Rick,
We love the mini ratchet because it is not so noisy and it won't overtorque anything. Because we use lock nuts EVERYWERE I hate running them down by hand. (It works really well on the rusty, crappy bolts as well.) I couldn't live without the 3/8 mini ratchet...so much, in fact, I just ordered 3 more.
MAKE SURE YOU PUT CUT OFF VALVES EVERYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF--ESPECIALLY ON THE TANK ITSELF.
We plumb the tank so the first thing the air goes through is the cut off valve. We immediately convert everything to 37 degree JIC and don't use pipe threads anywhere we can help it. If you do have to use pipe threads, I really don't recommend the teflon tape as it is useless. Buck up and buy some Loctite, (hydraulic lock works wonders), and put a couple of drops on the threads and never worry about a leak again. Use teflon tape at your own risk--usually that of your sanity. (I even use the stuff on the home water pipes. Never had a leak in 10 years--home or the shop!)
When something blows up, as usually does, having all of that air explode out at once can blow out your ears, so make sure you put in the cut off valve. Any problem and boom, we hit a valve and don't waste all of our air or our brains. We use the knife ball valves so you only have to turn them 1/4 turn to turn them off. I highly recommend the valves.
Congrats and have a great time with the garage...a fun time with the stairs is optional.
David
