Shop tools, equipment & supplies
Items I use for machining, fabrication, inspection, programming, printing, and general shop work.
YESWELDER MIG-205DS PRO 205-amp multiprocess welderI bought this dual-voltage MIG welder in November 2024. I use it for shop fabrication, and it welds better than the big Miller welder it replaced.View on Amazon →
Haas 45A servo amplifier — 93-32-3551JI bought this 45A Haas servo amplifier for the Z axis on my Haas VF-2. The unit and box are marked 93-32-3551J.View on eBay →
Refillable graffiti marker for layout fluidI fill this refillable graffiti marker with Dykem layout fluid and use it to coat parts before laying them out. The wide nib puts down a fast, even coat, and the layout fluid dries quickly. It works much better than the brush that comes in the bottle.View on Amazon →
Dykem Steel Blue layout fluidThis is the blue Dykem layout fluid I use for marking metal before layout work. I pour it into the refillable graffiti marker shown above, which puts down a quick, even coat and works much better than the brush in the bottle. The Amazon link is for the blue layout fluid.View blue layout fluid on Amazon →SPI 13-310-8 eight-piece pin-gauge handle setI use these aluminum handles with pin gauges in the shop. They give the small pins a larger grip, making them easier to handle during inspection.View on Amazon →Narwhal 13/64-inch M35 cobalt drill bits — 13 packThis 13/64-inch pack represents Narwhal cobalt drill bits, a brand I use and really like for drilling metal in the shop.View on Amazon →3DMakerpro Moose 3D scannerI use this scanner to reverse engineer complex parts and create CAD models for duplication. It’s especially useful for castings, molded parts, and other shapes that aren’t practical to measure with traditional tools. It has saved me a lot of time when duplicating irregular components.View on Amazon →Drill America DMOD 9/32-inch solid-carbide drill bitThis size represents Drill America solid-carbide drills, the brand I use in the shop. They cut well, hold up, and have worked great for me.View on Amazon →Ceena 60-watt plug-in LED flood lights — 2 packI installed these plug-in LED flood lights on my Haas VF-2 to improve the light inside the machine. They work great, and I would buy them again.View on Amazon →FlashForge Adventurer 5M Pro 3D printerThis is the 3D printer I use in the shop for spindle liners, soft vise jaws, fixtures, and fit-check prototypes before I commit to machining a part.View on Amazon →CNC mill viseI bought two of these Chinese-made mill vises for the shop. I expected some compromise at the price, but I’ve been impressed with how well they clamp and work in actual use.View on Amazon →STGAubron Core i7 / Radeon RX 5700 desktop computerThis is the desktop I use for CNC programming. The linked configuration has 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and Radeon RX 5700 graphics.View on Amazon →Blue Demon E71T-1 .035-inch dual-shield wire — 11-pound spoolThis is the gas-shielded flux-core wire I use for fabrication work. It runs smoothly and welds really well for me.View on Amazon →SALI 1-1/8-inch annular cutter — 2-inch cutting depthThis is the 1-1/8-inch Weldon-shank annular cutter I use in my magnetic drill for clean, full-depth holes in steel.View on Amazon →FOXBC 4-1/2-inch diamond cutoff and grinding wheels — 3 packI use these metal-cutting diamond wheels in an angle grinder for cutoff and grinding work. They work well, and I really like them.View on Amazon →1844 Helko Werk dual-sided hand files — compact and heavy setI keep these German-made dual-cut files at every machine for deburring and hand-fitting work. They cut well and last a long time.View on Amazon →YESWELDER CUT-60DS PRO 60-amp pilot-arc plasma cutterThis is the dual-voltage plasma cutter I use for fabrication work in the shop. The pilot arc is handy on less-than-perfect material; it works well, and I would buy it again.View on Amazon →Astro Pneumatic 1717A 4-inch air blow gunThis is the blow gun I use at the machines for clearing chips and general shop cleanup. The removable 4-inch tip gives me useful reach.View on Amazon →eSUN translucent-orange PETG filament — 1.75 mm, 1 kgThis is the translucent-orange PETG I use for functional shop prints. It is the filament color shown in some of my 3D-printed parts and prototypes.View on Amazon →LUXE Bidet NEO 185 dual-nozzle attachmentI installed this non-electric bidet attachment in the shop bathroom. It works great—because there is nothing worse than having a crusty butt at work.View on Amazon →JALL large battery-operated digital wall clockThis is the shop clock I use for time, day, date, and temperature. The large display is easy to read from across the shop.View on Amazon →