Below 265 SQ/FT a small motorbike shop

[slim_grim]

About 10 years ago, my wife and I moved into a house with a 20ish by 20ish detached garage. The concrete was uneven and it was just a rough stick and tin shack, but I thought it might make a decent space. Turns out… it was all trash. I ended up building a shed to store tools until I could build a proper shop. Here I am, a decade later, no “proper” shop, and I’ve made a right mess of that shed. Let’s fix it.

 

[Farmall450]

Let's see it!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

About 10 years ago, my wife and I moved into a house with a 20ish by 20ish detached garage. The concrete was uneven and it was just a rough stick and tin shack, but I thought it might make a decent space. Turns out… it was all trash. I ended up building a shed to store tools until I could build a proper shop. Here I am, a decade later, no “proper” shop, and I’ve made a right mess of that shed. Let’s fix it.

So....what's your plan?

May I suggest you remove EVERYTHING and be VERY honest with yourself about what you are likely to use in the next calendar year. Divide stuff into KEEP, THROW and DONATE piles. Don't make a sell pile because it's a hassle to sell stuff via Craigslist, eBay, etc. If you make a sell pile it'll end up right back in your shed after awhile.

Then I'd suggest you carefully determine whether shelves, a shelving unit, pegboard or other will work best to keep things organized. If at all possible, NOTHING should end up on the floor. Best of luck!

 

[slim_grim]

Hooray time travel! We bought our house about a year after I left the military. I was going to school and landed a summer job hauling appliances into peoples houses for the summer…gross.

Having some demonstrable income and barely passable credit, I figured renting was for the birds so my wife and I bought a 1960’s brick ranch right between our parents. Roughly two miles to hers or mine!

While working at Lowe’s, I picked up quite a few bundles of “culled” lumber. That’s the wood that folks or employees cast aside. At the time, my local store was selling it for 90% off. Because of buying it in bundles, I ended up with a lot of material that I didn’t need, but it still worked out in my favor.

$1600 for the wood, $0 for the metal off a local strip mall tear-off, what seemed like a million dollars in fasteners, and I had myself a shed! So much potential!

 

[slim_grim]

Let's see it!

It’s coming! Much to do yet!

So....what's your plan?

May I suggest you remove EVERYTHING and be VERY honest with yourself about what you are likely to use in the next calendar year. Divide stuff into KEEP, THROW and DONATE piles. Don't make a sell pile because it's a hassle to sell stuff via Craigslist, eBay, etc. If you make a sell pile it'll end up right back in your shed after awhile.

Then I'd suggest you carefully determine whether shelves, a shelving unit, pegboard or other will work best to keep things organized. If at all possible, NOTHING should end up on the floor. Best of luck!

Solid advice. The amount of junk that I’d accumulated is wild.

 

[Digster]

I buy cull wood all the time for wife's plant projects, she always needs something.

 

[slim_grim]

I buy cull wood all the time for wife's plant projects, she always needs something.

It’s a great way to cut costs a bit!

 

[slim_grim]

Here I am, back in the present, and the shop is just trashed. After many hours of sorting, 5 contractor bags full of trash, a couple donation runs, I can see my floor again! I was planning to clean up the yard and pack some of the useful stuff back in, then I thought about how nice insulation and a mini split will be this summer…

 

[slim_grim]

Empty!

I stuck all the stuff worth keeping under a tarp and I managed to sell a few of the larger items to fund insulation and some kind of wall panels (probably OSB?). I’m sure that some of the stuff under the tarp won’t make the cut when it’s time to move back in. My goal is, that if it ain’t at least tangentially related to working on motorbikes, it’s not going back in.

Finally time to actually get to work!

 

[HogDude]

Following.... It says Central NC. I was at Lake Tillery last summer.

 

[slim_grim]

Following.... It says Central NC. I was at Lake Tillery last summer.

That’s not too far from me. This is just up the river at Falls Reservoir.

 

[captain14]

How much electric do you have out there? I see one light fixture in the ceiling.

 

[slim_grim]

How much electric do you have out there? I see one light fixture in the ceiling.

None for now. That light’s running on an extension cord from the house. I’ve gotta figure out how to get power out there.

 

[PugetDude]

This thread could get interesting.... In for updates.

 

[captain14]

None for now. That light’s running on an extension cord from the house. I’ve gotta figure out how to get power out there.

How far is the house from the shed?

Get a trenching shovel if it’s close enough. I wished I knew about them when I did my garage 35+ years ago.

Here’s an example.

https://www.bes-tex.com/catalogItems/view/northstar-classic-3-trenching-shovel

 

[slim_grim]

This thread could get interesting.... In for updates.

Welcome!

How far is the house from the shed?

Get a trenching shovel if it’s close enough. I wished I knew about them when I did my garage 35+ years ago.

Here’s an example.

https://www.bes-tex.com/catalogItems/view/northstar-classic-3-trenching-shovel

From the panel to the shed is ~150’, red clay and rocks. I’ll probably rent a trencher. More importantly, I need to figure out a plan to actually get the power out of the box. I’m either gonna have to pull a sub panel or get a fresh service added. Those shovels are killer.

