To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Above 1200 Sq/FT building my BIG PARTY garage

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Don, I've spent the last week reading a few pages at a time, and enjoying this chronicle of the Party Garage immensely. I've gotten lots of good ideas from it.

Would you mind showing us a little more of the workshop areas? I'm thinking you have to have some sort of "system" for organizing tools and supplies - I'm curious about this!

I'm finally getting to build my "dream garage" as well - It'll be kind of a garage / shop / museum / man cave... Still under construction:

Datsun Ranch

I have several Datsun buddies who live in Riverside - My wife and I would love to see your place next time we're out that way.

Thanks for sharing your talents, your vision, and your efforts with the rest of us.

Welcome to the party Hitman
Congrats on your new garage. Thanks for the link
I'll have to look through my pic's to see if I have any good shots of the tool boxes hanging on my walls.

You and your wife have a standing invitation to be my guests at the party garage. Just give me a heads up when you are near!

Glad to see you got my booth back in shape. I was getting awful worried about it being all bent up.

I'm loving the Sinclair sign. Your place is something I can only dream about having. We'll hook up some day for lunch. Chances are you be here before I make it out your way. But if I make it out your way, I want the "Grand Tour". I know just by what you show on here would have to be about the same as going through the Henry Ford Museum. :thumbup::thumbup:

Yes Kevin
Thanks to you and your keen eye, the phone booth looks much better.
Now that the Sinclair sign will be in that area the booth needed a little attention.

You may be getting a call from me for that lunch date. Ya just never know what one might find through the internet and have to go pick up lol

Thanks for your kind thoughts.
. I think that your imagination of my place is better than the real thing so
I will just keep dangling the carrot to come and visit until you can't take it any more and you show up here.

Til then keep hitting the keys I enjoy hearing from you

Don
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

80WTI_55_CHEV

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
820
Location
bundamba australia
The Sinclair sign came out great so far Don,and i like the saw and box that it comes in. Not sure when i am heading over as we are having problems with organizing a bank over there that we can transfer money over to. But i will let you know. Keep up the great work Don. Lee
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
By special request
We interrupt the this program !!

AZhitman has made a request to see my work shop in detail
and wants to see my tool and supplies organization

So here are several shots that I found

This is the fastner section of the shop


032 by don long, on Flickr


This is my tools and bench area

IMG_5386 by don long, on Flickr

each bench section has 2 hanging tool boxes

23 by don long, on Flickr

Here is my tool boxes across from my work benches

043 by don long, on Flickr

My equipment area

6 by don long, on Flickr

Here is an overall shot with work in the shop

BP3_9118 by don long, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
This cart is for working with bondo
it has all the tools and sand paper for working out dents in fenders etc.

7 by don long, on Flickr

The tools

8 by don long, on Flickr


THe sand paper and supplies

009 by don long, on Flickr


The back

10 by don long, on Flickr

These carts are filled with everything needed to prep a panel for painting
duel action sanders and sanding blocks are in the drawer while all sand paper and dispensers are in the top It also contains 3 different sizes of masking paper in the center of the cabinet

2019-07-13 09.12.54 by don long, on Flickr

2019-07-13 09.13.13 by don long, on Flickr

2019-07-13 09.13.59 by don long, on Flickr

2019-07-13 09.14.04 by don long, on Flickr

2019-07-13 09.14.41 by don long, on Flickr

.
 
Last edited:
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
here you see 4 cabinets that hold special tools, electrical supplies, plumbing supplies and my building tools. also where I store the paint carts

8 by don long, on Flickr

The next area is my machine shop or power tool area
note the boxes on the walls they hold the tooling for the drill and mill and lathe

6 by don long, on Flickr

a view of my 3 lifts in the shop

2013-11-01 13.57.14 by don long, on Flickr
 
Last edited:

ddtus

New member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
2
i hope i have neighbour like you and I can work for them for free and learn a lot skills.
 

wallster

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2013
Messages
169
Very cool set up Don! Those Dent Shark spot welding units are pretty handy. Great as usual, thanks for the pics.

Wally
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Looks like you had a clean up with the hose. Even wet that place looks great.

Thanks Simon
About every 3 months I gather up a couple of laborers and we empty everything on wheels out of the shop and I fire up the pressure washer and I "dust" the shop out, then after the squeegies we wipe off everything and clean the glass doors on the cabinets (takes all day)

Thanks for sharing the side of the shop that gets everything done. Awesome assortment of tools and supplies.

Thanks Wingnut
My son said to me Sunday "Dad I wish I lived closer to you because I wouldn't need as many tools" and I said "Ya and I wouldn't have as many either" and we laughed

Wonderful piece of DIY heaven. Sorry for the late reply -- had to wait for all the drool on my keyboard to evaporate.

Thanks Bob for finally responding lol

Just send the the bill for the new keyboard and I will turn it into my snap-on dealer for a refund. He should understand.

