HellaFab's 14'x24' Auto Fab shop

[HellaFab]

Space is tight and I have a hobby. My fiancee and I just bought a house and I moved my important tools from our larger 30x50 garage to this nice little spot off of our first home.

My shop from the outside...


When I first took posession...


Crappy old reclaimed wood doors the previous owners really liked...


My Mini enjoying some cover before other cars take the space


Moving in some tools and a new door installed thanks to some friends.


Trying to figure out where everything will go...



Welding Table spot. Need to get a nice top for this old table that was left for me!


New TIG welder to replace my GIANT Lincoln.


125A sub panel to hook up soon!


Welding up some tube in my new shop.





Lastly a few of the projects that I have been working on...












Plans for the next short while will be getting my sub panel wired and more lighting in the shop once this Honda job is done.
I have lots of plans for the garage but the other half has suggested that all of my tool and garage purchases should be 100% covered by my fab jobs. That gives me a little bit of push to do more work.

cheers,
Matt

 

[jdeck]

Wow nice work!! I envy your welding skills. Nice job on the Honda and good luck with your shop. What are your plans for fixing it up?

 

[HellaFab]

I grew up on a family farm and one of the old barns just collapsed. I will be using the metal from the roof to do my ceiling and i will be ripping the barnboards down and giving them a minor thickness planing to cover the walls with.

Beyond that, I just want more light in there, I NEED more power and I need to build shelving to keep organized.

Right now there is just minimal electricity and I have tripped the breaker welding already. The two outlets and 2 lights are run off a single 15A single pole breaker and there is a second similar breaker for an outlet facing outside to a GFCI for the pool pump. Seriously under sized for what I do LOLOL.

The floor is ****, but I can live with that for the time being.

 

[c0r3y.af]

I feel your pain on the crappy electrical. With my current setup, all I can do is turn the lights and the compressor on. Anything else (heater, power tools, etc) trip the breaker. It drives me insane!

It looks like you're off to a good start and that shop has a ton of potential. Nice work on the exhaust! I wish I knew how to weld because I really need a new exhaust for my Audi right now. Is the Honda yours or a friends? Looks like a nice build.

 

[HellaFab]

The honda started out as someone I knew from car meets but we are more or less friends coming out of it.

If i weld more than 5 seconds (120v) at 100A a/c I will trip the breaker hard. thats just the welder. not to mention lights or a stereo.

The shop is tight, but I can organize my stuff properly and I think that will help. The Lexus took up so much space in the garage it was near impossible to build the exhaust LOL.

Thanks.
Matt

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice.

It is nice to be finally working in a shop that you can call your own isn't it?

When I first started I worked out of an old converted barn on my parents farm. My wife and I bought our home in 1991 but we couldn't afford to build my dream shop until 1995. I remember the day when I was finally able to "work" in my new shop. It was a great day.

Congratulations on the home and workshop.

Mike.

 

[andyhurz20]

Very nice fab work. It's great to have your own place and do whatever you want to it!

 

[JPorkins]

Nice photo, What camera? Great start btw.

 

[HSpencer]

Great building, lots of potential. Love the windows! I also have lots of window light in my shop. I think you could make that one sweet spot for your garage/shop. I am going to watch this thread, as it will be a good one!!
Thanks for posting.

 

[HellaFab]

Thanks.

Did a little welding this morning.

The 15a 120v is holding me back on thicker aluminum. Kept tripping the breaker.


Top mount hot side ic pipe.


Little pipe welded up today...

Weld closeup...

 

[HellaFab]

Ps those squares for kids rooms are amazing for a concrete garage floor. Put them down and they save your knees and keep you off the potentially cold surface.

I throw them down in my work area... But not my welding area.

 

[HellaFab]

I delivered the civic project yesterday for a happy customer. Here are a few pics I managed to snap on my phone because the tow truck came early which i really wasnt expecting.











This job was one of my first jobs that I allowed the customer to supply things like couplers and flanges. Though it worked fine I dont think I will do that anymore being that I wasnt able to have the system put together at delivery and i didnt have the couplers through the fab process.


Coming up in a few weeks I will be doing some intercooler piping and an intake pipe for a turbo B16 CRX.


