We are often asked “What are the most essential tools for your shop?” Well, that is a hard question, because frustration and wailing are the result when the right tools are not available. We need a lot of tools for fabrication, then for one job or another, different tools are essential.
What tools do I need in the shop? What are the most important tools for my shop? Great questions, but we should look at the whole picture first!
Most Important Is Priceless
Let me start with the First and Most Important. It is not really a “Tool” as such, so it is not in the list, but the most important “Tool” is you. Your knowledge, your skill, your creativity, and your good judgement. We work a lifetime generating and sharpening our Brain, so keep learning, keep trying new things, and keep a smile!
Along with the Brain, your other tools – Fingers, Eyes, Ears, Arms, etc. are priceless. Yes, there are a lot of eyes and fingers around, but only a limited number are attached to you. In my book, they are a big step above “Essential Tools”. Please, keep you safe – all of you.
Next, Learning is priceless too, so feed your brain. Enough said. Now to the list.
The List of Essential Tools
I tried to make a simple list, but failed because each big item on the list requires some ancillary extras to make it work. For instance, what good is a drill without drill bits? So, my essential tools list also includes the supporting elements.
So, in the context of a DIY shop working with metals, here is my list.
Zero – Basic Essential Hand Tools
I am starting with Zero because basic hand tools are a statement of the (almost) obvious. They are essential hand tools, but even more than that. This answer is not the true spirit of the question about “What are my essential tools.” Yet, the others in the list don’t make much sense if you miss the basics.
I think everyone should have these no matter what. (Is that too presumptive?) A good basic tool set is one of my favorites to give as a wedding gift. Everyone needs these. You can have more or less, but the basics (in my mind) should include all of these:
Hammer, Pliers, Snips, Screwdrivers, Wrenches, Sockets set, Allen Keys, Hand Saws (wood and metal – like a hack saw), Files, Tape Measure, and a few other odds and ends. And should I mention a little knowledge on how to use them without hurting yourself?
So, starting with these basics, we can get into the list of what I think are the DIY essential shop tools.
1st – A Tough Drill
For the sake of argument, a good hand drill will accomplish a lot, but if you are serious about essential tools in a DIY shop, a drill press is on the list. I personally think bigger and more capable is better. Not like “Tim The Tool Man Taylor” but seriously, I have had cheap and small-ish drill presses, that don’t drill straight all the time, or lack sufficient torque.
My current drill press is a 3-HP, 3-Phase monster with automatic feed. It is an old industrial unit from a closed machine shop. You can see it in videos like Drilling Matching Bolt Holes. The beefy table does not deflect with large items, like a beam. It is easy to configure for big jobs or small. I love it for a thousand reasons, but the size and weight have drawbacks. Yet, size and power matter with metals, so I recommend getting the largest, good quality tool you can fit/afford.
Important features include multiple speeds, high torque, super sturdy table and a long drilling depth.
In addition, a good hand drill is a must. These are together as essential tools because they are so similar. When you can’t take the part to the drill press (like here), a good hand drill becomes the essential tool. Electric or pneumatic does not matter, but good quality, adjustable speed, and high torque are important. As always, different tools for different applications. A small drill for delicate times too, but it is beyond essential tools to have several.
Oh, and don’t forget the drill bits, extra attachments, table vise, cutting fluid . . . . That is what it takes to fill the drills full twisted purpose.
I list drills 1st as essential tools because they are easily the power tools I use most.
2nd – Layout Tools
These are not near the top of most lists of essential tools. Sure, we all have some, but being specific to DIY, the kinds of layout tools are important. If you are in my shop, these tools are treated with extra respect because we rely on them.
First the Scribe. I highly recommend something with a sharp carbide tip. When marking metal, especially steel, we want to see it. Then, when drilling metal, you need the Center Punch and hammer to give you a guide. The Straight Edge, Speed Angle and Sharpie all assist in getting the right cuts, and holes.
A Sharpie is included partly to make good marks, but I also use the sharpie to highlight a scribed line. Basically I make a first fat line with the sharpie, then an accurate scribe line through the sharpie ink. The scribe line shows up easily in the black ink.
Add a good tape measure for longer parts, and don’t forget the calipers for the moments when precision matters.
Do you have a favorite layout tool? Leave a comment. There are so many, and they all have a purpose.
3rd – Power Saw(s)
In the DIY shop, we are always cutting something. Wood, metal, plastic, rubber, . . . you name it. While it all sounds so easy, many require a special saw. In the article about DIY Ways to Cut Steel, we discuss a lot of options.
