philip in china Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 IMAGINATION Mike Tanner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habu68 Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Your brain...THEN all the rest follows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveh Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 What tools do you need to buy, to use to make the rest? the tools you cannot make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Don't forget band saw and air compressor( not just for smithing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Goatman there are no basic smithing tools you cannot make; be it forge, anvil, tongs, bellows, hardy tools, etc. Now you have to decide if it's in your best interest to make them rather than buy some of them, especially if some of the ones you can buy would be cheaper and much faster to buy than make... Now fancy tools like a screwpress, induction forge, plasma cutter would be a mite difficult to make at the quality/safety level as buying would yield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daryl Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Brain, eyes, protect both. The rest are details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpworks Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 everything above plus the will to do it all and the skills to pull it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Me forge blower and coals.. hammers can forge with out it.. anvil hard to work with out it but it can be done.. tongs anvil tools cutters,fuller,dies and so on Hardening tubs oil and water vise bench grinder with stone and wirebrush welder angle grinder borax and so on.. Daniel CL. BTW is it possible to get a non automatic plasma/laser cutter to use like a kind of "wood band saw style" only for metal ? i know it would not be safe but very useful :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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