Shop tools you wish you had

[Elviscaretaker]

I wish I had a hoist, it looks like you can pick one up for less than 2k. Then I would have to add on to my shop with a taller ceiling in the new part. I also wish I had some welding stuff, but then I would have to learn to weld. I also wish I had a parts washer, and a bead blast cabinet. I'm pretty lucky, as a rule, I have most of the tools I need, and a pretty decent shop to use them in. Here is a picture of my shop, one thing I would do different is put in a much higher ceiling and one oversized door.

That's a nice shop though, far away from everyone so you can make noise all night As far as welders go, pick up a cheap wire fed from Harbor freight to play with. It won't do thast bad and give you an idea of if you'll use it or not. I personally just added a high end tig to my list! Had a big weding job and "borrowed" this one for fabricating and LOVED it. Hobart and a 120 volt. Sweat welds with very little grinding and no fill. To bad you can't use them on a windy day though outside. My cheapy did just fine for the install though, just a little more clean up.

 

[SixHoeBob]

Instead of buying from Harbor Scrap, why not buy a Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart?
Once you have the welder you will realize there is a difference. The question is; Will you be smiling, or wishing you had the money to spend again? Oh, and I have
a H. S. under my work bench. Total use, about 10 minutes. Also I have a Miller 250, that was money well spent.

 

[schmism]

On my short list and have almost pulled the trigger on a number of times had it not been for the fact i have no concrete floor'd shop to put them in

metal lathe

Bridgeport end mill

plasma cutter capable of up to 3/4"

Pro-tools (which i think is now JMR) bender with about 8 different dies

2 post automotive lift

an all in one atv/riding lawnmower/motorcycle lift

A decent oscilloscope to do electronics troubleshooting.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Instead of buying from Harbor Scrap, why not buy a Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart?
Once you have the welder you will realize there is a difference. The question is; Will you be smiling, or wishing you had the money to spend again? Oh, and I have
a H. S. under my work bench. Total use, about 10 minutes. Also I have a Miller 250, that was money well spent.

But 89 bucks to see if you'll even use it much vs the 3500 for a nice set up... Can be worth the test. I'll admit though, I liked the Hobart I borrowed alot more than my Lincoln stick and the HF cheapy I have. That said, my cheapy has it's place in my system since if it gets wet or wrecked, not a big deal. I can also lay a pretty decent weld with it... HF while hated, does have it's place.
I'm pretty hard on tools That's why if it matters, the tool (as an example) will be snap on, festool and the sort.

 

[SixHoeBob]

Instead of spending $89, I would go play with someone else's welder. Then I would talk to the guys at the local welding supply to get their recommendations. Then I would buy whatever seemed like the best value. I might end up buying from Lowe's, H. D., or TSC.

I was told Snap-on welders were made by Century. Might as well buy Blue, Red, or Gray from the welding supplier for the same money and get dealer support.
I used a guy's Century for a couple of years. He traded it away for a sandblaster, and bought a Snap-on on the payment plan. Twelve years later, the Snap-on has yet to run a bead. Since the S-O was never set up correctly and was only bought for show, I bought my Miller 250 with cash. He might still be paying on the S-O. The Miller was less than $1800 with the purchased bottle.

 

[Elviscaretaker]

Snap on only for hand tools. I like the fact they will come to you to replace them when they break. But you spend for that privilege and Craftsman is much cheaper now a days. Too bad the policy for Craftsman now is to repair vs replace.

 

[Ford tractor]

I need two things;

1) cutting tools that cut straight --> all mine cut crooked!

2) measuring tools that get the right number --> all mine are too long or too short!

:laughing:

 

[wdchyd]

Here is a picture of my shop, one thing I would do different is put in a much higher ceiling and one oversized door.

How high would you have made the inside ceiling for a lift and what size OHD..??......

Hind sight is 20-20, but I'm still in the planning stage for my garage (hopefully will do the dirt/concrete work this summer.....

 

[wdchyd]

2) measuring tools that get the right number --> all mine are too long or too short!

:laughing:

You can always use the eyeball micrometer or a rubber band to measure with, they are always right....

 

[wedge40]

Any tool ... I'd go with a henweigh.

Would that be a 4lb or 8lb henweigh?