Future home of my '56

Brian_B_ · May 25, 2012

hello ladies and gentlemen,

I want to say thank you all for participating in this forum. It is inspirational.

A bit of background. I have had some major health problems for a while (won't go into that!) and have just let things go around the house.

I was raised by parents who are packrats themselves. Mom being much worse than my father. Anyway, I inherited their tendencies and my garage has become unusable over the years.

My little brother has "broken the mold" so to speak. He has a large (24' X 30'...I think) shop that is very organized. He was my inspiration to start changing my ways. I am finding it is not easy to let things go. I have had the "I may need that" mentality all my life. Working on it...

With his help, I have started cleaning mine out. I am finding tools I didn't even know I had. I do not have pictures of any of the mess that we started with. Lets just say I have kept the trash company busy. :yikes:

I have current pictures and a few progress pictures that I would like to share with you. Some of the pictures are from a cell phone, so I apologize in advance for the quality.

Before I started working too much in the garage Dad and I replace my old broken sears garage door opener with a chaimberlin 1/2 HP belt drive. I bought a 20" shop fan from Home Depot. Since I have such bad balance problems, I also purchased a warner aluminum platform to work from. The ceilings are 8'-9" in the garage.

This is my home...that is no longer my truck. LOL

I stripped everything off the house side wall (it is drywall), made repairs, primed with two coats of Kilz, and painted. These shelves are recycled packing crates from where my brother works.

The left back corner was old nasty green paneling, it was stripped of junk and has received the same paint treatment.

The yard side of the garage has again been stripped and painted. I have started longer narrow shelves here. Long way to go with them.

This is the back wall of the garage (1\2 bath-laundry sink-washer\dryer) which has not been touched yet.

This is the other corner (back door to deck is behind all that junk) that again has not been touched yet.

It has been a tremendous amount of work to get it this far. I have a long way to go still. I am, however, finding so many tools. I have a couple of tool boxes I am starting to organize now (thanks to the many posts on this forum).

I really appreciate all the wonderful inspiration YOU are posting on this board about.

Thank you,
Brian

EDIT: Since I asked that the thread title be changed...I thought I would post a pic of what will be in it at some point.

marty_p · May 25, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Way to go, Brian! :thumbup:

mdbeck1 · May 25, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

It looks like you have a good start on it.

Note: It's a good idea to put your rough physical location into your information. That way others will know if they are close in case you need help or want to sell something local...

Brian_B_ · May 25, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

mdbeck1 said:
........Note: It's a good idea to put your rough physical location into your information. That way others will know if they are close in case you need help or want to sell something local...

I was working on that. :thumbup:

New to this forum. I had to find it first.

Nighttrain · May 25, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Great job on taking back your garage. I too have had the problem of keeping stuff for that one day I can use it. This last year I got rid of a lot of those project including motorcycles a tractor and some outboard motors. It's a great relief not to think about the maintenance on them any more. O yea also a big old camper that we were not really using.

Brian_B_ · May 25, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Thanks all. It is nice to hear encouraging comments. To me it looks horrible still. :eyecrazy:

As mentioned above I am finding tools (apparently missing some too). I started organizing one of my boxes today. I did not make much progress.

3/8" drive:

1/4" and 1/2":

Not done here (borrowed this idea from a member here somewhere):

I have more of these trays and a lot more wrenches, but I need to cut the handles off first.

Brian_B_ · May 27, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Not any real progress. Just digging out tools and putting some away.

I think I found most of my air tools. These will go on a wall rack when I get a chance to make one.

SAE wrench drawer (combination and ratchet).

Metric wrench drawer (need another rack-HF was out).

I filled two drawers in my other bottom box with clamps of various kinds (no pics). They too will go on the wall when I get to that point.

andrewsnmorgan · May 27, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Keep trucking, Looking awesome!

Subbed.

Brian_B_ · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I spent a bit of the day working on my snapper RER. The plastic fuel tank is very very old and cracked. I cleaned and epoxied it. Let it dry over night and see if it leaks still.

I did manage to sort some more tools today.

Mid drawer for electrical:

Upper drawers:

Hammers and pry bars:

Spring clamps:

Vice clamps:

Most of the drawers labeled (these are just magnets):

Tarheelgarage · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

If you have a hoarding problem, the last place you want to visit is this webite; kinda like leading a recovering alchoholci around a liquor store..

Brian_B_ · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Tarheelgarage said:
If you have a hoarding problem, the last place you want to visit is this webite; kinda like leading a recovering alchoholci around a liquor store..

