Must Have Shop Items

[Diggin It]

Jacks, hoists, lifts of one sort or another, either floor based and portable or ceiling mounted.

Clamps of different types to hold or position things.

Punches.

 

[sodamo]

Nice thread and OP got it off to a great start - I don’t have everything on his list .

99% of my tools are from need. If something I want, there must be a need . I will also say my wife is awesomely supportive. The few times she has questioned my need usually involved reexamining that need and getting something better. Can’t begin to tell you how many times even years later I will use something that may have seemed a bit much originally and thanked her.

Some sort of organization/storage. I’m not the best at getting things put away in a timely manner, but I really try to keep groups of like things in the same area so if I don’t find it where it really belongs I can usually find it in a general area. Of course periodically everything gets tidied up.

 

[dragoneggs]

Doofy and BB... you are right on. Lighting and heat in that order. I outfitted my shop with Costco LED shop lights. A bunch of them and put them on a remote switch so I can easily turn them all on. I have 10 ganged together in pairs so I can turn them all on or just some.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CY8RSBF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Heat! Yes, this is my current project. Currently heating with a portable propane heater. Soon I will have a 45Kbtu sealed combustion with thermostat. This should reduce rusting of steel surfaces... I HOPE.

 

[blackd]

I noticed one thing missing -- WATER. Even an outside hose spigot will provide most of your needs instead of trudging over to the house. I built a 30X30 shop with a 15X30 lean to for my out door/yard equipment with 100amp electrical service and water run from the house. After 20 years both the shop and lean to are full.

They're never large enough.

 

[mikester]

I noticed one thing missing -- WATER. Even an outside hose spigot will provide most of your needs instead of trudging over to the house. I built a 30X30 shop with a 15X30 lean to for my out door/yard equipment with 100amp electrical service and water run from the house. After 20 years both the shop and lean to are full.

They're never large enough.

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

 

[ovrszd]

Up here, heat in the shop is my big deal. No matter how many tools I have, I sure don't feel like doing anything if I am freezing my butt off. I Have a nice Hotblast woodstove very comfortable inside, no matter how cold outside. Also just added 4 new LED light fixtures, what a difference.

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

 

[ovrszd]

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

I have running water, bathroom and beer fridge. Antique Barber Chair that reclines for naps. Didn't put in a shower and don't think I'd use it anyway.

 

[ovrszd]

A good quality multi-drawer tool cabinet on good quality wheels.

 

[TnAndy]

Several quality LED Work lights. The brighter, the better. 10,000 lumens each with stands would be a good start. The older my eyes get, the better the lighting must be. Overhead lights create to many shadows these days.

Helps too if you paint everything white. My overhead lights are 400w HID, but I still find myself using portable LEDs in a lot of situations now days.

 

[ovrszd]

Good point Andy. White interior and good lights.

 

[grsthegreat]

The list never ends. Last week I needed to reline the inside of my snowblower drum as 10 years of use had busted a hole thru it. I cut out a 5-1/2 by 28 piece of 12g steel from loose stock with the plasma table, then rolled It with the drum roller. Then tack welded it inplace and painted it. In less than 2 hours snowblower looked new again.

My shop has so many tools stored in it, I am starting to forget what I own. 2 years back I picked up a nice 42 rolling tool chest and that has helped tremendously. I wish I had an available wall to mount hand tools, but no way. I have a 30x40 shop and no available walls. I installed a commercial style pallet rack system that is 24 feet long and 10 feet high. I have been slowly organizing that using totes and that has also helped a lot. I organize different shelves as different trade tools.

Now that I am shutting down my electrical business I plan on selling off lots of stuff.

and i second the need for a heater and welders out in the boonies.


the next thing on my wish list is for a larger 220 mig welder. i like the 120 one around here cause i can transport it and use it in barn, etc to repair corral fencing. But a nice 220 miller is on the books after full retirement...maybe later this year.

