My modest work shop and work area

[FLRover]

We moved into our new home in November and last night I finally got to start working on my little workshop. Now don't laugh, most of you have a shop bigger than my entire house but I am going to make the best of the space. I have to share one corner of the shed with my wife (washer and dryer) but otherwise I get full use of the building. The immediate goals are to get more shelves installed, add a work bench, add a heater, get a better door lock set-up and additional lighting inside & out. I am still on the fence about an air compressor (considering going cordless with M12 & M18 tools) and tool box.

So far I have managed to get my tools mostly laid out so I can start my couple VW projects.

Overview:



Sockets and wrenches:



Screw drivers, picks, hammers interior tools and pliers:



Most important item? The booze fridge! Nothing makes a project go like a little gin & tonic :




Friday I will be adding my outdoor work area by laying hard flooring, installing a hands washing station and hopefully a floodlight.

 

[uncletater]

Cant wait to see more. I love small shops that make creative use of space.

 

[Zeke]

Are you adverse to a tool box? Tools out in the open get dirty and are targets for the tool mouse.

I like the character of old wood just like you have. I live in a warm climate so I can keep the open stud look. But, it seems I've covered up most of it with boxes and benches. I plan on using some old seasoned dark pine to make some cabinets that will keep the look of the exposed rafters. Kinda homey clubby looking rather than race car shop.

Are you saying you are going to floor your garage with hardwood? That should be interesting.

 

[FLRover]

Here is the new VW project I got, hope to get the wife a Golf or Passat in the next few days as well. We are getting rid of bills and driving paid off cars is one of the things we are doing.

 

[FLRover]

Are you adverse to a tool box? Tools out in the open get dirty and are targets for the tool mouse.

I like the character of old wood just like you have. I live in a warm climate so I can keep the open stud look. But, it seems I've covered up most of it with boxes and benches. I plan on using some old seasoned dark pine to make some cabinets that will keep the look of the exposed rafters. Kinda homey clubby looking rather than race car shop.

Are you saying you are going to floor your garage with hardwood? That should be interesting.

No I am going to figure out some type of hard flooring for my outside work area that is currently dirt.

I have an old Husky box I may recycle and use I just haven't decided yet. If I can't get the Husky box to work how I want then I won't buy a box for awhile at least. I have other things that need buying before a tool box.

 

[FLRover]

Didn't acomplish as much as I had hoped today. I got all my parts together to do an extensive tune up on my Jetta Sunday, installed my hand cleaner dispenser and tied one on all by 2pm . I bought the hand cleaner dispenser about three years ago and finally opened it today only to discover that it was an automatic dispenser not a manual one like I thought I had ordered . I have made a final decision to go with the M18 cordless system instead of a high powered air system in my shop. I will still install a light air system for my paint gun and a few other light duty tools like like my trim gun. I have a very nice grinder I want to get installed in the shop and get my workbench put together with a vice. Also need to sort out better lighting and make a final decision on a tool box.

I will be adding an Audi A4 Quattro that needs extensive repair to the stable Sunday so I will be putting the new shop to good use.


Here is my progress today, try not to get too excited:

 

[fireeqpsrv]

I love little shops! I like the all wood inside as well.

I would at least think if getting an inexpensive compressor maybe something like a pancake so that you will have an air blower for cleaning and something to air up tires and such.

Hey Zeke I think his shop would look awesome with all wood tool box! what do you think.


All things aside It is a nice start to building a shop that you can use. keep the posts coming.

 

[toolmuchtool]

Hi FLRover, I was wondering if you thought of notching out your shelves. I know you lose 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" notch of wood but then things can't fall off the back of the shelves, and your shelves would stick out 3 1/2 " less giving you more get-a-round room if something was in the middle of your shop, and you had to squeeze between a object and the shelves. Just a thought. Please keep us updated as to your progress as a lot of us on Garage Journal like to see people shops come together and they give us great ideas. Keep up the good work. Aloha, James

 

[Flange]

Are you adverse to a tool box? Tools out in the open get dirty and are targets for the tool mouse.

Its a bit of a Chicken and Egg question.

Why have a tool box with no tools in it. If you need tools to work on a car then I would say tools come first and a box second. I do agree it is better to have your tools in a tool box but if cash is tight I would buy tools first.

One option may be to screw up a piece of ply or MDF on a wall and create a cheap tool board in the interim

 

[FLRover]

The tool board idea is in the works after lighting. And believe it or not I like having the shelves hanging out like that so I can stick stuff on the studs like my long pry bars.

 

[sbhockey]

Love seeing little shops. I think I got more done in my old 13x20 single car than I have in my new 24x32 barn.

It's not the shop, its what you get done in there.

 

[35chevy]

Do you like the hand cleaner? I got a small sample bottle of it a while back but haven't tried it yet.

 

[FLRover]

Have not tried it yet, need to go by the store and get batteries!

 

[tonkatoy611]

Awesome use of space! Very creative.

 

[tonkatoy611]

Sorry that wasn't sarcasm!

 

[FLRover]

Do you like the hand cleaner? I got a small sample bottle of it a while back but haven't tried it yet.

Fired up the depenser it works great, the soap is very nice! Deff will be using the SO soap from now on.

 

[FLRover]

Actually got around to doing some car work. The Jetta got new plugs, new thermostat, coolant flush with vw proper coolant, a new ECT sensor, oil change with OEM filter and Mobile One High Mileage 10w-40 synthetic, got rid of the K&N air filter that had coated the maf in oil, cleaned the maf, valve cover gasket and induction service.

Extra crispy old valve cover gasket:


Not bad for an engine with 237k miles:


Good thing I ran a quart of Marvins Mystery Oil thru, a little pass do for an oil change:

 

[FLRover]

Ok I ordered a M18 1/2in impact, and a M18 1/2in drill. Hopefully my tool guy will have them this week! After I get the M18 setup going I will explore a few M12 tools.

Picked up a couple replacement tools for missing items and I am going to be slowly putting my collection back together with more advanced tools like AC gauges, compression kits, fuel injection cleaner system stuff that is normally more shop supplied then tech supplied. Still on the bench about a box. I am really temped to just get a nice Matco box but I don't need to spend the money right now!

 

[FLRover]

Fired up the depenser it works great, the soap is very nice! Deff will be using the SO soap from now on.

Ok after a few weeks of using this dispenser it is the biggest ************* ever. It is always clogging and using batteries like crazy. I thru it away last night after it clogged up and I was covered head to toe in grease!

I bought this off the Matco truck today, it is with a basic manual dispenser. Less then $40 all together with a couple heavy duty nail brushes.

 

[FLRover]

Since I last updated this I have added the workbench for my son (he is two and wants to help me all the time):


And this for myself: