Vices
When it comes to a vise, you’ll need one that can endure years of keeping your ideas in place. So when shopping for your first bench vise, keep the urge to go for the cheapest model at bay. Unfortunately, cheaper vises are frequently low-quality and unattractive. If you don’t already have one, there are a ton of excellent American-made vises you can find for sale on Craigslist or in garage sales. If you plan to work on bigger projects, a folding clamp, such as Triton’s Superjaws or Rockwell’s Jawhorse, might be ideal for you if space is a constraint or you work with extensive materials and you require a portable solution.
Tool Chests
Having various tools makes it hard to keep everything in order—nothing is more aggravating than spending an hour searching for a tool you need for a 15-minute job. That is why a tool chest is essential in every garage. However, it can be difficult to choose which one you want with so many different options. One excellent option is the six-drawer Craftsman ball-bearing chest. It has plenty of tools and ample room to expand, making it ideal for first-time homeowners. Its 26-inch depth lets you store long-handled tools without requiring too much floor space.
The top two drawers are perfect for smaller tools, while the bottom four are great for larger items such as sockets, wrenches, and air tools. If you’re a DIYer with a more extensive haul of tools, consider a roller-cabinet-and-chest combination. Another great option from Craftsman is their 52-inch roller cabinet. It has 18 drawers, four of which are extra-deep for power tools and other more oversized items.
Shop-Vac
A shop vac is the workhorse of any garage or workshop, whether you’re cleaning up woodworking debris or sucking up liquid spills before they have a chance to cause staining or damage. While most shop vacs are adequate for general cleanup, a few features make some models more user-friendly than others. For example, a detachable blower is handy for blowing leaves from gutters and cobwebs from corners.
A dust-sealed switch protects the vacuum’s innards from sawdust and other debris, while a crevice tool helps clean tight spaces. Finally, if you frequently work with liquids, look for a model with an automatic float shutoff that prevents the vacuum from overfilling and spilling dirty water on your floor.
Conclusion
Your garage is a great place to store all your extra belongings. However, with the right tools and organization, it can also be a great space to work on projects as well. With these things in mind, you’ll be sure to make the most of your garage space. Who knows, maybe you’ll even find that you have more space than you thought!
