Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Woody's Works Garage

[sublime68charger]

Your really making strides with your shop area.

Love the audio update. In my old garage I had everything mounted to the ceiling which was up out of the way and gave good sound as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: you might not have had everything all figured out that you wanted to do when you started, but you are making the most of a small garage and i am telling the guys on GJ that think they don't have any room in their one car garages to check out your thread. i bet their jaws drop once they see all you have. i'm hoping to do as well trying to turn my 9 x 15 garage into a shop.

if you ever need to know how to put a full commercial gym in a 9 x 15's space let me know because mine was pretty nice a few years ago.

your neighbors sound like something to cherish because not always or maybe ever the norm. i think i saw you have a lot of Finlanders in your neck of the woods and my step gramps was born there so i know they are golden.

 

[Denwood]

There are a lot of Finlanders in these parts! We have breakfast all the time at the Hoito restaurant, a Finn landmark which goes back 100 yrs.

Not much to report today. Some more painting and finished the tool bases. The Rigid table saw and old Dewalt radial arm saw table heights now match at 37". More importantly the radial arm saw no longer rolls away while I'm using it. Using some scrap lumber I also sorted a bottom shelf for the Dewalt which will carry the floor jacks when not in use.

The bases are the same, King KMB-250

 

[bj383ss]

Bases look good man. I have always read about cutting dados on the radial arm saw but never seen it in action. Is it a bit hairy or the same as using a tablesaw?

Hard to tell how does the fence clamp down?

 

[Denwood]

The radial saw is pretty handy for dados particularly doing longer ones for cabinets, either ripping them or cross cutting. Because the material is under the blade, there's no tendency to float. Longer angled cross cuts get a bit easier, although a table saw sled jig allows the same type of versatility. I couldn't see the radial used though for box cuts like your drawers though.

The fence is clamped using a backer plate, so if you change the backer, you can mess with fence location. Because the saw head slides, tilts and rotates (and is height adjustable) you can jig up for some interesting projects.

I tend to leave the radial configured for dado, and the table saw/fence+ skillsaw for breaking down sheets.

 

[Denwood]

The South cabinets showed up early, (right side window level) showed up early. They're installed along with painting the upper millwork white. I've decided to clear coat the slatwall, adding another six sheets so remaining walls are covered with them. The floor is getting 12x24 grey porcelain. That said, it's time to take a break from the garage for a bit. Rather, working in the shop, rather than on it .

I had an epiphany last night on the sound system...which I'm thoroughly enjoying. Basically the shop is the only place left I can listen to music with a bit of thump. Car is out as kids are typically on board. Home theater is out as it's used by the entire family, and keeps folks up at night. Work definitely out. We're left with the shop as the last bastion of auditory independence

Last night progress pic:

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: new cabinets look great and your shop has a nice symmetry look to it now. i agree you deserve to start using the shop for a few projects before you take on the tile floor and some more small projects. your pace has been amazing and i bet the family would like to see Dad not in the garage for a night or two also.

while i'll miss seeing your updates maybe you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and watch a few of ours for a while.

take care and thanks for inspiring me to get my garages in decent shape.

 

[Denwood]

Decided to "panel" the remainder of exposed walls with slatwall. Accents will be done in "Noble Grey". I like the warm look of the slat wall. Consequently, I have 10 sheets to clear coat..the lift came in handy as another work surface

 

[HSpencer]

Shop is looking awesome!! You have done a great job on everything. Looks like you could handle about anything in there. I am impressed!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[bj383ss]

Nice Slat wall. It does have a warmth to it. Much cleaner look then pegboard.

 

[dubber]

Last night progress pic:

Kudos getting this stage. This really calls for a before and after shot.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: another great addition to your garage. good idea so you'll have your tools at the ready and visible when you need them.

