Need more storage room. Help

[fred d]

I am very blessed.
I have been very fortunate to have an abundance of tools and storage solutions.
The problem is I am basically out of room.
a large addition or new build is not really an option. I am not looking for sympathy. I know some of you are doing much more work with much less. Just trying to figure a way to try and gain more floor space to work in the garage on projects

I have work bench and tool boxes, storage cabinets, shelves and fastener bins lining all of the walls. I have metal cabinets and slat board on the upper portion utilizing the upper portion of wall space I have started using the space between the rafters for storage and that is filling up. I have an attic that is for the most part organized and I don't really want to put any more weight up there

I am looking for some "outside the box" thinking.
Wanted to build a 14x20 addition to the back side of the garage to move the bulky items such as compressor, shelves, storage cabinets and tool chest, drill press etc out so I could have room to work on a vehicle.
City wants a crazy amount of $$ in permits-fees-inspections to do this which makes it almost impossible.

Have thought of getting 2 storage containers (no permits because they are not permanent) and welding them together for a 16x20 addition, but the access to drop the containers in the spot needed is very limited

Am toying with he idea of a smaller addition that the city would not be made aware of, but not sure if I want to do that

Suggestions-comments

 

[fred d]

And no I don't want to give anything away
though thinning out some things could be an option

 

[Higgins]

FYI - Many community's have ordinances on the "Temporary" storage, i.e. PODs, Roll-offs, etc. for limited period of time, i.e. 60 or 90 days, and cant return for some period of time i.e. 3 months!

I know of one local contractor that has a large 6 wheel trailer that's probably 8 x 20? and he has all his stuff mounted on one side with a long bench on the other. Maybe something like that may work??

AL

 

[jakemac]

I currently have some of my stuff in a storage unit. It keeps things out of the way. This is both a plus and a minus. Access hours are limited, and I have to make a trip when I need something.

I was originally going to suggest a container, but I read though your post and that has been already ruled out. You could always try a storage tent. HF has one that is inexpensive, and not too bad. I have two, but for longevity, you will need to anchor it well and throw a better cover over it. If it's on dirt, it will get humid inside, as it doesn't vent well.

 

[fred d]

I am concerned about moister/humidity so outside storage is out of the question

 

[jeremy v]

Do you have enough space between your garage doors when they are in the up position and the ceiling to make a storage platform for light and/or bulky items? Would it work for you to build a floor supported loft type platform built right over the hood area of any cars that are regularly parked in the garage? You could achieve a strong setup very cheaply with pallet racking.

Along the line of your thinking related to a garage extension have you thought about bumping part of your existing garage wall/s out a foot or so for better working space. It would be relatively cheap and easy to do that sort of thing since it requires no roof mods as long as your extension remains under the existing roof overhang. The last picture shows a more elaborate version of what I am talking about, but it shows the general idea.

Also is there any way you can change the layout of the garage at all so that you can utilize the required elements of the garage more effectively. For instance having the bench vise mounted so that when you need to clamp something really long you open up a man door and let the item hang outside instead of needing a bunch of room for it to lay within the garage.

Another option would be a bunch of smaller changes that add to a large difference. Think along the lines of building a small air compressor shed outside or against the garage wall and relocating the compressor to that shed, bolting one or more lockable Knaack storage chests or piano boxes to a small concrete pad poured right against the garage wall in the backyard, using pallet rack framing to support the attic storage floor framing in the most useful areas so you can put a lot more weight up there without adding any load to existing trusses, etc.

It might help to know a little more about your general garage layout. What is the ceiling height, how many cars do you need to park in it regularly, how many garage and man doors do you have, etc. Pics would be very useful too.

