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Bobby's Single Car Starter

Bobby.B

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
12
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Hey guys, I have been lurking over the last few months in awe over the amazing garage transformations and all the creativity that is pooled together here. I have used many of the tips and tricks in side projects and in organization as best I could.

Since there aren’t many here, I wanted to introduce my little one car garage. It is a bit longer than most single garages, which is a treat. I live in an apartment complex so nothing can be too permanent and everything has to be size limited. As I learned from my elders here, it is much better to start with the idea that the garage is not for storage, rather than trying to convince the significant other of that later on when it gets out of hand.

Some of the things that make this place so cool is the excellent lighting and painted walls and floor. Makes working in there at night a breeze compared to previous apartment single car garages.

My one project that I am proud of is the work bench. I was limited in size to a 24x40 inch bench, due to the shelving unit next to it. With such an odd size, I planned to build my own. Prior to picking up the wood, I did a quick craigslist search and found a person nearby had just listed a bench in almost the exact size I needed for less than half the price I could build it for. 39.5 inch by 23. Close enough. I checked it out, disassembled it and loaded it on home. A tight fit. Lol







Next was to stain it and add a good topper. I plan to build a motor in the next few months and needed something for the weight and easily cleaned, so I opted to go with a stainless steel top that I found locally for pretty cheap. Just needed one cut to make it fit.











It’s not much, but it’s what I need and works for the space I have. I plan to add a drawer to it and a peg board in the future.

Also, the white walls also double as a perfect make shift drive-in movie theater. Guys, this is an ultra cheap date idea that my girlfriend LOVED. You just need a cheap projector ($3 at a garage sale) and portable DVD player (who doesn’t have one somewhere in a closet), snacks, wine, and a fun movie. I highly recommend this, I had no idea it would go over so well, I honestly thought she was going to die laughing and walk back up stairs.





I will update as I add new things to the garage and as projects progress. This is a great community and happy to have stumbled across it.
 
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Bessy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2012
Messages
992
Location
Ontario, Canada
Nice looking garage and welcome to GJ! I will most certainly have to steal that "drive-in theatre" date idea for future use! I know that you have already acquired the bench, but had you considered turning the shelving 90 degrees to make better use of the end wall for bench space? you could probably get a 5' bench in that way if I'm not mistaken.

Cheers.
 
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Bobby.B

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
12
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Thanks Bessy! I have thought about turning it 90 degrees, however it does make it much harder to access the shelves and majority of the stuff on there is used pretty frequently. It holds all my tools on the bottom shelf for weight, but I'm sure in the future if I get a nicer, lighter box that can be moved up higher, that would be a great idea.
 

dubber

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
5,326
Location
Canada's Capital
Welcome to the forum! Always love seeing a Single garage being mastered. Check my link below for some inspiration or ideas. Your on the right track, and i look forward to seeing it develop.
 
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Bobby.B

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
12
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Welcome to the forum! Always love seeing a Single garage being mastered. Check my link below for some inspiration or ideas. Your on the right track, and i look forward to seeing it develop.

Thanks Dubber! I have read both your single and double garage threads and love them! I can't wait until I have a place similar to make my own. I'm digging the new to you R32, so clean and so fresh. Also, can't wait to see what you do with it.

Welcome from just up the freeway. The pic is from Fontana, right? Were you lapping the road coarse or autoxing the parking lot?

Yup, Fontana. It was the road course that day. Sky looked amazing that early with the clouds. Too bad they brought rain and an early end to the day.
 
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freeskier7791

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2015
Messages
10
Nice progress so far, I'm moving into a townhouse with a single car garage soon, I'm interested in seeing what you do with yours
 

dubber

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
5,326
Location
Canada's Capital
Thanks Dubber! I have read both your single and double garage threads and love them! I can't wait until I have a place similar to make my own. I'm digging the new to you R32, so clean and so fresh. Also, can't wait to see what you do with it.

Thanks for taking the time to check out both threads. :thumbup:
 
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Bobby.B

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
12
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Nice progress so far, I'm moving into a townhouse with a single car garage soon, I'm interested in seeing what you do with yours

Thanks! I should have some more progress in about a month with a cool storage idea I have for an engine I plan to build.

Thanks for taking the time to check out both threads. :thumbup:

Of course! Your threads were some of the first I read after finding GJ.
 

slammedkustom

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
99
Location
orpington kent Uk
love the cheap date night idea. I shall be stealing that one!

having a small garage means you really have to think where things goes.
im in the same boat but looking on here has given me so many ideas, lots of my stuff is going on castors so it can be moved around or outside to make the best of the space.

nice job on the work top. one suggestion tho. put some "L" section trim or even just tape on the edge of that stainless top. the edge can give you a wicked deep cut so easily. been there, done that:lol:

otherwise nice car.
chris
 
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Bobby.B

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2015
Messages
12
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Thanks! I'll definitely look into something for the edge. Right now it sits flush with the wood under it but i'll see about rounding it or a slight lip. Thanks for the tip!
 

HSpencer

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
2,854
Location
South Central US
Just now getting into your thread but I like everything so far. Looks like your going to have a great one car place. I like the Minions on the wall. I had no idea who they were until my grand son explained it to me. Great work and good luck. Thanks for coming on the journal and posting for us!!

Best Regards
Herb
 

freeskier7791

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2015
Messages
10
Thanks! I'll definitely look into something for the edge. Right now it sits flush with the wood under it but i'll see about rounding it or a slight lip. Thanks for the tip!
Even taking a scotchbrite wheel or file to the edge will help. I am planning on breaking the front edge of my topper down to.leave a nice trim
 
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