Garage/Shop Reference Library

[kwright]

I'm considering how best to organize my reference materials - shop manuals, etc - for easy access and even perhaps display in my new garage.

I've searched though the archives here and didn't really find a whole lot on this subject, so I'm curious how others may have addressed this situation.

I've been thinking of installing a set of shelves with a perhaps a way to display a manual that's in-use without it laying flat on the workbench.

Interested in others thoughts on this matter, and am particularly interested in seeing photos of libraries.

 

[Blue]

I put all my manuals in a plastic box--otherwise the mice get into them.

 

[qdvuu]

In the past I've used a music stand to hold manuals. It was a heavy duty one (tubing approx 1" dia) and able to hold heavy manuals. I considered putting wheels on it, which would have made it much easier to work with.

Music Stand

 

[sam 8]

On newer manuals, ones that are not collectors items themselves, I have actually disassembled the manual, placed individual pages in clear 3-ring binder holders, and then re-assembled the manual in a 3- ring binder with tabs breaking down the different chapters or areas of information.
This saves the info from greasy hands, makes the binder lay flat, and seems to work O.K.
Now, I also have almost 30 years of Hot Rod Magazine, 15 or so of Car Craft, 25 of American Rifleman, and am looking for a good, reasonalby cheap way of storing them in a way that makes it easy to retrieve tech info out of them.

 

[Firetrucks]

All my manuals are on a shelf next to my bench. As for a way to display a manual, I found a cookbook holder that is mounted under the shelf over my bench. The holder folds up under the shelf out of the way when not in use.

The holder came from Builders Square, long gone here in Indiana, but I assume any place that sells kitchen cabinet stuff would have one.

 

[Brad54]

For my reference books and manuals, I have a 3-shelf SteelCase office book case. I made simple Plexiglass doors for it. Just plexi, no frames. Two hinges for each door, metal cabinet pulls and latches. Mainly the doors are to keep the dust off them. You don't think about how much dust is in a shop.

For reference articles from car mags and such, I started just making a color copy of the original article, three-hole punch it and put it in a binder. I've got a pretty thick binder that's organized in sections: Brakes, Electrical, Carbs, etc. etc. (need to get another--this one is stuffed and falling apart). It'd be tough pitching 30 years worth of Hot Rod, but at some point with my mid-80s car mags, I had to tell myself that I just wasn't ever going to use them for anything but taking up space.

I like the book and music stands! Never thought of that.

-Brad

 

[boiler7904]

I print copies of power tool manuals from the manufacturer's website. The original that comes with the tool gets the serial number recorded on it and goes in a file in the house. Copies (again with the serial number) are in a three ring binder in the garage.

 

[Torque1st]

I have shelves in my office area. The manuals are roughly by application; automotive, electrical, hydraulics & pneumatics, machinery, etc.

The hardbound books stand by themselves, the softbound catalogs and manuals sit in library type plastic magazine holders. I have roughly 75' of shelves full of reference materials, texts, manuals and catalogs.

The magazine storage bins are similar to the link below but mine are plastic and much more generic for large scale storage like in a library.
storage

The storage bins make it easy to pull down a section from a shelf and they keep the thinner catalogs and magazines from falling over or curling.

 

[bomber]

Mine just sit on shelves up high on the wall -- out of the way, but reachable . . . . .

a buddy, on the other hand, made a great score at a small town Dodge dealership that was shutting down -- remember those sheet metal things that the parts department used to hold all the parts books? All the books sitting side by side, with the sheet metal ends at a 20 degree angle or so, allowing one of the books to lie open?

Great solution -- he put his on a roll-around stand (truck brake drum with three casters, gas pipe vertical), so he could wheel it over to where he needed it.

 

[kwright]

Thanks for all the replies... some interesting ideas.

 

[e-tek]

Hey guys - post pics of your manual storage and shops!!

 

[JebNY]

I picked up an old metal filing cabinet and keep the books spine up in the drawers. Keeps them clean, and keeps the mice out.

Jeb

 

[fireguy]

When I was a parts mgr in a Chevy dealership, I got tired of binders that did not last. I went to the local stationary store and bought 3 post binders, Boorum & Pease, # C619-3. They have a metal spine, full length piano hinges, heavy covers. They cost about $80.00 each. I'll repeat, about $80.00 each. And that was 25 years ago. The boss hollered about that, but I saved the $80.00 by not having to replace binders every 6 months. When I went into business for myself, I bought some of those binders. AFter 22 years, they are still in good shape. That works out to less than $4.00 a year. Itoya has 3 post binders, cheaper covers. Wilson-Jones has vinyl 3 post binders also, # 365-49B, 3 inch thick for about $35.00. I just got one last month so I could set up a sprinkler service manual for one of my techs. It will not last 20 years, but then I won't either. I will protect the pages in the sprinkler book with the plastic sleeves also.

