What are the most important tools in your shop?

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So what are the most important tools in your shop? I realize everything plays its part and has its place, but that aside what would you consider to be your most important tools / machinery? #1 for me hands down is the cnc table which is my bread and butter. Second would be welder(s). Third would be the ironworker.  Everything else is very valuable to me but those 3 are definitely king of the mountain. So what are your guys most valuable items in terms of use?
Reply:The one on your shoulders.
Reply:I'd like to have a cnc cutting table or an ironworker, but the urgent need, available space and a great deal on one has not come along (yet).  All the rest of my "stuff" earns it's keep or I get rid of it. Every tool or piece of equipment or tool is valuable when it is needed, I have no favorites, they all have a job they do best."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:Everything in the whole shop at one time or another.......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Hands down... my handsSeriously probably my air compressor, its gets used on just about every job/project
Reply:Some days it's my grinder! Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Barring the obvious (brain, etc) probably my Fluke VOM, followed by my roller chest of welder repair stuff and my load bank. I make a living with that stuff, the rest is secondary.Expert Garage Hack....https://www.facebook.com/steven.webber.948
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterEverything in the whole shop at one time or another.......zap!
Reply:Flat head metabo angle  grinderSent from my C811 4G using TapatalkVantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:The tool thats always at hand is my Measuring tape.From there it's Grinder, Welder, Plasma, Iron worker, Maybe a forklift or 3 depending on what we are doing.
Reply:Its the tool of choice for the given taskLocated In SE OklahomaLincoln Mig 135Hobart Ironman 230 Mig5x10 CNC Table with DTHC & FTHypertherm PM65 on the tableMiller Bobcatwww.caneyagequipment.com
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert HallSome days it's my grinder!
Reply:4x6 bandsaw hands down. Every piece of metal that isn't sheet metal goes through it at least once durring the course of a project.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:My coffee cup
Reply:And mini grinder. I use it for everything. Cut, grind, polish
Reply:My knipex parallel flat jaw pliers.  Always on me and dont tear up the head on bolts like channel locks do.Multimatic 200Ellis 1800Haberle S225 9" cold sawMM 300;  Spoolmate 30A w/ WC-24TB 302GDynasty 280 DX Tigrunner
Reply:Well, I'm a man - so I say hammer.It's welding web - so I say my Airco.But truthfully, I could never pick a most important tool.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:During the divorce, I didn't have access to my barn/shop.I missed the lift the most.Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:I would have to say the electricity in my shop is the most important tool. Without it I couldn't make my coffee or listen to the radio.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Oxy-fuel outfit, welder, grinder!VictorPraxairAir LiquideMillerLincoln Electric
Reply:Without the slightest hesitation the cnc plasma machine. Every time a new project starts I find new uses. Even better, all cutting files are saved....often used again eliminating drawing (or layout) time. I am building two cnc machines now, using my trusty old CNC to make all of the parts.Jim Colt
Reply:Without my Welding machines, I would have a hard time putting anything made from my CNC plasma table together.. Guess you could use rivets? I would still keep my Ironworker over my CNC plasma.. The iron-worker has a brake on it.. I could get by without the cnc plasma, but not the plasma cutter in general. I would say without my Air compressor, I'd really be done before I started.. Sorry, just like Nitto Kohki air tools way too much..Last edited by Brand X; 09-03-2015 at 12:55 PM.Esab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:Welding is 100% necessary to me as well, however the cnc makes everything I build better, more accurate and quicker. Less (generally no grinding) grinding, better fitup makes better welds in less time. CNC plasma is my choice....but every other tool is necessary as well.Think of something simple like a 30 x 30 x10"  (10 gauge steel)deep water tray ( for a cnc plasma table) that I just built a few days ago. Cut as one piece with stitch cuts where the bends were needed. Folded it into a box, welded up the corners (which was easy because the cuts were dead on) , cleaned up my less than perfect welds with a flap disc and done. Less welding than making it with 5 pieces, less layout (drew in CAD in less than 5 minutes). No need for a press brake or shear.Jim
Reply:I started to think a bit more on it.. Probably my floor jack is #1.. Just a bitch without one..I tend to not use any welding on a bent seam if possible..Would look kind of funky for most work..I wonder what my friend would pick? This is just one of the little things in his shop.8 ft brake ,and pushing 40 tons.. not a 40 ton brake either.. Attached ImagesEsab/Lorch ET-220iEsab 160i caddyThermal LM-200 Lincoln feedersThermal Pee-Wee 85sThermal 60i- 3phase /RPC powered (Beast)Thermal Drag-gun 35CINE 1500 Klutch 140i
Reply:CNC plasma table hands down.  I agree with everything Jim said.  It's always my go to tool for projects.  Most things are designed around using it because it makes everything quicker, more accurate and retained for further tweaking/duplicates.  I have cut and tweaked multiple versions of things in less time than it would take to make one by hand.My cnc plasma has been a good tool, but I just farmed out the work before and still do for large jobs. Welders are indispensable (one on the truck plus a feeder, 5 in the shop), grinders the same (6 in the shop, and two on the truck). I can't imagine working without and ironworker again either, or a big bandsaw. I did it all before without anything but a welder, grinder and chopsaw, just a lot faster and easier now. My milling machine and lathe are great to have, and wouldn't want to do without them, but I only use the sporadically. I greatly dislike using any of them before a cup of tea in the morning, or a cold beer after a long day.
Reply:The fire extinguishers.
Reply:My Truck. Gets me where I need to go. Couldn't go to the LWS or Home Depot without it. Also nice since it has a service body, no need to lug around a tool box!
Reply:Every tool is indispensable. Man is useless without a tool.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikEvery tool is indispensable. Man is useless without a tool.
Reply:Your eye sight without it you would have nothing.  JohnSent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Reply:Soapstone and tape and ruler ,cant build a bridge without it.Just add a DC-600 LN-9,torch and drill and you have a bridge.Grinders are optional cut and weld right you do not need em.
Reply:the most important tools in my shop are; welding shield, hammer, chipping and ball pein,wire brush,combo square,tape measure,file,center punch and vise grip. what more could a welder need except the grinder?i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Is not the shop itself a tool?12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:refrigerator,  ice chest..........clifton
Reply:Each tool plays a vital role in the welding process, so it's hard to pick just one, but it would be very, very difficult to move forward without my trusty old vise.-RuarkLincoln 3200HDHobart Stickmate LX235TWECO Fabricator 211i
Reply:Each tool plays a vital role in the welding process, so it's hard to pick just one, but it would be very, very difficult to move forward without my trusty old vise.
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikMan is useless without a tool.
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinSo how did we get from "having no tools" to "having tools"?
Reply:My apprentice
Reply:Originally Posted by KelvinSo how did we get from "having no tools" to "having tools"?
Reply:bigcreekToilet Paper - it prevents my upper extremities from smelling like my work product.Opus
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwik Man is useless without a tool.
Reply:My Angle Grinder does everything my welder doesn't!
Reply:good crescent wrench. one of my edc's says craftsman, the other says crescent. . . . . .best two hammers i havebosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:5" vise grip followed by a hammer and the big wilton viseMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer