Craig Balzer
Well-known member
Ultimate Auto Workshop Design and Planning, David H. Jacobs, MBI Publishing (PowerPro Series), Osceola, Wisconsin, 1997 (ISBN: 0-7603-02123-8)
This is a soft bound 8 ½ x 11 book with 144 pages. The book has only 54 photos and all are B&W, but these are augmented with ~170 sketches. I didn’t even notice it until just now, but of those 54 photos, 4 or 5 of them appeared in Jacobs’s first book and one of the sketches is virtually identical. He also repeats his idea for installing a jib boom in the garage – using the same buddy’s garage. But he moves it to the first chapter rather than an after thought in the closing chapter. Again, every photo has a large caption beneath it. Cover price is $22.95 – hmmmm, given the repetition of ideas and photos, maybe this is an example of inflation?
The book has 8 chapters compared to previous 10:
1. Generating Ideas (as compared to Basic Ideas)
2. Initial planning (so no Structural Concerns this time)
3. Fundamental Layouts (Rather than Electrical & Heating, and Lighting)
4. Floor Plans (hmmm, this is looking more like what I had in mind)
5. Workbenches (same title, will it be the same content?)
6. Basic Storage is very similar to his previous “Workshop Storage”
7. Creative Storage
8. Creature Comforts
Comparing this title (Design and Planning) to Jacobs’ first book (which was titled Design and Build) would indicate that I could expect a better fit between my expectations and what Jacobs is about to deliver. I was both satisfied and let down. The satisfaction came from the 28 sketches that showed what I was looking for: ideas or examples of placing the various elements of a shop – shop plans. The let down came from that fact that pretty much the remainder of the sketches was dedicated to “how to” build benches, shelves and storage.
Jacobs seems to be targeting the do-it-yourselfer crowd with this heavy ladling of sketches. He does offer the best recommendation for a pit I have seen (if you are intent on having one), a short comparison of different sized buffers and using cast-off kitchen cabinetry. Again, no mention of Lista, Snap-On or other high-end storage systems.
The initial planning section of the book does ask the right question: what do you intend to do in the garage. And he offers several options and examples.
For me, Chapter 4 had the most utility: Floor Plans. They cover the range from a 10’ x 16’ up to 16’ x 20’ one-car garage (8 plans) to 9 plans for a two car garage and five three-car options. He even throws in two or three plans for the guy working out of his basement, but this would seem to require your basement matching the examples in size and shape. Most – but not all – of the plans depicted the positioning of workbenches, tool boxes and some included welding stations and blast cabinets. In a bow to the lady of the house, many of the plans with a smaller footprint considered the washer/dryer and occasional upright freezer. When his designs got to the three car garage, such domestic considerations fell by the way side. But the shortcoming is that Jacobs offers no photos of a completed garage so you can see how the plan actually works.
His discussion of workbenches again focused on the self-builder. Mobile benches are covered; but how to build them rather than where and how to use them. His chapter on “Basic Storage” is really an extension of the workbench construction section as is the creative storage section (using storage above the garage door and between the joists). So three of the eight chapters are heavily focused on making your own.
Jacob’s definition of Creature Comforts is different than mine: sinks, heating, telephone, retractable cord reels and a desk/chair are not what I was expecting. Written in 1997 (or over ten years ago when you consider the prep time and editing of the book), this may be more of an in-sight to the changes of expectations of the “garage” today as compared to the previous decade. But then oddly, he offers up blast cabinets, welding center, parts cleaning and spray painting -- each covered with single paragraphs. It almost seems he needed to fill 144 pages and only had 2 or 3 more to go; just an odd conclusion to his book.
Again, the lack of color photography didn’t hurt a thing – too bad because comparing a plan to reality with a COLOR photo has goodness attached to it. For my taste, this book still was too heavy on sketches of wood benches from plywood and 2 x 4’s. If I want plans for building a bench I’ll look for a book on that topic. The floor plan section has value and does show some creative use of limited space. Not too bad for an older book. Whether it’s worth the price admission depends on your inclination toward making your own storage areas / benches / shelving vice working on your car / planning your work shop. Between the two Jacob’s offerings, I would vote for this one.
Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Next up -- Ultimate Garage Handbook by Richard Newton. Now this one is interesting.
This is a soft bound 8 ½ x 11 book with 144 pages. The book has only 54 photos and all are B&W, but these are augmented with ~170 sketches. I didn’t even notice it until just now, but of those 54 photos, 4 or 5 of them appeared in Jacobs’s first book and one of the sketches is virtually identical. He also repeats his idea for installing a jib boom in the garage – using the same buddy’s garage. But he moves it to the first chapter rather than an after thought in the closing chapter. Again, every photo has a large caption beneath it. Cover price is $22.95 – hmmmm, given the repetition of ideas and photos, maybe this is an example of inflation?
The book has 8 chapters compared to previous 10:
1. Generating Ideas (as compared to Basic Ideas)
2. Initial planning (so no Structural Concerns this time)
3. Fundamental Layouts (Rather than Electrical & Heating, and Lighting)
4. Floor Plans (hmmm, this is looking more like what I had in mind)
5. Workbenches (same title, will it be the same content?)
6. Basic Storage is very similar to his previous “Workshop Storage”
7. Creative Storage
8. Creature Comforts
Comparing this title (Design and Planning) to Jacobs’ first book (which was titled Design and Build) would indicate that I could expect a better fit between my expectations and what Jacobs is about to deliver. I was both satisfied and let down. The satisfaction came from the 28 sketches that showed what I was looking for: ideas or examples of placing the various elements of a shop – shop plans. The let down came from that fact that pretty much the remainder of the sketches was dedicated to “how to” build benches, shelves and storage.
Jacobs seems to be targeting the do-it-yourselfer crowd with this heavy ladling of sketches. He does offer the best recommendation for a pit I have seen (if you are intent on having one), a short comparison of different sized buffers and using cast-off kitchen cabinetry. Again, no mention of Lista, Snap-On or other high-end storage systems.
The initial planning section of the book does ask the right question: what do you intend to do in the garage. And he offers several options and examples.
For me, Chapter 4 had the most utility: Floor Plans. They cover the range from a 10’ x 16’ up to 16’ x 20’ one-car garage (8 plans) to 9 plans for a two car garage and five three-car options. He even throws in two or three plans for the guy working out of his basement, but this would seem to require your basement matching the examples in size and shape. Most – but not all – of the plans depicted the positioning of workbenches, tool boxes and some included welding stations and blast cabinets. In a bow to the lady of the house, many of the plans with a smaller footprint considered the washer/dryer and occasional upright freezer. When his designs got to the three car garage, such domestic considerations fell by the way side. But the shortcoming is that Jacobs offers no photos of a completed garage so you can see how the plan actually works.
His discussion of workbenches again focused on the self-builder. Mobile benches are covered; but how to build them rather than where and how to use them. His chapter on “Basic Storage” is really an extension of the workbench construction section as is the creative storage section (using storage above the garage door and between the joists). So three of the eight chapters are heavily focused on making your own.
Jacob’s definition of Creature Comforts is different than mine: sinks, heating, telephone, retractable cord reels and a desk/chair are not what I was expecting. Written in 1997 (or over ten years ago when you consider the prep time and editing of the book), this may be more of an in-sight to the changes of expectations of the “garage” today as compared to the previous decade. But then oddly, he offers up blast cabinets, welding center, parts cleaning and spray painting -- each covered with single paragraphs. It almost seems he needed to fill 144 pages and only had 2 or 3 more to go; just an odd conclusion to his book.
Again, the lack of color photography didn’t hurt a thing – too bad because comparing a plan to reality with a COLOR photo has goodness attached to it. For my taste, this book still was too heavy on sketches of wood benches from plywood and 2 x 4’s. If I want plans for building a bench I’ll look for a book on that topic. The floor plan section has value and does show some creative use of limited space. Not too bad for an older book. Whether it’s worth the price admission depends on your inclination toward making your own storage areas / benches / shelving vice working on your car / planning your work shop. Between the two Jacob’s offerings, I would vote for this one.
Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Next up -- Ultimate Garage Handbook by Richard Newton. Now this one is interesting.