post pictures of your garage

grumpyvette · Sep 21, 2008

if youve got any pictures or input on constructing a shop/garage post it in this thread please

heres a few taken while my shop was under construction
B] MOST OF THE PICTURES ARE A COUPLE YEARS OLD AND WERE TAKEN ON or BEFORE THE FIRST DAY WE GOT ELECTRIC POWER, EVERYTHING WAS BEING STUFFED IN AT RANDOM AS IT LOOKED LIKE RAIN AND MANY OF THE LARGER TOOLS AND WELDERS WERE NOT UNLOADED YET[/B]

no Im not a computer, like the rumors say, just an old geezer! in a red shirt and a old hat...notice the similarity to the avatar

theres lots of very impressive garages out there that could double a recreation rooms or dens, but a real garage in my opinion needs enought room to work on a car or two and enought space for storage all the tools that requires.(AND THOSE TOOLS) IM constantly cleaning mine and putting tools away, or Id never find a darn thing, but its never going to look like some places I see on line that appear to be advertizements for expensive cabinetry, more than a working repair or performance shop.

Im always impressed with those garages that have the expensive stainless or wood cabinets, and tile floors, they look spectacular, but a decent shop has several tool boxes and a lift of some kind even if its just a kwiklift

http://www.kwiklift.com/Options.htm
or on the low end several good jack stands and a couple floor jacks
now IM not about to say any garage is better or worse than the next one, we all build, buy, or use the best we can afford, but a real SHOP, will look WORKED IN, not sloppy or dirty, but there sure will be signs that theres been a few cars in and out of it and at least a trash container full of parts packaging and busted/worn components some place near bye, and indications the tools got used and the floor jacks have been rolled across the floor.
an epoxy coated floor and great lighting are a huge advantage to getting the shop looking clean and bright, and a clean bright shop makes things easier to work on, but don,t let JUST a shops appearance alone be your only indication of the quality of work that gets done,the MECHANICS SKILLS DO COME INTO PLAY HERE AS WELL AS THE SHOPS APPEARANCE, if its a dumpster you can be reasonably sure you don,t want work done there, but if you can eat off the floor and shelfs Id doubt theres much actual work going on either. and shop tools like welders,grinders,drill presses, and jobs like engine assembly and radiator repairs, and tune ups generally leave some indication that work was done recently!
keep in mind guys generally do the best they can,and are proud of thier shops, but thier budget may not allow some of the nicer touches, like tile, or cabinetry.
what you need

as much floor space as possiable, that can be securely locked up

decent tool storage

a flat dry floor

protection from weather

as many quality tools as you can buy, beg, or borrow

decent referance materials and safety equipment

hopefully a lift

good lighting

almost everything else is optional

61ragtop · Jan 2, 2009

Awesome looking shop Grumpy! I could only dream. One day I hope to graduate from a townhouse to a detached house and build as big of a shop possible at least 2 car and workbench/floor room for working and storage.

Question what tool box is that? I see it is a Craftsman but is it one or two boxes side by side? Are you happy with the craftsman? 95% of my hand tools are craftsman and my small chest is overflowing so I am keeping an eye out for a new roller chest (and saving my pennies).

grumpyvette · Jan 2, 2009

"Question what tool box is that? I see it is a Craftsman but is it one or two boxes side by side? Are you happy with the craftsman? 95% of my hand tools are craftsman and my small chest is overflowing so I am keeping an eye out for a new roller chest (and saving my pennies)."

its two nearly identical (ABOUT 42" wide and 66" tall ) pro series craftsman full roller drawer boxes, I bought on sale for $2700, list was $4400 for the pair

ID probably buy three of these if I started over

http://garage-toys.com/22drststtobo.html

61ragtop · Jan 2, 2009

We used to have those stainless boxes at the Costco here in Canada for $699 and now that I am lookin for one they changed to black ones with a not so desirable drawer set up and they went up 2-300$$.

2Loose · Jan 10, 2009

I'm used to working in several small areas, and a lot of my work is done outside. Luckily the climate here on Maui is nice enough most of the time that working outside is a pleasure. Here's some photos of my various work spaces.
Aloha,
Willy

520HP C5 · Jan 23, 2009

Heres some pics of my new shop. I ordered a 2 post lift that will sit where the Corvette is now. Was supposed to be here today, but now wont be in until Monday(story of my life)

grumpyvette · Jan 23, 2009

IVE got a great shop, with a good selection of tools but Ive always been impressed with the guys that can keep a shop floor looking that shiny and clean, it usually either means they rarely actually work on thier cars in the shop (in a few cases) (or in most cases) they are very detail oriented
IMPRESSIVE! (and it seems obvious your one of those guys that takes the extra effort to keep things spotless.)

BTW

no matter how big you build the new garage it will quickly get filled with stuff that either you or your wife feel just needs to be stored there!
try not to allow it to become a storage shed vs a shop or youll soon find the floor space is restricted, Ive got what most people call a huge 36 x 75 ft shop and the wife looks at it as a place to store stuff she doesn,t want thrown out but doesn,t want in the house, so Im forced to store some of it, I place a dated tag on most stuff and if its not used in one year it gets (LOST) in most cases, the ELVES have already misplaced two old sofas and several, chairs and two beds,several donated tables, a couple old lawn mowers that the brother-in-law found that he thought I should repair for free,etc. (sorry honey, after about a year and a half, gathering dust,the elves owned those,I have no idea where they went!)if you don,t fight to retain open floor space for cars and tools youll soon find theres NO ROOM available.
having LOTS decent shelving helps retain floor space but things will quickly get out of hand if you don,t pitch JUNK!

2Loose · Jan 23, 2009

Hey, once in awhile they get clean and neat! Happened in my shop last July when we had the family reunion, my wife insisted or I would have been sleeping out in the shed for at least a month! That's when I should of taken a couple of pix, just to show what it could look like.....

My kids put up a sign on the garage door, "toxic waste dump, hazardous to your health, enter with caution"

His shop is new, mine was once also. I guarantee it won't look like that in a year or two....

Willy

520HP C5 · Jan 23, 2009

The shop is new, but I can guarantee it will still look like that in a year from now. I am very anal with keeping my tools and workspace clean. :roll:

post pictures of your garage

grumpyvette

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61ragtop

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grumpyvette

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61ragtop

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2Loose

reliable source of info

520HP C5

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grumpyvette

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2Loose

reliable source of info

520HP C5

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