Jack Olsen's Quaint Masterpiece...

[bczygan]

Here's the thing about what jack does. He designs. He does what Architects and Engineers do. He decides on the functions needed and defines the spaces required. He takes advantage of folding work surfaces and maximizes storage. Note that he has a multitude of work surfaces. And a place to store everything. This makes the space multipurpose. And he's not afraid to change things over and over as new ideas, products and materials become available. His work space evolves. He upgrades it constantly. The lesson here is that we can all do this. Not necessarily with Strong Hold cabinets either. This kind of organization can be done with less expensive materials. The idea is to constantly think about your space, and how you use it. This kind of space isn't just pleasant to look at either. It is a joy to work in. We can each of us have a better work space. Jack has shown the way, not with his specific solutions, but in showing us the process.

Bill

 

[Dodgepu360]

Jack, would posting some more details about the toddler gate if you havent already some where else

I need build somthing like that to keep my little boy out of the kitchen, he likes to pull all the pots out of the cabnet, at frist it was cute but now...

 

[Groovy]

Wow. Thanks, Ryan.

I was out there working before lunch today, using a little vise-mounted press brake to bend some hinges for a pair of toddler gates I'm putting in the hallway outside his room.

How cool is it to be able to make repeatable bends without having to beat the material with a hammer? I'd never used one of these before.

And I know the garage always looks clean like a kitchen in its pictures. But that's not usually the case. Here it is right before I tore out the center island cabinets for the new (used) Vidmar drawer units I put in earlier this month. Still a lot of stuff out from the engine swap and follow-up work -- plus a couple of house projects going at the same time. Pretty messy, for this place.

And while I'm posting, let me both apologize to (and also thank) the guys who are on this board enough that the over-exposure of my garage -- usually with the clean photos -- has reached dangerous levels of overexposure. There are two kinds of users on this site, I think: the guys who are here day in and day out (like me), and the much-more-occasional users. I re-post a lot of pictures with the assumption that the occasional (or new) members probably haven't seen what I'm talking about. But I think it's probably safe to assume that this could come across as a little bit much to the members who read enough posts to see some of the same images and advice over and over. So let me apologize for that. I got a lot of helpful advice from this board when I was putting my garage together. I try to pass it along to newer guys here.

Jack I keep "Child Proofing" my house but they keep getting in!!!!

 

[Mark H]

A well deserved pat on the back for a job well done.Some great ideas,many of which I will shamelessly steal for my project!

 

[gmhill33]

Wow. Thanks, Ryan.

I was out there working before lunch today, using a little vise-mounted press brake to bend some hinges for a pair of toddler gates I'm putting in the hallway outside his room.

How cool is it to be able to make repeatable bends without having to beat the material with a hammer? I'd never used one of these before.

And I know the garage always looks clean like a kitchen in its pictures. But that's not usually the case. Here it is right before I tore out the center island cabinets for the new (used) Vidmar drawer units I put in earlier this month. Still a lot of stuff out from the engine swap and follow-up work -- plus a couple of house projects going at the same time. Pretty messy, for this place.

And while I'm posting, let me both apologize to (and also thank) the guys who are on this board enough that the over-exposure of my garage -- usually with the clean photos -- has reached dangerous levels of overexposure. There are two kinds of users on this site, I think: the guys who are here day in and day out (like me), and the much-more-occasional users. I re-post a lot of pictures with the assumption that the occasional (or new) members probably haven't seen what I'm talking about. But I think it's probably safe to assume that this could come across as a little bit much to the members who read enough posts to see some of the same images and advice over and over. So let me apologize for that. I got a lot of helpful advice from this board when I was putting my garage together. I try to pass it along to newer guys here.

Jack,

AWESOME garage. Where can one find the vise-mounted press brake?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[930dreamer]

Jack, great looking garage and Porsche. I have a nice scar through the web of my hand from building a Martini Rossi Porsche(model) as a youth. My Porsche fund isn't growing fast enough.

 

[gahrajmahal]

And now Jack's garage is in this months edition of Car Craft magazine along with his Porsche. How about that!

 

[Topcat]

The blokes a Legend for inspiring do many of us!

 

[Topcat]

Now, I've got a problem Jack!

I have my office in my garage I see here you have yours small, but you know we only need a desk for the PC and book shelf area...I am brain jammed, locked and I have been collecting the materials I wish to use but the offise is a VERY big issue for me.

