Yooper920
Member
A stack of 3" x 5" index cards for list/quick sketches.
Shop Basics - The Over Looked Items
- Thread starter Bad Mojo
- Start date
engineer2
Well-known member
A cat to keep mice out.
fsae0607
Well-known member
A fridge full of beer...
Well this thread got me motivated to get a couple things ordered. This is my take on Ox Tool's aka Tom Liptons brush. If you don't know who Tom is he is a machinist on Youtube and several years he mentioned this brush. At work I started buying these and having them put on lanyards so they have a home. Any tool that produced a metal chip received one these and a hole to mount it. Always having a brush at the ready insured they stayed cleaner. McMaster-Carr numbers below.
Brush: 71855T21
Lanyard: 94975A113
Split Rings: 90177A223
Brush: 71855T21
Lanyard: 94975A113
Split Rings: 90177A223
traumadoc2b
Well-known member
I keep a couple of old coffee tins full of sawdust. There's often plenty of that around to refill if needed. I do use oil dry too sometimes.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes sawdust does well too. Coffee is my favorite to use as it smells good though.
BMW Rider
Well-known member
I use a cheap dollar store rubber spatula to scrape the oil dregs out of the tray into the bottle to go for recycling. Since I started doing that I have a lot less mess from the pans.
Lefty's Garage
Active member
- White boards & dry erase markers
- various smaller sized magnets (with their plastic spacers) like rare earth quite strong
- an up-to-date circuit schedule for all circuits in electric panels
- clipboards (various sizes)
- a few old soup cans full of pencils, markers of various tip sizes) ball point pens
- small stapler, couple boxes of plastic baggies for small stuff
- couple qt bottles of 91% or better yet 99% isopropyl alcohol
Kasal
Well-known member
How about a wall clock, so you could have notion of time and know the time you spend on your projects.
GaryM909
Well-known member
I like to keep a few turkey basters from a dollar store kicking around.
bwringer
Well-known member
ArkTinkerer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2010
- Messages
- 369
Surprised no one has mentioned a pencil sharpener..
Bogie1632
Well-known member
Tons of great suggestions. My addition...
An inventory list. Mine is mainly for tools and equipment. Tedious to create from scratch if you have a lot of stuff, but worth it in the case of an accident or theft.
V/R
Bogie
An inventory list. Mine is mainly for tools and equipment. Tedious to create from scratch if you have a lot of stuff, but worth it in the case of an accident or theft.
V/R
Bogie
nadogail
Well-known member
Has anyone mentioned High Speed Internet?
65ranchero
Well-known member
Yup! got one and what a life saver for that e"emergency"
and If you have water available might as well put in a deep wash sink with hot water
I will be retired on 30 June 2021 I do not plan to plan nor look at a clock as time spent in my shops working on my projects is irrelevant :}
Here Here !!Blasphemer!
Cypher
smackey05
Well-known member
A label maker and small parts bins for when I take extended projects apart.
Thats a great call. I started using Airtable for this a while ago and it has been super helpful. I have certain columns specially for insurance just in case the worst happens. Also when the policy gets reviewed I have actually numbers I can use instead of giving a ball park number.
The other thing I added in Airtable was all my projects and I have the tools that I expect that I need linked to that, so I can see what tool would allow me to accomplish the most amount of projects when I am looking to buy another tool. No more getting caught up in what is shiny and new or on all sale at the moment.
like2wheel
Well-known member
Thinking videos would be much easier, & potentially more valuable as proof should the need arise.
Bogie1632
Well-known member
Good suggestion. I have photos already dated and saved but need some update. Video may be quicker.
V/R
Bogie
555
Well-known member
I have an Alexia dot in my garage. It took the place of an antiquated stereo system.
What's the purpose of a carbon dioxide alarm?
I just use a grinder
bwringer
Well-known member
I suspect that was supposed to be "CO alarm", carbon monoxide.
R.Bolte.Jr
Active member
A happy day in my garage experience was investing in a nice entry mat inside the man door. A good quality one that keeps me from not only tracking snow/rain into the shop, but also keeps me from tracking metal shavings, grinding and saw dust back in to the house.
dcg9381
Well-known member
C02 detector
Propane detector (if you're heating with propane or NG)
Propane detector (if you're heating with propane or NG)
Meursault74
Well-known member
I once saw an ad in the print classified section of the newspaper for an NO2 tank. Said it was great for parties.
