Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®

[BBChevro]

Re: Garage Refurb

Hey Eric, I've just finished reading your entire thread (a few pages at a time, over a couple of weeks) - I love the look of the old gas station, and you've done a fine job of updating & matching it to the house.

You scored well with getting those old plans too - it's a bit like finding the build sheet in an old car.

As I was reading through the thread, several questions popped into my head, but I thought I'd wait until I'd finished reading it - but of course all those questions have now "popped out again".

Things change as I get older - the phrase "getting lucky" now refers to going to another room and actually remembering what I went there for.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Hey Eric, I've just finished reading your entire thread (a few pages at a time, over a couple of weeks) - I love the look of the old gas station, and you've done a fine job of updating & matching it to the house.

You scored well with getting those old plans too - it's a bit like finding the build sheet in an old car.

As I was reading through the thread, several questions popped into my head, but I thought I'd wait until I'd finished reading it - but of course all those questions have now "popped out again".

Things change as I get older - the phrase "getting lucky" now refers to going to another room and actually remembering what I went there for.

Thank you Mark.

If any of those questions "reappear" feel free to ask.

 

[Dave88LX]

Re: Garage Refurb

Eric, when's your birthday? I want to send you a camera!

Some night I need to sit and read through all of this!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Eric, when's your birthday? I want to send you a camera!

Some night I need to sit and read through all of this!

Next month Dave. I'm not sure why it does that at times, it changes to green meaning it's ready and focused. I take the picture and it looks like it's okay when I see it before it's saved.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

As requested, here's a picture of the plans I stuck in a simple (cheap) frame. It was on teh wall but I moved it so as to not get paint splatter on it. Somewhat hard to see with the reflection from the lights on it.



This is the end that I did the other day. I hung up a new light. This one is a 4 bulb T8 fixture I bought at HD. This one has an electronic ballast and doesn't create an RFI issues like the ones I bought for the other side. (Menard's)
Much brighter than before.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...te-Strip-Light-TC-2-32-120-1-4-GESB/100192753

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

I started on the other end of the ceiling and got it finished today. I believe since the T12 lights are done and the new one works fine, I'll pick up a few more lights to put up. I'm slowly getting rid of the T12 lights and making the switch to T8s.
Just gotta pull the blue tape off.


After I had the second coat on the ceiling, I decided to roll the rest of it on the other section that gets painted next. I took a picture to show the difference between the old light gray paint (Odd Lots/Big Lots) that I had originally used.

another crappy picture, maybe I should grab the wife's camera

 

[doogiegh]

Re: Garage Refurb

Wow - I've read 23 pages straight thru and I see there are 84 pages total. I have no idea where this ends, but judging by the dates, I'm reading posts from May 2012 and want to keep going but man I got to get to sleep. LOL

Incredible incredible work and progress. In the recent posts, you are worried about your job and budget cuts, no OT, etc. I'd say who cares, go in business for yourself as a handyman fixer upper construction guy. You got 22 pages of pics of the incredible attention to detail work you do.

Can't wait to see where this all ends. LOL

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Wow - I've read 23 pages straight thru and I see there are 84 pages total. I have no idea where this ends, but judging by the dates, I'm reading posts from May 2012 and want to keep going but man I got to get to sleep. LOL

Incredible incredible work and progress. In the recent posts, you are worried about your job and budget cuts, no OT, etc. I'd say who cares, go in business for yourself as a handyman fixer upper construction guy. You got 22 pages of pics of the incredible attention to detail work you do.

Can't wait to see where this all ends. LOL

Thank you for the compliments.

As far as work goes, right now things are good. We are very thankful for the citizens voting for a Safety Forces (police and fire) income tax. In the past, present and hopefully the future too, the citizens have treated us very well and provided when we have needed something. I can not explain the level of gratitude and appreciation, the members of the Bucyrus police dept and Bucyrus Fire dept have for the voters in our time of need.

