The Finishing Touches... Interior Done!

[65Stang]

So, I finally finished the inside of my garage that I built two years ago. Work got in the way for a year and a half and I need to save additional funds, but I think I am 95% complete.

My garage is only 21'x21', but I am fortunate that an existing structure on the property, which is now attached to the garage, has been converted to my shop and this space is 14'x28'.

Build History:
Here is the garage build thread. You can see what it started as and what the attached shop used to look like.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32542

This is what it looked like at the beginning of summer 2009.
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During the Summer of 2009 I did the insulation, electrical, and drywall work. Such fun. Here is a few pics from that summer.
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I also put a furnace up into the attic space for future heating.

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By the end of the summer 2009, I had it looking like this (pic below), not where I wanted to be, but I knew I was going to be ******* with work for 18 months and wouldn't be able to do any more to it.

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[Conrad283]

Nice job and most importantly ... nice cars!

 

[65Stang]

With the finishes, I wanted the garage space to be more of a show room or completed space where I could hang out and also do work on my cars while all the dirty work and wood working could be done in the attached shop.

I just recently did the cabinets, which I framed in place using pine.

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Here is an overall shot of the garage with completed finishes.

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And some side shots of the interior walls.

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And from the inside looking at the door.

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[65Stang]

Some of the features I did to liven up the space was the universal tool storage and whiteboard rack. This freed up a lot of space in by tool chest!

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Since I didn't need a lot of bench space in the garage (the shop has all the bench space), I spent some time on my desk. Built from basic supplies, I am happy with the way it came out. The F-600 emblem handles for the two drawers I found in the back corner of my inlaws property. They do live in northern Idaho...

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[cool50]

Very nice love the fords

 

[65Stang]

The cabinets I wanted to make interesting, so I put designs on all the doors. I also used spare parts I had lying around for the handles. I am quite happy with how they came out.

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I have not done much to the shop, it's pretty functional as is. The bench along the side wall is on rollers, so it makes for a great work space in the middle of the shop when needs be.

Shop pic (garage is to the right).

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Looking opposite from inside shop, garage entrance mandoor is to the left.

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[65Stang]

So that's where it's at as of today. I have free wall space in the garage for more decorations as I come across them. The furnace, which is ducted to both the shop and garage, but I can close off one or the other, keeps the entire space at whatever temp I like. 30 degrees outside and snowing, I can get the garage/shop up to 65 degrees in 10 minutes, it's extremely nice!

On a side note, I found this... propeller... on the inlaws property. It is two feet in diameter and I cannot fathom what it was used for. Seems big for a boat and seems small for a plane. It was in pretty bad shape when I found it, I am cleaning it up, putting a finish coat on it, but am not certain what to do with it. Any suggestions? Just put on wall?

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[rieferman]

Wow, I'm glad you pointed me over to this thread, it looks awesome. Load of character. Really cool to have the shop vs. the showrooom.

Propeller... how about a pulley run ceiling fan like you used to see in old time restaurants? Functional and cool.

I love that the pulls on all of the cabinets are unique and different. Cool touch. And the white board sliding cabinet door. Slick.

What kind of brackets are holding up that 4" thick (guessing) slab counter? I like that.

 

[65Stang]

Wow, I'm glad you pointed me over to this thread, it looks awesome. Load of character. Really cool to have the shop vs. the showrooom.

Propeller... how about a pulley run ceiling fan like you used to see in old time restaurants? Functional and cool.

I love that the pulls on all of the cabinets are unique and different. Cool touch. And the white board sliding cabinet door. Slick.

What kind of brackets are holding up that 4" thick (guessing) slab counter? I like that.

Thanks! That actually is a great idea for the propeller. Not sure if it would be large enought to push any air, but it would sure look cool.

Also, I thought about painting a small mural on the wall of the front of a plane or back of a boat and put this on the front as a 3 dimensional part of the mural.

The counter, which is part of a huge beam that was in the shop when I bought the property (other half is mantle above fireplace in living room), is held up by flat stock metal straps that I bent to fit. There is three L angles holding it up. Then two flat stock sections at 45 degrees at the two ends that make the thing very very rigid.

 

[rieferman]

I take it that you weld then?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the tire tracks on the wall was a nice touch too.

