my 2 car garage design/build/documentation

[pixelmonkey]

quick timeline
- signed on a new house in august
- started designing garage cabinets with measurements before signing on house
- moved my little project into the garage after christmas
- wife landed a job, so i now have a bit more spending money!

i've looked at the gladiator garage cabinets, but not really the biggest fan. sure, the recent sale has peaked interest, but i've had my mind set on a cabinet build since before buying the house.

completed the layout several dozen times over using google sketchup.

started with the garage, then the whole house, then the house with yard and trees, then the entire neighborhood.... back to the house again, with details like light switches and electrical outlets. yep... the house is now over 15mB in sketchup.

in order to post the garage on the 3d warehouse, i had to cut out the house into several parts.

click the link

have the materials and a free weekend.

steps include:
1. stud finder and sheet rock cut for plate install and supports
2. base cabinet frame built
3. electric outlets location set / wire ran to breaker box
4. tall cabinet frame built
5. top cabinet frame built

will take loads of photos and post them on photobucket of the progress.
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[pixelmonkey]

worked on it a bit saturday night and sunday.

setting a pilot hole for all the screws has been a huge help!
photos here...

chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[merlinpro]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[pixelmonkey]

more updates!

the tall cabinet or closet is strong enough with the triangluated supports that i can stand in it. *all 250lbs.*

have the top cabinets completed, excluding faces and doors.
tall cabinet is framed and i will be finishing the additional shelves monday night.
framing for the base cabinet with aluminum counter top will begin tuesday night.

link to the photos

also adding catches for each door to be sure when it's closed that it stays closed! *photos will show later in the week or next weekend*
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[pixelmonkey]

more progress!

left work a bit early today and will make up the time over the next couple. that gave me several hours of decent weather and light to keep on this project.

the frame for the upper cabinets is complete.
the frame for the tall cabinet/closet is 85% complete.
the frame for the base cabinet with counter top is 70% complete.

more photos linked here!

the counter top is 3/4" plywood. i cut the 4' x 8' sheet down the middle for a 2'x8' sandwich. wood glue between the two parts and 1&1/4" screws to keep it pressed while the glue dries. I will likely leave the screws in and never remove them.

Again, the triangulation of the base cabinets and counter top are strong enough to support my weight. There is a bit of flex, but after the remaining cabinets and vertical supports are cut, i doubt legs will be needed for any part of the project.

Some will notice a gap between the bottom of the frame and the start of the concrete lip. I had a bit of an ooops with the design and had already cut the vertical boards, but the bucket of dry sweep fits nicely below the cabinets! I have the locations penciled in for electrical outlets.

Even with the weather being in the 80's the next couple days, I will not be able to work on this due to a project at work. I will post photos over the weekend and should have the remaining shelves *2 for the closet cabinet and 1 for each of the base cabinets* complete before sunday night.

Metal for the counter top in the next 2 weeks and the faces and doors in the next 3.

chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[pixelmonkey]

more updates!

over the weekend i was able to work on the remaining shelves, end caps and bracing. it tightened up quite a bit after the final screws were added.

for the face plates, i'm going to use 3/8 plywood, sanded, and use one full sheet per section, so the faces will not have seams. after the plate is screwed to the 2x4's i will use a hole saw to start the opening for the jig saw. once the jig saw has a line around 1" from the edge for each opening, i'll use a guide for the end of the saw and follow the vertcal 2x4 and flat sheeting for the shelves. *photos will tell the story in the next 2 weeks.

here is a link to the latest photos.

now i'm trying to decide if i should leave the doors flat, or add something to fancy them up a bit. *OPEN FOR SUGGESTIONS!*

chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[pixelmonkey]

more updates!!!

now you will understand what i was talking about in my previous post.

photos here

wont be able to work on this again until next week.
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[russlaferrera]

Chris it's looking good. You got a lot accomplished in a very short time. Keep up the great work. Russ

 

[pixelmonkey]

the weekend didnt include too much progress. lowes ran out of 3/8 plywood and will not have any until tuesday.

found something else lowes doesnt have! 1/2" collet for routers! looks like i might need to visit a bosch vendor to get the part.

also discovered that 3/4" 1/4 round router bits are expensive! $44 at lowes after tax all i need is a 8' edge cut! dang! thats almost $6 per foot!

i havent rolled the edge of the metal for the front due to not having the edge completed with the 1/4 round.

el clicko for photo

should finish the face plates this week and start working on the cabinet doors this weekend.
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[pixelmonkey]

going to post more photos after the weekend.

metal is now rolled under the front edge, so no screws are on the work area. screws from the bottom of the bench and along a catch channel at the top of the metal.

also have the lights ready to wire into the breaker box!

still undecided on how to complete the doors for all cabinets. thinking MDF with bolts/nuts/washers to the hinges, but i'm thinking it might bee too much weight and the MDF will tear at the stress points. ply wood will warp, so it's out. i'm also considering a combination of pine slats and MDF. i'm open for suggestions.

been sanding more on the face plates and sides. i want to fit the doors and position the hinges before painting. the bench will have 3 support legs. when first designed, i didnt want legs, but after totaling the weight and thinking about it, i can live with the additional support!

chris<pixelmonkey>