Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Mikes Man Cave

[captain14]

I enjoyed the part about Mrs Cat not wanting you to fall from the roof, yet she allowed you to frame the walls while wearing non-OSHA approved sandals .

Did you frame the walls somewhere else or just on top of the other walls before you stood them up?

Good job on the garage and keeping costs low by bargain shopping . I know I have seen your avatar before and wondered about the garage.

 

[lakelandcat]

yep you caught me wearing my super secret invisaboots. Because I raised the walls by myself I just built them one on top of each other. The only wall I had to have help with was the one with the garage door header, it was not only heavy but I could only raise it so far and then it really did become dangerous. I got my neighbor a self proclaimed Mississippi Redneck Chinaman Wai to help, Thanks again Wai. I always have and always will be your friend. Mike

 

[Kevkx125]

Build looks awesome Mike. Good job on doing it yourself, you should be proud of yourself.

 

[lakelandcat]

Thanks for the compliment Kev, hopefully this will be here long after Im gone. I always kid "you really find out who your friends are when you do some thing like this" I have no friends! I never ask for any help if I could do it by myself. I also learned early you make fewer mistakes if you slow down. I found my casters for my second workbench this afternoon, its all made from leftover cull. Its 4' and is going to be my scroll saw/sanding station.The top is a 4' piece that is a leftover from the 12' counter top. I'll try to post pics tomorrow. Mike

 

[lakelandcat]

This a picture of my newest toy, its buit with scrap cull lumber 4x4 treated, 2x4 and deck board. The handle came from the Craftsman tool box Mrs. Cat got me for Christmas of 97, The casters came from a double bay Kobalt tool chest that got damaged and they were told to throw it away. I snagged them before it hit the dumpster. The reason I built it was because I needed a stand for the Dewalt scroll saw and Hitachi sanding station. The scroll saw is a DW788 and has a 20" deck. It was a special order that was returned. My guess is they got buyers remorse, it list for $450, I got it for $25, The Hitachi was $179, discontinued I got it for $17. first pic is from the top, 2nd is the bottom, 3rd finished, just need to baton down the tools. casters in pic #2 (next to the workbench)are not the ones from the tool box, but the two up top are. Massive upgrade not to mention easier to move around. New ones are thicker and have swivels and Locking mech.

Lumber - .50
casters - 00
counter top $3
DW788 - $25
Hitachi $17
spray paint. .25
nails, bolts
and screws $1
Total. $45.75

 

[Bears Fan]

Awesome

 

[bananajam]

Great thread!

 

[captain14]

Sharp looking bench!

 

[lakelandcat]

Great thread!

Thanks bananajam Welcome to GJ.

 

[lakelandcat]

Sharp looking bench!

Thanks Cap. It was a fun build, quick, and I could jump my 300lb. *** on it and it wouldn't flex one bit. When I bolt the scroll saw to it I wanted it to be solid and no vibration.

 

[lakelandcat]

Awesome

Thanks BF you know its a long hoe to road,

Finished the scroll saw cart today. Added the missing slats in the base and bolted down the saw. Spent a couple of hours putting tools back where they belong. Got a job replacing 2 sections of fence and rebuilding a gate tomorrow so progress slows down. Gotta pay bills, #$%^.

 

[Bob Heine]

Mike, I really like what you've done and especially the bargains to get it done. I can't let my wife see the custom cabinets and counter so I will be watching quietly at night.

 

[lakelandcat]

Mike, I really like what you've done and especially the bargains to get it done. I can't let my wife see the custom cabinets and counter so I will be watching quietly at night.

This counter is sweet. It has one drawer that is dedicated to silverware, one on top of the other with slides on the top Mrs Cat says the first photo is a spice drawer. The double door has a sliding shelf on each side. All the drawers and doors have self closing hinges, that takes some getting use to. The drawers are also dovetail.

