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Garage Workspaces – Starting Over
For those of us who have a garage, it may simply be the place we park our car or store our stuff. For others, maybe the garage serves as an extra room or a studio of sorts. But in the end, for many people, it is just another space that they pass through. Not for me.
Growing up, we moved around frequently. Sometimes we had a garage, sometimes we did not. When we did, it was far more than just a place to store things, more than a space to park the car; it was a refuge, a sanctuary from the outside world. It was a place altogether masculine: the smell of wood and cigarette smoke, the sounds of power tools, projects on the bench in various stages of completion, tools hanging on the pegboard or in hidden in their drawers but always in their proper place. It was a place to experiment, to build, and to swear. It was a place to try new things, fail, and try again. Perhaps I am romanticizing, but I don’t care. I want that garage. I want that workspace.
In the first house I bought, I built a simple bench and pegboard at the back of the garage. It wasn’t much, but it was suitable for limited storage and provided space for me to indulge in efforts to repair old console radios and turntables. My tool collection was limited in those early years, but I had all the basics. I had bigger plans for the second house, and so had a bigger workspace, but — due to the imposition of other priorities — it never lived up to its potential beyond the multitude of pinewood derby cars designed and built there. And then the tornado hit, and it was all gone.
I am moderately chagrined by the fact it has taken me more than two years in the rebuilt house to finally get around to setting up my work area. But the stars finally appear to be aligning, and I am now in the stages of planning my new workspace. To say that I am excited and a little giddy is an understatement. Not only am I anxious to build this space, I need to build this space. Perhaps some of you will understand that without me having to explain why.
The best part is, I get to start from scratch. This means the slate is clean, and I have the opportunity do it right from the start. I’ve scoured the Internet for ideas. I have a Pinterest board full of links to pictures, plans, and tricks and tips. (Hey, don’t laugh. Pinterest has links to tons of garage workshop ideas, tools, and other “manly” things). But I want more. While I pretty much know what I want do to, I’m still open to additional ideas.
Here’s where you come in, Ricochet. Do you have a garage workspace, or a workshop? What do you like about it? What would you do differently if you could? What configurations work for you? What don’t? If you have pictures you are willing to share, that would be great. It doesn’t matter to me if you’re a car guy or a woodworker, tell me about what you have, or what you wish you had.
Share and compare. One-upmanship is encouraged on this post, as a little envy can motivate one to new things. Tim Taylor grunting is allowed.
Published in General
Fair point. However, the detached single car garage my family had when we lived in North Dakota was one of the best we had. Just enough space for the car and the workbench, but a lot of projects got done out there. Cold, yes. We may have had a small floor heater. Can’t remember for sure.
Here’s an accessory that will not find a home in my garage. Not in this color scheme anyway:
I used to have two large workbenches in the third space in our three-car garage. That lasted a few years after I decided too much workspace become a collection area. So I bought a few cabinets and now just have about 7 feet of workbench space. It still collects too much stuff, but it’s easier to clean off.
I do wish we had basements in Texas.
Does the Rust-Oleum product require acid etching the concrete? I’d like to paint my garage floor, but we’ve been in the house so long I’m not sure there’s a good option without acid etching.
It does recommend applying the etching solution first, yes. When I did the storage room in my basement however, I elected not to. So far, I’ve not had any issues. The basement floor is part of the original house foundation, and had been cleaned over several times, so that factored into my decision. As for the garage floor, that’s a “new” concrete pad, but even in the last couple of years, has taken some wear and spillage. If I decide to epoxy it, I will probably do the etching first.
The kit I bought came with the etching material in powdered form. Due to the buildup of crud on the floor, I used it.
Garage much better than basement for any sort of cutting and/or welding operations because of the sawdust, metal chips, etc. If you want a welder you’ll probably want at least 60 amps of 240 vac. My garage only has 20 amps of 120, paved surface between house and garage, so I’m resigned to severe power limitations – too expensive to upgrade electric service, only to be able to power shop equipment I can’t afford anyway.
While we’re dreaming, how about an overhead beam with a trolley you can hang a chain hoist from.
My space is tiny. I got some old kitchen cabinets from the local Habitat ReStore, raised them a little, put a work counter on top. Pegboard and slot board on the wall. Lots of outlets across the back. Shelves all the way to the ceiling. I can see some things on that Pinterest page (which is great!) that look useful–might try something like the shelves/holder for cordless tools with batteries/chargers on top, as that is a problem I haven’t solved.
One of my favorite things is very simple–one of these tie racks, which I hung on the front of a shelf that’s about at eye level, and on which I hang my wrenches, by the box/ring end, ordered by size. I have one for standard, and one for metric. This has proven to be the most successful storage method yet. I’ve tried magnets, holders, cases, drawers, and they always ended up in a mess. Rotating mug racks (which came out of the kitchen years ago) are also handy for hanging little things, mounted under a shelf. Because I don’t have much space, I’m always looking for compact ways to squish more stuff in, but in ways that I can still find it afterwards.
Hopefully you listen to the radio? Joe Soucheray is one of us, BTW. He loves internal combustion engines, has no time for “greens”, or for lefty nonsense.
