A Man's Garage is What He Makes It

[ckadams00]

CK, I can't get over how awesome it is that you got the whole "family" of tools from one place/time...I even told my Dad it would be like a dream come true for me. Keep up the good work.

Shaun

Thanks very much - it will be my honor to keep them together (that's what makes the jointer issue tough). At the end of the day, and because I am a hobbyist, I will most likely keep everything from "the set" (what I've been calling it, haha).

The challenge for me will be to get the tools in the tightest working order possible. I know in my heart that another 20 or 30 years from now seeing all of these in a set will be even more impressive than it is today - and I am sure they will still be in great shape!

 

[Red Leader]

I was looking back through your garage build - do you have 2 '150' presses?

 

[ckadams00]

I did . . .purchased separately in a short time one was $50 and one was $75. Both were good overall. I tore them down and rebuild a cherry one for myself with the best parts and truest spindle, table with no dimples, handle with no cracks, etc. The second one I built up at the same time and sold to a buddy for $100. It was pretty efficient working on them at the same time:

One thing I did because the head is so big inside was to hang an 'L' shaped piece of aluminum strip with a ceramic bulb socket on the end and instal a 40w appliance bulb in the head casting. You can see the switches in the photo - I wired one to the light and one to the motor. The light shines down through the hollow head casting right onto the table - works great! BTW - the tables were turned sideways as tool holders/work tables while I wired them - that's not how I left them!

I also had a 13" smaller 103.2177 (with the machined head band) that came in the CMan "haul". No way I could keep two, so I sold the 13" for $125 (paid $75). So, my "150" was paid for.

I didn't know until I had them next to each other how much smaller the 13" is. I was hoping to pull some parts - it was in PERFECT shape - no dimples on the table, had two post colllars and the table tilted. The post on this model is smaller though, so nothing would fit the large drill.

Overall I'd have to say that the 150 floor press is my favorite tool (in looks and function). But then, my cabinet saw isn't finished yet!

 

[flybefree]

What a great fleet of drill presses. I have been looking for the exact same....I just want a $50 cman dp that looks and runs well. CL has not been my friend...yet.

Shaun

 

[Wingnut65]

Even though my hand-me-down DP that I got from my dad's workshop works perfectly fine for my needs, you guys are really starting to irk me. I mean, my drill press from 'King Feng Fu Machinery Works Company' in Taiwan really does work fine. But those vintage Cman's are just too sweet.

 

[ckadams00]

Since I have worked in restaurants all my life, I wanted to show some of the "restaurant gear" that works pretty well in the shop. I gravitate towards what I know works. The good thing about restaurant equipment is that it is usually stainless, and built to last.

Forgive the mess, I am still in the process of moving tons of **** around the shop, and also have a lot of hand tools to sort through after a big garage sale haul.

This is a stainless prep table that came out of a kitchen I used to work in. I have carted it around with me for about 10 years now. It is 30"d by 36"w with two galvanized shelves below that are adjustable. It's designed to be in a prep line so that a guy can work on each side - so 30" is pretty deep . . .but it's hard to complain about a free stainless $500 table. It is heavy but breaks down into pieces in 5 minutes. You can't hammer on it like Jack's 1/2" steel bench top, but it is a great worktop.

Next up: a 24" restaurant check rail. This has glass marbles under the top rail, and is what restaurant kitchens use to hold tickets - you just jab a piece of paper into it and it holds, then grab the paper again and it come out. This is a fantastic addition to a shop if you need to hold a diagram, tool "dirty paper" etc. Never seen anyone using them - you can get them online for $10-$20.

I have seen a lot of posts for trays to hold spray cans, etc. like this one from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_16119.jpg

Here is my solution - stainless, heavy duty, and it will hold about 10 cans:

This is a discarded liquor "speed rail" - what you see bartenders throwing their bottles into below the bar. They come in all kinds of lengths and are pretty pricey new, but if you can get discarded ones for free . . . .(I just grabbed two!). Obviously I haven't peeled the labels off yet. The heavy steel backing plate will let you mount this anywhere.

I probably have some more restaurant stuff I haven't even thought about because I am so used to seeing it, but it makes great additions to the shop. With the number of restaurants struggling these days, you should keep your eyes open for deals!

 

[ckadams00]

Well I made a lot of progress in the shop the past two weekends but it is such a mess from moving things that it is hard to tell. I did get my clamps cleaned up and hung on the far wall -

I spent most of the past two weekends working on the cabinet saw. IT is almost usable - I replaced the bearings on the motor today and rebuilt it - when I tested it and turned it off it spun for about 25 seconds I can't wait to get this on the saw.

