Upskilling and getting involved in passion projects have kept many of us from slipping mindlessly into the doldrum of lockdown. Whether they were on furlough or simply working from home, all the extra free time helped people to learn how to cut their own hair, bake banana bread, and take up yoga.

For car lovers up and down the country, lockdown offered the perfect opportunity to tinker with their motors. Learning how to change their oil, fit tires, and generally earning essential mechanic skills to keep their cars ticking over.

As we leave lockdown behind and get back on the road, these newfound skills could prove useful. If you have been enjoying playing mechanics over the last year, here’s how to set up your garage to be a DIY car repair station.

Lighting

Garages are usually windowless rooms without a source of good natural light. However, it is vital that you can see your car when you are working on it.

To set yourself up an at-home mechanics workshop, make sure you have good overhead lighting installed. Bright fluorescent tube lights work best for garage lighting as they offer a flood of light.

You will need portable lights too. Invest in high-quality workshop lamps for when you’re tinkering under the hood and extension cable to plug them into.

Safety Precautions

Avoid a painful injury at home and set yourself up with the right personal protective equipment. This could include overalls, goggles, gloves, and more.

It is a good idea to get an eyewash station for your garage in case you get harmful chemicals in your eye while you work. In addition, make sure you store any toxic chemicals needed for repairs safely.

It is also a good idea not to work alone on a car. Having someone else there to support you can help to limit any potential safety risks.

Essential Tools

There are some essential tools you’ll need for your home car repair workshop. Ratches, wrenches, and spanners are of course needed, but for car repairs, you will need some specialist equipment.

For starters, you should invest in a super high-quality hydraulic jack to get your car off the ground when you need to change the oil or a tire.

You’ll probably want to get a tire gauge too, to make sure your tires are at the right PSI. An air compressor and spare paint is also a great tool to have in a home car workshop. You’ll be able to touch up any knicks and scratches when they occur without a big repair bill.

Don’t forget a toolbox to store all your equipment safely too.