 

[Denwood]

Herb, thanks for your comment. The shop does indeed wear a few different hats, so a clean floor is a good goal

BJ3, I'm a classic Swiss cheese brain. This means I find tools/bits often not by remembering where they are, but where logically they would go . The slat wall is very versatile for things too large to hide in cabinets, but also a visual reminder often of where tools are located.

Dub, I posted a few before/after pics back a page in the thread. It is pretty motivatng to look at them. I'll post a few more when the "slat wall 360" project is done. I've been following your race deck experience (thanks for posting some day to day floor thoughts), particularly on the snow/salt thing. My floor is not correctly sloped, and the shop faces the back lane (gravel) so pulling up tiles/cleaning would not be so easy. I'm really leaning towards porcelain right now. That said, the Racedeck free flow floor is number one in my book in terms of aesthetic.

Drive, my holiday from the shop was short My six yr old spent nearly an hour helping last night with clear coat (it's water based!) and got into a nice rhythm with me. Every slot needs brush treatment, so to get a nice finish brush strokes are smoothed with a foam roller as you go. She honestly enjoyed helping with a few sheets, and quickly ramped up her skills to the point that her efforts were actually speeding us along

 

[Denwood]

Dub, we'll call this the latest before/after. September 2014 to January 2015

 

[dubber]

/\ Cheers! And congrats. I found it important in my own journey to keep looking back to where it started.

 

[Xporter]

Nice work!

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: did you take any pictures of the before you raised and insulated the ceiling and some outside shots of the old garage door and new door? those were amazing improvements and some of us would be happy to get just those two things done in a year while working and raising a family.

have any of your alley friends stopped by in the cold or will they be as amazed as we are when spring comes and they stop by?

 

[Denwood]

Drive, one neighbor has seen the results, I suspect the other will be pretty surprised I did find an earlier interior shot of the hanger doors so I'll post that up once the interior slat wall is done. I used to use the hangar interior door surface to set spray patterns when painting, so they were pretty, well, ugly.

X, thanks for your comment

 

[bj383ss]

That's a pretty amazing transformation in short few months. One can only imagine what it will look like in a year's time!

 

[Denwood]

B, the walls will be done in a few days, so only the floor will remain as a major project. Grey porcelain, 12x24..may wait until spring for that.

I posted some stills earlier of the spray foamed shop ceiling using the FLIR ONE thermal imager for iPhone. Here's a quick video we shot today demonstrating some thermal time lapse video as well as "flying footage". Full disclosure, we have no relationship with FLIR, but we do sell the Morpheus product shown. I'd call the FLIR an accidental fit with our product. The FLIR product would be an pretty cool addition to any shop, particularly for diagnosing radiator, AC, cooling etc. issues. Slightly off topic, but enjoy:

https://vimeo.com/118175972

 

[Denwood]

After clear coating a lot of slatwall, the "paneling" project has begun. Any receptacles need to be extended out 3/4" so this is the process to adhere to code. The extensions were sourced at a nearby electrical supplier. The longer #6/32 screws allow the switch/receptacles to be screwed into the original metal junction box. I'm replacing any plastic cover plates left (most already broken/missing) with metal cover plates hit with a quick coat of "Noble Grey" acrylic.

 

[bj383ss]

Slatwall came great. Like how you handled the receptacles. I noticed you even clocked the screws on your faceplate. Awesome.

 

[Denwood]

Thanks B . Here are the first before/after shots looking out of the garage, vs looking in.

I'm really liking the natural (warm) slatwall contrasted with white and Noble Grey accents. The extra support added on the right/left of the roll up door, and added vertical supports for the ridge beam end up grey. Looks like it was all part of the master plan...it wasn't

You can see the original hangar doors which were looking a bit worse for wear..

Today. I'm settling in on grey porcelain to finish it off.

 

[bj383ss]

I still find it amazing what sheetrock and paint will do. I can't wait to insulate and sheetrock mine. Will be some time down the road though.

