Project: Garage-O Rest-O

[glsmaverick]

We closed on our house Wednesday. Yesterday was general cleaning and new furniture shopping. Great house...beautiful! But garage, not so much. It is small 22x18 and with the staircase it makes it basically an 18x18 space for parking. I never liked it because the PO had a homeade mezanine that made the garage look tiny and really awkward. My father-in-law And I went over today and took that bad boy down. Wasn't too difficult took a couple hours and removing a lot of screws and nails.

Plans are to paint the walls a medium grey hang two 4' lights toward the rear for car work. Build a work bench in the corner behind the stairs (about 7' long). Move toolbox and shop vac under the bench. Place compresser under staircase. Make a tire rack over the bay closest to staircase against back wall. Build a fold up work bench against the back wall in front of bay two. Hang bikes between windows. Utilize gator gear storage above garage door (if needed). Also, before all that lay down a nice epoxy floor! Lastly insulate the door and find somewhere to stick a nice sized heater or something.

On with the pics I suppose. Sorry no before mezanine removal I didn't think about it. But from the pile of wood I think u get the idea.

should have some updates later in the week or after Easter weekend!

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's nice and tall, and I like those big windows. Plenty of room for a lift. I'd think about re-mounting the overhead door so it goes up closer to the ceiling.

 

[glsmaverick]

Yeah if I get a lift. I'll put in a jackshaft door, until then I guess I'll just store stuff above the door!

 

[Bib Overalls]

Think again about the 4' lights. The initial cost of 8' lights is not that much more. And you will really appreciate the difference.

When I built my shop I used 12 cheapo 4' units with 2 tubes. As they fail I am replacing them with 8' units.

 

[glsmaverick]

Thanks for the heads up Bib. I probably do a 4' over the work bench and then two 8 footers over the bays. I am thinking of putting them down on the wall a little and angling them toward the cars a bit to assist when I am working in the engine bays.

 

[kizer]

Wow you have HUGE ceilings. I'm jealous as heck seeing that.

I have (8) lights built as (2) 4-footers coupled together in my garage and they throw out tons of light.. They are T-18 bulbs and honestly I've had them lit and installed since 2004 and I don't think I've changed one yet.

 

[glsmaverick]

Tomorrow will be the patch and experiment day. No paint just yet but it's getting close. Should be a good day!

 

[aloxdaddy99]

I was going to install some 4' lights until I came across a better option. I was in HD and found some 65 watt bulbs that put out light equal to a 300 watt bulb. One bulb was like $14 or so. Add to that the porcelin base and for 2 of these is was less than 1 of the 4' fixtures and puts out more light than both. I will try to get some pics and post them.

 

[glsmaverick]

A little update:



We havent moved in yet so my father-in-law and I went over to the house yesterday and broke out the wagner power painter. Picked up some nice light grey paint and went to town. It took two coats and about 6 hours to make it happen, but it looks great. I am going over there this week to build the work bench and other storage solutions I have in mind (Bike hanging, Tire racks, etc..) I only took a couple pics but you get the idea.



Starting out: My father-in-law showing me the ropes, I painted about 95% of the garage. That power painter gets heavy after a while let me tell ya.

Werner folding extending ladder. This thing is worth its weight in gold; especially when we hit the staircase.

Final product: The garage floor is still dirty but the walls are a nice grey; you get the idea!

Hopefully some final shots this weekend

 

[z28snksknr]

I have the same ladder- it's awesome. People ask "is that the Little Giant ladder" to which I reply "no, it's a Little Cheaper".

nice work. keep posting pics

 

[glsmaverick]

A quick update from last night. Got the work bench built, its a floating style so I can use the storage area underneath. Its stable believe me on that one! It looks weird because I left the right side open to roll my tool box underneath (I built it just above the height of the box). So that will go to the right and my shop vac and tool cart will go to the left! Well hopefully more updates tomorrow with the tire rack and tool cart finished up.

 

[glsmaverick]

Got the tool cart done today. Fits perfectly under the bench! It's stout for sure.

 

[glsmaverick]

Re: Project: Rest-O Garage-O *Small Update 5/19*

Just a small update:

I tore out the cabinetry in the PO's old laundry room (we moved it to another location and didnt need the cabinets). I painted them a nice coat of satin black and then I am going to hit the doors with grey to match the garage walls; throw on some hardware and hang them this saturday.

