[Buckshot]

Mods, feel free to move this thread where appropriate. I was not sure where to put it.
We all need a good place to turn wrenches on our rigs and was wondering what goes into the average do-it-yourself garage. (I hate turning wrenches in the yard.) I'm building a 14x30 steel building complete with concrete floor and 8x10 garage door. I'm gonna install my electrical service (electrician here) with a 100 amp sub-panel with the necessary lighting and outlets.
As far as tools go, I have a fairly complete selection of Craftsman hand tools that includes 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drive SAE and Metric. I have a pretty good air compressor as well as a good floor jack and jack stands. I'm thinking about adding a vise and benchtop drill press.

What else does the average do-it-yourselver need for a good shop?
I also have a good mini-fridge!!

[J33Pyj]

WOW im moving closer to you where you say you lived. no really though thats a nice set up you got going.

[CMARJEEP]

[fedrusion]

[USMCredneck]

The usual shop tools like a vise and bench-top grinder are almost a must. A bench top drill press is good, but when you get into some bigger projects you may wish you had a full size drill press. Welder and plasma cutter are always good. Lift would be nice. A creeper can be nice, but make sure it's not too comfortable or you will be falling asleep under your jeep on those long wrenching nights.

Also, look at A/C and heat. Makes working a for a long period of time much more enjoyable.

[Comanche_]

In our shop we have A bench top drill press, Air compressor, bench grinder, Metal lathe, Stick welder, And every power and hand tools we could ever need.

[Buckshot]

Man, a lift would be cool! But it's really not in the budget right now.
I have very limited skills with a welder, but that would be a nice addition to the shop.
Keep 'em coming!

[brooksjeep]

In all honesty lifts arent too expensive. Like 2 grand. I was looking at them on eBay for our shop. take a look, even if you can't afford it. just to dream lol, thats what i do.

[MtnHighTJ]

Go old school and do a dropped pit. You just drive over pit so you can move around under the vehicle freely. When you don't want the pit open install metal grate over opening.

[stoker]

Oxy-acetalyne torch. It welds, cuts, brazes, solders and heats your coffee.

[Jerry Bransford]

Have a 220v outlet installed so when you get to the MIG welding stage you'll be ready for the right size welder. That's my only regret, that my MIG welder is only 110v which has been marginal a few times.

[5.9 ANDY]

loose the mini-fridge and get a real fridge, that way you can keep more bee.....eerr....soda in it.

[PBR]

Originally Posted by fedrusion

nice machine there

[kairo]

a coworker and I are working on leasing some warehouse space wherein we will put the toys for our new gun business and working on our cars.

Our plans are:

One vehicle lift
Tig / Mig welders
plumbed air, 110, 220, and vacuum around the walls of the shop with outlets every x feet
hydraulic press
plasma cutter
tube bender
metal break
full line of power tools (sanders, saws, blah blah)
Mill (to be upgraded to CNC after a while)
Lathe
full collection of hand tools with specialty sets (i.e. torx)

We're buying our tools from machine shops going out of business and the like.
Our rough cost is $30,000 worth of tools and shop materials

[Happy Joe]

Let us not forget the heavy duty bench vise, the hydraulic press and the milling machine (the lathe is in the basement). I would like to put fluorescent lights in the floor (covered by thick polycarbonate, recessed level so a creeper can roll over it). A transmission jack is handy too, as is a ceiling hoist (for engines and to remove the hard top for the summer).
Oh Yeah; a source of tunes.

Enjoy!