Salt Life Hideout

[Red Leader]

I don't know what to say! Between your garage build, Red Leader, and Jack Olsen, I am hooked on this Garage Journal thing! I have spent waaaay too much time reading through these threads and have learned so much. It has inspired me to start documenting my very meager but fun build and actually start posting it, so thank you!

To think that Wingnut and I are mentioned next to Mr. Olsen is quite the compliment!

Have you seen the 'Restored 1930's Auto Shop'?

Lot's of incredible threads on this site - this thread included!

-Dave

 

[Wingnut65]

So you decide to completely abandon all of your plans and goals in an impossible effort to utilize these evil cans of paint that are destroying your ability to become completely organized!!

wolflrv: You caught me. But, SEE, Its working... Six cans down so far!

FOCUS!!! FINISH THE WALL!! ENCLOSE THAT UGLY WATER HEATER AND AC UNIT!!

Still working towards it. I've got my Round-Tuit, now all I need is time! This Saturday I helped take down a dead 35' oak tree at church. Small crew and rain delay made it an 8 hour project. This week I need to keep open for getting the girls ready for school. I don't know what that means, but I will be available.

I don't know what to say! Between your garage build, Red Leader, and Jack Olsen, I am hooked on this Garage Journal thing! I have spent waaaay too much time reading through these threads and have learned so much. It has inspired me to start documenting my very meager but fun build and actually start posting it, so thank you!

Bobcat719: Wow! Thanks Bobcat. I agree with RL, being mentioned in the same sentence as the masterful Jack Olsen is a great honor.

Welcome to GJ! You have discovered the vacuum of GJ... time just disappears when you start surfing! There are so many great shops here that I browse to see how I can make their ideas fit in my shop. Some of my projects are ideas I copied from other GJ members - sliding door cabinet, black paint on the garage door, RaceDeck floor... the ideas just keep coming. We always seem to ask ourselves - "WWJD?" As in "What Would Jack Do?"

And just between you and me, I started my project last April, but I didn't want to show all my clutter and mess to everyone. It took me getting a few projects finished before I realized that I had to post the 'Before' shots so the new builds can be fully appreciated. You can do the same. Start with small steps and try to make a little progress each week. You will be amazed at what will get done. It's hard for me to remember life in my shop in the 'Before' shots. Feel free to post a few shots here if you would like. Good Luck on your build.

Wingnut...
wow...
I didn't realize how much that hinge painting sucked for you!
I'm sorry, I know it's my fault
If it makes you feel any better, the hinge painting is sucking for me too
I guess all we can do is tell ourselves it will be worth it in the end.
Based on your picture, I'm a believer!

Red Leader: Be a believer! It isn't all that bad. 2-3 minutes to adjust the cardboard and tape, spray and move on. Yes, It is all your fault in helping to put the finishing details on my place. And a heartfelt thanks.

And Dave, I agree with you regarding Mr. Olsen - We're Not Worthy, We're Not Worthy, (Visions of Wayne's World just went by)

 

[Ole_Red]

I really like what you are doing with your garage. Its really taking shape!

 

[flybefree]

Wingnut, time on GJ is not wasted...it's preparation! If I have only 6 hours to chop down a tree I will spend 4 hours sharpening the ax...or something like that. This certainly counts as ax sharpening...so says I.

Shaun

 

[Wingnut65]

It's taken me a while to sharpen my ax, I mean typing this post with many interruptions and honey-do's, but here goes...

Please remain seated at all times as this ride is in constant motion!..

Next Up, The Salt Life Hideout gets lights! Lots of them…


Lights! Camera! Action… No, just Lights

I have never understood the building codes that I work with daily. Code requires “A” light in a garage. (It might even be 1 light per 2 cars.) I have a 3-car garage and therefore the contractor was very generous with providing 2 ceiling mounted light sockets with 60-watt bulbs in them. Hey, it met code and they received a C.O.!

So, when we moved in and I realized the contribution the contractor provided us in the way of lighting, or lack thereof, I changed the two 60 watt bulbs (120 watts total) to now be two 100 watt bulbs (200 watts total)! WoooHooo, we had light. OK, We had MORE light!