 

[lakelandcat]

Got around to putting in my shop lights. I never would have imagined it would make such a difference. I put in 4 cool white ceiling LED and thought cool good light. Before I left Lowes I picked up 4, 4 bulb, 48" T8 recessed. I never put them in because I didn't think it would make that much difference. They were discontinued and I got them for $2.50 each. The other day I was in and they had a box of 16 T8 6500 luman "Daylight" bulbs, 2 were broken so I got the box for $8. Normally $80. I thought I'd just put 3 fixtures up and see if the LEDs would work. I know some would argue with me because I'm using a ballast with LEDs, but theory says it should work. I got one up and its unreal the difference. I'll try to take some good pics. The best comparison would be the old lights are like candles. I will leave the old lights up just in case I don't need bright light. The photos don't do justice because the iPhone adj. the light.

 

[lakelandcat]

Got the second 4 bulb 48" recessed fixture in. Highly recommend the T-8 Daylight bulbs.

 

[wachuko]

The price you paid for all this was ridiculously cheap. Wow!!

I was laughing reading some of your posts. Love your humor.

Subscribed for more updates!

 

[lakelandcat]

The price you paid for all this was ridiculously cheap. Wow!!

I was laughing reading some of your posts. Love your humor.

Subscribed for more updates!

Thanks, A lot was working at Lowes and knowing when the deals came up, the trick is not to get greedy, deal for what you need and know how the system works. If you know that special order returns are written off because they are not a stock item everything the store gets(money wise) is profit. Anything which has multiples such as light bulbs are gold if there is a broke bulb because no one likes to buy broke stuff. Damaged sheetrock is a big discounted if it has bad corners, if you know how to repair sheetrock there can be some big savings. Not everything that goes discontinued is put on the discontinued rack. Look for the yellow tags. Discontinued stuff also goes down in price each week till it hits .10 on the dollar. Thats usually when you have to fight employees for the good deals. Returned lumber is also a good deal if it is warped you can take a 10' piece and cut it to stud size and spend pennies on the dollar. It doesn't hurt the store because they still have it in stock and its taking up expensive shelf space. Displays at the first of the year when the new tools come out are cool. They have never been used. Remember its the thrill of the hunt! Mike

 

[rixtrix1]

Great advice. Thanks!

 

[Gregua]

Amazing! It's size exited me. I wish you good luck in your building!

 

[lakelandcat]

Amazing! It's size exited me. I wish you good luck in your building!

Thanks, I've never heard anyone say "I wish it were a little bit smaller"(no **** jokes please) but its the biggest the city would allow. I even was permitted a few extra feet because of the way I went back. I think the largest they normally allow is 24'x16', but because of Mrs. Cats Catio I sneaked out a few extra feet.(it may not sound like much but at last check the footprint on the house was $99 a ft. thats a cool $10k). This shop is not built to work on cars, the biggest vehicle may be my rider. Its mostly a woodwork/bar/place to put all the stuff Mrs Cat won't let me put up in the house/small engine repair/hobby well you get it. If I do need extra room I can open the French door and gain a extra 8'. Happy Turkey to all that read my rants. Mike

 

[DeeDubz]

Nice shop, It turned out pretty good. Thats pretty cool that you got some discounts on supplies.

 

[lakelandcat]

Thanks I still have a way to go. I am sheetrockin now. I still have finish work, shelves, base, trim, paint, ceiling, floor and beers to drink. Finding good deals has turned into a hobby, which is really sad. Some day they are going to show up and try to take my "Man card" away. Im starting to watch shows like Extreme couponing, cheering for the old ladies on Black Friday morning. Its the thrill of the hunt and finding the deal of the day. Mrs Cat says Im sick and need help. Mike

 

[DeeDubz]

Finding deals is a talent. I wish I had the nose to sniff them out.

 

[Farmall450]

Nice cave. Working at a retailer does have its perks.

 

[lakelandcat]

Nice cave. Working at a retailer does have its perks.

Lowes went thru a "mang. restructure" a couple of years ago. Lets just say age discrimination is alive and well, here in Memphis I am a minority and because of history sometimes not well received. I feel sometimes I am held accountable for the sins of my ancestors. I also think the new mang. team felt threatened with the experience and business knowledge I had. So now Im Simi Retired. My only boss is Mrs. Cat and she's tougher than anyone at Lowes. But I Love her anyway she told me I had to.

