new guy here, and this is the smallest "shop" i've ever worked out of

Matt Walter · Sep 18, 2018

Hey all! I'd like to introduce myself. I just signed up yesterday, though i've drooled over garage threads on here for years. my new place has a small 11x24 single car garage that was probably meant to house an Oldsmobile 88 and no more, lol! I have a 24x24 carport in the backyard i fully intend to enclose when the time is right, but for now I have just this small space. I'm hoping you guys may share some of your ideas with me on utilizing the space. I will run routine maintenance on my dragweek car (drag car that is street driven for those that aren't familiar with the event) but need to be able to do some fabrication out of this space from time to time. I'm hoping the 24x24 is enclosed before the next heavy fab job comes my way though. here's what i'm working with so far:

before i got moved in, we had just bought the house.

some of my junk crammed in there. i have a lot more to put in there too :/

built this workbench 2 nights ago. the intention is to put 1/8" steel top on it to add some life to the top as well as make it a "welding table" when the need arises. also, the opening to the left of the shelf is the right size to house a 44" us general lower (minus casters) and i will be getting that asap.

and one of the toy that resides in the shop

i know it's not the smallest space i've seen on here, but it's definitely the smallest space i've worked out of (the last shop was 24' wide and 20' deep.) Any and all suggestions on how to maximize the space is greatly appreciated!

ZipSnafu · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome to GJ. You are working in tight quarters. All I can really say is welcome.

Falcon67 · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome - any space out of the weather is a good space. To maximize space use in my shop - which is not really small - I go up with storage and put everything possible on wheels. Metal saw, press, MIG, blast cabinet, collapsible engine crane, etc. Lets you pack things in a corner until needed. HF sells a decent fold up welding table - make a 3/4 ply cover for it and it doubles as a portable work bench.

jackson1701 · Sep 18, 2018

welcome, I see you're in hazzard county too

Matt Walter · Sep 18, 2018

jackson1701 said:
welcome, I see you're in hazzard county too

yessir, i'm new to the area. we moved from Southern Carroll County. I'm right off 152, so i get to see a lot of nice hot rod type traffic out on the road during nice weekends

garagedriven · Sep 18, 2018

Nice. I'm about to build a new 14' x 19'6" detached garage so look forward following along and to any space saving ideas. Good luck.

GirlnAgarage · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome and looks like you have a bit of a challenge in that new space compared to the last, but it's cozy.

For the small space, utilize the walls and overhead for storage. Keep clutter off the floors unless it is underneath a shelf or bench. Clutter creeps into the walk/work space and begins to cramp to room. Definitely put any machines on casters so you can roll them out into the middle of the floor when the car isn't in there. Have good lighting. Good LEDs will open up the place. It's hard working cramped and blind, give yourself a chance for the space to feel open and bright. For housekeeping, put away your tools after you wrap up each day. Everything must have a place and it needs to go there unless you're using it. Again, the control the clutter.

Stuart in MN · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome to the site. Did you just get back from Drag Week? I watched some of the videos online, there were some crazy fast cars attending.

Matt Walter · Sep 18, 2018

Stuart in MN said:
Welcome to the site. Did you just get back from Drag Week? I watched some of the videos online, there were some crazy fast cars attending.

No i sat 2018 out after hurting the engine in 2017, and then my wife gave birth to our 3rd child the week before 2018 so I couldn't have gone anyway, lol! we will be trying hard again in 2019.

tfinniii · Sep 18, 2018

Tight is when you can only get out of car on one side only.

Matt Walter · Sep 18, 2018

GirlnAgarage said:
Welcome and looks like you have a bit of a challenge in that new space compared to the last, but it's cozy.

For the small space, utilize the walls and overhead for storage. Keep clutter off the floors unless it is underneath a shelf or bench. Clutter creeps into the walk/work space and begins to cramp to room. Definitely put any machines on casters so you can roll them out into the middle of the floor when the car isn't in there. Have good lighting. Good LEDs will open up the place. It's hard working cramped and blind, give yourself a chance for the space to feel open and bright. For housekeeping, put away your tools after you wrap up each day. Everything must have a place and it needs to go there unless you're using it. Again, the control the clutter.

i was already considering doing some LED lights after i installed just a single 30" above the work bench and was amazed at the difference. i'll do the rest of the garage that way too.

as for the wall space, i already have a few things in the works, but nothing set in stone. i'll keep ya posted with how things come along.

