Garage must haves
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi guys,
Will be moving soon in to MY house no more renting. Now to fill my time while o should be working I've been thinking about what I should have in my my garage it's not massive but enough space to work in.
What tools/equipment do you guys have that you can't do with out now. I was wondering about a pit... (4 poster ramp not a option)
Pictures of you work space/garage would be good. Insprie me!

Personally I have never been that bothered about pits, I must know about half a dozen people who have one, and only 1 of those people actually uses his, the rest are waterlogged or for some other reason not that useful.

As for what to have in it, the list is endless and no matter what you have, there is always something else that would be nice to have. If you are just starting out the first thing I'd get is a decent big trolley jack, and some good stands. A small pillar drill would probably come next, you can do lots of things with this with ease, that you will struggle to do with a pistol drill. After that the compressor has to come quite high on the list. There are lots of other things that are nice to have, but if you won't get much use out of them you have to decide is it worth sacrificing the space they will take up.

electric!!!!!!! after that some big jacks (500mm at least), and a radio

May sound stupid but it depends what you're doing.

At the moment I'm doing a lot off metal work and I swear by Angle Grinder, Welder, Hammers, Punches & Flangers.

But if you're doing engine work your better off with a set of mics & DTIs.

A pillar drill is great, I got mine from a little engineering company that went under years ago when I was first starting out and it cost a fraction of what the ones in Machine Mart do and is considerably better quality.

small parts washer (unless you have room for a big one)

will cut down the enless hours getting stuff un grubby.

I have to agree with Tom a decent trolley jack is a must. Then I would say a good tool box, no good having tools without a box.

Forget the pit, they just get in the way and can be very dangerous.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Why is a lift not an option, does the garage have a flat roof?? There is usally away around it.

Team Racing

massive vice, steel plated workbench,
beer fridge, posters of cool cars and ladies,
epoxi painted floor, good lighting

internationally known as "big" swede

Floor painting is worth its weight in cold, after doing mine I now hate going back to stained dusty concrete floors.

I have done without them for years, but after purchasing a decent set of taps and die's I dont know how i ever did without them. I retap/clean everything, but im anal like that....

Christ, a vice, this really IS a MUST, probably the most used thing in my garage!

true i had one one in my old garage, aswell as a bench, but have neither in my current one due to size :(

Painted floor, Painted walls keeps the dust down and when you fit those strip lights will make the place a lot friendlier to work in.

Shadow board if space is at a premium this is a must, saves rumaging around in roll cab draws and you no longer have to take up space with a roll cab, plus tool control is far easier.

Why buy one jack when you can have two!

Work bench under your shadow board a must

As for power tools all mine are air tools, pistol windy, 90 degree grinder, air ratchets, air blower's. And all this requires a compressor which for best practice should run (not live) in a seperate building (shed).

Own the day

PVA is a cheaper option for killing dust on the floor.

Own the day

beer fridge! An absolute! Saves you getting fed up when things dont go to plan. Just crack one open and carry on!

Biggest heaviest vice you can get/afford, none of this poncy diy shit but a proper one that can stand a beating.

A selection of hammers - proper weight ones none of these tickling sticks.

other than that the usual tools for playing with cars. A pillar drill is a worthwhile investment. Bench grinder is useful.

Chuck a compressor in as well, many skinned knuckles saved

A painted floor is a great thing saves kneeling i puddles of soaked in oil - if you can get hold of some carpet as well saves the old knees from the cold, the stuff from old biddy homes is a double bonus as thats designed to be wipe clean and not soak in after the inevitable accidents.

A kettle, beer fridge (suitably stocked with ale), few posters of cars and the obligatory garage calender with some birds with there baps out, a radio is good for listening to the footy without getting the ear bent are essentials

All this talk makes me feel deprived.

I find myself thinking about paintng the driveway with epoxy so I dont keep annoying the parents with oil patches.

Whenever theres a job that requires other tools than a socket/spanner set/pliers/screwdrivers my friend has probably all the tools you would need! Mostly used is a vice, pillar drill, bansaw for the bracket making, welder, bench, air line and bench grinder.

Thats probably all ive used to pretty much build the majroity of my car, oh and a nice press for wheel bearings etc!

Yes a radio is a must!!!!!!!

Helps me think and relax when sressed

The funny thing is the only de stressing tool is the theshold the garage. The secondI step through that door and stand infront of my car I feel at peace.

Dont scrimp get it all!!!!!!!

Own the day

Well so far:
Pillar drill - check
Bench grinder - check
Big vice - check
Crap trolly jack - needs replacing
Roller cabinet - check

Need a good stonge bench to mount it all on. I'll do a build thread once I move In.
Keep the idea comming

A selection of hammers

a sofa, so you can kick back and relax after a stint on the mini, ready for the next one :)

I'd me lost without:

A decent vice
A compressor, for blowwater debris dirt dust etc
and a parafin bath for cleaning, only need be a decent size plastic tub and a brush.

JF

busty wench for fixing your car for you, plus giving inspiration for being in the garage late at night

I've got loads of handy toys in my workshop, but IMO the best thing buy far is plenty of light, you can never have enough light, I hhave 4 large windows and 10 strip lights a pair of those are doubles. As has been said, painting the walls has also made a huge difference on lighting.

Power floated floor is also very nice to work on.

Team Racing

painted floors and walls are nice, ive got carpet down tho, does make it nice in the winter (being a floorlayer helps cus i change it regularly!)

i find my bench grinder handy as it has a wire wheel at one end and a stone at the other

rechargable light on a stick is handy too
i have a pit but i never use it, it normally full of water and who ever dug it dug it to shallow

a good multimeter
ratchet type terminal crimpers are a godsend

and buy good quality ive bought shit stuff in the past and its lasted 2 mins