This was a long time ago. Made me laugh. NO2 is nitrogen dioxide and is rather vile smelling and is the main constituent of smog. N2O is Nitrous Oxide, which is likely what they were trying to sell. Back then they charged by the letter and they likely didn't want to spell it out. Not sure if the huffers would have known the difference from the ad.
You are correct, my excuse is that I am old and was lucky to get the "C" and the "O" right.
One of my favorite upgrades has been putting most of the main garage lighting on a motion sensor. You walk into the garage and it lights up automatically, no matter where you enter at. The controller I bought has a variable off timer. I originally bought an expensive ($60) sensor made by Unenco, but after the second one failed, I replaced it with a cheap sensor ($6) off of one of the Chinese sites, and it's been rock solid for the last couple of years.
A person would have to use a wooden pencil to need one! Nothing but mechanical pencils at my place!
49tandc
Well-known member
Faucet mounted eye-wash station - about 50 bux. Is your sight worth not having it? Just like a fire extinguisher in the garage...
JAYoung
Well-known member
I keep a card of Scunci elastic hair ties to replace rubber bands that seem to rot quickly in a workshop environment.
For keeping power cords in order, or attaching shooting straws to aerosol cans, they can't be beat.
For keeping power cords in order, or attaching shooting straws to aerosol cans, they can't be beat.
quattroman
Active member
Eye wash bottle, hopefully never need it, but when you need it you need it.
Borntoolate
Well-known member
I have remote controls to turn on my air compressor and shop vac. Very handy as you can put these noisy items in out of the way places or perhaps even outside if you have the space. Put the remotes near where you use them especially the shop vac remote which typically is only used when you are using the equipment. It can also just clip on your pocket or belt for easy access. For the Vac once you use it you won't want to go without.
You can get them for 110V or 220V. I forgot where I bought them but they are a dark red in color and have been quite reliable.
You can get them for 110V or 220V. I forgot where I bought them but they are a dark red in color and have been quite reliable.
Plump
Well-known member
I'll give a +1 for the internet connection. HUNDREDS of times I've needed to look up some manuals, instructions, videos, etc. and it's just invaluable to have access on your phone or a computer. Heck, I even find it to be a safety issue since I have a Google Home speaker out there so if something happens, I can use it as a phone or intercom to get someone to help me if I'm unable to get to my phone since it just listens to me when needed.
Access to infinite music too!
Access to infinite music too!
Walkers
Well-known member
Just put it on a switch by the door. Otherwise the RPC will run all day anytime the lights are on.
Jagmandave
Well-known member
I buy those chrome wire shelves from Home Depot, they come in all different widths and heights. When I tear down an engine or transmission in my shop all the parts go on those shelves, one right next to each project so I don't mix up parts from one to another. They will hold a lot of weight, but then I work on small engines (classic Minis) and the shelf units don't take up a lot of room. You can get them on casters too.....
Johnny Generic
Well-known member
How about a USA red white and blue flag.
milner351
Well-known member
really good list - thank you.
a friend is a transmission rebuilder - he has banned any and all kinds of oil dry from his shop as the dust never really goes away and ends up settling into anything you try to work on.
From his advice I have taken the same philosophy - simple green and water in the mop bucket - that's all that will be used to clean the floors.
More than one fire extinguisher, wall mounted and at easy grab height - maybe best close to access doors so your brain will remember where they are in those "oh sh...." moments
I'm on my third or fifth shop/garage in my life - and closed cabinet storage has gotten more important over time. There's always sawdust, overspray, etc, etc..... so being able to put things away and close the door / cabinet / drawer so they are protected - is priceless.
a friend is a transmission rebuilder - he has banned any and all kinds of oil dry from his shop as the dust never really goes away and ends up settling into anything you try to work on.
From his advice I have taken the same philosophy - simple green and water in the mop bucket - that's all that will be used to clean the floors.
More than one fire extinguisher, wall mounted and at easy grab height - maybe best close to access doors so your brain will remember where they are in those "oh sh...." moments
I'm on my third or fifth shop/garage in my life - and closed cabinet storage has gotten more important over time. There's always sawdust, overspray, etc, etc..... so being able to put things away and close the door / cabinet / drawer so they are protected - is priceless.