i am getting my garage together. i would like to know what you all have. ie compressor. i plan on doing some body work sanding/ grinding anything else useful you may think of

I have a 40 year collection of damn near evreything accept the tool I need at the time.

A compressor is a must, the bigger the better. I have a 2 stage 5hp on a 60 gal tank and I can out run it with a couple of the tools I use around the shop. A mig is a must unless you score a rust free body somewhere. I also have arc and gas, would love tig and a plasma, but don't use them enough to justify the expense. A good parts washer and a sand blasting cabinet are sure handy.

I think the most important thing in your shop, is the way you put your air lines in, what there made out of, and a good strong two stage air compressor.

Then you can buy tools as you need them.

Then as far as tools, the first thing I would buy is a complete american and metric set of sockets, universals, extensions, and american and metric wrenches.

Then a inch and foot lb torque wrench, and learn how to use it, it will save you breaking stuff.

When you get this list together, show or tell us, then we can go to plan two, and really get you tooled up.:).

Oh, I almost forgot, how much cash do you have, or whats the limit on the credit card, let us know what our working range is.:)

Rob

I have a 40 year collection of damn near evreything accept the tool I need at the time.

I have'nt been collecting but for about 15 years but never has a truer phrase been spoken...

a good compressor - 1 step above what you think you need
oxy/acetylene rig- if you can use that anything else is gravy
an arbor press - you'd be amazed how much you can use it
sand blasing cabinet - same as notation above
and then of course any other tool that you see that you think you may use only once that you can afford and have room for- I think I started building cars, bikes, boats, gocarts and bicycles purely so I could justify collecting... I mean purchasing.....no procuring.....:wacko: awwwwwwww i need a 12 step program to stop

good luck brother!!

Heres another thing to think about, if you can work on your projects over the weekend, when every place that has tools, is closed, and still get the job done, without compromise, then you probably have the tools.

Rob

Good luck my freind! I see in your profile that your into street rods. Do you plan on biulding them yourself? If so you'll need alot of metal fab tools.
All I can say is $$$$$$$!:yes:

For a tool box, dont bother getting a cheap overseas built box. Get a known, name brand unit from somewhere like Sears. As a professional mechanic. I used a craftsman box for well over 10 years until I upgrated to a larger Matco box (which now needs upgrading again, but I make a living out of a tool box). I had a good size, 2 bank style, top and bottom. Bottom was used at work and top was used at home. Now, both top and bottom are used at home because of the upgrade.

If you can swing it. You can find some good deals on used Snap On, Mac, or Matco toolboxes. Which are the best of the best in quality.

I have heard too many stories of people that have had thier new, overseas, cheap tool boxes fall apart in no time. They are a waist of money.

Most of us Chevelle guys only look at most of their tools, so an overseas box is probably better for that.

Get the biggest compressor you can afford, at least 5 HP with an 80 gallon tank. I would also recommend a small sand blast cabinet and at least a 10 ton hydraulic press. A MIG welder is another necessity if you do any fab or sheet metal work yourself. It doesn't need to be a big one since most of automotive work is on sheet metal. One of the Lincoln or Miller 110V jobs will be fine (and portable).

If you want to get into sheet metal work, you'll need some sort of shear, a shrinker and stretcher, and an assortment of body hammers, dollies and tin snips. With a few basic hand tools and a lot of patience you can build almost anything. I just finished fabricating a shifter hump for my Chevelle using just hand tools. You can see it in my profile in the metalwork folder.

Tom

I agree with all posted above. A good compressor is a must. Depending on what your plans are, welding outfit is up there with a blast cabinet or blaster. A good box won't fight you when the drawers are full, plus the better ones have a smarter layout (large deeper top drawer for sockets, since we use them most). After that, I would put some serious thought into shop layout before you get too crazy. Most guys think they need a huge work bench, but most just become storage places. I think it's better to have a couple smaller benches, one with a big vice. Run hard air lines to the corners of the garage vs stringing a long hose everywhere. Add outlets on the walls, and get a cordless shop light. Pegboard walls are nice for parts/odd tool storage. Try to use all your wall space, especially up higher for storage. Lots of guys also use a shop cart to bring what they need to the car vs walking back and forth for every tool.

Also get an old coke machine that vends bottles and fill it full of beer.....

Good Safety gear, Glasses, goggles, gloves and a couple of heavy aprons, and coveralls. steel toed shoes are a good item if you drop stuff like me :wacko:

A two post 10k LB hoist :cool:
At least 10 each of 1/2in and 9/16in wrenches
3 or 4 4-way lug wrenches.
3x of all your sockets 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 drive
2x of every size vice grip made.
2 torque wrenches
3 or 4 different portable lights
4 floor jacks
8 Jack stands
Fridge
A portable workbench/tool tray preferrably on wheels.

and since you are in the NE a heater :D

The first two things I would do is to hang LOTS of light, and get yourself a furnace that's antiquate to heat the garage no matter how cold it is outside..

Living in a cold climate, you need to be able to make the most out of the winter months, why work on the car when it's nice out??

Next on my list would be a compressor, then a MIG welder..

Don't forget to pick up a used automotive oscilloscope. They aren't that expensive anymore; professionals don't want 'em 'cause they're addicted to scan tools.

Damned handy for anything with a distributor--and with the right adapters some of 'em will work with distributorless ignitions, too.

I favor the Snap-On Counselor (especially the Counselor II) series 'scopes, but ANY automotive scope is better than no 'scope.

first take a pic of your garage-its the last time its going to look large enough
then get a 25" tv, remote, mount it up on the wall with one of those ped's they sell, build one bay for the lift, seal off another bay for the "paint and dirt" room-then what everyone else says-if i was younger i would buy a tig welder, along with the mig, but i just use the mig for everything
you might go to a hardware store that sells bulk nuts/bolts, buy a few pounds and sep. them, you always need them

Whatever tools and equipment you buy, make sure to get the very best quality available. A good tool will last a lifetime (or more) and will make work more pleasurable. Some of my most valued possessions are tools that I inherited from my Dad, who was a tool and die maker.

All of the above plus put up plenty of shelves on the walls to store larger parts, some of them are going to be there a while. Also, get a several sets of metal storage drawers (I have one with 24 drawers) to store and organize small parts.

A one foot long flex magnet. I use it constantly.

Chuck

Buy pallet racking, it can take anything you can load on it and adjusts to whatever size shelf you need. I still have a HUGE LIST OF WANTS AND NEEDS, it gets smaller then I see something I NEED and the list grows.

For fabricating brackets and the like, a 12" disc grinder, chop saw, and a good drill press are great to have. Fraction, letter, and number drills along with counterbores and countersinks are nice to have as well. A good wire wheel on one end of a bench grinder is also very handy for cleaning stuff up.

All you need is one of those large Star Trek Replicators. You know takes anti-matter and turns it into anything you want. :)

a engine hoist really is nice to have. I use to rent them when the hoists were expensive, I picked up a used hoist, and spare engine stand, figure for what I paid for them, even if I use it only once, it would pay for itself. Believe me its paid for itself over and over again. Nice floor jack, drill press, even a small bench top model, a good vice. A big hammer. Air hammer/chisle. for front end work. Just dont plan on buying it all at once. If the choice is to rent it or buy it, buy it.
Funny thing is when your over someone elses house tinkering on their car or truck. You go to do something you think is simple and ask for grinder, cutoff tool, or whatever. And they dont have it. You realize just how spoiled you become. Jim