Project Reorganize Garage

[GregsRetroGarage]

Well the time has come...after 12 years of accumulation and no room for even a walk path I am going to clean out and organize my garage and get back my work space. My plan is to just make it functional for me to work on projects. I will post info and pictures as I go along. Do not let the pictures fool you...there is no room to walk....toolboxes and stuff everywhere! For now....here is the mess!

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Decided to build a couple of work benches. I like the help!

 

[crawler07]

its always alot more fun when the kids get involved! bench looks good man

 

[ed_v]

Awesome!!!.... I love to see the kids involved. Looks like he's having a ball but please get him some safety glasses

Ed

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Thanks for the comment on the bench. All the wood was thrown out by some neighbors down the street and we saved it from the trash truck! This bench will cost me $0.

Mama came out to take a picture and did not want the safety glasses on for the picture....otherwise, he wears them.

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Got the bench in place and debating about painting it. I am busy building a 2nd bench to match. I plan on putting a peg board on the 2nd bench and a couple of pull out drawers. It is starting to come together. Took forever to clean out my garage in 104 degree heat! I got rid of a lot of junk by either selling, throwing it away, giving it away or storing in the attic. I was shocked how much scrap wood I had in the garage!!! Getting rid of stuff is not easy to do!

 

[andyaus]

Got the bench in place and debating about painting it.

What about staining it? just did that to 1 I built and it came up nice, it's easy to apply, drys fast and gives an even cover + comes in lots of shades

great start too, I'm always amazed how I can always find more stuff to get rid of, even when I think I have things under control

keep the posts coming.

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Picked up some cabinets cheap!!! The Gray Steelcase to the left was FREE and found chunked to the curb at the end of my alley! Best price! Really cool cabinet and clean! I do not have the combination to the safe but I am sure there is something cool hidden within...Al Capone's $$$, or maybe a cache of diamonds! Wishful thinking! The green cabinet was picked up locally and has 5 shelves within. Nice finds and fits my garage well!

PS. I am working on painting the walls.

 

[ChristopherLutz]

Hello from a local DFW member. Bench looks great. I'm re-organizing in the garage a bit too....and, I work for an hour and then need to go inside to cool down a bit.

August in TX is no fun, unless you're in the water.

I know some here would say getting rid of scrap wood is heresy...but, when you spend 50% of your project time just moving stuff from point A to point B in the garage - you have to first clean before you can organize.

I haven't tried this yet - but, I saw the Waste Management "Bagster" at Lowes in Flower Mound for $35 dollars? Seems like an easy way to get rid of bulky items if you have more.

 

[shopboy13]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Plump]

Gotta get that safe open!!! Now I'm dyin' to know.

 

[m5hor]

i love steelcase cabinets. great find for sure!

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Gotta get that safe open!!! Now I'm dyin' to know.

I fiddle with the safe combination for a good 15 minutes today with no luck. I continue to wonder what might be contained within....

 

[AETD]

I fiddle with the safe combination for a good 15 minutes today with no luck. I continue to wonder what might be contained within....

Can't you open it from the hinge side?
Cut the pin of the hinge, once open, you can put a new pin in the hinge. Once off, you can take the door to a locksmith i'm sure he can tell you the winning combination with the help of a stethoscope.

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Can't you open it from the hinge side?
Cut the pin of the hinge, once open, you can put a new pin in the hinge. Once off, you can take the door to a locksmith i'm sure he can tell you the winning combination with the help of a stethoscope.

I certainly would if someone had not welded extra pieces on each end thereby preventing the pins from coming. Curious no????

 

[SpeedinLemon]

Greetings from just up the road in North Texas!! Looks like a nice space. You're off to a good start with that bench...looks very solid. I also like your cabinets and that 18 drawer wooden box looks vintage and very handy. What's the story on it and the lathe in the background of your first pic? Great to see your son involved too.

 

[marty_p]

Howdy, neighbor!

And a great beginning there, Boss!

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Greetings from just up the road in North Texas!! Looks like a nice space. You're off to a good start with that bench...looks very solid. I also like your cabinets and that 18 drawer wooden box looks vintage and very handy. What's the story on it and the lathe in the background of your first pic? Great to see your son involved too.

Greeting back! Thanks for the comments! The 18 drawer wooden box came out of an old library from the 1930s...cool piece! The lathe was picked up a while back locally. I got it for $350 along with a bunch of tools/accessories! Score! I will try and keep the post coming along. Cheers!

 

[70Chevy]

Maybe you can cut a hole in the back side of the safe? Patch and up against a wall and nobody can tell.

