What large tools are a must for a garage?

[jeostang]

For me soon, I will have to start making brackets, and other customs parts for my car. What tools would be best to have on hand?

 

[PAToyota]

All depends - what are you talking?

Compressor, welder, plasma cutter, press, lift, bender, brake, shear...

 

[NoBars]

Mill, lathe...

 

[gahi]

must haves, worthless withouts...

Good set of hand tools
Oxy/Ac setup
sawzall
good 1/2 drill
compressor and basic air tools
grinder
floor jack and stands.

you can pull off alot with basic tools.

Tools that make life easier, and projects faster...

Mig welder
Tig welder
Plasma Cutter
Abrasive cut off
press

just the beginning

 

[vonruden]

tools you MUST have? all of them

 

[Pops]

For me soon, I will have to start making brackets, and other customs parts for my car. What tools would be best to have on hand?

For me the "large" ones besides a compressor is a 6" belt sander, a band saw, a welder. I was able to get along with those for quite some time.

J.

 

[bmwpower]

Already stated, but I'll put my vote in:

#1...Lift
#2...Compressor
#3...Jack

 

[jimvannoy]

Besides all the basic shop stuff if you are going to be fabricating parts good things to have are: brake, shear, slip roll, bead roller, planishing hammer, english wheel, anvil, assorted dollies, panel beating bag, assorted hammers, lathe, milling machine, cut off tools, throatlless shear, disc/belt sander, band saw, bracket bender, plasma cutter, torch, cut off saw, and lots of other assorted hand tools.

 

[DIGGER_DAVE]

Besides all the basic shop stuff if you are going to be fabricating parts good things to have are: brake, shear, slip roll, bead roller, planishing hammer, english wheel, anvil, assorted dollies, panel beating bag, assorted hammers, lathe, milling machine, cut off tools, throatlless shear, disc/belt sander, band saw, bracket bender, plasma cutter, torch, cut off saw, and lots of other assorted hand tools.

He said ... "For me soon, I will have to start making brackets, and other customs parts for my car. What tools would be best to have on hand?"

I'd love to have ALL the stuff you suggested jimvannoy; but that will take some DEEP POCKETS!!

When I started fabricating brackets; I started with a SQUARE, a HAMMER, a CENTER PUNCH, a DRILL and a HACK SAW. (hand type)

 

[69lkmno]

Drill press
Blast cabinet

 

[Stanger]

Ingenuity. With this any tool will do.
Grant

 

[Charles (in GA)]

1)Band saw, even a relatively cheap Horthern one is better than none, I use mine alot.

2) Drill press, nothing like being able to drill straight holes square to the work.

3) 6 inch belt sander is a good idea, don't have one but could easily use it.

4) Certainly an air compressor, more than you might ever think you need. mine is an 80 gal, two stage, 7,5 horse.

5) If you don't already, a decent floor jack and jackstands are a must.

not necessary but nice to have items are..............

6) Shop hydraulic press

7) Mig welder, decent one with gas and enough amps to do angle iron and light steel plate.

8) Blast cabinet, a decent one, not one of the cheapies. A home made wooden one is better than the cheap commercial made ones. See www.tptools.com

9)Decent vice of 6 inches capacity or so.

10) Shop vac to clean up the mess.

Charles

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

Your engine dyno?

 

[Sack]

Not sure what you have, but:
good solid old school big honkin vise
good old bench grinder with one side setup for wire wheel
hand tools
torch setup (either o/a or o/p, I prefer o/p)
specific tools for specific jobs like gear pullers etc
OBDII reader if 96+ model vehicles
smaller power tools like drill, recip saw etc
drill press
spend more money on stock than on tools - the practice and experience will help - you should be able to find drops for close to scrap price

 

[thecarfarmer]

Ingenuity. With this any tool will do.
Grant

Damn straight. Wish I could "1-800" that one!

BTW, square & rectangular tubing can be cut to make lots of cool channels and angles. I know an engine swap kit manufacturer in Seattle who got his start that way.

-bill

 

[Inetmonkey]

I'd say it depends on the kind of shop, but in general I think these would give the most bang for the bucks.

For woodworking:

1) Table saw
2) Band saw
3) Jointer
4) Drill press
5) Router table

For metalworking:

1) Mig welder
2) Air compressor
3) Drill press (double bonus tool!)
4) Metal band saw/chop saw
5) Metal shear/brake