Over the last week, the Lohnes clan has loaded up our junk and moved. It was a quick one and basically down the street but we have changed houses and the biggest news as it pertains to BangShift is the fact that I now have a garage to work in. Prior to moving I made the tough decision to sell both Buford T Justice (sans engine…still have that) and my wrecker Brutus. Why? Both were languishing from neglect and since this is a fresh start for the family, I was planning on a fresh gearhead start for myself. They are now in the hands of new owners and are getting better care than I could have given. This being said, I am excited to stick something in this shop to mess around with when I am not on the road.
The garage is an oversized, pretty deep two car unit that is attached to the house. Sneaking some time with my tape measure, I have about 14ft of width to work with on my side and the rafters measure 11’6″ from the floor. Before I go ahead and stick my next lump of project iron in there, I’m trying to figure out how to get the place set up. So for those of you that have done this before., what’s a good order to do stuff in?
In my mind I am thinking, flooring, shelving, and then a lift. I’ve got a compressor and stuff, so in terms of “tools” I am in pretty good shape but it is the infrastructure end of things I am interested in. What have you done, used, or regretted in your shop or garage? I’m certainly not buying this stuff in a lump but want to do it in a logical and sensible order. I also want to make sure that I don’t get myself tied up in junk that is useless.
So whaddya say? Given a blank slate of a shop, how would you start?
1. Check/upgrade your wiring. Have a (20+ amp?)circuit installed big enough to handle a welder or compressor bigger than the one you currently have.
2. Insulate the walls & possibly ceiling so you can work comfortably in the winter.
3. Paint the walls a light color (e.g. satin white) and install LOTS of lighting.
4. Offer to get new kitchen cabinets/shelves for your wife. You’ll score points with her, then install the old ones in the garage. 🙂
Note: If you do any welding, grinding, sanding, or bodywork, it seems a waste to spend $$ on the floor.
Seal coat the floor, wire for 220amp, set up a work bench area, start working.
First thing is put in a beer fridge!! LOL
All good comments so far. I revamped my garage (24′ X 24′) a handful of years ago and ripped it down to the studs. Rewired (many outlets including in the ceiling), insulated, sheetrocked and painted white. Hard air lines also circumnavigate the shop. Next, I built a freestanding (6′-long workbench) anchored to the wall. Why only 6′? My previous nearly full-width workbench had an open spot of about 3′ to work on. Habit tells me if there’s a flat spot available, stuff will end up on it rendering it useless. I carried out the “freestanding” design for most all of the other shop equipment (i.e., blast cabinet, shock dyno, drill press and 6′ lathe, with the milling machine, 60-gallon vertical air compressor and bearing press were the only things too heavy not to wall mount. The bead roller, planishing hammer, english wheel and shrinker/stretcher, pan/box brake and MIG and TIG welders are on roll-around stands…easily moved to the work space when needed. After a few years I’m pleased with the way this all functions.
Paint the floors, dry wall the walls, put a good garage door opener on both doors. Once you do that, build a shop where you can let it all hang out. Trust me on this…. the problems of sharing a garage with your wife (and the attendant marital issues that can bring) are so numerous and insurmountable that this advice is really the best advice.
Congratulations, though, you’re one garage closer to having one of your own.
Wiring. Lots of outlets in the ceiling, then lots of lights. My workplace just installed LED shop lights, they are great. But wiring before any insulation or drywall. The previous owner of my house was an electrician, I have outlets everywhere, including 220.
You need a big table saw, a nice compound miter box and a really big shop vac. Next, build some racks for storing sticks of crown molding/baseboards, a spot for stacking drywall and a paint storage cabinet..
What? Those aren’t automotive tool you say? You are correct, but that is exactly what you will be spending 100% of your free time on for the next several years.
Dedicated outdoor structure for the air compressor. Paint the floor epoxy white. Some memorabilia while you can still get to the walls. A stout workbench and a strategic sittin’ spot, you’d be surprised the ideas you can come up with by simply coppin’ a squat and looking it over. LOUD STEREO.
Check your favorite classifieds or auctions for Vidmar cabinets.
Be sure to keep the following OUT of the garage: Bikes, fridge, lawn equipment, washer/dryer.
Pee in the corner to mark it as yours.
Great comments above but I’ll add a little.
1) And most important. This is NOT a garage – it’s a SHOP. This matters, a lot. See today’s garage thread in the Forums.
2) if the budget is tight, use the foil-covered foam board (install it with the big headed nails that are made for it) for the ceiling, walls, etc. and tape the seams with the adhesive-backed foil tape. It insulates really well and reflects light like crazy – it’s a good thing.
3) Over the bay w/o hoist build a mezzanine. My metal one is cool but you can live with one out of wood (that’s what I had in my last shop in MI). If my math is right (assuming the deck would be a foot thick) you’ll have almost 6′ upstairs if you make the bottom of the deck 7′ off the floor – not bad. You’ll need a few legs on the side that goes down the middle of the shop but you can learn to work around them. Believe me, all that extra “attic” space is worth it’s weight in gold. The compressor can live up there as well as all those parts for The Next Project, etc. You need to think in terms of cubic feet, not square feet. If at all possible, build a stairway up to it – you’ll find you use it more.
4) Remember, however big the shop is, it’s too small. So you have to covet your space. Only let things in there that you REALLY want in there. If you feel the need to allow Kerri an indoor parking space make it clear that this is a favor and that she’s getting to use a valuable resource.
Most of all, enjoy it!
Climate control..
before doing anything, start plans to make it bigger… because it will immediately be too small as soon as you start some projects
The first thing to do is knock out a wall and make it bigger. Second, make sure you have adequate electric circuits.
The first thing that I had done , was to have my shop built from the ground up . 24’x 34′ w/12′ ceiling height . Wired w/220v , Installed a compressor , and a10,000 Lb. 2 post lift . It also has a bathroom w/shower …. tee-hee.
An 18’x10′ door & an 35’x35′ concrete apron out front . All the lighting is L.E.D. except the exterior lights above the man doors at each end of the shop , which are halogen w/motion sensors . Wired for phone & internet …
So … it begins …. Project 56 F-100
As an afterthought I christened the place
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot
I told my daughter it was military code for ” YIKES ”
and yes there is a beer fridge ……… Have a good one guys .
Forgot to mention 6″ studs w/insulation & a heat pump w/air conditioning ….
You’re not home enough to remember what it looks like anyway. Don’t worry about it.
Definitely need some wall decor. Any available wall space can be lined with pullin’, drag racin’ etc. poster art available from you know who. Haha
In Oregon I work out of a 60 x 60 shop, plenty of room to work and room for the 1954 Cessna in the corner. But in Arizona I work out of an 18 x 18 garage. The main thing is to not run the shelving from the floor up but from the ceiling down. It allows room for the welder, the tool boxes, the engines and transmissions underneath. The truly good thing is it allows your to sweep and wash the floor.
# 1 grab (or buy ) a good broom
#2 USE IT ( old machinist that hates chips + shit under foot )
#3 crack a beer , have a sit and think about all the options noted in the string and what would fit and what you need …
#4 see #2 multiple times a day as you go