Help me organize my garage

not sure if this is a situation where 2" matters :lol:

but it's looking good! I love for a spot like that to be my office and workspace

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unrelated, but maybe related: Why don't you guys run mini splits in your mancaves/garages/sheds/work shops? I'm having a condenser and 3 air handlers installed in one of my 660sq ft rentals in SoCal. Ditching the window A/C, the wall mounted gas heater (very room specific heat) and tenant has a couple space heaters that load their electricity bill into the $120/month range. Mini splits should be more energy efficient, offer room-by-room temp control, and seem a lot easier to install then ducting/central air w' much less energy loss. You get A/C and heat out of each air handler. I wish I had this in my parent's garage when I was wrenching that RM :lol:

after walking past my beam several times while cutting other pieces, and reaching for the outlet for the hell of it, I have decided to go with 30" as I had originally planned, it will be easier to firmly plug in electric cords

I am going with 5/4 sugar maple for the surface

I am done for day, plenty of exercise pumping that hand saw, one more beam to cut and notch, I will screw it together, then start on diagonal braces for the posts

Attachment 54841

Quote:

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Originally Posted by breakdirt916

not sure if this is a situation where 2" matters :lol:

but it's looking good! I love for a spot like that to be my office and workspace

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unrelated, but maybe related: Why don't you guys run mini splits in your mancaves/garages/sheds/work shops? I'm having a condenser and 3 air handlers installed in one of my 660sq ft rentals in SoCal. Ditching the window A/C, the wall mounted gas heater (very room specific heat) and tenant has a couple space heaters that load their electricity bill into the $120/month range. Mini splits should be more energy efficient, offer room-by-room temp control, and seem a lot easier to install then ducting/central air w' much less energy loss. You get A/C and heat out of each air handler. I wish I had this in my parent's garage when I was wrenching that RM :lol:

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I don't really need AC, back before I retired maybe, 4 guys at computer workstations running multiple monitors, printers that have their own server, we generated a lot of heat, but now, the barn is built 3 sides into the ground, shaded, and well insulated, sometimes I turn a fan on, to bring cooler air off the back wall

I have all the beams cut and notched, next, the screw them together, I have to pull the timbers away from the back wall to get behind em, to put my screws in, then push it back into place afterward, Attachment 54842

I have everything pulled away from the wall, unassembled, haven't had much time to work on it the past few days, I have the 2x4s for my diagonal braces, I've been checking on hardwood, they have surface 3 sides hard maple at Goosebay Lumber in Chichester, but random width, which may work, if I can get full length boards for each side, gonna check a few more places, the local mill in town, doesn't have a planing mill Attachment 54869

Quote:

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Originally Posted by breakdirt916

but it's looking good! I love for a spot like that to be my office and workspace

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the steel desk you see in the photo's will remain as a terminal to my network, and the internet, I currently only use it as a download terminal for my data collector

my office, is behind the photo's I have been posting Attachment 54870Attachment 54871

working on gussets & braces Attachment 54873

almost ready to push the bench back against the wall, I am just going to add a hardwood board as a lip to keep 10mm sockets from falling off the back of the bench, then I'm done with needing to get behind the bench to screw in fasteners

don't tell me it is overbuilt, 6x6s were cheaper than 2x6s

Attachment 54881

I have all the fasteners & pegs in that are going on the wall side, jacking up the leading edge with a floor jack and sawdust made it fairly easy to get in place, I'm gonna have to jack up each side to get the sawdust from underneath the posts, I may have to shim one or 2 of em, I haven't put a level on it yet

Attachment 54890Attachment 54891

I have the cross joists finished, ready for the top, first, a layer of plywood underlayment, then 5/4 maple

Attachment 54892

I had a doc appointment in Portsmouth this morning, so it wasn't very far out of my way to wonder over to Highland Hardwoods, in Brentwood, they didn't quite have enuf of surfaced 5/4 in stock, so I ended up getting 6/4 more board feet, added about $75 to my anticipated price of just under $500, total came to $565, got caught in rain just as I pulled in my driveway, unloaded as quick as I could, but my dehumidifier will be going full bore the next couple days, I'm going to buy a new skil saw, my old homeowner model isn't up to this kind of work, and I'm looking to get a larger blade, for 1 pass cutting of 4" wood https://www.amazon.com/SKILSAW-SPT70.../dp/B018E9NJVK

