3.5 hp 60 gallon upright compressor owned for 3 years no problems and they dont sell it anymore.
Paid $400 made over $10, 000
Stud welder. On my fourth, paid $100 plus the warranty, so with much hassle got four for the price of one.
110 amp dual mig, paid $180 plus $35 for regulator. This blue machine is a rockstar.
$10 paint guns. I use them for 2k primer, once they become gunked up or spray poorly even after cleaning I toss em.
Cut-off wheels last me but the disc holder wear out and can't firmly grip the disc( after a few years)
The 12 ton press, jacks, 1 ton engine hoist, jack stand, U.S. generally tool boxes unless the competitor had it cheaper you couldn't sway my decision to get any of it.
Hand tool are to your discretion. I personally use a lot of matco. Harbor freight tools to avoid
-drill bits
-pliers
-screw drivers
-tap and die sets
-impact sockets (round out over time)
-sand paper
Air tools I like
-angle grinder
-flange/hole punch tool
-air hammer
-dual action sander (can hurt your pinky finger)
-air ratchets(had brand name ones fail too these hurt your pocket book less.
High speed metal saw sucks. Rattles itself apart
I cant say anything about the earthquake stuff
As for impacts I only get ingersoll.
For anyone aspiring to have there own shop these tools are cheap and somtimes just as effective as big name stuff. I look at in the sense "will this tool pay for itself the first or second time I use it?" And thats all the justification you may need