Had a neighbor help me flip the table - spent most of the day cleaning up the table top and wings. It still needs a full going over to adjust fasteners and to set up all the adjustments correctly but that should be straightforward. Probably it will be running by next weekend!

 

[Red Leader]

Thanks for the info on the drill presses. Do you happen to have a picture of the drill press running with the light turned on? I'd love to see a picture of that!

The cabinet saw is looking great. Any pictures of how you did up the casters on the bottom? I'm going to need to get mine mobile, but I've been going back and forth on the $65 rolling tool base.

You are definitely doing it justice. Keep up the fabulous work.


About the restaurant gear, those are all useful tips. There is a restaurant liquidation business right news to a 2nd hand home improvement store out here. I went through it once just looking to see if I could find any cool machinery (I didn't...Duh, it's a restaurant place) but it may be worth going back in there.

I feel like if I didn't make something out of wood I would want it in stainless steel so I could polish it and still get away with the vintage theme

 

[MajorLeeGassole]

I should've searched how many times people wrote "amazing" on this thread, but... amazing! Great job on the restorations.

 

[ckadams00]

Thanks for the compliments - it was a great feeling yesterday to stand back and see the saw fully assembled (finally).

Major - evertime I read your handle I crack up. Thank you!

Red Leader - I will post a photo of the light in the drill head - it is pretty tight in there so I might have to draw something for it to make sense.

The casters - the cabinet has holes in the sheet metal base for casters. I reinforced it by putting a piece of 1" plywood underneath and using washers on both sides to minimize the strain on the sheet metal. This is a temporary solution but seems to work for now. Ideally, I wanted to sink the casters deeper under the cabinet so that the floor clearance was 1/4 to 1/2" below the "feet" - I thought that would look better. However, the cabinet isn't all that wide, and I am a bit worried about needing a wider stance for support. I will most likely build another base, but for now I needed to get it mobile because of how heavy the saw is with the table attached.

As for the restaurant stainless - in my opinion most of it is going to clash with your look, but there are a few things you could look for. Be careful, because just like Snap-On cabinets, people often want an arm and a leg for restaurant stuff ("It's PROFESSIONAL"!). I LOVE having the ticket holder above my bench for parts lists, diagrams, etc. You could easily tuck one of these up behind a piece of trim and you wouldn't see it.

 

[Wingnut65]

That saw is looking sweet. It'm sure it feels good getting close to scratching that off the To-Do list.

I've had ticket holders lining walls in past conference rooms for posting 24x36 and 30x42 drawings. Tape just didn't like to hold them when they were that big. Now that you brought it up, having on in the shop would be useful. Thanks for adding another item to my wish list!

 

[Red Leader]

Okay update time! We need an update!

 

[marty_p]

(speechless...)
(composed...)
Awesome drive and foresight, sir! Please keep us posted!!!

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

I hate you......

 

[morfmedia]

Great work, really impressive to see a guys legacy refurb'd and improved. Let's hope the tools power on for many more years

 

[920kip]

I believe those discs holding the badge is called a speed nut. They should be available at any hardware store.

Kip

 

[ckadams00]

Thanks 920 kip!

So . . .lots of actual "work" on the future of the shop. The last two weeks have been more wheeling and dealing purchases rather than "building", so sorry for the lapse in posts. I accidentally stumbled upon the section of this forum called "classifieds" - God help me!

Also, full disclosure:I have become a garage sale/Goodwill/Salvation Army junkie,because I find incredible deals. So this update is mostly about the last two weeks worth of deals. If you want, please skip ahead . . .but this is stuff to outfit the shop so I think it's relevant.

Lessee - to the shop: I tool a lot of people's advice and reconfigured the hanging cabinets as best I could. I moved all three of my cabinets equal to the foundation wall height and within 6" (clearance) of each other - this maximizes the space between and under each.

I have 26" of clearance under each cabinet which works for buckets, my compressor, and shopvac.

Phase two this week wan breaking down and buying some organization supplies. I am a bit OCD when it comes to the shop organization - don't do something until I can get it 'right' and can never get it 'right' so I don't do it . . .trying to break that habit and just keep improving. Recent purchases to make headway:

Wrench hangers from HF:

Socket organizers from HF:

Basic stuff (but never done before) The HF stuff was on sale and great prices. So, slowly we start to orgaize:

Now the good stuff. I am crazy for 'deals'. Here are some recent Salvation Army/Goodwill finds:
1. Shop Heater! $6!

