Shop essentials

Let me start out by saying im new to the forum, been lurking for a long time and always have been active on pirate but this is my first post so take it easy. As the title says im looking for some insite and opinions on what you guys would consider essential shop tools to build a decent chassis for myself and do general fab and builds. I own a small mobile welding business and do performance exhausts for porsche and audi for my day job. Im trying to make the move from being mobile to opening the doors to my own shop. I just turned 24 so budget is of course an issue. So far i have a 220 mig, arc welder, torches, plasma, chop saw , grinders , sawzall, and hand tools that i use out of my truck. To open the doors to a shop im thinking on top of what i listed....a horizontal band saw, vertical band saw, manual bender (for now), Tig machine, a sander, air compressor, and a notcher ( totally lost on what one to buy). Id like to know what tools you guys feel are a must to do some decent builds and what you use to do yours. Thanks in advance

almost 170 views and no replies? if i posted in the wrong spot can a mod please move this

I wouldnt think you need a vertical band saw unless your trying to make your own tabs or brackets by hand.. Sometimes cheaper to buy them in bulk..

Tubing bender is a definite must have.. a JD2 or 3 or a pro tools 105 can be turned into hydro/air very easily and cheap if done right.
Then you need a damn good compressor, Id say atleast 60gal. But I have a 30gal in my garage with a 20gal tank on the other side of the garage to help me a little. I can run my impacts, die grinders and all my air tools pretty well all day or night.

sounds like you have the basics covered..

Most people buy tools as they go. According to their needs.

Dropping a huge amount of $ on tools before you are even "started" is kinda dumb IMO.


I have a decent setup home shop,

bender (full hydro)
welder
plasma
torch
small 12t press
drill press
horizontal bandsaw (can be flipped up and used as a vertical)
stand up disc sander
parts washer
220v air compressor
big metal work table with vise

plenty of tool boxes, and a whole **** ton of hand tools, air tools for everything, etc



TIPS:
Have at least 3-4 grinders, saves time and I hate swapping discs when I need to do differnet jobs.
1 - 4.5" flap disc/sanding pad dedicated
1 - 4.5" slitter disc dedicated
1 - 4.5" wire wheel dedicated
1 - 7" or 9" grinder (much quicker to clean up some rough cut **** than using a little grinder)


Buying tabs and small brackets is much better than making your own


If you are doing any wiring work, buy good quality tools and supplies (tape, butt splices, etc)

I think it is in the right spot. We are not Pirate we don't flame all of the newbies to the ground. I don't have a fab shop but it sounds like you have a good grip on the things you need and if you bend exhaust for a living then you are a step ahead of the game.

A refrigerator for soda!!

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DrankinInTheWoods said:

A refrigerator for soda!!

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soda? Liquor!!!!!! Patron!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DrankinInTheWoods said:

A refrigerator for soda!!

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Have a dedicated beer fridge.

On topic. Def must have a good notcher if you plan on doing any tube work

DrankinInTheWoods said:

A refrigerator for soda!!

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On the wagon for a while?

You have a really good start already, but unless you have a ton of $ laying around, just buy what you need as you need it. Some stuff I thought I needed is really just extra crap in my way. How do you do Porsche and Audi exhaust with out a shop or lift? You can't exactly crawl under those cars.

Worros said:

Have a dedicated beer fridge.

On topic. Def must have a good notcher if you plan on doing any tube work

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I agree with Beer Fridge.

Disagree with notcher. I've always used a Port-a-Band, a simple slice-slice will make most of the simple notches you need. with a little practice, and an "eye" for what needs to be removed, you can make some pretty complicated notches that just need a touch from a grinder to fit up nice.

grcthird said:

On the wagon for a while?

You have a really good start already, but unless you have a ton of $ laying around, just buy what you need as you need it. Some stuff I thought I needed is really just extra crap in my way. How do you do Porsche and Audi exhaust with out a shop or lift? You can't exactly crawl under those cars.

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that is my day job, i work in a multi million dollar shop for my regular 9-5 and i have a mobile welding business that is mine. Im sick of making other people rich :flipper: :flipper: so i found a good spot to open the doors to my own shop. I plan on transfering the accounts i have for my mobile business inside as well as have my current job outsource some of their work to me. Just trying to plan as much as possible out before i open up the ole wallet! i appreciate everyones input and its a nice change of pace from pirate. Im always trying to learn and improve so its pretty obvious to ask people that have done it before. Do any of you guys use solid works or similar programs? Ive been gathering parts for a pretty nasty rig on a reasonable budget which will be my man in marketing tool, so thanks again f/or any input/criticism. oh and the beer fridge was the first thing i got!

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scoutdogfab said:

that is my day job, i work in a multi million dollar shop for my regular 9-5 and i have a mobile welding business that is mine. Im sick of making other people rich :flipper: :flipper: so i found a good spot to open the doors to my own shop. I plan on transfering the accounts i have for my mobile business inside as well as have my current job outsource some of their work to me. Just trying to plan as much as possible out before i open up the ole wallet! i appreciate everyones input and its a nice change of pace from pirate. Im always trying to learn and improve so its pretty obvious to ask people that have done it before. Do any of you guys use solid works or similar programs? Ive been gathering parts for a pretty nasty rig on a reasonable budget which will be my man in marketing tool, so thanks again f/or any input/criticism. oh and the beer fridge was the first thing i got!

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good luck man. I'm trying to do the same

Make sure you get somewhere with enough room or you will end up like i have. or put all your tools on wheels like i did. To much side work amd not enough room :duhavenno:

Dont buy a pro tools notcher! I hate mine. Go ahead and buy a baileigh TN 250 from trick tools.
The clamp gets worn out quick and then gets warped and makes your notchs get out of center if your not careful.
And most of the time when it comes time to swap hole saws it strips the shaft threads and you have to buy another. im on my 2nd shaft.

smurfy90 said:

Dont buy a pro tools notcher! I hate mine. Go ahead and buy a baileigh TN 250 from trick tools.
The clamp gets worn out quick and then gets warped and makes your notchs get out of center if your not careful.
And most of the time when it comes time to swap hole saws it strips the shaft threads and you have to buy another. im on my 2nd shaft.

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I was looking at the jd beast notcher and i did the tuturial and watched some youtube videos on bend tech pro, really looks like it can help keep things consistant and waste down which can really eat up a budget and profit fast. Anyone have any experience with this notcher?

I would have never attempted to bend tube if i never got bend tech. Well worth the $$$$

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Bend tech is the only way to go if your gonna bend tube yeah it cost up front but it'll save u a lot in the end man.

Is bend tech very user friendly or is it one of those things it takes a NASA scientist to operate??

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I've heard its pretty easy. I'm about to order it myself I know a guy that has used it and said it was pretty easy

Jwhit55 said:

Is bend tech very user friendly or is it one of those things it takes a NASA scientist to operate??

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Bend tech is easy once you learn how to use it. They have a very good help section. Its not as easy as it looks and you have to calibrate each die to the program . I bought the cheapest version the day after thanksgiving. I like it and plan to upgrade to the pro. It tells you the length of tube where to start the bend and what angle to bend to. The cheap one doesnt do much more than any tube that lays flat when its on the floor.