 

[wachuko]

...But I Love her anyway she told me I had to.

 

[lakelandcat]

I see in your signature you say "safety first". I agree but Mrs. Cat says I say "safety third". She says my order of preference is:
#1 Do what ya gotta do to get her done.
#2 Falling off the ladder is not so bad, the flying is kinda fun, but the landing hurts.
#3 Safety third
#4 Beer

Mike

 

[1Garageman]

Great build! I enjoyed reading all of this.

 

[wachuko]

I see in your signature you say "safety first". I agree but Mrs. Cat says I say "safety third". She says my order of preference is:
#1 Do what ya gotta do to get her done.
#2 Falling off the ladder is not so bad, the flying is kinda fun, but the landing hurts.
#3 Safety third
#4 Beer

Mike

I was talking about safety in the garage!

I think, if I read that list correctly, that first one is all about not being selfish and having the priorities in order, lol... I had to read that one several times, pretty sure we were not talking about stuff/projects in the garage hahahahahahaha Either that or my mind just wondered off to the dirty side.

Back to my cave. Please resume normal programming...

 

[lakelandcat]

I have been known to do things a sane person would think twice before they tried it.No I wasn't talking about Mrs. Cat or any little Kittens on the side, it was job related, with age comes....well you get it. Although my mind does wonder sometimes, I call them my senior moments (I kinda like em, and look forward to um). Really when Mrs. Cat catches me in a senior moment, well I might be old but not dead.

 

[wachuko]

I am not know as the Professor of Pending Projects for nothing... no matter how hard my wife tries, I have several 80% finished projects... I keep telling her that great minds are like that... she still does not buy it.

My garage is always in a constant flux of a mess. I take a couple of days during the year to take everything out, clean, organize, and put it all back in place only to have a mess in a few months...

Sharing a couple of photos of what that looks like...

Love this forum as I look for more ideas for when I build my workshop... hope to give the house garage back to the wife so she can park her car inside for the first time ever...

Thank you for sharing your journey with yours and for the good sense of humor. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

 

[lakelandcat]

Im the same way so many unfinished projects. I tell Mrs Cat if I finished everything I wouldn't have anything to do! Just remember the 3 magic words to a successful marriage. Some might say they Are I Love You, but they're wrong, its You're Right Baby.

 

[lakelandcat]

Jinxed myself today see post #67. Fell off my platform ladder, the flight was short but the landing hurt, both wrists and a left arm scrape, and I was out of beer, good thing I landed on my head. Good thing I didnt say something about not winning the lottery.

 

[Nothing]

If you’re hurt and out of beer, just grab some bourbon and carry on. ����

 

[lakelandcat]

If you’re hurt and out of beer, just grab some bourbon and carry on. ����

Favorite Adult drink Boilermaker. A SHOT AND A BEER. No beer is like Rice Crispies with out Sugar!

 

[wachuko]

Favorite Adult drink Boilermaker. A SHOT AND A BEER. No beer is like Rice Crispies with out Sugar!

That is a tradition I have with my cousin as well every time we go out riding or just to take a break... a shot and a beer!

Hope you are doing okay from that fall.

 

[lakelandcat]

I gotta cool problem, I have a 3/4 hp Genie opener with the belt drive. I know its overkill but I got a great deal. My problem is its to quiet! When I use the remote I can't hear the door shut. I end up leaving my door open because I think I closed it already. Maybe Ill tie a bell to it. Mike

 

[TailGunner3000]

... hope to give the house garage back to the wife so she can park her car inside for the first time ever...

The very fact you have a lift in the garage tells me the wife is NEVER going to get the garage back!

 

[lakelandcat]

First time Ive seen a portable 2 post lift, hows that working for ya? Porsche can't weigh much. Whats the lift cap on it?

 

[lakelandcat]

MERRY CHRISTMAS, SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. 12/25/2019

Cheers Mike