The well equipped shop

[Thumper68]

We all do different things in our shops, I do mostly metal fab with some equipment repair and if I can't avoid it auto repair, I also have a fairly well stocked woodworking area.

All of these take hand tools, wrenches, sockets etc.. so we can skip over those type tools since everyone needs them.

What tools and equipment do you think a well equipped shop needs to have for the work you do.

To make things easy list out the type of work you do and those things that make the work go smoothly.

I'll start out.
I do metal fab, equipment repair, wood working, and some auto/light truck repair.
Metal fab:
Angle grinder(s)
Horizontal bandsaw
Vertical bandsaw
Dry cut saw
Mig welder
Tig welder
stick welder
OxyFuel torch
Plasma cutter
Milling machine
Lathe
Fabrication/fixturing table
Heavy vise
Pedestal/bench grinder
Engine hoist
Media blast cabinet
Belt grinder
Precision measuring/layout tools
Drill press

Woodworking:
Table saw
Jointer
Thickness plainer
Drill Press
Miter saw
Scroll saw
Radial arm saw
Spindle sander
Mortising machine
Router table/shaper
Drum sander/widebelt sander
Trim router
Wood working bench/assembly table
Material supports/outfeed supports

 

[bcradio]

Track saw
circular saw
jigsaw

 

[dr_clyde]

This is one of those rabbit holes that has no bottom. No matter what, there's always a machine, tool or piece of machinery that would make the job faster, easier, better ect. The list is never complete.

I have friends who have been in business since the 70's and are still investing in faster, better, and more innovative machinery.

Well equipped is kind of nebulous as well. Where do you stop? I can think of at least 5 things off the top of my head that if I had the money/space would be on my floor tomorrow.

I have a small business that is a welding and machine shop. I do custom weldments, repairs, and manual machining. I do a fair bit of pipe and tank welding. I have begun the road to CNC machining, although I'm not prepared to add that to my services offered list yet. I don't do much woodwork, although some is unavoidable. I can't stand working on cars. I will let friends work on their cars with my tools, but I honestly would rather pay someone for things beyond brakes and other basic repairs.

#1 most used tool in my shop: AC/DC TIG welder. Specifically my Dynasty 200DX. Must have above all else. I would be crippled beyond belief without this tool. I have some machines I can use as a backup, but none that do exactly what the Dynasty does. The power, portability, input power variability and capacity makes this tool above all else king in my shop. I'm looking to add a Dynasty 400 as well when the job allows, as I'm picking up more aluminum work lately.

The other two big money makers are my Bridgeport knee mill and 19" x 80" LeBlond lathe. Customers know I have these, and I get a fair amount of work on them.

Otherwise, in no particular order:

Forklift
250 amp wire welder
Welding/fixture table
Oxy-acetylene torch
Plasma cutter
Surface burnisher
Vertical bandsaw
Horizontal bandsaw
Belt grinder
Bench grinder
Electric die grinder
Portaband
Ridgid Tri-stand
Wilton bench vise
Drill press
Mag drill

My CNC lathe is getting repairs done at the moment, but I have a feeling its going to be a heavily used tool once its running again.

I do a fair amount of sheet metal work. I don't have space for a big press brake and shear, so I use a friend's. If I had the space, I would have a 8' press brake, 8' x 1/4" shear, 48" slip roll and a power notcher. I am at his shop about every day needing something sheared, bent or rolled. For now I get by with my 14ga box and pan brake, kett and bevery shears.

If I had the space I'd add a horizontal mill, a surface grinder, cold saw and a radial drill. For now I can get by using the ones at friend's shops.

What little woodwork I do I can get by with a table saw, a sliding miter saw, circular saw and jigsaw. I plan to add a jointer, planer and track saw someday.

Next shop... Next shop will be bigger.

 

[Codejack]

Heh, going through a similar process, now:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369875

I do mostly automotive repair and restoration, with some home repair and maintenance thrown in for good measure.