Attachment 54893

my new vise arrived (7"), as well as my new 10¼" worm drive 15a SkilSaw, now that I have the saw, I can finish my bench, my old saw woulda burnt out a quarter way thru the first hard maple plank, I also picked up a 25ft 10ga extension for the saw Attachment 54921

Progress, I have the plywood underlayment, ready for the 6/4 hard maple top

Attachment 54945Attachment 54946

Attachment 54947

my makeshift table saw, my maple was surfaced 2 sides (top & bottom) with one straight edge, I have found the other edge up to 3/8" diff going down the board, so I'm doing it with a fence, c-clamps, and wood clamps to my saw horses, weighted down with other planks. Gotta get a new blade for my son's chop saw, it's dull as shit, it cuts softwood ok, but burns the second it touches hard maple Attachment 54956

I've had to take care of some paying work, so haven't had much progress, got the hardwood cut for one side, ready to screw down

Attachment 54972

finally, back to work on my bench, I have reduced my hardwood lumber to scraps, left wing of the bench is lagged down and ready for planing/sanding, I have the right side cut, and ready to lag down Attachment 55247Attachment 55248

https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-...der-60433.html

These are on super sale today. Going to try and get at least 3. They are fantastic for jobs at hard to move locations like under the car or on a ladder.

I couldn't see what I was doing sanding, so I did something out of order, I installed an 8ft LED under my shelf, my pics don't do it justice, it is bright, a well illuminated work area
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I found some old 35mm pics of my barn during construction, and scanned them. still working on my workbench

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I think the $$$ I have spent for tools to complete this project is now $3k±. Once I get my office moved out, I now question whether it will primarily be a mechanical/fabricating shop, or woodworking shop

Attachment 55400Attachment 55401

Ah that’s your legendary low cost BMW :lol:

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Originally Posted by RandyO

I found some old 35mm pics of my barn during construction, and scanned them. still working on my workbench
Attachment 55394

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Is that an '87 740 Wagon?? I miss mine.

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Originally Posted by breakdirt916

Ah that’s your legendary low cost BMW :lol:

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yes, least cost/ mile of any vehicle I have owned in recent/semi recent history, probably the most fun vehicle I have ever owned, had over 475k when it got rear ended & totaled

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Originally Posted by OneCheekRider

Is that an '87 740 Wagon?? I miss mine.

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I don't remember what model year, 86, 87, sounds about right, it was a beater I paid $500, a tank in the snow, that's for sure, always reliable, drove it to the scrap yard on it's own when it was no longer worthy of $$ to get it inspected

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

Some good ideas in here. Makes me want to reorganize my garage space.

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Originally Posted by Garandman

youtube

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#1 thing is space space space space

He's good but he's got a whole bay dedicated to tools and equipment.

His tools are organized but take up multiple bays (granted he's got A LOT of tools)


I for one know I simply don't have the garage space or toolbox space to be that meticulous and I try for sure. For example my drawer for pliers isn't tall enough to stand them up to save space.

My single car garage already has a small car and a Grom it in. Every inch of floor space has to be saved, so I try to put as much stuff as possible on the walls with cabinets and hooks and that helps a lot. Bikes I don't use often have to be kept at a remote garage and rotated as needed.

I do LOVE his can shaker idea though.

Currently trying to figure out a way to remove the fixed vertical stairs to the attic (never gets used) to free up more space with foldable or temp ladder of sorts and cabinet in its location

I’m in a good spot this year. Have some in-laws who have retired to Florida, still have their house in Massachusetts. They had a successful side business they operated for 20-something years doing embroidery and built a 2 car garage with full loft for the business. It’s heated, insulated, and plumbed. They’ve emptied it and are allowing me to rent it from the for the price of keeping it heated to protect the plumbing. They will be selling the property, but it will likely be at least a year or two. They still spend their summers here.

So far I’ve stripped down my CRF450R for a motor rebuild where it will come back to life as a motard. Next up is Degsy’s Viffer for a new shock, exhaust, and some cosmetics. After that it’s my Multi on the lift to get a massive list of upgrades and maintenance done.

