1. MIG Welder 2. 4.5" Angle Grinder 3. Measuring Tape 4. Vise 5. Die Grinder 6. BFH 7. Miller High Life 8. Level 9. Angle Finder 10. Average Hand Tools
Holy crap. Just so you know, don't search google images for angle grinder unless you wanna see what an angle grinder to the face looks like. Anyways heres a few of my favs Metal Files Rolocs! Vise Vise-Grips Drill press Band Saw Welder Torch
at least 3 angle grinders.......good u.s.a.discs and cup wire brushes as required for each......and all the other stuff everybody listed....
A few I don't think mentioned: Cleco's - a must have for sheetmetal work Patience - a must have for anyone doing any kind of fab work Tenacity - Fabbing looks fun on TV, but they don't force you to watch all the extra pounding, grunting, cursing, regrouping, thinking, failing, start overing. Time - Take your estimate, multiply it by 2, and it should take about 3 times that amount of time to complete. No, really, it does.
1~ Tape measure, fast 90, large 90, sharpies, that silver pencil, etc 2~ Solid work bench, and my Wilton vice 3~ Band Saw, Chop Saw 4~ Grinders. I have about 5 Milwaukees. One 9" grinder, its great. 5~ MIG, TIG, Plasma, Torches 6~ Portaband 7~ Air Compressor 8~ Air/Hydraulic Press 9~ Drill press 10~ Lathe
busch light, 4 inch grinder, pabst, torch, steel reserve, drill, beam & coke, hammer, jagermeister, mig.
Amen to all of the above. I thought Patience, Tenacity, and Time were only MY problems, since I don't have a clue and I am learning as I go!
All the ones that everybody mentioned are needed, but I haven't seen IRONWORKER(metal muncher) mentioned yet. Well I use to use that fucker to sheer 3/8 plate like butter, cut angle iron, and punch holes in thick plate like nothing then again this machine is only needed in a big fab shop.....I miss it.....wish I had that bitch in my garage.....
High on my want list is a good finger brake and a stomp shear, along with a more ROOM. Most used tools in my shop are the hoist and the PlasmaCam plazma cutter
poster board ,markers . bowling ball[ makes good curves] sheet metal screws. rail road iron ,anvil, shear,vise welder
Personally, a TIG (Synchrowave 250) and a Bridgeport Mill changed my perspective and approach to fabrication. They both had a profound effect on what became possible. Also very important, MIG, shrinker/stretcher, brake, electric sheer, hammer and dolly
Well at my count here are the top tools by what you guess think Mig 17 votes Hammers and dollies 16 votes Vise 15 votes 4" Grinder 14 votes Torch 11 votes Bandsaw (vertical and horizontal) 8 votes Tig 6 votes Plasma 6 votes And I know these put it over 10 buy all four are tied at 5 votes Clamps Shot Bag Brake Shear. I just want to say thanks to all of you guys for taking the time to give your $.02.
Yeah I'm sure it's up there I didn't count those just like I didn't count hand tools. Just thought those and measuring tools were a given.
Steel rule - combo square & pro set scribers dividers matabo 4.5 dia. Grinder with 6.0 -.040 slit saw discs ( use it every day ).! Band saw or sawz all bosch electric drill bosch hand sheers miller tig lil drill press a good vise & a victor o&a rig sorry - i need 11
Mig, spray bottle with water in it, grinder, bandages, recip saw, plasters, hammers, more bandages, safety glasses, closed garage door to minimize anybody hearing foul language when steel is cut short.
One more... Last weekend I used a right angle air die grinder w/ 2" 36 and 50 grit Roloc discs to finish grid sheet metal welds. Worked slick. Much more control than with a 4" angle grinder.
Slapper, dolly, english wheel, shrinking disc, sawzall, torch, file, post dolly, edge shrinker, tuck former. #11 would be my leg for roll forming : ) John www.ghiaspecialties.com
Some basic's and not so basics.. Basic T-Square Machinist scribe Good ol pad of paper and a good pencil Masking Tape.. Sharpies..lots of sharpies Not so basic Rivet shaver ** works good with a counter bore cutter to cut spot welds** Knee Mill Small gap lathe S/S post ( shrinker/strecher) And the number 1.. Me..nothing beats imagination, innovation, and determination.
ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!! There is no such thing as too many tools. Just when you think you have everything along comes something else that you need/lust over. Frank
The tool I use most are: 1. Large vise 2. Drill press 3. Bench grinder 4. Harbor freight Horizontal bandsaw 5. Hand tools Sockets ,wrenches 6. Air tools 7. Jack and jack stands 8.O/A setup 9. 220 welder 10. 9" lathe
Sandblast Cabinet (maybe not truly a fab tool, but great for pre-fab clean-up or achieving a nice post fab finish) Good Air Compressor Hand Tools Bead Roller Belt/Disc Sander Bandsaw Sand Bag and Assorted Hammers, Dollies, Slappers, Forming Heads Tubing Bender Beverly Shear Shear/Brake/Roller Combo Steve
In no particular order: BFH Band Saw Vertical Belt Sander Anvil MIG Oxy/Acet Torches Drill Press Files Small Ball Peen Hammer Sharpie
Picnic table with a vise. Whenever the weather's nice I'd rather work outside. Not hindered for elbow room, no concern for sparks shooting at valuable items in the garage, and no worries about ventilation.
The Jalopy Journal