099 (01) - This is an Ofishal ‘Before’ shot, before anything was done in the garage.

The improved illumination helped in the overall garage, but the workbench needed more light. That way I can see my mistakes when I make them! So, I re-hung my old double 4’ two-bulb shop lights that I mounted to a 2x4 that I built for my old shop.

100 (02)

But the joy of all this extra light sure didn’t last long… Nine years later… I finally had the opportunity to do something about it.

I knew I wanted to add fluorescent lights, I started by laying out the new fixture locations with the infamous blue painters tape. I moved a couple a few times till I was satisfied. But then I had to wait for the budget to be funded.

101 (03)

The front of the garage near the door was always dim. So the layout that I came up with has lights that are over the end of the garage door when its open to still allow light to filter through the door windows. I wanted a lot of light over the power tools for safety and accuracy.

102 (04)

My lighting upgrade came to be a reality at this time, because the Minister of Finance wanted a second washer and dryer in the laundry room. (that is another project in itself) I have a friend at church that is a licensed electrician and had him come and pull the wire for the 220 for the new dryer. Since we were going to all the effort of pulling wire from the attic down to the panel for the dryer, we pulled extra wires for up to four additional circuits for the garage. And those additional lines came from the laundry room budget!

When it came time to install, I also marked where the trusses are so we could plan out wire runs.

103 (05) - (I put the old plywood that I had leaning against the wall in the early pix up in the attic for flooring. Since I screwed it down, we needed to plan our wire ways to make the install easy.)

I had considered using some old shop lights I bought at a garage sale for $5 for six fixtures. But they were used T12 bulbs and magnetic ballasts. Since both of those will be discontinued in the near future, I could either buy a case of bulbs and extra ballasts and then try to find a place to store them. But I was the one that asked the question if I could mount shop lights flush against the ceiling or if spacers were needed. To solve all my issues, I decided to pull the trigger and get all new fluorescent fixtures with the more energy efficient T8 bulbs with magnetic ballasts. I explained this all to Mrs. Wingnut and received approval, if I could find them affordable.

I ended up going with an economical flush mounted wrap-around 4’ 2-bulb Lithonia fixture from HD

104 (06)
These are economy fixtures, but I saw a couple that were even cheaper that I would not want in my garage.

Installation Day finally arrives… 11 fixtures are ready to go up…

105 (07)


106 (08)


107 (09)

I let the Boss do all the connections. Did I mention that we were breaking them into two switches? Wiring and circuits are the parts where I want the professional to do it:

108 (10)

I decided to keep the existing two 100-watt lights on the existing switch. That way they can be used to just run out to the garage on an errand. The fluorescents are for times that we actually want to see what we are doing… The new switches will be on the wall to the right.

109 (11)

Took the Boss up in the attic to drill through not one, but TWO horizontal 2x just above the box location (at the blue tape marks in the photo above). (Murphy’s Law or something…?)

110 (12)

We Have Lights!

To get the amount of light that I wanted, I used Daylight bulbs. It turned out great, but now I think I need SPF 30 to work in my own garage.
My daughters say that now, the garage is as light as Heaven. I think it’s getting close!

111 (13)

Switch 1 has 7 lights

112 (14)

Switch 2 has the remaining 4 lights.

113 (15)

Don’t ask me why that breakdown. I knew I wanted half the lights on each, but both over the workbench and some over the power tools on one switch made a lot of sense...

Another lighting feature I added while the electrician was here, was a motion sensor light. This way, when I come home late and the garage door has been open and the light had timed out already, I can still find my way to the kitchen door. We ran a line from the garage door opener receptacle over about a foot and added another light fixture socket. In this socket is a screw-in 360˚ motion sensor.

114 (16)

But, for some reason, I don’t always trip the motion portion of the sensor. Even jumping up and down doesn’t make it work. Here, I had to walk out into the garage to take this picture… See, No Worky! EDIT: Motion-sensor socket was changed out a while later

115 (17)

I haven’t decided what to do about the temperamental nature of the motion light, but it really isn’t bothering me one way or the other. But the first stubbed toe and it is toast!