 

[fred d]

No room above garage door as a matter of fact builder/PO had to notch the rafters to allow garage door to go up

No cars park inside, but I do ave a few old International scouts that I want to put in one at a time to work on and refurbish

The Bump out might work. I like the idea, but not sure if it will give me enough room

Garage is 20x24 7ft ceilings

South wall is 16ft garage door

 

[fred d]

East wall

East wall has 12 ft of 18" deep shelves 5ft high craftsman box with 12" side box 5ft tall snap on box with 12" extra shelf the a 32" man door
North wall has 2 stacks of slide drawers 18" wide, a tool rack that houses all my larger tools like drills-sanders-power saws, over that is 2 3ft long storage containers with 36 drawers in each for metric and standard thread nuts and bolts. Ver that is a wood cabinet. Next to that is my solvent tank/parts washer
Next to that is my big fan, mig welder Horizontal band saw. Stick welder with cabinets over them and drill press in the corner

 

[fred d]

East wall

 

[fred d]

North wall has 2 stacks of slide drawers 18" wide, a tool rack that houses all my larger tools like drills-sanders-power saws, over that is 2 3ft long storage containers with 36 drawers in each for metric and standard thread nuts and bolts. OVer that is a wood cabinet. Next to that is my solvent tank/parts washer, blower fan, horizontal band saw, stick welder, with metal cabinets over them. Then the drill press in the corner

 

[fred d]

North wall

 

[jeremy v]

Thanks for the pics, that makes it much easier to give you ideas. Your garage is not what I was picturing in my head and now I can see that most of my original ideas will not work.

One thing you could possibly do though, is build a storage shed in the backyard that is built right up against the garage but still independent from the house framing. Then install a man door in the garage wall and the shed wall to allow you to walk directly into the shed from the garage even though they are separate structures. Most places allow you to build sheds, etc. in your backyard up to at least 100ft2 in size without any permits as long as they meet minimum property line setback requirements (usually 5').

Square footage is also measured differently depending on where you are so you may be able to tweak accordingly depending on your situation. Some places only consider it square footage if the headroom is over 7 feet tall. Other places like to say that the square footage is the exterior footprint, but in actuality it is really the dimensions of the usable interior space so you can actually bump the walls out a little bit because the wall thickness is not actually considered part of the square footage measurement. If you leave the stud bays open in the shed you still gain that wall thickness as usable storage space between the studs as well. Other places only count the square footage of the structure's footprint, so if you angle the shed walls out as they go up or if you have a bump out in the shed wall that begins above floor level that is free space and not counted as square footage. You can have a much larger and more useful shed with the same total square footage if you can combine a few of these little tricks.

 

[sberry]

I like the shed idea, might not even bother with door between them and that place could be tuned a lot yet for more space.

 

[Farmall450]

I like the shed idea, might not even bother with door between them and that place could be tuned a lot yet for more space.

+1

Shed seems ideal.

Some big sliding doors or overhead you'd never notice the difference!

 

[sberry]

I wouldn't waste any more wall space with additional doors. I would put stuff in sheds I really didn't need daily/weekly.

 

[jeremy v]

What about installing a smaller single car (or even possibly smaller) garage door in the back wall of the garage (to allow you to drive straight through the existing garage with your motorcycle). Then build a small carport or a small mini garage/shed in the backyard just for the motorcycle to get it out of the garage completely. You initially said that floor space is what you were primarily looking for, so getting the motorcycle out of the garage would help that quite a bit. That could even be done in addition to a larger shed built against the garage for expanded tool storage room.

 

[jeremy v]

I like the shed idea, might not even bother with door between them and that place could be tuned a lot yet for more space.

Yeah I agree 100%, it just depends on how easy the OP wants to be able to access his tools, and how secure they need to be from possible theft etc. If those are not issues you are right it is better to not have a door from the garage and to use that space for more storage instead.

 

[zkling]

No offense, but I personally see alot of wasted space. Items like drill press, compressor, etc, usually take up minimal amounts of floor space. Going vertical is usually the best AFTER maximizing floor space.

Can you post a pic from the garage door facing in? It would really help to get a better feel for the layout. What are the dimensions of the garage (I may have missed it above)? Do you need to store any larget items in there besides the bike and project car? Like a daily driver?