2. Label maker! $6!

3. Luxo work lamp $6.99!

4. I have had these posed in Classifieds for two weeks - but purchased 4 blueprint flat files at a garage sale for $100

- sold two for $250 this week; should have another 2 sold for $250 later this week. This helped pay for:

5. Stopped at Sears for the "socket deal" in the Hot Deals forum - alas my Sears doesn't have the same deals . . .however, picked up a 4-drawer "Discontinued" roller cabinet and middle 2-cabinet for $109 with keys, lock bars, instructions, etc.

I am a hobby guy so it is VERY difficult for me to turn my back on this stuff (cheaper CMan slide drawers instead of the nice ball bearings) when it is priced right!

6. Just couldn't get my head around everyone getting the great Cman socket deals at some Sears . . .stopped by my Sears again tonight on the way home and - you guessed it - ANOTHER roller cabiner and middle cabinet for $109 "Discontinued" - this one was a bit more scratched up. Wish I had the funds to buy the matching set . . . but this one had a zinger:

Top matching cabinet, "Discontinued" - $36. So, I got the bottom, middle and top box for $145. These aren't garage sale prices, but NEW from Sears, I thought this was a helluva deal!

7. Garage Sale Weekend: "Sears" (not CMan) old roller box - crappy rattle can paint job and rusting handles - $15 and a top CMan box for $15

I know, lots of "buys" but this stuff is gonna help with the organization tremendously!

 

[Red Leader]

Organization is a good thing, and it is what I have not been doing for the past 2 weeks

 

[ckadams00]

Organization is a good thing, and it is what I have not been doing for the past 2 weeks

Well, I know. I go between "projects" and"cleaning/organization. M space is so small that any work i do in the shop becomes a project/mess at this point. I can see the light though! Some of the organization tricks I have picked up on this site and the storage I am creating is gonna pay off.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Very impressive shop build, sir. I particularly like the level of craftsmanship you are putting into your tool restos. The grinder and the cabinet saws are prime examples of this.

You should also know that I am going to steal your idea of putting a light inside the DP and shamelessly use it on my own.

 

[ckadams00]

Very impressive shop build, sir. I particularly like the level of craftsmanship you are putting into your tool restos. The grinder and the cabinet saws are prime examples of this.

You should also know that I am going to steal your idea of putting a light inside the DP and shamelessly use it on my own.

I really need to get a diagram of that up . . .tried photos but the space is so tight it's hard to make out anything. I'll see about putting up a simple drawing scan in the next couple of days.

 

[RalloZ35]

Its been awhile, but I remember before I was a member and looked something up and stumbled upon this, then joined! So all the other members can blame you!

 

[paulwolf350]

Its been awhile, but I remember before I was a member and looked something up and stumbled upon this, then joined! So all the other members can blame you!

Yes, I think this thread (and 12 guage) has inspired me to do something with my own garage. It is completely un organised and unusable. Unfortunately no vintage tools though, will have to make to with some 'modern stuff' and my sanity relieving fabrication projects.


Thanks for sharing

Paul

 

[ckadams00]

Yes, I think this thread (and 12 guage) has inspired me to do something with my own garage. It is completely un organised and unusable. Unfortunately no vintage tools though, will have to make to with some 'modern stuff' and my sanity relieving fabrication projects.


Thanks for sharing

Paul

Wow thanks for the kind words! It is a pretty great feeling to have inspired some members with my meager shop when I've been so inspired by others. Best part about this site.

I have been reading & posting & reading and working on other projects, and have neglected my shop build and photos since spring . . . promise to rectify with photos this weekend!

 

[Wilbur]

Well, I know. I go between "projects" and"cleaning/organization. M space is so small that any work i do in the shop becomes a project/mess at this point. I can see the light though! Some of the organization tricks I have picked up on this site and the storage I am creating is gonna pay off.

You have no idea how much reading these words make my day! With all the superbly executed shops on here sometimes (*ahem* MOST TIMES *ahem*) I feel like a kid looking at a ballgame through a knothole. I too find myself moving stuff around and knowing I need to spend more time and effort on organization!

Thanks for all the great pictures and examples of your great work! And for the idea of Salvation Army for shop stuff! Never thought of it but I am always bringing clothes there that no longer fit the kids....now if I get them to issue me some scrip for exchange I might do okay!

 

[zip95864]

I really need to get a diagram of that up . . .tried photos but the space is so tight it's hard to make out anything. I'll see about putting up a simple drawing scan in the next couple of days.

Yes, please do, I want to add a light now to my "150"

 

[HSpencer]

Use of available space under challenging conditions-----Excellent!
Power Tool Restoration----Excellent!
Appeal overall---Excellent!

