Shop Show and Tell | What Makes Your Workplace so Special?

Only that it's mine. Otherwise not that special 

This is just my opinion, but I think a Shop and Tools subforum would go over great on here. There is a ton of threads for shop builds, garage layout questions, etc. I think it would be cool to have them all in one place, and its something we can all relate to. That's just my two cents (and that's usually about all its worth).

In reply to gearheadmb :

There is a shop talk sub forum, it is sadly a desolate barren landscape. 

In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

I thought that forum was for advertisers to post.

To answer the original question:

Three things:

1. Furnace.  There's a natural gas furnace hanging from the ceiling that keeps the place from dropping below 50 degrees and can get it up to 70 in about an hour.  It is so nice to be able to work in relative comfort.
2. Running water.  I can get cleaned up before I leave the shop and when nature calls, the facilities are right there.  Having a real bathroom as opposed to a port-a-john down the way also makes the shop more inviting for the ladies.
3. The fridge.  Having cold beverages on hand is a pretty sweet deal.  Adding a microwave and freezer also means that full meals can be stored so that if I'm really in the middle of something, I don't have to go in search of sustinance.

Since this started with a picture of a mechanic's stool - here is my hot tip:

I use a kick stool as my seat/step stool in the garage. It has spring-loaded casters; so it sits firmly on the floor, when you sit or stand on it. Too many times, I've had mechanics stools slip out from under me when leaning forward or sideways. The kick stool prevents this entirely, by virtue of its big round base and allows you to quickly use it as a step stool.

The first step makes a handy storage place for the tools you're actively using when sitting on it. Just make sure to have space clear if you need to use it as a step stool (though I find most folks can step up on top of it without needing to use the first step).

Finally, I went with a bright color (red) so I could see it in my peripheral vision when walking around the garage. I've tripped over black/white stools before because they blend in with the woodwork so to speak.

In reply to RevolverRob :

We had those schools in the library back in the day. Hmmmm. 

+1 on the heater. I have a natural gas fired one in my shop. I keep it at 14 degrees C and only increase it when I'm in there for an hour or more. Otherwise it's fine. I haven't brought water there yet, but I have 2 spare conduit runs that are available  if I want to do it. 
I also have 16 X 8 foot garage doors on both ends - it makes it a nice place in the summer with the breeze blowing through. 

I'll start with the worst thing in my shop:

It's sturdy, classic, even has a swivel/lazy Susan top, and was free because someone gave it to me. It's the perfect height to sit at the workbench and work. And...I have sat on it exactly one time in 15 years, but I have moved it out of my way about 72.3 million times. It's too nice to get rid of so it just sits there and taunts me. I hate you, you perfect stool. 

My ceilings are low, which really sucks, but there are two steel beams that come in handy. In addition to storing things overhead, with a little trolly like this I can pull engines, lift heavy things, even hang my outboard to work on it. 

In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :

Where did you find that?!  My dad's work area is like this and I'd like to get him one some day.  I've pulled my share of engines with a chain and a cable come-along from the I-beam in the basement of my folks' house.