List - Tools & Supplies For Wrenching Mancave

[jyl]

Okay, braintrust, here is a tough one.

I have one bay of a small commercial space to use as my mancave / mini-shop. The rest is my wife’s art studio.

For now, the intended use is light to moderate wrenching on my cars. From maintenance to tinkering to *mild* upgrades. Stuff like installing audio, coilover conversion, replacing dashboard, changing body rubber, bigger brakes, etc - I added that détail because for some of you, “mild upgrade” means cutting and welding bodywork, rebuilding transmissions, car on rotisserie, coating and plating and so on. I’m way at the less ambitious end of the spectrum. More of a “unbolt this, bolt that on” guy. Stuff that takes a weekend.

As for tools and supplies at this location, I’m starting at zero. Well, not quite. I have a big set of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 sockets, a few open end wrenches, some screwdrivers, and a can of WD-40. Otherwise, I have NOTHING - the place is an empty room with a rollup door, concrete floor and overhead lighting.

I have lots of tools and supplies at home, but not many duplicates, and I would prefer not to divide my tools between two places that are a 15 minute drive apart, and also not to move so my tools to the shop and be ill-equipped at home.

So I plan to buy essentially a second set of “stuff for working on cars” to equip the shop.

There is a large hardware store and an autoparts store right by the shop, but that seems an expensive way to buy tools. I would rather make a list and do a “big shop” at Home Depot, Amazon, Harbor Freight, etc.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it: to list EVERYTHING you would equip such a shop with, from hand tools to shop equipment to furnishings to diagnostics to consumables to conveniences. So I can go buy it. Spend my money! This tape will now self destruct.

Cars involved are your basic 80s-90s Euro - G50 911, E28 BMW, W124, etc. All metric. Don’t need to list special factory tools.

[pwd72s]

Click here...pick one or more...have fun. Costs nothing to pay attention & take notes.
First step? A good workbench with a decent vise. Grinder on a stand. Floor Jack & good Jackstands. After that? Box & tools. To be decent, buying new? Figure 8-10 thou.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=toolbox%2Fshop+tours

Look at these bundles from Tekton...

https://www.tekton.com/bundles

That should get you started....

First, watch this 10 minutes long video...this guy speaks some common sense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv78gHzI_f8&ab_channel=S%26AAutoRepair

[LWJ]

A brain vomit:

Jack and stands
Voltmeter
OBS tester
BFH
Lug nut wrench
Suspension tools - picklefork and similar
Grease gun
Multiple grease types
Magnet on extended stick to pick up screws
Headlamp
Work lights
Chemicals - degreaser, penetrating oil, brake fluid, atf, oil, antifreeze,
Loctite
Anti seize
Propane torch
Cheater bar for sockets
Vice grips - needle nose especially as well as others
Crescent wrenches
Torque wrench
Tool box
Gloves
Hand soap
Shop rags / paper towels
Extra glasses
Device to crank your music
Dental picks
Pry bar
Little hammer
Torx drivers
Drill bits
Impact wrench
Grinder / angle grinder
Screw drivers
Allen wrenches
Box- end wrenches
Fender cover to allow you to work on G50 without scratching it up
Putty knife/ something to scrape thick grease
Brass drift
Steel punch / chisel /drift
Feeler gauges
Zip ties
Thick copper wire (use the hell out of this for all sorts of things)
Digital caliper
Tap and die set
Helicoil set (you know you will need it ONE day!)
Hacksaw
Air compressor and assorted stuff
Work stool
Rolling tool cart
Wood bits for hammering/driving without damage
Brake bleed kit
Tubing for draining stuff
Drain pan
Cookie sheet

And...First aid kit

It’s a start. You know there will be more.

[pwd72s]

German cars? Add triple square socket set to the list. Tough for me to list individual tools. The same problem I'm sure many here will have..my tools were bought over years...things added on an a "as needed" schedule. My garage looks a lot like that last video I posted...looks disorganized as hell, but I pretty much know where everything is.

What is the floor size of this area? How secure will your tools be? Anybody other than you & your wife have access? Do you own or rent? Just too many variables here...

[jyl]

Only me, my wife, and guests have access.

The space is private, locked, alarmed, behind a locked gate.

Floor size roughly 10’ x 20’.

[Bill Douglas]

You already have the WD-40.

So I can only suggest a scissor lift. I know it's a few dollars but it will transform how you go about doing things easily and safely.

[pwd72s]

45 minutes touring the toolbox of a BMW apprentice wrench...replicate this should get you started:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-j7fSy2chg&ab_channel=ApprenticeGoog

Seriously tho.."As needed" is the way to go once you've covered the basics...tools wise, maybe the Tekton "metric only" set for a starter?

https://www.tekton.com/bundle-bdl99910

For the roll cart, check out box store offerings...Harbor freight, home depot, Lowes, etc. Avoid the current Craftsman labeled boxes...but maybe Husky from Home Depot for the large box..look for 18 gauge steel construction, double slides on the weight bearing drawers..like I said, watch videos..lots of them. Buy at least 25% larger storage than you think you'll need...you'll use it eventually, and probably wish you had more.

Really, this is an impossible thread...Books have been written on this topic. Seems to me you need to do a LOT of personal research..

[wdfifteen]

I wish you lived closer. I've got some basic tools to get rid of.
Good used tools are a much better value than anything you can get new. A little rust doesn't hurt. Cleaning them up can be your first project!