DIY is for sure but I prefer a little help from my friends
Thanks for the visit.
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
i hope i have neighbour like you and I can work for them for free and learn a lot skills.
ddtus
If you lived close to me I would invite you over
Welcome to the party

My favorite thread :rocker:

Bears Fan
Thanks man I'm flattered

Yep I have three and this is one of them :)

Hugo
Thanks buddy I enjoy looking at all the neat things you have going on at your place. Good luck finding all those Texaco trinkets you are looking for
And thanks for the visit

Very cool set up Don! Those Dent Shark spot welding units are pretty handy. Great as usual, thanks for the pics.
Wally

Welcome back Wally And Thanks
The blue box is a must for pulling dents out I haven't tried it as a spot welder but it will work It's a great addition to my cart.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

HSpencer

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
2,854
Location
South Central US
Don thanks for showing the shop part of your fantastic garage. It is showing excellent organization and efficiency. I do especially like the individual workbenches under each tool wall organizer. The hardware area is outstanding. Looks like I could find anything I needed in there. Everything you have is arranged in perfect order for a very efficient ease of use.

Thanks for the photos!!

Best Regards
Herb
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Awesome shop. Hope you find the missing tool.

Thanks straps57
Welcome to the garage party

LoL I'm sure if my son lived in Calif. he would have my tools in his garage But it would be nice to have him and his family closer

Don thanks for showing the shop part of your fantastic garage. It is showing excellent organization and efficiency. I do especially like the individual workbenches under each tool wall organizer. The hardware area is outstanding. Looks like I could find anything I needed in there. Everything you have is arranged in perfect order for a very efficient ease of use.

Thanks for the photos!!

Best Regards
Herb

Thanks for checking in Herb
I'm happy that everyone approves of my sand box (where I play)
I know that I could learn a lot from you about consolidation
and I need it badly but I do enjoy my shop.


I guess it would but having it so clean at the end of the day must make you feel good.

Simon
How true. It also helps me find all those misplaced tools which pays for the labor for the day
Thanks for the visit
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
So back to our scheduled program

I have 4 projects going on right now in the garage
One with a time line (from my wife)

The Sinclair sign is now sitting on my adjustable work bench
and it must be hung before our next party
A halloween party the end of October
I need to repair the other side of the sign

2014-09-09 10.56.41 by don long, on Flickr

The second project the 1950 Craftsman circular 8" saw
I have the case painted on the inside and the saw body covers about 1/2 polished and the saw body cleaned but not polished yet

22 by don long, on Flickr

I have the COE sitting on the 4 post lift where I have started doing the body work on the front end

2014-09-17 12.04.28 by don long, on Flickr

and the 4th project is my 62 Corvette
A buddy insists on working on the car and getting it painted
It has a frame alteration that includes a c4 suspension package and an lt1 motor with a 6 speed trans

12 by don long, on Flickr

22b by don long, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
don

Ive always wanted a '62. Nice project.
Just how long do think it will take to get the sign finished?

Thanks AK

I've had the vette since 1981
I dated my wife in that car
The sign should take 5 or 6 work days. 2 days for repair and 1 day for each color, but I will let each color sit for a day or so after painting so the paint will cure enough to put tape on it without pealing the fresh paint
 

Garageke

Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
14
Hi Don

Great shop. Really like the way you've set up your shop carts for the project at hand.

Thanks for taking the time to share.

Terry
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Thanks for the tour Don! Yer killin' me:D.

tinbender
You're welcome. Now lets talk about those trick projects that come out of your garage They blow me away
Thanks for the visit

Hi Don
Great shop. Really like the way you've set up your shop carts for the project at hand.
Thanks for taking the time to share.

Terry

Thanks Terry
Welcome to the garage party
I came out of the collision industry and that is how I set my men up
with tools and supplies
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
So today I worked on the craftsman saw
I was able to polish the body of the saw

After 3 hours of work
first I sanded the base with180 grit paper on a 3" D.A.
followed by sanding with 400 grit and on to 1200 grit by hand til the shine started to show
then aluminum polish with a foam pad on a 3" polisher

24 by don long, on Flickr

Then We stripped the chrome off the vette
 
Last edited:

HSpencer

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
2,854
Location
South Central US
Don, good work on the saw. I did a very similar procedure on mine. Yours is looking great. I hope you will have good luck with the upper rubber cover. It would be near to impossible to fabricate a replacement on that showing the "Craftsman" logo on it.
Your doing great my friend!!

Best Regards
Herb
 

shopnut

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
4,237
Location
Florida
This is my tools and bench area
33254wn.jpg
Thanks for the behind-the-scenes tour Don! The folks on this website appreciate that more than any other site I bet.

Love the lights down low. I always thought about doing that in my shop, but I still haven't worked any in yet (and it's almost too late now).