The stantionary stores have plastic holders for magazines, in colors if that is important to you.

 

[Thomarann]

I take all my manuals apart and scan them to OCR'd pdf files and put them on my home LAN NAS.

I can then access them from any computer on the network (including the computer in the garage) and can search for exact phrases.

Marc

 

[Vinko]

Speaking of manuals -- I lost the title but there was one book in particular that someone here had recommended. It was like the bible on fasteners. Can't remember it now but it looked like good bedside readin'!

 

[kfainf]

I happened across these plastic and acrylic units in a store that was
remodeling. They were designed to hold some sort of pattern books that
were about the size of magazines. The acrylic pochets flip like the pages
of a book. I put my repair manuals, catalogs, and other interesting books
and magazines in the pockets. The manulas, books, and binders that will
not fit in the pockets go on the top shelf of the lower cabinet. I mianly
use this bench for reading reference materials and testing car stereos
and doing small type work.

 

[sberry]

I have a common book shelf for the big stuff but simple filing cab listed by alphabetically for the dozens or hundreds of small items. We service almost everything we own ourselves, would be lost without it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

a buddy, on the other hand, made a great score at a small town Dodge dealership that was shutting down -- remember those sheet metal things that the parts department used to hold all the parts books? All the books sitting side by side, with the sheet metal ends at a 20 degree angle or so, allowing one of the books to lie open?

I've been looking for one of those things for years. They show up now and then at the local swap meets, but the sellers are usually asking ridiculous prices for them.

 

[bomber]

you n me, both, Stuart!

 

[autoist]

Here's a photo of my manual storage area:

^ if you look closely, you can see my 2-drawer filing cabinet under the stereo setup.

 

[Brad54]

a buddy, on the other hand, made a great score at a small town Dodge dealership that was shutting down -- remember those sheet metal things that the parts department used to hold all the parts books? All the books sitting side by side, with the sheet metal ends at a 20 degree angle or so, allowing one of the books to lie open?

I actually had one of those in my office when I worked for car magazines. It SEEMS like a great idea, until you actually get one. If you're using a manual, or looking up reference material every day, they're fine. But if it's only once in a while, you can fit a lot more books and manuals on a wall shelf, and pull down the one you need.
They're actually pretty big, and when you have one, the only place to set it is on a work bench or counter, and it takes up a lot of room. For me, room that would be better served with a nut/bolt cabinet, tool box, grinder, coffee maker, cordless power tool charger, etc. etc.
And honestly, you'd think they hold a TON of material, but it's really not that much.
-Brad

 

[jhn9840]

I bought a used book case at a yard sale. Paid 20 dollars for it. Has 3 shelves with glass doors to keep the dust and dirt out, and two sliding drawers that I keep all the misc stuff I print off in. It works and don't take up very much space.

jhn9840
John

 

[Mikea57]

I like the way you think jhn9840!! That oughta keep the mice out too.

Mike

 

[fasteddie24]

Made a simple wood box that fits inside my top tool box.

 

[e-tek]

I have an idea I'm gonna put in play this spring, more to display some vintage manuals and magazines, than for increased storage. You see them in some magazine and book stores, a simple upright lean-back shelf. they are about 12' tall and the bottom comes out a bit more than the top so items on it 'lean back'. I have a shelf across the top of one 40 foot wall for collectibles and will add this shelf along the bottom. Could be another good dusting project for Mrs E-tek too!!

 

[fasteddie24]

Will she be wearing that special dusting outfit?

 

[Richard Givan]

I have an idea to share that is mostly on topic.

I try to be an organized guy, having realized long ago that a little front-end work can often save much more over the years to come. Almost ten years ago, I bought an old air-head BMW moto that was pretty maintenance intensive (compared to newer bikes, at least). It was in rough condition and I spent a few months leisurely rebuilding much of it, with lots of reading and research mixed in.

Here's the tip. I spent a little time on my computer creating a two-page document (front and back) which incorporated nearly all the ready information that I might need for routine servicing. Things like capacities, torque values, bolt sizes, even stuff like the state of battery charge based on voltage read by a multimeter. I copied all the info I might have to be looking up again sometime.

When I was satisfied, I printed it out and ran it through a plastic sheet laminator. I then had a durable, grease-proof document that I kept ready to hand with the bike stuff in the garage.

Now the bike is long gone (four broken ribs and busted elbow helped make that decision), but I do think the laminated service doc served me well. This will probably be unnecessary for the typical car of today, but maybe not for the **** types or the older, higher-maintenance types that many of the good folks on GJ favor.