 

[65Stang]

rieferman, I really like to do woodworking, similar to what you are getting into it sounds like. I wish I could set up my shop like you are with dust collection and the works, just not sure if it is something I could justify. I have done quite a bit of work with wood in the house, book cases, kitchen cabinets, corner bench/coat nook, etc., but I know that I could do better with higher quality tools, better wood supplier, and knowledge, just hard since they almost all cost $$!

 

[65Stang]

I take it that you weld then?

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the tire tracks on the wall was a nice touch too.

Thanks, the tire tracks were difficult to figure out and i have never been able to duplicate it well.

I can weld, use to be fairly good in my younger days (although I am same age as you), but I don't have a high quality welder (cheapo Harbor Freight mig welder). It has gotten the job done, but I would like to weld more.

The stuff for the bench, I just had flat stock lying around. I cut to length and bent in the vice, didn't have to weld it. It's just about finding the right angles to support weight. That bench, which was stupid heavy, could support a huge amount of weight even though the brackets I used aren't all that thick or strong on their own.

 

[robs400]

Shop looks great mine. I really like your approach to the cabinets. Its hard to tell in the pics but what type of hinges did you use? I have been staring at my walls in the garage the past few weeks trying to figure out what to do about cabinets.

I also really like the tire tracks on the wall...looks like a 315 sumi??

 

[rieferman]

I really like to do woodworking, similar to what you are getting into it sounds like. I wish I could set up my shop like you are with dust collection and the works, just not sure if it is something I could justify. I have done quite a bit of work with wood in the house, book cases, kitchen cabinets, corner bench/coat nook, etc., but I know that I could do better with higher quality tools, better wood supplier, and knowledge, just hard since they almost all cost $$!

Well, you've accomplished way more woodworking than I have... I went a different route - decided that I would only enjoy it if I could have a dedicated setup and training from the start... so I built the barn, took an expensive/intensive class, and setup a nearly-pro-level woodshop. Of course, I don't actually know how to build furniture, so we'll see if there's wisdom in my approach! Oh, and I plan to try to become professional level woodworker. Yep, I'm a dreamer!


Honestly, I admire people like you that are able to produce such good results on projects such as those cabinets - I honestly would be unable at this stage to accomplish what you have (but hopefully will be able to going forward).

Anyways, my point is: Good work!

 

[DatsunLover]

i love it, especially the door pulls!!!

 

[82_454_shorty]

Very nice! I love the tire tracks on the wall.

 

[fclaridge]

Looks great! What part of WA are you in? I am down by Olympia.

 

[65Stang]

Looks great! What part of WA are you in? I am down by Olympia.

I am originally from Oly and my family is there. I live in Fall City, up by Snoqualmie Falls.

 

[65Stang]

Shop looks great mine. I really like your approach to the cabinets. Its hard to tell in the pics but what type of hinges did you use? I have been staring at my walls in the garage the past few weeks trying to figure out what to do about cabinets.

I also really like the tire tracks on the wall...looks like a 315 sumi??

That would be the tire! The hinges are just the basic ones from Home Depot with 1/2" overlap and edge grab. Here they are...

http://www.homedepot.com/Kitchen-Ca...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[65Stang]

Well, you've accomplished way more woodworking than I have... I went a different route - decided that I would only enjoy it if I could have a dedicated setup and training from the start... so I built the barn, took an expensive/intensive class, and setup a nearly-pro-level woodshop. Of course, I don't actually know how to build furniture, so we'll see if there's wisdom in my approach! Oh, and I plan to try to become professional level woodworker. Yep, I'm a dreamer!


Honestly, I admire people like you that are able to produce such good results on projects such as those cabinets - I honestly would be unable at this stage to accomplish what you have (but hopefully will be able to going forward).

Anyways, my point is: Good work!

Don't be fooled! The garage cabinets aren't flush or plumb, but it is a garage and looks great for that purpose. Some of the woodworking I have done has been pretty rough, but I have learned a lot with each project and each project is usually better in quality. You are going to right route by getting training and setting up a nice shop. I wish I had the time and money to do that, but the ends don't justify the means at this time.

 

[michakaveli]

Love the Cobra.... did you build it yourself?

 

[65Stang]

Love the Cobra.... did you build it yourself?

