Beetle Building

[sammerdog]

Found you guys on a lark - had a camera ripped off from inside our garage (yeah, with my Daughter's wedding pics on it). Googled something along the lines of "garage security ideas", and stumbled into this. Good info guys.

Finally figured out how to post pictures, but dragged my feet 'cuz it's not too extravagant. Then I read e-tek's rant on "mortgages". So nothing fancy, but it's all paid for, or as Dave Ramsey would say, "I'm debt free!!!!!"

We have a three stall garage, but it was packed to the gills with a couple cars, boat, kid's bikes, etc.... Where do we put Mrs Sammerdog's summer toy? (....and no, not the poolboy named Pedro). So I poured a pad with a buddy's electric drum mixer doing 80 pound bags of quickcrete - and threw up this with siding to match the house -

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0088.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0089.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0090.jpg
gotta have some VW signs....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0091.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0092.jpg
old fading blueprint of a '59 convert....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0093.jpg
magazine rack of old VWTrends & Car & Drivers....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0096.jpg
framing above garage door...
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0094.jpg
ceiling shot....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0095.jpg

The Beetle was a wreck when I got it for the Mrs as a Mother's day present. Heck, on the way home with it, I showed my one Daughter how to pull up on the e-brake in case I fell through the floor pan - yeah, it was that bad. Me and the older boy stripped it down, DA'd the thing, got some new fenders and floor pans, and re-worked the interior. We got it prepped for paint, but I did have a buddy shoot it (I just can't lay base coat/clear coat paints on real well) a Toyota red in DuPont Imron. Bolted it back together and now it's a riot. I sold the rusting bumpers to a friend, and need to get some replacements rounded up, as well as figure out a stinkin' fuel pump issue.

Anyways, not fancy, but the Beetle Building gave me a place to park the Wife's car in the winter, and got me some elbow room in the attached garage where the fun happens.

Thanks again e-tek for letting us small time guys hang out and play with the shooters!

 

[cyclopsblown34]

How many bags of quickcrete and dimensions of the pad? Oh yeah, you're my hero!!!!!! For building this on cash rather than credit. The framing looks awful purty, hope you aren't going to cover it.

 

[sammerdog]

Thanks cyclops for telling me I'm a hero - barrell mixing almost 5 tons of concrete had me feeling more like the village idiot!

The pad is 12x16. Poured it over two days. The ground sloped away a little towards the rear, so that 12x8 half was thicker, to the tune of about 10" thick at the southwest corner. Set up a 2x6 at the half way point and notched the bottom of it so my lengths of rebar could run continuous.

If memory serves me right, I had about 75 bags in the back half, 55 or so in the front and the little landing by the man door. Don't remember the exact breakdown, but I was within 4 bags of 10000 pounds. That little mixer would do a bag and a half at a shot. That was a thirsty back breakin' job, but cheaper than the local concrete guys wanted to deliver a few yards - and since it's down in the back yard, they would've had to send in a boom armed pump truck.

Note to y'all - if you do something like that, wear a dust mask. Man, I was coughing up some wicked stuff for weeks after that.

 

[cyclopsblown34]

You're welcome. On top of your body hurting like the dickens you were coughing up nasty stuff, man, I sure hope the good half appreciates it. You built her one nice parking area for her summer toy.

 

[sammerdog]

Okay -

Now here's my attached garage -

Basic 3 stall, exposed studs when we moved in. I drywalled, painted, and threw up some cabinets as cash became available til I got to this -

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0101.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0102.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0105.jpg
grabbed these Japanese slot machines at a pinball auction...
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0100-1.jpg
Craftsman homeowner boxes....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0108.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0109.jpg
Menards and HD wanted over a buck a piece for cabinet knobs.... way too pricey. Kmart had HotWheels for 59 cents, so I grabbed a drill bit and....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0107.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0106.jpg
Vinyl baseboard? They think money falls out of my ****? I grabbed some 1x4, painted it black, and made a centerline out of car pinstriping I found on a clearance rack at Target.... hot glued accordingly.....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0115.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0116.jpg
A few banners, a hanging race car light, and we're ready to rock....
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0111.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0112.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0113.jpg
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0114.jpg
Thermometer/air hose bracket showing 15 degrees-
http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/sammerdog556677/GEDC0121.jpg