 

[luke7734]

Re: Garage Refurb

Judging by all the painting and moving around stuff in your garage, you've got too much time on your hands old boy.. lol.. I'm liking the new colors.. (I'll consider it half buckeye scheme... not ford.. ) looking good guy

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Judging by all the painting and moving around stuff in your garage, you've got too much time on your hands old boy.. lol.. I'm liking the new colors.. (I'll consider it half buckeye scheme... not ford.. ) looking good guy

Thanks Luke.

More like too much stuff on my hands. I've aquired a few more things and my garage is starting to get too small. I really need to get some things situated.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

I had to fix the fridge this morning in the house as it had an issue, evaporator fan motor crapped out. After I had it fixed, I went to town to grab a bite to eat, we had to toss a bunch out of the fridge. Then I helped a buddy out and didn't get done what I wanted to in my garage.

I had this issue with the lights. Notice the knock out for the conduit or romex clamp. The romex clamp is too big.



I assumed they were 1/2" holes for 3/8" conduit but they were smaller. The other light I hung a few days ago had the same issue and had a few knocks the same size. I guess I never paid much attention to them as I thought all of them in the light were the same size. I ended up cutting the holes bigger with some shears. If I was still storing my step-dad's box, he had a set of knock out bits in it.


After I put in the romex clamps, I did notice there are the properly sized knock outs towards the ends of the fixtures. The center ones are the smaller ones.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

When I picked up this pair of lights, I was going to buy a set of knock out bits. Then it dawned on me to use a hole saw. Sometimes, you get a train of thought in your head and it just sticks and hard to look outside the box. So that's what I did and it worked out great.


I hung up one light tonight and I have one more to hang. I was going to wire them up at the same time but I'm waiting to get the first one lit. Since the radial arm saw is there, I want to position the remaining light so I'm not casting a shadow while using the saw.

 

[jbmatth]

Re: Garage Refurb

I must say I am very impressed with all of your work, I've slowly read through the entire thread and I'm just in awe. I'd love to have an old station, but those are few and far between in my area and none would come with a house. Keep up the good work, I'm subscribed!

 

[taumac]

Re: Garage Refurb

Those plans are cool and would look great framed on the wall.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

I must say I am very impressed with all of your work, I've slowly read through the entire thread and I'm just in awe. I'd love to have an old station, but those are few and far between in my area and none would come with a house. Keep up the good work, I'm subscribed!

Thank you, finding the house (which needed plenty of work and still neeeds more) along with a decent garage was not that easy. Sometimes I think, we might have been better off finding a different place and put up a bldg from scratch. Hopefully if the time comes that we do sell and move, the place is bought by somebody that appreciates the garage as much as I have.

Those plans are cool and would look great framed on the wall.

They do look great on the wall in a simple frame. As a matter of fact, when I was out finishing up a light today, I stopped to look at them again.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Since I was out of town for a week, I had to wait to get home so I could finish wiring up the last light I put up. Once that was done, I put a few bulbs in it and flipped the switch.



Once I had that light up, I had to figure out where and how I was going to hang the other light. Since it's over the radial arm saw, I didn't want it to be in line with the other two lights. I thought it might cast a shadow on the saw, or I might when using it. Since I hung a couple lights on the other side at an angle to take advantage of the light, I decided to do the middle light the same way.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Here's a picture taken that looks from the back, it shows how much brighter it is with the newly painted ceiling and new T8 lights.



Then I was comparing how much different it looks from one side to the other. Of course, I figured why not snap a picture for reference. The newly lighted side used to be lit like the left side. You can see how much darker it is with the hanging shop lights and light gray ceiling. Using a semi-gloss white paint and T8 strip lights, it's much brighter to use the entire ceiling as a reflector as opposed to the shade on the shop lights.

 

[Jarr3tt_G]

Re: Garage Refurb

Very nice remodel! That's bad *** that you have an old service station.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

After much delay on a simple project, I finally finished up on this ceiling section. I took everything down and tossed (well rolled) up some paint. All of the ceiling is white as this was the last of it. One thing that has annoyed me for a few years was this part of the ceiling. If you look at the right seam, you can see water spots and an actual runs. If you remember from the beginning of the front roof tear off, it got wet. An unexpected T-storm rolled in an d I was out there at 5 am hanging a tarp in the lightning trying to keep the water out.


