My shop 48x66 in North Ga.

mdkingsley · Dec 9, 2012

Here is my shop, I am Mitchell and I live in North West Ga. We used to have a dairy and our shop was the end of the equipment shed with only 3 sides and the larger stuff would not fit in so I had to lay in the gravel to work on a lot of the equipment. I always said if I ever could I was going to build me a nice shop. Its not done yet, I still have to pick the lights for the center section and the outside lights. I will put a lift in some day but for now the floor is fine to roll around on. The center is 48x30 and the sides are 18 wide. I looked at a lot of shops to see things I liked or did not like and I am pretty happy with it. The only changes I would do over is a 16 eave on the center so the sides are not so flat and poured a deeper section in one of the bays on the side for machines like a bridgeport and lathe. I still have to get the welding station installed in one of the bays soon and finish closing the tool room in with a rollup door. Still planning on more shelves and storage but I don't guess your ever done. The building is financed but everything else I have paid for as I go. We built the loft and I have done all the EMT conduit and wiring myself. The shelves are from a office rental store and were turned in by the census bureau after they were done. I cruise Craiglist and pawn and resale shops as well as auctions to find stuff for the shop. Well enjoy and if your ever in North West Ga. and need to use a shop give me a call.

mdkingsley · Dec 9, 2012

More pics from the work bench and tool room area.

jlylec · Dec 9, 2012

Very nice. What an awesome shop!

mdkingsley · Dec 9, 2012

Decorations, a lot of stuff from my grandfathers shop after he passed away and oil cans that I purchased and the drill press. It is an old Rockwell Delta I picked up at an aution for $80. I need to find a table for it someday but the vice works good for now. The air compressor is a IR series 30 built in the 60s. I got it in the 80s at a county surplus sale. Aired our dairy shop for years and has had one rebuild and 2 motors, still works great. And my plug for our car club Dixie Olds. Cord reel I picked up at a resale shop for $50 that I installed today.

CNGsaves · Dec 24, 2012

Nice big shop with plenty of space.

Particularly interested in unique benchtop Drill Press . . . can you post close-up pics and tell us more? Is it variable speed and handle drilling steel?

clutchee · Dec 24, 2012

Great shop.... One day Ill have one.

What the story with the FJ40?

Running, not, project....

Got a 72,73 and 78 sitting out back.

mwbailey · Dec 25, 2012

Hello Mitchell,

Nice shop in Northwest GA! I'm cruising the web while the wife gets ready for Christmas!

I got the "kit" for my workshop in Cleveland, N GA. . ..

I like your choice of vehicles -- looks like '66 442 and an old Ford pick-up. My vehicles include '67 442 and '76 Ford work truck.

You obviously have more skills than I from looking at your tools. Maybe some day I'll have those tools, too; likely not the skills!!

I understand the preference for concrete over gravel to lie on. . .

ODIS · Dec 25, 2012

Nice big shop and garage. Room for many interesting projects. Based on the equipment in your pictures, looks like you can tackle anything. Do you heat the entire building? Looking forward to reading more about your projects and shop progress.

Ody.

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

CNG I bought the drill press at an aution for $100, it doesn't have an adjustable table but the vice makes it pretty usefull. I just couldn't pass on one this old and in good shape for $100. It is a Delta by Rockwell so I knew it should be a good one. I had to make the handle on the lower part of the vice because it was broken. So I got a handle for a hydrant and drilled a hole for the handle. It seems to work very well. So far the only problem with it is I cant get it slowed down enough for drilling steel with a large bit.

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

Clutchee I found the Cruiser when I was cutting grass in a subdivision. I cut his grass and went to his house to get paid and it was in the garage. I offered to buy it and they were wanting to do some work on the house so about a month later it was mine. It is a 71 and needs new rockers and quarters and a few patches in the tub but is the original 6 with a 4 speed and power disc from a mid 80s model and power steering. The plan is to get it fixed up to sell and buy a media blasting business when the owner retires in 2 years.

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

MWBaily the 442 is a 1976 original 455 big block car, only 143 made with big blocks in 76. It has been media blasted and the frame is done, still have to rebuild the front end and the rear is out to be rebuilt. Originally red with black stripes black interior. The Ford truck is a 67 SWB Stepside I tok on a payment of a bill. My son wanted it so we are going to fix it up for him. Pulling the engine out of it this week while on vacation. Original 352 3 speed but we are going to put a 5 speed back in it. You should check out our Olds club DIXIE Olds. We have some members from SC, do a web search and you can find our web site and activites.

