Items Under $50 that Improve your Garage Experience

[Shootinok]

Foot pedals, from the drill press to band saws they are really handy once you get use to not reaching for the machines switch.

^^^ Definitely

also - Magnets. Rare earth magnets to keep things handy like the chuck key stuck to the drill press.

 

[jives]

1500+ lumen rechargeable, magnetic, multi-configuration shop light. Game changer.

 

[TLCObsession]

Lemme take a swing.



This $45 ozone generator from Amazon has helped quite a bit when unfathomable smells have taken over the garage and I need to start fresh with a clean slate of no-stink. Eg. say, 400,000 mile-old gear old (you know, that special kind of "fart" smell? ) spilled all over the floor....even after a good cleaning up of the source of the smell and disposal, the smell still hangs in the garage. And in 90 degree heat in an enclosed garage, that kind of hanging scent does not smell good. It just aggravates you more when you are trying to change out wheel bearings, lol.

Caution though, you can only use these in an UNENCLOSED space, no plants, no animals, no people. It will kill any smells, bugs, bacteria, mold, plants etc. ANYTHING living. But with the garage door sealed and closed, it is a non-issue to allow it to run overnight for a few hours. Appreciate that it has a timer so I don't need to buy a secondary one.

I give it a few days, because it takes a while for ozone to break down (in the summer, it breaks down faster). After about 3 days or so, it's all gone, and I can walk into the garage and smell nothing but "fresh garage". The way it should smell.

Ozone has its caveats but it is the ONLY thing that actually destroys odors, it doesn't cover them up. And after multiple used gear oil spills, there's no covering that up anyway. Ozone, imo, used carefully and properly, is the only option!

Other than demolishing the garage and starting over

Works great on cigarette/cigar-smoked cars too (probably the ONLY thing that works on that) but you need a LOT of ozone to get anywhere with that kind of situation. Seal of the car and run it for a week to get results IME.

If you have a garage that stinks, this is your ticket. But make sure you clear it out of living things, and stay out of it for a few days. Recently I ran it 2 hours the night before we left for a weekend trip. The following monday, clean and fresh. No ozone smell either.

The big caveat for a garage aside from danger to people and pets is that ozone eats rubber. Fortunately most rubber is now resistant, but I caution the use - especially in a garage. Here is a little bit about Ozone and rubber:

Ozone cracking - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[m6z]

This shelf was $54 on ebay. Made in the USA.

12 Quart Oil Shelf Aluminum Toyhauler for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 12 Quart Oil Shelf Aluminum Toyhauler at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[XJSuperman]

Reviving this thread with a couple items I am enjoying lately.
The harbor freight magnetic rechargeable worklight is exactly like my SnapOn, but 30 bucks instead of more. It has been serving me well alongside the SnapOn, except I dont worry as much about losing it when I take it on a trip.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I picked up a pair of Wilde prybars and that was a serious eye-opener compared to the junk I was using. I think I paid 15 or 20 bucks each at a tool vendor booth this summer.
Wilde Tool HPB16-24 31″ HARD CAP HANDLE PRY BAR, 24″ EXPOSED BAR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HXG3KB9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

At wally world today I saw a bucket roller stand for less than $15. I fully intend to snag one soon for an oildry container.

Robot or human?

 

[Radio Flyer]

An addition for those with Sharpies and paint pens.....

And I learned it here!

Add a magnet to it. I used a piece of heat shrink to attach the magnet to the lid. Once the Sharpie wears out, I put the "magnet lid" on a new Sharpie.

I have multiple colors of Sharpies handy on all kinds of metal surfaces,

Tool box lid
Furnace
fridge
drill press
welder.

 

[klassenl]

A motion activated flood light up high and in the corner. The sensor is aimed at the area around the man-door. When it's dark, any motion around the door (coming in or leaving) turns the light on. Probably has paid for itself by now just though the amount of electricity saved by not having to fire up 2000 watts of light each time I come in to grab something or drop something off. Also, no fumbling for a light switch when my hands are full.

I have a motion switch just inside the garage door that turns on 1 light above the walk in door. The light on the garage door opener is great but this is 100 times better. It also comes on when we are backing the family vehicle into the garage.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

At wally world today I saw a bucket roller stand for less than $15. I fully intend to snag one soon for an oildry container.

Robot or human?

I'm hooked! gtting one today. One thing I don't get, if I order it online for delivery it's $12.97. If I pick it up in the store it's $14.97. HUH??

Tommy

 

[XJSuperman]

I'm hooked! gtting one today. One thing I don't get, if I order it online for delivery it's $12.97. If I pick it up in the store it's $14.97. HUH??