A little trim painting.


Make sure your ceiling is painted before you put up your airlines.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Three new 4 lamp T8 fixtures. I placed one directly over the bench and one opposite of it. Then I placed another fixture centered on those two, perpendicular. It will hopefully light up the work table quite nicely.





Next up, some touch up on the black trim, move everything back into place and you might have spotted the blocks on the bench. I'm going to put them between the other lights I put up. I forgot to add those spacers as they should allow a gap to prevent the ballasts from getting hot.

 

[luke7734]

Re: Garage Refurb

Looking good brother!

 

[SuburbanRuss]

Re: Garage Refurb

Well I am so glad I went through this whole thread. I still don't own any property, but my wife and i are staring to look. This gives me so much inspiration. Growing up my dad and grandfather were a lot like you are. They would come up with an idea for something, and decide they could make it. This brings back a ton of memories.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Looking good brother!

Thanks Luke.

Well I am so glad I went through this whole thread. I still don't own any property, but my wife and i are staring to look. This gives me so much inspiration. Growing up my dad and grandfather were a lot like you are. They would come up with an idea for something, and decide they could make it. This brings back a ton of memories.

I'm glad you enjoyed the thread and welcome to GJ. Stick around and keep reading, there plenty more garages and shops that have a ton of heart and soul put into them here. The Gallery section will take up hours of your time and makes for some great winter reading.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

I showed this planer a few months ago when I got it when a family member passed away. It needs a little attention, so I finally got to start on it.

EDIT: yes that is the Mosin still tore apart sitting on the bench behind.

Off came the feed trays.


A quick cleaning to degrease them and I left the rust alone. I gave them a coat of POR15 so there was no need to sand them down.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Before I took it apart, I washed the rolling table with some Simple Green than some car wash and another quick blast of Simple Green. I followed that with some compressed air and it'll dry tonight.



The wheels and axles are clean and will get a coat of gray like the rest of the table. If I remember, maybe I'll grab a qt of silver Rustoleum, so if I miss a spot, it won't be noticeable.


I'm not sure what to do with those handles, maybe some more black POR15 ?

 

[sean Buick 76]

Re: Garage Refurb

Yes, POR 15 for anything rusty, it sticks like glue to rust and WAY less prep time vs trying to remove all the rust.. Wire brush, blow off with air, and POR 15... then paint it if it will see sunlight as POR15 will trun color from UV light.

 

[dogtired78]

Re: Garage Refurb

What an unbelievable thread. It's taken me the better part of three weeks to work my way through it. You do some amazing work!

Looking forward to updates on the planer.

 

[hoyt]

Re: Garage Refurb

I just got caught up on your thread. I like your work. It's a great garage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

What an unbelievable thread. It's taken me the better part of three weeks to work my way through it. You do some amazing work!

Looking forward to updates on the planer.

I just got caught up on your thread. I like your work. It's a great garage.

Thank you for the compliments.

The planer, I did the stand painted with some black Rustoleum and bolted it back together. I'm just waiting on somebody to show and help me put the planer on the stand as it weighs a bit over 400lbs. Once it's in place, I will start cleaning it up.

 

[rixtrix1]

Re: Garage Refurb

That must be a really great planer, weighing 400#, Eric. It should really do the job once you get it going. Know anyone close by with an engine hoist( cherry picker) you can borrow to save your back? Mine is a little too far away, unfortunately.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

That must be a really great planer, weighing 400#, Eric. It should really do the job once you get it going. Know anyone close by with an engine hoist( cherry picker) you can borrow to save your back? Mine is a little too far away, unfortunately.

I can get one from a freind or two. The planer has four rods that pull out as handles, so it might be easier to have a couple of budddies or family members stop by. I can also take the motor off to ease up the weight.

