What's the most useful thing you have in the garage?

[the squirrel]

Fridge and Grills! Usually just enough room too thaw the meat out in the fridge on top of the wobbly soda's

[Tom7227]

I am happy for all of you who can go out and stroke your boat or whatever. What I really meant this to be about was what sort of setup or jobberdo do you have that makes things easier. Sort of a suggestion box type of thing where folks can check out the ideas and see what would work for them. How about some ideas like that?

[Opie]

A 15 cubic foot freezer turned into a kegorator. 6 taps across the front. Along with satallite tv and heated garage. Man Space

[Fairchild_82]

i'd say the broom is my most used. have to keep her clean. my favorite would be the 2003 Mach 1.. but would like to sell it and replace it with a nice boat. if anyone's interested....

[chanfish]

yeah kab, when i am not "stroking my boat", a good broom and garbage cans are useful....its all good..thats what came to my mind sorry..

[Eric Wettschreck]

I am happy for all of you who can go out and stroke your boat or whatever. What I really meant this to be about was what sort of setup or jobberdo do you have that makes things easier. Sort of a suggestion box type of thing where folks can check out the ideas and see what would work for them. How about some ideas like that?

That's awesome!!!! I don't have a boat to stroke but I do have a fridge full of beer. Garage rule #2 is if you drink in the garage, you have to sign the fridge. Garage rule #1 is no beotching at Eric.

As far as the setup or jobberdo, I'd say it's the way I ran 3/4" sch 40 steel pipe all over the place, hooked it to the air compressor, and have quick disconnects everywhere. No more dragging a hose up, around, and over things. Just reach out and hook up.

Otherwise, when I wired the garage I put in aboot a zillion outlets. A guy can't have too many outlets in the garage. Again, no more extension cords running everywhere. Just reach out and plut it in.

Lights everywhere helps a lot, also.

Back to boat stroking.

[leechlake]

I mounted an electric winch in the rafters that I beefed up. The main purpose was hanging and butchering deer but it get's some other minor uses that come in handy. I think it cost about $100 and although it isn't used a lot when it is it's fun and makes life easier.

[Walleyehooker]

A chain fall hoist hanging from the ceiling is a very handy item in my garage. A 220 outlet is good to have if you plan on using a welder etc. Although not used a lot my oxy/accet cutting torch has been a life saver when needed.

[JohnMickish]

The most usefull thing in my garage is, well, ME. Other than that is lots of electrical power. Lights and receptacles. Having a bag full of Makita Li-on cordless tools is handy too, the 1/4" Apex impact and circular saw are tools everyone should have.

[311Hemi]

One thing I really get a lot of use out of is one of those 50' air hose rollers mounted up on the wall! I would not do without one unless I installed piping all around the garage for air.

[LightningBG]

How about a floor jack? Cheap and very handy.

[BoxMN]

One thing I really get a lot of use out of is one of those 50' air hose rollers mounted up on the wall! I would not do without one unless I installed piping all around the garage for air.

Yep, +1

But I installed mine on ceiling in middle of garage.

[Fairchild_82]

yeah kab, when i am not "stroking my boat", a good broom and garbage cans are useful....its all good..thats what came to my mind sorry..

i'm sorry chaanfissh if you got sore in the butt. i'm not trying to stroke my ego. I'll let you come over and sweep my garage.

[mnguy152]

how about a good hammer and vice grips duck tape or black tape. can fix anything in the world with thoose things lol

[JOHNBIGDOG]

streamlite stinger led flashlight. Rechargeable, brighter than bright takes a lot of abuse and works well.

[WallEYES]

My gal friend across the street

[Gus]

I've been thinking about this one for a few days. Many of the common tools such as cordless drill, air compressor, hammer, etc have been used extensively and are useful. but the 1 that comes into play in nearly every project period.... the work bench. Gotta have a good workbench to work on all the great projects!

[Surface Tension]

In my years I've seen many changes.

Lets go back a short time of 20 or 30 years ago.

If you weren't in the profession(building or auto) you were lucky to have an air compressor to fill a low tire and a set of Craftsman wrenches. Darn if you couldn't rebuild and engine with just that. My Hardware Freight flier came in the mail yesterday.

Everyone has everything from compound miter, angle grinder, theroscope. dial calipers, and everything else to the moon.

The most important thing in the shop is..................stuff to work on!

We need something to breakdown so we can fix it.

Hey if you got a fridge with beer, tools and something that needs fixin I'm all over that and you know what? If you don't have the tool chances are I do!

A crappy job laying under a truck isn't so bad when you have a friend to say to: "Brother hand me a 5/16th socket".

[BoxMN]

I've been thinking about this one for a few days. Many of the common tools such as cordless drill, air compressor, hammer, etc have been used extensively and are useful. but the 1 that comes into play in nearly every project period.... the work bench. Gotta have a good workbench to work on all the great projects!

Hey Gus, I took my Dad's workbench from Mom's (their) garage when he died, and have it in mine now. Dad built a nice solid bench and vise and anvil, but relatively easy to detatch from one wall to move, so having it is kinda like having a part of Dad there holding something in the vise, or just holding a beer haha!

[hydro]

For myself, the most useful thing that I can have in my garage/shop is me. I don’t want to sound conceited or start bragging, but the shop is where I go to enjoy myself and let out some creativity. I spend a lot of my time there and I enjoy the opportunity to make and build things. It’s what keeps me going day to day outside of work and family. I enjoy shop time as much if not more that time on the lake.

I have quite a few tools and have collected lots of materials so when I head to the shop there is always something to do or make. On Sunday I made this rod winding fixture out of leftover red oak and some aluminum parts turned on the lathe. It is adjustable on the supports and thread arbor, and the spool has a tensioning spring and arbor spacers for different size thread spools. I still need to put some felt on the supports to protect the blank finish.