Highlux's messy garage.

[Highlux]

My garage is a mess. It's got good bones. But I am a terrible planner of space and am surrendering. It is a 2 car attached garage. Only way in is the double garage door.

Postivies......

I have lots of tools. I consider myself very handy.
I have an unfinished basement...with no real plans to finish off for living space.
I have a workshop area in the basement.
I have a 80 gallon compressor in the basement ran on a relay to a switch in garage.
Work bench in garage. built in shelving in the garage.
100 amp panel just for garage.

Would love some room. Space saving ideas. Better lighting. Side door and window.


Negatives...tight budget. I am home injured from work and have very limited intrevals I feel decent enough to piddle around. No heavy lifting at all. I have several rupture discs in low back and neck. I have alot of freinds and a great wife...so I have help for bigger projects or lifting. I owned my own tile business for 22 years...Dr.'s say I'm done with it. Thank goodeness I was smart enough to have work comp on my small business....so Im ok...just no super large purchases.

Despite it being a disaster...I will post pics. You need to see what we are working with here. There are tools everywhere from emptying out a e350 I sold recently.


Pictures. Help me be a super organized garage guy like you guys.
I surrender.

 

[michel]

Hey at one point , my garage was like that too, I have to work real hard to keep things organized.

But like your sign says, ''your mother doesnt work there...''
LOL sorry couldnt resist.
Just keep us posted with the reorganizing of the place.

How high is the ceiling? hard to tell with the light flash

BTW, I have the same tool box.

 

[Highlux]

Ill get some measurements tomorrow. Somewhere out there is a laser measurer.

I like the craftsman box too. Several years ago I bought it...as well as the biggest craftsman set made at the time....like 1200 something pieces. I have lots of tools and I love tools. At one time it was pretty orginized....but its gone wild now. I have a welder on the way and just bought a sandblast cabinet too.

Wife wont give up the fridge in the garage. She feeds me so....
She works from home which is cool....so I have a hand when I need it.

This will be a pretty slow remake......Some days I cant really move around alot.

Im also a Toyota nut. 4x4's. Was into drag racing for a longtime. (mustangs)

I have 4 toyotas right now.
2001 tacoma
1999 4runner
1987 4runner
1981 trekker....the one in the garage.

 

[quadrcr87]

1.First step is to seperate your items into 3 piles: keep, trash and giveaway.
2.Once you know that the items left are keepers, place the larger items in the orientation that fits best: fridge, tool boxes, benches, etc.
3.Then your down to smaller items, get some bins and put like items together.

During this process, you can put all your tools back in the tool boxes

 

[Highlux]

1.First step is to seperate your items into 3 piles: keep, trash and giveaway.
2.Once you know that the items left are keepers, place the larger items in the orientation that fits best: fridge, tool boxes, benches, etc.
3.Then your down to smaller items, get some bins and put like items together.

During this process, you can put all your tools back in the tool boxes

I have several "upper" cabinets from remodel jobs stashed in the basement.
Id like to get them all painted and hung.

I suppose a measured drawing will be a good start and trying to create some sense of work flow for projects. The Trekker in the garage is the current main project. And my 87 is needy sometimes. I could put the Rd350 in the Tuff shed I have in the backyard. Its pretty decent sized.

Frustrating when I can't just bust it out in a couple days.

I think Im setting the blasting cab in the basement with a dedicated shop vac for dust control. Near the basement window. I have couple very very large fans from my business I can use to vent the basement when blasting.

Theres a ton of stuff in the garage I could toss...and Im normally not the hoardy type. I havent been moving good since i got hurt. Been 7 months since I could work...so Im doing this gimped. Little here...little there. I said before I am blessed with good freinds, so I will have some help too.

Have to find a way to squeeze an electric oven for powdercoating in here too....unless you think it would be ok to use in basement with really good ventalation.

 

[paranoid56]

i thought that looked like a trekker. also a fan of toyotas. currently have 2 fj40s and a 03 double cab taco. have had many 80s toyota tucks too

 

[michel]

I like the craftsman box too. Several years ago I bought it...as well as the biggest craftsman set made at the time....like 1200 something pieces. I have lots of tools and I love tools. At one time it was pretty orginized....but its gone wild now. I have a welder on the way and just bought a sandblast cabinet too.