It's always fun to come here and drool.
 

impala4speed

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
194
Location
Youngstown, Ohio
Don,
Just finished reading all of your fantastic thread. Yep, took me a while. I don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said but I just have to tell you how much I've enjoyed reading it. What you've built and accomplished is truly amazing. What is really impressive is how much you have done yourself, and continue to do, and then take the time to explain it all to us. I know most of us have much smaller garages than yours, like mine, a 24' x 24', but there are so many of your ideas and tips that can be incorporated into our garages.
But the main thing is I'm glad to hear your health is good and the heart is ticking along just fine. We all want to be doing this stuff for a long, long time yet.
I hope I can get out your way some day and maybe stop in for a visit.
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Don, good work on the saw. I did a very similar procedure on mine. Yours is looking great. I hope you will have good luck with the upper rubber cover. It would be near to impossible to fabricate a replacement on that showing the "Craftsman" logo on it.
Your doing great my friend!!

Best Regards
Herb

Yes Herb

That is a concern I have the rear post broken off however I have the broken piece and with a little luck can epoxy it back together.
The cord is another problem.
I take my inspiration from you and try not to fall short
AS always I appreciate your visits
 

HSpencer

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
2,854
Location
South Central US
Yes Herb

That is a concern I have the rear post broken off however I have the broken piece and with a little luck can epoxy it back together.
The cord is another problem.
I take my inspiration from you and try not to fall short
AS always I appreciate your visits

Don

Just a quick thought for you. I used a product called "Break Free"
which is actually a gun cleaner. We used it in the army a lot. Now you can get it in a spray can. It removes the dirt and grease and leaves a clean oil free metal, but protects. I used it on the motor body and it saved me a lot of cleaning. Just spray it on and let it work a minute and then you can wipe off years of grime. It saved me a lot of time and effort on cleaning the motor body of the saw. Mine was pretty dirty in that area.

Best Regards
Herb
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Thanks for the behind-the-scenes tour Don! The folks on this website appreciate that more than any other site I bet.

Love the lights down low. I always thought about doing that in my shop, but I still haven't worked any in yet (and it's almost too late now).

It's always fun to come here and drool.

shopnut
First let me say thanks for the visit
I look over your thread every few days but don't comment much.
Your place is just amazing with all the trick stuff you do
The response from this crowd is almost overwhelming and very much appreciated!!!

The work bench set up was an experiment out of Germany to make a work bay more productive and it was to be used to divide up larger buildings.
The Blackhawk Jack co was distributing equipment to the collision industry, and brought a work station to the national conference and trade show, where I saw it. After the show I spoke to the company president and inquired about the future of the exhibit. We struck a deal and it was delivered to me.
What you see there is only about 1/3 of what they sent and after selling my business I was able to rescue what you see.

The lights down low help light up under the 4 post lift but add nothing to working on the work benches

Feel free to stop by often and let me know you were there

Don

Don,
Just finished reading all of your fantastic thread. Yep, took me a while. I don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said but I just have to tell you how much I've enjoyed reading it. What you've built and accomplished is truly amazing. What is really impressive is how much you have done yourself, and continue to do, and then take the time to explain it all to us. I know most of us have much smaller garages than yours, like mine, a 24' x 24', but there are so many of your ideas and tips that can be incorporated into our garages.
But the main thing is I'm glad to hear your health is good and the heart is ticking along just fine. We all want to be doing this stuff for a long, long time yet.
I hope I can get out your way some day and maybe stop in for a visit.

impala4speed
Welcome to the party garage. Show and tell is what this forum is all about.
I love to share my happiness with others!

The size of a garage doesn't really matter it is what goes on inside that does
And there is always something going on in mine.

I am pleased to read that you took the time to read through my thread
and hope you stop by often.

Your concern for my health is flattering, and I am happy to report all is well in the long camp.

If I hear that you and your wife make it to So Cal and don't stop by I will hunt you down. Til that day you take all the ideas you wish
and visit often.

Don
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Don

Just a quick thought for you. I used a product called "Break Free"
which is actually a gun cleaner. We used it in the army a lot. Now you can get it in a spray can. It removes the dirt and grease and leaves a clean oil free metal, but protects. I used it on the motor body and it saved me a lot of cleaning. Just spray it on and let it work a minute and then you can wipe off years of grime. It saved me a lot of time and effort on cleaning the motor body of the saw. Mine was pretty dirty in that area.

Best Regards
Herb

Thanks for the tip Herb

In case you haven't seen this.....The Mother Lode(auction)

http://www.chuppsauction.com/auction_11.htm

hpw
You really know how to hurt a guy don't you
I just returned from a 3k mile 5 day road trip and you show me this
Thanks for the link I still have one week to figure things out .:3gears:


Oh my that auction would be lovely to attend. Don, nice work an the Sinclair sign, and a very organized shop.

Thanks jbmatth
I worked on the Sinclair sign today
 
OP
D

don long

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
8,859
Location
southern california
Thought I would share my latest find.

The story goes like this
I'm surfing the garage journal, when I come across a thread concerning an alemite workstation. The guy says he thinks he might sell it so I fire him a P.M.
and we make a deal on the bench. It is in Wyoming and I am wanting a road trip. I convince my wife that we haven't been in Wyoming and I would like to get away and see the area and OH by the way I have a bench to pick up there
As long as we are in the area why not cruse over to So Dakota and visit Mt Rushmore. So we do and I got home last night with my new Alemite project


1 by don long, on Flickr

.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom