Best Essentials Every Car Guy Needs in his Garage

A man needs his place of solitude, his batcave, his fortress of masculinity without fluffy unicorn toys, make-up sets and Justin Bieber utensils. This can be difficult to achieve if you don’t live alone, or even harder if you have a family. Because no matter how wonderful married life is, it tends to lose every inch of freedom and masculinity a man has.

Best essentials for a garage

1. Jack + Jack stands for reliability
2. The right power tools
3. Good Compressor
4. A robust workbench
5. A Big Bench Vise
6. A toolkit you can be proud of
7. Great Lighting
8. A creeper
9. Car care products
10. Storage Space
11. Fire extinguisher

What every man needs in his garage?

That’s why the garage has become a modern men’s reserve. It’s not too far from home so your wife won’t leave you alone, and it’s close enough to take a short trip to the bathroom and back without turning off the table saw. It’s just perfect. So here are the essential points that must turn every man’s garage into a place of peace, masculinity and productivity.

Every week, every month or every year, you’ve ever been involved with the maintenance of your vehicle.
To perform this maintenance, there are some basic tools and hardware that every garage should have. Having the right tools for the job makes the job easy and pleasant.

As we progress in this article, we will discuss some of the best tools for the workshop that are essential and practical and make your work relatively easy.

Sure, we would all like to have a hoist, a 10,000-piece tool chest, a complete production hall, a paint booth and a complete set of CNC machines in the garage. Unfortunately, most of us have to get by with a much more simple and affordable setup.

Essential tools for homeowners

Let’s start with the basic must-have tools for every homeowner and then work into more specialized tools that electricians and plumbers would use.

• Screwdrivers, both Philips and Flat in various sizes
• claw hammer
• tape measure
• Pliers and side cutters
• Allen wrench in metric and inch sizes.
• Spirit level
• 3/8 and 1/4 drive socket wrench set
• vice
• tool bank
• Tool box for storage
• Adjustable, wrench and wrench set in metric and imperial sizes.
• Vise handles.
• G-clamps
• Extension cable.
• Flashlight or work lamp
• multimeter
• hacksaw
• Vacuum oil suction pump
• trowel

Without these tools, life becomes very expensive and difficult. Even simple tasks such as hanging a picture frame or repairing a flat bicycle tire will not be possible without the right hand tools.

In addition, many of us do not build a car from the ground up, but try to get what we already have. About Best oil for Toyota Highlander you can read on our website.

With this in mind, we have put together this list of 10 affordable things that everyone should have in their garage. Choose a right trunk organizer for your car und enjoy the good road trip!

1. Jack + Jack stands for reliability

No matter what kind of car you own, or what you do with it, you will have to jack it up at some point to work underneath. Whether you bring the car to the ground for wheel change or maintenance, a good, heavy-duty jack designed for the weight of your car is an absolute necessity.

Floor jack for garage

Buy Pro-Lift F-767 Grey Low Profile Floor Jack

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It cannot be stressed enough – never get under a car that is carried only by the jack, but always rest the car on the jack stands. The higher rated ones are great for keeping the car safely off the ground and making it easier to work underneath. Something like this Pro Lift Floor Jack will come under very low cars, but still lift to 14 inches.

Pros:

• Extra low profile
• Built-in safety valve provides overload protection
• Rust Resistant

Cons:

• can begin to leak pressure

2. The right power tools

Buy DEWALT DCK940D2 20V MAX Lithium Ion 9-Tool Combo Kit

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Having to drill holes in things is just as guaranteed as death and taxes. Therefore every workshop should have at least one drill with a ½ inch chuck – together with a proper drill in 1/8 increments. Power tools save time and do things your hands just cannot do, other practical things are: Impact drivers, reciprocating saws, a rotating multi-tool and the obligatory angle grinder.

Power tools set

Today, wireless is the way to go, they offer plenty of power, the convenience of portability and they can get into those hard-to-reach corners and angles that wired units and air tools simply cannot. If you want to buy a complete set, the DEWALT 9-Tool 20 Volt Max Lithium Ion Kit offers some of the best wireless power tools on the market.

Pros:

• Compact for fitting in tight spaces and increasing productivity
• A single tool solution for many applications, including cutting, sanding, scraping, and mortar and grout removal
• Has an 8,000 RPM motor that provides high power for cutting and grinding applications

Cons:

• The batteries are too low-capacity

3. Good Compressor

Buy Central Pneumatic 2.5 Horsepower, 10 Gallon, 125 PSI Air Compressor

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Inflate your tires. Blow debris out of things. Get that fresh look from the salon. Okay, maybe not the last one, but still you slice it; you need a simple compressor in the garage. A good air compressor goes beyond inflating tires, it allows you to clean and dry parts of your vehicle that you would not normally be able to reach. It will allow you to operate pneumatic tools and spray painting equipment.