Wife wont give up the fridge in the garage. She feeds me so....
She works from home which is cool....so I have a hand when I need it.

This will be a pretty slow remake......Some days I cant really move around alot.

I know the feeling about not beeing able to move around,I had an accident and was messed up for a while too.

Take your time and quadrcr87 gave excellent advice.

Can you downsize the fridge?
You could make use of the space over the garage doors, just dont make shelves too deep, 36 inches on the mezzanine over the top of the garage doors for tires and 18 to 20 inches max on shelves.
This way youll prevent putting things too far into the shelves and pile up more stuff and eventualy forget about whats in the back of the shelves.

I see a lot of unused shelves,keep the books together.
Same with the tools
Try to make stands for welder, and casters on everything, so you can move things around and put back to their dedicated space when not in use.

We all lose control of the garage at one point, just look at my garage reorganisation thread, I was there, just take your time throw out whats not needed than assess the space you have.

 

[Red Leader]

Nice Yota.

Good bones on the shop, and lots of tools. That's a good thing.

One thing I know guys try and do to clean up shop is to get a shed so all the garden/yard stuff can get out of the garage. I am desperately trying to be in that situation, but if I do it, it won't happen till next year. Still, a lawnmower and other junk take up a lot of precious floor space, especially in a normal garage.

The keep/throw/giveaway idea is a good one. After that, you could always organize based off of purpose. Car stuff? One area. Home improvement stuff, another. Stuff wife needs? Right next to the door Once you get stuff off the floor and in a place you'll remember, you'll be well on your way.

Keep us updated!

EDIT: I noticed you have some drywall in there. Once you get stuff cleaned up a bit, you can always primer + paint the walls with your choice of color or design. Makes a world of difference for very little $$.

 

[Highlux]

Found this little stool on CL. Thought it would be great to be able to sit at my bench and do small tasks. I like the look of it. If its in the way I can use it downstairs at my drafting table. (i love the drafting table).

Great idea on the shelves above door. Had a discussion with the wife re fridge going down to basement. I tried to bs her about energy savings....she cracked a little. It will take some time. Would free a ton of room...cause the corner there is kinda useless too.

Getting an eastwood folding welding table. Was going to make one....but the space savings and decent price and time...you get it.

I am in awe of this site. How did I just now stumble across it. Ill admit...some of you guys obviously have alot of money. I know its not a competition, but wow. Then again...fancy garage dont mean fancy skills.

Look forward to absorbing as much from this site as I can. Contributing when I can.

My other little baby toyota.

 

[rixtrix1]

Looks a lot like my garage, although you have more floor showing. Good luck with the organizing!

 

[Highlux]

MAde a little progress recently. Freind moved a few things to the basement for me.

On way or secured this week:

HF sandblast cabinet. The big one. tp tools upgraded blast gun kit, air gun kit for inside blaster.

Nice clean oven for powder coating. Handicap style with oven controls on front of oven. So I can raise it off ground to ease moving stuff in and out and still reach controls.

Eastwood welding table.

Eastwood powdercoating kit.

Hobart 140


Will be getting more stuff done this coming week.

Enjoying the site alot guys.

 

[michel]

..some of you guys obviously have alot of money. I know its not a competition, but wow. Then again...fancy garage dont mean fancy skills.

Yes there are mega dollars garages in here, but trust me, I'm not part of them LOL

I'm always looking to do things the cheapest possible.
Lots of recycling.
It takes longer but for me, it's more satisfying.

 

[Highlux]

A little progress to report.

Got the basement floor painted in the area the blast/powder coating setup
is going. Wall will be framed up tomorrow by two former employees. Good guys. I guess one cool thing about getting older (43 now) is you get to see younger people grow up and learn and become adults. I guess kinda like kids but different cause I rode these guys hard as apprentices. They are top notch
tile guys now doing nothing but high end custom showers. I would never tell them...but they do beautiful work. I do my best to find something in pictures they show me to razz them...but its getting really hard to. Enough gushing.

I think my medicine kicked in. lol. I get chatty.

