Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT One car garage/minishop

[Cheeky81]

I think I’ve been lurking long enough here on the forum and it’s time that I show you my little garage. In contrast of other garages and shops, mine is only 20x20ft attached garage and I’m almost a little ashamed to show it, so please be kind and give me your feedback what do you think.

This is what I started with when I bought the house (keep in mind this is Mexico and residence area).
Laid down some brick walls on a foundation to start forming the shape of my garage

Next I had to do something about the electricity. The house had only a small breaker box with two automatic breakers, which was placed outside on a pillar. So I got a bigger box (for split phase 220V) and reconnected everything with heavier gauge wires.

Finished the entrance and window support. On the right side there is an orange tube coming out of the wall. Further in the build, another breaker box would get installed there.

Now this could be an obstacle… With this box-out on the house side, there is almost no room in front of or behind the car, when it’s parked in the garage.

So I decided to remove the boxed section...

Place for a breaker box…

That’s how it looked before we poured the top

- Matt -

 

[Pug}{maN]

it will be cool when its done...

 

[Cheeky81]

The day to pour concrete finally came…

The cement mixer aka bunch of Mexicans mixing concrete on the street and carrying buckets of concrete up on the house to pour it.

All the tubing for cables and boxes for light installed, ready to pour the concrete.

And almost finished.

In the mean time I prepared some hooks… wondering what could these be for?
Made from 1 ¼ thick steel bar, aprox. 2ft long.

Reinforced ceiling with 3 3/8” thick steel U channels on the top.

Some square steel tubing in place for the door frame (2x2in, 3/16 wall), welded on the steel bars inside the concrete.

Decided to install ceramic tiles on the floor and the walls, since it is the easiest to clean.

Finally… the hooks in place. They are passing through 6” of concrete, 3/8” thick 8” wide steel U channel. On the top there is a big heavy 3” washer with a nut. The nut and the washer are welded on the hook and on the U channel and everything was again covered in 2” of concrete. The hooks will come in handy later on, when I’ll pull the engine out of my Camaro.

- Matt -

 

[nhmercracer]

Garage looks great!

I worked with a team which performed telecom equipment upgrades at Pegaso NOC in Tijuana in 2000. Mexico, to me is quite a study in contrasts. Beautiful homes, next to unfinished block buildings. I wish I could go back to compare then and now. We had some great food there. I won't go into details about the night it cost $600 to pay our tab at the **********, but I figure the beer worked out to about $40 each.

 

[Cheeky81]

A hole made on the entrance side, where the exhaust fan will go.

The window, entrance door and garage door installed. Both doors were designed by me. They are made from 6x2 rectangular steel tube and 2 layers of sheet metal. All the empty space of the door is filled with glass wool to reduce the noise and improve temperature isolation.

Finished view from the outside with door painted and door and window guards in place. The pile of bricks on the top is reserved for future expansions.

Inside the garage – The Shadow – that’s how my girlfriend calls it, because majority of the time is stays still and is only making a shadow.

She also found out that the hooks are great to tie some rope on them to hang clothes when it’s raining outside. Fortunately I managed to get that idea out of her head before it became a habit

The frame where 4 10"x10" exhaust fans are going to get installed.

There is something missing in the following picture… A workbench would be nice.

- Matt -

 

[Cheeky81]

I really wanted a sturdy, heavy and strong workbench, so I decided to make it from steel. Made the design, bought some steel and here it is…

2x2, 3/16 wall (You’ve probably guessed by now that I really like 2x2 with 3/16 wall)

The shape laid down and welded with my little Lincoln stick welder (Well... not so little - it can be connected to 110V or 220V and can handle up to 180 Amp.)

I’ve only recently learned how to weld, but I really like the look of these welds.

Workbench in the rough… It was a PITA to move it and turn upside down to weld, since the beast weights 350 lbs as it is. It measures 32” x 72” with a height of 39” (I’m 6 ft 6” so the height is just right for me)

Put some red oxide primer on it and slide it in its place.

Why stay with only one workbench... Bench nr. 2…

This one was made from the same material as the first one and measures 32” x 60” and the same height as the first one.

For the top I decided to go with plywood and since the thickest I could get was ¾”, I decided to put it in two layers – 1 ½ in total.

One day I also scored a small tool cart that they threw away in the factory that I work in.
It’s nothing special, but as many of you say, nobody can beat free. It needed some straightening and hammering and now it’s just fine.

The tops of both benches were coated with a transparent polyurethane coat to give the plywood more resistance (and it’s easier to keep it clean)

Bought some of these to get all the small pieces organized.