Doors awaiting paint tonight

Other than that hopefully I will get the tire rack painted black, tool cart and work bench (frame and supports). Also rip down the shoddy hand rail and put in something a little nicer.

 

[wagonmaster]

Lookin' good! keep it up!

 

[lupinsea]

Looks good.

One tip, if you're game for it. . . .

I love the extra high ceilings and the tall windows. Were it my place I'd re-do the garage door tracks so they would go up the wall and tuck tight to the ceiling. That way it wouldn't feel like the garage doors are chopping that volume in half when the doors are up. It limits your over-garage-door storage options, but doesn't negate them completely.

Also x100 on that ladder. Just picked one up for my b-day a few weeks ago. Freak'n awesome.

 

[glsmaverick]

Looks good.

One tip, if you're game for it. . . .

I love the extra high ceilings and the tall windows. Were it my place I'd re-do the garage door tracks so they would go up the wall and tuck tight to the ceiling. That way it wouldn't feel like the garage doors are chopping that volume in half when the doors are up. It limits your over-garage-door storage options, but doesn't negate them completely.

Also x100 on that ladder. Just picked one up for my b-day a few weeks ago. Freak'n awesome.

Oh I have thought about it believe me. The wife is sort of "capping the funds" at the moment. But my long term goal would definitely be a jackshaft opener and lift. Definitely the opener first though.

 

[glsmaverick]

Another small update from the weekends worth of work. I installed the new hand rail set up made from 1" OD black pipe and fittings. Its sturdy and really opens the garage up more after removing that drywall hand rail ****. The end nearest to the wall isnt connected because I miss measured that last leg. I gotta go get an extension today after work to finish it up.

I also got my new tool box in FINALLY! I had been waiting a month because it was a special order paint. Either way, its nice. Its also nice to not have to be working out of like 3 different tool boxes to find tools. I bought some nice cork roll to line it with at Michaels crafts but I still have to move all my larger air tools in to the last two drawers. I know most people on here hate on CF boxes but its so much nicer than my old set up and it will work fine for me!

I still have to hang the cupboards and paint the tire rack but its coming along. I also got my racedeck sample in Friday and Nicole was actually intrigued by it so I may get that it before winter if everything goes right! We shall see.....on to the pics.

And the new box.

 

[glsmaverick]

Well I think I finally got one side about wrapped up except for painting various small things and buttoning up the landing had rail. Hung the cabinets after painting and filled them up! That cleared off my bench and allowed me to finish up decorating and hanging vintage VW adds. Still need a good shop clock and paper towel roll bar but other than that it is coming along nicely.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Very nice bench. And cabinets.

The only thing that makes me nervous is the pipe railing. I know it's done a lot, but I've seen failures. If nothing else, why not drill holes and run the platform uprights down along the wood supports, so you're not focussing all that stress on some lag bolts going into pine? In your shoes, I'd redo the platform with uprights that extend from the floor to the top of the rail, and have it be all wood. (Or find a friend who welds.)

But it's my only criticism of a project that's come along really well.

 

[welder4956]

I agree, the garage is looking good, but the railing needs improvement. A black wrought iron picket railing would look good and much safer.

 

[jethro29]

nice space and nice work,keep us posted.

 

[glsmaverick]

Thanks for the information guys. You may very well be right on the pipe railing but for now it should be fine. We do not have kids or anyone visiting all to often and its definitely sturdy enough for my wife and I. I also plan to do some cable w/turnbuckles in between the pipes to tie it all together later this summer.

Thanks for the input though, I do appreciate it and will keep it in mind for the future.

 

[glsmaverick]

Well I haven't updated in a while because I didn't get a lot done over the winter.

I do have big plans over the next few weeks though.

This Saturday we are painting the ceiling and hanging 4 8' T8 fixtures to increase the light output substantially!

