Must Have Shop Items

[Industrial Toys]

I built a 10hp ROTOCON with lots of help from a friend. To me, a real pain in the azz starting and stopping that thing. I did make the mistake of buying a huge 3 phase Lincoln MIG and feeder, and hence need for the Rotocon. Maybe in a shop where machine tools are being run all day. I guess it's still nice to have 600 3 phase in all the buildings for test purposes.

Stuff for the shop. Recycled cotton rags, old cans and plastic containers. Any old piece of hose or plastic/metal pipe. There is ALWAYS something to connect or bush out for temporary prurposes.
Scraps of wood or plastic for shims, banging or drilling.

 

[sodamo]

Eric, keep the faith. My first shop was dug out under the covered deck, half the deck. Of course it would drip between the decking at times and because it was dug down would be muddy at best, standing water if it rained enough. A very basic piece of plywood for a work bench, not electric unless I strung an extension cord. A couple of power tools, skill saw, drill type, but i could keep a tool box and have about 25sf work space. No major projects, but still nice to have to tinker on something.

I have better space now. Also totally off grid power.

 

[flyerdan]

Just revisiting this as someone did a post about a light bulb - having some common bulbs on hand seems like a good plan. Maybe it's just me, but I have a bulb drawer where part-outs, moving freebies and garage sale misc. boxes contribute to. Anything to avoid a special trip for a part. Someone also mentioned a junk pile, that is good to if you can manage it. I've got a spring drawer that has come through on more than one occasion. I mentioned helicoils way back near the beginning; ebay has kits for both metric and SAE for under $30 each, less than a one-size kit at NAPA if you'd have to run up there at 6:30 on a Saturday evening.

 

[Mike1955]

Over the years I have accumulated various electrical test cords and plugs for small and large things that have electrical issues. And proper stuff to soldering things that need it. Various voltages low and high to tackle anything folks need help with

 

[Xfaxman]

I use this a lot: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...erbalanced-workbench-lift.437817/post-5994821

 

[cmyoung2]

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.

NO, NO, NO, it is not a junk pile. It's a spare parts storage area.
Story- I was an Ag Extension agent(now retired) Dairyman had a pulley break in the top of the 60'silo and didn't know how to get to it. I had a friend who was a rock climber, so I asked George if he wanted to go help.Of course, any reason to get out of the office and have fun. George was from NY city. We climbed the silo, grabbed the broken pulley, sent it down. A couple of minutes later the replacement was ready. We fixed it, were sitting at the top and George asked "How did he know what part we needed and how did he get it so fast?" I said -see that pile down there, and George said yeah, the junk pile.. I said No, That's the spare parts pile. It was a golden moment in George's agricultural education.