I’ve been looking long time for a vise and this was a Christmas present from a friend. Made in Mexico, 7” wide jaw and it weights about 60 lbs. I just haven’t made the decision yet on which part of the bench I want to install it.

Santa was also nice this Christmas and brought me a brand new Lincoln PowerMig 140C welder.

Last picture shows how it currently looks like. Filled up almost all the little drawers, installed a table light, got another bigger tool cart (the same way as the first one), and bought a pair of fire extinguishers at Costco. Sorry about the mess under both benches though

I still have a lot to do:
- drawers on both benches
- bolt down the vise
- a cart for both welders and a gas cylinder
- plugs for 110V on legs of workbenches with breakers
- install some furniture on the wall above the benches
- etc...
- ...

- Matt -

 

[79firebird]

Looks good. how ya like Mexico? what is that a 1978 camaro? hard to tell what year it is

 

[Cheeky81]

Well I have to admit I kind of like it here.
I have a great job (automation engineer in an extremely fast growing plant that produces car seats), have an excellent girlfriend... what more could I ask for.

Camaro is '78 Z28 with 350 engine

 

[e-tek]

The beginnings of a new "Doce Gauge Garaje" by "Juan Olsen"!!!

I love how everything in Mexico is made with cement and steel: that's why they call them MexiCAN's, not MexiCAN'Ts!!! My Mom's side are from Mexico and I spent a lot of time there while my parents built a retirement home in PV. The construction methods are AMAZING.

Some nice welding - for a novice (?!). Turned out VERY nice - all of it. Enjoy!!

 

[Cage]

You mentioned in your first post that you were ashamed of your garage and I must admit that I couldn`t picture it finished. But I`m blown away, that place looks awesome ! Congrats !

 

[Nighttrain]

Really nice transformation. For just starting to be a welder that is a really well built work bench.

Agree with E-Tek, I was thinking South of the Boarder 12-Gauge Garage also.

I did like the Christmas picture. Welder up front with all the kids toys well behind. Who's the big kid in that house?

Well done!

 

[Brian R]

Excellent work and you really are a jack of all trades. Nice garage, good job, nice girlfriend, stylin' car.....yeah, I would say Mexico agrees with you.

Cheers!

 

[5lima30]

Nice garage! The tile work looks great! You'll be surprised at what you can fit in that space with some judicious planning.

 

[dykstra]

Looks great!!

 

[AndrewBigA]

wow! keep the pics from mexico comming por favor =)
nice wall & floor tiles! very different from what you see in the US!

 

[wilb1976]

Awesome job on your garage and benches!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Killer little garage, love the work benches. I think you one upped Jack with the tiles on thefloor and walls.


Sounds like your girl has a good sense of humor. . . Shadow

 

[HSpencer]

Excellent work!! I would say that is really making something nice where there was once nothing. I envy that workbench, and would like to order one from you. (Will you pay the shipping?--LOL) Your whole job was well done and I don't think I would have had the vision to do it. Congrats!!!

 

[Cheeky81]

Thanks guys for all the positive feedback. The bench really is a total overkill, but I stick to the saying - if it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. And still the benches are far from being finished.

This is the latest addition in the garage

A rim rack, that can hold 2 spares for my daily driver and 4 spares for Camaro

I also upgraded the lighting in the garage to 6 32W T8 tubes - 2 over the workbenches and 4 over the car area which makes garage pretty bright and pleasant to work in.

Recently I got the gas for my Mig - 75/25 mix of Argon and CO2... Can't wait to try it out on some sheet metal.

The buckets of paint, blue box with various tools and the pressure washer will have to make place for something else... something big... and I hope that day comes soon

And the last... An exhaust fan(s) with filter - very handy to extract welding and paint fumes. Papst 9" x 9", 115V, 80W, 607 CFM each and they make a pretty nice breeze through the garage when they're switched on.

 

[TLCDino]

Very nice work. You should be very proud...

 

[sscustom]

wow im likeing that workbech

 

[Kevin54]

Wow...NICE GARAGE!!! With all of the tile, it looks like all you need is a shower head in there and you'd have a hell of a walk-in / walk-out shower I really like all of the work that you've done to it and some very ingenious ideas too. Nothing to be ashamed about there for sure (thinking to myself, "I want tile for my garage")

 

[sids04]

Amazing space ! The tile really makes it ! The second gen Camaro is pretty sweet as well. Keep the updates coming.

 

[kfosburg]

Love the doors! Nice garage, size is what it is... You certainly made the best of it with one of the nicer looking spaces on the forum.

 

[Stephenw]

Really great project.

 

[Boosted1]

Nice work. I really like the work benches too.

