my opinion

[brownbagg]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

 

[autoclassicnut]

To each his own, I enjoy both, There is room for whatever you want because it is your space.
I also weld,grind, drill,etc, but when people come over to visit, it's kinda nice to B.S. about the fun unusual things on my walls or against the walls. I now have the luxury of having a bigger shop to enjoy these moments with friends. Sure they will get dirty, but I have different zones set up for each activity.
I don't tell you what you should or shouldn't have in your house, so garages are the same.

this is my opinion and only my opinion...

 

[jay50]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

\

You have a working man's shop, the way a shop should be.
Too many on GJ have a "pretty boys" shop with all their nice shiny unused tools lined up perfectly in their shiny SO boxes.
Too many shops are just show places where they try to impress their friends while they're drinking the finest import beer out of a frosted glass.

I'll take the working shop over any showcase, and my beer will be Budweiser from a can...

 

[walrus]

I don't tell you what you should or shouldn't have in your house, so garages are the same.

...

I think thats the key, I prefer a reasonably clean working shop but I can see why folks would have something else. To each their own

 

[logical]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

I'm not sure being so proud of yours being so gritty and functional is all that much different from someone else being proud of theirs being shiney and neat. Wouldn't getting down to just 3 unfinished projects at least let you get your lift inside?

 

[rsanter]

I would love to have both
I would love to have the showcase garage that holds the finished cars and I can decorate with the memorabilia I have collected over the years, but I would also want/need the working garage.
I only have the room and the money for one so I have the working garage for now

bob

 

[e-tek]

I would love to have both
I would love to have the showcase garage that holds the finished cars and I can decorate with the memorabilia I have collected over the years, but I would also want/need the working garage.
I only have the room and the money for one so I have the working garage for now

bob

+1!!! But I do have room for both - just need more money to turn the attached 2 car (with a pit even) into a showroom!

 

[autoist]

e-tek: no matter how large, it is not large enough....&, I have a working garage & a place to show off my finished projects....there's a place for both.

 

[babzog]

\

You have a working man's shop, the way a shop should be.
Too many on GJ have a "pretty boys" shop with all their nice shiny unused tools lined up perfectly in their shiny SO boxes.
Too many shops are just show places where they try to impress their friends while they're drinking the finest import beer out of a frosted glass.

I'll take the working shop over any showcase, and my beer will be Budweiser from a can...

You had me until the can part. Blech... Beer belongs in a bottle, not a can. It gets that .. "can taste".

That said, I trust they are at least cold.

 

[Joe B.]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

Sounds cool to me. You can't post something like that without adding some pics.

 

[35mastr]

Mine is clean when I am not working out of it,But when I am there is a mess.

No fancy floors or any of the stuff show cased here. Although I would really like to finish it off one day.

 

[35mastr]

\

You have a working man's shop, the way a shop should be.
Too many on GJ have a "pretty boys" shop with all their nice shiny unused tools lined up perfectly in their shiny SO boxes.
Too many shops are just show places where they try to impress their friends while they're drinking the finest import beer out of a frosted glass.

I'll take the working shop over any showcase, and my beer will be Budweiser from a can...

X2 I always have a frige full of them.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Everybody should get the garage they want.

Mine has its pretty days.

And days like today, where there's been some cutting, grinding and welding happening.

I'm making a fence for my front yard.

I got the first panel welded up while my kid took a nap.

Two weeks ago, I had to use the garage for working in (I'm a writer) for eight days while my in-laws stayed in my office. There's still a laser printer sitting there on the right side of the first picture, next to the anvil.

It's a multi-purpose room. It has to be. I've made it so it can function in a handful of different ways.

 

[arizonaadam]

To each his own,

+1


And yes, please do post pictures.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Brownbagg,

You just described my garage. It is smaller than your at 20X25 and I don't have a table saw.

Steve

 

[bry@n]

To each his own. I prefer the drywalled garage that is painted. It reflects light better and just looks finished. I'm not afraid to work in mine or make a mess.

