The Garage/Shop Thread

[ChickNorris]

Go.

[ChickNorris]

I like vehicles. Know a bit about them. Always wanted to make my own but doubt I'll ever have the garage space... not until each of my beautiful outbuildings is bigger than the house... that's a while off, if ever... but a girl can dream to have a dedicated building for each speciality workshop, riiight?

[gnihcraes]

At that point in my life, I had the time, money to get something built. Dreaming for years. Finally got through the city's rules and regs to build this.

Here is the official plan my wife gave me for christmas a couple years back. If she's suggesting, I'm down with this.

https://justgarageplans.com/3734/plan-detail/1008.php

Has a 12 foot height on one side, we did 2x6 construction all around and removed the center dividing wall with an overhead truss beam to carry the load. 100% open floor plan.

Fun to build and setup inside the way I want. Just need to get a car lift some day.

77035

[gnihcraes]

Technically, I still have my old 1955 garage, we use it for the wife to park in and other storage. 2 garage household and they exceed the square foot of the house. hehe

[izzy]

I have d a small workshop in my basement and I love it. Turns out that it's big enough to lose a box of spair parts in though.

[MarkCO]

Looking for pictures, ideas?

Air, vacuum and power...never enough of those in most shops. I have air and vacuum built in for both of my shops, switched outlets and still could have put in more.

[ChickNorris]

I ran electric around the inside perimeter of my shop, outlets every 6'. Yay

Oh & a row up top & right down the middle just because. Teehee.

[JohnnyEgo]

I've spent 25 years doing hobby woodworking in whatever space was available, to include several apartment balconies. I've never had a dedicated space for the hobby, and still don't. Share the garage with my wife, hence everything is on wheels. While I would love to have the ability to set up my equipment and run DC piping and power through the floors and ceilings, I have learned to make do. My first order of preference for any garage I have ever been in has always been lighting. Lots and lots of lighting. I am currently running (4) 4-bulb T8 high output light fixtures in my garage, and wish I had three more fixtures. When the balasts go, I will swap them out with LEDs.

Next after lighting, having a dedicated sub panel and surface mounted EMT wired outlets is a must for me. I like to have at least two separate 120v 20amp circuits, two 240v 20amp circuits, and one 240v 50 amp circuit in my shop. Lets me run two of anything (shop vac & miter saw, dust collector and planer) at the same time without any concerns over tripping breakers. I also really like shop heat.

About the only thing I don't have that I would like is a high-lift garage door. I have 12' ceilings, which are awesome, but the garage door tracks make it a pain in the butt to swing a long board, and I really want a gantry crane I can pull close to the garage door. Otherwise, for a space I have to share with my wife's mini-van, I am about as happy as I could be with it.

Dedicated shop space and being able to save 50% on shoes are the two things I envy most about my friend Jim.

https://www.johnnyego.com/wood/2018Projects/bunkbed19.JPG

[ChickNorris]

Nice.

[OldFogey]

Kazoo's shop was amazing. Bet his new one turns out just as good. My "shop"? 3 workbenches and a potting bench in the garage along with assorted household overflow. Went to led shoplights over the workbenches (me so green) and got a new space heater for winter reloading. Just the word "shop" makes me the envy type of green.

[ChickNorris]

A friend of mine bought an old chicken farm. The buildings are wholly amazing. Nothing like seeing rows of classic cars up the middle with a every tool & machine you could ever need within... talk about enviable.

Maybe he'll let me post a pic so you all can be green too.

[gnihcraes]

^ same ideas everyone has mentioned.

Electrician did his minimum for code inspection, I ran other outlets inside and outside, so glad I did. I still have things to change/add, but need to save some money for a bit.

Insulated to R30, can keep it 60+ with propane and kerosene heaters. Enough that I can stay in it all day.

Installed cheapo car stereo to listen to tunes, wired some old media speakers overhead. Jamming out right now.

Hard wired internet and phone from house to garage, got PC out here, can check vehicle stuff, order parts etc while in the shop. No more running back to the house.

No drywall, put up 15/32 chipboard, painted white.

Setup french cleats on the walls, tool panels are magnetic and on the french cleat setup. Can move any tool board to any other wall if needed. Magnets hold most all tools - just grab and go and stick them back when done. So nice.
No more tool box drawers for the most used items.

Got some antennas setup and ham gear out here too, can goof or listen as needed.

Most any machinery, table saw, welding tables and stuff is on WHEELS. Move that crap to the middle when not used. I'll move the truck out and wheel the power tool needed to the open bay to work on larger stuff.

[ChickNorris]

Yep with limited space & the ever changing material requirements everything is on wheels, even the material racks, save 1. Propane heat, full media, spend more time nesting out there & my husband makes fun of me because I live in the shop more than the house.

[gnihcraes]

Yep with limited space & the ever changing material requirements everything is on wheels, even the material racks, save 1. Propane heat, full media, spend more time nesting out there & my husband makes fun of me because I live in the shop more than the house.

