> The workbench. The space
> requirements. The "must have" equipment.
I actually wrote a paper on Garages for my psycology class, but I cant find
it right now. It was mostly on car karma (yes it does exist) and sexual
territorial claims and the like. If I ever find it again, I'll have to post
a link to it. Very intresting stuff.
Obviously you only have a set amount of total surface space. Its a trade
off, how much floor space to you want, or how much storage room\workbench
room do you want? Personally I always try to maximize both and I try to use
allot of the vertical space. IE high shelves to put stuff you might need but
don't use everyday. (if your garage has beams or rafters that run along the
ceiling instead of a solid ceiling this is perfect) Otherwise that stuff is
going into boxes and sitting on the floor taking up valuable floor space
where you walk around and eventually trip over and sware at. Building a good
wide and long workbench that doubles as shelves underneath is very handy. My
grand father built one out of oak 4X4s (back when 4x4s were really 4x4s BTW)
and big 3 inch thick planks for the actual bench part. It still stands very
solidly today. I plan on building another one, a bit longer but just a
beefy. Also a vice is very handy to bolt to the end of that work bench.
Also a tool rack is great. You can see if you have your full set of
tools at one glance by outlining every tool that fits on the rack with a
black ink pen. Like they say "everything in its place blah blah blah". Only
bad thing about it, is when earthquakes hit and all your tools fall off and
sockets roll for miles, who knows where and when they stop. (might not be a
problem in your area)
Lighting, the more lights the better... you know how bitchy trouble lights
are? they burn you, they go out, they scratch your paint, they burn your
upulstry, their extension chords have to be rigged, they trip you etc, you
have to hit em. Just flood the damn place with as many lights you can. My
friends ask me if I have parties in the garage or something there are so
many lights. Enough wattage to get a tan and see what you are doing without
ever fighting a trouble light. Also helps to find that socket that rolled
under your bench or that bolt that your dropped while fighting some other
problem. When the sun goes down and your project isn't over, you flip a
switch and continue work instead of stopping, finding the touble light,
finding the extension chord, sware and the chord becuase it doesnt have the
3rd prong, bend that ground baby plug back, plug it in, and hope it emmits
light.
Also try to keep precious stuff off the ground. Moisture likes to seep
up and rot stuff fast, especially wood.
Be very thankful for your garage, I just lost mine, and going back to
driveway mechanics is a very hard thing to do. I need a 7/16 socket, turn my
head to the right where my tool rack was and reach for the tool, oh its not
there anymore... its in a zip lock bag, in the yellow tool box buried in box
#4 under the collection of Lucas generators.
Anyway have fun, designing your garage is almost as fun as using it. Spend
the time now to build\arrange it right and you will save hours of
frustration, pain, and busy work later. You will work more effectively, your
repairs will work better and last longer, your sprite will run better and be
happier, and you will be happy. Instead of fighting everything.
You spend half your time looking for stuff when you should be wrenching and
test driving the car in question.
One last thing. Phones in the garage are a pain! They will ALWAYS ring at
the wrong time. ALWAYS. I set mine up with a light instead of the damn
ringer. Why are people trying to reach you when you are working on your car?
let em call back. I will talk to you WHEN I damn want to talk to you.
Good luck and have fun.
Toby
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