Tommy

I picked up a bag of cat litter to use for oil dry and saw the same thing, it was cheaper online, but when I went to pull it up so I could chew em down at checkout, the price was higher? Thought I was losing it.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I picked up a bag of cat litter to use for oil dry and saw the same thing, it was cheaper online, but when I went to pull it up so I could chew em down at checkout, the price was higher? Thought I was losing it.

The price changes if you put it in your cart and switch from "ship" to "pickup".
Pretty sneaky if you ask me.

Pickup is still cheaper than getting it at the shipped cost and then paying the shipping.

Tommy

 

[PoorUB]

I have heard of people shopping online at Walmart and finding the item in the store. Driving out and the price is higher in he store. They go online, order the item and have it ordered for store pickup, then go run some other erands. In an hour or two they get email that their order in is. Lots of putsy work, but on a higher priced item it is probably worth it.

 

[smackey05]

Bins for organization. For my microfiber towels I have a clean bin for the towels to use on paint, a clean bin for the interior, and then a bin for dirty towels.

 

[jollygreengiant]

This is slightly over your $50 limit but I think it's worth it. It makes fuelling anything so much easier, and no more spilled fuel on the shop floor.

 

[bradpac]

Got some stuff added to my Christmas list. In previous years every time I put fender for a 65 Dodge truck I never get it.

 

[Bogie1632]

This is slightly over your $50 limit but I think it's worth it. It makes fuelling anything so much easier, and no more spilled fuel on the shop floor.

My father had shoulder surgery and bought one of these so he didnt have to lift the can to pour. Works great and is now on my Christmas wish list.

V/R
Bogie

 

[FMB4]

Yep, shopping Walmart online can save you money. This is especially true when it comes to PCs, laptops, TVs, and electronic devices.

 

[FMB4]

Under $50 for me would be my bifocal safety glasses.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Under $50 for me would be my bifocal safety glasses.

I love these:

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have heard of people shopping online at Walmart and finding the item in the store. Driving out and the price is higher in he store. They go online, order the item and have it ordered for store pickup, then go run some other erands. In an hour or two they get email that their order in is. Lots of putsy work, but on a higher priced item it is probably worth it.

That's exactly what I was going to do. Store pick for an online order was $2.00 MORE. I went to the store, found it on the shelf and the store price was also $2.00 more than the online price. Took it to the register, showed the nice lady the online price and she said I'd have to go to customer service. When I said I didn't want to bother for 2 bucks, she said, " lemme see what I can do" and she rang it up for the online price...

Tommy

 

[lolaetype]

A decent radio/stereo.
A fan, I have a 20" box fan in the garage which meets my needs
Large steel or aluminum drip pan. Useful if you have a vehicle that drips oil and also to catch errant drips during fluid changes and brake jobs.
A small refrigerator. Probably more than $50, but it's nice not to have to troop into the house for y our drink of choice.
Thermometer/hygrometer

 

[DPG]

I use this way more than I thought I would. It’s mounted to a shelf above my Steevo bench .
about 30.00 from Amazon.

 

[quickfarms]

Paint markers!!!! Get yourself a pack of 7 or 8 colors so you can mark what plug, wire, nut, hydraulic line, etc goes where after it is removed for maintenance. This way you can avoid the usual "is this the right _____ that goes here?" when you go to put something back together. You can get these anywhere with a marker crafts section like Michaels or Walmart.

My best story of how these would have come in handy is when we had to split a tractor at the bell housing to replace a bearing that was shot. When we put the tractor back together, the hydraulic lines that controlled the steering were put on backwards, causing the tractor to turn the opposite way you spun the driving wheel! That was an oh s*** moment as I drove out of the garage. Get yourself some paint markers and avoid the headaches.

Telephone cable works great for that, not the stuff in the house but the stuff on the pole. Usually the construction guys will give you a couple of foot piece of the cut off scrap siting in the back of the truck, if you ask. It contains 12 different colors of thin wire and is great for keeping track of hoses and air lines when working on vehicles

 

[JAYoung]

Scunci hair ties, used in place of rubber bands, which never last in a shop environment.

 

[bwringer]

I use this way more than I thought I would. It’s mounted to a shelf above my Steevo bench .
about 30.00 from Amazon.

Thanks! I just did some fine work this week where I was juggling magnifying glasses and lights and overall it was incredibly annoying. It didn't hit me until I saw your post that this is what I needed.

Ordered.

 

[bwringer]

At wally world today I saw a bucket roller stand for less than $15. I fully intend to snag one soon for an oildry container.

Robot or human?

That reminded me of this absolutely wonderful Harbor Freight "tool creeper" for $17.99

Tool Creeper

Amazing deals on this Tool Creeper at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It's so insanely useful it's downright indecent. If you're working from the ground, like doing a brake job but you don't have a lift, just put everything you need on the tray. Everything stays in once place without rolling away, etc. There are compartments for bolts, lug nuts, etc. and a steel plate where you can stick on your magnetic light or grabber widget.

