Must Have Shop Items

[newbury]

Well I might have missed it but for me the MUST HAVE is a phone and credit card. And a sufficient line of credit (money, credit card, ...) to buy a critical tool.

 

[Doofy]

Pressure Washers are fairly cheap but really handy at times. I once had a solvent tank for parts cleaning but was a pain and took up to much space. Degreaser and the pressure washer now.

 

[Doofy]

Chop saw, die grinder with cut-off wheels, 4" grinder, good variable speed bench grinder, wire feed welder and a stick welder for the heavier stuff.

This may sound silly but since I live 20 miles from town, the thing that has saved me the most time and money over the past 50 years is my extensive collection of bolts, nuts, washers and screws. You can never have to many.

 

[sodamo]

I'm finishing my second Winter in my shop with hydronic radiant floor heat. Words can't describe it.

Toasty toes

 

[sodamo]

You mind as well add a bed and a beer fridge.

No bed, but I do have a beer fridge in my tool room. Very, very rarely have one until after I quit for the day, but the option is there. Might have something to do to fact I prefer my tap to the bottles/cans.

 

[sodamo]

Chop saw, die grinder with cut-off wheels, 4" grinder, good variable speed bench grinder, wire feed welder and a stick welder for the heavier stuff.

This may sound silly but since I live 20 miles from town, the thing that has saved me the most time and money over the past 50 years is my extensive collection of bolts, nuts, washers and screws. You can never have to many.

So do I. I never take back extra pipe fittings, electrical stuff, plumbing, nails, any type fasteners, etc. Has saved me many a trip

 

[MossRoad]

A fire extinguisher or two.

A paper towel dispenser/roll is nice.

A fire rated trash can for oily rags and such.

Battery backup emergency lights, in case you pop the power in the whole building and want to find your way out.

Internet access.

An old computer with a decent sized monitor to look up videos of how to put stuff back together that you took apart.... :laughing:

 

[blackd]

I did install a small refrigerator, but still don't consider it as a necessity, just a nicety. Now a bed???? Don't give my wife any ideas.

 

[flyerdan]

Well this took off nicely, thanks to everyone that's contributed, there are some good ideas here. One thing that I really like is lockers and file cabinets for storage. I have a bunch of cubby type lockers that are perfect for storing an angle grinder and everything related to it, 2" roloc discs, all the 5" sanding discs, pop rivets, etc. The file cabinets are great for cases of oil, filters, extension cords rolled up on 33 lb. plastic welding wire spools, outside sprinklers and hose nozzles, etc. File cabs are often free on craigslist, lockers are a bit harder to come by.
Garage sales can be good sources for extra bits of hardware; you can often find a can of misc. bolts and screws for next to nothing. I got a box of household outlets and switches for $2, probably close to $20 worth of stuff at the HD.

 

[two_bit_score]

Well I might have missed it but for me the MUST HAVE is a phone and credit card. And a sufficient line of credit (money, credit card, ...) to buy a critical tool.

An internet connection is VERY handy for a lot of things. I really enjoy having it in my shop.

Something I use more than I thought I would is a Blackhawk Port-A-Power. Bought it to help push some dents out of my son's car but I've would up using that thing for several small 'readjustment jobs'.



TBS