I also see alot of "stuff" be it parts to something else, or in process projects that takes up valuable floor space. For me it seems the best reorganization begins with a purging of not needed things, then organize things to fit. My garage is like a tetras game, took a few tries to get it, one most things only fit in one way.

 

[jeremy v]

My garage is like a Tetris game, took a few tries to get it, one most things only fit in one way.

It sure would be nice if after a solid row of tools was achieved all the way across your garage wall the row disappeared and freed that space up again.

 

[fred d]

No offense, but I personally see alot of wasted space.

Suggestions?
I know there is some thinning to do
Security is defenatly a concern.

The motorcycle will be going away
There are things on the floor that are part of why I need more room
I need to be able to get my project in the garage to work on it and have room to move around it.

My problems are 2 fold.
1. I work 2 full time jobs and am very limited on time. I basically have 2 days off a month, so I get started on trying to get the garage in shape, then work takes back over for a month... Some times longer.
2. Right now my 8 year old is out of town with his grandparent, so I am trying to get a plan to have the project in the garage and ready to work on together by Labor day( I have a few vacation days planned )

 

[jeremy v]

If it were my garage this is where I would start before even thinking about building a new building to store stuff. It looks to me like what you are lacking more than anything is workbench space and general floor space. You need a space to work on projects while sitting down or standing without the projects having to be on the ground or on sawhorses in the middle of the garage. It seems like your lack of bench top space is causing a lot of the problems I see. Everything has something else on top of it so nothing can be easily used. Your parts washer for instance, you could build a quick bench top a couple inches higher than the parts washer and then have other stuff sitting on top of it. Then you just slide the parts washer out from under the table to use it.

I would also move the parts washer. I say this because you can't put anything directly in front of the window, but the space under the window is a great spot for one of the tool chests that has a top opening lid. That way the lid opens up into the window space so the tools can still be accessed and the window is also still usable.

I would take off all the Dewalt battery tool racks on the wall as that is eating up a lot of room. Those tool hangers could easily be modified to instead hang along the front edge of some new wall shelving. That would give you a bunch more storage space behind the hanging tools compared to how they are now.

I would also add a ring of nice deep shelves (16" deep at least to possibly as much as 24") around just the top 18" or so of the garage walls. Especially right above the window. Shallow shelving helps you have more room whenever it is below your shoulder height, but above the shoulder (and especially above the head) you can have much deeper wall shelves with very little impact upon your working floor space. Something like that would help get rid of all the boxes and milk crates of tools sitting and taking up floor space right now.

The space above the entry door is all wasted right now. A nice deep simple plywood framed cabinet right above the door with the clock hanging on the cabinet door would give you more easy storage space without taking up any floor room.

That wood cabinet you show that has the funnels and paint guns hanging in front of it looks like it doesn't have any door access for the top 1/3 of the cabinet? If so I would just cut off the top part of the cabinet and make the top part into a deep shelf or else cut some quick doors into the top so you can use all that space behind the funnels and sprayers.

 

[fred d]

If it were my garage this is where I would start before even thinking about building a new building to store stuff. It looks to me like what you are lacking more than anything is workbench space and general floor space. You need a space to work on projects while sitting down or standing without the projects having to be on the ground or on sawhorses in the middle of the garage. It seems like your lack of bench top space is causing a lot of the problems I see. Everything has something else on top of it so nothing can be easily used. Your parts washer for instance, you could build a quick bench top a couple inches higher than the parts washer and then have other stuff sitting on top of it. Then you just slide the parts washer out from under the table to use it.

I would also move the parts washer. I say this because you can't put anything directly in front of the window, but the space under the window is a great spot for one of the tool chests that has a top opening lid. That way the lid opens up into the window space so the tools can still be accessed and the window is also still usable.

I would take off all the Dewalt battery tool racks on the wall as that is eating up a lot of room. Those tool hangers could easily be modified to instead hang along the front edge of some new wall shelving. That would give you a bunch more storage space behind the hanging tools compared to how they are now.