A Chop Saw like this Evolution is just awesome. I love mine, and it is a ton better than a similar abrasive saw. Though I prefer a band saw – a monster that basically cuts by itself – they are so big! And, they take a lot of precious space for most DIY’ers. The Evolution with a carbide tip blade does a great job cutting and there is not much mess.
A similar chop saw, or compound miter saw for wood can also be an essential tools. Seems like we cut a lot of wood when working with metal.
Next some kind of rotary, abrasive saw. I prefer the abrasive saw as the hand-held as it is usually for the delicate and artistic work we do. Mine is just a blade on my high-speed pneumatic rotary tool (die grinder), but other options work just as well.
Keep the saw blades rolling, and keep your fingers far away. This may be one of our essential tools, but we are OH SO careful. My shop teacher was missing fingers because of a one second lapse of thought, and I don’t want to do the same. Please be careful in your shop, too.
4th – Clamps -Lots of Them
Kind of like the layout tools above, Clamps tend to be a supportive tool. And yet, you can’t be very productive without them. I use them with almost every project. So, Clamps of all sorts and sizes are easily on the list of essential tools.
The image shows a bunch of different styles and sizes of clamps – and that is not all of them. Sure, C-Clamps, Scissor Clamps, Bar Clamps, Ratchet Bar Clamps, Spring Grip, Plastic, Steel, Wood, etc.. I also use the long Pipe Clamps, along with ratcheting tie-downs for clamps as well. Even with all the clamps, on a big project, there never seems to be enough.
When you have many, you also need a great way to organize and store them. This is one Storage Solution for Clamps published as one of our Solutions! articles.
Along the same lines, a vise fits the “Clamp” paradigm for me. My big vise is absolutely an essential tool. The 6″ bench vise works for most things, but once in a while I have to rig something to handle the big stuff. Plus, there is the table vise for the drill press.
Though not really a tool, there are all the little wood blocks to go with the clamps. I personally hate seeing clamp marks or vise teeth marks on finished pieces, so I have a bunch of random wood blocks around to go with the clamps and vise.
5th – A Welder
One way or another, in a DIY fab shop, there is a need to join metal. Sure, you can do a lot with bolts, but some things are best welded. Even when we want to bolt things, we often weld on a flange for the bolts. So, the 5th item on my essential tools list is a welder.
The kind of welder is another story. My favorite is a TIG, but I do not actually own one because they are not as useful with the things I usually build. Things like trailer frames are so much faster with a MIG welder, so that is what I have. There are a lot of options for welders as we discuss in the article about Which Welder Should I Buy?
I will leave the rest of the discussion about welders to other articles like this one about sparks a flying!
6th – Grinders
Is this an odd one? Unfortunately, for this list, it is not just one grinder. A Bench Grinder, Angle Grinder, Die Grinder, etc. When you are cutting and welding, then you need grinding as well.
It sounds kind of funny saying it, but metals are not always as precise as we think. So, grinders are the way to fudge things into submission. Maybe for a big or poor weld that needs cleaning up . . . . Maybe for a part that almost fits . . . . Or, Maybe for smoothing something so it looks good . . . . Maybe for removing an edge for deeper weld penetration. Or, cutting something hardened or something that does not fit in the saw. Whatever the purpose, our grinders are used a lot.
If I had to pick one that can do most things, I would pick the angle grinder – and a way of holding it stationary. (Great things can happen when the grinder stays still and the workpiece moves.) That device has many different blade types is a very functional tool. I would pick a 4.5″ preferred, or a 6″.
But what about the die-grinder? Yeah, that is a tough one, because we use it a lot also. Especially with the thin blade, it is quick for cut-off or forming tool. We also use it a lot with a rotary rasp for steel (but that gets into the 7th group of essential tools).
I will leave the choice to you. I think they all have a place, and I would miss it if one got away. What do you really like?
7th – Metalworking Files
Indeed, a whole collection of files – for wood and metals, rough and fine, round, flat, curved, triangle, etc.. While grinders are great for removing material, files have so much more finesse. And, files can get in little spots where grinders cannot.
To us, files – especially metalworking files – are essential. So essential that we wrote a whole article about them. Check out The Right Tools – Metal Working Files. It is worth the read to understand why we say Metalworking files are essential tools.
We like the hand files, of course, but sometimes power tools are the right trick. So, as mentioned above, some files like the Rotary Rasp, provide a function that only comes with power. (Functionally, some can be done with a bit in a drill, but something higher speed, like a die grinder, is very desirable).