 

[babzog]

Yes... to each his own. That's what makes things interesting.. the gallery is one of my fav forums on this site - seeing everyone's little "mecca" take form or be finished. There are stunning examples of pristine showrooms with operating theater cleanliness to the most basic, well-equipped working shop.. and I love 'em all!

 

[Rickster]

I'm sensing some hostility there... There's room for everyone here. I myself am embarrassed to post pics of my little two car packed garage full of stuff. I once got it cleaned up pretty good and took a pic to where I used to work to show them my project and they said it resembled Sanford & Son's junk yard... and I had just cleaned it up! Had to listen to them all humming that damn theme song for weeks every time we met at the coffee pot.

 

[brownbagg]

dont know how to post picture,

drywall would late three minute in my shop.
tile and oil, I be ripping it up in seven minute

 

[Gary S]

I agree with you brownbagg. I've owned garages with drywall. Never again. My current garage has OSB walls. I painted them white, but not for looks. White lights up the garage better for getting work done. OSB is almost indestructable and it doesn't melt when it gets damp like drywall.
My tools are greasy (except for my metric ones which have never been used). A little grease keeps them from rusting.
I do have a refrigerator in the garage. It has cold beer and soda for the days I need it. It also doubles as storage for my veggie crop in the Fall and my venison storage until it is ready to make into sausage.
I do have a few niceties. I have two 220v heaters for winter, and an air conditioner for summer. Also, I have nice custom made oak cabinets above my bench, but I built them myself out of scrap, so they were almost free.
But, on the other side, I have shelves of "junk" that I need to keep, and none of that looks pretty.
The floor gets swept occasionally when I can't stand the dirt anymore.

 

[hguerrero]

sounds like somebody is stirring the pot...

 

[hguerrero]

i really like the pristine garages....and steadily working my way in that direction....

 

[e-tek]

e-tek: no matter how large, it is not large enough....&, I have a working garage & a place to show off my finished projects....there's a place for both.

I hear ya. I bought some SUN equipment and only had my heavy roll around table to set it on. Yesterday I needed that table!! Argghh!

I'm making a fence for my front yard.

GREAT job on the fence Jack!! I need a fence that can swing and that's a great idea. Easy to mount hinges and a wheel to. I made a temp gate out of 2x2 and chicken wire....6 years ago...

The floor gets swept occasionally when I can't stand the dirt anymore.

Your shop is too clean! It's closer to one of them "pretty-boy" shops than to a "working" one!!

I'll tell you what tho - you really need to think about what you'll use the shop for when building it. When I built my big shop I was always thinking and planning the floor epoxy, then winter came and I didn't get the chance. BEST thing that could have happened!!! Every day that I drop stuff, drag stuff, weld on it, drop harsh chemicals on it, I'm glad I never did Epoxy it. However, like I said, the front 2 car will be epoxied as it'd be easier to get the snow/dirt/mud off from the drivers.

BTW - Has anyone used those garage car mats? Big rubber liners to catch snow/mud??

 

[KL120]

dont know how to post picture,

drywall would late three minute in my shop.
tile and oil, I be ripping it up in seven minute

Maybe you're just too hamfisted to work without tearing something up?

 

[tcianci]

I have got all you guys beat, I have posted my garage here before:Heat epoxy plastered walls tools fridge coke machine antique truck torches welders hoist memerobilia on the walls and shelves AND ITS STILL A FREAKIN MESS

 

[Jack Olsen]

I got the first panel welded up while my kid took a nap.

GREAT job on the fence Jack!! I need a fence that can swing and that's a great idea. Easy to mount hinges and a wheel to. I made a temp gate out of 2x2 and chicken wire....6 years ago...

Thanks. Hard to beat the DIY pricing of about $4/linear foot.

 

[bry@n]

To the OP:

Yeah come to think of it, how many guys take a picture with the garage a mess. Just because they have good looking garages, doesn't mean they don't do work in them.

