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Small Garages Or Small Workshops Thread

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Focker, Jun 24, 2017.

  1. Jun 24, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    This is for the group of us with regular garages or small detached workshops trying to make the best of the space we have. Maybe we can all benefit from each other's ideas?

    I thought I would start by sharing my garage, it's 23' X 22' X 8'...Fairly standard for 1980. We can park my wife's new crossover (the reason behind my garage revamp) and the CJ5 in there with all my "stuff". Staying organized and giving everything a place is key. I can be on the phone at work and walk my family to any tool they need in any drawer or cabinet.

    Notice the power tools in the lower cabinets. Jeep stuff is stored on the far right.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I'm not crazy about where I have to store my bandsaw, but at least it has wheels. This is the Jeep's new space, its always been in the other bay, left of the center workbench. The center bench was 4' X 8' until I split it in half.
    [​IMG]

    Bins for holiday decorations, home school papers, winter clothes...etc. Metal and wood storage. A 17' extension ladder stored on the ceiling. Plus now this is where my wife can park year round (not just during the winter months).
    [​IMG]

    The wall of chemicals & paint. My garage is under the bedrooms so the paint is somewhat climate controlled. Here's the other half the bench. Now my Jeep doesn't have to be crammed between the big bench and wall for winter storage.
    [​IMG]

    It would just fit with no room to spare and I had to push it into the garage by hand.
    [​IMG]

    Mostly cheaper tools readily available. The good stuff is in kept in the Homak tool chest. Repair manuals are kept up by the old Radio Shack "Realistic" stereo. I put a small shelf over the window...Use all the space you can!
    [​IMG]

    I mounted an old closet rod holder on the side of the center workbench...Why?
    [​IMG]

    What better place to store your Jeeps tow bar. It actually clicks as if it was mounted to a 2" ball.
    [​IMG]

    I built this cabinet around the house's antique central vac system. An older desktop computer was moved to the garage for easy access to the net.
    [​IMG]

    Perfect place for my little air compressor. I store my welding hood in there too. Less dust and I use the higher amp plug for welding.
    [​IMG]

    One of the computer cabinet drawers is home to my extra wiring supplies.
    [​IMG]

    This cabinet was already here so it houses some of my power tools.
    [​IMG]

    An old dresser (painted gray over the pink my wife had as a kid) contains home electrical supplies, plumbing, sand paper, misc hardware, caulking & putty. Each category has it's own drawer.
    [​IMG]

    ATV jack and furniture dolly tucked away.
    [​IMG]

    A couple of drawer shots.
    [​IMG]

    A magnetic tool mat keeps my wrenches in order.
    [​IMG]

    I like my bungee cord idea. I was tired of untangling them whenever I wanted to use some. Plus I can easily find the right size for the job.
    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Jun 24, 2017
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    What size is your garage Focker?
     
  3. Jun 25, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    23' X 22' X 8'
     
  4. Jun 25, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Dec 22, 2002
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    Nice. I still need to work on organizing mine. Know what i want to do, just need to do it
     
  5. Jun 25, 2017
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    May 25, 2006
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    It's hard to even take pictures of all the tonage in my little garage. The one upside of a little garage is having to complete projects and the need for having all the parts on hand for most Jeep related repairs.
     
    cookieman likes this.
  6. Jun 25, 2017
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
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    Nov 14, 2014
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    561
    I need to go put some stuff away in my shop....:D:whistle:
     
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  7. Jun 25, 2017
    Mark Wahlster

    Mark Wahlster Member

    Silverton, OR
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    Dec 17, 2015
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    My shop is 19.5 x 32' with 12 x 10 (belt grinders wall mounted wire wheel and 4 x 6 steel bandsaw) and a 6 x 6 room (wall mounted buffing machines and crap storage) on one end on the other end is a 8 X 8 tool room and the man door. Theres so much stuff in there now I have basically the room to work on my Jeep Chassis and work at the various tools and that it. I also have taken over 1/2 of the Carport/Garage (city thinks I built a car port 20 years ago actually I just built a garage without walls over the years all but one front door to the garage is done) So that is another 10 x 22' I been doing all the Sheet metal work in the Carport/Garage shop which is all boxed in and the Chassis work in the Shop proper. My shop is where in a normal house someone would have put a garage but it was built as a shop by the Goober who remodeled the house as he was a contractor and needed a shop more then a garage)

    Once I have the Willys the Willys hard top and my Off road travel trailer done. I will expand a lean to like section of the outer carport garage wall to enclose an area 9 x 12 which will hold my travel trailer and my 3 garbage totes) The front of the Carport Garage will get two sets of 9' barn style swing out doors with auto openers (entrance is to low for a std garage door) and I will remove the temp center wall making the Jeep shop. And I will enclose the end of our 6 x 24 porch that will be the last wall section for the Garage. The tablesaw and such will move back into the shop proper.

    I have so much stuff to get rid of out of the shop and the carport garage I might be able to live a year in retirement off the proceeds LOL
     
  8. Jun 25, 2017
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
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    Son-in-law just recently built him a 60'X40' shop I think 16' high. He has put some plywood panels 4X8 around the inside and took a torch and did the burn knot treatment to and it really looks great. Has a lift installed and is slowly getting other needed shop tools. Has the epoxy floor. Next time I am over I will get some pictures. We always had to work in the dirt before this.
     
  9. Jun 25, 2017
    DHill78

    DHill78 Sponsor

    Central AR
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    Jul 27, 2015
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    I'm impressed Focker. Mine is nowhere close when it comes to organization. :whistle:
     
    Focker likes this.
  10. Jun 25, 2017
    Desert Runner

    Desert Runner Member 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hickory, Pa
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    Waaaaaaahhhhh :cry: my garage sucks
     
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  11. Jun 25, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Aug 10, 2003
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    My garage is 21'x17' with a wall height of 7'. It has a single car overhead door about 8' wide, and just tall enough to clear the top of my CJ-6 soft top. I had to remove the door opener link to clear the Jeep top. After I rebuilt/repaired the overhead door, it goes up and down easily by muscle power, so I just leave the opener disconnected.
    You guys like pics -

    Garage1.jpg
    Stand alone garage. One of the few houses in my area with a bona fide garage.
    Garage2.jpg
    Inside shot. The main thing to see here is the lights and insulated walls and roof. When I moved in, this was an unheated garages with a single 15A circuit for the interior light and door opener. I built the cantilevered workbench, installed a working window and the man door. The building is heated and air conditioned, so it's truly a 4-seasons shop. Connected to the main house by wifi. Where's the CJ-6?
    Garage3.jpg
    The man door I bought on Craig's List for $10. It was the site of last winter's great carpenter ant invasion. I repelled the invaders and replaced a section of the sill and some of the side wall framing, and repaired the door frame. The panel is the 60A service that I added (former main panel from my house, repurposed after replacement). The floor is pretty badly spalled from the prior owner parking her car in here in the winter, and it dripping salty water.
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2017
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  12. Jun 25, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    [​IMG]
    Allrigt focker. Today i finally hung the extra cabinet from the kitchen. Had some extra shelving too so built the shelves too.
    [​IMG]
    Aaaand, the other somewhat organized corner. I need to build a workbench next on the otherside of the left window. And more shelves...
     
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  13. Jun 25, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Daryl - I've been in Daryl's garage... He's not kidding about having parts on hand.

    Mark - Yours sounds pretty impressive and above average for size.

    Walt - I'd love what your SIL built...As for this thread... He's cheating. :p

    Tim - That's what I'm talking about...Thanks for sharing. I like the receiver and speakers. What are the chains for (next to the compressor)? I miss exposed rafters (great for storage). Ok... Where's the 6?

    Brian - Progress is progress. Can't wait to see the difference.
     
  14. Jun 25, 2017
    Mark Wahlster

    Mark Wahlster Member

    Silverton, OR
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    timgar there are some very reasonable priced floor coating epoxies that will smooth out that floor of yours. I even saw a guy who did his whole garage floor in 12" Black and White Squares using the stuff (way to much free time)
     
  15. Jun 26, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Garage5.jpg
    It's a Scott 222C integrated amp, push-pull EL84s at about 15W/ch, with a Sony DVD player under it. The DVD player was the cheapest way to get a CD deck at the time. I hardly ever listen to CDs anymore; instead, I use the laptop on the bench as a connection to Amazon Music by wifi. The laptop was bought for another work-related purpose; $200 used I5/Win7 ThinkPad from NewEgg. It's been really handy to have a self-contained portable computer, set up to connect with my router, that I don't care that much about. The battery needs replacing, but I leave the charger connected all the time. The speakers (one visible) are some old SoundCrafters that I took from my folks house when we sold it. They each have a single 11" EV full-range driver (not even high-end at the time), and are ideal for corner placement like this. Plus full-range speakers are inherently efficient and work well with the low-power tube amp.

    Garage4.jpg

    I have a chain fall in the ceiling. I installed the truss before I insulated the roof, with that purpose in mind. Works great - haven't lifted an engine yet, but I have lifted a truck bed.

    It's in the picture (the Jeep, that is).

    Garage6.jpg

    A view of the back wall. Not much to say here that isn't obvious. Maybe the plywood - it's a crate bottom that is about 1.25" thick. I can put it across my sawhorses if I need a lot of bench area. The electric space heater is just visible in the upper left corner (kinda dark - I did not turn on the lights this morning). Bulletin board is very handy, as is the white board.

    One thing that would help a lot comfort-wise would be one or two ceiling fans. The temperature inversion is significant, both in winter and summer. It's on the list. Effective insulation helps a lot! On a hot day, the garage is pleasantly cool in the morning, and in the winter I can warm up the garage and it will stay warm for a long time without the heater coming on. The heater is only on when I'm working out there, so addition of a heated cabinet might be a good idea. A discarded refrigerator with a low wattage light bulb on all the time would be good for this. Another item for the list - coming after moving the compressor outdoors, and building a shed for the garden equipment.
     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2017
  16. Jun 26, 2017
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I'm pretty blessed with the shop space that I have, but right now its competing for space with lawncare equipment, and woodworking equipment. Because of that, there's no space for anything! I'm hoping to build a mini-barn this fall that will take care of both those "problems" and leave the garage open for Jeep work. I'll have to dig up some pictures when I get the chance.
     
  17. Jun 26, 2017
    montanacj

    montanacj Member

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    This was my single car garage with two jeeps. Now I have a shop.



    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Jun 26, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Got it... Pretty sneaky. :ninja:
     
  19. Jun 26, 2017
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    my garage 20X24
    DSCN0112 - Copy.JPG
    and the clean interior :whistle:
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. Jun 26, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Nice space Ron... Can't wait to see the "After" pics. :D

    Looks like you have a large key ring collection?

    This is why I started this thread... I like seeing the creative ideas, i.e. - your heater and box fan mounts.

    Like Tim mentioned, I too have heat and air. I punched into the HVAC duct above the work bench...Feels goid when I open the vent.
     
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