I didnt like the welding cart I ordered. My haste in ordering cost me 50 bucks shipped. My welders are too big for it. Maybe a oxy/ace tank cart now... I found an AV cart on craigs close by. 25 bucks. Looks just like...

Im going to beef it up and make a welding cart out of it.

Ill be able to get the wiring done by myself over the weekend. Just cant do the framing. Gonna teach the wife to drill some runs in the new wall for a few circuits.

Bad news on the medical front. I had hurt my back working on May 1st...doing a 1300 ft hardwood floor job. I had several 100lb boxes of hardwood slide out of my van and I tried to stop them. So I have ruptured 3 discs in my lower back. 3 in my neck. 1 mid back. And blew my left elbow out. Been a battle with work comp....thank god I was the policy Holder/Employer. My wife always made sure my insurances were up to date and good.

But...since I had hurt my back 10 years ago...I have to have a fusion now to start with in my lower back. Neck should make it without surgery thank god.
Still waiting on approval on Thorassic MRI....to see whats up with the disc there. There is a Discogram I have to have to see which verts to fuse together for maximum pain relief.

So Im trying to do what I can on my projects to prepare for being even further incapacitated for a few months while recovering.

So if I seem like I am goinng at turtle speed and having to depend on freinds to do the hard work...its cause I am...lol.

Im not lazy or unskilled....just a severely wounded grumpy lion. When I had hurt myself...we were on day 17 straight on this job to get the homeowners in to close on the house. First job in 22 years I could not complete.

Im medicine babbling. Goodnight. Pictures of goodies abnd the wall tomorrow and such.

 

[Highlux]

The kids (former employees/freinds) got the wall in the blast/powder coat are up today. Im working on the wiring plan. I should be able to get it taken care of over the next couple days.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

In your current state, sounds like you're going to have to wait a while to really tear into the garage, but this is what I would suggest.

1) Move all the vehicles out of garage and any lawn and garden equipment.
2) Set up some tables, top of carts, whatever. I use a pair of sawhorses and a piece of plywood to create a temporary table.
3) Empty your toolboxes and shelves and start filling up the tables with all the tools and whatnot. You need to take an inventory so you know what you have, and how much of what you have.

Once you do this you can decide what you want to keep, and what you want to sell/donate/trash. And you can put what you're keeping back in your toolboxes, on your shelves, in cabinets, etc. in a more organized way.

Putting all the stuff you're getting rid of in a separate area, and organizing your current space will create a lot of room you didn't know you had. It's also key to follow through on the stuff you're going to sell/donate/trash. Put ads on CL for the stuff you're selling, give stuff to friends or charities for donation, and you can immediately throw away what you're trashing.

btw, I'm 43 too. Still wondering how that happened.

 

[Highlux]

In your current state, sounds like you're going to have to wait a while to really tear into the garage, but this is what I would suggest.

1) Move all the vehicles out of garage and any lawn and garden equipment.
2) Set up some tables, top of carts, whatever. I use a pair of sawhorses and a piece of plywood to create a temporary table.
3) Empty your toolboxes and shelves and start filling up the tables with all the tools and whatnot. You need to take an inventory so you know what you have, and how much of what you have.

Once you do this you can decide what you want to keep, and what you want to sell/donate/trash. And you can put what you're keeping back in your toolboxes, on your shelves, in cabinets, etc. in a more organized way.

Putting all the stuff you're getting rid of in a separate area, and organizing your current space will create a lot of room you didn't know you had. It's also key to follow through on the stuff you're going to sell/donate/trash. Put ads on CL for the stuff you're selling, give stuff to friends or charities for donation, and you can immediately throw away what you're trashing.

btw, I'm 43 too. Still wondering how that happened.

Thanks for the tips. Appreciate it. This has spread into working on my basement workshop as well. This site has me hooked.

I was woke up this morning by my freind Phil coming through the front door. He's one of my freinds that can just walk in and not get eaten by Mauser.
He was "Lets do some wiring" I was like ok. So put in an hour or two...what I could deal with as far as pain goes. We got the 20 amp recepticle circuit done. Wires pulled. Boxes in. Pegboard up. Outlets installed...and breaker in. All good there. May do the light circuit tomorrow.
I do want to change the first outlet in the circuit to a gfci though. Just to be safe.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Considering where you were at, you have done remarkably well.

The forum has provided me with the inspiration I needed to get of my but and have ago.

 

[Highlux]

Considering where you were at, you have done remarkably well.

The forum has provided me with the inspiration I needed to get of my but and have ago.

Oh dont mistake pics....the nice newer area is the basement. The garage is still totalled.....**** once this area is done...I get room back in the garage.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Only wish we were neighbors. I'd love to lend a hand to a Toyota 4x4 nut like myself. I've owned over 50 in my time being particularly fond of the 84-89 4Runner as well as the 84-88 mini truck. Almost had a trekker, but it was a basket case. Post more pics of that beauty!!

I think you can see my dedication to the cause with this 8ft plus sign I'm building for the garage.

 

[retrobuilder]

..looks like mine by mid winter..

 

[Highlux]

Changed the first outlet in the 20 amp circuit to a 20 amp gfci. I feel better now. Gonna run the light circuit tomorrow with wifes help. Was going to use these chains to hang the flourescent (sp) light fixtures....but they are stupid.

I did some research on here and found the pvc pipe used as a standoff. Im going to roll with that idea. Should give me space from joists to keep the risk
of fire down. Also going to add a smoke alarm in the area as well.

Still have the circuit for the oven to run. Thinking a 50 amp with 6 gauge wire.
Going to read a little more on that. Getting closer to getting the area set up.

Since my basement workshop are has become involved....Im going to go snap a few pics of what sort of disaster I have going on there...just for the record....and of course ideas as well. It will be messy...but Im sure you have all dealt with that before. I do have a couple cool things down there you guys might like.

 

[Highlux]

Ok. So disaster basement. It's my work area. Never really got around to finishing it...its just me and the wife. I am going to do a full bath with shower and a pretty decent sized family room. I roughed in the plumbing years ago.
House is about 16 years old maybe 17.

Stays pretty warm down here. And dry as a bone now. I had a sump pump issue the first few years. No matter where I ran drain hose from sump into thhe yard....the water seemed to make its way back to the corner where the sump was. It was like having a water feature. An old buillder I did work for told me to run the outlet into a drain stack in the basement. A little shy of code...but all Im doing is pumping clean rainwater into the sewer. Probably helping them out...lol. (if someone tells me how it kills baby ducks or something I would move it back outside.)

Few pics so I have a before.

The lights and chain situation. I hate the chains. Doing that pvc standoff trick I saw here.

Couple file cabs. Really HD. May incorporate one into my av cart welding cart idea.

I have 2 of these with the glass doors. May paint gray and hang above workbench here in basement.

View of workbench wall

Mombo fan left from my tile business. Used it to help flash pressure sensative adhesives on lvt and vct installs. When I had this in garage...i could work on a car when it was 100 plus in comfort. Also great to put at front door of house to create a vacuum for dust control.

My drafting table. Was from a school. All Maple. Freinds mom gave to me for tiling her master bath several years ago. Had to knock locks out to get drawers open. Was full of drafting equipment and drawing stuff. Simple little desk, but I treasure it.

Compressor. I had previously confessed my lack of knowledge regarding water seperation...as you can see, In was bright enough to mount it right on the outlet. I have 3 new nice ones that will be at end of runs now.

Messy corner

 

[Highlux]

Workbench now is couple shelving units....disaster.

Caprpenters toolbox my grandpa gave me. It has all the trays and stuff in it still. One of my treasures.

Relay setup for compressor. Switch is upstairs. Would like to add switch downstairs as well.

Underneath that stuff is a Ryobi BT3000 I have almost every toy for it...I like the little saw. With the flip up table I can cut 4x8 sheets by myself.

gfci in new podwer area

My 200 amp panel. Had it upgraded from 100 after a lightning strike on the house. (welded my gutters together, and blew some electrronics) Electrician did a real nice job. Put the 100 amp panel in gargae for me.

Another pic of the mess.

Panel wiring.

Workbench top project. glued up and threaded metal rods ran through it.
Need a 30 inch planer or sander to get top smoothed out. I should of ran through small planer prior to assembly. My bad. Too much to hand plane out.
Any ideas? Ripping it down is not an option cause of my threaded rods....
its about 3 inches thick and weighs few hundred pounds. Poplar I think? Started life as a bunch of window sill moulding.