Good compressor for home garage

When it comes to compressor shopping – make it big! So bigger is really better when it comes to compressors – especially if you want to use power tools or spray paint because they need a lot of air. Just be careful with special commercial units, as they typically require a higher voltage than what is common in a private garage. We like this cast iron vertical air compressor, an oil lube air compressor or a portable compressor.

Pros:

• Easy-to-carry handle and smooth-rolling wheels for hassle-free mobility
• Easy-to-read tank and outlet gauges
• Adjustable air regulator for more control

Cons:

• None

4. A robust workbench

Buy UltraHD Lighted Workcenter – Satin Graphite

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Workbench kit

A workbench is the first thing you should build or buy, as it will be central to most of your projects. A DIY workbench can be as simple as hitting an old solid core door or plank of medium density fibreboard (MDF) on two saw blades. However, if you want something more sophisticated, there are hundreds of easy-to-create designs that fly around the web for workbenches built from 2 x 4s and 4 x 4s. To make things even easier, companies like Simpson Strong Tie and 2×4 Basics have kits on offer to help you quickly build a solid workbench with Store-Cut 2 x 4s. Workbench material can also be found in unexpected places.The IKEA Pronoun, Lagan and Numerar solid wood worktops, although less durable than maple butcher’s block tops, are great work surfaces at affordable prices. Shop-bought workbenches are also a good option. These range in price from about $100 for an entry-level version to $600 or more for a high-end bench. The cheapest options are found in the home centers and typically include two tool drawers, a back panel with integrated lighting, and a thin chipboard or MDF worktop. For a more robust bench, many brands offer steel frame workbenches with thick butcher’s block worktops.

Apart from the walls and floors, a workbench is the most important part of any garage – you simply cannot do without it. Having a solid, stable workplace is an absolute must – both from the point of view of user-friendliness and safety. Many car enthusiasts will choose to build their own, but from steel to hardwood, built-in to portable, there are many benches on the market. If you are looking for something simple, we recommend the UltraHD Lighted Workcenter.

Pros:

• Heavy-duty steel frame with leveling feet
• Fluorescent light fixture and power strip
• Metal pegboard

Cons:

• The instructions are not ideal

5. A Big Bench Vise

Buy Bench Vises, 360°Swivel Bench Vice 6 Inches Workshop Clamp Engineers

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A bench vice helps you tighten, hammer, clamp, drill, bend and crush anything and everything. Having a vice is like another set of very, very strong hands that we all know can make a big difference when it comes to performing garage-related tasks. As with compressors, bigger is better when you buy vice. The larger units open wider and make it possible to take in more things. The larger units also have a higher closing force, which is particularly important when it comes to tightening and loosening the parts held in the vice. A 6 inch is about the minimum and should always be firmly attached to your workbench. One of our favorites is the Holarose Tabletop Swivel.

Pros:

• Roll-formed screw threads ensure smooth operation and durability
• The vise body is made from heavy duty cast iron for high hardness and durability has a flat portion that acts as an anvil and additional work surface
• Surface is finished by power coating which makes the vice beautiful, durable and easy to clean dirt and oil

Cons:

• None

6. A toolkit you can be proud of

Buy Gearwrench Set Mech Tool Bmc 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 219Pc (1 Each) 80940

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A good craftsman never blames his tools. However, a good craftsman always has good tools.
Having the right tool for the right job will make any job so much easier. Build your collection over time and out of love for your tools, be careful who you lend it to. A neat toolkit includes a ¼ and ½ inch drive wrench sets, a good selection of wrenches, various pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, hammers, dead blow mallets, zippers, multimeters, adhesive tape, electrical tape and tape measure.

Buying junk may be cheaper in advance, but you can bet that it will disappoint you when you need it most – buy quality, take care of it and you will have it for life. Even as a beginner, we recommend buying a pretty extensive set, something like this gear wrench tool set or this craftsman’s tool set.

Pros:

• Full Polish Chrome 1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″ Standard Sockets
• Full Polish Chrome Metric and SAE Combination Wrenches with Offset Box End and Surface Drive Technology to Reduce Fastener Rounding

Cons:

• Too many sockets

7. Great Lighting

Buy Hyperikon T8 LED Shop Light Tube

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Buy Neiko 40464A Cordless LED Work Light

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Insufficient lighting can affect the quality of your work and lead to time-consuming or costly errors. Fortunately, it is not too difficult or costly to upgrade your lighting with ceiling mounted fluorescent lamps. Start by looking at the 4-foot T8 bulb sockets with wide reflectors or diffusers. Hanging shop lights, like this flat one from Lithonia, are one, two or four-flame lights that fall from top to bottom over your workbench, providing lighting where you need it most. Sometimes even adding one of these lamps to an otherwise dimly lit garage can give you a much better view. A portable worklight like the Might D Light is also a must, even if you don’t want to look into gaps or under your car. If you’re prone to falling and losing small parts or hardware, a quick scan of the floor with a worklight can save you a visit to the hardware store.