Attachment 56349Attachment 56350Attachment 56351Attachment 56352

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Originally Posted by loudbeard

I’m in a good spot this year. Have some in-laws who have retired to Florida, still have their house in Massachusetts. They had a successful side business they operated for 20-something years doing embroidery and built a 2 car garage with full loft for the business. It’s heated, insulated, and plumbed. They’ve emptied it and are allowing me to rent it from the for the price of keeping it heated to protect the plumbing. They will be selling the property, but it will likely be at least a year or two. They still spend their summers here.

So far I’ve stripped down my CRF450R for a motor rebuild where it will come back to life as a motard. Next up is Degsy’s Viffer for a new shock, exhaust, and some cosmetics. After that it’s my Multi on the lift to get a massive list of upgrades and maintenance done.

Attachment 56349Attachment 56350Attachment 56351Attachment 56352

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Beauty. That's pretty much exactly what my away garage is like except... mine is entirely unfinished with earth floor, no power, no insulation, etc.

In an ideal long enough term, it would like like theirs is now.

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Originally Posted by Garandman

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

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I couldn't watch the whole video because I kept thinking of my cellar. I really wanted to call this guy obsessive compulsive but I know that's just me attempting to hide my shame for the landfill I've let my shop become.

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Originally Posted by Garandman

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

https://youtu.be/mFYJFgOIRCM

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i need to watch this when i have some time...i def need to put a few hooks on the wall so i can hang snow shovels...sick of having them stacked leaning on something...i could also probably use a couple wall mounted high shelves...i'll have to snap a few photos when i have the cars out of the garage...maybe someone will have some good ideas here

Nothing earth shattering in this guys video. The title simple hacks is pretty accurate. He basically figured out how and where he typically does things and configured things to make that easier for him.

Everything has a place to live and it goes back there every time.
Creative use of hanging tools off the bottom of shelves with PVC pipe to clear up stuff that usually clutters tool boxes or benches.
I liked the hitch receiver mounting for bench vices to keep them out of the way when not in use. Same with the bench grinder that flips under the bench.
If you need the same thing in two places, buy two, dust pans and brushes for example.
Tool boxes and benches that are on locking casters allow for reconfiguration when needed.
Utilize space over your head for storage and reels for power/air/shop vac etc.
Organized hardware bins to prevent having to move many bins to get to a particular bin, think home depot hardware aisle with slide out containers instead of stacked.

Bit the bullet and bought proper things for garage and shed. Very happy so far

Etsy purchases. American small business made. Feels good to support them

Metal weedwacker holders for shed got a similar one for the blower as well

Attachment 58177
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Attachment 58179

And the big purchase for the drills. Had the cut out PCV hanging off a janky shelf and I just got tired of it

Very happy this had a cutout for the sawzall and the circular saw. Plus fits my 1/2in impact without an issue too.

Attachment 58180

Here is mine actually before I paint it

https://i.imgur.com/c2tCDG4.jpg

I'm not sure what your go to tools are but you can build a wooden "holster" rack for your batt op stuff. Slide right in upside down with a shelf for spare batteries and chargers, those are game changers.

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Originally Posted by G21forme

I'm not sure what your go to tools are but you can build a wooden "holster" rack for your batt op stuff. Slide right in upside down with a shelf for spare batteries and chargers, those are game changers.

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That's exactly what I bought, except I don't like the upside down orientation, so all of mine go right side up.

Between the cost of hardwood and the labor and time, with time being very limited nowadays I decided to buy a well made finished product that works on the first go and I'm happy with.

In the meantime I'm painting metal hand me down cabinets to put up in garage as the price of those is pretty damn silly.

Not sure if this has been covered yet, but I just finished running air lines through my garage and workshop. I found a nice spot to tuck the air compressor next to an outlet and completely out of the way. Just above it, I installed a filter and oil reservoir for the lines. From there it runs through the garage where I installed two connection points. One is connected to a retracting reel with 50 feet of hose, the other is open for any other needs I might have. The line continues into my basement/workshop where I have two more connection points and another 25 foot reel.

When I need air I simply grab the hose from the reel, drag it to where I need it, and I'm good to go. When I'm done, I give the hose a tug and walk it back to the reel. It's a big step from having to drag the compressor and air line out to where I need it, then pack it all up when done. That may not sound like much but it was becoming a pain in the ass.

I used one of those Rapid Air kits they sell on Amazon. It needed some extra parts to get the layout I wanted but overall it worked out really well. Super easy to install. The lines are mounted along the ceiling and I needed a way to keep the flexible lines from coiling so I used PVC.

