Racedeck Questions, Sawdust and Quickjack

[starckie]

After a few years of going back and forth on the design and flooring for my garage I am ready to start making version 2.0 happen. Most projects in the garage involve woodworking or electronics work, but I also do my own maintenance work and detailing on my cars and tractor. I'm in the process of redoing the entire thing to support all of these projects better and I'll create a separate build thread once I have made some progress.

So after looking at the options I have decided to go with Race Deck free flow. I am hoping that some of the other GJ members can help me with a few questions.

How is sawdust management with free flow? I like the fact that the sawdust will filter through (so I can keep my footing) while I'm working, but I'm thinking of cleanup. I have dust management on the bench tools, but I'm good at making a mess with hand power tools. Currently I sweep to get the majority of the dust then get the rest with a Ryobi cordless blower. If I remove the 'lip' at the garage door, would I be able to blow the sawdust from the front of the garage under the floor and out the door?

Also, I am considering picking up a Bendpak Quickjack BL-5000. Due to the height of my garage I can't lift much higher than 2 feet and I like the idea of being able to stash the jacks in a cabinet and have no obstructions on the floor. I realize that it is recommended to remove the tile or use a wood base when using a floor jack, but I'm wondering if anyone has used the Quickjack directly onto of the Racedeck and if the weight being spread out over several feet prevents damage to the tiles.

I'd appreciate any input you guys have

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

starckie - you bring up some interesting questions. Since I've never used Racedeck, I'm going to follow this thread for some great tips and insight from other wonderfully knowledgable GJ members. Meanwhile, I was very tempted to ask you whether you've considered a 100% solids epoxy at 20 luxurious mils or perhaps porcelain tile with epoxy grout. I'm not. Instead, I'm just going to wait to drool over picks of your new garage floor. Hint. Hint.

 

[Garage Flooring]

After a few years of going back and forth on the design and flooring for my garage I am ready to start making version 2.0 happen. Most projects in the garage involve woodworking or electronics work, but I also do my own maintenance work and detailing on my cars and tractor. I'm in the process of redoing the entire thing to support all of these projects better and I'll create a separate build thread once I have made some progress.

So after looking at the options I have decided to go with Race Deck free flow. I am hoping that some of the other GJ members can help me with a few questions.

How is sawdust management with free flow? I like the fact that the sawdust will filter through (so I can keep my footing) while I'm working, but I'm thinking of cleanup. I have dust management on the bench tools, but I'm good at making a mess with hand power tools. Currently I sweep to get the majority of the dust then get the rest with a Ryobi cordless blower. If I remove the 'lip' at the garage door, would I be able to blow the sawdust from the front of the garage under the floor and out the door?

Also, I am considering picking up a Bendpak Quickjack BL-5000. Due to the height of my garage I can't lift much higher than 2 feet and I like the idea of being able to stash the jacks in a cabinet and have no obstructions on the floor. I realize that it is recommended to remove the tile or use a wood base when using a floor jack, but I'm wondering if anyone has used the Quickjack directly onto of the Racedeck and if the weight being spread out over several feet prevents damage to the tiles.

I'd appreciate any input you guys have

We have multiple people using lifts and using the product in wood shops. You just need a good shop vac for cleaning and you are all set.

 

[Jinks]

For the saw dust I would either use solid (diamond plate, or coin pattern) Race Deck, or get a good vacuum. Either will work. I have diamond plate tiles & no problem with the little saw dust I create in the shop. I also have a BL-5000 & can attest to the fact that it leaves no indentation (or trace that it's been used) lifting a Miata NC, Miata ND, or VW EOS. I doubt it will leave any trace lifting any vehicle up to it's full weight rating.

 

[Croixboy]

Your gonna love the freeflow. I can't help you with the bend pack but with the sawdust that's easy. I have a wall mounted shop vac with 25 ft hose. Whenever I have sawdust or shavings I just vacuum up.

 

[PoorOwner]

Also, I am considering picking up a Bendpak Quickjack BL-5000. Due to the height of my garage I can't lift much higher than 2 feet and I like the idea of being able to stash the jacks in a cabinet and have no obstructions on the floor. I realize that it is recommended to remove the tile or use a wood base when using a floor jack, but I'm wondering if anyone has used the Quickjack directly onto of the Racedeck and if the weight being spread out over several feet prevents damage to the tiles.

I'd appreciate any input you guys have

The rubber feet will directly put dent onto the tile. I am not sure if the free flow is weaker, I think it would be. I use 3/4 plywood underneath the quickjack. I have had it popped back out, but decided to use the plywood afterwards. The plywood makes it easier to position the thing, and you don't want the feet to be sinking into the tile anyway which will affect stability.

 

[SteveCh]

I have a garage that is also used for some woodworking. I put a combination of FreeFlow and coin-pattern solid RD tiles in a couple years ago. I used the solid tiles around my table saw and etc. area. Some sawdust does make its way to the Freeflow area. I have found that the sawdust that drops down into the Freeflow tiles is easy to remove with my shop vacuum. However, if I let it stay there and add to it, walking and driving on it, the sawdust can become kind of packed down in there and be more difficult to remove. So I remove a few tiles and clean it up.

 

[mikeyr]

I would skip the freeflow for a wood shop. I have the solid tiles in the entire garage just because of the one corner where I do woodwork. I also would not do any car work on freeflow just because of the small screws falling in.

a friend has freeflow in his garage and reloads a lot, it was amazing how many spent (and scarily new) primers were under there when we pulled up his floor to move to a new house. I can see all the primers on my floor easily.

 

[Chris05gto]

I have FreeFlow floor I also have a HD-9 lift and a Quickjack with zero problems.....as far as the saw dust I think that would be a mess. Do you have another place you can do your wood working? Saw dust and detailing don't go together IMHO!

 

[Ohio Auto]

I've gone back and forth on flooring as I use my shop for a lot of different things...I was going to go Racedeck freeflow...but now I'm going to sand and coat the existing concrete.

I'm not going to mess with a shop vac, pulling up tiles..etc...

With my existing concrete..sweep it up...hose it down and I'm done.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I thought this post would be helpful. I've left my editorial out and just put in his pictures. He is a GJ member so I hope he will comment. He has a thread on this as well but I can't find it http://www.garageflooringllc.com/2015/12/23/garage-floor-tiles-wood-shop-work-shop/