 

[sbd4de3]

Re: Garage Refurb

Any updates Eric?

 

[Swift1]

Re: Garage Refurb

I've been reading this thread for about a week or so now on my phone and have found it pretty difficult to put down at times. So many cool projects (aside from the garage itself) and so much attention to detail.... My wife thinks I have a "problem" because I can't do things half *** and get frustrated when I'm forced to.....I'm glad to see there are more people with the same "problem" out there

I've really enjoyed it and hope to see more soon. Thank you sir

I'm also new here and glad I found this place it's awesome!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Any updates Eric?

No, not much going on right now. I've been doing a siding project and was trying to get some wood cut before that, along with a roofing job. Once the sding is done, I have to get some wood cut and get another roof started before the snow flies.

I've been reading this thread for about a week or so now on my phone and have found it pretty difficult to put down at times. So many cool projects (aside from the garage itself) and so much attention to detail.... My wife thinks I have a "problem" because I can't do things half *** and get frustrated when I'm forced to.....I'm glad to see there are more people with the same "problem" out there

I've really enjoyed it and hope to see more soon. Thank you sir

I'm also new here and glad I found this place it's awesome!

Glad you are enjoying the thread and welcome to GJ.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

I received an email today from my wife, which was sent to her after a few FWDs. It was written several years by a gentlemen remembering about his Father and days gone by. I thought that it was an interesting read and wanted to share it with those of you that have followed along with my Garage Refurb.

"LOOKING FOR MR. GOODWRENCH"​

As I write, I'm on vacation, stranded for the last four hours at exit
two-hundred something somewhere between Ohio and Florida suffering the
fan belt blues. The service attendants at the three self-serve gas stations
at this exit have been very helpful, all volunteering the use of their phones
and directories to call the nearest town, ten miles away or so, to find a fan
belt in stock. But its Sunday afternoon, and the parts stores don't open till
morning, I'm told.

Last evening, upon leaving Columbus, Ohio, I pulled up to the full-service
isle to fill up and get regally treated for lO.4¢ a gallon more. Being exclusively
a self-service patron for years, I looked forward to being waited on. Besides,
the Indians were at bat in the ninth trailing by a run on my car radio, and I didn't want to get out of the car. As I watied for service, Mike Hargrove, Cleveland and baseball's most tedious hitter stepped up to bat. Hargrove ran the the count to three-and-oh, before I beeped my horn. As Hargrove walked, so did my casual attendant from the back room, where evidently, he also was listening to the game. Third-baseman Toby Harrah' stepped to the plate as my attendant asked "May I help you?" Holding back from being a smart ***, I cheerfully instructed the attendant to fill it up. Harrah faked a bunt and took a couple of balls as my tank approached full.

As my full-service attendant squeegeed my windsheild bugs into a smeary film, Harrah squeegeed a sacrafice bunt, advancing the runner to second. As designated hitter Andre Thornton approached the plate, my designated attendant announced,"Fourteen twenty-four." "Check my oil, please." I said, even though I knew I didn't need any. There was a conference on the mound as my attendant searched for my hood latch. A pitching change was made when he found my dipstick. I concluded my oil was indeed fine when the attendant slammed my hood. Thornton struck out during my credit card processing. Two out now. Van Hayes was the batter as I was writing my tag number on my receipt. As I started my car, Hayes struck out on a check-swing, thus ending the game and my full-service adventure, which had lasted one-half inning. I wonder how many innings it would have lasted, had my full-service attendant taken a few seconds to check my fan belt.

In August, 1957, my father left a secure job in Toledo and we moved to Sulphur Springs, Ohio, where Dad bought and opened a one-man full-service gas station. The station had been built in the 30's and had two pumps, a hydralic lift, a little store, a few parts and tools, and lots of fan belts hanging from the wooden support beams. Untill 1957, it had been operated by a widower, then approaching seventy years. My father was forty-six.

