My first Garage!!!!

[Bigwhite11]

I'll start by introducing my self and saying a big thanks to this forum for all the information and helpful people on it.

My name is Shawn and my Fiance and I just purchased our first home! It's a brand new home in Carlyle Illinois. The house was built by the local high school (which both myself and my fiance graduated from). The building trades class at the school builds a house every 2 years. All the rough framing gets done the first year and all the finish work is completed the second. GREAT PROGRAM!!!! Myself and most of my friends were all in building trades in HS and are all tradesmen now ie carpenters, plumber and electrician. The high school even has a residential wiring class and that class wires parts most of the house. Currently the school is working on the new house right across the street from us.

I got a little off topic. I will be using my garage for mostly little projects around the house, working on 4-wheelers, restoring my 1965 Case garden tractor and working on/ cleaning guns. Not a lot of heave use, but there will be some welding, grinding, torching and other floor unfriendly activities. I have on my Christmas list some T-8 lights for the garage along with a fridge and a small Craftsman tool box for the top of my newly built work bench. Here are some current pics. Any advise or comments are more than welcome. Thanks for looking and I look forward to a lot of time working in and on the garage for many years to come!

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The beginning of the work bench! Lots of work to do!
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Getting closer!
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DONE!!!!
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I put an outlet in the upper cabinets so I could plug my stereo in and put in a switch for the under cabinet lighting I left the far 2 lights out for now since like I said above I'd like to get a small craftsman box with drawers to put under the corner cabinet. I would eventually like to get a stainless top for it. I want to place the lights so they will shine down into the drawers when they're open. the section under the cabinets is where I will be doing all my gun cleaning and working on them and the section without cabinets above the bench will be where all the heavier work will be done. The top is made of 3/4" plywood with 3/4" mdf on top with VCT on it for now. I'd like to build a small metal cart that I can mount my drill press and bench grinder to so I can roll them out into the middle of the garage when I need to use them.

One thing I need pretty quickly is a small vise! Can you guys recommend me a decent vice I can use to mostly hold guns and barrels when working on them?

 

[bullnerd]

Very nice,I like how they match the craftsman box.

My only advice(not that you asked for it)is a toe kick.Its hard to tell from the pics if its there or not.You know where every small object you drop will end up!

 

[Bigwhite11]

Very nice,I like how they match the craftsman box.

My only advice(not that you asked for it)is a toe kick.Its hard to tell from the pics if its there or not.You know where every small object you drop will end up!

I completely agree! There are provisions made so I can put one on later, but for now that is where I keep my short pieces of wood until I can get some more cabinets built.

Your advise is more than welcomed, that's why were all here. Thanks

 

[Cadman56]

First off, congrats to you and your Fiance' on your first home and garage. You did a real nice job on the workbench and cabinets. I really like how you matched the colors with the Craftsman tool chest. If you don't mind me asking how did you apply the paint, spray/brush/roller? What brand of paint and what is the name of the color? I want to build a floor to ceiling cabinet for my garage and put it next to my Craftsman tool chest and thought it would look neat like yours painted the same color as the tool chest.

 

[glockman]

Nice job! Looks great.

 

[KULIWOBBY]

I like the cabinets. Look great!

 

[Bigwhite11]

First off, congrats to you and your Fiance' on your first home and garage. You did a real nice job on the workbench and cabinets. I really like how you matched the colors with the Craftsman tool chest. If you don't mind me asking how did you apply the paint, spray/brush/roller? What brand of paint and what is the name of the color? I want to build a floor to ceiling cabinet for my garage and put it next to my Craftsman tool chest and thought it would look neat like yours painted the same color as the tool chest.

Thanks a lot! I got the paint from our local ACE Hardware. The red is a high gloss "Clear Red" 102A106 and the black is a semi-gloss "black" 129A105. The paint is Clark Kensington paint and primer in one.

The black matches fine, but I'm not sure if it's my box or what, but the red is just a little off. I had a party here the other night and nobody noticed, but when I roll the box next to the cabinets it doesn't match perfectly. When I pulled the lid off of the paint in the store to hold it up against a NEW Craftsman box they had for sale it looked like it would be perfect. I'm guessing since my box is about 12 or 13 years old it might have faded a little. Overall I'm happy with the colors. My Fiance was pretty nervous when I put the first coat of red on, it looked pretty bold by itself, but when the black doors when on and I put the top on it calmed it down quite a bit and she actually like it now.

 

[MTNFRAMER]

Nice job on the cab's and sweet color combo!

 

[towguy]

Great job on the bench and cabs!!! Looks like you are will on your way. Congrats on the new home. I bought my 1st home 2 years ago this week and the garage was the deciding factor lol. 22X28 and it's all I need.

 

[CodeRedZ]

wow excellent job on the cabinets

 

[tinbender 66]

Those cabinets look great!!

 

[Bigwhite11]

Thanks a lot guys! The garage was a HUGE factor in buying the house too. I really wanted a 3 car garage, but the extra space and it actually being a real 2 car garage sold it for me. I can fit my extended cab z71 in the garage and her g6 2 door and can open any door all the way without hitting the vehicle next to it.

 

[Bigwhite11]

Just went out and measured the garage. It's 25' wide and 24' deep with a 7 feet deep 8'-6" wide area in front of where my truck will park. That space is where I built the cabinets.

Also, it has 10' ceilings with attic storage above it.

 

[madosta]

Man those cabinets are awesome. Makes me want to do something similar. What did you use for doors and counter top?

Nice work.

 

[Bigwhite11]

Man those cabinets are awesome. Makes me want to do something similar. What did you use for doors and counter top?

Nice work.

Thanks! The doors are just 3/4" plywood right now. Will eventually be 3/4" MDF. I ordered some 22" long stainless steel cabinet pulls off of ebay to kind of match the long brushed aluminum handle on all craftsman boxes. The top is layered, first with 3/4" plywood then 3/4" MDF and lastly with 12"x12" black VCT for now. I will eventually be getting a stainless steel top for it.