Rich's First Law of Mechanics: Owning duplicates of tools prevents
having to borrow extras; thus, you need to buy extras.
Rich's Second Law of Mechanics: If you have to borrow a tool more than
once, you need to buy it.
Rich's Third Law of Mechanics: If you even think you might need a tool
some point in the future, you need to buy it.
Rich's Corrollary to the Laws of Mechanics: If you really need a
particular tool, you won't have it, can't borrow it, and all the hardware
stores will be closed.
But seriously....
Lighting: The more lighting the better. The garage is 30' W x 24' D, so
I've got two bays open to the overhead door, and a third bay that acts as
the workshop area (a car can be and is parked there now). I've got two
four-foot, four-bulb florescent fixtures in line with each bay, another
two for the workshop area, and several four-foot two bulb fixtures over
the benches. I've also got one extra four tube fixture that I'll be
putting a base on so that I can stand it vertically whenever I need to
throw some extra light onto a car.
Benches: The more bench, the better. I've set two in an 'L'
arrangement, so that the corner of the L fits into the corner of the
garage. On top the bench in the corner is an old set of shelves that
contain the "entertainment center" -- ie, the fridge, the TV, the VCR,
the stereo. For convenience's sake, I've left the very bottoms of the
benches open under the shelves so I can hose out the garage. Same thing
with the shelving along the walls. I like the idea of having a larger
work table, so am considering making one I can hinge so it folds out from
the wall for when I need to be able to work on something without
constantly shfiting it around.
Entertainment Center: Some of the stuff I already had, the rest I picked
up at garage / yard sales or Goodwill. I think I've got maybe $50 total
wrapped up in the stuff over probably ten years. The speakers just set
at either end of the benches for now, but I found some extras, so I'll be
able to hang one in each corner of the garage, and two kinda centered in
the middle of the ceiling. Keeps me from having to turn the volume up so
I can hear it if I'm on the other side of the garage. I've got a couple
of old Tupperware containers to store cassettes.
Sink: Need one, want one, and will install it at the same time I put in
the loo.
Parts Washer: Lord, this makes life easier. I've got an old Grey-Mills
standing unit with a pump; it takes up about the same room as a tool
chest. If you've got a used one, or yours is older, you may want to
check the seal around the lid. Mine had deteriorated and I replaced it
withs some regular rubber weatherstripping. What I'd really like is one
of those 'agitating' units, the ones that 'swish' the parts around in the
fluid. Anyone know how to make one?
Tool Storage: I hang the tools I regularly use on the pegboard,
duplicates go in the tool chest as do the specialty tools. My 'boxed'
tools go in a small cabinet. Air tools go in a rack I built on the air
compressor (I've got a garden hose hanger on it to hang the long air
hose). I've also planning to make a 'map' for the inside of the lid of
the tool chest showing the location of the tools (I hate opening drawers
searching for something).
Air Compressor: Get an extra tank and plumb it into the system; I picked
up an old propane tank (40 gallon) and am mounting it in the ceiling.
Also consider running various air ports to plug in a line. I've got my
portable compressor connected so that I have ports are available at both
ends of the bench, the front of the garage, the back of the garage, and
just outside the overhead door. Less tripping over hoses. I'm thinking
of putting one in the middle of the ceiling on a retractable reel.
Convenience Items: Telephones ($5 cheapies from MegaloMart) mounted just
inside the service door so if I'm outside I can reach it, and over the
bench where I normally work. I've also got one of those loud add-on
ringers. YMMV on phones but I pretty much have to be available. An
intercom between the house and the garage keeps the SO from checking
every 15 minutes to see if I've dropped the car on me. I've figured out
where I normally need to place a set of ramps, and drilled the floor and
installed inserts so I can 'pin' the ramps in place to drive up them.
Two bar stools were obtained from Goodwill to use at the bench (my
brother has an old bench seat from a Suburban that he's bolted to a frame
so it sits higher, mighty comfy).
Shelving: I use the narrow area along the wall perpendicular to the
overhead door. These are only 5' H x 3' W x 1' D for each unit, but
since I have four bolted together, they run 12 linear feet along the
wall. Also, since these are set up on spacers (bolted to treated lumber)
to clear the floor so I can hose it off, they sit a little higher (not
much, I'm short). The shelves are securely fastened to the walls to
prevent tipping, and set all the way to end to allow the SO plenty of
room to open her car door (not just a good idea, its the law). Now all I
have to do is take all my little odds and ends and put them in the
umpteen cheapie rubbermaid-lookalike shoebox containers I bought (5 for
$3 at Dollar General) and label them for some organization.
Security: The service door is a steel insulated core in a wooden frame,
with both deadbolt and knob lockset. I'll be hanging some more
insulation this summer, so will be installing bracing to the door frame
so it can't be jacked open. The overhead door (also insulated) has an
opener on it. A really dedicated thief could use one of those openers
that scans frequencies, but I don't think that's likely around here. The
overhead has one of those sliding bars that go thru the door tracks to
secure it in the closed position; I've drilled a hole so I can padlock it
if out of town. The tool chest is usually locked, as is the small
cabinet; both are chained to the wall. A thief could swipe the stuff
hanging on the walls, but I'm thinking that it would be more time and
trouble for them than its worth. Maybe they'll go somewhere else, and
all I'll have to do is fix the damage from the break-in. I've thought
about hooking up an alarm system since it wouldn't cost a lot, so I may
do that this summer. You may or may not agree with this next one, but I
have a holster mounted under the bench. When I'm out there working late,
it's filled. I also always keep a BFH or cheater bar handy. It's not a
bad neighborhood, but its not a gated community, either, and I prefer to
be thinking ahead.
Vertical and Overhead Storage. I hang a lot of stuff on the pegboard,
including tonneaus and the soft tops (these go high up at the back wall
where they're out of the way, and anyway, who actually has the top on
their car?). Overhead, I think I'll open up the attic to use for bulky,
but not too heavy items. Shame to waste that space. If I can find a
cheap enough attic furnace, one is going up there. I'm also thinking
about hanging the hardtop on lightweight frame, and suspending it from
the ceiling on a couple of pulleys.
Miscellaneous: What about a carbon monoxide detector? Has anyone
installed one? How about screening the doors, including the overhead
door (I'd really like to cut down on the number of mosquitos that nibble
on me)? Ceiling fans? Serving wenches? Wet bars?
Overall, I've really enjoyed this thread; got some good practical ideas
out of it!
OK, gotta get back to studying for finals....
Rich
Council Bluffs, Iowa
'74.5 RB MGB "Miss Maggie"
'76 Midget (Parts Car, Maybe)
'78 MGB (Parts Car, Maybe)
'79 Midget "Miss Molly"
'86 Ford Crown Victoria LTD "BarcaLounger on Wheels"
richard.arnold@juno.com or rdarnold@neonramp.com
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