how many guys have larger machine tools like a MILL ,lathe,drill press, a a decent welder or even more than one welder,or even a decent location to work and a few sturdy jack stands and a mechanics creeper, and a few hand tools.. I purchased 6 12 ton jack stands and a mechanics creeper over 38 years ago, and I bought engine stands and a 4 ton rated shop crane over 30 years ago, the stand alone drill press I owned for decades eventually failed and I said screw-it, and bought a real milling machine, now I freely admit it was a huge investment that might have had the money better spent else-ware, but if your a tool junky like I am its hard to be rational at times I know it took me decades to collect the basics I have acquired.
remember it took me over 40 years to acquire the tools I have so if your just starting out don,t expect to get all the tools you want in a few months, it takes decades of side jobs, trading work for tools and looking for deals on used tools.
when I started out I had only the basic $140 craftsman mechanics hand tools and a couple really crappy jack stands, I was constantly asking Friends to help, to teach me or to loan tools or expertize on how to do things, I look back and remember when simple things like replacing brakes or a wheel bearing were far beyond the tools AND SKILLS I had. but as soon as I could afford to I bought all the tools I could afford and rarely regret doing so!
but as I read car articles, watched friends, and helped on projects I also acquired tools, and skills and a sense of accomplishment when I could do something as well or better than the local service station or dealership, and usually for far less money
every once in a blue moon I have access to some extra cash, its becoming a darn rare occurance!
in fact just paying bills is a challenge at times, lately!
now over the last few years , having any funds that were not already pre allocated has, not happened much, but it used too , occasionally, as I sold off old cars and engines I had stored, but decided I no longer needed, and used those funds to purchase TOOLS!.
obviously the first thing you need is a decent flat concrete floor and a place to store a few tools, but as you progress theres a near endless list of tools youll find not only useful but darn near mandatory if you want to do some jobs.
or got small jobs that gave me extra cash over what I needed to pay the bills and almost without fail I used that cash to buy more tools.
now some guys have asked me why I failed to buy car parts as it seems it would be far more beneficial to completing various projects and I can,t deny that might be true.
theres something rather satisfying in owning the larger tools and knowing how to use them, and once you learn the skills its rather frustrating to be without them, when your helping a friend, who doesn,t have access to tools you both have and know how to use, because you get used to fabricating parts or repairing parts that the average guy may find difficult or impossible to work on.
parts and projects seem to come and go! engines I build get sold or raced,but tools tend to stay in the shop and prove to be very useful.
I can,t imagine working without a decent tool chest, an engine stand, an engine crane, sturdy jack stands, floor jacks, etc.
well its a bit of an addiction I guess, I really like to build and modify as many parts as I can and I absolutely HATE to pay machine shops for sub quality work I see so often.
I may be rather optimistic or even UN-realistic but I want to do as much work as I possibly can myself!
and one thing I just can,t imagine is working in a garage that doesn,t have at least minimal tools like
a drill press,
an engine stand,
shop vise
and a welder,
an engine crane,
several floor jacks
several 12 ton jack stands
mechanics creepers,
a air compressor, a lift,die cutters
etc. Im sure the list is nearly endless,
I,m sure theres a hundred other tools that Id love to have.
so what major tools, like car lifts, milling machines, lathes, welders,drill press, compressors, plazma cutters etc.
do you have or tools do you fully intend to buy as soon as you can?
related info
http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-High- ... ise/T10064
A GOOD MILL VISE
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=970&p=15786&hilit=mill+machine#p15786
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6093&p=18813&hilit=mill+machine#p18813
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=9191&p=43136#p43136
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4231&p=11181&hilit=mill+machine#p11181
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=993&p=10056&hilit=mill+machine#p10056
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=5909&hilit=mill+machine#p5909
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4384&p=11518#p11518
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=8396&hilit=mill+machine#p8396
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3283&p=25874&hilit=tool+list#p25874
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=24
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=7888
http://www.csgnetwork.com/drillsizeconvert.html
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=227&p=266&hilit=u+joints+corvette#p266
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1018
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3284
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=834&hilit=tool+list
remember it took me over 40 years to acquire the tools I have so if your just starting out don,t expect to get all the tools you want in a few months, it takes decades of side jobs, trading work for tools and looking for deals on used tools.
when I started out I had only the basic $140 craftsman mechanics hand tools and a couple really crappy jack stands, I was constantly asking Friends to help, to teach me or to loan tools or expertize on how to do things, I look back and remember when simple things like replacing brakes or a wheel bearing were far beyond the tools AND SKILLS I had. but as soon as I could afford to I bought all the tools I could afford and rarely regret doing so!
but as I read car articles, watched friends, and helped on projects I also acquired tools, and skills and a sense of accomplishment when I could do something as well or better than the local service station or dealership, and usually for far less money
every once in a blue moon I have access to some extra cash, its becoming a darn rare occurance!
in fact just paying bills is a challenge at times, lately!
now over the last few years , having any funds that were not already pre allocated has, not happened much, but it used too , occasionally, as I sold off old cars and engines I had stored, but decided I no longer needed, and used those funds to purchase TOOLS!.
obviously the first thing you need is a decent flat concrete floor and a place to store a few tools, but as you progress theres a near endless list of tools youll find not only useful but darn near mandatory if you want to do some jobs.
or got small jobs that gave me extra cash over what I needed to pay the bills and almost without fail I used that cash to buy more tools.
now some guys have asked me why I failed to buy car parts as it seems it would be far more beneficial to completing various projects and I can,t deny that might be true.
theres something rather satisfying in owning the larger tools and knowing how to use them, and once you learn the skills its rather frustrating to be without them, when your helping a friend, who doesn,t have access to tools you both have and know how to use, because you get used to fabricating parts or repairing parts that the average guy may find difficult or impossible to work on.
parts and projects seem to come and go! engines I build get sold or raced,but tools tend to stay in the shop and prove to be very useful.
I can,t imagine working without a decent tool chest, an engine stand, an engine crane, sturdy jack stands, floor jacks, etc.
well its a bit of an addiction I guess, I really like to build and modify as many parts as I can and I absolutely HATE to pay machine shops for sub quality work I see so often.
I may be rather optimistic or even UN-realistic but I want to do as much work as I possibly can myself!
and one thing I just can,t imagine is working in a garage that doesn,t have at least minimal tools like
a drill press,
an engine stand,
shop vise
and a welder,
an engine crane,
several floor jacks
several 12 ton jack stands
mechanics creepers,
a air compressor, a lift,die cutters
etc. Im sure the list is nearly endless,
I,m sure theres a hundred other tools that Id love to have.
so what major tools, like car lifts, milling machines, lathes, welders,drill press, compressors, plazma cutters etc.
do you have or tools do you fully intend to buy as soon as you can?
related info
http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-High- ... ise/T10064
A GOOD MILL VISE
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=970&p=15786&hilit=mill+machine#p15786
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6093&p=18813&hilit=mill+machine#p18813
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=9191&p=43136#p43136
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4231&p=11181&hilit=mill+machine#p11181
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=993&p=10056&hilit=mill+machine#p10056
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=5909&hilit=mill+machine#p5909
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4384&p=11518#p11518
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2198&p=8396&hilit=mill+machine#p8396
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3283&p=25874&hilit=tool+list#p25874
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=24
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=7888
http://www.csgnetwork.com/drillsizeconvert.html
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=227&p=266&hilit=u+joints+corvette#p266
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1018
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=3284
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=834&hilit=tool+list