Garage and Workshop Gear Guide (Motorbooks Workshop) [Paperback]

Tom Benford (Author)

Book Description

Series: Motorbooks Workshop | Publication Date: May 31, 2006

The Garage and Workshop Gear Guide is a one-stop resource for garage gear know-how—one book that amateur and expert alike can go to for the facts, as well as a good helping of expert advice, on selecting tools without breaking the bank or wasting time.  The book also offers straightforward, honest advice about how to evaluate and select tools according to particular needs.  As entertaining as it is informative, Benford’s handbook imparts practical wisdom on safety and tool care, making and testing tools, and assembling “tool kits” to perform various tasks such as restoration, motorcycle maintenance, body work fabrication, and mechanical repair.

The Guide covers everything from safety gear and the “caste system” of tool quality to fasteners and “the tools that love them,” such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and ratchets; clamps and vises; hammers, mallets, and “other persuaders”; cutting tools; electrical tools; air tools; measuring tools; welding equipment; lifts; workbenches and storage. 

This book is an essential resource for setting up an efficient, cost-effective, and enjoyable workspace for the amateur and professional mechanic or restorer. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cycle Source, May 2007

“The book is packed full with useful information on hand tools, power tools, electric and pneumatic, lifts, tool chests, welding gear, gear storage, organization and most importantly ‘safety tips.’ Even with my previous conceptions, to me this was a book well worth reading. It is well-written in terms that are easy to understand and is very informative … So if you are shopping around for some brain food, I would highly recommend the Motorbooks Workshop ‘Garage and Workshop Gear Guide’ as a great source of information.”

 

Ironworks, March 2007

“You might say MBI owns the shelf when it comes to books that focus on outfitting the garage. Case in point: The Motorbooks Workshop title Garage and Workshop Gear Guide.”

Street Rodder, August 2007

“A comprehensive map of the tools and equipment we gearheads use on a day-to-day basis. Benford packed 190-plus pages with useful information about tools that newcomers haven’t discovered and veterans take for granted … It’s filled with great information and it makes a logical – and well-needed – transition to Richard Newton’s ‘Ultimate Garage Handbook’ and David Jacob’s ‘How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop,’ also Motorbooks titles … If I can find one thing to criticize about ‘Gear Guide’ it’s that it reveals many of my secret weapons.”

 

CruZin Magazine, April 2007

“Benford writes in a breezy style that will appeal to many. This book should be considered a book that complements two other recent MBI titles: Ultimate Garages by Phil Berg and the Ultimate Garage Handbook by Richard Newton.” 

About the Author

A freelance writer and editor for more than 30 years, Tom Benford has published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. He is also a frequent contributor to Vette, Corvette Fever, CorvetteMagazine.com, Corvette Enthusiast, Cars & Parts Corvette, and Cars & Parts magazine.  Benford is the author of Corvette Performance Projects 1968-1982 and The Street Rod, both from MBI Publishing Company, and co-author with Randy Leffingwell of Corvette: Five Decades of Sports Car Speed.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (May 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760323127
• ISBN-13: 978-0760323120
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Benford is a multiple award-winning author of more than sixteen published books including three on computer science and over a dozen on automotive and related subjects.

His first novel, The Last of the Unicorns, was published in mid-February, 2010 and is available in print, Kindle, and e-book formats.

A freelance journalist and photographer for over thirty five years, he has garnered awards for his writing from organizations that include the North Jersey Press Association, New Jersey Working Press Association, the International Automotive Media Association and others. He was inducted into the Bayonne (NJ) Writer's Hall of Fame in 1995 and was recently honored by a New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution from the State Senate and General Assembly lauding his literary contributions and accomplishments.

He contributes articles on a regular basis to several national magazines and he is also an ASCAP award-winning song writer with two CD albums.

A native and lifelong resident of the Garden State, Tom and his wife of 32 years, Liz, reside with their German Shepherd dog, Major, on a 4+ acre estate on the New Jersey Shore. His website is www.tombenford.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helps You Find the Junk You Need...or at Least Want, November 20, 2007

By 

Dr. Limfoma Mbweebwee (coral gables, fl USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Garage and Workshop Gear Guide (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

I'm fixing my garage up and collecting tools. It can be hard when you come from a white collar background and haven't had the opportunity to learn about this stuff. I found this book while browsing at a bookstore, and it has been extremely helpful.

One of the tough things about tooling up is knowing what you need. Benford systematically identifies and describes tool after tool, helping you find things you didn't know you needed. He turned me on to obscure items such as Go-Jaks and inflatable bags for popping out dents.

One small complaint. He puts down Chinese tools, and he's right to be suspicious of them, but then he pushes Husky jack stands, from a company that imports all sorts of stuff from Taiwan. Some Chinese stuff is awful, but some is very good.

The book leans toward automotive tools, but because so many of these items are also great for general use, the book is useful for anyone trying to put a decent garage together. Recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garage and Workshop Gear Guide, May 22, 2009

By 

David Harralson "msd1107" (Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garage and Workshop Gear Guide (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

Very comprehensive as to what is needed in a garage workshop. It covers the essentials of preparing the garage (floor coating, lighting, heating, cooling, wiring, workbenches, storage, etc). It then covers various areas of tools - what they do and what is necessary and some advanced tools.

Both the beginning user who wants a simple workshop and the more advanced mechanic setting up a more comprehensive workshop are well served by this book.

From the recommendations in this book and my specific requirements, I made a spreadsheet with all the items I needed. I then used this to do a Google search, go up on Amazon, Sears, and other sites to search for specific tools and prices. The result is acquiring higher quality tools at the best price available.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information, December 1, 2008

By 

Michael Ho "michaelhofastcar" (Quincy, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Garage and Workshop Gear Guide (Motorbooks Workshop) (Paperback)

The information in this book is very helpful to me. The author is up to the point. Very helpful in choosing tools for my garage. Very down to earth and simple to understand.