Congratulations on a job well done!!

 

[andyaus]

What a great thread, loved it keep it up, cheers ...andy...

 

[FuturShoc]

LOVE this thread, ckadams00.
Your play-by-play makes it sounds like we have a great deal in common when it comes to what you like to do in your shop/garage and how you go about it.

I have a basement shop, too, and get a kick out of repurposing things. I'm also a fellow Habitat for Humanity/Salvation Army junkie.

 

[ckadams00]

I want to apologize to everyone for the long delay in updates, sometimes life gets in the way. Lots of life issues in the past year, and when I have had time to get on GJ it is always to get inspiration from the great work of others . . .I just haven't made the time to update on shop progress.

As was the original intent, I hope my small (6'5"x26') space and organization helps to encourage others who have limited resources. Great things CAN happen in small spaces! It's easy to get discourages some times when surfing though all the incredible garage spaces (plus I drove past a guys house today with a three car garage that had TWO LIFTS with TWO Corvettes up on them -gimmie a break!) but an hour of cleaning off my workbench and shopvac-ing the floor gets my head back on straight.

For those who don't want to scroll through 6 pages: my initial goals for this small space were:

1. Follow the rule: when you use something put it back. This also assumes I have a designated place for everything (I'm pretty good about this).
2. It is a small space. Never stop looking for ways to maximize space & efficiency.
3. Incorporate (read:steal) as many good ideas from the forums as you can. Give credit where due.
4. Get rid of any "storage" **** possible - put it in the garage or in the rafters of the shed. This turned out to be one of the best rules I could come up with.
5. As much as I liked Jack's rule of "no TV, No beer signs, no gas pumps" I already had a sa-weet beer neon so that is stayin!

And I had a wish list:
1. Organized storage for power and hand tools
2. Workbench space
3. Dedicated space for SOME power tools that make sense in this space . . .bandsaw, drill press, etc.
4. Ceiling insulation and covering.
5. Better lighting
6. Better Music System

For the most part, I have been able to complete everything on the wish list except for #4 which is still a future goal.

So without further delay: some updates and CLEAN shop pics:


East Wall (6'5"): I decided to use pegboard on the upper wall for clamps about 6 months ago, So far it is working well. I can get at everythingand they are generally out of the way. Originally I had bolted a 2x4 to the lower wall to hang long clamps to - it's been moved and I decided (as much as I hate exposed pegboard) that a 4x5' piece of pegboard was going to be the best use of space on this wall. I am going to be hanging all of my sawblades and consumables for the power tools here. I also found a nifty little broom mount at Goodwill for $1 so the broom doesn't just sit in a corner anymore. This is basically the same photo as in post #4 and I think is a better use of space then when I had one of the cabinets here.

For those of you who are interested, the long "CROSSING" sing is a 12"x72" antique railroad crossing sign for my dad who is into trains . . .just haven't figured how to ship this to him yet.

Beginning of SOUTH WALL (SE CORNER) with the power tools that I have restored:

These are the Craftsman Scroll Saw, 12" Band Saw, and 15" floor drill press. All have been rewired and restored, and frankly work amazingly great. I plan to put a link belt on the drill press and I think it will work even better, but it currently passes the "nickel test". The band saw and scroll saw are both fun to use and really accurate. Buying this lot of tools was one of the smartest things I have ever done. I still have a table saw, lathe, and planer in the garage to restore, but those (messy) won't go in the shop. You can see I moved the clamps to the back wall behind the machines - better use of space and I can still get at them easily when needed. I made a rack for these by mounting a 2x4 to the concrete wall then trimming it with some clear cedar. I realize that cedar isn't ideal because of it's softness, but I love the look and I am using cedar as a trim wood throughout the shop (so what if it gets beat up). Must be because I am from the NW.

 

[ckadams00]

CONTINUING ON S WALL:

Just above the power tools is a set (6) of 12" x 24" metal shelving units that were originally stand alone shelves. These happened to fit perfectly into the 12" space above the concrete wall that was built for an addition - you can find out more about these in an earlier post. I use these mostly for storage of things having to do with the power tools (drill press sanding tools, mortise attachment, etc). I also purchase an bunch of Plano parts boxes for misc. stuff, and a rack of sandpaper shelves I got for $1 from an Ace Hardware that was going out of business.


Just past the drill press is a repurposed cabinet that I found at Habitat, this thing is really heavy duty, and I currently have gloves in the top, sanding disks in the middle, and first aid/face shield/filter masks in the bottom. I also found a great wall-haging document flip index at Goodwill and put all the "dirty papers" (ie, original instruction manuals) for the Craftsman power tools in the sleeves - so I have user manuals plus parts breakdown diagrams right next to the tools which really helps when something needs to be tightened/adjusted.

