Must Have Tools for Your Garage

More than being a parking space at home, the garage is commonly a place where we spend our time fixing our vehicles and doing other projects. If you’re a handyman, it’s likely that you already have some of the basic tools in your garage. Basic garage tools can include a few screwdrivers, some duct tape, a pair of pliers, and an adjustable wrench.

However, if you’re looking into creating bigger and more detailed DIY projects, or you want to try to fix your own vehicle by yourself, those basic tools are not enough. You will need a more sophisticated lineup of gears in your garage to be able to go for more challenging projects.

If you want to start doing some advanced DIY projects, here are some of the must-have tools for your garage that you might find really handy.

1. Air Compressor

An air compressor is a tool that uses a motor to pressurize air stored in a tank. It is used to operate a lot of different air tools from an impact wrench or inflator to nail and paint guns. It can certainly help you save time and energy when doing certain projects. If you only do casual wrenching and other small tasks, a small 6-gallon-or-less compressor will work fine. But if you’re looking into doing tasks like painting, you might want to get a compressor with a larger tank and higher CFM airflow.

Impact wrench

2. Impact Wrench

With an impact wrench, you no longer have to deal will corroded lug nuts and finicky bolts. It’s because an impact wrench can blast loose even the most resistant parts. There are battery-powered impact wrenches that come in handy especially if you want to take it with you to other places. But if you need power and reliability, nothing beats an air-powered impact wrench

When you use an air-powered impact wrench, this means that there’s no downtime. Plus, there’s more torque at a lower price point, making it a valuable addition to any garage.

Torque wrench

3. Torque Wrench

A torque wrench is important to be able to tighten cylinder head studs to a specific torque. It’s because when you just guess and get the torque wrong, it can cause a head gasket leak and other serious problems. With a torque wrench, you can tighten bolts to the right spec all the time.

The most common type of torque wrench is the click type which emits an audible click when it reaches the desired torque. But there are also beam types and digital ones but they are a bit difficult to use.

Ratcheting wrench

4. Ratcheting Wrenches

Ratcheting wrenches can help you make gripping, turning, and adjusting bolts easier than using traditional wrenches especially if you will be working in confined spaces. It puts the functionality of a ratcheting socket wrench into the ultra-slim profile of a wrench. They are larger than traditional wrenches but they have unbeatable speed and are very convenient to use.

Locking Pliers

5. Locking Pliers

Locking pliers are really handy especially when it comes to a rusted nut that won’t turn, a crew that gets stripped, and as well as flange bends. They have clamping and twisting powers which can definitely help you with all these issues.

Socket set

6. Socket Set

It’s important to have a complete set of different types of sockets so that you will have one if ever you need one. A set of sockets should include T-Bar drive handles, Swivel-Head drive adaptors, speed wrenches, and a complete set of deep-well sockets.

Grinder

7. Grinder

When creating projects, sometimes there are miscalculations on the size and most of the time the project rarely goes as planned. For example, you need a slightly bigger hole than you think because part of your project that’s supposed to fit doesn’t. This is the time when the grinder becomes very useful. This handheld tool will help you cut and polish metals and other materials easily.

8. Table Saw

A table saw is one of the top tools used in creating advanced projects at home and it is also a great addition in your garage. There are also portable versions of it if you also do projects in different parts of your home. A table saw can help in making better precision cuts in both large and small projects. For example, if you’re creating a cabinet or cutting plywood for a new addition to your home, a table saw can make that task much easier for you.

9. Nail Gun

This is a must-have power tool for every advanced DIY person. If you do a lot of nailing projects at home, an air-powered or electric nail gun will be able to make any nailing job easier and faster for you compared to having to nail each piece in by a hammer.

10. Hydraulic Floor Jack and Stands

A hydraulic floor jack is an essential tool in a garage because it will help you a lot in lifting your car from changing your tires to installing new brake pads. Aside from that, jack stands are also important because these will keep or hold your car up. But before getting some for your garage, make sure to check first the weight of your car to make sure they can support it.

11. Creeper

Lying on the hard cement floor when changing your car’s oil can definitely make your back ache the next day. To avoid this, a creeper is a great tool you can add to your garage. It is a low-slung rolling chair for the whole body. It will allow you to slide easily under your vehicle to access what you’re working on, and easily pull out from under when you need to find another tool.

When looking for a creeper, find ones with good-quality casters so it can roll easily. You should also check the length to make sure that it is long enough for your body. You can also find ones with a padded headrest, contoured body, and added storage trays which are great choices.

12. Code Scanner

When fixing a car, it will involve a lot of electrical items, therefore, a code scanner or reader is an important tool because it will help you connect to your vehicle’s diagnostic port which allows you to communicate with your car’s computer. With this tool, you will be able to easily diagnose the problem such as bad sensors and loose gas caps.

The type of code scanner you need depends on your vehicle. A more sophisticated code reader might be needed for newer cars.

13. Multi-meter

This is another essential tool you should have in your garage because it will help you easily measure the voltage, current, and resistance of any circuit. It can also pinpoint any open or short circuit, making it helpful in preventing any huge electrical damage.

14. Breaker Bar

There are times that you’ll be needing an extra leverage to help us tighten a nut at a correct angle or open the nut bolt. In these times, a breaker bar is a tool that will help you, therefore, it’s essential to have this tool in your garage.

15. Anti-Fatigue Mat

When doing some DIY projects in the garage, you will be standing on a hard surface for a long period of time which can be rough to your feet and back. But by installing an anti-fatigue mat in your garage, you will be able to give your body a break. This mat is slightly squishy and it forces your feet and legs to subtly adjust to the surface, preventing tiredness.

In fact, a study from the University of Michigan showed that anti-fatigue mats can reduce discomfort by up to 50 percent. This makes them an essential tool in the garage.

These are some of the must-have tools for your garage if you’re looking into doing tweaks to your vehicle and creating more advanced DIY projects. These tools are certainly great additions to your garage and they can definitely help you make your work easier and faster.