Many mechanics dream of opening an auto repair shop. However, that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones who should have it. If you want to own a garage shop or want to give your car a professional touch, you have to make sure you have the right equipment. Here are some crucial items that you should get if you want to have a car shop.
Brake Lathe
A lot of people would take drums or rotors to a separate service for resurfacing when they work on brakes. However, that can greatly cut into your profits and time. You should get a brake lathe for your auto repair shop so your brake services will become more profitable and efficient – trust us, a brake lathe will pay for itself before you know it. Be aware though that there are 2 kinds available – you have the “off” lathe where you need to take off the motor and the “on car” which you will mount directly on a car.
Vehicle Lift
For diagnostics and inspection, a mechanic will have to go under the car. However, lying on your back all day can be tiresome and could take longer. Therefore, you should invest in a good alignment car lift to save yourself time and stay pain-free. Make sure that you get a good quality car lift, even if it means digging into your pockets a bit. A cheap and low-quality vehicle lift will last you only around 2 years, and they could put you and your other employees at risk.
Air Compressor
To operate most of the tools in your shop, you will need an air compressor, which is why you should get an excellent one. They are used for things such as certain auto lifts and pneumatic hand tools. You should get a bigger compressor that is around 60-120 gallons. There are other factors to consider when you choose an air compressor, like cubic feet per minute, horsepower, pistons needed, PSI, etc.
Oil and Drain Caddy
One of the first services that you should provide are oil changes, so you need to get an oil and drain caddy. It lets you keep old oil that you could potentially use again since most car oil can get refined and recycled for heating asphalt, oil, and such, which is an eco-friendly option since there will be fewer resources wasted.
Try to choose one with enough capacity that can fit the biggest fluid volume anticipated. You may also want a standing oil caddy that will reach a raised car to make your job quicker and easier.
Battery Jumper/Charger
Some common problems that you will run into in an auto repair shop are charging problems and dead batteries. A simple jumper or charger will come in handy for those situations. If you are not familiar with how it works, most of them will come with a manual. Plus, many of them will turn off automatically when the dead battery gets fully charged. You should at least make sure you have jumper cables if you will not get a charger.
You need to make sure you have all the equipment ready before you open your car shop up for business. Remember to get all the items above to provide the right services to your customers.
