Sandbags mancave makeover

[b-rock106]

Ok, so here is a little back story on what I am working with. My wife and I bought our house about 4 years ago, at that time we where thinking that we wanted a farm but it was not the right time for us. I did good on our last house with all the renos and such, only problem is the wife hated the mess. So we found a model home we liked and the builder wanted to dump it, so after the awesome deal he gave us we moved in. This past summer we went and looked at a couple farms as we figured it's a good time to move. Then we started to talk about where we wanted to end up in life (we had a kid 1 year after buying the house) and the farm went out the window cause we like our current house that much (and the free time). I did a couple things in the garage, just to use up what I had around. Was always more about storage then a place to work. Now that we have decided to stay, I am starting to make my work space the way I want it.

So here is what I am starting with. A 20x20 attached garage that is 14 Foot high. 2 lofts already built. One is a 4x8 that is just for seasonal storage. Another 8x10 with steps going up to it. This one was going to be my little workshop, but its to hard to get anything up to work on. Also built shelves to store tools and bins of stuff across from big loft.

Loft did not work out as work shop also cause of the mess.

Seeing as its cold right now I am first working on my new bench / work area under my loft. I am keeping as much as I can under this area so I can put something around it and heat the area up when needed. So that's a new bench I am starting to work on already and inwall storage of tools and other stuff. Everything also has to be movable or in the right spot as my wife and I both park in the garage. This is how it is as of now.

So there is the start of what I hope ends up to be a really useful space for storage/work/parking. Please feel free to give input or suggestions, as we all sometimes forget about the trees while looking at the forest.

B-rock

 

[captain14]

Welcome to GJ.

What do like to work on? I see the grinder and drill press.

 

[b-rock106]

Welcome to GJ.

What do like to work on? I see the grinder and drill press.

I guess you could say I am a jack of all trades. Worked for people doing woodworking, IT, electronics, building and ended up as a machinist for an aviation outfit.

For fun however, I mountain bike, dirt bike, and been starting to do a little self taught fabrication. So the work area will need to try and keep up with my changing passions. Now add onto that whatever my son might want to try or enjoy and things could get crazy.

 

[cajunscout]

Welcome to GJ! The Garage has always been a challenge to me as well, as interest change and time passes, so does the layout.

I've gotten a lot of great ideas from this forum. It seems to cater to all size spaces and types of interest.

Good Luck!

 

[Farmall450]

I guess you could say I am a jack of all trades. Worked for people doing woodworking, IT, electronics, building and ended up as a machinist for an aviation outfit.

For fun however, I mountain bike, dirt bike, and been starting to do a little self taught fabrication. So the work area will need to try and keep up with my changing passions. Now add onto that whatever my son might want to try or enjoy and things could get crazy.

Welcome aboard!
I'm surprised you haven't found room for a lathe or mill yet.

 

[b-rock106]

So I got a little work done on the workbench this weekend between father/husband duties. Trip to home depot to grab some stuff, was going to do 3/4 ply but noticed a awesome deal on some Formica top material. So I am doing a double layer of OSB and some extra 2x4s for strength.

Bench is going to be 64 inches long and 24 inches wide. Could have went bigger but the dirt bike needs a home beside the bench so I can still park in garage over the winter. Going to lose the top of my current tool box and put the base under the new bench with dual shelves to either side. And the top will have 3 built in drawers. 2 at 15.5 inch wide and one 27 inch wide. All in all I should not lose any storage but gain work surface.

Was a little cold in the cave today.

And this is as far as I got it. Now to do the two side supports/shelves next weekend if all goes to plan.

 

[b-rock106]

Welcome aboard!
I'm surprised you haven't found room for a lathe or mill yet.

Farmall450, I have a CNC router in my basement and have been shopping for a hobby lathe for about 2 years. It's hard to spend money on that stuff since I can use whatever at work. The router was for my wife to do "arts and crafts" on, engraved signs.

 

[Farmall450]

Farmall450, I have a CNC router in my basement and have been shopping for a hobby lathe for about 2 years. It's hard to spend money on that stuff since I can use whatever at work. The router was for my wife to do "arts and crafts" on, engraved signs.

I didn't think of you using those at work, and that makes a lot of sense, since both take up space and $$$.

 

[captain14]

Any hardware involved with the workbench drawers ? Looks like 2x4 and OSB bottoms. Are you going to install a stop of some kind to keep the drawers from being accidentally pulled all the way out?

Is that thermometer in C or F? Either way seems cold to me.

 

[b-rock106]

Any hardware involved with the workbench drawers ? Looks like 2x4 and OSB bottoms. Are you going to install a stop of some kind to keep the drawers from being accidentally pulled all the way out?

Is that thermometer in C or F? Either way seems cold to me.

No hardware other then whatever pulls I go with. 2x4 framed and the OSB is sitting in a lip I took out with a router. Once I install the bench stops will be installed. And the temp is in Celsius, outside with windchill it was like -20.

 

[b-rock106]

I didn't think of you using those at work, and that makes a lot of sense, since both take up space and $$$. [emoji106]

Farmall, I also don't have to buy tooling that way, which is even more $$$

 

[b-rock106]

So I was able to get a bit of time and I built the two side supports. The top bit is just open storage. The lower part is going to have two drawers (one support on either side of my tool box)for air tools, angle grinder, and other things I might want down and out of the way. I am going to build the drawers in the summer cause working in a cold garage *****. Now it is just going to get a coat of paint and setup.

I also bought myself a new tool for this project, a kreg pocket hole jig. It's just a small simple one, but the wife now has a list of things she wants me to build with it. It's been a happy addition to my tool box, and I can't wait to use it more. I used it on my supports for the shelf and drawers. I am not a small guy and I was able to jump onto the shelf and she held on strong. Not bad for a couple 2 inch screws and 2x4's.

 

[tonkatoy611]

Awesome design and idea!

 

[b-rock106]

So I had some time off this week and I got a little work done. Started to paint the new bench before I install it. All 3 drawers are done and the two side supports. Now I just need to do the upper bench/top and I can install it. Don't know if that will go down this weekend as I am working.

I also was able to some what sort out a issue I have being in Canada and having a cold garage. The idea came to me after helping a buddy with his ice hut. I used 6mm poly (used in houses) to created a wall off the two sides of my loft. I can roll it up when not in use or summer time. I looked at heating the whole garage, but its not in the cards right now ($$$). Hope this little fix for cold winter days will make life a little less cold in the garage for the next couple of years.

 

[b-rock106]

So I was able to get the bench some what installed and half wired up. Still need to hook up to the panel and I got 20amp service to the 3 plugs. The little heating setup worked good, was able to work without a jacket no problem.

Hope to finish off the side bench/shelfs next weekend, and have the power hooked up.

 

[b-rock106]

So I was able to get more work done in the cave yesterday and today. Put up some pegboard and did my side bench. Plan was to make my vise and bench grinder swapable but I don't know yet, could really use some input. Super happy with the side bench, plan on using it to keep the main one clear. Pegboard however is up in the air for me. I like getting the tool box space but I don't know about the layout of the board. All in all I am happy. Now to start using the space a little and see how it goes. Got to get the dirt bike ready for spring. First step to do that is weld up a stand on wheels so I can put her away while she is taken down to the frame.

Used the CNC router to do up a little sign.

Now to figure out what to do about this issue.