Garage Tools & Equipment

Automotive Garage Equipment for Lifting: Car Lifts, Jacks and Cranes

Automotive garage equipment for lifting includes vehicle lifts, jacks, jack stands, and engine cranes, and it decides which jobs you can take on. Our Shop Equipment category covers lifts, jacks and jack stands, engine cranes and hoists, engine stands, creepers, shop presses, and parts washers. Lifts from Tuxedo come with clear capacity ratings you can plan around:

• 2-post lifts rated at 9,000 lb for full underbody access
• FP8K-DX 4-post storage lift rated at 8,000 lb for stacking two vehicles
• Single-post storage lift rated at 6,000 lb for tighter floor plans
• Scissor bridge jacks rated at 3,500 lb and 4,500 lb for wheel and brake work

Tuxedo also offers lift benches for motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs. For drivetrain work, OTC Tools transmission jacks and power train lifts help you lower heavy assemblies under control. Compare 2-post, 4-post, and scissor designs in our guide to choosing car lifts for a home garage.

Hand Tools and Automotive Specialty Tools

Hand tools handle most everyday repairs, and specialty tools take on system-specific jobs a standard wrench can't. Start with mechanic hand tools such as sockets and ratchets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, torque and measuring tools, and complete tool kits. A torque wrench belongs in every box, since wheels, cylinder heads, and suspension fasteners all have torque specs.

When a job calls for a dedicated tool, Automotive Specialty Tools sorts the selection by vehicle system:

• A/C and cooling system tools
• Brake tools
• Engine building tools
• Alignment and suspension tools
• Diagnostic and transmission tools

OTC Tools adds hydraulic puller sets, an R-134a A/C recovery machine, and a transmission fluid exchanger. For chassis setup, Intercomp scale levelers and shock dynos help you dial in weight and damping. If you're building a kit from scratch, read 8 mechanic's tools you need in your home garage.

Air Compressors, Power Tools and Welders

Air tools, power tools, and welders speed up repetitive jobs and let you fabricate or repair metal in your own shop. The air compressors and air tools selection includes compressors, air hoses, air tanks, regulators, filters, driers, and the air tools they run. Regulators and driers control pressure and moisture, which protects tool internals and keeps water out of paint work.

If you'd rather skip the hose, corded and cordless power tools cover drilling, cutting, grinding, and fastening, along with blades, bits, and other accessories. Corded tools run as long as you need them. Cordless tools go anywhere, so it pays to stay on one battery platform as your collection grows.

For fabrication, welders and plasma cutters include MIG and TIG welders, plasma cutters, and welding supplies. MIG is the common pick for exhaust, brackets, and sheet metal. TIG gives you finer control on thin steel and aluminum, while a plasma cutter makes fast, clean cuts in sheet and plate.

Tire Changers and Wheel Service Equipment

A tire changer and wheel balancer let you mount, dismount, and balance tires in your own bay instead of hauling wheels to a shop. Our Tire Tools & Equipment category includes tire machines, tire tools, and wheel tools for street, track, and seasonal tire swaps. Tuxedo offers a tire changer and wheel balancer combo, which pairs both machines so they work as one station.

Before you choose a machine, compare these points against the wheels and tires you run:

• Rim clamping range that covers your smallest and largest wheel diameters
• Bead breaker style that handles stiff sidewalls on low-profile tires
• Balancer modes for alloy wheels that use stick-on weights
• Floor space for both machines plus room to roll a wheel in and out

Round out the station with wheel tools such as lug wrenches and wheel weight tools. Torque lug nuts to the vehicle spec after every mount, then recheck them after the first drive.

Tool Storage and Organization for Garage Tools and Equipment

Tool storage keeps your garage tools and equipment organized, protected, and within reach of the bay where you work. The tool storage and organization lineup includes tool boxes, shelving, and parts trays for shops of every size. Plan storage around how you work, and the right setup cuts the time you spend hunting for a 10 mm socket.

A rolling tool box parked next to the lift or bench keeps sockets, wrenches, and pliers at arm's length. Group drawers by task, such as fastening, measuring, and electrical, so every tool has a home you can spot at a glance. Shelving handles bulky items like jack stands, air hoses, fluid containers, and specialty tool cases that don't fit in a drawer.

Parts trays keep fasteners sorted during a teardown, which saves time when you reassemble an engine or suspension. For drawer layouts and tool set planning, see our guide to building an automotive toolbox and tool set.