72x72...inches; my micro garage

[jeepmattb]

This is the back left corner of my attached two car garage. I used to have a 3500 sq ft. loft in downtown Cleveland where I "lived" illegally and had a dedicated space for my motorcycles and a space for woodworking. Unfortunately I had to give that up and a lot of my tools too. Now, four years later, I'm just married and this is our first house.

What you don't see is the attic above the garage, where there is another bike, a bandsaw, compressor, table saw, and a whole mess of bar clamps. I will get more pictures up as this build continues.

This work area is strictly dedicated to the bikes, I like old cafe racers and bobbers, so I need a space to tear off all the extrenous manufacturer stuff and make frame modifications. I have a miller tig welder underneath the bench, a small soda blaster, basic wrenches and socket sets, as well as a few grinders, files, and measurement tools.

The vise is a Craigslist find, its big and heavy and cost me $10. The stand is an old bandsaw stand that came witha vintage bandsaw I had acquirred years ago. I will repaint it but leave the top bare so it can double as a quick welding surface for small tacks or parts.

I have to add a 240v outlet for the welder, some 110v drops for the other tools. Also, I will plumb an air line from the attic for die grinders and other misc air tools. Then all will be painted white and I will post a mural of some old boardtrackers on the back wall.

 

[demographic]

Can't quite make the engine out, is it an XS650?

 

[Noisy Nova]

Brings back memories. At one time, I piled all the living room furniture along one wall, to make a motorcycle workshop.

 

[jeepmattb]

It is a '78 KZ400. This is my current project. Upstairs is an '80 CB750F.
I do own a XS650 but that will get its own frame sometime next year; I want to do more than just tack on a hardtail.

 

[demographic]

It is a '78 KZ400. This is my current project. Upstairs is an '80 CB750F.

Ahh, sorry, I couldn't see it too well.

I do own a XS650 but that will get its own frame sometime next year; I want to do more than just tack on a hardtail.

Street tracker style? I'm quite fond of this style. Not my bikes by the way, I just saw them on the internet.

To me, that's a hell of a lot better than making anything into a hardtail.

 

[Jeff]

Love the old bikes. I'm starting a frame-up resto on a 77 XS750.

 

[427cobra]

Love that style bike also. Not sure how stable that vise is mounted to that table however I would be concerned using it.

 

[Jpfreak33]

Hey there neighbor! Where is the Jeep that you named yourself after? haha

 

[jeepmattb]

Love that style bike also. Not sure how stable that vise is mounted to that table however I would be concerned using it.

The table is 12 ga steel. I hear ya though...it is a bit overkill for a such a small table. The goal for this space is to be minimalist. I need the bike space more than I need table space. For the price I couldn't beat it. I love its look too, but I guess that defeats its practicality.

 

[jeepmattb]

Has anyone ever recessed their airlines? I had planned on running my compressor from the attic of the garage and do not want to run copper tube down the outside of the wall. I would like to get two retractable hose reels and center them between the wall studs. Run the hose through the wall and out of the dry wall. Of course I would use a wall plate and relocate the reel stop on the hose. I think this would provide a clean look and keep my small space uncluttered.

 

[wbrian63]

"The Asylum" thread has several examples of what you're talking about. The thread is huge, but the owner (shopnut) has added an index to make things somewhat easier.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=447981#post447981

 

[jeepmattb]

Thanks, I've seen it before but sometimes I give up on threads when they have too many pictures. I'm glued to this forum while at work, so all the pictures can slow my work computer to a grinding halt. I'll re examine it.

 

[jonny o]

An Ohioan would imagine moving from the city to the burbs would open you up to more space. Good luck and keep having fun.

 

[jeepmattb]

It's been a week but I got the space wired this past Saturday. The whole project is an exercise in maximizing space. From the pictures you can see I need to tackle cable management. I made the shelves out of scrap 3/4 birch plywood. I have a lot more so I will add another shelf for larger bins. It's too cold here in Ohio to paint so that will still have to wait another month.

The city of Cleveland re did a number of old commuter train stations a couple of years ago and I scored some 8ft maple decking for $4 a plank. They still have the yellow edging painted on them. I'm considering clamping them up to make a stand for the bike. I would use the maple for the top and steel underneath.

When I paint the garage and do the floor I think I may add can lights to the main area, as you can see from the pictures its dark as hell.