The pile of parts you see on the cabinet is an Craftman belt/disk sander which has been rebuilt and is just waiting for replacement bearings.

The larger cabinet is one of a pair I built 10 years ago when I first got into the shop. i repainted it blue to match the other updating recently. I put pretty heavy duty drawer slides on these, and they actually work really well - so I put new nickel pulls on them and they look new.

Oh, and again, being a restaurant guy, repurposed restaurant floor mat - it's a great thing to have on a concrete floor!

SOUTH WALL CONTINED
My workbench is just a 30"x5' double piece of white melamine that was a damaged 4x8 piece from Home Depot. I ripped it in half lengthwise and screwed it together using wood screws from the bottom. I generally keep a 2x4 piece of hardboard on the top that gets beat up and then I replace it. For something I originally built to be temporary, the melamine hold up really well (I'd do it again) - if I get anything on it it cleans right up with acetone, it holds up to utility knife cuts, and a double thickness is incredibly stout.

Pictured is a Luxo magnifying light from Goodwill I picked up for $7 - I repainted it and love love love it with my now starting to go 46 year old eyesight.







Next up - and continuing on the 12" concrete wall from the addition are three (cheapo, er, "butget") Craftsman mid boxes that I picked up at Sears when they were discontinued (new) for $28 each. They are a bit high for easy use, but do a great job of keeping sawdust and dust off of things. I keep my label maker, multimeters, etc in these. I know the colors don't match - but for $28? I may get to painting them at some point, but that's pretty far down on the list. . .




Finally (I have shared these before) one of the two consumable racks I have over my bench. These are recycled stainless bottle holders from a bar and are just sitting over the wall mounted conduit over my bench.

 

[ckadams00]

S Wall (almost done!)

This is a giant ingot of steel (2.5"x 12" x 18" 67lbs) that I picked up at a garage sale for $4. I have no idea what it was intended for, but it was destined for my shop. Following Jack's lead, this is my mini "compliance center". I sanded the top down to shine it up and put a heavy coat of parafin on it to keep it from rusting . . .now I just use it to beat the hell outta things on!



Finally got rid of my China-made CMan vise and replace it with my matching restored CMan 3.5" and 5" vises. These are made in Japan, I believe about 1960s, and I love the paint job. The larger vise on the right is mounted so it can swivel to the right end of the bench if needed. Both are mounted so as not to interfere with the wood vise on the front of the bench.



A little blurry . . .my second (Goodwill!) Luxo - this one doesn't have a magnifying glass but has two bulbs. It sits over my stainless bench/grinding center. Old Sears toolbox stack in the background, and abovei two sliding cabinets - once for stains, and the other for rattle cans.

Below the stainless table (middle shelf) I have one additional CMan mid cabinet (fits perfect!) and on the lower shelf four milk crates full of chemicals.

 

[ckadams00]

WEST WALL (all 6'5" of it)

About a year ago I picked up a bunch of these parts cabinets up, sold a couple and kept two. They were intended for paper - they're 8.5"x11" and about 3" deep but strong enough that I can really load them up with fasteners, etc. I freakin LOVE these things. I build a platform for them, moving the sump pipes at some reader's suggestion. You can see there is storage underneath for all the assorted power tool cases that I never knew where to put. On top I have a CMan Rally Box, and an old Kennedy box I picked up for $5. Also a Miller neon (sorry I didn't light it up!). Summer Fan, Winter heater, and my 2nd. hand "hifi.




Here's the music for the space:
-2nd hand (Goodwill) amp/receiver and 2nd hand CD player - I think these were $15 together mounted on a $6 wall mount TV bracket (Goodwill). On the left you can see I wired a docking station for an ipod and I have two outdoor JBL speakers and two smaller tweeters at each end of the shop - more than enough for blasting some tunes (especially since the kitchen is directly above me and I drive my wife crazy!).



OK, that's enough for tonight, second half of the shop update tomorrow!

 

[Outlander]

Wow...very inspirational!

 

[Red Leader]

Time to bring this one up to the front! What's been happening lately, brother?

 

[zip95864]

Looking great!

 

[STEVENC]

Those vises look great. I need to keep an eye out for a piece of steel like that my slammin surface is falling apart its pretty thin steel plate.

 

[nine4gmc]

so much win in here!!

 

[marty_p]

so much win in here!!

Brother, you ain't lying!

 

[jeffmoss26]

What's with the red phone?