Trola Klopfenstein, a grandmotherly spinster, was his first gas customer.
Mechanically, Trola knew about as much about her car, as, say, Stevie Wonder knows about Pac-Man , She needed full servi ce , and I watched my father administer it. He filled the tank without spilling a drop, which I found out later was a tricky thing to do in her '56 Chevy. Using a bug scratcher and paper towels, he wiped both front and back window clean. He opened the hood and went right for the dipstick, checked the oil, and informed Trola it was O.K. Before closing the hood, he checked the battery, radiator, and with a slight finger pull, checked the fan belt tension. All O.K. He did all this checking in maybe a minute, about the time it takes Mike Hargrove to
walk on four straight pitches. Trola, jumping at the opportunity,asked my father if her tires "were all right?". They were, as my father could tell by looking, but he used a tire gauge anyway. Trola asked my father if he sold milk. He did, and went inside to get her a half-gallon. Total sale was less than three dollars. When Trola pulled away, she'd known she'd full-serviced to the max. Trola drove that car untill both it and she rusted out. She never let anyone else service it except my father.

After eight years of apprenticeship at my fathers gas station, I went to college, working parttime at stations elsewhere. Priding myself in fast, efficient service, I learned all about gas cap, hood latch and dipstick locations. I wiped windsheilds clean, checked batteries, oil, tires, and fan belts. I was good at it, but there seemed to be little future in the trade.

In August, 1977, I visited my father at his gas station, making a big deal of his
20th business anniversary. Things hadn't changed too much in twenty years. He sold beer now, and gas had gone from 26¢ per gallon to a dollar. He still gave full-service, but most of his customers waived him off anymore. That day, I made him reminisce, and he told me that growing up, he'd always dreamed to have his own service station with regular custome~and the opportunity to work on their cars. That, he said. meant more to him than making "a lot of money." He said he never regretted making the risky move at age forty-six. and added,"The last twenty years have been the best." He operated the station two more years closing a month before he died. The whole community attended his funernal.

Well, now I've been stranded for five hours. The self-service jockey here just
told me that they think they've located a fan belt for me in town, ten miles away, and he'd be glad to give me a ride when he gets off work in about fifteen minutes. If I want.

My mother owns a set of 1960 uncirculated coins, penny through silver dollar. They were given to my father by the Gates Rubber Company, the fan belt people. Gates would have a guy drive all over the ccuntrv with faulty fan belts. He was called the "Gates
Mystery Man." He would drive into service stations and top the tank. If the attendant while giving him service, checked the fan belt and informed the stranger that it was f aulty, the "Mystery"Man"would indentify himself and congratulate attendant and station manager. Various prizes were given, and when the same station uncovered three "Mystery Men", the owner/manager received the coins and write-up" in the Gates Rubber
Company News . My father was overjoyed everytime he caught a "Mystery Man." Proud. He caught five altogether. But I remember him checking Trola Klolopfenstein's fan belt before he ever heard of the "Mystery Man."

Maybe its my imagination, but, in this self-service age, I seem to see many more cars parked and temporarily abandoned along the Interstate anymore.
And I think they all belong to the Trola Klopfensteins who no longer get full-service free. Or get shabby full service for 10.4¢ a gallon more.



Some of those Gates belts still hang in that same garage.

 

[STINEY]

Re: Garage Refurb

Wow. Sobering and awesome, all mixed together. Did you know some of this when you bought the place?

Love history.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Garage Refurb

Wow. Sobering and awesome, all mixed together. Did you know some of this when you bought the place?

Love history.

When I bought it, No. But shortly after we bought the place I found out neighbor's dad used to own the place. He's the brother of the guy who wrote the article posted. Little by little, I hear more and more stories of the place.

 

[jwh]

Re: Garage Refurb

Wow Eric, what a story! You need to have that framed and put it up in your shop somewhere - like right next to those fan belts!

Stay safe!

John in Rochester NY

 

[impala4speed]

Re: Garage Refurb

Fantastic story Eric. Thanks for sharing that with us.

 

[Madhatter10-6]

Re: Garage Refurb

how cool