 

[AETD]

pretty sure an untrained ear and a ststhoscope will open this lock.
in a locker like this, it will not be the best quality combination lock, i guess...

Make a detail picture of the lock and hinge, i'm sure the hinge is the way in. ;-)

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Well after a lot of work..my garage is cleaner and more organized! I still have some stuff to get rid of but I am still working on it. More work to do....

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Worked on more organization today. I am installing pull out drawers on one of my work stations. I will post pictures soon!

 

[ConcreteAce]

Great work! Id like more info on how you build the pull out drawers I want to add some to the bottom of my new bench as well.

 

[egnorant]

Great work! Why do we Texans pick July and August to declutter our workspaces?
I am doing the recycled wood bench project myself once I get my lights sorted out.

Bruce
East Texas

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Great work! Id like more info on how you build the pull out drawers I want to add some to the bottom of my new bench as well.

I will certainly post pictures of the drawers on the work bench when I am done so you can check it out.

 

[bparksntx]

Hey man. I'm just down the road from ya. Garage looks good. I like the cabinets. Metal cabinets are always a good score. So what's up with all of the bicycles? Looks like you have a variety and some older models.

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Hey man. I'm just down the road from ya. Garage looks good. I like the cabinets. Metal cabinets are always a good score. So what's up with all of the bicycles? Looks like you have a variety and some older models.

I certainly have a bicycle collection going....it is sort of a disease more than anything. Balloon tire bikes, BMX, mid frame, banana bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes...etc. etc. Always have to be working on something....

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Spent some time in the garage this morning installing a pull out drawer saved from a beat up roll away Harbor Freight Tool Box. I had easy access to the installation area due to the removable section on the flat surface of my newly built work table.

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I installed cross member under the top surface of the table to mount the drawer rollers to. Reinforced the table and also allowed me to mount the drawer.

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The hardest part was getting everything lined up and even. Even the slightest uneven line would put pressure on the drawer bearings and not allow it to open so I really had to take my time with it.

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So far I have $30 in the entire work table so I am off to a good start. The drawer works great and now my grandpas wrenchs have a new home at my case.

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[GregsRetroGarage]

Here is an overall picture of the table. I am not finished with it yet as I am working on the bottom storage area of the table...removing the original sagging particle board which I used as the flat surface and replacing with a reinforced polished steel surface. I have already cut the steel and test fitted..just need to finish the job at a cooler time. Oh the Texas heat!

[/IMG]

By the way....all the wood and screws were recycled....building on the cheap!

 

[andyaus]

By the way....all the wood and screws were recycled....building on the cheap!

I love a good rejuvenation, "reduce, reuse, recycle" nice bench mate!

 

[andyaus]

My workbench, all recycled

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

My workbench, all recycled

Nice work! Check out the lower metal shelf I fashioned out of some polished metal which I found chunked to the curb! I reinforced with 1/4" steel ribs underneath to prevent sag under the weight of my tool loaded ammo boxes!

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Got inventive and decided to paint one of my old ammo boxes which was a multitude of colors. I use these old metal boxes to hold my tools...they fit perfect on the metal shelf I just built! Score!

 

[andyaus]

Yeah, nice I used part of a whiteboard I was given to top the lower shelve which I framed up underneath

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Yeah, nice I used part of a whiteboard I was given to top the lower shelve which I framed up underneath

That is cool! I like how you used everything! Sharp looking work bench!

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

How about this storage container?

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Working on installing the garage AC...pictures soon!

 

[egnorant]

Hear ya on the AC! Thought our little rain event today might cool things a bit...WRONG.
Just killed me with humidity.

Got me a recycled bench build going myself. Made from an old waterbed and some discarded 4x4 fenceposts (plus a few 2x4s from wherever leftover 2x4s come from).

Bruce

 

[GregsRetroGarage]

Hear ya on the AC! Thought our little rain event today might cool things a bit...WRONG.
Just killed me with humidity.

Got me a recycled bench build going myself. Made from an old waterbed and some discarded 4x4 fenceposts (plus a few 2x4s from wherever leftover 2x4s come from).

Bruce

Bruce,

did you ever finish your recycled bench build? Pictures? Hope things are cooling off for you! Cheers!

 

[Plump]

[/IMG]

By the way....all the wood and screws were recycled....building on the cheap! [/QUOTE]



That's the ONLY way I build! Beg, borrow, or steal the materials and go to it.

I have that same drill press and have been looking for a manual for it for years. You wouldn't happen to have one, would you?