Matt Walter · Sep 18, 2018

tfinniii said:
Tight is when you can only get out of car on one side only.

i don't disagree with you, but most of the guys that have a garage that small are not running a race program out of it either, lol!

LS1-IROC · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome Matt! Good to see you over here. Congrats on the latest addition to the family.

Moose97 · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome! I'm in a 16'X20" shop and it's challenging but doable! Can you put a carport in front of the garage? That would go a long way to make a workspace that's covered at least.

captain14 · Sep 18, 2018

Welcome from College Park.

Take pictures as you locate your equipment so we can offer input also.

We’ll help spend your money too!

zeke67 · Sep 18, 2018

I think you'd be well served to move the existing wooden cabinet on the side to the back wall.

cullen · Sep 18, 2018

Get a shed and put everything that is not used often in that shed (press,jackstands,compressor etc.).

Matt Walter · Sep 19, 2018

for full disclosure, we do have a 10x20 shed on the property, but it's on the opposite side of the yard so putting things over there would mean making a whole new work station there, and honestly after having done some work out of the garage that is a little messier than i like to be near the car, i may move some of my operation out there anyway. at lest for the time being.

i could put a carport out front (as in, there is space to do so) but i am hesitant to spend resources on it since there is a 24x24 carport in the back begging to have walls and a big door. I'd like to spend my money on that first.

i'm hoping to get another load of equipment late this weekend. i'll be sure to update you guys with what i come up with.

Zeke, you're right and i'll be moving that cabinet asap. I have a ford 9" center section i'm setting up in the evenings this week, but i'm going to try to finish up my work station over the weekend.

Matt Walter · Sep 25, 2018

not a great status report this morning. I did receive my pneumatic tool rack that i ordered on ebay so i slapped that up. also hung a fan(I really despise being hot) and got my bolt bins in the garage, though i don't know if they will stay there. that green cabinet takes up a large amount of real estate so not sure if it will stay where it is or not either. it may end up in the shed, lol.

looking at this pic i'm realizing the space between the car and the wall is basically unusable for more than just a narrow walk-way. the slicks will be migrating downstairs after next month as i always keep them in a controlled environment, completely deflated for winter storage.

Also got a side job knocked out. Ring and pinion set up in a Strange Pro HD aluminum case.

more to come soon!

GirlnAgarage · Sep 26, 2018

Good start. The more you're in there using it the quicker you'll figure out the layout and where you need things.

That R&P looks pretty. Is that gold colored tubular thing a jig of some kind?

Matt Walter · Sep 26, 2018

yes, it's a stand/holder. it's bolted to the top of my work bench for now. it can also go in an engine stand, though not much room for me to have an engine stand at the moment.

red61cj5 · Sep 26, 2018

Welcome, do you go to cecil dragway much? (Is it still there?) In another life I used to live in Aberdeen.

Matti · Sep 26, 2018

I restored 4 Mopars in an 11x22 garage so it can be done.

NUTTSGT · Sep 26, 2018

Matt Walter said:
Also got a side job knocked out. Ring and pinion set up in a Strange Pro HD aluminum case.

more to come soon!

Food for thought as a lot of members have done this here. Get a piece of square tubing, hitch size. Weld a plate to it and mount to the bottom side of the work bench top.

Get a another section of receiver size tubing and mount that pig holder to it. You can do this with other tools like a bench grinder. Slide them in when you need to use them to free up what little bench space you have.

Also, since you are doing cutting and welding in that small space, get yourself a metal trash can with a lid, a USA made Behrens 31 gal can is about $25.

Matt Walter · Sep 27, 2018

red61cj5 said:
Welcome, do you go to cecil dragway much? (Is it still there?) In another life I used to live in Aberdeen.

i have raced there a handful of times (it's still there!) and it will be my new "home" track now.

Matt Walter · Sep 27, 2018

NUTTSGT said:
Food for thought as a lot of members have done this here. Get a piece of square tubing, hitch size. Weld a plate to it and mount to the bottom side of the work bench top.

