My current kit is a single burner Hell's Forge (sorry for the profanity, but it's the brand name) set up on an old anesthesia cart, a cast iron aso on a stump, 1 pair of wolf jaw tongs, and several hammers. I've also got a 4.5 inch angle grinder, a bench top drill press, and a tiny 330×10mm belt grinder.
John Ringo is pretty good, The Last Centurion is a very fitting read right now. I haven't read the Dark Tide books, I figure if I want zombies I'll play any number of games that let me kill them myself. David Weber has several good series although he tends to get bogged down in the more depressing moments. Patricia Briggs is good if you like werewolves. Several of the Mechwarrior books are on my semi-yearly rereading list. I don't really have a "favorite" series I mostly just stare at the bookshelves until something catches my attention.