-Sockets
-Wrenches
-Pliers/Cutters
-Screwdrivers
-Hex/torx keys
-Hammers
-Punches
-Pry bars
-Clamps
-Multimeter
-Soldering Iron
-Floor Jacks
-Jack Stands
-Ramps
-Wheel Chocks
-Air pump
-Bench vise
-Angle Grinder/Cutter
-Rotary Sander/Polisher
-Dremel
-Drill
-Circular Saw
-Reciprocating Saw
-Tap and Die Set
-Files

Then specialty auto tools like gear pullers and such.

 

[jeffmoss26]

A well stocked refrigerator
But seriously...
multiple benches that are clean-ish
a nice vise
drill press
bench grinder
toolboxes
good lighting
good audio
lots of storage for small parts and supplies
a key machine (part of my hobby)
an area for electronics/soldering
an area for reference materials "library"

 

[Thumper68]

Great lists so far.

The point of this thread is to expose people to some tools/equipment that maybe they do not know they need to make a job easier.

Each of us do things in different ways and there may be a better way that we never realized, so keep the lists coming.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

This is one of those rabbit holes that has no bottom. No matter what, there's always a machine, tool or piece of machinery that would make the job faster, easier, better ect. The list is never complete.

This ^.

My situation: I began as a single mechanic for specialty equipment company in 1995 in single 30x50 bay. The company has grown and moved to a bigger shop. The machines have changed and so the work has evolved along with it. The machinery we deal with is about 80% built on commercial truck chassis from 1 ton up to class 8. One line of purpose-built chassis (whole machine is vehicle onto itself) and the rest are trailer mounted.

I do everything from the regular nuts and bolts work of simple repairs to modifications and fabrication to adapt to customers special requests / needs along with working through design issues when the MFR's implement changes that don't work in the field and I have to make it work. Lots of hydraulics, high pressure water, and vacuum systems. 12 volt electrical as well as CAN control systems and some on-board 110V power invertors / generators / ect. Small engine work up to minor troubleshooting of large diesel power units.
Being a new machine dealer for several lines, we sometimes need to make stuff match the customer color choice.

So, beyond the basic common hand tools, wrenches, and all that like you expect in almost any auto shop, here's the stuff I think really MAKES our shop (or NOT having could break us):

-Forklift
-Plasma (capable of 1/2 thick cleanly cut and up to 1" rough cut)
-torch
-mig
-steel supply on hand - assortment of material from small flat stock to structural channel and assorted types of round and square tubing
-milling machine
-drilling and threading tools - taps and dies, wide range of drill bits
-magnetic drill
-porta-band saw
-2 ton portable gantry crane
-large air compressor
-air tools - air hacksaw / die grinders / cut-off wheel /90* air drill
-large 3/4 and 1" drive tools - sockets and impacts
-torque wrench up over 650ft/lbs - required for certain component rebuilds
-laptop with interface adapters and programs for our MFR's systems
-Electrical supplies - OEM matching connectors / pins to make "factory" repairs
-Multimeter with good leads / probes / adapters to take readings without hacking up wiring like a noob
-A basic set of autobody tools - from body hammers / dollies to DA and spray guns capable of spraying any paint product
18K lifts - we get by with one pair, but wish we had 2

 

[R_einan]

I'm a jack of all trades kinda shop guy, I work on my harley and our classic cars in my shop, though my hobby is fine carpentry and furniture building. I will also repair or make just about anything I need. Luckily my metal fab needs are minor and anything major can go over to my uncles shop, he is well equipped for metal work and a gunsmith.

I would like to add a shaper, jointer, and mortise machine to my capabilities in the future. I also need to build a decent wood working bench sooner rather than later.

One thing I couldn't live without is clamps: parallel, pipe, and bar. Use then frequently for tons of projects. I used f-clamps today to hold posts for drilling as I am building a new deck.

 

[Matt Matt]

I think the well equipped shop only needs three main tools.

-A brain to operate the tools properly.
-Motivation to be successful.
-Talent and physical abilities.