In one way I agree with you. Now I want more name brand tools!

However, seeing the organized shops that so many have around here...is helping. Not only with organizing ideas...but encouragement to make mine like that.

Working garage..not a show place.

I am not posting pics of the other side at the moment. I think I have 9 of those ********* yard bags full of junk to go in the trash this week (the hoarding part of me). My work bench is covered with stuff that needs to be sorted and put away (when I get more shelves built).

The tools I am sort of organizing now were just being piled on, under, and around the work bench as I clean in the rest of the garage.

There is a large pile of lumber (from more packing crates) to make more shelves, and a lot of auto body supplies\tools just piled over on the other side right now.

I do not have a storage shed. My riding mower, weed eater, and all my yard tools are in the garage too. yes.. a shed is on the list.

Hotrod1959 · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Brian,

Now that I am in my older I find that less is more (except for tools). I have been saving (hoarding) things that I think I will use some day. Thanks to my son buying a house I have been putting most of it to good use. If feels liberating to rid myself of it and put it to use at the same time. Keep plugging away and it will all be worth it in the end.

Brian_B_ · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Thank you Hotrod1959. I appreciate the encouragement. It means a lot to someone with this mental block.

This is going to be very slow..but will keep doing a little as I can. Unfortunately, I have a lot of limitations.

I realize I have a long way to go just in the garage, but so far this has not been an expensive ordeal. boxes and boxes of ********* trash bags!!!! Some drywall mud, various sandpaper, TSP substitute (for the panelling), Kilz primer, Behr paint, a couple of huge boxes of screws, and some HF tool organizers.

The biggest investment for anyone (I assume) is time.

USMCdodge · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

That garage has major potential sir. Now that you have the ball rolling with this project it will just get easier to decipher between what you do and don't need. cant wait to see where you go with it. post more pics soon. you also have to come up with a witty name for your garage!

RECox286 · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

May I hint that YOU **** ! My garage/shop looks as if we had a nuke test in the

middle of a tool storm.

Uncle Bob

Brian_B_ · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Thank you USMCdodge. Any suggestions for a witty name? I am horrible at that sort of thing.

RECox286: You didn't see mine before. Ever watch that show hoarders? yeah...there you go. Not only did I just let junk pile up everywhere...but my mom and her friends were always having garage sales at my house (I am in town). They left tons of junk in there..piled on top of mine. It was almost to the roof!!!! Not even a path to the garage door from the kitchen.

I could not even hazard a guess as to how many trash bags have come out of there so far..plus anything usable has been donated to people who need it.

I know..a dumpster would have been faster, but I have limitations..so slow is the way I have to do it :willy_nil

RECox286 · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

When I die, and before I'm cold, I am convinced my wife will have 2 40yd

bins dumped in 'my' driveway. (There is a standing order placed with the

disposal company, and the trucks are loaded and "on alert" for a call, day or

night.)

Uncle Bob

Brian_B_ · May 28, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

RECox286: It took me working with my brother in his shop rebuilding the front suspension on my mercury to "change me". Well..at least make me want to change.

He would be under the vehicle and need a tool or something. He could tell me on what shelf or in what drawer....usually left or right side of the drawer or what it was next to on a shelf....

When he completes a job..you stop and clean up. Throw away trash, old parts get put in the trash or recycling bins (if metals), fluids get poured into containers for recycling, tools get wiped down and put away, and the floors swept.

Then and ONLY THEN do you move on to the next project.

It stunned me, quite honestly. We were not raised that way.

He does not have expensive tools, toolboxes, a fancy shop, or anything. It is neat and organized though. I can do that!

USMCdodge · May 29, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

you gotta decide that one. something pertaining to what you like to do or what kind of cars you like?

admranger · May 29, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

It's nice that you could do this with your brother.

Having been raised by depression era parents, I understand "pack rat" syndrome all too well. Something is used until it disintegrates or it is stored because "I might need that" someday. Throwing things away or donating things has been something I've had to learn on my own. I still have moments where I think "where is that thing?" that I think I could use on a certain job, only to realize it went out with the last recycling load. I'll eventually get over it!

Brian_B_ · May 29, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

USMCdodge: Hmm...gotta think about that one for a while. Other than general maintenance on my daily driver (Mercury Mountaineer), I own a 56 Ford F-100 (link in sig line). That is my only real hobby. I am an ok mechanic and a wannabe body\paint guy. :headscrat

Now..steel fabricator..I have that down. I started arc welding when I was 9 years old.

admranger: Actually, my brother lives out of state. He has helped twice in the garage that I can remember. I am working through the rest at a snails pace. I go up to his place to visit for the weekend sometimes and come back with a load of lumber for more shelves.