Awesome huh. Go to the house to eat/sleep. (I have fluids and snacks in the garage though)

[ChickNorris]

I don't sleep but when I do...

[ChickNorris]

Oh... big upgrade was the partition panel for my alarm system & all the ancillary periphery. Being residential, I wanted the ability to disarm the shop or house independently. Yep.

I'd like to do more but I like firemen more than I hate thieves. Beware of owner isn't an exaggeration here, ask district 3. Teehee.

[Great-Kazoo]

Well the old one was 24x30 w/ 3 8x doors, 3.0 side entry, alarmed, window guards, pole barn. 10' side walls 2" spray foam insulated, mini-split (air/heat) 3- 220 outlets, 20a outlets 4' high every 6-8'. 60 gal compressor overhead air piped in to the entire shop. 12x36 lathe, a few different sized mills, welders, plasma cutter, tools, tools, tools. 1-1050, 2-650's 2-550's (more but who counts sold ones) a RCBS s/stage.
Multiple racks, Rolling drill press cabinet (Thanks Johnnyego) almost everything on wheels.


New one 24x30 2x3" galvanized tubing every 4 on center, 18' peak, 10' side walls, conduit already ran in the slab for power. 1-16' sectional roll up, 1-3.0 entry. NO windows. R-11 insulated entire structure. 4 post direct lift awaiting completion of building.

I'll do another 3-220 outlets. 3-20A 110 outlets along the 24' sides, 4, maybe 5 along the 30' wall. 4x8 flake board to cover the interior, painted white for better illumination. Probably 4 rows of 4' led's on trusses. 2- ceiling fans one pulling air up, the other end of building moving air down. So i have a moderately constant flow of air circulating. Mini-split will be done before summer.

No reloading, metal fab or other misc items at the time. Slowly as deals pop up i'll rebuild from scratch. As it was easier to sell off than move with us, everything in the shop. Thanks to a lot of you for buying, to make the move easier.

[gnihcraes]

Great-Kazoo, sounds like you've got it all planned out and cool.

LED Lighting, 8 foot commercial hard wire for $90 at home depot. I don't remember the brand, but I have three in this shop and it's plenty most of the time.

I think this is them: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-8-ft-90-Watt-White-Integrated-LED-Strip-Light-MNSL-L96-2LL-MVOLT-40K-80CRI/300263606

[sniper7]

Still working on organing but we built a new house a couple years ago with a oversized 5 car garage. With nothing you could fit 7 vehicles but I have spaces for 3 vehicles to park with tons of room or 4 and still be able to work around and get projects done.

And last year I had my outbuilding put up, 30x50 with a couple 12wx14h garage doors on front (15’ ceiling) and a 8x8 single in the back.
5 smaller windows on north side up high, 3 large windows on south. All 2x6 construction with siding, shingle roof and stone front to match the house. Been working on electrical and got it finished up I think to where I want it. A couple wall mount openers installed, 14 LED overhead shop lights, 30+ receptacles, welder 220, a couple 7500w 200 electric heaters (didn’t run gas out there), wired for TVs, speakers, an opener on the back if I ever want one, and possibly 14x more overhead lights if I really wanted them. Also did motion activated lights outside, led flood lights on front and back that are visible from space, 5 outdoor receptacles for charging trailers or exterior lights or Christmas lights, light sensing led light by man door.

Still deciding if I will insulate and drywall since I have the house garage this one is more storage and I only turn the heaters on when I go out to work and it makes it into the 60s when it’s 20 outside so pretty comfortable.

[Circuits]

One bay of my 2-car garage is my shop space. Lathe, mill, press, bandsaw, compressor, grinders, drill press, workbench, tool walls and shelves. The bay's really only 1/2or 2/3 full, so I could move some junk out and fit another machine tool or two in there if I wanted to.

[00tec]

I have been considering putting up one of those fabric buildings out here. Can be had for around $1500 for 1800 sq ft or so. Add a strip type foundation around the border.

[Irving]

Since my garage is for everything, I recently hung a tarp across the back wall to keep wood dust off my reloading stuff.

I tried to buy my grandpa's place, but other family beat me to it.

[Grant H.]

I have a list of idea's and thoughts that is about a mile long for when I finally get to build a shop.

Currently relegated to my 2 car garage that has an extra household worth of furniture in it (wife's parents estate), company inventory, personal projects, and other shtufff.

The "shop" for the business is my brothers detached garage and that's where we have the CNC Plasma table, the CNC mill, ALL the welders, a smallish lathe, etc...

[Bailey Guns]

The one I had built when we bought here was 24' x 36' with a 24' x 22' carport in front. It has 12' walls. I put a 16'x10' door in the front and an 8'x8' door in the back with a man door and two windows.

I love my shop. Unfortunately, I could'a built one twice as big as the accumulation of crap has already started to intrude on most of the space. But, it's important crap.

Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Power. I had a 100 amp panel installed. Even in my little space that's barely adequate. I just had to sacrifice a 20 amp 220 outlet (which was pretty worthless anyway) to install a 50 amp outlet for a welder. Make sure you have plenty of room to grow with your electrical service. Price to have the ability installed for future upgrades is basically chump change over the price you're gonna pay anyway. So go all in on the ability to upgrade if you can't afford all of what you want initially.

2. Loft. I'm gonna build a loft this summer. That will free up a lot of floor space.

3. Lights. Can't have enough.

4. One of the best things I did, and which was almost just an afterthought, was have the rear overhead door put in. Without it I wouldn't have any way to get a vehicle into the rear yard area of the house. With the door that's not an issue now in case I need to haul landscaping stuff, etc, to the rear of the house.

5. The carport. I love it. Wife gets the 2 car garage so the carport keeps my truck and tractor covered. I'm so glad I did this and cost for it was minimal. I wish I could afford to have the area paved.


I finished the floor with Rustoleum Pro epoxy stuff. I debated all sorts of other stuff. It was really cost effective and easy to put down after the prep work. It's been 3 years of all sorts of activity...welding, plasma cutting, vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, wood/metal working. The stuff has been fantastic. It's got a few battle scars but it hasn't failed anywhere, even on the outside door threshold out the rear door. The stuff has been bulletproof in my experience.

I still want to install pipe for air. I just improvise now.

I even did a redneck ceiling fan install on the cheap. I use two small, 7500w, electric heaters. That fan works great to push the warm air down, believe it or not.

https://i.imgur.com/vpjo3Jx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8lab3z7.jpg

[ChickNorris]

Nice

[gnihcraes]

On the advice of Bailey guns, I too did the rustoleum epoxy floor, professional version. Don't get the water based stuff.

Mine is holding up so far, I've been pretty rough on it and its working well. Don't order through internet though, go to home depot commercial counter and order it there. Three kits came in busted and leaking. Twice. Such a mess, and my problem to deal with, can't return them busted open. Got credit, but was hazmat to get rid of it. No fun.

If busted at home depot, it's on them to dispose of it. :) lesson learned.

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[Great-Kazoo]

How slippery is the epoxy floor when moisture is present?

[Bailey Guns]

I have some of the texturing flakes on mine. I've never had any problem with it being slippery. I usually wear some type of work boot and don't have any issues.

[MrPrena]

I would like to have a small lift like discount tire has.
As we talked about on previous thread on jack stand, I still dont feel 100% comfortable going under the vehicle even with backups.

[OtterbatHellcat]

I lost my 32x48 in divorce...yay. *blank stare*

My next one will be bigger and with much more thought behind it. Loose plans I submitted to the contractor I'm working with added up to $70K. That's when I was "the fuck you say?". There was quite a bit of concrete involved in my plans, and some significant changes in doors from what I had before.

It'll still get done, just have to refi the property after dumping a good portion of the leftover *funds from selling my house on Colfax*

et. Century stink lost my connection during post.

[gnihcraes]

How slippery is the epoxy floor when moisture is present?Mine is not slippery with flakes. One area without flakes is slick!

Over used the flakes and have a small section without by one bay door.

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[gnihcraes]

I lost my 32x48 in divorce...yay. *blank stare*

My next one will be bigger and with much more thought behind it. Loose plans I submitted to the contractor I'm working with added up to $70K. That's when I was "the fuck you say?". There was quite a bit of concrete involved in my plans, and some significant changes in doors from what I had before.

It'll still get done, just have to refi the property after dumping a good portion of the leftover *funds from selling my house on Colfax*

et. Century stink lost my connection during post.Mine was right about 45k, I paid materials, no markup and labor. Some stuff I did myself to save $, like the siding.

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[Bailey Guns]

Mine was right at $30...maybe just under. Just put less down on the house. Worth every penny.

[encorehunter]

I'm in the planning stage of building a shop. It will be happening in the next few months. I am thinking a pole barn and then pouring a concrete floor in it. I'm looking at somewhere between 1500 to 2500 square feet. It will have 12' walls for adding a loft later on when needed. Two 10' wide garage doors on opposite sides to have a drive through with a dump or flat bed trailer. I've been looking at pole barn kits, but I'm thinking I can piece build it for much cheaper, and just order the trusses.I will be doing most of the work, so it should be pretty inexpensive, around $10-14K.

[wctriumph]

Used to have a decent sized garage in CA and place I could work in at the machine shop I worked at (the boss liked motorcycles and guns). When I had my house in Ft. collins I had a dedicated motorcycle work area and a section for my guns hobby. Now I an in a rental and the garage is full of stuff, not much room to work. If I can ever talk the wife into getting rid of the stuff we haven't used in five years, I could clear some space. At work I can come in when closed and work on the truck and my guns, it has everything I need so I am not disadvantaged too much, just driving time to and from.

[Irving]

Here is a Twin post lift for someone.

https://denver.craigslist.org/tls/d/aurora-twin-post-10000lb-lift/6786160661.html