Long view of mess

pile o wood.

I have lots to do...shame is Im gimped up. When I was able to do it...I never had time.

I want a uber super cool setup like you guys have. Im unoraginized. Im not lazy or stupid. Im sure with this site and a nudge in the right direction Ill at least make a major improvement.

Thanks in advance. And I aplogize ahead of time if I seem cranky at times.
Im usually pretty easy going and happy...but sometimes Im in pretty bad pain and it comes out as being snappy. Im working on it.

 

[FJ 432]

It's amazing what you find on this forum. I have that exact drafting table. Missing a drawer however.

I cleaned out my garage and was able to hang a few posters you might like.

 

[55cadillacking]

I like them posters. Gives your space a real sense of character and history.

 

[Highlux]

It's amazing what you find on this forum. I have that exact drafting table. Missing a drawer however.

I cleaned out my garage and was able to hang a few posters you might like.

I love em!!! I dont know if I ever posted this....

my little 87 4runner.

engnbldr rv head with 268 cam and lce engineering header work the 87 up.
She scoots for a 22re.

Trekker in its "barn but outside the barn condition"

 

[FJ 432]

Your 87 is very special but I would LOVE to own your truck!

 

[Highlux]

Your 87 is very special but I would LOVE to own your truck!

The trekker? It def needs a total restoration. Floors are wounded bad. But suprisingly..rest of metal can be saved. Frame is scaly but solid. It's got to come down to the frame for sure. It runs though. Sat for 14 years...and had it running same day it came here. 150 psi on all 4 cylinders. Couldnt believe it.
If you are serious...PM me. I could be persuaded to sell it possibly. With all the ruptured discs I have...I may be a couple years from getting serious with it...if I can at all.

 

[FJ 432]

If I had toomanytoyz skills I would seriously consider it. That boy can weld!

Sounds like to much of a project for me moneywise but I couldn't get over the lack of rust on the quarters and fenders.

 

[Highlux]

If I had toomanytoyz skills I would seriously consider it. That boy can weld!

Sounds like to much of a project for me moneywise but I couldn't get over the lack of rust on the quarters and fenders.

The entire back half.....is fiberglass. It started life as a chassis cab.
Then winnebego build the back. There is a little rust on doors and front fenders...nothing I cant fix. Rather fix the original panels then fit an aftermarket one. She has great bones. Plus she is a 22r 5 speed with sr5 package, air, and even cassette. Pretty loaded. Everything but sunroof...which is a blessing in this case.

 

[tinkergeek]

Kudos to you for posting a regular garage! That's brave and probably more common than the wonderful garages. But after GJ it's hard to remember what regular is like.

 

[Highlux]

Kudos to you for posting a regular garage! That's brave and probably more common than the wonderful garages. But after GJ it's hard to remember what regular is like.

I have nothing to hide. See my mess. I dont care...lol.
While it may not be a super garage on 50 acres...Im still young...lol 43.
I like living in a subdivision. I'd rather make the most of the space I have then be sweating some mega bank loan. My house is almost paid for. And no car payments either. My mind may change in 10 years...we shall see.

Its not about what kind of money or space you have...doesn't make you turn a wrench or build something better. Just means your willing to spend more. Right now, until all this Dr and Lawyer stuff gets worked out...Im not doing anything crazy exspense wise. My income is alot lower on work comp, and the way this is going it may take a couple years.

But its cool. I actuually enjoy looking at the smaller packed in tight garages with charachter most of all. The mega garages are cool...but Im not going to go buy a supercar and a monster garage. Not my style.

 

[Highlux]

All wiring in basement powder coat are done. I have lights. I have 3 20 amp outlets. I have a 40 amp 220v for the oven. Fired up oven...all is good.

Have to paint a wall. Do my exhaust setups. Run air lines.

Did get some friends to move some stuff out of garage as well. Should be making some more progress this week.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Love the drafting table. We had ones just like that in high school, I wish I would have got one when they sold them.

 

[Highlux]

Getting closer. Made the bases for the oven and powder coat booth. Painted.
oven in place. Blast cabinet with skat gun and air gun all wrapped up.

 

[Highlux]