For basics you should check out auctions, garage sales/tag sales, Restore construction material recycling (ours has lots of tools), some Goodwills and other thrift stores sell tools. I would rather have quality used tools than anything that comes from a big box store. Only buy new tools on an as-needed basis.



If you lived closer you could rummage through what I have and take what you needed. Because I used to have three shops I had three basic set-ups like this one that I have now. I have tools that were passed down to me from my father, grandfather, and uncle. I have three sets of ball-peen hammers, three sets of adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, and end wrenches. I'll bet I have a dozen claw hammers of various styles and sizes. I still keep really basic stuff in the three work areas I have now, but I bring them all into my basement for winter.

[rfuerst911sc]

A good workbench and vise . A good air compressor if you want air tools . Or good battery impact if you are not going air . Buying used stuff at garage sales/pawn shops can save you some money .

Good lighting really helps to see your work . Portable drop lights work well . Tons of rags for clean up . Latex gloves for really messy work . You need something to heat up rusty frozen stuff . Oxy/acetylene is preferred but Mapp gas also works .

As you start doing projects they will flush out tools needed that you don't have . Some tools you buy and some you will rent . You need a way to heat/cool the shop unless you enjoy freezing or sweating your balls off . Enjoy the journey and have fun .

[Seahawk]

I have a lot of room but still used a lot of Jack Olson's ideas in terms of wall mounted tables that can swing up and down, ceiling storage that ropes down, shelf's, etc.

Lights are key as well I use a swing arm that moves out of the way whan not in use.

I will echo Patrick: I wish you lived closer, I am getting ready to down size and I am helping others with tool acquisition.

One past thing: Music.

[fanaudical]

Something on my garage wishlist: A computer with internet access and a big-screen TV on the wall to display manuals, diagrams, pictures, etc that I can read from across the garage...

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Something on my garage wishlist: A computer with internet access and a big-screen TV on the wall to display manuals, diagrams, pictures, etc that I can read from across the garage...

If I could, I would...I "wrapped" the old wooden barns in metal (left the old wood underneath) which it turns out is a nice little Faraday Cage./

[Baz]

Perhaps consider browsing your local Craigslist, FB MP, and pawn shops for batch offerings.

I see social media classifieds ALL THE TIME for tool boxes full of tools for pennies on the dollar of what you'd spend buying new.

Rarely do you see everything organized in complete size groups (sockets, open/closed wrenches) but depending on the ad you'd get up to speed in a hurry with a wide variety of tools.

[RobFrost]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bA-MIpujrXg

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

[Dixie]

I find a monkey wrench to be helpful.

[pwd72s]

There you have it...what you need varies greatly depending on what you do. Many times, it's best to just go to a pro. No need to buy $5,000 worth of tools for a job you'll only do once when a pro who has done that job many times will do it for $1,000. Most of the basics have been covered here.

Baz made a good suggestion...look for ads that begin with "mechanic retiring"...

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Baz

Perhaps consider browsing your local Craigslist, FB MP, and pawn shops for batch offerings.

I see social media classifieds ALL THE TIME for tool boxes full of tools for pennies on the dollar of what you'd spend buying new.

Rarely do you see everything organized in complete size groups (sockets, open/closed wrenches) but depending on the ad you'd get up to speed in a hurry with a wide variety of tools.

I suspect there are a lot of locals driving to NE and buying tools to bring back to CA and sell. There is nothing here "for pennies on the dollar."

One dealer I work for was born in NE so he goes at least once a year to round up whatever he thinks is selling at the moment. He wouldn't go to the trouble if he couldn't actually buy for pennies on the dollar.

However, the market is way down. The dealers I work for are all off by -50% this year.
So they aren't buying but using up standing inventory unless it's a really popular item and can be bought right.

Grandma's dinner service is worth nothing and sterling silver is bought only to melt. Sad.

[Geneman]

if you race ...... leave enough room on the wall for broken parts...... having a " wall of shame". is useful for contemplation... re tools. be fockin sure you include a few old school coat hangers..... imho... frank.

[id10t]

My son is doing an awful lot of what you mention on his project car - a Mitsu Lancer.

Having just helped him put his trans back in (clutch replacement) some awful handy and unexpected things were

blind pins/slave pins to help line up and keep things in place

extra jacks, extra jack stands, preferrably with some type of option for changing the head from large cup to small etc.

a few 3-8" iron(?) c-clamps

a compressed air source would be good, even if one of those portable 10gal set ups

Things you probably won't think about -

A computer (old is fine) with a keyboard and bigger monitor so you can look at docs, howtos, etc. online while working. keyboard is easier to use with greasy nasty fingers, all you need is a browser so any old machine will do. Pair it with your cell phone if you must to get a data connection going.

How secure is this place anyway? WIll leaving tools etc be safe?

[cockerpunk]

start with a tekton or craftsman or husky 200ish piece kit, and buy tools when you need more. stuff you will need to get started on cars include that, plus jack stands, and a nice low profile jack.

as you wrench you will figure it out.

ignore anyone who has some kind of brand fetish. you will run across these people. a crappy tool is better than no tool. i have every brand of tool i can think of in my garage, and snap on or harbor freight, id rather have a tool, than not have a tool. ie, cheap tools are actually really great because it means you can get more tools for more jobs.

you will also develop a preference in tools, that will inform later purchases.