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

ODY I dont heat the shop at all yet, someday I will but not right now. I have been buying shop equipment to use. I still have several things to buy but it is coming along. My goal is to get a hot rod shop up and running before I retire in 10 yrs from the FD. Hopefully I will be putting in a media blaster in a couple of years in a seperate building. I am mainly interested in chassis and fab work not finished to the end projects but that may change. Everything is paid for except the building itself that is the nice part. I buy stuff as I have the cash or trade around. It will not ever be as fancy and nice as some shops and garages but very functional and I keep it clean.
Thanks for all the nice comments.

SiGmA_X · Dec 25, 2012

Nice shop sir!

mwbailey · Dec 25, 2012

Mitchell, Didn't Dixie hold the OCA Nationals in Atlanta several years ago? I attended and had a great time. The "local" group, Mid-Atlantic, has been up and down over the last several years. I think they are active now, but I haven't had the time since retirement!

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

Dixie hosted the OCA sometime in the late 90s then went into hibernation until around 3 years ago when a group of us got it started again. We usually attend the Cops and Rodders in south Atlanta as a group. We host the BOPC show in may this year at the Marietta Marriott, and in Oct. we host an all Olds show with all the proceeds going to the REOlds transportation museum. Check out our website for all the info and for shows past as well as member cars. It is a great club.

IGO2XS · Dec 25, 2012

wow, great looking shop. i just subscribed so keep the updates coming.

mdkingsley · Dec 25, 2012

Thanks IGO, already subscribed to yours Keep up the great work.

shopnut · Dec 26, 2012

It looks like you are ready to take on any job in that shop. Have fun and keep us updated.

mdkingsley · Dec 26, 2012

Thanks Shopnut, it doesn't have as many cool features as your but I am proud of it. Keep up the great work on the Asylum.

steky · Dec 26, 2012

Just traded my 2010 Fj in on car for the wife....miss it bad....would love to have one of the old FJ40's.

Scuderia-F1 · Dec 26, 2012

GREAT shop you have there, looking forward to see some of the work you´re doing in it and the tools you´re using!

a-fordable · Dec 26, 2012

Super shop* a lot of space , nice place near the GREAT battlefield!

mdkingsley · Dec 26, 2012

Steky The 40 is a lot of fun to cruise around in. It has some mods that I am going to undo, I just don't like the way they are done. It has 6 inch shackles for the lift and we are going to remove those and replace them with stock and overspring the axles instead of the factory underspring. It should give the same lift with the axles still centered in the wheelwell. Also I am going to change the front from a front shackle to a rear of the spring shackle.

mdkingsley · Dec 26, 2012

Scuderia, you should like the tools judging from your avitar, mostly snap on. Having a friend for a snap on dealer makes it tough to stay off the truck. But they are super good tools. Thanks for the comments

A-Fordable, thanks for the comments. It does have a lot of room but is filling up fast. The loft and commercial shelving helps a lot. I am about 20 miles from Chickamauga Battlefield, give me a call if you ever come close.

Scuderia-F1 · Dec 27, 2012

mdkingsley said:
Scuderia, you should like the tools judging from your avitar, mostly snap on. Having a friend for a snap on dealer makes it tough to stay off the truck. But they are super good tools. Thanks for the comments

A-Fordable, thanks for the comments. It does have a lot of room but is filling up fast. The loft and commercial shelving helps a lot. I am about 20 miles from Chickamauga Battlefield, give me a call if you ever come close.

I know what you´re talking about, having a friend with a Snappy truck is "handy", but can do some damage to the wallet (I have first hand experience of this).

Looking forward to see some more pics...

bams50 · Dec 27, 2012

Very nice. As a Central NYer I am particularly envious of your lack of HD snow load trusses and insulation

I90wrench · Dec 27, 2012

Great looking shop! I've been looking around on here and yours look just like I want to do. Except living quarters on one side. Someday!! :willy_nil

don long · Dec 27, 2012

Michell

I just signed on too
I like the garage you are playing in
How long has it been up and how much time do you get to spend in it
The olds looks like a project of true dedication
and like others have commented your tools and equipment give the impression that you are not new to the task of putting the olds back together
I'll be following along so please post often
Don

mdkingsley · Dec 27, 2012

Thanks for all the comments, I really enjoy my shop, pretty chilli out there yesterday but still much better than being in the house.

Scuderia, I know about that, when he says if you need it get it. I have to use a lot of self restraint while on there.

Bams, I just checked out your future plans, it sound great. You mentioned the roof, that is the one of two things I would change if doing it over. I built the center then added the sides about a year later then concreted and closed in. I would have done 16' eaves instead of 12 to make the sides not so flat. The Kingsley's hail from Messena, my grand dad loaded everyone up in the early 40s and headed south. They dairyed up there and he began a partnership in Ga. on a dairy that lasted until 1979 when we bought our own place.

