Skip to content
We independently pick everything we recommend. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more ›

Garage equipment buying guides

Gear up your garage the right way.

Straight answers on air compressors, car lifts, jacks and stands, impact tools, detailing gear and garage upgrades. Picked by the numbers that matter: CFM at 90 PSI, lift capacity, ceiling height, torque and real warranty terms.

Size it before you buy it

  1. Compressor: match CFM at 90 PSI to your hungriest tool, then add margin.
  2. Lift: vehicle height plus rise plus clearance has to fit under the ceiling.
  3. Heater: garage volume, insulation and climate set the BTU, and the circuit.

Shop by category

Popular picks

Roundups with quick picks, a spec comparison and who should skip each pick.

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

MIG Welding Wire Speed and Voltage Chart

A MIG welding wire speed and voltage chart pairs wire diameter and material thickness with feed speed and voltage: four ER70S-6 wires compared, and…

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

Flux Core Welding Tips for Better Beads

Flux core welding tips for better beads: self-shielded wire, voltage and wire speed, duty cycle and prep, with the wire and machines that handle…

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

How to Put in Air Filter: Steps and Gear

Open the air box, swap the old filter for the new one and close it up, with four engine filters compared by fit, life…

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

Oxygen Sensor Socket Size: Which One to Buy

Most oxygen sensors take a 7/8 in (22mm) socket, with 27mm and 29mm sizes for other sensors, compared across four socket sets, chasers included.

Shop by job

Recently updated

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

Stud Welder Dent Repair Kit: How It Works

A stud welder dent repair kit welds small studs to a dented steel or aluminum panel so a slide hammer can pull the metal…

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

Low Cost Plasma Cutter: What to Look For

Dual voltage, cut thickness, duty cycle and air supply: the numbers that decide a low cost plasma cutter, with 4 cutters scored.

Engine and Shop Equipment ·

Parts Washer Fluid: Types and How to Choose

Water-based and concentrated parts washer fluids compared by size, use and safety, plus an aerosol spot degreaser for parts the washer cannot reach.

How we pick

Every pick comes from published specifications, ratings and warranty terms, scored the same way across guides. We do not run our own product trials. Our method

Safety first

Jack stands under every lifted car, lifts installed to the manual, and no fuel-burning heaters in a closed garage. Garage safety

Affiliate disclosure

We earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a pick. Details