Does anyone share garage/workspace?

[Jheart]

I miss my garage, but I can't afford the space and tools I dream of.

Has anyone ever shared garage space with other people?

Got any advice on who might be interested in splitting rent and tool purchase? I've looked into makerspaces (similar concept), but I'm looking for gearheads rather than geeks.

There was a motorcycle collective up in Portland, ME where I'm from, I'll reach out to them to get some pointers.

 

[brycez28]

One of my buddies is trying to do this. He is renting several storage units and would like to purchase a building to move all that into, and also have a shared space for a club, like makerspace.

I think it is a great idea and way to share knowledge and experience and to be able to learn new equipment. But their is always the issue of someone misusing or breaking/stealing equipment that needs to be addressed.

I would pay a $40-50 monthly membership to do something like this, and also allow others to use my tools as needed.

 

[brycez28]

There was a motorcycle collective up in Portland, ME where I'm from, I'll reach out to them to get some pointers.

Let me know what you find out, either posting back here or send me a PM

 

[rsanter]

I used to share space with friends.
A couple of them were long term friends and those deals worked out great.
Along the way I ended up sharing with friends that I had only known a year or so. Those times did not work out as well. In one case one of the guys was stealing from me.

As for sharing tools. The only way to do it IMO is one person buys and owns a tool. If you split then each owns their own. You each buy stuff that will be needed and allow the others to use it

Bob

 

[ScottsGT]

This spells out a recipe for disaster if not handled correctly. I for one would not let others use my tools because they don't have anything invested in them. They don't care if they drag your new IR Impact across the concrete floor or get spray paint on your new jack stands.
Physical area, yea. I can see doing a "Car Club" for gear heads. But here's another rub. How many guys will join up just to get free auto service? Show up and bug everyone else to "show me how to do this" and then the knowledgeable guy never gets time to work on his car.
There's a guy here in town that stopped by my house when he saw me working on my Mustang one day. I could tell he's a car nut, but not the kind that knows a lot and wants others to do it all for him. Couldn't feel him out at first, but I don't think he was willing to work as much as he was willing to pull a Tom Sawyer and get others to white wash is fence.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If you have no problem chasing down your tools, which were reloaned to your Buddy's Rusus-in-Law who was in town for the weekend, Or don't mind someone putting tools back in """the toolbox""" where they """figure""" they should be placed... Or use Your 12point chrome deep well sockets on an impact, or tie up your jack stands under a car you have never seen before, or forget to cover your project when they undercoat theirs, or leave the doors unlocked because another member lost his keys, and wants to get in, or one member is using everyone elses' equipment, and contributes little, or one member is turning the place into a hangout for his drinking buddies.... Some people will drag out a project for years; and for them, total clutter is the norm... Do you enjoy cleaning up after a pig?? That gallon of antifreeze you bought last week? where is it? Could I borrow my trouble light??

Unless everyone has their own set of basic tools, I don't see this going well at all... Sitting down and establishing some ground rules could clear up everyone's expectations and understandings... Ruling out customer work, and allowing personal vehicles only would thwart a member from "cashing in or taking advantage" of a club like arrangement..

Only takes one bad apple..

 

[Strouty]

I miss my garage, but I can't afford the space and tools I dream of.

Has anyone ever shared garage space with other people?

Got any advice on who might be interested in splitting rent and tool purchase? I've looked into makerspaces (similar concept), but I'm looking for gearheads rather than geeks.

There was a motorcycle collective up in Portland, ME where I'm from, I'll reach out to them to get some pointers.

You still in that neck of the woods or are you on to greener pastures?

 

[crewchief888]

i did it for a while with a friend of mine, and a friend of his.

it worked out good for all 3 of us or a while.

most of the tools and equipment were mine, didnt care who used them as long as they got put back where they belonged, never a problem with that.

the only problem was we called the 3rd guy "Mr Sanford"
i could leave one afternoon, and by the next day could barely get in the door without falling over stuff he had picked up that day.

we turned a pretty good "profit" by scrapping vehicles, paid the rent most months.

we closed the doors when the economy started to tank...

 

[Kevkx125]

Shared a garage in my early 20"s with some friends worked out okay but I always kept my tools locked up when I wasn't there.

 

[mburrus]

i share 1200 sqft with a friend. it has worked out well for
the last 7 years. we are planning to split in february, he lives about 80 miles north now and his parents are moving away from the area, he has no reason to
be here. as for me, i am building a 1280 sqft shop in my yard as we speak. paying rent is getting old. we knew eachother about 4 years before we did the shop thing. we split the rent down the middle, he has the power bill, i have the internet bill. we each have our own set of hand tools and small power tools, but i own the welders, compressor, drill press, large grinder, brake, slip roll, notcher and the saws.

a lot of cool projects have come out of the shop, and its nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.

you really have to trust the person...

 

[truckman5000]

I used to share space with friends.
A couple of them were long term friends and those deals worked out great.
Along the way I ended up sharing with friends that I had only known a year or so. Those times did not work out as well. In one case one of the guys was stealing from me.

As for sharing tools. The only way to do it IMO is one person buys and owns a tool. If you split then each owns their own. You each buy stuff that will be needed and allow the others to use it

Bob

This.
And the garage was mine. Friends didnt pick up, dumping oil on the floor without care. And the worst was the electric bill.
The deal was to split the electric bill....that rarely happened and kicked them out. Those two friends ive been friends with forever..they dont talk to me.

They dont talk to me because i was wondering were there extra money was going. Wile they couldnt afford to chip in for the electric bill. I sensed something was up, put a camera in, they were doing coke...I asked if they needed help, nothing. Asked to straiten there asses up..they didnt..i flat out said if your doing drugs get out. They didnt...Had to kick them out

 

[gtcs]

I had a shared garage with a cousin of mine... worked out ok till he started sharing it with some friends also. Thats when all my air tools vanished.

I would be very careful trying to set something like this up, not only could you lose your stuff, but others may try to hold you liable for theirs if something happens.

 

[VolatileBeans]

Try reaching out to any local car clubs. A lot of them will have "work days" at one of the member's shops. One of my local car clubs rents out a large warehouse style thing for members to work on cars.

You can try to start one up if there's in your local car clubs. Bring your own tools, provide keys to people who help pay rent, etc.