Then I am going to move the work bench and shelf over in front of bay two and make it a little more shallow. In the space left empty I'll be putting in a custom 8' tall cabinet. In that cabinet; one side will be shelving with all car detailing and wood working supplies (drill, jib/circ saw, sander). The other side will be a sink and other misc items. I am building it to be very sturdy because I intend on storing my wheels and tires on it. Now that the wife is running a winter/summer set up on the HHR and when I pick up my new ride later this year I will be running a street and autocross/track set up. So that leaves a potential of two sets of wheels being stored at any given time. If I build the cabinet at 8' tall x 32"D x 6'W that should give me ample storage and more than enough "roof" to put the tires. Also if I stand on the mezanine I should be able to load and unload with out too much effort. The tire rack is okay but its too hard to load.

Other than that I intend on running air to the center of the garage for a reel and then another line over to the new work bench location; I am thinking of going with a rapid air set up. I am going adjust the compressor and generator so I can cover that area under the stairs and clean it up. Also throw a cord reel in the mix next to the air and cover that combo by cutting the back out of the craftsman box seen previously (not the new box) and using the lift door as an access cover.

Could go on and on for the spring/summer plans but I got the wifes approval to finish up the garage this year so its going to happen! We are also putting in a 12x16 shed out back so there will be no more yard equipment in my shed come August!

Pics to come soon I hope.

 

[glsmaverick]

So this weekend went well. Had my good friend John over to paint the ceiling and then hung the lights this morning! It's not the best wiring but I managed to wire them all into two sockets so it all runs off the regular switch. So on to the pics. Went from two 100watt CFL's to 4 8' T8 fixtures. The lighting is so much more broad and even.

Before:

Before bulbs and wire cleaning:

After:

 

[glsmaverick]

So I am working on the cabinet design and here is pretty much what I have come up with. The foundation on the west wall is a little funky so I have to make the cabinet only 28" deep and then I am going to "wall it off" on either side with a notch so from the outside it still looks like it goes to the wall.

I am throwing up a drawing I did to show what the cabinet should look like when complete. The pink hatching will be 1/8" plywood; the frame is 2x4 with the top supports out of 1x4 and the shelf supports out of 1x2. I am going to leave the space under the sink without a back just to make plumbing the sink easier and also do pegboard behind the sink to hang misc bottles and what not. Also I am going to throw in some bypass doors in front of the whole thing so I can close it up and keep it looking clean.

Any tips or advice on the build will be greatly appreciated; I have never tackled a wood working project this in depth.

Also heres a quick pic of my recent trip to Utah (Mt Brighton) for any of you snowboard people on here.

 

[glsmaverick]

Haven't updated in a while but I have been working on the garage here and there when I can.

What I did over the last couple weeks listed below:
- framed up the cabinet
- built new floating bench and painted the frame (still haven't decided what to put over the plywood.)
- put up small custom cabinets and shelf w/LED bench light (still need to paint and install doors.)
- painted stairs and reinstalled railing plu put on anti slip material and put up covers over the compressor area to quite it down (pic doesn't show paint or grip)

What I did today:
- reconfigure air line setup so I can leave the compressor on. I moved the filter and regulator up high away from the compressor and put in the line so that it is easily accessible.
- hung my VW teardrop hose reel. I used 1.5" black pipe lagged into the wall eventually I will polish up the wheel to improve the look!
- painted the frame of the cabinet- installed cabinet door sliders
- cut and installed doors

Tomorrow I need to trim out the cabinet front and paint the doors. Then it will be on to installing small cabinet doors and painting custom cabinets. I also need to move the winter tires onto the top of the cabinet. Should be another productive day! On with the pics!

The garage is dirty because I am still in mid restoration of the garage but hopefully tomorrow I will have better pics with everything cleaned up. The shed should be coming shortly and then I will finally have a parking spot for myself!!

 

[Thruxton]

Nice work! I had to give up the rim-as-air hose-holder in my shop redo, not enough wall space for it now, but it certainly works well. And I would go for the old 911, even though I'm a 928 guy...

 

[glsmaverick]

Picked up a nice garage sale score. 12 speed drill press and he threw in some free halogens that were setting next to it. I will get it permanently mounted at a later date. All that for $75!

Hopefully I will have some better updates in the near future. I have to get things wrapped up before my daughter makes an appearance in 8 weeks!

 

[glsmaverick]

Nothing that new to report but I did pick up some more pieces for the garage.

