Essential Shop Equipment -- My Perspective

[goodfellow]

This thread was popular over on the GG, but I was too late to save it.

The thread originally came about from a long dinner conversation with a good friend of mine. We discussed the absolute "must have" equipment that make car and motorcycle restoration possible for the home shop mechanic

As the title says, "five pieces of equipment that are essential for restoration work"!! We also assumed that DIY'ers have the basic hand tools and also metal fabrication tools to attempt a restoration. So items such as a MIG welder, air compressor, grinder, etc. are now within most budgets and thus available in most serious DIY garages. Hence, they were not included in the list

So here goes the list in order of importance:

1) The most important piece of equipment -- Oxy/Acetylene torch. It will weld, cut, heat, braze, and solder. Without a good torch, taking an old vehicle apart is
    almost considered torture.



2) Bench Grinder -- with wire wheels. To be exact, with a coarse wheel on one side and a brass (soft) wheel on the other. This combination will save hours in   
    stripping and prepping parts for paint and/or polishing bare metal.



3) Parts Washer -- getting parts clean and grease free is easily accomplished with this little gem. Once considered a luxury, a 20 gal washer is well within most
    DIY budgets these days.



4) Blast Cabinet -- When doing serious restoration work, this equipment can literally save "days" in prep time over hand sanding, wire brushing and/or wire
    wheeling. Again, what used to be an expensive luxury is now affordable thanks to HF and other importers.



5) Hydraulic Press -- The money saved on machine shop or garage fees during a serious restoration project is quite substantial. When doing engine, transmission,
  driveline and/or suspension work, a hydraulic press will pay for itself in just a very few months. The asian imports are quite capable and a 20 Ton unit can be
    purchased for less than $180.



The final thought was that most all this equipment can be purchased used (or on sale) for less than $500 -- (not including the rental/purchase fees for gas cylinders). Bottom line, this equipment is truely within the budget of most serious DIY'ers.

[Elroy]

While Elroy holds the sincere opinion your recommendations are well founded. You're missing the most basics first. One needs a GOOD bench vise and work table.

[wilbilt]

While Elroy holds the sincere opinion your recommendations are well founded. You're missing the most basics first. One needs a GOOD bench vise and work table.

Agreed 100%.

With limited space in my "shop", my Wilton vise and primary benches are outside. I always need space to spread things out.

The Wilton 1755 is mounted on a section of flanged cast iron 4" gas main planted in concrete. It doesn't move much. I brush it off once a year and repaint and lube it. I guess these cost over $1K these days and are made in Taiwan. This one isn't.

My benches are repurposed, one being an old steam table from the Oddfellows hall and the other being made from one of the old mud scraper grates from the middle school lobby doors I mounted on a steel frame I made. It alternately serves as a workbench and a processing bench for my olive oil hobby.

A good, sturdy vise is an absolute necessity. I have broken more Chinesuim vises than I can count.

[Uncle Buck]

To me, a shop has to start with a solid and stout bench, a substantial bench vise and a decent bench grinder.