Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT Breaking out of my self-imposed prison

[OccupantRJ]

That is a nice looking shop, look at all of the flat surfaces that you can use and all of that floor... not to mention tools!

If it provides inspiration, here is another corner.

 

[OccupantRJ]

One reason I can keep it that way is that I built this 18x20 for power equipment, storage and materials. Nothing lives in the shop unless it is a useable tool, device, or is work in progress.

 

[a57belair2]

One reason I can keep it that way is that I built this 18x20 for power equipment, storage and materials. Nothing lives in the shop unless it is a useable tool, device, or is work in progress.

Living the dream, storing large items and material takes up so much space. The plan is to put a semi enclosed lean to on the garage to move the trailer in and some larger items and patio furniture.

I love the hydraulic workbench you have. The older I get the more I want to do things like that.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Living the dream, storing large items and material takes up so much space. The plan is to put a semi enclosed lean to on the garage to move the trailer in and some larger items and patio furniture.

I love the hydraulic workbench you have. The older I get the more I want to do things like that.

In my previous shop it was sunk in a pit flush with the floor to be out of the way when lowered. It is run by the yellow pendant control on the blue cord reel overhead. The hoist rail overhead allows placing heavy items on top of it and the dual height adjustability between the hoist and table comes in handy in some cases.

 

[kitdoctor]

Please join me on my journey and enjoy all of the "treasures" I've bought, lost, and now get to find again. It's like shopping, only this time I've already paid.

@a57belair2 we're just in the process of relocating and I anticipate much of same. I've collected car parts since 2009, before that it was...

 

[OccupantRJ]

Remember that cleaning and organization of a clustered group of items is like a tiny mouse eating an elephant. Take one bite at a time and chew on it. Having a trash can and not being afraid to use it is first step in a cleanup process. This following thread was my reboot in 1999. It took everything in me to even want to restore and have the workshop. This is how my hobby of refurbishing machines began.

You think YOU"VE had moisture problems?

In September of 1999, I lost my book where I kept up with oil changes and such, so I decided to start fresh and change the oil in every thing I owned at once, then start a maintenance database to keep things straight. Needless to say, I had used oil in every available bucket and pan I could lay...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[a57belair2]

Remember that cleaning and organization of a clustered group of items is like a tiny mouse eating an elephant. Take one bite at a time and chew on it. Having a trash can and not being afraid to use it is first step in a cleanup process. This following thread was my reboot in 1999. It took everything in me to even want to restore and have the workshop. This is how my hobby of refurbishing machines began.

You think YOU"VE had moisture problems?

In September of 1999, I lost my book where I kept up with oil changes and such, so I decided to start fresh and change the oil in every thing I owned at once, then start a maintenance database to keep things straight. Needless to say, I had used oil in every available bucket and pan I could lay...

www.garagejournal.com

Wow, two flooded properties in a week is wild. I can't even imagine. I'll stick with my snow!

 

[zanyad]

I'm trying to instill that in my boys, but it's tough for me, too!

 

[a57belair2]

Making some progress on another bay. I can see the floor and walk in, what a time to be alive. The boxes on the trailer will be going back once we get our replacement parts to the couch. Looking forward to that. Slow progress as we get ready for our annual 4th of July part. Back at it again after the 4th.

I know these last few updates might not feel like a ton of progress but it has been huge being able to move around better. A bit overwhelmed at a times but still pushing and getting rid of things. It's still my goal to get this done this summer.

 

[Uncle murph]

Making some progress on another bay. I can see the floor and walk in, what a time to be alive. The boxes on the trailer will be going back once we get our replacement parts to the couch. Looking forward to that. Slow progress as we get ready for our annual 4th of July part. Back at it again after the 4th.

I know these last few updates might not feel like a ton of progress but it has been huge being able to move around better. A bit overwhelmed at a times but still pushing and getting rid of things. It's still my goal to get this done this summer.

This is heartbreaking.

 

[M.Brane]

Progress is progress. Just keep chipping away, and you'll get there.

 

[RoninB4]

Making some progress on another bay. I can see the floor and walk in, what a time to be alive.

-It would appear that you use the same organizational system that I do. Great minds think alike?

 

[rharman]

@a57belair2 - Every little bit of progress that makes you feel better is a good thing. Keep at it!