 

[metalbender]

Really depends on your capabilities and ambition. I have a fairly full array of woodwork and metalwork tools and machines, but find as I get older the drive to build things is beginning ro diminish. Lots of ideas and plans. The hydraulic table and picker come into play often with this acreage stuff being much heavier than city stuff. A solid heavy bench with clamping positions in mind makes it much easier to set up for accurate work. Being retired and on a fixed income slows things down too, metal prices are through the roof, local scrap yards are off limits due to health and safety crap.

 

[MH8675309]

An anvil on a stand is useful from time to time though some folks make do with a piece of railroad track. I keep a quantity of wood blocking 4 x 6 and larger to take up space jacking up things. Over head trouble light has its uses. My son in law gave me a wheel around table that adjusts to different heights - makes a good place to put tools and things you're using at the moment and rolls to wherever I need it. At first I didn't know if I would use it or not but I like it. In a pinch it can be raised up to hold the end of boards so that you're cut is square. My angle grinder has saved the day a few times. Chain fall is used from time to time. A long air nozzle is great for blowing out the baler and mower. A telescoping magnet has come in handy too. Don't throw away your 3 or 5 gallon pails - they've got lots of uses. Not a time goes by that I use my torch or welder I'm grateful to not have to hire and wait on someone to come out. As grsthegreat mentioned - its easy to forget what you've got so from time to time rummage through and refresh your mental inventory so that your not wasting trips to town and money on tools you'd forgot about.

 

[Doofy]

Install plenty of electrical outlets. Surface mounting in conduit is quick and easy. Dangle some from overhead, in strategic locations where you won't have to trip over extension cords. I also have 2 ceiling mounted drop-lights in reels that are very handy.

Air hose is also on a reel to keep tidy.

 

[the old grind]

1) Wheels on/under everything I can't lift and carry and or load into the trunk of my car. This means workbenches and cabinets, maybe one of each not so. Bandsaw, air comps, press, welders, SSQA tool pallets ... More shelf units are anchored than free standing, but I like the ones with wheels.

2) Ear plugs in pocket. btw, 24/7/365 since the '70s, 30 yrs in auto plants, 20 yrs tractoring. I'm 70 in May but even voices can be painfully loud. That said, I can hear a 'coon fart 20 paces downwind of me.

3) Round, square, triangle, flat and thread (Imp/Metric) files.

4) Corded versions of ALL power tools, esp grinders, DAs/orbitals, saws. (Power to weight) I just bought my 3rd cordless drill in 40 yrs, a 12v Ryobi to replace prior 12v Milwaukee & 12v DeWalt. With a drill press on wheels and two mills I don't hand drill much over 1/4" anyway.

5) Something to dissolve rust because WD-40 just doesn't, kiddies. (It's mineral spirits and mineral oil. Read the MSDSs, it's more like MMO than different.)

6) Dial or digital caliper. ($20) Digital also doubles as us/metric converter, set a number and change mode.

7) Fluid Film, Formula 303, Boeshield to be applied as protection if you're not like me and let s__ weather while the cans keep dust off the shelf.

 

[ovrszd]

Install plenty of electrical outlets. Surface mounting in conduit is quick and easy. Dangle some from overhead, in strategic locations where you won't have to trip over extension cords. I also have 2 ceiling mounted drop-lights in reels that are very handy.

Air hose is also on a reel to keep tidy.

Very good stuff right there Doofy!!!! All of my interior wiring is surface mounted in conduit. Outlets galore. Two air hose retractable reels. Two electrical retractable reels. Rarely use an extension cord or a loose air hose.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Excellent Stuff gentlemen!! I am in the early stages of building a 23'x28' shop on the foot print of an existing carport. I am SOOOO excited to have all on my tools in a safe, dry location. There are some excellent suggestions here. THANK YOU!

 

[bigtiller]

Junk pile.

Just about every project begins at the junk pile, shopping for the perfect piece to fix or build anything. Without having to go to town and spend money.

 

[Big Barn]

Junk pile.

Just about every project begins at the junk pile, shopping for the perfect piece to fix or build anything. Without having to go to town and spend money.

 

[Doofy]

We have a small community landfill and we set aside any metals or items that can be repurposed. I sometimes bring more home than I take. I never throw away scrap iron.