As I bring this post back to the station and start to plan the next Big Adventure, I must say that I love the added lights. My neighbors have noted the new glow coming out the garage door windows.

116 (18)

This is just one of many ways to solve the lighting problem. Nothing really new here that hasn’t been done before, but it is a major improvement for the Salt Life Hideout!

 

[flybefree]

I have seen the light(s)!

 

[Red Leader]

Wow, GREAT UPDATE!

Great lighting is important, not only because it adds a lot of value to a shop, but is a safety issue as well. When I had my one little bulb out there, I was tripping over all kinds of stuff

Good call on getting someone to come in and help with electrical. It seems as though I shock myself just enough to remember why I don't do electrical for a living. All it takes is a little grab on the two posts of an outlet and I receive the gentle reminder that I shouldn't be doing this

Speaking of shocking...

And those additional lines came from the laundry room budget!

Haha...so, the million dollar question: Did she know? That is so funny it should be a crime. We all have good wives. I'm glad they are such good sports.

I did the same thing as you, I put different lights on different circuits and different switches so I could have a little more control. It seems when I go out there, most of the time I just flip them all on, but, lighting control is important! After all, when people want to do a photo shoot of their classic car in your garage for a magazine spread, its important to have the right lighting. Not out of the realm of possibility! At least that's what I tell myself

All in all, great great update, and a very important one.

I don't know if I'm being too forward here, but I have a suggestion: I think one of the next 'missions' you should undertake is to remove everything around the VW bus and clear it's path. It will streamline things a little and even more importantly, get that VW bus more accessible and add some motivation to start working on it

 

[dittle fart around]

Lighting looks great. It makes the van project look do-able.

 

[rickairmedic]

Jeff I just stumbled onto your thread tonight and honestly have only read the last page so far . I did note your issues with your motion light and thought I would mention my new Craftsman garage door opener has a feature built into it so that if you break the beam on the door sensors it turns the light on . This might be an option for you or they make remote sensors that your electrician could mount near the main overhead door so that when something or someone passes it it turns on the light .



Rick

 

[Wingnut65]

I have seen the light(s)!

They were on the ceiling, right?

Red Leader: I agree with having the spousal support. I would not be doing this much in here if the Minister of Finance didn't support the mission. Electricity is one thing that I know when I don't know enough. Adding another outlet or two and changing out switches is no problem. But when there are three wires and each light gets connected to the opposite color and make two switches work without knocking out the whole neighborhood, I call the pro's. As for the magazine shoot, I may need to add a few more fixtures... BTW, of the 12 houses on our street, we have a '67 vette and a '67 mustang convertible. When I'm finished, I've thought about allowing them to park in my garage for a few photos. See, I can dream, too!

RL and DFA: The bus is getting higher on the project list. In the past, it did seem to get buried, but Photo 13 shows where it sits today. There are only sheets of plywood on the floor between the bus and the SUV. My problem is all the stuff that I had to pack into the bus so I could get the floor done. I'd like to spend time on the bus soon to continue tear down and to put together my wish-list for the upcoming VW weekend here in November (Bulli-Brigade on Saturday and Bug Jam on Sunday) I can shop for parts without paying shipping.

rickairmedic: Welcome to the hideout. Glad you found it. Sometime go back and hit the other pages to see what ideas I stole from other members. I had not heard about the sensor beam tripping the light on newer openers. We put up the Genie screw drive when we moved in 10 years ago. I like it because it is the fastest on the block. I can push the button and walk out without hitting my head on a slow door. But you now have me thinking on the sensor at the door to activate the light. That would solve the problem. Maybe I can upgrade the opener with one with the new features. Thanks for mentioning it.
And for the bu

 

[shopnut]

WOW! Nice lighting upgrade Wingnut. Leaving a low power lighting circuit out there for a quick trip to grab something is a good idea too. No sense wasting electricity.

I use the daylight bulbs too and have been very happy with them. Some people like a warmer light for a cozy feeling. Not me - I prefer my shop to remind me of an operating room for surgery on the vehicles . Plus my eyes ain't getting any better!

Keep up the good work.

 

[Wingnut65]

I prefer my shop to remind me of an operating room for surgery on the vehicles .