 

[Cheeky81]

Wow...NICE GARAGE!!! With all of the tile, it looks like all you need is a shower head in there and you'd have a hell of a walk-in / walk-out shower I really like all of the work that you've done to it and some very ingenious ideas too. Nothing to be ashamed about there for sure (thinking to myself, "I want tile for my garage")

I'm glad you like it.
Shower wise... there's a pressure washer in one corner if that counts for a shower
Originally I wanted something that can be cleaned easily. So when I need to clean it thoroughly I just get the pressure washer and wash the floor and portions of the walls.

Love the doors! Nice garage, size is what it is... You certainly made the best of it with one of the nicer looking spaces on the forum.

The doors have a bunker feeling when I open them. Each door wing weights over 400lbs and I went through 3 types of door hinges until I found the ones that hold the door now and can cope with the door weight.

Thanks to everybody for all positive feedback. I really did not expect that so many of you will like my garage. In fact all the positive comments gave me new energy to get more done/optimized in my garage.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Very nice and very solid. Should hold up well in just about any calamity. Those hooks in the ceiling are going to be useful. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Noisy Nova]

Wow! That's one heck of a nice garage. Mine will never look as good.

 

[Cheeky81]

Some minor update what I did this weekend.

The wall above the benches was looking kind of empty... sooo...
I wanted something to hold the cases with mini drawers and some of my tools and could be closed in seconds in case I get a visit from somebody that I don't want to show all my stuff to.

Open, empty

Closed, nothing to see

Opened... the case measures 39" x 67" x 8". The frames are made from 3/4 inch plywood. There is 1/2 inch of space behind the pegboard so I can hang my stuff. I was thinking to put a layer of clear polyurethane coat on it (as I did with the tops of the benches), and probably will... but I simply ran out of time this weekend. Can't believe how quick time flies when I'm in the shop.

The temporary look of it... I'm missing one of the cases with mini drawers which will go on the left top side of the door, but I'll get it soon to have both doors complete.

I got an extremely nice surprise yesterday. My girl and I had our anniversary last weekend. Asked grandma to watch the girls, went out, dinner, dancing etc...the usual stuff. But this weekend this was waiting for me yesterday on my bench...

 

[Boosted1]

Hey I like that case / cabinet.

 

[Thruxton]

Outstanding project! Since I am working on my own 20X20, it's great to see how others are utilizing similar spaces. Mine is also a single car garage, and I will be using swing out doors similar to yours, but not in steel (would love to have some like that, though). Hope you post some more photos.

 

[Jack Olsen]

One way to divide up the garages on this board is that there are some very impressive, sleek and efficieant models, built like a surgical amphitheater or a modern racing shop -- and then there are a few that look like they were put together one piece at a time by a craftsman -- and feel as though they've been there, just the way they are, for generations. Yours is brand new, obviously, but it also has the kind of 'feel' to it that I personally like. It looks like it was made in an era before component construction and systems design and all of that. It looks and feels unique.

Full disclosure: there are many times in my own garage when I'm trying to find an outlet or am pushed up against the wall puling a wheel when I would give a lot to have a sleek 40x60 shop with gloss white walls, epoxied floors and 120v and 240v taps every 32" above the stainless steel work surface.

But most of the time, I prefer a shop like the one you've built. It's 'made by hand.'

 

[Cheeky81]

Hey I like that case / cabinet.

Thanks. I was thinking to build smaller case, but now I'm glad I didn't. An I'm pretty sure this one will also soon get too small.

Outstanding project! Since I am working on my own 20X20, it's great to see how others are utilizing similar spaces. Mine is also a single car garage, and I will be using swing out doors similar to yours, but not in steel (would love to have some like that, though). Hope you post some more photos.

Thanks. Size it is what it is... I'm just trying to do best with what I have. But one day I'll have 50x100 shop/garage with everything I dream about.

I went a little over board with the door, but I don't regret it. It keeps the outside noise down, keeps the temperature down (there's 85F during the day now in January... now imagine summer)

One way to divide up the garages on this board is that there are some very impressive, sleek and efficieant models, built like a surgical amphitheater or a modern racing shop -- and then there are a few that look like they were put together one piece at a time by a craftsman -- and feel as though they've been there, just the way they are, for generations. Yours is brand new, obviously, but it also has the kind of 'feel' to it that I personally like. It looks like it was made in an era before component construction and systems design and all of that. It looks and feels unique.

Full disclosure: there are many times in my own garage when I'm trying to find an outlet or am pushed up against the wall puling a wheel when I would give a lot to have a sleek 40x60 shop with gloss white walls, epoxied floors and 120v and 240v taps every 32" above the stainless steel work surface.

But most of the time, I prefer a shop like the one you've built. It's 'made by hand.'

