Need help with layout

[rmchrgr]

I recently sold off the last of my two go-nowhere project cars so my garage is empty. My set up stalled when I purchased the second car and ended up with no room. Stuff was all over the place, I was tripping over stuff, just an organizational nightmare. The garage is approximately 20' deep by 22' wide.

So I would like some advice on how to best set up the space I have. Here's what I have in mind:

Set up a work area along the back wall under the windows. I have an unfinished table top that (on top of the sawhorses) I plan to make into a bench with an incorporated toolbox. I would like to also use the metal table next to it, I might switch them around, not sure yet.

I am trying to figure out shelving. Went to Home Depot and looked at a set of 77" industrial pallet racks. Little pricey for $180. Searching CL, may have found some but need to make the time to go get them. In a nutshell, big shelves are in the works.

Would like the compressor in the right corner. may end up with a bigger one, like a stand up deal but I may need to install a 220 outlet.

Then there is the left corner where the door is. There is a step in the slab that I can not figure out what to do with. I though I should build a wooden bench and **** it up against the wall there, just making the legs in back shorter to compensate for the step but it didn't make the best sense. The lighting over there is not so great.

I dunno, all this is subjective, just looking for corroboration to see if I'm on the right track or maybe a second pair of eyes can see something I don't.

Here's what it looks like now. Still a big mess. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Riverside]

. . . looked at a set of 77" industrial pallet racks. Little pricey for $180. Searching CL . . . .

A scrap yard near me frequently has discarded pallet rack shelving in the pile. If you have a scrap yard nearby, you might find some at a good price.

 

[rmchrgr]

Thanks for the tip. Time is short for me though with kids and a full time job, probably will just bite the bullet and pay the man. Those HD pallet racks are burly, should hold all my junk and then some. I have 4 engine blocks that need stored, bottom shelf should work.

Anyone else?

 

[bazzateer]

You could improve the lighting by closing off the ceiling and painting it white.

 

[rmchrgr]

Perhaps I was too vague?

Covering the ceiling is not really in the cards, nothing is straight. Not going to do any structural repair at this time, just looking for set up ideas...

 

[rmchrgr]

Well I figured out a plan and I am going forward with it.

Got some Equipto bulk rack shelves off CL from a printer that went out of business. Really helped to clean things up. I am no longer tripping over engine blocks or transmissions, all that **** is under the shelf. The shelves are not totally organized right now, was just trying to get everything in one place and off the floor. Was a big help getting the shelves.

I started on a work bench too. It's going to incorporate a HF 13 drawer tool box. It's not finished but is coming along nicely.

Thankfully I'm finally getting this stuff moving, I got a new car coming next week. Would like to get the box in and get the compressor working. That's really all I need to start working.

Shelving, bench, area under window is where bench will go.

 

[farmerbobb]

I've got the same problem of not knowing what's the best way to setup my shop. So I'll keep moving, adjusting and throwing things out until I'm happy.(i love my stuff) Also I built a 8X12 storage shead for my (3) 350's, a 302, trans to go with em and lots of parts.(hard to roll engine stands in the dirt so two pieces of plywood to move them nicely) The lawn mower fits under the stands really nice. Good luck and have fun.

 

[71flh]

If the space is more important than the project, maybe the op should concentrate on that.

 

[Falcon67]

"Then there is the left corner where the door is. There is a step in the slab that I can not figure out what to do with. I though I should build a wooden bench and **** it up against the wall there, just making the legs in back shorter to compensate for the step but it didn't make the best sense. The lighting over there is not so great."

For a bench, the best way is to build your top frame in the shape you need, then use a ledger board screwed to the wall to mount the frame. Then you only need front legs. Set a horizontal 2x4 along the lip/step and use that for the back support for a lower shelf. Add your tool box by removing the drawers, spacing the top with OSB or 3/4 ply and screw that to the underside of the top frame. Flip it all over, shim it to the height you need, screw the assembly to the ledger. I'll have pics tomorrow probably of my bench construction.

 

[rmchrgr]

Thanks for the replies.

Initially I was looking for better ways to utilize the space rather than basically having everything up against the walls. I see a lot of ingenious ways to utilize areas here, was just trying to capture some of that myself. Sometimes though the space dictates how things can best be placed and that was the case for me here. Putting the shelves along the far wall and the benches up against the back under the windows made the most sense and was easiest to accomplish. I tried a few different configurations but the way it is now is the least flawed.