 

[tyyost]

I admire your progress. We moved about year and a half ago and I have been chipping away at 100’s of things to get organized. Looking at the last bay with the trailer I see so many tools and other stuff unhomed. I must have two dozen milk crates with oils, lube, sprays, etc. They stack nice and stable, and are usually easy to see into. Keep plugging away, getting like tools with like tools, and try to get some shelves up high for the someday stuff, like the 3/4 wrenches.

 

[Mr. Tool]

Keep at it my man....just keep at it!.....your making progress!

 

[a57belair2]

Not a ton of work done over the last week. However I have now put the tables, popups, lights, and assorted 4th of July items back in their home. I also stacked up my Durham organizer all together. I would bolt them together but I'm not sure if it is the final home or not. Back at it bit by bit this week, making sure to have full garbage and recycling bins out as well.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I wouldn't say full hoarder but for sure can see that side. It's just been years treating it like a junk drawer while getting things for future projects. The cold winters for sure don't help.

Oh no my baby is not going in the garage like this. That is another reason for my push. I am looking forward to working on projects with him when he is older but that won't happen as it sits today.

The stack of boxes is a temporary issue (while not the only issue) so in about 45 days I can be safe in getting rid of them and I can't wait, I have a calendar reminder so I can get them gone!

Can we now assume that you held to your commitment and got rid of all the furniture boxes when their time was up?

 

[a57belair2]

Can we now assume that you held to your commitment and got rid of all the furniture boxes when their time was up?

I have about 5 left. Waiting the the replacement parts and then the current couch components will ship back in the five in the garage. I did however get rid of about 15 or so, and boy that felt great! It's always a bit wild how long it can take to get parts for things. In the store it was "two weeks for the parts". Order placed, items on backorder ETA 12 weeks (this was after having the couch for about 50 days as we went back and forth with keeping it as is or not). I'm just glad they are letting us keep the parts we are returning while we wait or else we wouldn't have couch for almost 3 months. Downside, I have to save a few of the boxes to send back the recliner parts.

 

[nadogail]

I have come to the realization that I have been a little bit of a Hoarder for years. I now am more selective about the “Neat ****”that I pick up and bring home.
I do a little Happy Dance when I get rid of any piece of my accumulation.
When I get back home from the hospital I will renew my cleaning activities.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have come to the realization that I have been a little bit of a Hoarder for years. I now am more selective about the “Neat ****”that I pick up and bring home.
I do a little Happy Dance when I get rid of any piece of my accumulation.
When I get back home from the hospital I will renew my cleaning activities.

On this site, I think we all have a little bit of the hoarder gene in us. Threads like this help keep me grounded.lol

 

[a57belair2]

I have come to the realization that I have been a little bit of a Hoarder for years. I now am more selective about the “Neat ****”that I pick up and bring home.
I do a little Happy Dance when I get rid of any piece of my accumulation.
When I get back home from the hospital I will renew my cleaning activities.

The "Neat ****" trap is a hard one. Especially seeing new things people are getting or just the shear volume of different interests. It's always the mental step of do I really need this tool/item/space taker.

 

[Old Man Roger]

The "Neat ****" trap is a hard one. Especially seeing new things people are getting or just the shear volume of different interests. It's always the mental step of do I really need this tool/item/space taker.

What’s even more difficult is equipment that was actually used regularly but isn’t any longer. I have a lathe I used daily years ago for work, but I haven’t used it since.

It takes up a ton of space and I’ve moved 4 times since. Putting that thing in a moving truck is no small job.lol

 

[a57belair2]

I had a little bit of time before work today and found myself just meandering in the garage. So I took some air fitting out of the package and put them in my organizers. I have more laying around the garage so as I come across them I'll have a place to put them. I would add these John Deere High Flow fittings in my orders when needed to hit the free shipping. For $7.99 a pack I think they are a good deal on the HF fittings I moved over to. So now I have them all in one place and I could add the packaging to the recycling bin getting picked up. Not much work but little things like this make me feel better. The goal is to get something done every day even if it is something little. Forward progress always.

 

[a57belair2]

Some more organizing today before work, not all of the air fittings I have but what I can get to right now. I now understand the power of having things put away so you know what you have and then what you need. I'm sure some of this overage was due to not being able to find what I have when I needed it.

