Lets see the things that make your garage unique

[gp_frk]

I've read every post in this forum over the past week and checked out all the pictures. Y'all have some GREAT ideas and some awesome garages. I'd like to see what you did to make the garage your own. What neat little thing did you do to your workbench that no one else may have thought of? What kinda customization did you do for storage? I'm in the process of building my workspace right now and would like to see what ideas could be incorporated.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[BOSS351C]

My Fiance` painted a cool logo on the back wall for me.

I also put an 8'x8' office in the back corner with built in bookshelves for all my automotive manuals.

 

[byrdman]

I couldn't build as big as I wanted, so I got some more storage by installing a set of pull-down stairs and shelving in my trusses. I don't plan on using this for super heavy stuff, but every little bit helps.

 

[speedminded]

Anyone run central air. as in an air line with multiple connections down a wall, overhead, or even built into the front of a workbench...? Since my main workbench is in the center of the shop area i'm thinking of running it above the ceiling and directly above the workbench where i can hang a couple coil air lines...the type that are 200psi max, about 3 feet long and stretch out to 15' or so. In a garage area a long hose is necessary to reach around and under the cars but in a workshop area a long hose w/ reel gets tangled up, wrapped around misc tools, hangs over your work area, trip over it , etc... I was thinking something similiar to the self serve car wash would be perfect too.. the aluminum/steel arm that swivels around with a single coil airline hanging down. Easily reach up to pull down the coil hose and swivel it around the work area and the weight of the air tool will keep it down but when realeased it will conveniently coil back up to eye level or so.

Also, having the fittings and strip outlets on the front of a workbench is the best idea i've seen...if you have it on the wall above the cord hang down on the table and is always in the way. Just a few ideas.

 

[Runum]

I built a central air system with my compressor outside, behind the shop. I also ran a line with a port to the outside, front of the shop for airing up tires and working outside.

 

[330Scott]

I have an actual bathroom in my shop, complete with hot & cold running water. No funnel with a hose sticking out a back wall for this guy. No sir.

And I am in the process of redoing the storage area above my work bench. When done it will be 10'x4' with a railing and my old couch will be up there for overnighters. Hey, my shop is 35 miles from my house & I have no intentions of driving home after a few beers.

Ah, the simple things in life.

 

[Coach James]

A real bathroom and a loft to sleep in sounds pretty cool. I'll venture that you have a refrigerator there too?

 

[DynoDave]

No funnel with a hose sticking out a back wall for this guy. No sir.

Hmmmm...a funnel with hose through the wall eh? That gives me an idea!

 

[330Scott]

A real bathroom and a loft to sleep in sounds pretty cool. I'll venture that you have a refrigerator there too?

But of course - an old Crosley Shelvador, circa 1946 or '47.

 

[TimB]

This is my "unique" item. Note: If you build a shop and want a lift, make sure you have 12' or higher side walls.
I bought this place with the shell of the building already up so had to modify a truss - don't work so well with longer vehicles.

 

[ChucksCrib]

Yeah,.....those 2 post lift require much more height to operate

 

[rjspitz]

I put some over-garage-door shelves up. They are 24" deep and are pretty hefty. Helps hide the ugly stuff.

 

[Wolverine]

My workbench and toolbox combo. I don't think I've seen anyone else put two 40" craftsman chests under a gladiator yet?


I may have been the first? It is a perfect fit too!!!!!! :

 

[gp_frk]

I put some over-garage-door shelves up. They are 24" deep and are pretty hefty. Helps hide the ugly stuff.

I've been wanting to do this what is the measurement you have between the bottom of the shelf and the ceiling?

 

[smooth72]

That look realy realy clean, are all those full of tools, my garage will never be that clean. Looks good.

 

[Wolverine]

That look realy realy clean, are all those full of tools, my garage will never be that clean. Looks good.

Those pics were taken last month as I was working on everything. I'm still not done with it all....... painted emblems on walls etc. I will be posting pics of the entire garage when finished..... 2-3 weeks from now.

 

[rjspitz]

I've been wanting to do this what is the measurement you have between the bottom of the shelf and the ceiling?

It's around 20". My GF's parents have about 20 boxes of christmas ornaments and ****. So I put one above his garage door, and it can hold all of it.

 

[BOSS351C]

rjspitz- that is a really cool idea. Too bad I only have 12 inches between the top of my door and the ceiling.

My office is only 88" tall and I used OSB board as the ceiling (reinforced with 2/4's). With my shop's 10'5" ceiling I am left with about 3feet worth of storage space.

 

[rjspitz]

rjspitz- that is a really cool idea. Too bad I only have 12 inches between the top of my door and the ceiling.

My office is only 88" tall and I used OSB board as the ceiling (reinforced with 2/4's). With my shop's 10'5" ceiling I am left with about 3feet worth of storage space.

Yeah, I lucked out with the garage being 2 feet lower than the rest of the house.

 

[wythors]

Wolverine -

That's a great looking Ford garage. Can't wait to see finished pics.

Dave

 

[gp_frk]

Yeah, I lucked out with the garage being 2 feet lower than the rest of the house.