I'm finding I use air a lot more now that's it's so accessible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BSR6

Not sure if this has been covered yet, but I just finished running air lines through my garage and workshop. I found a nice spot to tuck the air compressor next to an outlet and completely out of the way. Just above it, I installed a filter and oil reservoir for the lines. From there it runs through the garage where I installed two connection points. One is connected to a retracting reel with 50 feet of hose, the other is open for any other needs I might have. The line continues into my basement/workshop where I have two more connection points and another 25 foot reel.

When I need air I simply grab the hose from the reel, drag it to where I need it, and I'm good to go. When I'm done, I give the hose a tug and walk it back to the reel. It's a big step from having to drag the compressor and air line out to where I need it, then pack it all up when done. That may not sound like much but it was becoming a pain in the ass.

I used one of those Rapid Air kits they sell on Amazon. It needed some extra parts to get the layout I wanted but overall it worked out really well. Super easy to install. The lines are mounted along the ceiling and I needed a way to keep the flexible lines from coiling so I used PVC.

I'm finding I use air a lot more now that's it's so accessible.

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I've been borrowing a friends compressor for about a year now. Only things I find myself doing with it is blowing air at prefilters to clean them out and blowing dirt out of driveway cracks before sealing.

I've debated whether I want one of my own and if I do I could definitely do with something smaller. I don't have sanding or painting needs. Otherwise 18v for everything else.

which way are you supposed to store a weed wacker?...motor up or trimmer head up?...i always store motor up cause i don't want any fuel to leak out but i have seen a lot of people that store them trimmer head up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vovchandr

I've been borrowing a friends compressor for about a year now. Only things I find myself doing with it is blowing air at prefilters to clean them out and blowing dirt out of driveway cracks before sealing.

I've debated whether I want one of my own and if I do I could definitely do with something smaller. I don't have sanding or painting needs. Otherwise 18v for everything else.

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I'm in the same boat as you. I run 18V for everything, but I also take on a lot of woodworking projects where I use nail guns. The catch is my woodworking projects are sporadic with months in between so everything I have is portable (no permanent shop). The routine has always been to set up the compressor and lines with each project, and take it down when I was done. In the meantime there were always tasks I could use air on that weren't worth setting up for. Now that I have it, I'm realizing there's a LOT more I could use it for. It's been just over a week and I've used it almost daily for all kinds of random things.

The cost was pretty small. The kit was $100 and I spent another 50$ for some extras that I needed to make it work the way I wanted it to (extra fittings, pvc etc.). If your needs aren't super high then a small pancake compressor for $100 would work surprisingly well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BSR6

I'm in the same boat as you. I run 18V for everything, but I also take on a lot of woodworking projects where I use nail guns. The catch is my woodworking projects are sporadic with months in between so everything I have is portable (no permanent shop). The routine has always been to set up the compressor and lines with each project, and take it down when I was done. In the meantime there were always tasks I could use air on that weren't worth setting up for. Now that I have it, I'm realizing there's a LOT more I could use it for. It's been just over a week and I've used it almost daily for all kinds of random things.

The cost was pretty small. The kit was $100 and I spent another 50$ for some extras that I needed to make it work the way I wanted it to (extra fittings, pvc etc.). If your needs aren't super high then a small pancake compressor for $100 would work surprisingly well.

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Thats exactly what I've been thinking. Something smaller/portable likely a pancake type for me. I have a small single car garage, so I can't afford to sacrifice real estate that the compressor takes up. Unlimited real estate? Sure why not though.

I like your setup and I agree that ease of use encourages use. I've got one of them twirl lines sort of like old telephone cords that curl up and expand with ease and it makes using it much more friendly and easy in the same principle you describe. Pancake should work for occasional nail gun use too in my case.

Pictures of your setup?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vovchandr

Thats exactly what I've been thinking. Something smaller/portable likely a pancake type for me. I have a small single car garage, so I can't afford to sacrifice real estate that the compressor takes up. Unlimited real estate? Sure why not though.

I like your setup and I agree that ease of use encourages use. I've got one of them twirl lines sort of like old telephone cords that curl up and expand with ease and it makes using it much more friendly and easy in the same principle you describe. Pancake should work for occasional nail gun use too in my case.

Pictures of your setup?

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FYI on the islands up here we use pancakes exclusively out on winni. Yeah they run a lot but I've built boat houses with those things.