You can also add a ring of nice deep shelves (16" deep at least to possibly as much as 24") around just the top 18" or so of the garage walls. Especially right above the window. Shallow shelving helps you have more room whenever it is below your shoulder height, but above the shoulder (and especially above the head) you can have much deeper wall shelves with very little impact upon your working floor space. Something like that would help get rid of all the boxes and milk crates of tools sitting and taking up floor space right now.

The space above the entry door is all wasted right now. A nice deep simple plywood framed cabinet right above the door with the clock hanging on the cabinet door would give you more easy storage space without taking up any floor room.

That wood cabinet you show that has the funnels and paint guns hanging in front of it looks like it doesn't have any door access for the top 1/3 of the cabinet? If so I would just cut off the top part of the cabinet and make the top part into a deep shelf or else cut some quick doors into the top so you can use all that space behind the funnels and sprayers.

That is some good thoughts.
You are correct about the area of the wood cabinet it is dead space, but the way the cabinet was constructed, to cut off the upper area would mess with the structural integrity of the cabinet. It was a kitchen cabinet out of grandparents house and has no back, the wall is the back of cabinet.
The area above door where lock is, that is really only about 8" tall
I like the idea of using a shelf above the head height sticking out further for storage. I have about 60 24" metal shelves(similar to the ones on the east wall but deeper. Really did not want to use because the eat up so much floor space. But doing a row around top 18" could be a big plus
As far as a work bench. I have a very heavy very large work bench on the west wall, just didn't hav time to post last pics( see below )
I will get a pic from the door view this weekend

 

[fred d]

The engines and IR compressor are going away soon also
Here is a pic of the rest of the west wall

The welding table top leaning on the work bench will be suspended from rafters for storage
As you can see, most of the storage is already most of the way up to rafters

You can also see the aluminum hand cart suspended from rafters
I have a step ladder, saw horses and a few other things hidden up in the rafters

Thanks for your input

 

[jeremy v]

I forgot to mention the engine hoist and the engine blocks. I would leave a piece of empty wall space somewhere that is the perfect size so that you can push the hoist right against the wall and remove the legs to store it easily when not in use. That thing is a huge space hog. I would also get a couple piano dollies for cheap from harbor freight etc and put one under each engine block so they can be easily rolled around. Then take off the bottom floor level somewhere or else use the space under a new workbench so the engine blocks can just be rolled right up against the wall and out of the way.

I don't know if it is a feasible option for you or not depending on your property situation, but have you thought of building the equivalent of a large rolling cabinet or two and then filling it with tools and stuff. Then when you want to work in the garage you just roll that outside for the day while you are working and back in at night? If the weather is nice you could do the same with the engine blocks and possibly even the engine hoist as needed.

 

[jeremy v]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=269369&d=1374243948

Oh yeah, with the new pics you are not looking so bad after all in regards to bench top space. There is definitely a lot of extra potential for a deep ring shelf above your workbench instead of just having the slat wall all the way to the ceiling like it is now. Then you could mount a light fixture to the bottom of the ring shelf and have the bonus of great lighting at the workbench, because the light won't be coming from behind you and casting your own shadow on your workbench (which it appears would happen as it is now).

Just wondering, but are the vertical copper lines behind the compressor on the wall lines that zig zag floor to ceiling a few times to cool the compressor air to aid in moisture removal or is that something else? There is a lot of free space above that compressor. If you are always going to have a compressor in that corner the shelving right above it can always be at least as deep as the compressor tank itself, because your shoulder will always hit the compressor before your head hits the shelving above it when walking around. That is a lot of very nice and deep storage potential up there.

Just think about the human body shape when designing wall storage. The shelving needs to be fairly shallow for heights between your hips and shoulders (8-12" ideally). Standard workbench depth works fine for heights from your hips to the floor (16-24" or so). Above the shoulders and head the shelving can get very deep again without issue (16-24" easily). That gives you the maximum storage while also maximizing the effectiveness of the open floor space because you can walk around the garage freely even right up against any workbenches etc. without hitting your shoulders on any shelving or tools.