 

[Denwood]

B, if you look closely, that faceplate is using our fancy Canadian Robertson screws...so nothing to clock! Not sure what the deal is with Robertson (square drive) over the border, but most electrical switches/receptacles here have combination Robertson/slotted heads. The Robertson driver head doesn't slip off them so if you're doing a lot of boxes and using a powered driver, it goes much quicker than slotted.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: i thought you were going to take a rest or did you daughters demand you to clean up their play area? BTW the new slat boards really cleaned up the look of your shop, garage, play area, and dance hall.

as those old cigarette commercials used to sing "you've come a long way baby". sorry for the baby comment, but i just had the tune in my head and you've done a ton in a very short time.

do the girls have a ladder to get to their area or do you have to be around to lift them up there?

take a rest big guy because you have deserved one.

 

[Denwood]

Drive, yep, my holiday was short The "loft" access, for now anyway, is a ladder that comes with "Daddy supervision". This thread has turned into quite a journal to look back at for sure.

Only about an hour of shop time today, but productive. We're back in the -20C range today so a bit cold for outdoor activity. So far no mistakes measuring and cutting electrical boxes into the slatwall. The Maxjax pump is on slatwall hangars for now...it needs slatwall bolt anchors, or just thru bolting as the motor has quite a bit of torque kick on starting.

I was rooting for Seattle tonight. Quite a game!

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: yes i agree your garage is almost a work of art the way that it has come together. and in a very short amount of time too.

That was some game tonight and as Seahawks fans I (we) now know how the Packer fans felt a couple weeks ago. it was a game worth watching which isn't always the norm and some plays that will be talked about for years to come.

good thing is we still have a great team so the chances of them going to the Super Bowl more times in the years to follow are pretty good. also Tom Brady is some QB and he didn't give up at any point so he and his team deserved another win.

so now that the walls are all up you can maybe start pulling your tools out of storage and getting to use them again. very nice work.

 

[Modern Jess]

This is coming together very, very nicely. I'm impressed at how far you've come.

 

[bj383ss]

B, if you look closely, that faceplate is using our fancy Canadian Robertson screws...so nothing to clock! Not sure what the deal is with Robertson (square drive) over the border, but most electrical switches/receptacles here have combination Robertson/slotted heads. The Robertson driver head doesn't slip off them so if you're doing a lot of boxes and using a powered driver, it goes much quicker than slotted.

Robertson(square drive here) are not common in Home improvement stores that I can find. I order mine either from Rockler who sales a combination square drive/Phillips called X-Drive( http://www.rockler.com/square-x-drive-lube-finished-screws-number-8) or from McFeelys who also has a square drive or combination. (http://www.mcfeelys.com/screws-fasteners/wood-boat-screws.html?screw_recess=58)

As you said they take getting use to but when using them it is almost impossible for them to slip. I really like to use the ones from Rockler as they have a dry lube. They are expensive so I only use them on Jigs of furniture I am making.

 

[Denwood]

Drive, yes...I'm ramping up for a pile of work in the house. Kitchen reno, basement home theater, laundry area etc. The shop needs to soak up some storage, but it also will be in wood shop mode for a few months.

Jess, I've been looking at temps in your fan control charts and feeling very cold! I have aspirations of an off grid shop some day so threads like yours are quite important IMHO.

B, if you walk into Home Depot here, there is nothing but Robertson (square drive) in the construction screw area! Up until this garage project I was using cordless drills to drive screws. My neighbor came over one day as I was driving and asked me where my impact driver was. After a quick demo of his, I suddenly realized how many life hours I was going to preserve with my new impact. Impact (used with Robertson) is easily my favorite learning lesson of 2014.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody: love your attitude and really you just cleaned up the garage so you could find your tools to fix your house. again awesome job and a pleasure following your thread. i'm making headway in my small garage and i think i might start a thread in Garage gallery called Organizing because my wife thinks that's a swear word because i use it so often. i'm taking pictures and making a little progress.

cheers

 

[Modern Jess]

Jess, I've been looking at temps in your fan control charts and feeling very cold! I have aspirations of an off grid shop some day so threads like yours are quite important IMHO.