Then when you're done on one side, put the **** you didn't need back in the toolbox, and roll it to the other side.



You can find some similar rolling "tool creeper" and "tool tray" sorts of things on Amazon, too. In general, having some sort of on-site fastener and tool storage locus as you work on stuff is incredibly useful. I have several options on hand, including lots of magnetic trays (although you have to pay more attention when working with non-magnetic stainless or plastic fasteners), a few silicone tool trays and work mats, etc..

 

[nadogail]

Some of my better "Shop Stuff" was left behind by tenants who used to rent from me. Recently an outgoing tenant left a Box Fan at the curb when they vacated the house, I grabbed it up and will add a few furnace filters to it, with Duct tape, and call it an Air Cleaner.

 

[BigSteve63]

Magnifying lamp or lighted magnifying glass, whatever you want to call it.

Whether its trying to read fine print, an old part number or digging a splinter out of your finger, it's money well spent.

^^ This - I bought one back when HF had the 20% coupons. Welded a piece of rectangle tube to a piece of pipe with bushings and screwed to the pegboard above the bench. My 58 YO eyes aren't what they used to be?

Steve

 

[atch]

No picture but our daughter bought a new foam rubber mat that goes in front of her kitchen sink. She gave me the old one to put at my shop bench. I have several different kinds of rubber mats that are supposed to do the same thing, but this one is way thicker and way more cushiony. While this one is at the spot where I stand most of the time I think I'll get more of them to put at other places where I spend time more than just a few seconds at a time (radial arm saw, drill presses, parts washer, lathes, etc.). Would love to have one at my welding table but I think that would probably be a recipe for disaster.

 

[rharman]

Scunci hair ties, used in place of rubber bands, which never last in a shop environment.

I've used these for years - absolutely indispensable. Get the rubber ones, not the fabric covered ones.

 

[nadogail]

The original toilet in my workshop was a gift from the plumber who did the installation. The installation was not free and the toilet was one he had been paid to replace for one of his other customers.

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

 

[ford guy]

An addition for those with Sharpies and paint pens.....

And I learned it here!

Add a magnet to it. I used a piece of heat shrink to attach the magnet to the lid. Once the Sharpie wears out, I put the "magnet lid" on a new Sharpie.

I have multiple colors of Sharpies handy on all kinds of metal surfaces,

Tool box lid
Furnace
fridge
drill press
welder.

Thanks for the tip!
I added magnets to three different Sharpie pens last night

 

[Dreamer1975]

I like to keep a label maker around to label draws and such. Makes it a lot easier to find things.

 

[Alchase]

Scunci hair ties, used in place of rubber bands, which never last in a shop environment.

I buy Ranger Bands from Amazon. They come in many different sizes and hold up great in crappy conditions.

Amazon.com

 

[inphx]

The rechargeable under hood light from Harbor Freight works pretty damn good and at $35 it is a great buy too!

845 Lumen LED Rechargeable Underhood Work Light

Amazing deals on this 845 Lumen Under Hood Work Light at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

That looks better than my pick from Rock Auto - performance tool W2404 , but they have different mount strategies. The HF is magnetic and the RA version has clothesline like hooks that retract. BUT YES - under hood light for the Holidays for the dude/dudette that has everything else.

 

[khnitz]

...magnetic paper towel holder...

Magnetic Paper Towel Holder, Orange

Amazing deals on this Orange Magnetic Paper Towel Holder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

How did I not know this was a thing sooner!?! I discovered this thread yesterday and grabbed one from HF on my way home from work. I got it in Yellow to complement the colors of my Mohawk lift - it holds to the lift column nicely! One less Christmas present option for my kids to get me, though

OTOH, I could always use a 2nd one...

 

[JasonF]

I just started using one of these and can't believe how much cleaner my floor stays! Its a no splatter pad for your oil catch.

Amazon.com

 

[XJSuperman]

Bumping this thread as its been a few years now and things have changed a bit. The 3D printing community has really reshaped several aspects of my garage, and while overall its not less than $50 with a printer and all its stuff, a single wrench organizer or socket holder can be printed for a couple dollars or less. I've seen lots of new shelving and accessories in the last couple years. Anyone else notice something worth adding here that improves their garage experience?

 

[gleman]

I got one of those cheap battery charger racks from Amazon. I think it's a great QOL boost for about 20 bucks.

 

[maxpower_hd]

"mmmmmmmm....alcohol.......the cause AND solution to ALL life's problems..." -Simpson, Homer J.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The biggest game changer for me was about 10 years ago when I replaced 2 bare bulb fixture with 4' LED "shop lights" and add a 3rd over the work bench.