 

[slim_grim]

I grabbed a load of 2” foam for the walls. It’s my first time insulating with this stuff and it’s the bee’s knees! I tried a Harbor Freight hot knife, but the utility knife was way quicker.

Since I used 8’ studs, the walls are 8’ 4.5”. I’m tempted to sheet it with 9’ OSB AT $17 a sheet, but I kinda want something with more pizazz. Still undecided at this point.

 

[driftpin]

Quite a difference, good work. I suggest getting 120 & 240V out there. Use the space up by the ceiling for some linear storage for less-often used things. Did you use PT lumber for the floor joists and framing to the sill plates?

 

[slim_grim]

Quite a difference, good work. I suggest getting 120 & 240V out there. Use the space up by the ceiling for some linear storage for less-often used things. Did you use PT lumber for the floor joists and framing to the sill plates?

It’ll definitely get 220v. I plan to build a camper cover nearby and I want to be able to plug the camper up if we have visitors. With the exception of the sheet goods and maybe the furring strips, the whole thing is pressure treated.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Looking good, slim! FYI I had good luck with OSB in my old Pasadena garage. At the time it was the cheapest alternative to accomplish what I wanted. I skimmed it with drywall mud, gave it a light sand, then prime and paint and it came out good. Wouldn't fool anyone into thinking it was high dollar plywood nor as finished as drywall but it held a screw or nail well. Yeah, a little more labor but I (used to) have tons of elbow grease!

 

[slim_grim]

Looking good, slim! FYI I had good luck with OSB in my old Pasadena garage. At theme it was the cheapest alternative to accomplish what I wanted. I skimmed it with drywall mud, gave hot a light sand, then rime and paint and it came out good. Wouldn't fool anyone into thinking it was high dollar plywood nor as finished as drywall but it held a screw or nail well. Yeah, a little more labor but I (used to) have tons of elbow grease!

I was thinking about doing exactly that. Trouble is, I loathe the idea of sanding drywall mud. I've seen folks on here have good results with OSB, an oil-based primer, and a couple top coats. Later in this project I'll be making some dutch-lap siding to re-do the exterior gable ends. I'm tempted to see if I can make some ship-lap out of plywood for the wall that won't be covered by benches and shelves. Here's the dutch-lap that I made for my last project. The siding was alot of work, but it was VERY satisfying to see those old rough cut boards become something.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I was thinking about doing exactly that. Trouble is, I loathe the idea of sanding drywall mud. I've seen folks on here have good results with OSB, an oil-based primer, and a couple top coats.

That will work fine but be forewarned a few of the OSB chips or flakes will swell with the moisture of the paint and want to pop off. No big deal. I just pulled them off and re-primed/re-painted. It won't be quite as flat a surface but will look good anyway.

As with all things GJ: POST PICTURES!

 

[slim_grim]

Remember that I said the shed was built with culled lumber and reclaimed metal? One place where that was not ideal was the floor. I worked for Lowe’s for awhile and they used sheets of 7/16” plywood to separate each store on delivery trucks. As such, there would be a sheet set aside every night.

Rather than sell it to customers, we could buy it for $1 a sheet. Being a broke college student at the time, I jumped on that deal. Sixteen days and $16 later and I had enough to double it up on the floor. I was smart enough to lay them in opposite directions, but not smart enough to rip a few to avoid a seam down the middle of the shed (perpendicular to the joists). That, coupled with a wicked thunderstorm left me with a mediocre, slightly swollen, OSB floor. Good enough for a shed, not good enough for a proper motorbike workshop. Time to fix it.

I got all the wall foam installed, added some girts, hit the swollen OSB edges with an electric planer, and started laying down some 23/32” B/C plywood. To rectify my previous sins, I started in the center and worked out. I then snapped a chalk line to make sure my seam in the middle fell right on a joist. Not bad for free-handing!

 

[slim_grim]

The new floor is looking slick! It's much sturdier than just the OSB. Gonna hit it with a coat of KILZ 3 primer and some Valspar Porch and Floor paint. I’m thinking light gray will do the trick.

 

[Spareparts]

Must be nice to paint this time of year, were still melting snow and some rain

 

[slim_grim]

Must be nice to paint this time of year, were still melting snow and some rain

Sure is! We’ve got a freaky warm weekend, so the timing is perfect.

 

[slim_grim]

Whelp. I broke open a pack of insulation for the ceiling and immediately realized that I got the wrong width. Luckily, I was able to compress it and get the bag pulled back around it while my wife taped the bag up. 2/10: don’t recommend.

 

[slim_grim]

I stapled some wire mesh over the gaps on the eaves, put up the ceiling insulation and I got a layer of primer on the floor.

 

[slim_grim]

First coat of paint on the floor. It looks pretty good, but I’m not totally satisfied (should’ve prepped better). Gonna lightly sand, fill the seams, and hit it with another coat. I’m tempted to hit the seams with a planer. Might as well get it as good as I can while the shop is empty

Gonna be a few days though. My wife and I have a few days of quarantine left and I need some materials. Don’t wanna get anyone sick if I can help it.