In the mean time... I have an empty garage that I need to clean up and do some organization in. I also have a few dollars from completing that project to run my new electrical service to my garage. Im REALLY not looking forward to digging that trench. (20' run underground... minimum depth is 28" by code *I think*)

 

[that-guy]

been watching your stuff in the Fab forums on Honda-Tech for some time...nice to see you migrate here as your new home shop takes shape

 

[dubber]

Very cool. I was surprised by your thread title from your first couple of pics. Then it all made sense. Great work!

 

[HellaFab]

Haha.

I was just adding a bit of background on the garage itself. That way it has some body to it.

I cant wait to get the new panel in and live. The wiring in the garage doesnt have enough go for what I do. After thats up and running I hope to flood the garage with light. My next job should be pretty good and cover most of my lights.

Matt

 

[HellaFab]

I just did a garage layout on the CB Structures layout planner.

Any thoughts on how I could make more efficient use of my space?


I dont want to make it too cluttered and unusable.
FWIW, the band saw I hope to fit some casters to because there isnt enough room to cut a long peice of tube in two.

 

[dubber]

Personally since you have a good size yard i would think about a shed for the non car related items. Especially with a single you have to be stingy in what you let stay in there to maximize space. Relocating that lawnmower and other related items will make your life easier as you work in your new space.

EDIT: Also if your able to squeeze recycling boxes/bins elsewhere this is also a huge savings. Trust me they all add up. Cleaning products can be up on a shelf above something that needs to be on the ground as well.

 

[HellaFab]

Yes, My fiancee and I talked about getting one already. I am thinking about trying to build/find a 10x10x8 to store the bikes, lawnmower, yard stuff and garbage in.

Sheds are ****** expensive if you buy a pre-built one!

 

[Sarcastro]

NICE! how do you like the everlast? what model do you have?

 

[HellaFab]

I have the Everlast 200DX (2013 model) with dual voltage input.

The welder is great. The accessories are mediocre but they work for their intended purpose. I wouldnt mind upgrading the torch at some point to a CK-17 superflex. That upgrade will run about $110 for me for the shorter length torch hose.

 

[BeachBoy]

what metal do you use for exhaust? In Quebec w use so much salt that even stainless rusts in cheaper grades

 

[HellaFab]

sanitary grade stainless for the most part.

I just did a portion of the honda exhaust with ornamental which was my first time ordering a lower grade finish and even though its the same base metal I dont like the way it works and welds.

will be all sanitary #7 polished 304 grade from here on out.

 

[BeachBoy]

304 is good!
Are you planning on getting a mandrel bender instead of welding all these bends?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[HellaFab]

Garage work... Minor but update worthy.

I modified the bottom shelf on the the welding table so that it just held the welder.

Made a hanger on it with a mount to hold my ground chord when not in use.




Also scored a 1/2" drive drill for the bigger drill bits that I normally use in the drill press. Yard sale deals. $5. Also picked up a nice wet/dry vac too for a good deal and it has already paid itself back since I opened my pool!

 

[HellaFab]

Those who have liked my facebook page would have seen these a few days ago, but I made a 3" inlet pipe and a 2.5" cold pipe for a turbo B16 CRX.









There is not a lot of room in a CRX with a full radiator with electric fan for a full 3" intake, but this setup greatly improved this setup. Prior to mys sytem it used 2.5" piping with a section of the stock inlet pipe to the turbo and a 2" cold pipe with a hard transition to 2.5" at the throttle. The customer mentioned that the performance gains were noticable with the **** dyno so that makes it all worthwhile.

 

[mike_81]

sigh.. i miss my CRX

nice work.

 

[dubber]

Nice Fab job. CRX's bring me back to high school for sure.

 

[HellaFab]

I remember painting a crx in my parents garage when I was in highschool.

Good times.


I am in contact with a guy right now trying to sell off an old chassis I still have at my parents (Right hand drive Mazda Miata that I imported).

I hope that the sale of that funds my wire upgrade and some lighting upgrades for the garage next week!

I priced out the 3/3 TEK wire that my electrician recommended and for my 75 foot run its quite pricey. all the cost to play, I guess...