I dunno, seems like your bashing people because they can afford to make the garage nicer.

 

[tcianci]

Awesome fence, where did you get the finials?

 

[Jack Olsen]

They're 30 cents a piece from King Architectural Metals.

 

[GzrGlide]

At 20 x 22 my garage is an ok size for what I NEED it to do. I've got one bench ( on wheels...sort of ), 60 Gal upright compressor, 1 Ford 8.8 rear diff on the floor, 2 motorcycles, 1 bike lift, and either the car or the jeep in there all the time. Minimal shelving and efficient use of the space above the rafters.

It's a challenge to keep it organized but if you're creative it can be done.

I like seeing the "pretty boy" grages. At the very least it gives me ideas on what I can / should do with my own. To each their own. I would love to have both scenarios....1 showroom garage & 1 working garage.

 

[ddawg16]

I compare this subject with people who have jeeps...two basic crowds...those that have a jeep for looks and never take them off road (we call them mall crawlers) and those who actually climb rocks....and within the second crowd are two types...those who thrash the **** out of the jeep to the point it looks like a rolling wreck...and those who do serious off roading but clean it out once a year and actualy have a little bit of wax on the skin....

Bottom line....it's our garage and we are free to do with it what we want....

Me? Personally, I want both....I was tired of no space and dirt and saw dust between the wall studs....I find that I do better work and work quicker when things are clean...all too often I've spent too much time looking for that tool I just put down...and can't find it because of all the junk....or when I drop a screw and it is now hidden in that pile of saw dust that I keep meaning to clean up.

This is one of many things that has driven me to do what I'm doing....dry wall and all cabinets off the floor....the leaf blower is my friend...if it blows out the door it was intended for the trash can anyway.....

 

[GzrGlide]

....the leaf blower is my friend...if it blows out the door it was intended for the trash can anyway.....

Now thats funny! True too. Wonder what the wife would say if I came in the house with the leaf blower??

 

[Basskiller]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

well I cut steel with my bare hands! Nor do I have a lathe, I use a pocketknife. Oh and I only have one 60 watt lightbulb.

 

[Uncle Buck]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

So I would assume you would feel right at home in my place eh?

 

[e-tek]

Clean that up Buck - the Pretty-Boy Garage Club is coming by later to take a look!!! lol!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Clean that up Buck - the Pretty-Boy Garage Club is coming by later to take a look!!! lol!

LOL, I wish it was that clean now! It is so much worse, I just keep on dragging more **** home! Another riding tractor, a drill press, and a floor bead blast cabinet! It is a sickness I tell ya. The pretty boys had best watch out or I will decorate their floor with the same grey paint I used on mine!

 

[makgreens]

this is my opinion and only my opinion

I actual use my garage, its not a pretty garage, its a working garage. I dont have drywall, I have 1/2 inch plywood, because it strong, I hang stuff on 16 penny nail. I beat stuff on the floor. its not epoxy, I cut steel with the torch on floor. I dont drop cloth when I paint. I dont have a coke machine or stupid gas pump taking of space. Its welders, air compressor, chain hoist, engine puller taking up space. metal lathe, table saw. band saw, drill press. tool box, tool box and more tool box. There four engine torn about, grease oil. The car lift is outside because not enough room. and it 36x30. four vehicle torn down to frames.

Its a freaking shop not a show room for a exotic car lot

thats where I,m coming from.

that sounds about like my small garage...

 

[Uncle Buck]

So I am still curious if mine qualifies or not?

 

[KL120]

man shop, this is what a shop suppose to be about

Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I guess my joint's a bit to showy and just not serious enough for brownbagg judging from the lack of response. That is alright though, my show palace will have enough tools for ol brownbagg and me to tackle whatever job is needed, right brownbagg?

(Please excuse the thread highjack!)

So can I qualify as a workin garage now?

]

]