Must Have Shop Items

[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.