Once you have those main tools, start collecting everything a;
Machinist uses,
Tool & Die maker uses,
Welder uses,
Plumber uses,
Hydraulic mechanics and PMF's uses,
Electrician uses,
Industrial Electrician uses,
Mechanic uses,
Industrial mechanic uses,
woodworker uses,
Finish carpenter uses,
HVAC installer uses,
Steamfitter uses,
Mould maker uses,
Radiation mechanic uses,
Aviation mechanic uses,
Elevator mechanic uses,
And I'm sure I missed a few.

Then there are the tools that the technologists use....

One of the shops I work out of , have pretty much all the tools listed with all the trades above. It is about 3/4 million square-foot.

 

[Gmonkee]

Shoot, I'd be happy with a bench, a good vise and my paltry stock of Harry Homeowner tool. None are power tools.

Top it with my wife busy elsewhere for the moment and all is well. I am not recreating the Titanic in my shop, just home fixes and a few fun projects.

 

[Packard V8]

As mentioned, having tools/machines isn't going to get the job done.

One of the most productive guys I know never buys new tools; works in an old shed with mis-matched stuff from garage sales. He beats the **** out of his tools when necessary, reaches for the next one and supports his family with his output.

Another guy I know has probably $100K of pristine Snap-on and other brand names in a pristine $100K custom shop with a hoist. I can't remember seeing him do anything more technical than check air pressure on tires. The most used machine in the shop is the refrigerator when the Corvette Club meets there.

I'm somewhere in-between, been gathering tools and machines for fifty years and occasionally get something done.

Welding is my PITA. I've got gas, stick and wire, but don't do any of them often enough to keep up my skills. When I need something fabbed or repaired, the welds more often than not look like an old guy has forgotten how, but it does stay stuck.

jack vines

 

[yamaha0343]

PPE and fire safety/suppression often gets overlooked and most don't like spending money on that kinda stuff.

 

[619DioFan]

My home shop is set up mostly for keeping my vehicles alive as well as doing metal related projects for myself. outside of the big tool box with the evergrowing collection of hand , air and speciality tools the following equipment is used often-

Drill press
grinder
vise
40 ton press
hf flux core wire welder
lincoln 220 stick welder
engine hoist ( foldable ) used for more than engines. well worth it.
hf metal bender ( for flat and solid stock ) use it alot
hf pipe bender 12 ton cl find 15.00 bucks well worth it
4 ton come a long another problem solver
cut off saw for metal ( still need a hor/vert metal band saw )

This list of " equipment " allows me to do what I need to keep my vehicles going my property in order and occasionally help a neighbor when needed.

I despise working with wood. my wood working tools are limited to a circular saw , jig saw, couple of sanders a few drills and a dewalt recip saw ( I do love the dewalt recip saw for demo work ) did I mention I despise working with wood.

 

[Ohmthis]

I'll play! I am also a jack of all trades kinda guy. My career is industrial electrician/HVAC tech so I have tons of specialty tools for those trades. I play with mostly metal, but I'm working with wood more and more. My list is based on my hobbies and not what makes me money, I could probably write 10 pages of stuff for that. So beside my roller with my hand tools, here we go.
AC/DC tig/stick
220v mig
Torch set
Plasma cutter
Metal cutting bandsaws both hor and vert
Big powermatic drill press
80 gallon 2stage compressor
Parts washer
Engine hoist and stand

Table saw
Compound sliding miter saw
Router
Drill press
Hand saws both power and manual
Nail, Brad, staple, pin guns
Clamps,Clamps, and more Clamps!!!

 

[WittHay]

Working on a wide assortment of equipment over the years. here are some shop items i found useful

A- Frame with Chain or Electric hoist
10 ton Floor jack
15 and 25 ton Railroad Jacks
50 ton Hydraulic Press
5 hp Two-Stage Compressor
Commercial Duty Pressure Washer
Parts Washer
14" Chop Saw
AC/DC Stick Welder
250 amp Mig Welder
Oxy/Aceteylene or Propane setup with both the medium and HD handles