Working on your ride is hard enough not to be able to see what you are doing due to lack of light is simply impractical. Start with a well-lit garage that provides plenty of clean, diffuse light from multiple sources to avoid shadows. Even with good overall lighting, a separate work lamp is required. A super bright wireless LED version is the way to go. In fact, LEDs are also a good option for ceiling lights, as they last longer and generate less heat.

Take a look at these options: Hyperikon LED, Luceco 3600, and French May Linkable. If you are on the market for a portable work lamp, there are the Neiko 40464A and the LINLUX emergency lighting.

Pros:

• Money and energy saving: uses a fraction of the power of your old fluorescent lights saving you over 60% on energy
• Fast installation: plug-in style with inline on/off switch
• Hassle free 5 year warranty

Cons:

• Plastic keyhole is very fragile

8. A creeper

Buy Pro-Lift C-2036D Grey 36″ Z-Creeper Seat

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The lift (or elevator) is the holy grail of the workshop of the amateur mechanic. It makes simple tasks easier and complex tasks possible. Since it is necessary to repair things while driving, another inevitable task is working on cars. However, what is even more inevitable is that you have to crawl down and back a dozen times (or more) to do even the simplest task. Enter the garage creep group. It makes it easy to push under your car without lying on cold concrete. Spend a few extra dollars on one that raises the headrest, your neck muscles will thank you for it. An affordable option is the Pro-Lift C-2036D Grey 36-inch Z-Creeper Seat.

Pros:

• Easily converted from creeper to seat for your maintenance convenience
• Vinyl padded seat and headrest
• Easily retractable pin to change seat

Cons:

• The caster nut may not fit due to bending of the frame

9. Car care products

Buy MEGUIAR’S G55032SP Complete Car Care Kit

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Nothing will make you happier than that your ride looks good, and owning a special range of car care products is the easiest way to do so. Make sure you have a good car wash/shampoo, microfiber sponge, wheel brushes, microfiber towels, spray detailers, polish/compound and a high quality wax to keep this shine longer. Of course, we recommend adding a really good wheel cleaner that is friendly (i.e. acid-free) to your wheels. Our favorite car care company Meguiars has 117 years of experience and phenomenal products for all areas of your car, inside and out.

10. Storage Space

Buy Keter Optima Wonder 72 x 31 x 18 in. Free Standing Plastic Tall Storage Cabinet

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Nobody can work in the midst of scrap, including your tools, fluids, fasteners and other random items you have lying around in your garage. It’s also dangerous if things are pushed aside and not stored properly because there’s a chance they’ll fall on you – or even worse, on your car! Clean your garage and organize everything by packing it safely into the storage room, including boxes, a plugin board, shelves, cabinets and cupboards. Get a suitable toolbox for your tools and everything else. A sturdy cabinet works best, like the Keter Standing Storage or the Long World removable Rolling Tool Chest.

Pros:

• Sturdy resin construction is easy to maintain – won’t peel, dent or rust
• Door sealer for better protection against dust and humidity
• Cabinet shelves hold up to 66 pounds

Cons:

• Parts don’t always click in well

11. Fire extinguisher

Buy First Alert Fire Extinguisher | Standard Home Fire Extinguisher, Red, 1038789

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When it comes to fire extinguishers, the phrase “Better safe than sorry” is the correct explanation.
This is a tool nobody ever wants to use, but it should always be in your garage.
Because of the way you work in a garage, make sure you have fire extinguishers that will help with chemical or electrical fires.

Go beyond basic maintenance and take a step towards complete conversions, and you will quickly need more specialized and sophisticated equipment, such as drills, welders, clamps, oxyfuel, motor cranes, rotisserie, lathes, bending machines, folding machines, plasma cutters, etc. The list never ends. Nevertheless, hey, start with the basics and build them as you go.

How to store your tools

You should have a few lockable tool boxes in your garage and a few shelves to store all the power tools. Easy access to what you need is very important. The last thing you need is to spend hours browsing through boxes and shelves looking for a specific item.

Having a tidy shed or a garage is half the battle to be a great craftsman. My neighbors often come by to ask for tools or to get advice on problems with frequent car breakdowns.

Don’t forget to write or write your name on your power tools. Otherwise, they may accidentally become the property of someone else. It will also help if they are stolen. My work uses UV ink, which is invisible for exactly this reason, to mark their tools. It only appears in black light.

If you do not have lighting in your garden house, then a good idea is to install some solar powered shed lighting. It is quick and easy and will brighten the interior of the garage with minimal cost.
Shelves and hooks are ideal for storing garden tools. It brings them from the floor and to the walls. In fact, you have more wall space than floor space to use them.

Best Essentials Every Car Guy Needs in his Garage Video