Anyways - that's my little corner of the universe. Fancy? Not really. Paid for? Yep, right down to the mini fridge. Plans for next summer are to finish the ceiling with galvanized Dura-Panel as funds allow. I do some painting off and on out there, so as much as I'd like to do the floor, I think it would be an uphill battle to keep it looking good.

Thanks for looking guys.

 

[autoist]

Man, I like the little car cabinet handles...I'm gonna copy you in the studio apartment/gameroom I'm building over my garage!

 

[sammerdog]

Man, I like the little car cabinet handles...I'm gonna copy you in the studio apartment/gameroom I'm building over my garage!

Go for it!!!!

So I'm in Kmart, filling up a handbasket with HotWheels. Over my shoulder I hear a little kids voice "Mommy!!!! Why is that man buying ALL the HotWheels?"

I felt like a shmuck.

 

[cyclopsblown34]

I just stole a bunch of cool ideas from your shop. Thanks! Now I know what I'm doing for the baseboards in my grandson's play room.

 

[russlaferrera]

Very nice build! Isn't mixing concrete fun? You fill up the wheelbarrow with concrete, mix then dump this small turd. Don't no why, I expect a bigger plop. Takes forever.

Have to say when using bags , you never make over what you need!

 

[jdcompman]

Found you guys on a lark - had a camera ripped off from inside our garage (yeah, with my Daughter's wedding pics on it). Googled something along the lines of "garage security ideas", and stumbled into this. Good info guys.

Finally figured out how to post pictures, but dragged my feet 'cuz it's not too extravagant. Then I read e-tek's rant on "mortgages". So nothing fancy, but it's all paid for, or as Dave Ramsey would say, "I'm debt free!!!!!"

We have a three stall garage, but it was packed to the gills with a couple cars, boat, kid's bikes, etc.... Where do we put Mrs Sammerdog's summer toy? (....and no, not the poolboy named Pedro). So I poured a pad with a buddy's electric drum mixer doing 80 pound bags of quickcrete - and threw up this with siding to match the house -

gotta have some VW signs....

old fading blueprint of a '59 convert....

magazine rack of old VWTrends & Car & Drivers....

framing above garage door...

ceiling shot....

The Beetle was a wreck when I got it for the Mrs as a Mother's day present. Heck, on the way home with it, I showed my one Daughter how to pull up on the e-brake in case I fell through the floor pan - yeah, it was that bad. Me and the older boy stripped it down, DA'd the thing, got some new fenders and floor pans, and re-worked the interior. We got it prepped for paint, but I did have a buddy shoot it (I just can't lay base coat/clear coat paints on real well) a Toyota red in DuPont Imron. Bolted it back together and now it's a riot. I sold the rusting bumpers to a friend, and need to get some replacements rounded up, as well as figure out a stinkin' fuel pump issue.

Anyways, not fancy, but the Beetle Building gave me a place to park the Wife's car in the winter, and got me some elbow room in the attached garage where the fun happens.

Thanks again e-tek for letting us small time guys hang out and play with the shooters!

Fixed the pictures because I'm sure I'm not the only one here that hates clicking all of those links.

 

[jdcompman]

Okay -

Now here's my attached garage -

Basic 3 stall, exposed studs when we moved in. I drywalled, painted, and threw up some cabinets as cash became available til I got to this -

grabbed these Japanese slot machines at a pinball auction...

Craftsman homeowner boxes....

Menards and HD wanted over a buck a piece for cabinet knobs.... way too pricey. Kmart had HotWheels for 59 cents, so I grabbed a drill bit and....

