Essential Tools

[OpiateRevolver]

I'd like to go from just wrenching a bit, maintenance, and other minor things into actually building or chopping something of my own.

What tools would you guys say are essential to the building/chopping process?

[Killswitch505]

a chop saw for chopping stuff it all depends on how crazy you want to get i'll list mine in order of importance (to me) hand tools, measuring devices, grinder(s), drill, drill press, welder, biggest chop saw you can buy or build, mill, lathe flannel shirts, beard, camera, facebook, instagram and beer.

[LoudFastThrash]

i'll list mine in order of importance (to me).

I'm sure you meant to put beer first though.

[jermicon]

Allen head and torx drives, those multi tool things are junk, t handles are good, but those puppies on a rachet or impact make life easy
Manual hammer type impact for all them stuck a-holes.

Sawsall, grinder, welder, and my electric impact are my most used tools besides the sockets and the usual suspects.


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[IIIsticks]

I use my Porta band saw mounted in a Swag off road stand and my multitool belt grinder all the time.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V40-Portaband-Table_p_63.html

http://www.trick-tools.com/Multitool_2_x_36_inch_1_hp_Belt_Grinder_Bundle_MT362_100_Bundle_4311#.Ul04DJ3D-Uk

[SyndicateChoppers]

shit I can go on forever about the tools I use almost everyday in the shop
I would say my most important ones would be

Tig welder
lathe with a ridiculous amount of tooling
milling machine again with a ton of tooling and vises
drill press
angle grinders with cut off wheels and flap discs
air sanders
hand files
basic hand tools (wrenches, sockets, allens, etc)
band saw
grinding wheel
bench vise
oxy/actelyne torches
clamps and holding fixtures you can never have enough of those
media blasting cabinet
wheel truing stand
air compressor

dont get overwhelmed these types of tools are extremely expensive and take time to build up a nice collection.
No one really jumps into this overnight
even if you have all the tools you need to learn how to use them properly and safely and learn the fundamentals of building a bike so its a safe machine to ride and not a death trap that will kill you.

[Jakemon]

The first chopping tool on my list would be a nice angle grinder. You can chop and sand like a champ. The list is too long to type. The great thing is once you start chopping you will soon see that you need this and that to finish each project. Necessity will soon dictate the best tools for the job.

I will say that buying cheap tools is a mistake. I am not saying that you must buy Snap-On but step up as much as you can. I fucking hate cheap ass tools and hate myself every single time I buy a cheap tool and it breaks or sucks.

The great thing about nice tools is that they last a long time. You are rarely only using the tool for "that" job. You will have it moving forwards and your future engineering will evolve with new tools. At some point I stopped buying parts and concentrated on buying tools. That was a big shift in my hobby of motorcycles.

Jakemon

[Lazaruscycleworks]

Syndicate Choppers nailed it. Dont buy cheap tools at first, take your time buy good quality tools.

[BSAshovel]

Syndicate Choppers nailed it. Dont buy cheap tools at first, take your time buy good quality tools.

on some I agree to buy best, but alot you can get by fine with cheap tools it really depends, air tools, dont buy junk, but you dont have to buy the best either. a welder you need a name brand, & there are quite a few good companies that have cheap decent machines, or had as in older machines.

some tools its ok to cheap out, I have a friend with a shop, if it wasnt for cheap tools he wouldnt be in business.

90% of all his stuff came from Harbor freight, the rest Lowes Kobalt, & Sears Craftsman, or what he found at fleamarket, he rents a small shop, & barely makes a living. he lives in highest unemployment area of state, otherwise he wouldnt be able to find a job, no garages are doing good, people dont have the money, & are losing their homes. he does alot of work on credit, & thats how he is able to stay in business. he also has had to take a few cars, but he has to survive. his only other option is to move where money is, & he likes it here.

if in doubt ask, someone here can chime in.

[EVOEATR]

Start building. Buy the tools you need as you go. In a year or two you'll be able to answer this question yourself.