Thanks for the compliments, shopnut. I did forget to mention that with all the lights on, I don't have any noticeable shadows in the garage. Operating room is another way of looking at it. It will be great to actually work in the garage instead of building it!

 

[Bobcat719]

Nice updates! I really like the amount of light out there! I had only thought I would need two of those fluorescent lights out there, time to rethink that idea....anyhow, keep up the good work, it is making me want to keep going on mine for sure!

BK

 

[rickairmedic]

Jeff I read the thread from front to back last night and it is looking great .

BK my garage is only around 480SF 2&1/2 car maybe and I have 7 4' 2 tube 6500K lights and one 4 tube 4'er with 6500K bulbs in it and honestly I still want more light .


Rick

 

[Bobcat719]

Rick: I am definitely going to rethink the lighting then. I am also going to do that top down schematic drawing (which is wicked by the way!) and play with some layouts, that drawing really opened up my eyes to the amount of choices there really are.

BK

 

[Wingnut65]

Bobcat719: Thanks for the comments. The Journal is a great place to get ideas on what to do with your own shop. But let me warn you (as you have already found out yourself)... hang around here long enough and the plans you have for your place will change, possibly several times. But that is not a bad thing. It means you have really thought about what you want in your shop. Every plan change you have will give you something better than the plan before! For my lights, I bought (6) 4' garage sale shop lights that I was going to mount a couple where my existing bulbs were and didn't know what I would do with the others. But as time went on, my plans changed and I then needed to just wait until the time was right. If my wife hadn't wanted the second washer and dryer, my electrician would not have been at my house and I would still be waiting for lights.

As for the floor plan, it's the best way to lay everything out so you can see if everyghing fits. The easiest way to start is to get 1/4" graph paper, measure your garage and then put it on the graph paper using one square being 1 foot. I measured my band saw, drill press, A/C, doors, etc and put them on the plan. Give it a try and have fun planning out your place. Time and money will eventually come to get it all done. But if you don't dream and plan now, it won't happen in the garage later. Good Luck on your shop.

rickairmedic So, Rick, are you opening an Operating Room?? Actually, eight fixtures in a 2-1/2 car garage probably still has some open ceiling space. If you don't mount lights, it will probably get filled up with storage stuff... Go for it!

 

[Wingnut65]

Maybe its not cutting, drilling or nailing, but I've been busy being creative. My shop has now got a Logo...



Hand created in the spirit of the unique and creative Salt Life font.

It might need to be 2-lines instead of one, but the 1-line fits better in the sig line...

 

[shopnut]

Darn it Wingnut - now I want a custom logo!

 

[flybefree]

Sweet work...I love it.

 

[Red Leader]

Darn it Wingnut - now I want a custom logo!

x2, dang it!

 

[Wingnut65]

Don't blame me on the "Salt Life Hideout" Logo idea. It was wolflrv that brought it up a few pages back:

..It might be cool to frame out "Salt Life Hideout" in trim board and paint it as a "theme" anchor point for the garage. The lettering should give it enough stability to not warp (the cabinet doors)...just an idea..

So I got thinking as to what the "Salt Life Hideout" cut out or framed out of wood would look like. And I realized that the only way is to make it all the same. I didn't invent the "Salt Life" logo or font (darn!), but a little tracing paper and a couple shots later, and a matching "Hideout" was created. So the credit for the idea goes to wolflrv (Thanks )

If you want to try an easy way to create word logo, Google "Free Fonts" and see all the variety of fonts available to install on your computer. Some websites have a place to type sample words and try various fonts to see what they will look like. I can just imagine the weird and bizzare fonts that can be used to creat an "Asylum" logo.

BUT... any logo created using a creative font in a word document will need to be converted into an image file (.jpg, .bmp. etc) to be able to upload to GJ.

Glad I could get others to start thinking outside of the garage on ways to improve your own garage theme. Good Luck!

Oh Lord, what have I stared now??


.

 

[wolflrv]

Hey...I'm just an idea guy....LOL!

 

[tinbender 66]

X3.........Now I gotta have a logo too. You guys are killin' me.

