The tools that get used most often in my garage weld shop that I absolutely could not live with out. (And, they’re all available on Amazon!)
- Okay, so this very first one might be a little too obvious, but its my welding helmet! I’ve had a Lincoln Viking 3350 for about 3 years now and I have absolutely no complaints. Great viewing area and super clear lens.
Here is a picture of the inside as well. Real quick and easy to change over to grind mode too. Also, much more affordable than some competitors helmets. Check it out here.
2. Silverstreak mechanical pencils made by Markall. It is basically a fancy marking pencil that writes great on carbon steel and you can get much closer markings than with soapstone. This pencil definitely comes in handy more than once per day.
You can also buy the lead refills here.
3. Miller’s LPR-100 respirator. It fits comfortably underneath my helmet and the filters are easily replaced when they get dirty. The respirators are unavailable on Prime due to COVID, but your local welding supply should have access to these. Here is a link to the replacement filters.
4. My gloves might be one of my favorite things. I know, it sounds odd. But being a woman in a trade, sometimes proper fitting PPE is hard to find. My ‘go to’ pair are my Tillman 24C, size small. They fit my baby hands and are super easy to TIG weld with. I think they actually make a size extra small as well!
When cutting, grinding, handling hot material, etc., I go to my Tillman 1454’s. They are cut resistant driver/work gloves and have an extra layer of insulation on the inside. They are a tad more expensive, but you get what you pay for. See them on Amazon here.
5. A good, bright flashlight. For the price, this one here is totally awesome. Its got two super bright lights, and a magnet on the back. And since I am working with primarily metal, the magnet comes in very handy. It takes AAA batteries as well.
6. And last but not least, as basic as it might seem – my tape measure. I’ve probably got a dozen tape measures lying around the garage, but this Milwaukee Autolock is by far my favorite. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve misplaced this dang thing. But it always seems to be the first thing I am looking for as I get started each day.
I am absolutely NOT a pro, but these simple items get me by every day. I love big and heavy duty equipment, but it’s just not always needed. Got to start somewhere.
Questions about any of my other equipment, tools, or PPE? Shoot me a message and lets discuss!
