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7 Garage Necessities That Are Not Tools
If you participate in the project car economy, there are two things you spend a lot of time thinking about and money buying: Parts and tools. Those aren’t the only things you’ll need to be successful in your DIY endeavors, though. From solutions for inevitable injury to helping you stay sane while thinking through the next steps of your to-do list, there are plenty of items that don’t count as tools but should be included in any garage-dweller’s toolbox. Here are seven to consider.
First Aid kit
Busted knuckles and other dermatological abrasions are a reality of working with one’s hands. While electrical tape and a paper towel can handle some things, it’s not a universal fix. A proper, well-stocked first aid kit is a necessity. Make sure it’s easily accessible and not stuffed in the back of a cabinet—the last thing you want to do is have to search and move stuff to get to it. Also, if you keep a few first aid items in the garage, it will likely save you from at least a couple of “what did you do now?” glances from your significant other when you come inside with your hand covered with a greasy rag. Or maybe that’s just me.
Fire Extinguisher
In the same vein as the first aid kit, a fire extinguisher of appropriate size and rating could literally save not just your project but your whole shop. Keep your extinguisher inspected and in a clear and labeled location.
Broom and dustpan
Not every garage needs to be a spotless palace of horsepower, but it is good to keep dust and dirt to a minimum—they have a sneaky way of jumping off the floor onto a freshly greased bearing as it’s being installed. Or magically appearing inside an engine during assembly. A regular sweep will keep your projects and workspace cleaner, and that will likely make working on projects a little more enjoyable. Even if you’re working in the driveway, taking a little time to clean up where you will be sitting or lying helps.
Spill cleanup supplies
Cars are full of a variety of fluids, and just about every one of them is slippery when spilled. Cleaning up spills when they happen is safer for a variety of reasons, including reducing the fire risk. A couple of old bath towels, some oil dry or kitty litter, and maybe even a squeegee are great to keep on hand for those times when you put the catch pan three inches left of center and dumped two gallons of coolant straight onto the floor.
Step stool or ladder
Most of my projects, like my motorcycles, are shorter in height, and I spend more time trying to lift what I’m working on to have easier access. Conversely, on a diagnostic field trip to look at a friend’s SUV that wouldn’t start, we collectively realized how nice it would be to have a step stool to help reach into the depths of the engine compartment, even while the truck was on the ground. Add in that this allows easy access to keep a roof clean and waxed, and can be used as a sitting spot for projects where sitting on the ground is not the best option, and having a stool or two makes a lot of sense.
Pencil and paper
The bare minimum needed to take notes while working on a project is a few sheets of paper and a pencil. Use these to write down specifications during disassembly, or draw diagrams to help with reassembly, or just keep a running parts or to-do list. Step up to a binder, notebook, or whiteboard if you want, but even with all of those things in my shop, I still find myself reaching for old-school paper and pencil at least once a week.
A camera
If a pencil and paper can capture a lot of information quickly, having a camera might as well provide a superpower. Reference photos can make or break an extensive restoration when you arrive at the assembly phase. Even those with great memories will struggle to remember which direction a label was pointed, or become annoyed trying to figure out which bolt length went in which hole in the water pump. Writing it down is easy. Taking a quick photo is even easier.
Be sure to actually organize your photos, though. A photo you know you have but can’t find is even more frustrating than not having it in the first place. If you can, consider buying an old smartphone or keeping your old one after upgrading and using that. It will keep the photos from clogging up your main phone and still be very user-friendly—modern phones have great image quality for things like photo documentation.
You forgot a loud radio to mask the sounds of your cursing at stuck bolts
And swearing when the bolt comes loose suddenly and you break/rip a body part
add Moonshine to kill the pain
Moonshine did someone say Moonshine?? Hell yes
Thus the first-aid kit. Cask strength Scotch is also a great disinfectant as well as painkiller.
I second the motion!
Preferably 12 year old single malt!
Ditto as to that- have to have the tunes to distract you from the on-going frustration of any project taking 3 times as long and costing twice as much as expected- been there and done that- Beatles will save the day- along with a bit of Bob Marley!
I second that!
Sly and Robbie Radio!
ABSOLUTELY
Camera/phone – for before & after photos, for “how did that look when back together?” etc.
Absolutely a radio. I need the tunes going on in the background. I’ve got an old cassette, manual dial radio. I’ve hooked it up to a couple of larger speakers. Great sound, and I can adjust the volume according to what I’m working on.
And a box of tissues to cry into when frustration finally overwhelms you. Waah!
My Garage music is on 24/7! – acts as a deterrent: “Hey, let’s get outta here, somebody is up” (at 3am)…
# Freaking ONE with a bullet. MUSIC heals all wounds!
Water, power, lighting. Bonus points for hot water.
Two items that handles both ends: a mini fridge & bathroom. If your ‘garage’ is at your place of residence, it’s a moot point. Since my play room is away from home, they’re on my list.
Brilliant observation, and “place of residence” does not get you off the hook with Other Resident if you ever traipse in all oiled and greased, especially if there’s some on your shoes too.
A mini-fridge loaded with beer is a really nice to have item.
Or a real sized fridge, a grill and somthing to cook on the grill.