Thanks, yes built myself. Factory Five Racing. I actually built is while living in the basement of a good friend, used half of his garage and he lives across the street from my house. So, sequence of events was, build Cobra, meet girlfriend, buy house, get married, build garage, have first child (10 weeks old now). Priorities, gotta have 'em!

 

[michakaveli]

Thanks, yes built myself. Factory Five Racing. I actually built is while living in the basement of a good friend, used half of his garage and he lives across the street from my house. So, sequence of events was, build Cobra, meet girlfriend, buy house, get married, build garage, have first child (10 weeks old now). Priorities, gotta have 'em!

I like how you roll

 

[fotoflojoe]

I really like the pegboard cabinet doors. Do you have anything backing them to keep dust out, or is that not even a problem?

 

[ambenz]

Nice Garage...I am getting a few idea from you!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[65Stang]

Thanks! The pegboard doesn't have any backing and doesn't really let dust in and since i don't do any woodworking in the garage (it's all done in the shop), it doesn't appear to be an issue. If it becomse an issue, gluing cardboard or construction paper to the back could be an option.

 

[fastzr1]

I love how you have finished the place. Can you post up a couple close-up pictures of the cabinets with the doors open. I like you idea a lot and would love to do something like that in my garage. The peg boards for the doors is awesome and I like how the color contrasts with the pine frame. I really interested in how you built the doors.

Thank you Sir,
Ed

 

[65Stang]

Thanks, I'll take some pictures tonight.

 

[66 GMC Truckin]

Your cabinets are an idea inspiration. I have been looking for a way to build bulkhead cabinets in my storage garage up front of my shop. You did a fantastic job!

 

[65Stang]

Here are a few pics of the cabinet build. I did not pre-build boxes and such beforehand as you would typical cabinets. I used the existing walls as the back and top and just put in a front and bottom frame and trimmed it out. The base is two sheets of plywood with 2x3 inbetween.

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The trim just attaches to the 2x3 / 2x4 framing. Simple and can support a lot of weight.

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[65Stang]

The door frames are just glued together. Typically, I would use my biscuit jointer, but didn't this time. I routered out the inside of each panel before assembling so I could inset the pegboard panel after assembly. The panel is just held in with a screw and washer.
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This pic shows the framing on the inside. Pic is sideways, ceiling is on the left.

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[robs400]

What did you use to support the cabinets? Looks like they are 2x4's screwed up into the ceiling trusses. Thats how I would like to do mine, I posed the question on here tho and didnt get much positive feed back. I feel screws would be sufficient for most common items to be put in a cabinet..

 

[65Stang]

Yup, 3" screws into the truss. Lag bolts or deck screws would be best. My top plate runs parellel to the truss, so I was able to put screws in every 3-5". The vertical members are screwed and glued to the top plate. They aren't going anywhere and can more than support my weight. I built the ones in my shop the same way. Yes, you could go traditional and built plywood box frames and attached those to the wall studs, but this way, I use less material. The bottom of the cabinets are also supported back to the wall, so there is some support there. If I was putting bricks, bags of cement/mortar, lead weights, etc, I would probably want more support.
In some areas, I actually put backing up in the ceiling to support them if there was none or it was inadequate.
In your other thread, i see you would be going perpendicular to the truss, so your attachment would be every 24". Use two 3" lag bolts/screws and I would think you'd be good to go.
Also, to add more support, you could put a vertical plywood divider inbetween the cabinet sections, that would provide support back to the wall and allow attachment to the wall.

 

[richgoat]

Wow..love it! You did an AWESOME job, great work my friend! Love the cabinets you made, everything just works in there.

I am currently in a bi-level home with a 2 car garage, but can not wait to get in the next house with a detached garage.

Would love to see more steps of building the cabinets if you don't mind!

 

[fastzr1]

Thanks for the pictures. Those are exactly what I was looking for. Great work.

 

[J-man67]

Very nice work!! Great use of space and resources. Man, I am diggin up a lot of old threads... haha.

 

[65Stang]

Wow, holy thread resurrection! Thanks... this garage has gotten the **** used out of it since I finished it.

 

[J-man67]

Thats all that matters!

 

[K2sno311]

Nice finishing touches!

 

[Sludge Puppy]

Since it has been resurrected, how about some info on the cobra My wife and I agreed within 6 years I will have one so have been learning as much as I can about all the differences and what to make sure to avoid.