Can you offer any advice or links you may think could help me, I'm a Landscape manager I think that what you call me over here in Aussie I'm you lawn guy/ Gardener

I am about to post on the main board, but I saw your office door and it has entregued me.

Any advise is appreciated

 

[nate379]

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

This thread makes me nauseous...

 

[Bad Karma]

that just oozes awesomeness..... gonna have to fab up some mounts like that from my Scrambler!!

that CJ looks like its in great condition!

 

[Jack Olsen]

I have my office in my garage I see here you have yours small, but you know we only need a desk for the PC and book shelf area...I am brain jammed, locked and I have been collecting the materials I wish to use but the offise is a VERY big issue for me.

My office is in a room adjacent to the garage. The two of them (along with a bathroom) are separate from the main house. I've posted a picture of my office chair inside the garage in the past, but that was only a temporary thing while my in-laws were staying in my office. So I'd say you ought to start a thread on it to get advice -- I know a lot of guys on this board use computers in their garages on a regular basis.

I do enough grinding/sawing/welding that I'd be worried I'd contaminate the insides of a computer if I kept it in there. If I did set up a garage office, I'd want to have cabinet doors or something that could close the computer away when it's not being used.

that CJ looks like its in great condition!

Thanks. I've had it for 18 years, now. I don't think it's ever gotten washed or spent a night in a garage. So it's in as-used condition and has been since I was a lot younger than I am now. One of the nice things about living in a desert environment is that (even if you're 10 miles from the ocean), cars are very slow to rust.

It's a work dog, definitely. I use it all the time.

 

[B-40]

The vine on the walls of the detached garage/office is a mystery to me. It's been there as long as we've owned the place. It loses its leaves in the winter and comes back in the summer. I don't know much about plants, but a quick Google search makes me think it might be a wild grape (although the berries don't cluster) or something in the Virgina Creeper family?

Can anyone who knows about plants identify it?

hey Jack i have the exact same vines around my garage/house entrance
it's a Boston Ivy called "green Showers"

by the way nice garage.

 

[Topcat]

Thanks Jack, advice taken.

Over here is oz we call it Viginian creeper. A lovely Autumn/ fall show to

 

[Bad Karma]

Thanks. I've had it for 18 years, now. I don't think it's ever gotten washed or spent a night in a garage. So it's in as-used condition and has been since I was a lot younger than I am now. One of the nice things about living in a desert environment is that (even if you're 10 miles from the ocean), cars are very slow to rust.

It's a work dog, definitely. I use it all the time.

I actually bought my Scrambler in Aptos, California (south of Santa Cruz) last June. My wife and I flew out from Toronto, Canada, bought it and drove it 5300 km home. NO RUST!!! i love it!

mine is my truck too... but she is parked in the garage for the winter. all the salt they throw on the road here will rust out an old Jeep in a couple minutes.

If you ever go to sell that Jeep, let me know... seriously.

 

[Bob Heine]

Jack's Masterpiece gets a little more exposure in this month's Car Craft magazine. Not the best picture but they get the headline right:

This Guy's Garage
"Jack Olsen's modest two-car garage is the definition of efficiency."

It's in the April issue:

 

[BLUBAYOU]

I know a lot of guys on this board use computers in their garages on a regular basis.

I do enough grinding/sawing/welding that I'd be worried I'd contaminate the insides of a computer if I kept it in there. If I did set up a garage office, I'd want to have cabinet doors or something that could close the computer away when it's not being used.

On the garage computer topic, I'm finally planning the layout for the interior of my garage (built the structure 2 years ago, had twins last year) and told my dad I would be putting my old computer out there. He found a water/dust proof keyboard and bought it for me for . I haven't really put it into action yet, but it seems like it should hold up to the elements in the garage.

like this one

I plan on putting the computer in either an enclosed rolling cart or fixed cabinet with one side cut out. Then I would probably mount an air filter in the open side (one like you'd find in your hvac system).

The other option was a long set of cables for the monitor and keyboard, leaving the computer inside the house away from contaminants, though I don't know how well that would work.

I want a garage computer for quick access to the internet while my hands and feet are dirty. Apparently leaving dirty footprints and handprints through the house while going to get the laptop is frowned upon! I also have a diagnostics setup for the Audis/VWs my family and friends have (including my little project). Every now and then I need to clear CELs, check sensor readings/function, etc.