 

[HellaFab]

Garage related!

Picked up some wire to finally equip my garage with the power I desperately need. Waited for wife approval on this one before jumping into it.



3/3 cu TECK (25 meters)
SquareD 100a breaker to add to the house panel
3" LB and conduit-to cleanly run the teck through the wall of the house and into the ground
Nema 6-50P plug for my welder.

Im going to get these setup and the wiring in my garage hooked into my new panel, then I hope to add some more circuits for heavy duty outlets and run more light in the garage.

For the time being I have enough work to do with what I have, so i didnt get the lights.

Going with T8 lights with lens covers (liquidtite fixtures) from a local electric warehouse. Way more expensive than the home depot option, but I think they will have better balasts and the clear lens cover will help keep the bulbs in tact in my low ceiling'd garage.

 

[HellaFab]

New electrical service in the garage kicks ***. Finally welding on 240 and the welder absolutely loves it!


Met a few cool chaps from the Ottawa area with some nice cars!
They brought down a buddy with his V6 accord for some HELLAFAB!

Pics:







Stainless intakes sound so good on Hondas.

 

[RSOllie]

loveing your welding talent!

 

[porschedude996TT]

Nice heat control on the tubing. Much better than the cheap stuff coming from China with a 1 inch blue heat effected zone.

Lastly a few of the projects that I have been working on...

Nice heat control on the tubing. Much better than the cheap stuff coming from China with a 1 inch blue heat effected zone.

 

[HellaFab]

Thanks guys! I try to keep a journal of settings that I like day to day so I remember what was working best with the material.


On a side note. I have picked up a new to me belt sander to speed up my jobs. Can't wait for a reason to use it beyond sanding down small peices of leftover.

I'm going to get some nicer belts for my metal work and profit from all of my saved time.

Out of pocket $35 for that beast with the stand.
Matt

 

[Pavement SuX]

I used to live in Kingston a long time ago....love that town!

 

[HellaFab]

Yes! Kingston is great. Love it.


Another cold air intake down. Turned out really good!

More pictures on my Facebook page!
Www.facebook.com/Hellafab

 

[HellaFab]

Hooked up some nice temporary lighting.

I now have 6x300watt light bulbs in my shop. Much better. I can actually work when it's dark now.

Had a local guy flash my man door this week... Finally... Working on finishing this garage up!

 

[Mr. 360]

Looking at the posts on here, seems a lot of the guys are from Ontario, nice to see some local garages on here.

Good work on your electrical! I just finished upping my old house from 60A to 200A, with the intention of splitting off 60A for the garage. Nice new wiring and having everything on dedicated circuits is probably the single most important thing in a garage (at least, to me).

As for your earlier post about using the space, I agree with Dubber about the shed for stuff like the mower, bike, yard tools, and tires. I believe code around here is anything 10x10 and under you don't need a permit for. the stickbuilt pre-fab sheds are good, but can be replicated for a fraction of the cost. since it's a shed, maybe try Home Depot's 'cull' lumber pile, they usually sell it for about 75% off regular price, it's just a bit twisted etc sometimes. But then, it's a shed, it may not totally matter. Not sure if you could make it a lean to against one wall of the garage, but if you did you could put your compressor out there and pipe an air line through the wall.

otherwise, overhead cupboards around as much of the perimeter as possible make for great storage, since this space usually goes unused.

I might be tempted to move the horizontal tie joists to about a foot or two above the cap plate of the wall (since you have rafters). This makes for a more vaulted ceiling feel, and uses some of the attic as usable space.

Those are just a few thoughts. Love the build so far, and your welding skills are very, very good! I can see this space becoming a really great place to work! Subscribed, keep up the great work.

 

[HellaFab]

Thanks!

Your from Ontario too I take it?

 

[Mr. 360]

Thanks!

Your from Ontario too I take it?

Sure am, eastern GTA. My garage is a bit smaller (12x22), so being cramped on space means you have to be pretty organized. Love the look of your shop, vintage windows that size mean lots of light. I like the character of the place.

 

[HellaFab]

Quick pic I posted to Instagram @HellaFabrication.



New lights work great! And for minimal investment right now i can finally do work at night.