Built by someone
who actually builds
A mechanical engineer with 10+ years of hands-on construction, fabrication, and workshop experience — writing only about what works in practice.
Mechanical engineer with ten years of hands-on work in construction, fabrication, and workshop builds. I've converted residential garages, set up industrial fabrication shops, and built out multiple personal workshop spaces — the kind of work that quickly separates what actually performs from what just looks good on a spec sheet.
The Tool Scout exists because most garage and tool content is produced by people optimising for affiliate payouts, not builds. This site is the opposite: practical knowledge from someone who uses these tools on real projects, recommends what earns its place, and structures advice around how people actually build.
Everything recommended here is based on what I'd buy with my own money — or what I already have.
Michael McDonnell
Mechanical engineer and founder of The Tool Scout. Ten years of hands-on construction, fabrication, and workshop builds across residential and industrial projects.
Michael McDonnell
Mechanical Engineer · 10+ years construction & fabrication
Founder, The Tool Scout
Seven Project Types
Garage Makeovers
From cluttered chaos to organised, purposeful space
Workshop Setup
Tools, layout, electrical, dust control, and workbench design
Man Caves
Entertainment spaces, bars, and personal retreats
She Sheds
Craft studios, reading rooms, offices, and creative spaces
Garage Gyms
Equipment selection, flooring, and layout planning
Shed Offices
Backyard workspace conversions for remote workers
Garage Storage
Wall systems, overhead racks, and organisation
The AI Garage Designer
The flagship tool on the site is the AI Garage Designer — an AI-powered tool that analyses a photo of your space and returns a personalised transformation plan in under 60 seconds. Upload a photo, answer 4 questions, and get a specific plan with product recommendations tailored to your space, goals, and budget.
AI-powered. Takes 60 seconds. It's the tool I wish had existed when I was figuring out my own garage builds.
Affiliate disclosure
The Tool Scout participates in the Amazon Associates programme and other affiliate programmes. When you click a product link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every product recommendation is based on genuine assessment of quality, value, and fit for purpose. We recommend what we'd use ourselves.
Try the AI Garage Designer
Upload a photo of your space and get a personalised transformation plan in 60 seconds.