Small Shop - Ideas?

[tippybob]

I am setting up a small shop area in the corner of our two-car garage. We still need to get both cars in; if I can impress SWMBO with a neat and functional arrangement then the prospects of a larger workshop/garage will be looking good. Anyway, I would like ideas and suggestions for functional and neat-looking setup. I have an 8-foot by 24-inch workbench with cabinets above it and some open shelving against the garage wall, but no room for any pegboard. This work area will be used for general household/bicycle/auto type of repairs and some tinkering but not woodworking. I have a good set of hand tools and will be buying a new toolchest for them. My only power tools right now are handheld ones and my only planned addition would be a tabletop drill press.

Has anyone else built, used and/or seen a successful, small shop area like this? The main issue seems to be storage of small parts and hardware as well as larger things like a small pressure washer, extension cords, etc. Some of these may fit into plastic tubs on the shelves but I need to be able to find and access everything. I'm not exactly the world's best organizer

 

[daddylama]

while i likely can't give any good suggestions utilizing the space you've mentioned, other than "pegboard is your friend"...

i might suggest this:
rather than showing a neat, tidy, functional workspace in that little area... which could show that's all you need; show a messy, piled up, barely functional workspace. she'll want your **** out of there!
my wife is now ecstatic that i have my own workshop, that's in no way connected to the house.

 

[tippybob]

daddy,

That's an interesting suggestion, but I don't think it will work in this case. My wife is an obsessive organizer and even though she would want my mess out of the garage, she would think that a bigger workshop = bigger mess!

 

[Coach James]

daddylama, I like your idea!!

 

[mulepackin]

Think vertical. Capitalize on the space against the wall up to the ceiling and maximized its storage potential. We have a continuous shelf about sixteen inches from the ceiling that runs all the way around our ranch shop. Lots of good storage there.

 

[Morrisman]

daddy,

That's an interesting suggestion, but I don't think it will work in this case. My wife is an obsessive organizer and even though she would want my mess out of the garage, she would think that a bigger workshop = bigger mess!

Sounds like you might need to change the wife dude .

 

[BrianAltenhofel]

Think vertical. Capitalize on the space against the wall up to the ceiling and maximized its storage potential. We have a continuous shelf about sixteen inches from the ceiling that runs all the way around our ranch shop. Lots of good storage there.

I never thought about doing that in my new garage. It's a 20x22, but it was filling up pretty damn fast. The outlook for tool additions over the next few years was looking pretty bleak until you said that.

 

[russlaferrera]

My suggestion is to utilize every inch of space. I have over 20 nylon thread containers (Walmart $1.50) for my little supplies, machine screws/nuts, metal screws, elect. crimp connectors, things that that are small and have several sizes. In this way you see, know, and find them when needed. Every time I get an assortment of small parts I buy a container.

I have several plastic 40 drawer bins for nuts/bolts. By having all consumables in closed containers it keeps everything clean and organized.

Power tools can be placed in the tool chest or in a cabinet I prefer a cabinet because they stay cleaner and prying eyes.

Light, I need a lot of light to see. Makes it easier to screw something up.

This opinion/advise does not take in account of all the parts and sub assy. that will want to save. . My advise is to throw them out. You will never use them while you have them and they clutter the place. After you throw them out you will need the part.

Cleaning can be bone with a leaf blower, because everything is covered and secure.

 

[Uncle Buck]

My garage/shop is roughly 22' x 22'. I began by putting a
8' x 30" deep workbench in a corner in the front of the garage, next to it stands my 40" chest/rollcab combo, immediatly next to that is an old sewing pattern cabinet that holds tons of stuff like spray paint, lubricants, fluids etc. on top of that cabinet is a bench top DP, Next to that I constructed a bench that spans the remainder of the width of the garage effectively resulting in a wall to wall workbench with a big rollcab sandwiched in the middle. I put a roll base on my parts washer and constructed my benches all at the same height and roll my parts washer under the bench & have to roll it from under the bench when I want to use it. Another good tip is to set your compressor under the bench and route lines throughout the shop for use. Check out the used office furniture supply stores in your area, many commonly have old government surplus "Allsteel" or "Steelcase" brand "Tank desks" or more importantly file cabinets or other such office type cabinets and accessories. When you start calling stores ask for file cabinets or storage cabinets that match the old gov desks, specifically mention accessories such as I mentioned above that match "Old Gov Tank Desks" office furniture guys understand that specific term and will know immediatly what kind of furniture you are looking for. If you further explain your intended use you may be surprised what may be hiding in a dusty corner of the warehouse that will fit into your shop/garage perfectly for storing tools and the like. My reason in mentioning this is I have two such cabinets in use under my workbenches right now, they hold tons of stuff, no way of overloading them. Obviously you must go verticle as was mentioned before. Shelves are what I started with, but I have been replacing the shelves with old kitchen cabinets as I get them free from neighbors tossing them when they redo the kitchen, or find them used for some times $1.00-$5.00 dollars for sections. I prefer cabinets, they will hold as much as shelves and present a cleaner appearance with the doors closed. Not to mention they can look very nice with a fresh coat of paint and a few under cabinet flush mount lights screwed on to shed some light on the workbench surface. If you begin trying to think outside the box in planning for a tight space you will be surprised at all the cool ideas you will come up with!