I have a garage full of tools, what can I work with?

[CharlesHouse]

Hello. I'm new to the forum, I have built props for years but few that are perfectly screen accurate. I do have a few that I am working on, and some decent costumes. I am also a filmmaker and like making props and costumes for my own films.

My dad passed away last year, and I recently left the job I was doing and came home to look for work without cost. I have been cleaning my dad's garage. He was a mechanic, and we're a family of packrats, so we don't throw much away. He has a three port garage full of stuff, and I've been going through and seeing what is half-fixed, what is usable, what is in parts, what can be tossed, and what is worth learning. He has a fair number of tools, though a lot of them are auto-specific. He didn't do a lot with wood, though he did rebuild our previous and current house, so he has a fair amount of tools. I'm wondering what will be worthwhile to learn. As an example, my uncle was going through and helping me figure out what certain parts and tools were. I asked about one, and he told me it was a lathe, then realized, "it's a brake lathe, so sort of different." I'm wondering if I can use it for the projects people here use lathes for, particularly creating metal parts. I'm wondering what other auto-specific things I should look for that would be useful for working on wood, plastic, resin, and metal. I want to build a TARDIS, as well as some replica Star Wars blasters, and drill the Graflex flash I have had sitting around waiting to get grip rivets drilled.

I apologize for the rambling message, but basically, I have a lot of tools and want to know what is worth keeping and what I can pack away. I want to keep myself busy because depression sets in quick. His garage is packed, but I would say a lot of it I will never need, or learn, to use because it is auto repair tools and won't be useful for anything related to props, sets, and costumes.

 

[robn1]

Can you post pics of some of the tools? I haven't heard of a "brake lathe", it may be just a metal lathe which is certainly useful for prop work. It can be used for wood and plastic as well as metal.

 

[Chaank]

There's good money in machining disks if you are still looking for a job. Keep the drill press if you find one. Their fantastic for everything.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[CharlesHouse]

There's good money in machining disks if you are still looking for a job. Keep the drill press if you find one. Their fantastic for everything.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm a videographer, when people see the garage, they say "you could start your own auto shop," but cars never interested me. That said, if it's something I could learn, I'll look into it. I appreciate the suggestion, and your latter comment.

I am fairly sure we do have a drill press. I'll take photos today when I go down.

 

[mattycsi]

Probably an obvious one, but I imagine if it's mostly mechanic tools there's probably a decent air compressor in there. Keep that and learn how to use it. Great for painting and there is all manner of air tool attachments available.

 

[CharlesHouse]

Thank you, yes, there is an air compressor, actually a few, one very large one. I used it tonight with a sand blaster to remove paint from a gun (firearm).

I didn't take photos because it's a mess. The brake lathe looks like this one.

 

[robn1]

I did some looking and the brake lathe doesn't allow for full turning, it's for resurfacing brake drums and discs. It's like the bowl turning function on a wood lathe but made for metal. It could have some use but not much, a regular metal lathe like these would be more useful https://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_category.php?category=1271799306
Of course it depends what you want to make, for some parts it may do the trick.

Sounds like you're set for compressors, definitely a must have tool.

 

[CharlesHouse]

Yeah, he had two or more of a few things. One large compressor, a small one, one normal sand blaster (large enough for me to clean a rifle barrel and receiver) and one very large one he bought to clean a fender. There is a pile of rotary saws, drills, sanders, and similar power hand tools, and a few sanders on a bench, though I am not sure how to do flat surface sanding or if there is a table saw that can cut at angles, which seems important for a TARDIS construction.

 

[robn1]

...I am not sure how to do flat surface sanding...

That would depend on the miter gauge on the sander. I have a combo disc/belt sander, but the belt is useless because the gauge shifts as it's tightened. There's no way to set it. The gauge on the disc works well though.

 

[swede]

Sounds like a garage full of fun stuff. Maybe you could hook up with some local RPF:s and start a custom prop help service Being a car mechanic myself i always get questions from people about problems with broken down cars but never had the space or tools to help.

 

[CharlesHouse]

I'm in the Eastern Panhandle of WV, I'm right on the lines of VA, MD, and PA, but not many people in any sort of interest I've had, from guitar building to costuming and filmmaking, have been local.