For the serious home mechanic, having the best shop tools can turn difficult, time-consuming jobs into efficient, predictable tasks. Once you’ve mastered basic repairs, the next step is investing in more specialized equipment that opens the door to bigger projects—engine work, suspension rebuilds, restorations, and full component overhauls. In this guide, we’ll break down the best shop tools that deliver the most value for intermediate and advanced DIY mechanics looking to take the next step.
We’ll take a close look at parts washers for keeping components clean and serviceable, sand blasters and blasting cabinets for surface prep and restoration work, and hydraulic presses for bearings, bushings, and other press-fit tasks that are nearly impossible without the right setup. These tools aren’t just nice to have—they make tough jobs faster, cleaner, and more precise, giving you the capability and confidence to tackle projects that once felt out of reach (or were just a royal pain).
This article contains Amazon Associate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
20-Gallon Parts Washer
A 20-gallon parts washer is one of the most useful upgrades a serious home mechanic can make. It’s large enough to handle suspension components, brake assemblies, valve covers, and other bulky parts without feeling cramped. That extra capacity also means you can fully submerge items instead of constantly flipping them over, which speeds up cleaning and lets the solvent do more of the work for you. If you routinely tackle bigger jobs—axle rebuilds, steering refreshes, or engine tear-downs—a 20-gallon washer quickly becomes indispensable.
Another advantage of the 20-gallon size is that it allows for a stronger, more stable flow from the pump. Smaller tabletop units are fine for light work, but they can struggle to keep a consistent stream of solvent moving across the part. With a 20-gallon washer, the pump has the volume it needs to wash away grease and grime continuously, which means less scrubbing, fewer clogs, and a much faster workflow. The wider basin also gives you room to use brushes, picks, and scrapers without bumping into the walls of the tank.
If you want to take a closer look at the 20-gallon units we recommend, we’ve written dedicated articles about the parts washers themselves—as well as deep dives into the solvents that work best in them. Also, if you’re a real DIY type (and if you’re reading this, you probably are), definitely consider modifying your parts washers yourself using our handy article as a guide. Between choosing the right machine and filling it with the right fluid, you can turn an otherwise messy, time-consuming cleanup process into one of the most satisfying steps of any project.
Sand Blasters and Blasting Cabinets
Sand blasters and blasting cabinets are some of the best shop tools you can add to a serious home mechanic’s setup, especially when you’re dealing with rusted parts, old paint, or stubborn corrosion. If you live way out in the middle of nowhere, a simple blasting gun hooked up to a high-SCFM air compressor is often the easiest and cheapest solution. These handheld guns are perfect for stripping larger items like car frames, trailer parts, axles, and bumpers. They move a lot of media quickly, and you don’t have to worry about containing every grain of sand that goes flying.
If you live in a more urban or suburban setting (or are married), you’ll probably be limited to a blasting cabinet—and honestly, that’s perfectly fine. Blasting cabinets are some of the best shop tools for precision cleaning because they keep the mess contained, allow you to reuse media, and give you much better visibility while working on smaller components. There are plenty of good cabinets on the market now, ranging from budget-friendly benchtop units to fully sealed, dust-controlled cabinets that feel like professional shop equipment. Either way you go, adding a blasting setup dramatically expands what you can restore, refinish, and bring back to life in your own garage.
Of course, you can also buy a cheap blasting gun from Harbor Freight and build your own cabinet — that’s what I did, and maybe someday I’ll get around to putting together an article on that.
Shop Press (AKA Hydraulic Press)
A hydraulic press is one of those tools that most people don’t realize they need until they finally have one. We keep a 20-ton model in our shop, and for the kinds of jobs a serious home mechanic takes on, it has proven to be totally worth the price. We use ours almost exclusively for pressing out and pressing in worn suspension bushings, and the amount of time and effort it saves compared to improvised methods is enormous. If your goal is to build out a workspace with the best shop tools for real automotive work, a hydraulic press deserves a place near the top of the list. We use ours maybe once a year, but when we have to, it’s always a reminder that one is always worth keeping around.
To get the most out of any hydraulic press, you’ll want to add a few upgrades. A simple set of casters (we prefer the higher-quality polyurethane kind) on the base makes it easy to wheel the press around the shop, especially if you’re limited on space and need to tuck it away when it’s not in use. Just as important is a full press sleeve kit, which gives you the adapters and spacers needed to work on everything from bushings to bearings to small fabrication projects. Also, if you’re trying to work on bushings that are really rusted in there, a propane or MAP gas torch can sometimes be the extra little secret sauce that you need to get the job done without pulling all your hair out.
With these additions, a hydraulic press becomes one of the most capable and versatile tools you can own—quietly handling the kinds of heavy, stubborn jobs that nothing else can do safely or efficiently.
Final Thoughts: The Best Shop Tools for Serious Home Mechanics
Choosing the best shop tools isn’t just about convenience—it’s about making tough jobs faster, safer, and more satisfying for the home mechanic. Whether it’s a larger parts washer, a blasting setup that fits your space, or a hydraulic press that saves you hours on suspension work, these tools pay for themselves the first time you tackle a job that would be impossible without them.
Also, definitely don’t forget to upgrade your lighting (this is possibly the first thing you should do), and invest in a good set of storage bins to keep you organized, clutter-free, and efficient.
As you continue building out your garage, keep prioritizing the best shop tools that add real capability and help you take on projects with confidence. With the right specialty equipment in place, even the most intimidating repairs start to feel approachable, and your home workshop becomes a place where you can tackle nearly anything.