Exactly and thanks... It means a great deal to me from an owner of one of most beautiful/best organized garages I've ever seen.

 

[hwinch5]

I love the creative hard work you've done in your garage. How did you learn to weld like a pro? The work bench is great. Keep the pix and info coming!

 

[Cheeky81]

I love the creative hard work you've done in your garage. How did you learn to weld like a pro? The work bench is great. Keep the pix and info coming!

Thanks.

I'm not a pro welder by any mean and I'm still learning as I go along.

My first welding experience goes something like 20 years back. My dad has always had a stick welder in his garage. He wasn't an excellent welder, but he was ok for around the house stuff. And when I was about 10 years old, once that he was welding something in front of garage, I asked him if I can try. He gave me a piece of scrap metal, passed me the stinger and a spare welding helmet (fixed shade 10 glass), he never told me about arc striking, how close to hold the electrode, travel speed etc... So clearly the on the first try the electrode stuck to the welding piece... and on the second... and on the twentieth... So basically he got fed up and took away my gear and continue to weld on his own.

Then few years back when I came to Mexico there was a lot to do around the house, and I was pretty much on my own. By that time I knew there are different types of welders (stick, mig, tig etc...). Then one day the protection bars on one of the windows on the back of the house fell down. So I went to the nearest Home Depot looking for a welding machine. All I knew was that I want a stick welder and it must be 110V. Found the little Lincoln that I still have - it is 110V or 220V. I didn't know anything about welding electrodes either and there was a small table on the welder with electrode type (E6010, E6011), electrode size (3/32, 1/8, 5/32) and current setup. So I looked for the electrode that needed the least current according to that table. The electrode I selected was 3/32 E6010 which was not the best move. So later that evening I wanted to weld the window guard to the window frame. I set the welder to the lowest current (60A), because I was afraid the welder would trip my 20A breaker I had basically for the whole house. So I was there, with the welder on an upside down bucket (because the ground cable was only 3ft), wrong electrode, very low current, vertical weld position, classic fix shade 10 welding helmet, it was getting dark... so I literally could not see anything. Long story short... I gave up after few attempts and called my girlfriend's brother that did weld before and knew something about it. First when he came, he said I have a wrong electrode. What do you mean wrong... it says on the welder.
He brought 5 green electrodes with him and with 3 of them he welded the window guard to the frame and left... so I was left with 2 green electrodes... which were E6013. Wait a minute... they are not in my welder's table.

Then I got courious and started reading various guides on the internet, watching videos on youtube, so I learned that I need to strike an arc, about different types of electrodes (at least in theory), about current, etc.

Then I tried to do some tests on a piece of scrap I had laying around and with the two electrodes my girlfriend's brother had left me. First with 60A... It was still difficult to strike an arc and all that I could do was keep the arc like max. 1 second. Then I switched to next current setting 110A... struck an arc and... WHOA... what was that. Burned the remaining of the electrode in one continuous weld bead. Wow...It felt amazing. For the first time I could actually see the arc and the puddle of molten metal. I ran like a kid to the nearest hardware store to get more E6013 electrodes... I started to experiment with travel speed, how to move electrode... half hour later I got the first peeler (when the slag cracks on its own and lifts up from the weld bead) so I knew I was right on the sweet spot with my settings.

And in my opinion the best thing that made everything look easy and really makes fun to weld was an autodarkening helmet. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

After that I startet with simple projects and also started to notice the difference between different electrodes and electrode sizes in practice.

Among various factors to do a good weld I found out that one of the most important ones is preparation. So when I made my workbench, all places to weld were chamfered and cleaned

 

[markito]

hey very nice garage! what part of mexico are you from?

 

[rickairmedic]

Cheeky very nice garage and also you will find there are alot more of us here with small garages than there are with Garage Majals . Mine is 21 deep by 23 wide and theres a 4 foot wide by 10 foot long stairwell in that 23 foot width . I do plan to eventually build a 36 X 40 shop but for now this one works for me .

Rick

 

[Cheeky81]

The project for this week was a welding cart. Since I already got a stick welder from before and recently got the PowerMig, I wanted something for both welders and a gas tank. Something like some kind "welding corner" all in one cart.

1"x1" 12 gauge steel cut to length

Basic structure welded together

Complete structure

Both welders on the cart with the gas cylinder. On one side I installed fire extinguisher...

And a little shelf on the other side to hang my angle grinder

I still have lots of ideas to make it better - some kind of a box on top to store all the consumables, welding helmet, gloves and something to hold all the grinding and cutting discs in one place near the angle grinder.

 

[ngk22r]

The garage is very clean! I like it alot.