Garage makeover time. Got to organize the mess thread.

[housedad]

it is almost time for me to start the process of remaking my garage into something useful.

This is weird. Here I am looking for another tool cabinet just to slightly stay ahead of the nightmare that meets me in my tool drawers, and It looks like I'm going to get a lot more than I thought. I realized that all those ideas that I've had about how to organize my garage have to start being realized.

I have a two car unfinished attached garage, 24X36. I've got the tools from about 37 years of purchases, and it really starts to get to be a mess. Right now I have a Trinity 42" stainless chest, but that is stuffed to it's eyeballs. Add in several 19" tool boxes, and it gets to be a lot. I spend more time looking for tools than using them.

I also closed my gunsmithing business a few years ago and I have all of the hand and power tools from that packed away in boxes filling the corner of my garage.. That is a decent amount of stuff on it's own, and I can't even get to them to use. I really want to get a useable gunsmithing workshop running so I can work on my own gun collection. (large enough that full cleaning/inspection/lube alone takes 2 full 10 hour days)

Add a COMPLETE welding equipment setup, a decent size welding table being made, a 12X 36" lathe (with all tooling and chucks), Table saw, Freezer, Fort Knox gun safe, grinders, drill press,

Well, it looks like I'm going to be adding a Harbor freight 56" cabinet and top box, and building a workbench in the corner that will incorporate two of the Harbor freight 44" roller cabinets. The workbench and 44"s will be for the gunsmithing/reloading/bullet casting aspects.

General vehicle and other workbench needs can be fulfilled with the welding table. It will be pretty tough, with a 9/16" thick 43" X 55" steel top.

Getting the walls and ceiling covered in drywall is one of the early problems to solve, since I have nowhere hardly to move the stuff and I will have to do a small section at a time. With 11' 3" ceilings, it's going to be fun.

Finally add in the 2 post lift I'll be picking up sometime in the next two weeks, and you can see I have my work cut out for me.

Still trying to get it all planned out, but purchases start beginning of December regardless.

Question for all the folks here:

Anyone know of a decent layout software to help me make this easier?

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

Not sure where you're located but most of the Harbor Freights have their boxes on sale until the end of November, so you might save yourself a few bucks to buy now instead of waiting a week or two.
Also, you know your business better than I do, but I'd want a separate walled off area for the gunsmithing, a"cleanroom", if you will...far away from where I was doing welding and grinding. You will just not believe how that stuff migrates.
Good Luck with your cleanup! I opened your thread because I am looking for ideas for that project myself.

 

[housedad]

You are right about the migration of stuff. Custom gunsmithing requires a lot of filing, grinding, welding, and wood dust. Metal chips and filings get everywhere. It requires constant cleaning and making sure that the gun is unloaded first, then making sure the workplace is clean. Every time. Adding fabrication of larger stuff in the garage will definitely compound this.

Fortunately, my setup is for most heavy grinding to be done near the main door, and one thing I hope to do is include some form of covering for the gunsmithing benches that can be easily removed.

This mess will be documented with pics as I can.

 

[housedad]

Well, I have been a busy camper with my off time on this mess. The funny thing is that I have not even moved one thing. All my free time has been spent on planning and drawing.

I want to install a 2 post lift in the Garage, and my test drills have shown a minimum 5 inch thickness. I need a minimum of 4. However, I cannot absolutely pin down any records of how strong the concrete is. I called a lab, and the testing price was astronomical. So I bought a resiliometer to do the test myself. It came in from China today, so I'll be out there grinding the surface off a test area and doing the test to make sure it is at least 3000PSI.

As far as planning, I've spent some time making a model of my garage so I can play with the items in there. It is far from complete, but I'm still having some fun with it.

View media item 35823View media item 35822

 

[LX-Markham]

it's not just how thick the slab is, it's also what is under the slab.

In the case of mine....nothing!
There was a 3" void under my slab where the uncompacted soil had settled.

I'd feel much safer (especially with a 2-post) cutting the slab, excavate, and place a proper footing.

 

[housedad]

That, sir, is a frightening picture.