Above 1200 Sq/FT Long's Backyard Garage

[stick70]

Hi all, long time lurker here. Idk why, (laziness) but I have never posted up much about my shop. I'll say up front that I've gotten a TON of inspiration from you guys, builds both new and old, and I'd like to express my gratitude, maybe one day I can inspire someone in a similar way.

5-6 years ago now I moved back onto family land and into my great uncle's house. I grew up here and had fond memories visiting him etc, so it was nice to be back. My country move however allowed me to realize my dream of having a shop of my own. I grew up in my dad's 30x40 pole barn watching him work on cars, and I used that foundation to lay out what I wanted. I settled on a 30x50 insulated steel building with a 18' eve and 3 10x10 all steel insulated doors. Like many of you it didn't take me long to fill it up but it more or less fills my need. Admittedly if I sold a car or three it would be more than enough.

I found a local contractor, and we got to work.

Before I knew it we had water in the ground and a giant erector set going up.








Construction went well, but even then it was hard finding tradesmen interested in doing the job. Everyone who wanted to do a small job was booked solid. I did find some good guys though and everything went smoothly.

That back corner is where a bathroom will eventually go (usually it's full of junk).

The plan is also for a second floor in that left side but that seems to be getting pushed back farther and farther. One day I guess.

I'll try to do this in installments, hopefully in a few posts I can get caught up to current day.

 

[Caa311]

Nice building.

 

[stick70]

Only half of the shop is lighted so far unfortunately. For better of worse I didn't want to have to install lights twice on the one side planning on the upstairs.
I ended up going with square frame high bays hung at 16' and they do a great job. 6 of them light the "working" side of the shop really well. Two fans with variable switches help keep it from getting stale in there.

I also got a smoking can't pass this up deal on a Rotary 9k lift and that went in quick.

The Volvo is actually 5 cylinder, 5 speed swapped on air bags now. It was the first project to get done in there.

Here's a couple more of the doors, and dog of course.




This "first phase" of the shop was rounded out my some steel studs, a small rack, and a couple of work benches.


Honestly even to this day I really really need to do some wiring. I wired in the lift and one 15a outlet leg and that got me running. One day.

 

[stick70]

Walls, etc.

I feel like I looked at bare studs for years. Probably did honestly. But finally a couple of years ago I decided on LP smart side to close it in.

I backed with 2x4s for future cabinets, though I'm not sure if I'll ever put any up there. Starting at 2 rows high, planning (one day again) to go up another row for wall hanging space.



I did this side wall in pegboard at first and honestly it really just didn't work for me. I wanted something cleaner and all I really wanted to do was hang pictures, not tools or anything.


Another year or two later I decided on a paint color.

Finally done.

 

[stick70]

Outside lights.

Not code to the letter but more than safe, I made some outside lights to my liking. I wanted a true high output barn style light. I always find myself working in the dark outside painting etc.

I started with three high bay UFO lights. These are IP67 rated and labeled, so I felt confident that I wouldn't see any issues with the wet. They're hung from thick wall EMC, and cantilever secured with a steel frame inside, as they're too heavy to hang from the sheet skin.


I then bought some "barn lights" off of Amazon and gutted them for the shades. My concern here was heat, so I did a test with one to make sure it didn't pose any danger there. After several hours running they don't get more than warm to the touch and there's enough air gap around there to cool.



Hung up and painted


One for the side as well.

Good enough for me, and they make for some dreamy pictures.

 

[stick70]

Storage.

Thanks to this forum I've become a bit of a storage nerd, and half my time searching classifieds now is looking for metal cabinetry that I may or may not need.

I started out with this. My trusty craftsman and a couple of benches I saved from the scrap pile.


I ended up finding this old coke cabinet in the woods from my granddad's service station. It didn't need much but these were originally used to stack crates up in, so there were no shelves. The finish is as-is, I just washed the mold off of it.


Add in a couple of bolt bins from the work sale:


But I still wasn't happy. I thought that looked too cluttered. I learned about the joys of vidmar cabinets from here and got to work on the web.

I ended up scoring this set for $100/each out of fort Bragg, they were just throwing them away. A little rough and beat up but they'll clean up nice. They're all vidmar, all parts present, and I even found a 2008 order receipt inside of them. The guy actually had 7, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy all of them.


My second score was from a retired welder. He was unfortunately cleaning out his garage and moving to a care facility, and had this beauty listed for $250. He had a second shorter one but it was all I could do to load the one by myself.


This one is a new era, and I'm absolutely in love with it. Very little cleanup was needed, though it has one for rotten drawer bottom and I've been cleaning and lubing all of the bearings. This one cabinet has swallowed my old craftsman in just 3 drawers.



All together now:

 

[Chrisb62]

The guy actually had 7, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy all of them.

I learned about the joys of vidmar cabinets from here and got to work on the web.

I may be wrong but some how these statements do not belong in the same post.

I own 3, but am always on the look out for more....


But seriously place looks great....

 

[stick70]

I may be wrong but some how these statements do not belong in the same post.

I own 3, but am always on the look out for more....


But seriously place looks great....

You're right, conflicting interests.

Thank you! Up next is a refinish and a workbench cabinet topper hopefully.

 

[stick70]

.

 

[jarhead]

I like the design of your shop.

 

[ned911]

What pitch is your roof?

 

[stick70]

I like the design of your shop.

Thank you!

What pitch is your roof?

I "think" 2:12, it is a low pitch

 

[don long]

Those list cabinets make nice tool boxes and I noticed the nice accent stripe too

Are we related???

 

[dmittz]

Great looking shop! I really like those exterior lights.

 

[zc15]

Do you have any pictures looking from one end of the shop to the other? I am looking into a 30x50 and would like to get some perspective

 

[Max]

A little late on my comment, but that was an awesome score on the Vidmars. Super sturdy, deep full width drawers, and once you get the hang of how to organize with them (using the x and y slots) they are awesome. I have a Vidmar and a Lista and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

 

[loganb]

Love the shop and the wall art and especially the storage! I've got a similar Vidmar that came as a set of 3 off an army base, were nearly new and price was a similar steal. 1 in my garage, 1 in my brothwrs and 1 in Dad's. Always on the wstch for more!