We are lucky to be co-located with a semi-public bike framebuilding workshop (with overlap between members of each), so we have a full suite of handheld power tools (drill, driver, angle grinder, sawzall) that all get used, as well as a metal lathe, oxy-fuel torch, and TIG welder. The TIG welder gets used a number of times each year to weld sockets onto particularly stuck bottom bracket cups, and both the TIG welder and the lathe get used occasionally to make/modify/repair tools. We also use all that stuff to build shop infrastructure (rolling carts, repair stands, mobile bike shop on a trailer, etc.).

rosy, at Lefty Loosey Bike Collective in Providence, RI, USA

On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 10:42 PM cyclista--- via TheThinkTank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote:
> [TheThinkTank] power tools at the Co-op – Hi Folks,
>
> We currently have a 5" side grinder, 6" wheel grinder and corded and cordless drills at the Co-op.
> When we get back in to a larger space, we'll get the drill press out of storage.
> We have access to lots of construction tools when we need to build something.
>
> What power tools do you use at your Co-op?
>
> Anybody using other big tools, like a bearing press, or arbor press?
>
> Thanks and good health, Weogo [...]

A bench grinder with one side a grinding wheel and the other a wire wheel is invaluable.

We had a cheap, low-power one with 6" wheels that I used to feel bad about it being so underpowered, until I realized that made it safer since anything getting caught in the wheels, even fairly fragile objects, would simply stop the motor.

So my suggestion is a low-power bench grinder with one grinding and one wire wheel._______________________________________________
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