Get a another section of receiver size tubing and mount that pig holder to it. You can do this with other tools like a bench grinder. Slide them in when you need to use them to free up what little bench space you have.

Also, since you are doing cutting and welding in that small space, get yourself a metal trash can with a lid, a USA made Behrens 31 gal can is about $25.

i like it! i'll see if i can incorporate that somehow.

GirlnAgarage · Sep 28, 2018

NUTTSGT said:
Food for thought as a lot of members have done this here. Get a piece of square tubing, hitch size. Weld a plate to it and mount to the bottom side of the work bench top.

Get a another section of receiver size tubing and mount that pig holder to it. You can do this with other tools like a bench grinder. Slide them in when you need to use them to free up what little bench space you have.

Also, since you are doing cutting and welding in that small space, get yourself a metal trash can with a lid, a USA made Behrens 31 gal can is about $25.

I've wanted to add this to the current bench to free up space. Is there an ideal minimum thickness on the benchtop to support the weight? I know the plate spreads out the load but there's still got to be a minimum right? I've got 3/4" birch ply.

ScottsGT · Sep 28, 2018

My problem is I turn any flat surface into a horizontal **** collector. I'm about to get rid of my 36" deep work bench and build one smaller to limit my laziness of not putting things away properly.

GirlnAgarage · Sep 28, 2018

ScottsGT said:
My problem is I turn any flat surface into a horizontal **** collector. I'm about to get rid of my 36" deep work bench and build one smaller to limit my laziness of not putting things away properly.

Valid idea for sure.

Was reading another garage build (can't remember who's but I remember it was red and gry color) but he cut his bench down because at the wider size he tended to collect stuff and loose his workspace.

Matt Walter · Oct 1, 2018

that was one reason i didn't want mine any deeper than i made it. it's already collecting things as i realize i'm out of storage already, lol! the absolute worst for me is that tool box tops end up being a collect-all as well. if something doesn't have a place, put it in the top of the tool box. now the tool boxes don't close. lol!

i actually had to work under the carport some this weekend. no room in the little garage for what i was doing. the differential in my daily driver (2000 silverado with 234k miles on it) let go during a towing session from brandywine to fallston. i was able to source a local axle for it and got it back on the road before dinner yesterday.

and carnage

NUTTSGT · Oct 1, 2018

234K, I'd say you got your moneys worth, however, it does ****.

Full rear end swap probably alot easier than trying to get the center section out.

Matt Walter · Oct 1, 2018

i pulled it all apart cause i needed the backing plates off my axle housing. it wasn't that bad truthfully.

the fact that differential lasted this long is astonishing considering how i tend to use this thing. take this load for example. it's not the first time it's seen a load this heavy before either. i had 65psi in the air bags in the back on this load, as well as the load level bars on the hitch cranked too.

thankfully i only had to go about 65 miles like this.

GirlnAgarage · Oct 1, 2018

Ouch, been there done that grenade. Damaged the housing inside too. Replaced with used unit.

That carport area you have there looks like a nice workspace.

NUTTSGT · Oct 1, 2018

Matt Walter said:
i pulled it all apart cause i needed the backing plates off my axle housing. it wasn't that bad truthfully.

the fact that differential lasted this long is astonishing considering how i tend to use this thing. take this load for example. it's not the first time it's seen a load this heavy before either. i had 65psi in the air bags in the back on this load, as well as the load level bars on the hitch cranked too.

thankfully i only had to go about 65 miles like this.

Not only do you need a bigger garage, you need a bigger truck. :lol_hitti

Falcon67 · Oct 1, 2018

I set my home brew R&P assembly tool up for use in an engine stand.

Matt Walter · Oct 1, 2018

nice! my stand was gifted to me actually, otherwise i had plans to make mine. mine too will go in my engine stand, but i didn't have my engine stand at the house during the time i needed to use the differential stand, lol.

Matt Walter · Oct 1, 2018

NUTTSGT said:
Not only do you need a bigger garage, you need a bigger truck.

you ain't lyin!

Matt Walter · Oct 3, 2018

new toy came yesterday

Matt Walter · Oct 5, 2018

this little space is really going to have to break my of some very deep rooted bad habits, lol.

SHOCheapRacing · Oct 5, 2018

Welcome aboard neighbor.

new guy here, and this is the smallest "shop" i've ever worked out of

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