start early and prepare to fight over your finds Good luck!

 

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You must also have a fridge full of cold beverages and a stereo.It's easier to get your buds over to help if you ply them with beer!!!

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****o hit that one dead on!! lol! beer and tunes mandatory!
fans for the summer and a heater of somesort in the winter make it a little more bearable. better start looking for a beer fridge first thing.............we have our priorities you know.

 

Yeah in hindsight I should have added that I plan on tackling a Model A Sedan (eventually chopping and maybe channeled). More or less I have all the genereal home garage basics (bench, storage, quality screwdrivers &amp; pliers, quality sockets, wrenches, hammers, drills, etc.) minus the specialty stuff (welder, sawzall, hammers &amp; dollies, drill press, grinders, air compressor &amp; tools, etc.); which I am currently aquiring.

If anything I'm looking for tips on those things which you could not have lived without or even wasted money on.

In the meantime, some good news, I may have a free Lincoln Mig, some torches and accessories coming my way.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

 

PB Blaster!
cherry picker
saw horses
fan
Compressor and die grinder, 3/8" air ratchet, 1/2" impact.

 

don't forget a battery charger, a good light (one of those hanging deals), extension cords, and a good system of organization. it ****s to search for something when you want it... posters of semi-naked girls with cars might add some finishing touches.

 

A basic (but good quality) tap-and-die set. Especially if you don't have a welder!

Of course, a hacksaw!

And at least 4 or 5 pair (***orted sizes) of vise-grips.

 

Speaking of compressors is it true what I hear about belt drives being much better than direct drives (less noise, longer life)? Also is there a minimum size or max psi you guys would recommend, for a home garage?

 

My biggest pet peive in the garage is not having enough wrenchs. I like to have at least 3 or 4 of each size wrench and socket.That way when your buds are over they can help work on your car instead of watching you work while they drink your beer.

 

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Speaking of compressors is it true what I hear about belt drives being much better than direct drives (less noise, longer life)? Also is there a minimum size or max psi you guys would recommend, for a home garage?

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CFM's is what you need to look at... especially the SCFM rating @ 90 psi. Figure out which model is the best one you can afford, then get the next one up from there!

 

Find your nich and tool up for that.

I like fabbing so my favorite tools are for working metal,

my first and most used tools were (are) the torch and peanut grinder. Along with those are the support stuff like files, extension cords, vice grips, clamps, vice, work bench and that stuff.

Paul

 

I buy tools when I need them. There's no sense in spending a bunch of money on stuff you'll never use. If your only doing body work, timing lights, etc. are a waste that you could spend on Bondo!

 

I've found that these are now in my "basic" category, which may not be part of a set you can buy from somewhere like Sears.

- Very good pair of wire cutters
- Starter punches for drilling metal. I can't keep the bit still at the start without one when drilling by hand.
- Rubber Mallet
- 4-Pole Lug Wrench
- Multimeter

Good lighting helps too.

Mike

 

some of those elcheapo socket sets are go to have. i use those to cut up for special applications and also for nuts and bolts that have stripped you can beat a cheap socket onto it and then it usually will work. blocks of wood for lifting or prying on are also handy. a small cart or table to work grind and weld on that can be rolled outside. i like to grind outside so as not to get the dust and **** all over everything in the shop. before long you will have so much **** in your shop you'll out grow it. i bet better than half the people on here have that problem. i know i do.

 

plenty of WD40 or any good rusty bolt **** i can't count how many damn times i needed a can of the **** when trying to unbolt something thats been bolted together for decades.Also this **** called NO OX,its a lube i use on any threaded bolt i have it make it bolt on sooo easy and dones't gaw the **** outta yer threads.

 

you can make an ***ortment of little punches out of old valves, just cut the heads off and grind to your liking make a pry bar out of old coil springs (you can find them in various sizes) straightened, valve springs make good little screw drivers once straightened and reworked with little rat tail loops and such
get an old farriers forge and a chunk of railway track for working some good steel into useable tools

 

A soild heavy duty work bench! Thick 3/4" top with 3' deck screw's. Make a large cavity under the bench for large item's: Jack stand's, floor jack, chunk's of 4x4 or even 6x6" wood block's,ramp's ect. Over head, like the rafter's re-enforced and sheet's of plywood for flooring to store thing's.Extra safe tip: store item's of heavy weight to the side's if possible,near the roof/wall connection.Stronger and if something fell. Use C or welding clamp's on over head door for extra insurance for those tool's! Remember the old home's have storm shutter's? Make one for your garage..on the inside! Extra privacy and peace of mind.

 

Check out the local Pawn Shops for tools if you stay away from the Snap-On, Mac, Matco. You can find some pretty good deals there.

 

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Use C or welding clamp's on over head door for extra insurance for those tool's! Remember the old home's have storm shutter's? Make one for your garage..on the inside! Extra privacy and peace of mind.

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Good tip on the C clamps at the top joins of the doors. But the shutters have me stumped; I think. Being from the coast I'm very familar with them. Do you mean make some kind of breathable portable door sized privacy wall? If so that an awesome idea. Even now with not much to worry over...at night I feel like there's unwanted eyes prying while I toil away. Perhaps and even easier implementation might be to find some large old roman style pull shades..a la 1970's so as to be on the cheap, and rig some simple eyehooks to the overhead door or frame. For that matter even a shower curtain might work but not very breathable.

 

First aid kit and a fire extinguisher just my $0.02

 

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First aid kit and a fire extinguisher just my $0.02

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D'OH! seems we all forgot about the above'Thanx Noble' LOL we can all have the right tools and such for our cars but without first aid and a fire extinguisher we could bleed to death or watch our garage and house and cars burn to the ground

 

a 2-3 ft long piece of 2" pipe,,,, hammered at one end to fit over ratchets,,,works great as a breaker bar,,,or for additional torque,,,,
i use one at work all the time,,,,
but i'm a GIRL,,,i don't know ****,,,

love
miss hootch

 

Paper towels and some Goop. We keep a big bucket of water too. To clean our hands. Then we use is to cool hot metal, then refil. and so on....

Get some kind of sturdy rubbermade container and keep all your s**** metal in it. it definately comes in handy.

We have one of those with s**** peiceles. and a big bucket for long s**** peices like conduit and square tubing.

One of those magnets were you can pull it out and make it longer. Great for getting nuts and bolts that you drop in little crevises.

Nick

 

wow, i don't think anyone's mentioned the obligatory
BFH ( big f'n hammer)!!

start out with a good mechanics tool set. any of the craftsman ones are decent and can be had for a hunnert bucks.

other than that...make sure you have enough light.
i stocked up on the flourescent "shop lights" at home depot.
at $6 a pop...light that garage up like the superbowl!!!

the more organized and comfortable the work area, the more time you'll want to spend working.

 

if the walls are not covered with sheet rock or insulation put some 4 foot lights in them down low about 6 feet apart.

before you spend any money on tools spend the money on painting the place bright white with lots of lights.