 

[fred d]

The engine hoist is down because I am getting rid of the engines. Other wise it will be tucked up against the wall

Working outside is an option, but it is incredibly hot and that is something I have done, just not something I am fond of doing.

I will be doing some additional cleaning this weekend and will post more pics then

 

[fred d]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=269369&d=1374243948

Just wondering, but are the vertical copper lines behind the compressor on the wall lines that zig zag floor to ceiling a few times to cool the compressor air to aid in moisture removal or is that something else? There is a lot of free space above the compressor as well. If you are always going to have a compressor in that corner the shelving right above it can always be at least as deep as the compressor tank itself, because your shoulder will always hit the compressor before your head hits the shelving above it when walking around. That is a lot of very nice and deep storage potential up there.

Yes the lines are to cool the air to remove the moister before it gets to the air tool/paint gun

 

[jeremy v]

Working outside is an option, but it is incredibly hot and that is something I have done, just not something I am fond of doing.

Sorry, I think I may have wrote what I meant in a confusing manner. Working outside is a possibility as well, but I was mainly referring to putting lesser used tools and items in rolling cabinets or putting casters on things like the parts washer, blasting cabinet, etc. so that when you want to work in the garage you can quickly roll anything that you will not be needing that day out of the garage temporarily and then close the garage back up and work inside with a bunch of temporary extra space. Then when finished just roll it all back in. Most of that stuff is not very heavy but it does take up a lot of space.

 

[zkling]

Suggestions?
I know there is some thinning to do
Security is defenatly a concern.

If you could post a pic with your back against the garage door, it would help immensely to put it all together. From your last pics I am starting to see it, but kinda hard to really picture which wall hits the other.
Just keep the pics internal of the garage and no one will be able to know what the outside looks like.

A few things that I was going to suggest, it sounds like you already have plans to take care of. The IR comp tank. however if you have an attic you may want to stick that up there and plumb you other compressor to it for increased air storage. The motorcycle, the engine hoist and misc car parts. Folding work bench in front of the tool boxes.

What are the dimensions of the garage? It looks like a 2 car garage?

3 areas that really jump out to me as far as space that could be better maximized.

1. Area around blast cabinet could you possibly move this outside? I understand the swing of the door, but it just looks like it is taking up lots of valuable space on both sides.
2. Area around parts washer. Same as above. In the same pic the small lower shelving unit (used to store grinders) to the right of the parts washer looks like a real waste of space. Possibly replace it with a cabinet with drawers or a small tool box. I just don't think you are getting all you can out of that floor space.

To the left of the parts washer, what is going on there? Looks like a tool chest on a old tool stand? But not orientiated in the best manner.

3. Area where you have tool boxes next to the door. I realize the side cabinet and side shelf, but I think you could really maximize the space here by rearranging them to fit closer together.


Maximizing space is a trial and error process. I can't tell you have many times i have rearranged my 12*20 garage.

I will end with though, you really need to strip to the minimum. I realize it is hard to part with stuff, but you are going to have to decide whether you enjoy the floorspace compared to the items themselves. I see quite a few things that seem redundant in your shop.

 

[zkling]

Looking again, I would start by

Placing the red snap on (?) tool box to the left of the parts washer ontop of the 8 drawer craftsman bottom to the right of your work bench.
What is the red top box sitting on that is left of the parts washer? Hard to tell from the pics, looks like an old tool stand?

Then I would Remove or fold down the side shelf on the snap on combo (nice boxes, BTW) and swap it places with the craftsman currently to it's right. So it would go door, Cman side cab, cman top/bottom, snap on folded or removed side shelf, snap on top/bottom, shelving. Since the side cab it short it shouldn't block the light switches. You should be able to free up ~20" of space, possibly stick your welding cart in there, or if you needed more storage possibly a 5 drawer, vertical file cabinet.

I agree with jeremy about the bench and floor space. I think he gave you some really good suggestions.