 

[slim_grim]

My father in law stopped by Lowe’s today and he was nice enough to grab a few things for me. I decided to forgo the planer and just filled some gaps, a light sand, and put down another coat. I’ll see how it looks once it dries, but it appears to be much smoother. Next step is to hang some steel on the ceiling since I’m still undecided on the walls.

 

[rzims]

looking good!

 

[driftpin]

Your work on the floor has paid-off. It appears nice & even.

The calm before the storm. Now, comes the onslaught of oil, brake fluid, chemicals, and anti-freeze if you have any bikes that new.

To try and minimize your destruction of the floor, I suggest a metal car tray underneath whatever you're putting in there. Maybe a fore-&-aft beveled piece of wood, w/a notch the width of the metal car tray lip, so you can easily move the bike into position, w/the car tray beneath it.

 

[paulsomlo]

I thought I saw a small lathe buried in the shed earlier in the thread?

 

[slim_grim]

looking good!

Thanks!

Your work on the floor has paid-off. It appears nice & even.

The calm before the storm. Now, comes the onslaught of oil, brake fluid, chemicals, and anti-freeze if you have any bikes that new.

To try and minimize your destruction of the floor, I suggest a metal car tray underneath whatever you're putting in there. Maybe a fore-&-aft beveled piece of wood, w/a notch the width of the metal car tray lip, so you can easily move the bike into position, w/the car tray beneath it.

I’m pretty pleased. I’m planning a bike mat of some sort to park on. I’ll definitely be using a drip pan if I bring a leaky bike home. I’m jonesing pretty hard for another vintage bike. The current fleet is an old hexhead GS and an XR650L. No liquid cooling here!

I thought I saw a small lathe buried in the shed earlier in the thread?

Yeah. It’s a 10x36ish PowrKraft that I plan to get back into operation.

 

[slim_grim]

Whelp. Today was of those two steps back kinda days. I’m gonna be hanging a white metal ceiling and the bottom chord of my trusses are a bit wonky (on account of using cull lumber). To help even things out and give me a chance to shim where needed, I decided to nail up some furring strips for the steel. Trouble is, I didn’t put a nailer on the ends because I was just gonna float the steel in some J trim.

Rather than pull the insulation down on the ends, I thought I’d toe-nail a nailer in from the bottom. Didn’t look good. “Oh well, it’ll hold and won’t be visible” I thought. Next issue, I bought 8’ furring strips since the only 16’ 1x4s at my box store were pretty pricy. I’d have to nail those on the middle truss at a bit of an angle. “It’ll be fine” I thought.

It wasn’t fine. I hung a couple and the ends were splitting something fierce where I had them butted together. Ok. New plan. Leave them a touch long and just stagger them. Screws will follow, but oh well.

Armed with my new plan, I set about pulling down the couple split boards. Doing so trashed my nailers.

“OK, OK, universe. I’ll pull it all down and do it right.” Wish I’d grabbed some more pictures.

 

[driftpin]

I think your 'hexhead' GS refers to an Airhead. However you may appreciate this GS Suzuki 1000 being built at my friend's shop, here in So. FL. They like the GS and KZ air-cooled literbikes. The struts will be replaced by suspension.



Here's another GS 1000 they did:

 

[slim_grim]

I think your 'hexhead' GS refers to an Airhead. However you may appreciate this GS Suzuki 1000 being built at my friend's shop, here in So. FL. They like the GS and KZ air-cooled literbikes. The struts will be replaced by suspension.

Those things are SWEET! Part of my motivation for the shed is to pick up an older bike for a restoration.

The hexheads are a couple engine platforms after the airhead. Still no radiator though as it’s technically oil cooled. BMW folks will flog you if you call it air cooled. Strange bunch.

 

[driftpin]

I owned an R100RT. How I came to own it is an interesting story for another time. It was a 60th Anniversary edition. I did business with San Jose BMW, and added a ceramic-coated black Luftmeister 2/1 to it. It also got new Brembo brakes, Koni shocks, new Forking by Frank downtubes, seals, and I had the heads twin-plugged, fired by DYNA coils. I did all the installation after the head-work by the machine shop. There was some other stuff, it was a long time-ago. It was a lot of fun to ride, and I surprised many a H-D with it. They didn't expect to see a BMW power-wheelie from a standing start. Great fun! I sold it to a MI friend who flew down to Miami and who rode it back to MI just-before Thanksgiving one year. He still has it.

 

[driftpin]

Here's another one from the shop.



They like the air-cooled Kawasakis and Suzukis, as I said.



The same guy who owns the 'Kawasuki' above, also owns this street-licensed bracket racer (below).

 

[Notgrownup]

Coming right along Slim. That will be a nice spot To tinker. I might have missed it but are you going to put any climate control? I put a mini split in my 24x24 and it rocks, I keep it on 81 in the summer and 61 in the winter. It has been a life save to work on my Harley when I need year round. These Eastern NC summers are brutal.