Ya I'm in the same boat I measured it last night and I have a foot up there thats it

 

[jason427]

French doors!

Jason

 

[jchetty]

My workbench and toolbox combo. I don't think I've seen anyone else put two 40" craftsman chests under a gladiator yet?


I may have been the first? It is a perfect fit too!!!!!! :

this is my first post on this site...got interested because i saw a post on autopia..all i can say is im a craftsman fan but an even bigger ford fan. wow that garage is awesome

 

[krooser]

I've got a jib crane, a milling machine and a lift....I've gotta figure out how to get my camera software to download my pix...

 

[Bargod]

I don't have any pictures, but I have never seen a three car garage like mine. There isa two car garage in the front, but the right side goes back to an oversize one car.

 

[The Hot Rod Grille]

Gameroom / dance floor area of The Hot Rod Grille garage.

Jim Winter

 

[comquat1]

Gameroom / dance floor area of The Hot Rod Grille garage.

Jim Winter

Where's pics of the rest of the garage???

 

[kal-el]

I really liked something that my buddy did with his garage, aside from building a ton of cabinets, with a built in wash basin, etc he built cabinets that go down the center of the ceiling the entire length of his garage. He has a two car garage w/two doors, so the cabinets are hung neatly between the garage door rails on the ceiling. Cool idea that is quite inventive.

 

[BECC]

I used some cubicle cabinets left over from an office move, all steel, flourescent light underneath, door raises and rests on top, and plenty of space below for my roll around tool box with uppers.

Scissor trusses for a 2 post lift on 10' walls with 13ft in center. We have a restriction of 15' maximum building height (mine is 14'-10"), I have a 4ft overhang on the pool side for a future tiki bar.

Bathroom with mop sink and toilet. I used a wooden fence gate for a door with inside latch and ******* door spring for "effect"

 

[XR7G428]

BECC,

Pictures please! That cabinet idea is great! I hate having to work around doors...

 

[BECC]

XR7 - I will take some pics tonight, an office was throwing these things out so grabbed up a few of them, had to use a 2x4 blocking on the back between the mounting flanges to mount to wall studs. I use one for my welding supplies, one above my workbench for drill bits, hand grinders etc. and the rest some small tube steel lengths on top for storage.

Another thing I found is scaffolding, my concrete sub was getting rid of some and the 2' wide scaffold works great for heavy duty storage shelf framing you just make your shelves out of plywood & 2x4's and with runners at 1' centers it sure makes it easy to build.

For my bathroom drain I used 3 interconnected 25 gallon plastic drums with 1" holes in them set in a large bed of rock over clean sand for a drainfield.

One more suggestion for any one building a new shop - put in a ridge vent on the roof to exhaust the heat out of the ceiling.

 

[sberry]

My funel has running water. I have real bathrooms too but this saves wear and tear there, keeps the mess out.

 

[KCHOTBOAT]

Two car garage that only has room for one car. I have a small powder coating setup which my spray booth is the room on the left. I have my blasting cabinet, both ovens are all on carts so when I am not powder coating I can roll everything in the booth which is also the storage areafor the engine hoist. The first storage locker on the left has all my powder coating supplies and the second paint and the shelves are full of my boat parts since my boat is still in pieces. The valve cover and headers are some of my powder coated pieces.

 

[bje31]

Crowded But Fun

This makes my garage unique!!!...Can't wait to organize and enjoy...

 

[Luckydevil]

I've got a leather couch for my dog and a custom arcade project that will be done sometime in the future. Oh yeah, those black and white prints above the couch are each signed by George Barris (Munster Koach and Dragula).

 

[byrdman]

Cool dog Luke!

Here's a unique feature I just installed today: 9/16" eyelets in the wall! They are on the back wall opposite the garage doors. I got tired of getting help to push cars in and out of my garage(no motors in them yet), so I drilled a hole through the cinder block wall and ran a threaded eye-bolt through the hole and reinforced it with a steel plate and big washers on the back side. Now I just attach a come-along to the eyelet and pull that sucker in the easy way. One day I'll get a little winch and have it made!

 

[trovato]

I thought about doing that same thing. I wonder what the limits of the block wall are. I know it feels sort of invulnerable, it's concrete afterall. But it's not designed for lateral loads. And then you add a winch. And heavier loads. Maybe a car with locked up brakes. Something stuck in the mud or snow. I'm trying my best NOT to end up on Americas Funniest Videos.

 

[Kevin54]

I would anchor the eye to the floor, or cut out a section of floor and drop in a steel beam and concrete it back in. If you pull enough on the concrete block you will eventually crack the morter joint.

Kevin

 

[byrdman]

Both good points. I know how easy it is to use things outside of their intended purpose. Happens real fast. I'll have to force myself to use it with moderation.

 

[C_F]

Here's a unique feature I just installed today: 9/16" eyelets in the wall! They are on the back wall opposite the garage doors. I got tired of getting help to push cars in and out of my garage(no motors in them yet),

Man, I've come this >< close to doing something like that on a couple different occasions. I do like Kevin's idea though, I might be doing just that next time.