Equipment and tools make all the difference between having them and not having them.
I think it’s easiest to picture it if you imagine “starting a fire.”
Among them, there are plenty of things that are super convenient, and plenty that make me go “hmm, I don’t know about that.” There are still countless tools I haven’t discovered yet.
Whether something works depends on the person using it, so you really can’t know until you buy it and try it.
Whether you see that exploration and adventure as fun or as wasteful is entirely up to you.
I think tools and equipment have improved dramatically over the past few years.
There’s become a wealth of things that even a motorcycle shop can buy.
I thought about what I’ve bought over the past ten years that was worth it—things I’d be in trouble without now.
Top 3 equipment I can’t do without
• Wet blaster
This makes a huge difference between having it and not having it. It saves an incredible amount of time and the quality of the finish improves dramatically.
To put it in perspective, the speed and finish quality are as different as hand-washing versus using a washing machine.
If you have the budget, I think it’s equipment worth having.
• Lathe
You can’t get by without this. It holds infinite possibilities—whether you’re making tools, polishing inner tubes, or creating machined parts.
• Welder
Same story—without it, you run into a massive amount of jobs you can’t do and problems you can’t solve.
Sure, you could outsource everything, but that easily eats up a week or two.
With one on hand, you knock things out instantly—and that translates to profit.
Other cutting tools are definitely necessary too, but they didn’t make the list because you only need them because you have the lathe and welder.
Tools I bought but don’t use very often
• Heated ultrasonic cleaner
The impression I got from those glasses getting really clean and crisp was pretty strong.
I bought it with big dreams—a heated ultrasonic cleaner with temperature control that goes “zzzzz” and should get things incredibly clean. But honestly, I can’t really tell the difference.
Since most of our bikes are already pretty clean to begin with, it turns out washing them on the wash stand is faster.
To compare it to something, it’s like a dishwasher—convenient, but it takes time.
• Barrel polisher
The barrel polisher boom hit about three years ago.
I tested rotary barrels, vibratory barrels, and all sorts of media, detergents, and waxes.
It’s definitely convenient, but the frequency of use is low and it’s noisy, so it only comes out maybe once or twice a month. Still, I definitely learned a lot from it.
• Electric bead roller
I have this bad habit of buying something the moment I want it, and that’s how I ended up with this tool.
If there’s a use for it, it’s super convenient, but our shop isn’t a custom shop, and metalworking isn’t really our specialty.
So why did I buy it? Well, I just wanted to try it out.
Someday it’ll get its moment in the sun, I’m sure. Maybe.
I’ve also got a planishing hammer —I’m not even sure why I bought that—and a small air spray gun that’s dead, and honestly, if I started listing everything, there’s no end to the tools I have.
Tools are kind of like a hobby for me, and since I can feed what I learn back into the work, I figure it’s all good.
In the end, if efficiency and quality improve, it’s a win for everyone.
Realistically, only about 20 to 30 percent of them are starters, but I can’t do without them.
It’s frustrating!