 

[Outlawmws]

East wall

I'm going to start in this corner:

Whoops! what happened to the pic?

I would empty out the section of 12" deep shelves as inefficient.

Find a couple of 4 or 5 drawer Lateral files. those are 18" deep and have easy to manage drawers for the most part. above them you have space for those Metal parts bins in racks to go as high as is easy to reach. above that, lose items you don't need much, or use USPS Flat rate boxes for storage to the ceiling. that should still clear the door rails

You can probably move the Battery tools into the laterals, as I'm sure there will be space left. this gives you some "working space" to start in the rest of the garage.

You really need to reconsider a lot of the ad-hock storage solutions, in particular any tools hung on the wall. wall space is too valuable. its not very effective in many cases.

 

[fred d]

To clear a few things up.
It is a 20x24 detached garage
The item to the left of the parts washer( under the red snapon box ) is a blower fan needed to move lots of air to keep from sweating to death. Also have a Blue shop vac air mover for same reason

The red snapon box is intended to go on the craftsman chest, but I have a 28" metal shear/bender that is extremely heavy sitting on the craftsman chest now. If I remove it, it will need to go somewhere as well.

I agree that the 12" shelving could be almost gutted with the things that are on the shelf and made more efficient. That could help tremendously.

Swapping the snapon/craftsman boxes, I don't see any advantage.
I store my jack stands under the shelf.

To the left of the sandblast cabinet is a set of oxygen/acetlen torches. To the right of the sandblast cabinet is a set of lift springs for one of the scouts.

The cabinet to the right of the parts washer with the grinders is full of different power and pneumatic tools

One of the things I have not admitted till now is that I also have a 20x24 attached garage that houses my wood working tools. I have 12x14 shed that houses my lawn equipment
I have a few of my woodworking tools on Mobil carts to help make room in the attached garage, I wasn't thinking of doing that to some of the less used items in the detached

Keep the ideas coming

 

[celica-fiend]

Have thought of getting 2 storage containers (no permits because they are not permanent) and welding them together for a 16x20 addition, but the access to drop the containers in the spot needed is very limited

Is the sky above blocked by trees? aka.. mobile crane to drop a your 2 containers into the back yard.. companies Ive worked for in the past have used them for quick lifts here and there.. I dont recall it being -hideously- expensive.. $250 an hour or something?

Brett

 

[crewchief888]

i feel the OP's pain

my garage is even smaller (19x22)
my harley and trail truck stay inside all the time.

i keep all my "woodworking" & home improvement stuff in the basement, but the OP probably dont have that option being down in texas.

couple times a year i clean "house" and trash/scrap nearly everything i havent used since the last cleanout.
during the winter, the wifes saturn vue get a parking spot in the garage, so i have even less room to work if i want or need to.

welder, chop saw, bender ect are all easily rolled around, i have a couple work stands and roller stands from HF for those type of things, the stands get stored downstairs for the winter.

as far as moving stuff outside while i'm working, i rarely let anything be seen from the street, or neighbors property, i'm kind of an "out of sight, out of mind" type person.

best thing to probably do, is a good cleaning, toss out the "****" and the reorganize

 

[zkling]

:
I would empty out the section of 12" deep shelves as inefficient.
Find a couple of 4 or 5 drawer Lateral files.

^X10, GREAT IDEA, covered storage is really nice. I am a big fan of file cabinets, they are actually designed to hold alot of weight, and can more often than not be found super cheap if not free. Not to mention covered storage is really nice if you tend to generate dust or other "stuff" while working.

The item to the left of the parts washer( under the red snapon box ) is a blower fan needed to move lots of air to keep from sweating to death. Also have a Blue shop vac air

Could you mount these to the ceiling or suspend them, or something? It just seems like a lot of wasted floor space IMHO.

Swapping the snapon/craftsman boxes, I don't see any advantage.
I store my jack stands under the shelf.

