Selecting fabricating tools...

[AlaskanRider]

I recently slapped a metal wheel on my 8.5 inch wormdrive. Its been great for my bumper project, makes long clean straight cuts for super cheap. Saves me alot of cleanup compared to my mediocre torch handling.

And the disks cut a lot as long as Im patient and dont smoke em.

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I was kind of looking for some brand recommendations and how people liked using those brands....

I guess I could throw up a list of what I already have though...

Oxy/propane cutting rig (100lb propane tank and large oxy bottle) IIRC the regulators are freshly rebuilt Airgas ones.
3x 4.5" angle grinders (one el-cheapo from a traveling tool sale, two Bosch)
corded 3/8" drill (craftsman - not the best but it was a present YEARS ago so no complaints)
Milwalkee right angle drill (I absolutely love this thing for drilling 1/4" and up holes - no worries about it grabbing and trying to break your wrist when using the right angle feature - I've drilled up to 3/4" holes with it)
Milwalkee corded sawzall - it's one of the lesser ones, but I like it because it is the only one that has a short stroke - good for tight quarters - a big one is on the list though
Harbor Freight 10 gallon oiled compressor (say what you want, but it's survived 5 years of abuse now and is adequate for running a 1/2" impact) - I will get a bigger one (probably IR) once I have a place to put it.
Craftsman oxy/actylene cutting/welding rig - I mostly use it as a welding rig since actylene is so pricey
Lincoln 225ac stick welder (the old reliable "tombstone/doghouse" welder)
Variety of BFH - claw, 3 sizes of ball-peen, mash/machinist sledge, 4# sledge, 10# sledge, 12# sledge
Enough wrenches/ratchets/prybars/air tools/etc to fill a medium sized toolbox (I'm talking like one of the 11 drawer Craftsmans with the deep drawers all the way up)

I also have use of a Porter Cable floor model drill press - as long as I clean up any mess I make (it's in dad's woodshop).

On my wish list:

Right now I'm looking to get a tube notcher, tube bender, chop saw and/or horizontal metal bandsaw, and a paint spray gun.

The other stuff on the list...
60-80 gallon compressor
220/240v MIG
Plasma cutter
20 ton or larger press
bench grinder
drill press
Summit Racing has a Woodward Fab 3-in-1 bend/roll/shear machine that will bend up to 30" of 20 gauge for $600 - looks like a good investment

[Shran]

Here's my list of my most-used fab tools (I have a lot more than this.)

- 2x Angle grinders - one good one for grinding, one cheapo for cutoff wheels and wire wheels
- 1/4" Black & Decker corded drill (low speed, great for small holes)
- 3/8" Skil corded drill (wire wheeling, medium size holes)
- 1/2" 6 amp gear reduction drill for big fawking holes
- 1/2" DeWalt 18v cordless drill
- 3/8" Blue Point cordless 14.4v impact
- Skil corded, DeWalt 18v cordless sawzalls
- 14" DeWalt chop saw
- 30 gallon compressor
- Craftsman (Clarke) 110v MIG welder, no gas
- Century 220v AC/DC stick welder
- 420c/f oxy/acetylene tanks, torch setup
- small sheet metal brake that I built
- 20 ton shop press
- Tool Shop (Menards) electric corded sheet metal shear
- cheapo air die grinder, cutoff zoomie grinder
- Montgomery Ward spot sandblaster
- ATD HPLV suction paint sprayer
- one small vise, one large vise
- Various air impacts, air ratchets, air drills, etc

And a wide variety of the usual hand tools. I use the crap out of all of the above except the press.

If I had to recommend ONE tool from my list that is the most handy, it would be the sheet metal shear. That thing is fawking sweet and it is SO nice not shooting sparks and metal shards everywhere. Inexpensive too.

[-Nathan-]

All you NEED is a welder, a grinder, and a drill. Anything more is luxury.

[Bennybooster]

I have a hobart 187 welder, I have only been able to use it once but have a bunch of projects to do. SO far it is very high quality, and the little I have used it it welded VERY well, super smooth and a ton of power