Got myself a new Millermatic 180 for christmas and auto dark helmet! Got a nice used Milwaukee *********** band saw off CL and ordered up a Swag kit for that. Also I picked up 4 garageworks welded 30x30 cabinets on black Friday from Sears for $99. So I am redoing my cabinet setup and getting rid of my homeade unit for an upright garageworks unit. I am going to run 3 cabinets above my work bench and then one cabinet and the tall locker where the big homeade cabinet is now.

Then I will convert the old cman roller bottom to a welding cart and build my welding table and drill-press/vise/grinder stand. All pieces being collapsable/portable due to lack of space of course.

Hopefully after all of that I can concentrate on the .:R for the upcoming track season.

Phewww! I am going to have to take a couple days off once my daughter gets in daycare so I can have some "me" time to get this stuff knocked out!

 

[Doktor Schnell]

Looks great! I like the stairs and railing, it adds a lot of character. Also glad to see another VWer on here, is there a GTI going in that garage?

 

[glsmaverick]

Looks great! I like the stairs and railing, it adds a lot of character. Also glad to see another VWer on here, is there a GTI going in that garage?

If you read my signature you will see that I have a 2004 Tornado Red .:R32 in that garage.

 

[blacksporty]

I love the old rim for the air hose, never thought of that, time to hit CL.

 

[FlyBy]

I spy a mkI Audi TT rear diffuser!

Also like the hose reel. Did you just mount a pipe and flange to the wall and then slide it onto that? I've got some old VW wheels laying around that I'll eventually use for hose storage.

 

[hobie1dog]

time for a nice loft over the unused space above the garage door.

 

[glsmaverick]

I spy a mkI Audi TT rear diffuser!

Also like the hose reel. Did you just mount a pipe and flange to the wall and then slide it onto that? I've got some old VW wheels laying around that I'll eventually use for hose storage.

Yeah I still had the TT when I took that pic; that has now changed to an .:R32. Just bought some black pipe and two fittings then lagged it into the wall and threaded the other one on to hold it.

time for a nice loft over the unused space above the garage door.

I don't have enough space for like a walking loft but I have bikes over the west side and will probably do a tote rack of the east side. I am probably going to hang the generator over the west side. Move the bikes over the cabinet on the west wall and then build a containment area for the compressor under the stairs where the generator now sits.

 

[49stude2r6]

Thanks for sharing the garage. It is great to see some of the evolution of storage and work space and see the things that work and the things that didn't work as expected.

 

[cactiki]

Looking good, and that drill press looks like a good deal. I need to find one like that!
I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. First, what kind of ladder is that and where can I get one?? Also, I am curious about the band saw. With that kit, can you use it like a regular bandsaw? Sounds like it could be very versatile. Thanks....

 

[glsmaverick]

Looking good, and that drill press looks like a good deal. I need to find one like that!
I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. First, what kind of ladder is that and where can I get one?? Also, I am curious about the band saw. With that kit, can you use it like a regular bandsaw? Sounds like it could be very versatile. Thanks....

The ladder is a collapsible Werner that I picked up at HD a couple years ago. Still the best $120 I have ever spent. For the bandsaw do some searching on CL for a used "***********" dewalt or milwaukee and then head over to swagoffroad.com and pick up one of his bench vise kits.


Sent from a rotary encoder using my finger

 

[glsmaverick]

So finally an update for this garage! I got the over the door storage done with a slick chain setup that I came up with. It was a ***** to get mounted up by myself but through some questionable decisions and clever use of a ladder I managed. I also put the welder through it's first workout building my welding table and it passed with flying colors! Hopefully Sunday I will get the cabinets up with the help of my father in law and then it will finally be time to get the .:R ready for her first track day on April 14th.

Empty

Full

The table (added the top after but forgot a pic but you get the idea)

Casters in the next pics were an experiment and are now temporary

One of the better welds of the day

The porta-a-band with swag adapter that made it all possible. Worked like a charm!

 

[HSpencer]

I have to agree with the other posters above. Very much stress on that pipe railing will pull the lags out of the floor. It does look well built but if much weight fell against the horizontal rail, it might tip over. I would want the horizontal rail tied to the opposite wall. Don't get me wrong, it looks good, but I can't see it holding up under someone falling against it. But it may work fine and I am certainly no engineer. Everything looks good in there otherwise to me. Also if any small children were around, I would want it all screened in somehow. Accidents have their ways no matter what.