Actually, I use a 12 cu ft fridge. The mini-fridge, a 20th anniversary gift from work, is still in the box. And the shop came with a bbq grille – never used. One day…
I never drink while working on a car or motorcycle; it is too easy to screw up anyway, without increasing the odds!
Big screen and surround sound.
We have Smokey and the Bandit uncensored on tap.
Junior, there is no way you come from my loins.
When we get home, I’m gonna punch yo mama right in the mouth…
lol
Jackie Gleason
A kettle to boil water to soften pipes, and more importantly to make coffee
Fire extinguisher . . . if it has a plastic handle, it has been recalled. Kidde will GIVE you a brand new extinguisher to replace it and even ship it to you for free. Problem is that after a few years the plastic handles get brittle and break off and then the extinguisher is useless. Call Kidde – toll free – read them the code number, then sit back and in a few days the replacement – with metal handles – arrives.
These things are everywhere, homes, garages, offices, boats, RVs, if it has a plastic handle it is NO GOOD and NOT SAFE. Kidde also made a bunch of extinguishers under private labels, so even if the label doesn’t say Kidde, they may still have to replace it. You probably have more of these things than you think, so look around carefully.
Go look now, before you need to – when you suddenly need to, it is too late.
That’s a great comment. I’m going to check mine today.
Holy stoichiometry Batman! This is critical info I, and likely many of us had never considered. Thank You Miami Mike.
My vote for Comment-of-the-Day…
Yes, THANKS Mike! I did indeed have one mounted near my woodcrafting workbench. All the rest of mine are metal-handled. But out of all the places I might need one, an area with power tools (potential of electric spark), lots of sawdust, and plenty of wood fuel just might be the WORST place to find a failed extinguisher!
Received my replacement last week,very painless process!
Fire extinguisher !! Must have!Just bought two new fire extinguishers couple weeks ago. , I believe something was recalled a number of years ago and I got some replacements, but I just checked the three that I installed 30 years ago when I bought my house. Plastic handles! Thanks for the PSA I’m contacting them ASAP
Beer cooler
ABSOLUTELY
See, this is where the extra investment in a British car starts to pay off. The beer doesn’t have to be that cold.
Studenorton, you know why British people don’t drink their beer very cold, right? Because they have Lucas refrigerators.
Truth is that British beer was developed centuries before refrigerators were invented to taste best at the cellar temperatures in which the casks were stored. Chilling a good bitter to refrigerator temperature kills its taste.
Always thought beer was invented because basically it was safe to drink versus water. The whole process of making beer killed the disease causing bacteria in the water. Besides who wanted to figure out the water wasn’t any good when you could stay buzzed all day & night.
You’re right about the beer, but that’s only because Lucas makes their refrigerators.
Lighting, lighting, lighting. To wrench is bliss, but to see is divine.
It makes the process so much easier and enjoyable when you can make out what it is you’re doing.
I’ve worked in shops with poor lighting and it makes the job twice as hard. I have 11 T12 8′ fluorescents in my 3036 shop which am converting to LED as they burn out. I found great LED conversions for these bulbs. Don’t buy the cheapo bulbs sold on Ebay or Amazon, they don’t last. I know, I tried them.
So Tim, what brand LED bulbs do you like? Most of the ones I’ve dealt with are either cheap junk or expensive junk. I’ve been replacing failing ballasts in my garage and they have become insanely expensive…
Go with a ballast bypass bulb, you remove the ballast and wire them direct.
Lighting also minimizes the need for a first aid kit.
Great idea. There are so many options these days from LED head lights (for your head, not your car), magnetic lights to stick in strategic places to super bright work lights on a stand. I purchased this one from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT4P5DG1? It was less than $50 and lights up my shop like an operating room! “Hobo Tools” has these I’m sure and lots of others.
norm – Usually I’m told the bathroom is behind the shed or in that corner of the fence by the big tree. Then again I tend to live on coffee so only ‘one’ reason to use it.
Ahhh, the half bath out…..
Ah yes, watering the tree. I took care of that nonsense by adding a bathroom to my forced housing unit – the dog house. I showed her!
Sandwich bags and labels.
And red and black sharpies
How about the totally necessary beer fridge?
It’s a must have and I want my radio thats plays my 1960 — 1970 songs
A laptop so you can watch Youtube to figure out how to complete the task at hand, or look up torque specs. Or upload a video of what you are doing…
Yup. When my wife gave me a decent one for Christmas, the old, cheap one went to live it’s days out in the garage. Also handy for taking pics and video for “what is this and where does it go on this project” questions for the forums.
Often the garage can be the new home to things that got upgraded in the house…. a truly well equipped garage has alot of stuff not related to tools….. more like creature comfort items.
One thing i bought recently that keeps rewarding me is a mechanic’s stool from Harbor Freight.. about 30 bux. At 75 you look for reasons to not do things because of having to bend over or squat… this little stool fixes all that and has a tool tray underneath. You can work comfortably and move around.
What about beer and beer fridge?
ABSOLUTELY
My garage has 1950s to early 70s classic cars and has always had a 50s or 60s jukebox with 45s from the same time period. I’ve been ‘lost’ in those years for my entire garage life.😊