What tools do you use?

[68C30Flatbed]

I am assembling a workshop and am interested in knowing what tools you find useful for repairing/restoring your truck, and those you're disappointed in. What comprises a minimal shop. How about a dream shop?

Links to a buying sources would be great if you have them. Thanks!

[CPNE]

Compressor, mig welder, torch, and sawz-all

To me a torch is a necessity. You can't wrench 35 year old rusted bolts

[Brainchild]

CPNE said what I was gonna say,don't forget an air ratchet,and impact,a good set of wrenches,and sockets.And a good strong garage jack,and jackstands.Nothing worse than trying to work under something and it barely being chest high.

[bobs409]

Add a sandblast cabinet to that list. I built my own. The quality of your work will go way up with one of these.

[JIMs70GMC]

or a parts cleaner. Also, specialty tools- pullers(steering/balancer etc...) a press would be nice.

[Rusty Rider]

buy two sets of wrenches. you will run into alot of bolts that has the same size nuts backing them.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by Brainchild

Nothing worse than trying to work under something and it barely being chest high.

Agreed, and my chest (gut) gets "higher" all the time. Why not put one of these on the wish-list, too?

10,000 Pound Asymmetric Lift / Wide

If you're building a shop, you might want to at least beef up the concrete pad where you would want to put one of these. I've been watching them become more widely available for the past few years.

SSOW

[Tx Firefighter]

I have big stuff of.....

jack and stands
MIG welder
torch
blast cabinet
parts cleaner
engine stand
engine hoist
Caterpillar diesel front end loader for lifting heavy stuff


tons of electric tools like grinders, sawz-all, etc....

[dallas71]

bob...how did you make your sandblast cabinet???

[Tx Firefighter]

TIP makes a great build it yourself kit for blast cabinets.

[cdowns]

i've got to the age that it seems like the 2most important tools in my workshop are the air conditioning system and the refrigerator

[72 CustomCamper]

Don't forget a BFH for when your friends bring their ford by to work on it...


Chuck

[Brainchild]

Originally Posted by bobs409

Add a sandblast cabinet to that list. I built my own. The quality of your work will go way up with one of these.

Ya got any pics of the sandblast cabinet,I might like to make one of those myself,if you don't mind

[Brainchild]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i've got to the age that it seems like the 2most important tools in my workshop are the air conditioning system and the refrigerator

lol me too,but I can't seem to part with the funding,I can always spend it somewhere else

[roj2323]

let's see so far i have found these items usefull

grinder
air chisle -great for poping ball joints apart and getting ribbits out
impact
2 3/8's rachets one with a swivel head
2 sets of open/closed standard wrenches
2 sets of 3/8's standard sockets one short one long ----get 6 sided there stronger
extentions 1in 2in 6in + a really long one for reaching odd areas
1/2 to 3/8's adapter - i have found it faster to use this than changing air tools
small hammer
big hammer 5lbs
pliers
needle nose pliers
wirecutters
dentist pick
1/2in sockets 5/8's-1 1/8th
4 jack stands
floor jack
ziplock baggies
permnate marker to mark whats in the bags
torch or something to get bolts hot so they come out
penetrating oil
a bottle of fast orange - abrasive hand cleaner
a small hand held sandblaster and a face sheild
a computer with a helpfull posting board such as this one
engine stand-usefull if your going to build one otherwise don't bother
an overhead hoist for lifting engines in and out and lifting off major body parts
fabric tow straps for lifting those body parts off -use 2 or 3
set of screwdrivers
drill
drill bits - save time buy the good ones.....a good set will cost around $200 or about $12-20 a bit
a soft plyable air hose - you may have to make one but it's nice to not have to fight it.
air compressor
ajustable wrenches
razor blades
air cut off tool -also called a whizzer
sawzall and plenty of blades
power washer optional but great for cleaning parts



body tools:
hopefully someone can fill this in i haven't gotten there yet


hope this helps,
ondrew

[69 Short Fleet]

Thread chaser set, oil seal driver kit, a decent digital multimeter (Fluke are highend unitis and worth it! IMO) that can give you dwell angle measurements, a decent set of taps & dies.