I started out using Industrial fittings but have made the move over in V/High Flow/Euro style after watching some Obsessed Garage videos. I have way more fittings/couplers for an upcoming project. On the subject of that in hindsight I wish I would have planned it out better as I've changed directions a few times. But I can't wait to have airlines ran thought the garage so I'm not always stretching hoses all over the place. Something about using air I just love.

 

[a57belair2]

Cleared off one of my carts and decided to take the legs off the sandblaster and move it on the cart. This way I can free up some space and move this outside or around if needed. Downside is that it is now very tall so maybe I'll use some scrap wood to make a lifted platform to stand on when I need to use this. Feels great to free up some more floorspace, might not be the final place but will let me try out some things. Not a bad way to spend my lunch time between meetings. The progress continues.

 

[ssjones]

I had that same Ariens snow blower when we lived up in Maryland. That thing was a beast.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Cleared off on of my carts and decided to take the legs off the sandblaster and move it on the cart. This way I can free up some space and move this outside or around if needed. Downside is that it is now very tall so maybe I'll use some scrap wood to make a lifted platform to stand on when I need to use this. Feels great to free up some more floorspace, might not be the final place but will let me try out some things. Not a bad way to spend my lunch time between meetings. The progress continues.

Now you are getting there. You just gained about 6 square feet of floor space. The more you organize the more stimulating and entertaining to organize it all will be.

 

[a57belair2]

I had that same Ariens snow blower when we lived up in Maryland. That thing was a beast.

It has been fantastic for the last 6 or so years. Still starts on the first pull to fight those snowy Buffalo winters!

 

[stroked93]

Only thing to add, is I have become very selective on what additional stuff i drag home. There is no deal so good you cant pass on it. Even free costs time money and space.

 

[545_days]

My wife and have been on a clean out campaign both in the house and the garage over the past few months.

We are far from hoarders, but after almost 30 years in our home we have accumulated a lot of "stuff". It is amazing what you find at the back of cabinets and closets that hasn't seen the light of day in decades. If we haven't needed it in a decade or more we don't need it at all, and it is very satisfying to eliminate clutter.

 

[rharman]

Cleared off one of my carts and decided to take the legs off the sandblaster and move it on the cart. This way I can free up some space and move this outside or around if needed. Downside is that it is now very tall so maybe I'll use some scrap wood to make a lifted platform to stand on when I need to use this. Feels great to free up some more floorspace, might not be the final place but will let me try out some things. Not a bad way to spend my lunch time between meetings. The progress continues.

I bought one of these exercise steppers to better see into the top of my toolbox stack. Slides under the bottom box when not in use. I keep thinking about embedding rare earth magnets into the corners so it'll hang from the underside of the box. Just haven't done it.

 

[a57belair2]

Feels good to clear things out off these buckets... now I can see that I have a lot of buckets! Sand, tools, garbage, paint, and so much more taken out and put away. Small wins this week as I get ready to go on a little vacation. When I get back I plan to clean off another cart and use that as a mobile organization station for the rest of the project.

I've decided that my goal date is September 30th to have this all done. Lofty goal for sure and I'll likely take a few sporadic days off of work to really push this along. I'm starting to feel the progress as I have to dodge a lot fewer things to just move around. I figure by putting the date here it will also help me be more accountable.

 

[zanyad]

Progress is good.

 

[Mr. Tool]

I've decided that my goal date is September 30th to have this all done.

My man!....you've come a long way from when you first started.......just continue to keep at it.

It's good that you've set a completion date, etc......if you achieve that, that would definitely be fantastic for you....if not, well then don't be discouraged or hard on yourself....... keep plugging away because you can definitely see the ending is near in sight.

One thing to keep in mind during all this.......the end is when YOU are completely satisfied with your progress and results of your goal.

Again....just keep at it and don't give up!

 

[Prospecter]

When I get back I plan to clean off another cart and use that as a mobile organization station for the rest of the project.

I did exactly this. One of my better workshop improvements. Really increases my efficiency!

 

[tyyost]

I've decided that my goal date is September 30th to have this all done. Lofty goal for sure and I'll likely take a few sporadic days off of work to really push this along. I'm starting to feel the progress as I have to dodge a lot fewer things to just move around. I figure by putting the date here it will also help me be more accountable.

I think that goal is very reasonable and gets you in shape for the fall and winter. Keep plugging away, sorting like things together and then finding a home for them. You‘ll know you are in the home stretch when you start projects that get you more organized or storage.