Craig Balzer
Well-known member
This is the first in a series on book reviews. Yeah – yeah, I know: what on earth has that got to do with a Garage Junkies web site? Well, the books I plan to review are pretty germane to the topic du jour.
I plan to review 7 books in the order in which I bought. Since it was the titles of the books that enticed me to pry open MY wallet, the same enticement could be applied to y’all.
The seven books are:
1. How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop, David H. Jacobs, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks), Osceola, Wisconsin, 1992 (ISBN: 0-7603-0553-6)
2. Ultimate Auto workshop Design and Planning, David H. Jacobs, MBI Publishing (PowerPro Series), Osceola, Wisconsin, 1997 (ISBN: 0-7603-02123-8)
3. Ultimate Garage Handbook, Richard Newton, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks Workshop), St Paul, Minnesota, 2004 (ISBN: 0-7603-1640-6)
4. Your Garagenous Zone; Innovative Ideas for the Garage, Bill West, CRS, Paragon Garage Company, Ltd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2004 (ISBN: 0-9675875-0-6)
5. The Ultimate Garage, Jeanne Huber, Sunset Books, Menlo Park, California, 2005 (ISBN: 0-376-01201-3
6. Garages, Laura Gross, Creative Publishing International, Vanhassen, Minnesota, 2005 (ISBN: 1-58923-182-1
7. Ultimate Garages, Phil Berg, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks Workshop), St Paul, Minnesota, 2003, (ISBN: 0-7603-1471-3
BONUS: The Toolbox Book, Jim Tolpin, The Taunton Press, Newton, Connecticut, 1998 (ISBN: 1-56158-272-7)
How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop is a soft bound 8 ½ x 11 book with 144 pages. The book has 224 photos so it is well supported with images. All are B&W, but nothing is lost for the lack of color. All the photos are large format; I just randomly opened the book to three places:
- 1 (34/35): 5 photos on the two pages and a total of 4 paragraphs
- 2 (92/83): 3 photos on 1 page and a full page sketch showing how to cut the side panels for a workbench from an 8x4 sheet of plywood while minimizing waste. No text aside from the captions beneath each photo
- 3 (56/57) 3 photos on two pages and 9 paragraphs of text.
Every photo has a large caption beneath it; a mini-paragraph. There are also about a dozen diagrams/sketches. Cover price is $19.95
The book has 10 chapters:
Up front, I was disappointed in the overall coverage of the topic. And therein lies my problem. I expected the book to provide ideas on Design of the workshop – just as the title says. But the book focused on the other half of the title: Build.
.....The first chapter was heavily laden with photos but all from the author’s home town/area. Main point: visit garages before building yours
.....The second chapter had photos such as hammering a nail, holding a level while trimming a window and a sketch of what a J-bolt looks like. The text was pretty simple, too.
.....Chapter 3 on electrical and heating is only 11 pages long. The 16 photos take up easily half of those; and 40 paragraphs. Most of the threads on here are more technical in nature and cover the topic in greater depth.
.....Lighting was covered in 10 pages. Only 13 photos and 41 paragraphs. This is the first place I find text that I underlined. There was no discussion of the types of lights (incandescent, fluorescent, halide, etc) – only mention of fluorescent lights. Discussed area, general, task, workbench and drop lights. No mention of fluorescent starters and cold weather or color rendering index of lights. There was a mention of how to calculate for adequate illumination.
.....The next chapter was on air; covered in 9 pages. A pretty comprehensive discussion of the topic – but that opinion has to be clouded with my near perfect lack of understanding of pressurized air distribution. Jacobs covers CFM and PSI rather than HP of the compressor. He has a good discussion of the air tank size and locating the compressor for ventilation and noise isolation. And he covers dryers, regulators, and filters
.....Chapter 6 is on workbenches. I hoped the 15 pages would make up for the lack of design features that I was still expecting. All the workbenches featured here were handmade of either wood or angle iron. Half of the chapter was dedicated to how to maximize 2x4s and sheets of plywood in making your bench. No mention of Snap-On, Lista, or any other professional line of makers
.....Jacobs did offer some good ideas in amongst the photos of a circular saw working its way through plywood. He did spend some space talking about the height of the bench and the utility of having a bench in the work area to allow 360 degree access to the item being worked. He also discusses in some detail how to install a jib boom in your garage. However, a scan through this chapter failed to find any mention of the functionality of a mobile bench.
