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My garage "HQ"

Nitsuj

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
82
I don't really have a proper name for my garage, and compared to some of yours, it's just a hole. But I've been here for a while lurking and leeching knowledge, and I know how you guys like pictures, so I figured I'd contribute. I call it HQ because, it's the headquarters of my side business, makes it sound important. Wife calls it the "Garage Mahal". I've referred to it as the "Duc Pond", (Ducatis are sometimes called "Ducks") but that's the name of a dealer, so it's taken. Like I said, no formal name.

I just moved in July into this place. I was in a tiny one stall before. Funny, but I more than doubled my garage size, and I had it full in less than a week, and I still have more stuff in my old garage to bring down! My lathe isn't here yet. Neither is the table saw, powder coating stuff or stick welder. I still own the old house and my brother is living there, so I am fortunate to be able to move in slowly.

Anyhow, here's how it looks from the street. Side note, the boat you see is a very nicely restored, completely original 1967 Johnson Surfer, V8 Buick engine. But I digress. The home is from the 30's, the garage was just built about 15 years ago. I grew up in the house across the street, and my dad still lives there, so I know the owners of the home going back to when I was a kid.
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Excuse the mess, wife is in the midst of outside Xmas decorating. On the right side is where some of my bikes are parked. I have the rest in an offsite storage garage my father and I rent. We also have a 47 Olds that gets stored there in the winter. C6 Vette is across the street in dads garage. For those that care, the bikes you are seeing are a 2007 Ducati 1098, 1997 Honda CBR 900RR and an 86 Honda 150 Scooter. Behind the Duc you can barely see a black frame, that's from a 1983 Yamaha RZ350 that's currently undergoing a frame up restro. Frame just came back from paint.
IMG_3627.jpg


Bike lift, tools boxes and workbench. Red box is a Blue Point (Snap-On) I picked up when I was a motorcycle mechanic. Barely visible next to it is a Kennedy metal box I keep my machinists tools in. Bike on lift is a 72 CB350 Four currently on it's way to becoming a little cafe racer.
IMG_3628.jpg


Here is a better shot of the bench and cabinets. I'm not crazy about the cabinets. Too deep and high. Tons of space, but the top shelf is so deep, a normal sized dude (5'10" is normal!) can't reach anything on the top shelf unless its the whole way to the front. Everything behind is no mans land. I may need to modify the cabinet situation. I also need to get a flat screen and mount it lower on the wall somewhere.
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Left side where the wifes car is normally parked. This is the side of the bench that troubles me. I'd love to hear suggestions. The way the stairs come up right there make that part of the bench mostly unusable. I might try to put my lathe on that side of the bench, but I'll be giving up a pretty good chunk of real estate. You can see my big old Walker Turner drill press here. The very essence of the saying "They don't make em like that anymore"

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Top of stairs. This is where I plan to stick a small bathroom. I'll move the riding gear of course.
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Last pic, I promise. The upstairs office. I run a website and print vinyl graphics and banners. The bench on the right has a light box built in for tracing and weeding vinyl. I also use the bench as my makeshift shipping receiving department. Along both sides of the office is sliding doors that allows for storage along the unused space of the trusses. I removed the doors on the left side so I could cantilever my bench and not need legs.

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Thanks for looking!

Edit: Wow! I apologize for the size of the pics. I didn't realize they were this large.
 
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Nitsuj

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
82
Looks like a nice place to me,,I love to have a upstairs

Thanks. It nice to have an upstairs. If I ever move again, and I build my own shop, I'd never build it without an upstairs office space. It's nice to have a place where I can work on my stuff and not mess up the house. I'd like to change the decor up here though. The lady who lived here before was some sort of hippie artist, the walls are all sky blue with clouds. I'd like to get a small couch futon type thing up here, put in a larger tv and decorate it more faux industrial looking. Still working on that.
 

Nighttrain

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
2,682
Location
Dripping Springs, Tx
Really nice. I found that when I take a picture with my sony camera I have to save the picture to a internet "size" after I take it. It then post to a better size on here.
 

ddl2004

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2011
Messages
97
Location
Vandalia, Ohio
Love the idea of the stairs up to the attic! I thought about the doing the same, I have the room for stairs, but I don't have the headroom above the garage ceiling. :(
 

Scuderia-F1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
1,198
Location
Stockholm, Sweden
Thats a good looking "HQ", I also like the upstairs office!
A really great shop without being "over the top", an ideal place for running a small business/side business.
 
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Nitsuj

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Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
82
Thanks for the compliments gents. It's a fine work space, but I need to get it better organized. I don't feel I'm taking full advantage of the space now. It's one of those things where the more you work in it, the more you get it tailored to your needs.
 

atk406

Active member
Joined
Jan 11, 2010
Messages
38
Location
Bismarck, ND
Very nice garage, and and the 1098 is gorgeous. I'll be looking for updates as the RZ350 progresses. I had a chance to buy a cherry RZ from a friend years ago and didn't...I kick myself every time I see one now...even if it's just a frame and swingarm lurking in the corner:drool:
 
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Nitsuj

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Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
82
Very nice garage, and and the 1098 is gorgeous. I'll be looking for updates as the RZ350 progresses. I had a chance to buy a cherry RZ from a friend years ago and didn't...I kick myself every time I see one now...even if it's just a frame and swingarm lurking in the corner:drool:

I'll post updates. I have to finish the CB350 first. The RZ is a Canadian model I got in near perfect shape. Rode it for a few years then tore it down for a restore. It's been waiting quite a while for me to get back to it. Now that I have more space it will get done.

I like the 1098 too. It the first bike I ever bought that wasn't used or wrecked or in need of repair. It makes me feel like a hero every time I ride it.
 

scarsia

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2011
Messages
13
whoa! nice garage.. how many motorbikes you have..? by the way, i like the red one.. it seems to look like its so small but its cute.. i notice you have lots of stuff in there.. i also love the suits and helmets.. up for a collection?
 
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Nitsuj

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
82
whoa! nice garage.. how many motorbikes you have..? by the way, i like the red one.. it seems to look like its so small but its cute.. i notice you have lots of stuff in there.. i also love the suits and helmets.. up for a collection?

Thanks. I have 7 total right now. The ones you see there, plus a few that are tore apart, plus a dual sport and another scooter in another garage. But I've worked in the motorcycle industry in one way or another for most of my adult life, so they have a way of accumulating. The red one is actually the largest, in terms of engine size, and by far the highest performance of the group. "Cute" isn't a word often used to describe a 1098, but I'll take it. ;-) The suits and helmets aren't actually a collection. Each one is for a specific purpose. Again, from working in the industry, you just gather stuff. I'm sure if I built computers for a living, I'd have a garage full of computer stuff, you know?

Thanks for the compliments!
 
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