Most important tools in the shop

[philip in china]

What are the most important tools in your shop? I would start the list with:
Forge
Anvil
Hardie
Hammers
Tongs
Vice

I couldn't work without those. A fairly simple list. I think next would be:
Drill press
Bench grinder
Angle grinder
Welder
Power saw

Then I can manage without but use a lot:
Hammer drill for mounting stuff to masonry
Oxy Acet.

I think general hand tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, hacksaw etc. go without saying.

[Johannes]

forge
blower
tongs
hammer
anvil
hot cut
post vise
wheel cutter
welding post
jar of borax
drawing board
stock
power magnet
drill press
grinding wheel
slack tub
fire extinguisher
first aid kit
wax

[yesteryearforge]

IMAGINATION

Mike Tanner

[habu68]

to the above I would add
punches
drifts
chisels
slitters
jigs
bending forks
2 foot steel rule
steel framing square
a speed square How to use the Swanson Speed Square
and a 4x4 foot piece of 1/4 inch steel with a light coat of rust for a black board and lay out.

[Thomas Dean]

Your brain...THEN all the rest follows

[steveh]

i figure your body would be the most important,when its not up to par not much happens out in my shop leaving my brain still wanting and all the other tools wondering.

[ThomasPowers]

One way to look at this is "What tools do you bring with you to demo" as sort of the minimum take on what tools are needed:

For me:
Forge: Firepot, table, coal, blower
Anvil: Anvil, stump, hardy, bic, fullers
Postvise: Postvise, legs to hold it up when used travelling
Tools: Tongs, hammers, punches, drifts, twisting wrenches
Shade: large canvas tarp, poles, ropes, stakes.

[GOATMAN]

What tools do you need to buy, to use to make the rest?
the tools you cannot make?

[Frosty]

Brain first, education or imagination tied for second and third place.

I buy all my electrical tools and such out of necessity. While I can make most of the other stuff it just isn't cost effective for much of it. For instance a "C" clamp isn't all that hard to make by hand but it takes a lot of time to hand cut the threads for screw and box .

Okay, that isn't the question.

Most important in my shop are measuring devices whether they're micrometeres or knotted string. Being able to accurately measure, divide, multiply and mark is all important. With a good piece of string you hardly need any other layout tools except something to mark with. Heck, you can do more things with string than any other single measuring device.

Cutting tools from saws and chisels to files and sandpaper.

Hammers of course.

Vises, clamps and dogs.

Anvil, stakes, various dies, sets, hardy tools, etc.

Torch & welders, etc.

Handling equipment from pry bars to cranes, I'm only limited by what I can move around.

Machine tools from drill presses to lathes and mills, though these fall under cutting tools I'll give them their own slot farther down the necessity cue.

The pickup truck and trailer are probably my most essential pieces of equipment, they're so important I don't include them in the list as they supercede mere smithy/shop duties.

Frosty

[tompdw]

Don't forget band saw and air compressor( not just for smithing)