I’ve gone back and forth on things like this. My initial thought for my wrenches is simply to hang them on the pegboard, or at least, the ones I use the most. But if I have to put them in a drawer, this might be an option: buying a simple set of caribiners.
Or inhumanely hot for 6 months of the year.
Yup. It’s gonna be nice. But I also do the woodworking and stuff, so my mancard is just… a little tattered, but not gone.
Sadly, yakima is both freezing in the winter and inhumanely hot in the summer. Makes it difficult, but space-heaters and fans are a big help.
Fans are mostly a placebo when it is truly hot.
We used to watch the show “Clean House”, which was a remodelling show, that was clearly shot in Southern California. They kept turning garages into living space.
Some places are actually dry enough for sweating to cool one down. I realize you might not be aware of this, being from Georgia. :P
Hope they got their permits in order — most CA counties will make you rip out unpermitted area than do inspections after the fact.
Skip, did you put on a clear coat after the epoxy?
This is another thing I’m debating. My garage has a high ceiling (with a bonus room overhead), so I’m not sure how practical it is to go the ceiling with shelving. Might consider hanging a high shelf for storage, or suspending a shelf, but not a set that goes from floor to ceiling. I have a cheap set of metal shelves from Lowe’s right now. Trying to decide if I want a more permanent structure, or stick with the cheap and variable config option.
I tried the DIY epoxy, and it was a disaster. Even though I etched, it all flaked off from the floor. The concrete “curb” around the edge of the garage took the epoxy just fine, which led me to believe that there was something different in the floor concrete’s makeup.
Therefore, this is what I’ve been lusting after:
http://racedeck.com/
Hm. I wonder if it was previously sealed or something, or if you had a vapor barrier problem (moisture getting from underneath).
The Racedeck solution is nice, but I imagine it ain’t cheap.
We built our retirement home last year, started it that is, I still have some tiling to do;). The best thing I did in the garage work area, besides planing an extra deep garage, is building a portable work table the same height as my work bench. Its top is 3′ x 4′ and the support is 1′ x 4′ to give leg and feet room when doing close work. When I have a 4 x8 sheet to cut I can span the table and bench, clamp the sheet to either and saw with ease. I put swivel casters on one and of the table to make it more maneuverable, straight rollers on the other end for stability. I hang frequently used tools on the framing of the table for quick access. I’m out of town or I would include a picture but you get the idea.
Lighting is key. I recommend overhead LED linear flush mounts such as
http://www.lithonia.com/commercial/led+wrap.html
combined with something like this for your close-in work:
http://www.amazon.com/Kenley-Light-Magnifying-Lamp-Workbench/dp/B01ANZGI34/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458343819&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=magnifying+light&psc=1
Also, I remember my dad’s workbench had a small motor mounted on the end of it where he could chuck in different tools such as a grinding wheel. It came in handy for lots of jobs.
I completely get the idea, and like the idea of a mobile component (I’d probably make sure I put on locking casters, and possibly on both ends). I’ve thought about making my L-shaped bench a two-piece – one length mobile like you described, and the other non-mobile. Flexibility.
I was leaning towards something like these suspended over the work area. But your flush mount link might be an option too.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-4-ft-White-LED-Linkable-Shop-Light-54103161/205331022?cm_mmc=shopping-_-pinterest-_-D27-_-205331022
My garage is a place to park the car and store some stuff. Not enough room for much of anything else.
My brother’s neighbor Sam just about lives in his garage, along with his dog Jake the Wonder Pooch. Sam has a mini fridge, a coffee pot, and a hot plate, as well as a radio, a television, a ratty sofa and a rattier recliner. I think that in the summer he only goes inside to sleep and to use the facilities.
Female input: I always wanted to have my admittedly simple tools to have their designated place on a pegboard. Maybe not outlined in Magic Marker, but there in plain sight. A light hammer, a heavier one; a separate! area for the Philips (sp?) head screwdrivers from the flatheads. Although I have a few toolboxes, being able to find what is needed at a glance is perfect. My father did his Heath Kit work in the basement, and also had a bench he built in the back of the garage for oily, car-and -bike repair stuff. Everything was orderly, visible around him; he kept back copies of Popular Mechanics on a shelf underneath. A dream space, especially when 8 kids were rampaging upstairs.
The unforgivable sin was to borrow a tool—which he didn’t object to—and to not put it back in its place. Few things we did aggravated him as much as leaving a useful tool out in the yard for him to have to hunt down.
My collection of tools and man toys outgrew the garage and migrated to the shop at my office. Most recent addition is this glorious work table:
Steel Shop Table
It’s not yet kitted out with receptacles, storage shelf, vise, and anvil, but I do have the lift truck needed to move it around. :-)
I’ve heard that he who dies with the most tools wins.
I have one of these. Very, very nice.
Consider mounting receptacles in the ceiling above your workbench, if you can reach it. Tools plugged in above you will unplug themselves if you drop them, as few power tools have >6ft cords. Also minimizes damage from stepping on the cord. And if you are tagged by 120V and can’t let go, falling down will unplug you, too. (Sustained paralyzing 120V is the most common way to die from electrocution, IIRC.)