I really like the VW! My wife kinda wanted one but we ended up getting a really nice '72 Beetle.

 

[Jkaz]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice on my thread. I am completely jealous of your VW project, I have been trying to find one forever and you get one for FREE! Also, I envy your carpentry skills.. I have that same band saw and look forward to crafting some awesome cabinetry like you have. I will also be taking your painting advice for the garage door when I get that far! Again, thanks for the input on my thread!

 

[Wingnut65]

wolflrv: Sounds like we really started something with your idea... Thanks again for making me think your idea out.

tinbender: Great ideas do that to people. Right now, I'd just like to have any VW that actually runs. A Bug would be fun. I had a '72 Beetle (same color as yours) back in High School but never got it back on the street after we got it after an engine fire. I'd really like a double cab pick-up, but they are getting expensive. DFA has a nice single cab that I also keep eying.

Jkaz: You are welcome. That's one nice part about having a thread on GJ, post ideas and progress and you will get plenty of other ideas, suggestions and advice in reply. Some of which are actually useful! In fact, the idea for my logo was from a comment a few pages back on how to keep my plywood cabinet doors from warping in our humidity. Take the advice and use what you can. For the Bus, I can't wait to get working on it. I brought it home in 200# and still haven't finished tear down. Now with progress of the shop, I may get to do more on it this year. For my woodworking, I was fortunate to grow up with a 2-car workshop with a talented father. I learned to look to the end product and then figure out how to get there with the tools that you have. Thus my creative plywood cutting technique with clamps and a circular saw. Putting everything together to make it work is just the perfectionist in me. Glad some of my ideas and those of others can help you with your shop. Take notes of ideas as you surf and see where you can fit them in. Good Luck on your cool project. I did subscribe!

 

[flybefree]

I need a logo...first I guess I need a theme.

 

[kfvintx]

I need a logo...first I guess I need a theme.

The theme is the title of your thread...... good luck with that logo

 

[Wingnut65]

The theme is the title of your thread...... good luck with that logo

Exactly. On the Good Luck part!

Then there's always the fallback logo...

.

 

[couchmechanic]

Looking good with the lights! Great job. Do they attract any bugs at night when your in the garage? Just coureous, over here plenty of bugs, makes it hard to work into the night until our winter season.

 

[Wingnut65]

couchmechanic: Thanks, cm! I have not really noticed many bugs at night, other than our state bird, which I swat and keep working! When I only had the shop light, there were the flying beetles that would come visit. I don't know if its that there is so much light that there is no single source to attract them, or that I am using the daylight bulbs. I have more wasps come by during the day than bugs at night. Raid takes care of them...

 

[rickairmedic]

They sell screens large enough to cover double garage doors . I got mine at Harbor freight and after 5 years had to break down and buy a new one . They are usually less than $30.00 and work great . We have plenty of the Florida state birds in Kentucky and I know what they look like I grew up in Carrolwood . We dont however have Palmetto bugs which I dont mind at all .


Rick

 

[Bob Heine]

I was told the Florida State Bird was the Construction Crane but I'm from the other coast!

 

[rickairmedic]

I consider Skeeters to be the Fla state bird .


Rick

 

[Wingnut65]

I consider Skeeters to be the Fla state bird .


Rick

That's what I was referring to. We don't get that many cranes in the garage. The Florida Cranes Bob mentioned, I have noticed are seasonal and seem to disappear when the economy is down.

And, Rick, Carrollwood and Northdale are my stompin grounds! I haven't seen as many palmetto bugs here as we had in Miami. But those skeeters can carry a person away... They haven't been bothering me enough to get a screen yet, but I've seen them on the shelf. Thanks for bringing it up.

