The Dream of Having Your Own Hobby Car Shop
Hobbies are important because they help you relax and deal with the stress of work. If you don’t want to play computer or board games in your free time, you might want to think about starting a hobby workshop. Working in your own workshop can be fun and useful, even though it takes up a lot of space and is usually better for homeowners. You can also fix a lot of car problems yourself, which can save you a lot of money. But what do you need to think about when setting up a hobby workshop, and what tools do you need to buy?
Finding the Right Room
The exact place where the workshop will be held is not the most important thing. It doesn’t matter if you set it up in your garage at home or rent an extra garage or hall. The size of the space is more important because it needs to meet your needs. For instance, a normal garage might not be big enough to fit a lifting platform.
Good airflow is also very important. When you paint or use chemicals, they can give off harmful fumes that can be bad for your health. So, to keep the air safe, the room needs to have good airflow. You should also be able to connect to electricity and water so you don’t have to use extension cords or go inside the house every time you need water. Some devices may also need a high-power outlet. WA Auto Parts also sells tools, spare parts, and other things that are important for a workshop.

What are the most important tools for a hobby automotive workshop?
There are a lot of tools and equipment that you can put in your hobby workshop. Let’s look at some of the most important things you need to be able to work on your own car or classic car in depth.
Platform for lifting
The lifting platform is likely one of the most useful tools in a hobby workshop. Car lifts from companies like Twin Busch cost about $2,200 to start. You can even get a mobile car lift for around $700. You can find a lot of different car lifts on sites like eBay.
Lifts for cars and trucks with transmissions
The transmission sends the engine’s movement to the tires. But because of all the gears and the big construction, it usually weighs more than 150 kg, even in a car. So, if you want to take it off, you should use a transmission jack. If not, people could get hurt. Also, don’t try to save money on the purchase. This can hurt not only the expensive parts, but also your own safety. But buying the most expensive models isn’t always the answer. Some companies make bad devices even when they are new. But you can’t go wrong with the companies Timbertech, Holzinger, or DEMA. People have given these companies’ products a lot of good reviews and they have a great reputation. But how much do you really need to spend on these things? It should be at least 100 euros, because that’s where good entry-level models start. Then, high-quality devices cost about $500. For this amount of money, it is a good idea to read a gearbox lifter guidebook. You can also buy the used devices, but this is not a good idea. They may no longer be safe because they have reached their maximum load capacity or are very worn out.
Floodlighting or lighting
Good lighting is very important because a lot of mechanics work on their cars or motorcycles at night. This is true all year long and all day long, especially in halls or garages that don’t have windows. It is suggested that you play around with simple neon tubes from the hardware store to make your own solution. This will put you in a good position for about $120. You can find a good tutorial on this on YouTube.

What tools do I need?
The next step is usually to set up a workshop. Before that, craftsmen usually have some tools that they have put together. They already have the basic tools, so they just need to buy the right workbenches and storage spaces. Many people also buy different kinds of electrical tools, like a grinder or a polishing machine. You only really need to buy these things if you use them a lot. If not, it might be cheaper to borrow it.
Here is a small checklist of important tools:
- Cutter knife
- Screwdriver set
- Meter stick
- Multimeter
- Ratchet
- Allen wrench
- Open-end wrench
- Combination pliers
- String cutter
- Torque wrench
- Rubber mallet
- Locksmith’s hammer
If you buy these and other tools, you should of course pay special attention to quality.
If you need cheap or free spare parts for your project, you can usually find them at a car recycling center near you.