[chickenwing]

lots of lights, lots of 20amp plugs, at least 1 220 outlet,drill press, floor model if you have room bench model otherwise. Bench grinder at least 3/4 horse, equiped with various stones, wire wheels and buff pads. Creeper. Good resperator if you paint/sand blast. Eye protection. At least a 6" vise. Shelving, shelving, shelving. Epoxy coated floor (my GOD it's nice!). Beer fridge, tunes and band-aids. I also have a dedicated shop garbage can. It's nice to rummage around in just dirt for a part/box/label/instruction you screwed up and threw away by mistake.

[poff]

Don't buy too small of a MIG like I did. Harbor Frieght has good prices on Ingersoll-rand air tools. thetoolwarehouse.net has good prices on OTC and other brands. My brother runs a Huskey air compressor at his shop, runs it pretty hard and it works well.

[Brainchild]

I bought a small mig,cause well money is the dictator,but I have a nice arc welder for the big jobs

Also just picked up a tire changer,and stereo with a CD player is a must.

And A nice big broad broom.

[BET68]

I WANT TO GO WORK IN CDOWNS SHOP!!

[ChevLoRay]

All good ideas, previously expressed. But, here's what I'd like to see added to the list to make a "Dream Garage"

Cordless Telephone
Television, with cable/satellite and a remote

I have a brake bleeder, a cooling system pressure tester and I'm looking for a good deal on a Porta-Power.

Howzabout a Block and Tackle, or other hoist system?

A nice, big FAN!! It gets hot, sometimes, down south.

Automatic hose reel
Automatic Cord reel

Multiple air drops along the walls, with water separator and a lubricator, in-line. Also, putting a Quick-connect on the outside wall of the garage/shop, could be handy.

Oh, maybe a pit, if you can't put in a lift. But a nice 10K lb two or four post lift would be sweet.

[gonebad2]

My favorite or most used tools:
For hand and air tools, I have nothing but Mac or Snap On
Lincoln Pro Mig with large bottle ( just traded old one in for larger one)
Lincoln Plasma Cutter
Portable spot welder
Set of stubby Mac wrenches
Set of Intermediate Snap On wrenches
Set of Standard length Mac Wrenches
Set of Extra Long Mac Wrenches sizes 3/8" thru 1-1/2"
Fitz-a-dent stud welder and puller for dents
Mac cutoff tool with flexible head
Mac 1/2" drive impact wrench ( given to me by junkyardjohn and it's a ripper)
Snap On tap and die set

I have a thing for tools. I have two pretty good size Snap On rollaways that are packed and getting heavier all the time. When I make the move to Vegas, I feel sorry for the guys that have to move all the stuff in the garage.

[gr8scott51]

A fat wallet.

[pbmcauliffe]

Besides three rollaways of hand tools I regularly use
Various air tools (ratchets, impact, cut-off, nibbler, punch/flanger, etc)
Miller MM210 mig welder
Miller Syncrowave 180sd tig/stick welder
Hypertherm 380 plasma cutter
40" bending brake
Bead roller
JD2 M3 tubing bender and many die sets
Pro-tools tubing notcher
Various levels, measuring devices, fab tools
Horizontal band saw
Milwaukee 14" chop saw
Sawzall
4 Hitachi 4.5" grinders (two with cut-off wheels, 2 with flap discs so more than one person can work @ same time)
Hitachi 1/2" and 3/8" drills
Engine hoist
Sandblast cabinet
40 gallon parts washer
A/C unit, fans
Three floor jacks (one aluminum lightweight unit)
4- tall 6 ton jackstands
4- short 4 ton jackstands
Lots of safety equip. (glasses, face shields, ear prot., gloves, 1st aid stuff)
Pioneer Elite receiver, Sirius satellite radio, 4-Niles OS10 spkrs and a powered sub for drowning out work noise
And other small items I am forgetting

[68C30Flatbed]

Thanks for all the advice!

Here's what I DON'T have but need:

Enough storage
Oxy/Acetylene torch for cutting
Mig Welder
Hydraulic jack or jack stands. Yeah, I know, basic stuff.
Table saw for bed work
Drill Press
Sandblast cabinet - but I do have an old freezer, an air compressor, and 90 miles away there's a beach with pure white sand.
$20,000 to get a minimal home workshop set up properly