Who all has their fab area in close proximity to car storage? I just built a 24x40that will permanently house our race car and my fair weather street car as well as be my work/fab shop. My dad just moved out of his holuse with a 24x28 which Is where the race car was, and also in close proximity to my fab table and it accumulated grinding dust rather quickly. So what are you guys using that are in similar situations to try and keep this stuff off the paint of your cars? Moving them out every time I need to work on something is not an option
Car covers?
- Thread starter Bradc1989
- Start date
sick467
Well-known member
I'm cheap, a bit of a hoarder, and have a sewing machine that I can manage to make two fabrics "stick" together. It's not real pretty, but for about 10-$20 at the local thrift store (if you don't save all your old bedding), you can buy enough sheets/light blankets to sew up covers for the vehicles that are allergic to dust and bird droppings.
Sheets work OK, but the soft, somewhat fuzzy, blankets that are meant to go between the sheets and comforter are my favorite as they don't allow the dust to filter through as much. For my truck, I make two covers, one for the bed and the other for the cab. This way it will fit in the washer. The 67 Mustang is a one piece, but does push the washing machine capacity. The big old Pontiac will get a two piece, when the time comes, that has an overlap at mid car. At the overlap, I have taken several pieces of scrap cloth, wadded them up, individually, to the size of a golf ball, wrapped it with the first blanket, then the second, and tied a piece of string around it to keep the overlap intact. When it's time to wash it, I cut the strings, wash, dry , and re-apply the connections. Without a sewing machine, the whole thing can be connected with this idea. I have also sewn socks at the corners and in the middle of the long edges to put some weight in them so that the breeze through the shop does not blow the covers off. Blue jean rear pockets work good to and look a little better, although looks are not the covers strong suit! lol This depends on what the thrift store has available or what the home makers tastes are in bedding. I have some flowers and even some "Car's" cartoons.
A layer of plastic can go over the whole thing with a few of the scrap cloth golf ball attachments if your cars are exposed to gritty dust and liquid splatter.
I just can pay the money for car covers!
Sheets work OK, but the soft, somewhat fuzzy, blankets that are meant to go between the sheets and comforter are my favorite as they don't allow the dust to filter through as much. For my truck, I make two covers, one for the bed and the other for the cab. This way it will fit in the washer. The 67 Mustang is a one piece, but does push the washing machine capacity. The big old Pontiac will get a two piece, when the time comes, that has an overlap at mid car. At the overlap, I have taken several pieces of scrap cloth, wadded them up, individually, to the size of a golf ball, wrapped it with the first blanket, then the second, and tied a piece of string around it to keep the overlap intact. When it's time to wash it, I cut the strings, wash, dry , and re-apply the connections. Without a sewing machine, the whole thing can be connected with this idea. I have also sewn socks at the corners and in the middle of the long edges to put some weight in them so that the breeze through the shop does not blow the covers off. Blue jean rear pockets work good to and look a little better, although looks are not the covers strong suit! lol This depends on what the thrift store has available or what the home makers tastes are in bedding. I have some flowers and even some "Car's" cartoons.
A layer of plastic can go over the whole thing with a few of the scrap cloth golf ball attachments if your cars are exposed to gritty dust and liquid splatter.
I just can pay the money for car covers!
Trapps
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a pair of motorcycles in my shop, which is small at just 220sf. They wear nice covers, but when things get really icky I also drape a large piece of 6 mil poly over them. It was left over from another project. Cheap and reusable. Also easy to just take outside and shake out. Then roll up and store until needed again.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I put strip curtains in my garage to isolate my tandem third car "shop fab" area,
I have them mounted on track so I can slide it completely open and out of the way also,
bonus, my mini split real works well when the curtain is closed.
https://www.strip-curtains.com/proCat/stripDoors.php
You can see it a bit in this picture.
I have them mounted on track so I can slide it completely open and out of the way also,
bonus, my mini split real works well when the curtain is closed.
https://www.strip-curtains.com/proCat/stripDoors.php
You can see it a bit in this picture.
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Pontiac787
Well-known member
I use a typical car cover then put a good quality tarp over that.
36truck
Well-known member
I've hung plastic down from the ceiling for a paint booth. You can do that to separate the spaces to keep dust down. Also cover with cloth sheets as said earlier.
Slednut
Well-known member
I got my car painted but am still working on it so it's setting there where I'm working.
I bought this cover from Amazon, it's pretty good and finding one big enough to cover the 70 Cyclone was a little tough.
It does a really good job keeping the dust off and I am always worried about hitting the car with something I'm carrying.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ACOB4YA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I bought this cover from Amazon, it's pretty good and finding one big enough to cover the 70 Cyclone was a little tough.
It does a really good job keeping the dust off and I am always worried about hitting the car with something I'm carrying.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ACOB4YA/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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momobuttons
Well-known member
A proper car cover? I prefer NOAH brand, great fitment and protection. But if this is for simply preventing some dust fallout, big sheets of 5-6mil plastic should be fine.
like2wheel
Well-known member
Masking plastic is good for keeping fallout off of cars and car covers. A 400' roll is only $30, throw it out & cut off a new length when its dirty or after the storage season.
No need for heavy plastic.
No need for heavy plastic.
HMCFab9
Well-known member
^ What he said
If you use a cloth cover the grit gets stuck in the fabric & scratches the car anyway
glend123
Well-known member
I have a good California car cover, then I put a cheap walmart cover over it, then a sheet of plastic over that.
sherrillkelby
Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2015
- Messages
- 13
You can get disposable plastic car covers from many sellers on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WK4QCCT/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WK4QCCT/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Don1357
Well-known member
Get the cheapest outdoor car cover you can find, which will not be good enough for outside storage (frankly none of them are) but will work great for inside. I just saw one on Amazon for $25
californiamilleghia
Well-known member
There are also "inside only" covers that are softer cloth material ,
I normally buy used ones at the swap meet and put 2 on the outside cars,
they are small cars so I need to bungie one end to take up the extra material ,
I normally buy used ones at the swap meet and put 2 on the outside cars,
they are small cars so I need to bungie one end to take up the extra material ,
matt_i
Well-known member
This is a bit tangential but what material would you use for the inside facing of an exterior cover? Expensive, but Sunbrella fabric on the exterior side would last a very long time. But I don't think that's the right choice for sliding over the paint....cotton seems reasonable but I think it would break down with the moisture that's going to eventually collect.
Don1357
Well-known member
You basically have two types; the super thin ones that are too light to drag and damage the paint, and the multi layered ones with a soft lining.
Neither will last outside, no matter what they tell you.
Either would work fine inside, where it is protected from the sun and wind.
Some folks would sell you the very same cheap one for twice the price claiming it to be a better quality one.
And sometimes you would buy what you think is the same cover from the same vendor with the same name and at the same price, just to find out you got a lighter, cheaper cover.
So basically go budget and never use it outside.
Neither will last outside, no matter what they tell you.
Either would work fine inside, where it is protected from the sun and wind.
Some folks would sell you the very same cheap one for twice the price claiming it to be a better quality one.
And sometimes you would buy what you think is the same cover from the same vendor with the same name and at the same price, just to find out you got a lighter, cheaper cover.
So basically go budget and never use it outside.