.....Workshop Storage was the topic of Chapter 7. In 13 pages he showed 23 photos of shelves, drawer systems, and cabinets. He showed one picture of tire storage above a door. He used 3 pages to show how 2x4 and plywood could be used to make really sturdy shelves – the diagrams looked a lot like the workbench diagrams only taller. The first photo of a Snap-On chest is found on page 104: an end cabinet that is all of 27” wide and 15” deep.
.....In 7 pages he explained that there are paint booths, sand blasting booths/areas and welding areas. These are the Special Booths the title introduces
.....Chapter 9 (almost done): lifts and pits were discussed in 8 pages. 12 photos consume most of the pages. He mentions 2-post and 4-post lifts but in scant detail. Not one photo of a 4-post lift is to be found. He spends too much time on pits using a Speedy-Oil type outfit for an example. Hardly useful for the home hobbyist.
.....The final chapter on Extras was disappointing. He covered a small, metal bending machine, a seat on wheels, Quick-Grip clamps, using a piece of Plexiglas to assist in tinting windows, a rolling cart, floor anchors, a masking paper dispenser for painter, vacuums, parts washer, trash can, buffer/polisher stand, waste oil collection, first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
Like I said up front, the lack of color photography didn’t hurt a thing. I am pretty harsh in my comments here, and suspect most of my disappointment comes from my ill-formed expectations. The cover (a Ferrari and Viper in a home garage with loooong, clean workbench under nice cabinets, epoxied floors, Snap-On tool chest and creeper) would indicate the content of the book; just don’t judge that content by this cover.
Anyone else have this book and care to comment?
Next up -- Ultimate Auto workshop Design and Planning also by David H. Jacobs. It just HAS to get better -- -- right?
I plan to review 7 books in the order in which I bought. Since it was the titles of the books that enticed me to pry open MY wallet, the same enticement could be applied to y’all.
The seven books are:
1. How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop, David H. Jacobs, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks), Osceola, Wisconsin, 1992 (ISBN: 0-7603-0553-6)
2. Ultimate Auto workshop Design and Planning, David H. Jacobs, MBI Publishing (PowerPro Series), Osceola, Wisconsin, 1997 (ISBN: 0-7603-02123-8)
3. Ultimate Garage Handbook, Richard Newton, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks Workshop), St Paul, Minnesota, 2004 (ISBN: 0-7603-1640-6)
4. Your Garagenous Zone; Innovative Ideas for the Garage, Bill West, CRS, Paragon Garage Company, Ltd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2004 (ISBN: 0-9675875-0-6)
5. The Ultimate Garage, Jeanne Huber, Sunset Books, Menlo Park, California, 2005 (ISBN: 0-376-01201-3
6. Garages, Laura Gross, Creative Publishing International, Vanhassen, Minnesota, 2005 (ISBN: 1-58923-182-1
7. Ultimate Garages, Phil Berg, MBI Publishing (Motorbooks Workshop), St Paul, Minnesota, 2003, (ISBN: 0-7603-1471-3
BONUS: The Toolbox Book, Jim Tolpin, The Taunton Press, Newton, Connecticut, 1998 (ISBN: 1-56158-272-7)
How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop is a soft bound 8 ½ x 11 book with 144 pages. The book has 224 photos so it is well supported with images. All are B&W, but nothing is lost for the lack of color. All the photos are large format; I just randomly opened the book to three places:
- 1 (34/35): 5 photos on the two pages and a total of 4 paragraphs
- 2 (92/83): 3 photos on 1 page and a full page sketch showing how to cut the side panels for a workbench from an 8x4 sheet of plywood while minimizing waste. No text aside from the captions beneath each photo
- 3 (56/57) 3 photos on two pages and 9 paragraphs of text.
Every photo has a large caption beneath it; a mini-paragraph. There are also about a dozen diagrams/sketches. Cover price is $19.95
The book has 10 chapters:
- Basic Ideas
- Structural Concerns
- Electrical and Heating
- Lighting
- Air Pressure Sources and Setup
- Workbenches
- Workshop Storage
- Special Booths
- Pits and Lifts
- Automotive Workplace Extra
Up front, I was disappointed in the overall coverage of the topic. And therein lies my problem. I expected the book to provide ideas on Design of the workshop – just as the title says. But the book focused on the other half of the title: Build.
.....The first chapter was heavily laden with photos but all from the author’s home town/area. Main point: visit garages before building yours
.....The second chapter had photos such as hammering a nail, holding a level while trimming a window and a sketch of what a J-bolt looks like. The text was pretty simple, too.
.....Chapter 3 on electrical and heating is only 11 pages long. The 16 photos take up easily half of those; and 40 paragraphs. Most of the threads on here are more technical in nature and cover the topic in greater depth.
.....Lighting was covered in 10 pages. Only 13 photos and 41 paragraphs. This is the first place I find text that I underlined. There was no discussion of the types of lights (incandescent, fluorescent, halide, etc) – only mention of fluorescent lights. Discussed area, general, task, workbench and drop lights. No mention of fluorescent starters and cold weather or color rendering index of lights. There was a mention of how to calculate for adequate illumination.
.....The next chapter was on air; covered in 9 pages. A pretty comprehensive discussion of the topic – but that opinion has to be clouded with my near perfect lack of understanding of pressurized air distribution. Jacobs covers CFM and PSI rather than HP of the compressor. He has a good discussion of the air tank size and locating the compressor for ventilation and noise isolation. And he covers dryers, regulators, and filters
.....Chapter 6 is on workbenches. I hoped the 15 pages would make up for the lack of design features that I was still expecting. All the workbenches featured here were handmade of either wood or angle iron. Half of the chapter was dedicated to how to maximize 2x4s and sheets of plywood in making your bench. No mention of Snap-On, Lista, or any other professional line of makers
.....Jacobs did offer some good ideas in amongst the photos of a circular saw working its way through plywood. He did spend some space talking about the height of the bench and the utility of having a bench in the work area to allow 360 degree access to the item being worked. He also discusses in some detail how to install a jib boom in your garage. However, a scan through this chapter failed to find any mention of the functionality of a mobile bench.
.....Workshop Storage was the topic of Chapter 7. In 13 pages he showed 23 photos of shelves, drawer systems, and cabinets. He showed one picture of tire storage above a door. He used 3 pages to show how 2x4 and plywood could be used to make really sturdy shelves – the diagrams looked a lot like the workbench diagrams only taller. The first photo of a Snap-On chest is found on page 104: an end cabinet that is all of 27” wide and 15” deep.
.....In 7 pages he explained that there are paint booths, sand blasting booths/areas and welding areas. These are the Special Booths the title introduces
.....Chapter 9 (almost done): lifts and pits were discussed in 8 pages. 12 photos consume most of the pages. He mentions 2-post and 4-post lifts but in scant detail. Not one photo of a 4-post lift is to be found. He spends too much time on pits using a Speedy-Oil type outfit for an example. Hardly useful for the home hobbyist.
.....The final chapter on Extras was disappointing. He covered a small, metal bending machine, a seat on wheels, Quick-Grip clamps, using a piece of Plexiglas to assist in tinting windows, a rolling cart, floor anchors, a masking paper dispenser for painter, vacuums, parts washer, trash can, buffer/polisher stand, waste oil collection, first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
Like I said up front, the lack of color photography didn’t hurt a thing. I am pretty harsh in my comments here, and suspect most of my disappointment comes from my ill-formed expectations. The cover (a Ferrari and Viper in a home garage with loooong, clean workbench under nice cabinets, epoxied floors, Snap-On tool chest and creeper) would indicate the content of the book; just don’t judge that content by this cover.
Anyone else have this book and care to comment?
Next up -- Ultimate Auto workshop Design and Planning also by David H. Jacobs. It just HAS to get better -- -- right?