Today nothing to report garage wise. It has been a busy day around here. I did get rid of a lot of overstuffed trash bags and repaint the fuel tank for my rider that I epoxied yesterday.

Brian_B_ · Jun 1, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I have to keep putting money into my old worn out snapper just to keep it running. Work on it to start mowing..work on it while trying to mow..work on it after mowing.

Dad got tired of it and bought this for me tonight.

2011 Poulan XT, 17.5 Briggs and Stratton, 42" cut. It has barely been used at all. I got it dirty driving it a few blocks home.

softailgarage · Jun 1, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Nice ride Brian, your doing good, keep it up.

a-fordable · Jun 1, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Nice yard ride!---hang on in there-one day at a time-keep us posted with pics of your progress*

Dan in Pasadena · Jun 2, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Brian,
Welcome and sorry to hear about your health issues but its excellent that you persevere despite them; don't let them limit you any more than is absolutely necessary. Excellent attitude, dude!

Congrats also on conquering or at least redirecting your hoarding tendencies. I think you're substituting one obsession (hoard) with another more positive obsession organization (at least its more positive to us!).

I think what you've done so far looks great, keep it up! When you find your enthusiasm waning just drop in for a "fix". Its what I do.

Brian_B_ · Jun 2, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Thanks gentlemen.

Dan In Pasadena: My health if a good part of why dad found the mower for me. I have been messing with that old mower for the last 3 days (I can only do a little at a time) to try to mow the yard. I get part mowed and it quits again....work on it a while...it quits again..repeat...repeat...repeat. You get the idea.

This will make life so much easier for me. :bowdown:

I am supposed to help dad at his place this weekend, so no progress in my garage. You are right..its not easy (hoarding is a horrible thing to deal with)..but I am trying to make the transition.

I have a long list of things I need and want to do in there. :willy_nil

reddog289 · Jun 2, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I know what your dealing with. I deal with it myself. After reading though what seems like 100 pages of stuff on another thread. I too need to clean up my act and of course the garage. Keep on it!!

Mmfh · Jun 2, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I know your story only too well, health problems, parents who taught me to hang onto stuff, need to keep so I can use it later. Man I know exactly how you feel!

About a year or so ago I found this forum while recovery from Heart surgery, saw a bunch of garages/shops and I wanted in. My garage was stuffed to the rafters and a 40' shipping container to boot. I'm only good for a few hours a day but I've been sticking with it and it looks much better. I can feel the excitement thinking about using it as a productive space again.

Do you ever just stand and stare and think about what you want it to look like when its done? Feels like when you are cleaning you are just moving stuff around because you don't want to get rid of it, but don't know what to do with it either?

You are doing great! I started thinking about it like this, all this stuff I'm keeping for another day, another project, its all stuff I'm in charge of, Its my responsibility to take care of it and keep it safe. Just a bunch of junk really.

I don't want to be responsible for taking care of it anymore. I choose to get rid of it so I don't have to worry about keeping everything safe and inside. Inside is my most expensive and valuable Real Estate! Not a good place to keep my most unused stuff.

As you already now know, its going to feel great when you can look over your newly found Real Estate and smile thinking of all the fun stuff you are going to do in there! Or just be proud of your cool looking space!

Your doing a Great Job, Keep it up!!

Mm

64dragnwagon · Jun 2, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I too suffer from the "I might be able to use that someday" syndrome. I actually do use a lot of stuff I saved then it sets me back because I say "see I knew I would need this someday" I am not a hoarder (yet) but I do need to throw out a bunch of old car parts and other junk I have saved in my garage. My biggest problem is 2 project cars in my garage that have been untouched for years. I want my garage back and I think I am fiunally ready to admit that I will never finsh them and get rid of them. I want to make room to set up a small woodworking shop.

Brian_B_ · Jun 5, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I am learning I am not the only one like this. I am very thankful I found this forum. You are all very much appreciated. All of your comments are taken to heart.

I think (for me anyway) the first step was admitting I have a problem. It is difficult, but with your help and encouragement I am starting to get there.

I have had some very bad days recently. Today I was finally able to do a little in the garage. Not a lot, but some.

Cleaning and throwing away more junk is always something I try to do when I am out there. I filled another black trash bag today.