8th – Floor Jack and Jack Stands
In our opinion, every good DIY shop needs something to lift with. That might be an overhead gantry crane, or it might be an engine style hoist, or something else. We think the essential tools list must include a good Floor Jack – with jack stands.
Yes, I know that seems so automotive, but come with me. A floor jack is the right tool for a lot of jobs. When you must lift something, and need a power source, so many times you can finagle a floor jack to do the job. For example, we use one as part of the trick for weighing a trailer in this article. With the right creativity, you can find ways to move things using a floor jack. With that said, please be careful. Just like in Safety With Cranes, common sense is necessary.
Along with the good jack, the jack stands go with it. We often use wood blocks or metal chunks as supports when the load is not lifting very high, but when it gets up a little, jack stands are the way go. Easily adjustable stands that hold much more than the jack will lift. Use them for stability, and for safety.
9th – Multimeter
OK, this is out of character with respect to the other tools in the list, but it is essential for a host of things you can’t do in other ways. Things like troubleshooting connections or double checking everything is working as specified on the Trailer Wiring Diagram. Trust me, the multimeter is much better than your finger to see if the shop power is hot! (Yes, that is speaking from experience.)
There are a bunch of nice meters out there, but most are overkill for the DIY shop. You need the basic functions of Voltage (AC & DC), Resistance (or continuity check), and maybe some current (Amps) measurement. The rest is fluff (unless you know how to really use them).
Fluke makes the one shown in this image, but there are a ton of knock-offs that are just as good (for our purposes.) I am one of those that does not go cheap for tools I depend on, but you certainly do not need to buy the most expensive one.
Tools That Just Miss “Essential”
In making the above list, there are several tools I want to mention, but they are not quite in the “Essential Tools” category. These are tools I am quite addicted to, and tools that I would not want to live without, but there are ways around them. For instance:
Air Compressor and a few Air Tools – A workhorse in our shop, but there are manual ways to achieve the jobs without a compressor. This one is really close to the essential tools list because there are a lot of things that compressed air makes much easier. Though not technically “Essential”, it is highly recommended.
Gantry Crane, or maybe an engine hoist style. I use a gantry crane a lot, and when I sold my smaller one to build a bigger one, I really missed having it. It is not a tool I use every day, but when I need it, not much else will do. I have never owned an engine hoist style lift, so I don’t know about that. I do it all with the gantry. (Get your plans here.) However, I can image it would serve most of the same purposes. The kicker for me has always been that the Gantry is much larger and more convenient, and it stores standing up, ready to use.
Press. Like the crane, when you need a lot of force, there is not much to substitute for a press. Honestly, that is why we designed the shop presses we have in the plans store. An arbor press is great, but not at the level of a hydraulic press. The shop press is close to essential, and here is our take on the tool as a whole.
Soldering Iron. Is this one out of the blue? We almost listed it as an essential tool. Building often requires electrical things – like lights on a trailer – so you might as well have the tools to make the connections good. Sure, crimp joints can substitute, and that is why this is not in the “essential” list.
Big Wrenches. Again, when you need them, what can substitute? Everyone once in a while we have something that requires a big wrench. For those times, I have a 3″ capable adjustable wrench – which is a monster – but it is interesting how often it comes in handy. Here is a fun story about finding the right tool for the job. It is funny, but really it is not. I probably won’t need it again, but it was absolutely in the category of essential tools at that moment.
Shop Cart. In what we do here, moving heavy objects is part of the landscape. We realize that is not always the case for other shops, so it misses the mark as one of the “Essential Tools”. However, if you move heavy objects frequently, a good Shop Cart (aka equipment dolly, some people call it a utility cart) (shop cart plans here) is a very helpful tool.
Essential Tools Summary
Your list might be a little different than mine, and that is OK. While we do have a bunch more tools, these are the things we use most – which I suppose makes them essential.
One thing missed the list, because we are not quite sure where it goes, is Safety Equipment. It is really more than “Essential”, but in a different category than “Tools”. Either way, Safety Glasses or Face Shield, Ear Plugs or Muffs, knee pads, a fire extinguisher, and a First Aid Kit should be in the shop and easily accessible. Something to think about.
Also could not decide if a Tool Box, or a Workbench, or the Shelves are tools. In a broad sense they are, but we decided to sideline those for the sake of argument. They do deserve this mention, however.
I am interested to know your thoughts on what is essential to you. Please take a minute and list the things in your essential tools below.
We appreciate your kind contributions.
Thank You.
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