I90 thanks, if I could lend any advice make the center at least 16' eaves and good luck.

Don, It was started in 2008 finished to closed in in 2010. I don't get to spend as much as I would like working 3 jobs and putting my wife through Nursing school, but when she make it out I plan on quiting 2 and just staying out the FD. I retire in 10 years. The next big thing is the lights for the center section. The sides and workbench tool room are done. I do everything as I have the money to do it as well as buy tools and equipment. The ultiment goal is a chassis and fab shop with a media blasting business in another building. The Olds in a labor of love, it took me 21 years to get it from the owner. It is a 1976 original big block 442 only 143 built. Red and Black, Black interior swivel bucket console shift. It has taken a back burner since nurse school started, but the shelves keep it organized. Its not the super cool party garage you have but I like it.

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement!

hoyt · Feb 4, 2013

Great looking shop. I'd feel at home there.

mdkingsley · Feb 5, 2013

Worked with my son tonight taking the engine out of his 1967 F100. I was pretty proud of him he doesn't shy away from stuff. We found another 67 in a srcap yard off in the keeper side with a perfect front end we hope to get the cash togather to buy soon. Have not really decided what to do with the 352 yet, it has a severe knock. The machine shop says they can change it to a 390 pretty easily since we have to have new pistons and a crank probably anyway. I would like to find a 428 or 429. Its going to have a cage and 5 point harnesses also. Just working on it as we get the time and money, but it is fun working on it with him. He also has a 1968 mustang convertible he is going to build probably after college.

tskills10 · Feb 5, 2013

Gotta love being able to work on projects with your son. I enjoy it when I can. There are a few ford engines in that garage that I am helping to clear out. should be at least 1 390 and a couple that I'm not sure about, possibly a 428 or 429 or a 460. But I'm not a ford guy so really not sure. The guy had a bunch of Fe stuff.

J-man67 · Feb 19, 2013

VERY nice shop man! I can only dream of having something like that at this point. Def a good time wrenching with the kids. My oldest is 4 and HE loves coming out to the garage with me. Teaching him the importance of keeping it clean and organized as we do not have any projects as of now. Then its on to simple mechanics...never too young!!

mdkingsley · Feb 20, 2013

My best project so far in my shop! I built a coatrack with my grandaughter for her room. She loves going out to the shop with Papa so I try to find things we can do togather. Next up is a bluebird house. Thanks for all the comments so far I really enjoy working in my shop as well all of you do I am sure.

shopnut · Feb 20, 2013

Very cool getting your grandaughter out there and working with you.

Nice sign too! I don't recall ever wanting to hang up a sign with my name on it up in my room as a kid, but with a name like Shopnut, who could blame me!

I90wrench · Feb 20, 2013

I can't wait til my Granddaughter is big enough to help in shop. (she'll be 1 year in June) I tell my her Mamma I'll have her trained to be the first female crew chief or driver to win the Daytona 500. It's great to see young un's learning to work with their own hands.

mdkingsley · Feb 20, 2013

She will be old enough before you know it. My granddaughter is 4 so she is a lot of fun but hard to keep entertained sometimes. She likes cleaning the equipment. She notices if the welders or tool box or shop crane have dust so I have to give her some windex and towels to clean them. I would like to build a drag car for her and my grandson. Maybe by the time they are old enough I will have the time and money!

JordanFTW · Jul 22, 2013

Your shop is awesome man, wish I had that kinda space.

mdkingsley said:
My best project so far in my shop! I built a coatrack with my grandaughter for her room. She loves going out to the shop with Papa so I try to find things we can do togather. Next up is a bluebird house. Thanks for all the comments so far I really enjoy working in my shop as well all of you do I am sure.

Very Cute!

mdkingsley · Jul 25, 2013

Thanks' I have a bunch of new pics to load but the website won't let them upload for some reason. Right now I am working on my daughter's Mustang and getting a cool old flagpole ready to put up. I had to do some welding on it and got that done and ground down last night all I have left is to prime and paint then it will be ready. My grand daughter is going to help me build a shelf for my wife this week also. I am off from the F.D. until Monday so I am going to try to get a round of golf in and those projects done.

mdkingsley · Oct 2, 2013

I finally figured out it was my new camera not allowing me to post pics. The resolution is too high, so I took a bunch with my camera phone of some things going on in the shop.
Got a shop clock at a estate sale, thought it was cool since we used to be in the dairy business and used Mueller Milk Tanks. I have been buying a few more metal cabinets at yard and estate sales. I media blast prime and paint them. They turn out pretty good and storage is always a plus. Got all the hangers from a yard sale also now all the shovels, rakes ect are not leaning on the wall.

My shop 48x66 in North Ga.

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