I just personally think side cabinets are really inefficient. You are loosing valuable vertical storage space. Folding trays are one thing, but... Side cabinets provide the writing surface as a side shelf. You would be able to gain ~15" of wide, which would allow for a 4 or 5 drawer vertical file cabinet. I bet you could find a better place to store your jack stands. Possibly even on top of the file cabinet. IDK, just when I look at that wall it looks really chopped up and under utilized.

i feel the OP's pain

my garage is even smaller (19x22)
my harley and trail truck stay inside all the time.

O, boo hoo. I feel for you, I do, really.

I would love those extra feet (stuck with a 12' x 20')

 

[crewchief888]

I just personally think side cabinets are really inefficient. You are loosing valuable vertical storage space. Folding trays are one thing, but... Side cabinets provide the writing surface as a side shelf. You would be able to gain ~15" of wide, which would allow for a 4 or 5 drawer vertical file cabinet. I bet you could find a better place to store your jack stands. Possibly even on top of the file cabinet. IDK, just when I look at that wall it looks really chopped up and under utilized.

O, boo hoo. I feel for you, I do, really.

I would love those extra feet (stuck with a 12' x 20')

it took several times rearanging stuff, but i think this time i'm "satisfied" with the results.

i built a platform out of scrap steel tubing, angle iron, and plywood back in the corner, air compressor sits on top, couple of hand boxes with spare off road parts on a shelf, jackstands underneath, spare fire extinguishers and bike lift

the workbench (8ft long, 30" deep, low height) was salvaged table from a local municipal remodeling project, metal bins for hardware storage, and lots of storage for seldom used blow molded boxes fit underneath.

between the man door and overhead door, i have enough room for the generator, and on a (scrap) wood shelf the pressure washer.

left side wall the wife has a 4ft wide gardening table, 55g barrel with steel scraps in it, yard tools hanging on the wall, a small wall cab for srap bomb storage, and a hanger for ratchet straps.

my harley gets it's winter rest back in the lh corner, welder, 5 gal buckets with oil dry, 5gal buckets i use for small scrap tucked between the bike and the bench.

during the winter, when the wifes vue is inside, i moved my blazer over about 18" from the toolboxes, just enough to open a drawer if needed.
i have approx 20" from the back of the blazer to the garage door to park the snowblower.

the back wall is covered in 18" deep shelves, with large akrobins to hold whatever i need to store.

above the toolboxes and compressor i have a deep shelf i keep a couple of storage bins full of electrical connectors and wire, and spare seat for the bike.
LH corner has 30" (or so) deep shelf i store the wifes "garden decorations".

if i got rid of the blazer, i'd have plenty of room

but nothing to work on...

 

[zkling]

What's all that open floor space B.S. I see? Didn't you hear, floor space is constantly trying to escape, you must weight it down with something to prevent its escape.

Nice garage man Again, love the wall of SO boxes.

it took several times rearanging stuff, but i think this time i'm "satisfied" with the results.

I think this is really the key to maximizing space, try then try again. Although usually it is not fun in a garage as most things are super heavy and awkward to move.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Work Shop only for working tools and work projects

Storage Shed for what don't belong in Work Shop.. Ahhh this is the tougher one to keep clean???? $.03 worth of questionable advice: don't build one unless you figure out what is and what is not going to be stored in there..... You will then have two messes to try and clean up.... storage sheds should not be junk collection containers, but many of them turn into one... Junk is junk wherever it is. Junk is a rough word to use, but using it a little more often may help. Your Mother-in-Law's roller skates and cane do not belong on top of your workbench.. Her one handled wheel barrow with a flat tire is not suitable for a parts washer.. Those sweat pants she gave you for your Birthday do not fit you.. cut them up for cleaning rags.. Bigger is not always better, it just enables a bigger mess...

 

[fred d]

Was in the garage today working and got to thinking.

If I was to build a "shelf" on my mig welder cart, I could set my stick welder on the top of My Mig. They both use the same plug an I could free up some floor space?

Thoughts

 

[fred d]

And a correction
The shelves on the east wall are 18" deep not 12" deep