 

[rickairmedic]

Jeff I was going back through your thread again this morning and I have another freeby for you . I saw where you are enclosing the water heater and air handler and in those pics I noticed your secondary overflow drainline from your air handler that comes out past the front of the base of the unit . Go downtown to Marcone appliance parts and tell them you need an " inline safety switch for your condensate drain " . You can then do away with 95% of that secondary drainline and add the inline safety switch to the drain . The switch has 2 wires comming from it those wires go where the yellow wire in your thermostat wires goes inside the air handler . Shut off power to the air handler and take the front doors off . Then find where your thermostat wires hook up to the unit . Take the yellow wire loose and hook it to one of the wires comming from the safety switch . Then take the other wire comming from the switch and put it where the yellow wire used to go . This will shut down your AC if the main drainline ever gets clogged and tell you theres a problem . The way its set up now you will only notice theres a problem when you go out to the garage and find a HUGE puddle infront of the air handler on the floor .

This is what it will look like although the one you get from Marcone may be a little differant this gives you the general idea .

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/h...sate-Pumps-google_pr&infoParam.campaignId=T9F



This will also let you enclose the area without that drainline sticking out through the front of your doors.


Oh yeah Mom still lives down there near Fletcher and Rome which is where I grew up and I do still make it down there once or twice a year .


Rick

 

[Bob Heine]

...I also want to change the small refrigerator to a full-size one...
- More functional workbench
- More storage
- Add a utility sink in the garage

Jeff,
You mention upgrading to a full-size refrigerator. If you upgrade from your cube-size to under-counter size, you could extend the counter for the workbench and incorporate a drop-in laundry sink. I already had an upright freezer but when it came time for a refrigerator, I chose one of those 35.5" tall ones.

When the freezer dies, it will be replaced with an under-counter and the benchtop will be replaced with one of the Jack Olsen Ikea beech planks:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60057852

If, unlike me, you follow the Jack Olsen rule that all bench surfaces are at the same height, your back wall counter height could establish the standard -- a few inches higher than a kitchen counter. I find those to be just a little too low.

 

[Wingnut65]

rickairmedic: That is a great idea. I was not familiar there was such a product until your post. That sounds like a definite possibility. I've always been worried if it would overflow on a weekend when we were gone. We do crank up the temp to over 80 just to keep the house at a reasonable temp. This would solve that concern. Thanks.

Bob Heine: Great idea, but... There is no plumbing on that side of the A/C unit. And, I already have plumbing stubbed out behind the water heater for a utility sink. Putting it anywhere else would mean digging the floor. Also, the full size fridge is a request from the Mrs. to have for overflow at holidays and parties. There have been several times we use ice chests in the house because the fridge is maxed out. A full size will hold beverages most of the time for me, but spill over for her as needed. It works for me.
Although, getting a second under counter size may also work. For the counter tops, I'm flexible. Now I've got old kitchen cabinet height. It may get higher to fit more storage below it. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[Wingnut65]

Busy day today, but progress has been outside the house. With Hurricane Irene taking a tour of the east coast, she made me realize that we are not ready here at home.

We had our house painted two years ago and I was able to re-install most of the tracks for our hurricane panels. Then last year we got pavers on our back porch, which raised the height of the patio at the doors. Earlier this month, we finally got faux stone 36" high on the patio walls. With the patio projects all complete, now was the time to get the panel tracks ready. Hurricane Irene came up a week ago. If it had come this way, I would have had to take time off work to do this project.

But, today, I finally raised the top tracks at two sliding glass doors to fit the panels. I could have just cut the panels off, but I have 27 panels the same height. By keeping them the same height, they are still interchangeable. The less panel sizes to deal with , the better

Then the removable base tracks had to have anchors installed in the pavers. We had the first couple rows a the doors mortared in so I could put the 1/4 x 20 lead anchors in. Got the base track for one door complete just before dinner. Tomorrow will be the other one.

I did learn that I need to pack a travel tool box for all projects, even in my own back yard. I must have waled from the patio to the garage at least 25 times today. If my memory could remember all of what I needed on each trip, it could have been only 20x.

Well, it feels good to be almost done with this project. And I pray that we never need to try the panels out. But I am prepared for the next one!

 

[rickairmedic]

No problem Jeff I just happened to notice your secondary drain and figured that would solve that problem . They are code today but not when your system was put in .


Rick

 

[rickairmedic]

Jeff as long as they stay in the Atlantic I am fine with them . When Ike tore up Texas a few years ago it actually made it all the way up here to Louisville as a cat 1 and we lost power for a week.


Rick