Ultimate car cave tool shed

It's the best place to spend some time, tinkering with your car or bike, and unlike chocolate eggs, it won't make you fat or give you pimples.

Repco trade sales manager Malcolm Dunning accepted our challenge to put together the ultimate in tools for a man cave. Prices range from an affordable $19.99 cleaning gift pack to $1208 for a portable fridge, with a total price of $5538.97.

He says quality is the most important ingredient to avoid injury from inferior tools. Dunning chose their 126-piece Repco tool kit with six-drawer chest and seven-drawer trolley.

Any home mechanic needs a creeper so they can crawl under the car . They cost as little as $61.99 for the Mechpro which also folds up into a seat. Getting under your car can be cramped, so Dunning suggests getting a floor jack and a couple of stands, but make sure they are rated to hold the weight of your car. You'll also need some good lighting under the car and in the engine bay. LEDs are the brightest and whitest lights to get. 

He says air compressors are becoming popular to operate the many time-saving air tools available these days such as degreasing guns and spray painters. Another popular tool for today's car restorers is a MIG welder, he says. "They are popular for people doing panel work on their car or for things around the home," he says. Dunning says a 900amp jump pack is also handy to restart old batteries.

To clean your dream garage, Dunning suggests a wet/dry vacuum cleaner and high-pressure hose. The Mechpro high-pressure cleaner is rated at 1600psi. You'll also want to clean your car with a battery powered polishing kit.

And when it's time for a coldie, "I keep an Engel 240/12 volt fridge in the garage," says Dunning. "You don't have to go into the house in your overalls and leave greasy fingerprints on the fridge door."

CAR CAVE

• Repco 126 Pce AF/Metric 1/2inch and 1/4inch Drive Apprentice Tool Kit in 6 Draw Tool Chest $989
• Repco 7 Draw Tool Trolley $699
• Mechpro 40 Ltr Twin Piston Belt Drive Air Compressor $449
• Mechpro 3/8inch Air Ratchet and 1/2inch Dr Impact gun Combo Kit $161
• Wall Mount Compressed Air Hose Reel $132
• Pro Lift 1400kg Floor Jack and Car Stand Combo Pack $69.00
• Repco 7 Stage 8 amp Battery Charger $149
• Repco 126 Pce Apprentice Tool Kit $989 already above?
• Mechpro 900 AMP Battery jump pack $89.99
• Mechpro 3 Door Wall Cabinet $179
• Mechpro 150AMP Mig Welder $415
• Mechpro Variable Shade Welding Helmet $124
• Mechpro 36inch Floor Creeper / Seat $61.99
• Repco Hi Intensity Rechargeable LED Inspection Light $143
• Repco 95LED Under Bonnet Rechargeable Work Light $152
• Mechpro 1600 psi 5.3ltr per min water flow 240 volt Pressure Washer $162
• Supervac Stainless Steel Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner $207
• Repco Eclipse Car Cleaning Gift Pack $19.99
• Mothers Polish and battery powered buffing kit $129
• Engel Fridge $1208
  
  Total = $5538.97

(Prices correct at time of publishing)