Much thanks. I'm really just dabbling in the general direction of that kind of stuff, but it's a fun learning experience.

Impact (used with Robertson) is easily my favorite learning lesson of 2014.

Yep. I've been using my impact with the torx-head Spax construction screws, which was a similar revelation. Noisy as hell, but very effective at driving the thousands of screws that I've used in this project.

 

[Denwood]

Drive, a thread titled "What did you do to organize today?" would be a popular one I bet.

Jess, yes the impact driver would not win any stealth awards. Ha. This Rigid unit...

https://www.ridgid.com/ca/en/x4-18-volt-lithium-ion-impact-driver-kit

surprised the heck of me. I dropped it while working above the overhead door, about nine feet into bare concrete (on my first day using it!) and climbed down the ladder to chronicle the carnage. The X4 lithium battery and driver had separated on the floor. I slid the battery back in place and fired it back up. Zero damage. Utterly impressed. Their lifetime warranty apparently has some engineering behind it. I would never expect a tool to survive a 9 ft fall to concrete unscathed. I have one of their table saws and am impressed with the build quality at its price as well.

 

[Modern Jess]

I have one of their table saws and am impressed with the build quality at its price as well.

Does it fold up and roll away, by chance? I might have the same table saw.

EDIT: Nope. I went hunting through this thread and found a picture of it. I have a different one, bought quite a few years back. The legs collapse and it turns sideways on its own dolly for storage.

 

[bj383ss]

I have quite a few Ridgid tools and I have been very impressed with them. I have their Hammer Drill Lituim Ion and it has survived a few falls as well and the battery seems to last forever. I also have a Random Orbital sander, OSS sander, 13" planer, and of course the TS3650. I'm not really a fanboy though. I wanted to get the jointer they made but couldn't find one before they were all sold so went with a Grizzly. Also their bandsaw was notorious poor quality build and lots of vibrations so I went with Grizzly here as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Woody; that's amazing your rigid impact survived the 8+ foot fall. happy to hear you like their products. i have had great luck with Ryobi 18v and have maybe 20 different tools to use now. at first the batteries were **** and didn't hold a charge long and then the lithium ones got a lot better at not only having a longer charge, but also holding the charge for months too.

i have to say one of my favorite tools is the impact driver and the chainsaw. i keep the blade sharp and it will cut through a 6-8 inch branch or tree without stopping and the new batteries run for about 2 hours without needing to be recharged.

i'm not saying to change, but i'm not sure Rigid battery operated tools have as big of variety that Ryobi does. just a few others i have are a weed wacker, hedge trimmer, drills, flashlight, chop saw and sort of a Fein type vibrating cutting tool.

cheers

 

[Denwood]

I think Ni-Cad gave battery operated tools a bad name. I've been tending towards cord driven where possible. That said, we have 8 Milwaukee 12V lithium drivers (small and light, for assembly work) and over two years daily use for business, not a single failure. Ryobi and Rigid seem to duke it out for price at the mid-level. I suspect both are good choices.

 

[bonecrrusher]

After moving my drill press this past weekend out of my shop - I need to find something like the King Mobile Base here in the states.

I'm not dealing with that again moving into the new house .

 

[Denwood]

Jess, the Rigid table saw has seen a lot of use. With the table extension it's a bit unwieldy and weighs ~160lbs. I wish it would fold up, however the wheels raise/lower system is excellent.

B, I figure Rigid is like everyone else..some winners and some losers

Bone, just google "universal tool base" and you'll find a few. I was about to order online and then called a local tool house. They had a better price and zero shipping The tool bases have been awesome as I shuffle tools out of the way to work on the shop.

If you are wheeling up older tools like my radial arm saw, make sure you measure and match up height with other tools. The radial arm saw now matches the table saw so when I build an out feed/work table, it will work with both tools.