Vinyl baseboard? They think money falls out of my ****? I grabbed some 1x4, painted it black, and made a centerline out of car pinstriping I found on a clearance rack at Target.... hot glued accordingly.....

A few banners, a hanging race car light, and we're ready to rock....

Thermometer/air hose bracket showing 15 degrees-

Anyways - that's my little corner of the universe. Fancy? Not really. Paid for? Yep, right down to the mini fridge. Plans for next summer are to finish the ceiling with galvanized Dura-Panel as funds allow. I do some painting off and on out there, so as much as I'd like to do the floor, I think it would be an uphill battle to keep it looking good.

Thanks for looking guys.

Very nice BTW

 

[Buckled]

Thanks. I just clicked each and every link. Next time I'll read ahead...

 

[e-tek]

Fixed the pictures because I'm sure I'm not the only one here that hates clicking all of those links.

Thanks jd - I was about top do that when I saw you beat me to it!!!!!!!!!1

Sammerdog - Love the Hot Wheels treatment!!!! I have tons of HW's and you've given me a great idea. I think I'll run a highway about 4 feet up - sort of a beltline stripe, but done like your Hot Wheel Highway!!!

 

[ssleepingbeauty]

Fixed the pictures because I'm sure I'm not the only one here that hates clicking all of those links.

Thanks, I'm glad I read through the entire post first instead of clicking on all of the links

 

[Firetrucks]

Sammerdog
Several cool ideas in your posts, thanks .

Your Hot Wheels idea will becoming to Indiana.

 

[Kevin54]

I just got done clicking every link Next time I'll have to start at the bottom and go up.

Great idea for knobs. I would have never thought of that

 

[sammerdog]

Thank you jdcompman for blowing up the pics. Us older guys and computers are often compared to monkeys with a football....

And Thank you all for the comments on my drawer pulls and baseboards!

 

[bugdust]

I have those same VW magnets on my toolbox.

Nice workspaces.

 

[autoist]

Well, I bought a whole bunch of the little cars today - sets for cabinet doors, individuals for the drawers....got some nice older models....they'll be going on the cabinets in the studio apartment/gameroom we're building over my garage.....thanks for the idea.

 

[bughut]

I have a VW reapair/resto shop I'll be shutting down soon and selling off all my stuff..cars, buses, tools etc. I aslo have a huge VW memorablia collection. I have enough VW ornaments to cover a large Christmas tree...Hot Wheels, R/C VW vehicles of all scales...boxes and boxes of things. Key cahins, pencils and pens, clothing, hats...hundreds of things. Buses, beetles, ghias, buggies...This is for a serious collector. All or none. I may do an inventory and post on evilbay....ugh...

 

[htweelz]

Coolest idea ever!! I'm going to do that!

 

[bugdust]

I have a VW reapair/resto shop I'll be shutting down soon and selling off all my stuff..cars, buses, tools etc. I aslo have a huge VW memorablia collection. I have enough VW ornaments to cover a large Christmas tree...Hot Wheels, R/C VW vehicles of all scales...boxes and boxes of things. Key cahins, pencils and pens, clothing, hats...hundreds of things. Buses, beetles, ghias, buggies...This is for a serious collector. All or none. I may do an inventory and post on evilbay....ugh...

Put them on thesamba.com. I can tell you from experience that "all or nothing" collections are a lot harder to sell than if you split it up into manageable sets.

 

[Sidekick]

I am a VW nut as well, tho I tend to go out on a limb. I am looking for all sorts of VW stuff- gas pedal assembly, hood latches, speedometers and some various engine parts. I am building 3 kit cars and 1 super low rail street rod.

 

[e-tek]

Nearly every member of this forum will be glueing and/or screwing hot wheels to their cupboards, walls and drawers after this!!!!

Let's make sure to share your artistic work boys!!! We want pictures!