Started my garage build three years ago with a bare concrete floor and a single 20-amp circuit. Today I have a 2-post lift, a 60-gallon air compressor, a TIG welder, a MIG welder, a sandblast cabinet, a parts washer, and enough hand tools to make a shop teacher proud.

The lift was the single best investment. Everything else is nice to have. The lift changes the way you work — floor-level access is a different universe from being on a creeper.

If you're building a home shop and can only afford one major tool, get the lift first. The rest can wait.