I primed and painted these "Air tool racks". (home made)

I finished the first shelf on the yard side of the garage and completed the frame for the second one.

If I ever get these shelves done, I can put away a lot of the stuff that is stored in boxes (on the floor) on the other side of the garage.

I have probably 50 paint brushes of various shapes and sizes (new-were given to me). I am making some racks to hang them on that will go in my metal cabinet.

Brian_B_ · Jun 6, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I am paying for overdoing it. :headshake

I finished the 2nd shelf today.

Helping hand? These are 12' long.

The 3rd shelf is actually screwed to the studs now (just clamps on the front to hold it). I was getting sick and had to quit.

If anyone ever tries to remove all these shelves they will want to :uzi:

me. I am using 3 1/2" screws on all the 2X4s. :willy_nil

I have the extra mower in my way now (I will get rid of the old snapper as soon as I can). By using up some of the lumber from the packing crates, I am slowly gaining some floor space. If I can ever get this group of shelves done, I can get about half 1/3 of my garage back.

Papa Tango 213 · Jun 6, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Nice post. This type of thing is very interesting and even therapeutic for me to read and be inspired. Keep up the fine work and I hope your health improves.

Brian_B_ · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Another long day (for me anyway).

I managed to finish the 3rd shelf..finally. I decided not to put a higher 4th shelf at this time.

I have some other areas to put more shelves first. Then I will see if I need or want more.

The finished shelves:

They are not organized by any means, but I am getting junk off the floor.

Alchymist · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I keep trying to convince the family that I am not a hoarder, but a "project enabler". Each and every thing I save is with some view to a future project. Seems to be working so far.

Dan in Pasadena · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Brian,

I'm sure that's a 1000% improvement and it really looks good. What's truly great is that despite your health issues you stuck it out. Now THAT is an inspirational story. I better get up off my lazy **** and do something!

Brian_B_ · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Dan in Pasadena said:
Brian,

I'm sure that's a 1000% improvement and it really looks good. What's truly great is that despite your health issues you stuck it out. Now THAT is an inspirational story. I better get up off my lazy **** and do something!

Thank you.

Is slow going. A lot of days i am not able to do anything :sad:

, but days I can physically, I try to spend at least an hour in the garage. Its sort of a goal...if that makes any sense.

I am proud of that area right now...even though its not sorted out yet. :bounce:

I cleaned off some of the other side and put some more tools up on them, but forgot to take a picture.

Rico. · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Brian, I satlute you Sir.....

There are so many people in this world that can do and don't.... and then there are people
like you, that will push themselves way past the point that they should have stopped. You
will be much more of an inspiration to people on this forum, than this forum will be to you. :bowdown:

I can empathise with the hoarding upbringing. My Dad was a 'just in case' kind of chap, and
I was very much like him until I made my breakthrough in my mid 20's. Now I manage to
keep my little workshop very organised and it just makes working on stuff so much more
pleasurable, as you experienced with your Brother.

From what you described, you have come a million miles from where you started from and
your Workshop is really starting to take shape... Keep it up, just a bit at a time, and before
you know it you will be sitting at your workbench with a favourite beverage and a sense of
pride that know one can describe to you.... Then the fun really begins... Good luck Old Bean.

Rico.

Binrat · Jun 7, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

I really like the way the shelves don't restrict floor space. Clean and open for sweeping it out or like you did rolling the toolbox under them. Very nice. You might want to use some of those paint brushes and put a coat of paint on them before they get too covered up.

Brian_B_ · Jun 8, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Once again Thank you.

Your kind words are very encouraging. I think I have turned a corner from my previous self. Its driving me nuts now to have stuff still piled in cardboard boxes all over the place. I think I emptied 14 today? I took it to the recycling place. I have another big bag of trash ready to go too.

The eventual "plan" is to paint the shelves (and the rest of the walls). I am glad you mentioned that.

The reason the shelves are braced back against the wall..was not originally because of ease of cleaning nor storage. That was a happy side effect. I have horrible balance problems on top of being clumsy. I have been in garages with the legs straight down and keep tripping over them. :headshake

I am working in the inventor software playing with work bench designs. It may be a while before I build what I want. Budget...

admranger · Jun 8, 2012

Re: packrat bordering on hoarder....

Loving it! Nice progress.

I can relate to not getting things done. I have about 1/2 of my cabinet drawers to organize and another cabinet to hang. I take 10x longer doing things than I plan for it seems...

Keep it up!

Future home of my '56

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