Something just clicked…..

[Strouty]

Way too much stuff...like honestly, how does any one person amass that much? If you haven't touched it in 10+ years or don't knowingly need it in the next 2+ years, get rid of it.

It is a family trait.

Almost everything that is in the pictures was acquired in the last 8 years, a lot of it was in the last 5 years. The problem is figuring out what to get rid of. I do use a good portion of the stuff, some of it gets used once a year, some gets used a lot, and then there are the tools that get used once in ten years.

The equipment that I have as projects is generally something that I either borrow or beg to use every so often. I figure if I can repair a piece of equipment and own it for a reasonable amount, I won't be stuck begging to use someone else's tools. I enjoy the actual work, it is a learning experience and a test of patience. I am having trouble with getting to where it is fun again. I have made a mess and now I am trying to clean it up.

I am not convinced that just tossing something because I haven't used it in x amount of years is a valid reason. I will openly admit that certain things are tougher to let go of than others. My tools are one thing I try to never sell unless they are truly no longer any use to me. Pretty much a tool stays with me unless I upgrade and the new version is much better. I do sell tools that I have too many of, last year I sold off 10 or so of my duplicate Milwaukee V28 tools and all the old batteries. I ended up being able to buy 3 new batteries and still have money left over.

It is a balancing act, I see 20 steps ahead of most people. I know where something fits into the future vision I have, other people see a pile of junk. The place I get lost is the stockroom as well as all the various materials and supplies I have. I overestimate my ability to use things and then get caught up in storing them.

 

[ishiboo]

I feel your pain, I feel I'll be there by 37 if I don't make some changes. I already have a barn full of stuff. Some stuff simply takes up a lot of room, but having stuff for future projects is part of it.

Unfortunately, the only cure is to start getting rid of a lot of ****. Look at how much you buy in anticipation of future stuff and what it all costs, versus what could be acquired "just in time" for only slightly more money.

Analyze each month what has sat and how likely it is to ever be used again.

I had to pay someone to help me clean up/get organized.

 

[Strouty]

I feel your pain, I feel I'll be there by 37 if I don't make some changes. I already have a barn full of stuff. Some stuff simply takes up a lot of room, but having stuff for future projects is part of it.

Unfortunately, the only cure is to start getting rid of a lot of ****. Look at how much you buy in anticipation of future stuff and what it all costs, versus what could be acquired "just in time" for only slightly more money.

Analyze each month what has sat and how likely it is to ever be used again.

I had to pay someone to help me clean up/get organized.

When you say you paid someone, do you mean an organizer or just laborer? I have been thinking about having an organizer just to help me with the stockroom. It would be nice to have someone with no emotional attachment to try and make me realize what this stuff actually costs me.

I have always tried to sell more than I bring home from the auctions, but sometimes I just get carried away. It is usually a cabinet full of neat stuff that kills me, not only do I have to figure out how/where to use the cabinet, but where to put all the stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I do throw stuff away, but some of the "valuable" stuff really shouldn't even go home with me.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Your not that far away....If I hook up my 16ft trailer and leave in the morning. I could be at your place before sundown and help you clear out all those cool storage cabinets to make some space.
Then you could start on that fifth wheel hauler.

 

[Strouty]

Your not that far away....If I hook up my 16ft trailer and leave in the morning. I could be at your place before sundown and help you clear out all those cool storage cabinets to make some space.
Then you could start on that fifth wheel hauler.

Between you and A_Pmech I could have this place cleaned out by the end of the week no sweat.

Your build is what got me thinking about my truck again. Of course mine won't be as pretty as the one you did. I figure I have to learn sometime.

 

[-Brent-]

This is a very interesting thread, Strouty. You've got a great space and some really cool/desirable storage items.

One thing I've realized is that I love the storage stuff for it's design/look/heavy-duty-ness as well as its function. I think you're a bit more serious - that way - than I am. But, then again, I've only got 400 sq feet to work in.

I don't even bother with residential-type storage solutions anymore because the heavy duty stuff is more suited for what I've got.

I'm really focused on economizing and clearing my space of duplicates. If I have a two tools that can serve a similar function, I've chosen to move out the one I'm less likely to want/need. Or, the one that wastes the most space. Collecting tools/machines (or hardware, storage items, etc.) is silly if the motivation isn't to use the stuff. One of the best things I have done, which got the whole ball rolling for me, was to clear a shelf and put only for sale items on it. When it has free space (meaning I sold or gave it away), I put more stuff onto the shelf. After a while it was a habit. Now it's spurned into a clean/organized space. I've got to habituate keeping it that way, now.

Doing so has netted me a tidy sum in my hot rod/4x4/tool fund. As well, I'm starting have a lot more usable space. Plus, it feels really good to have a better grasp/focus on what I actually do vs some other reasoning for owning the machine or tool. If it's just sitting around, unused, I better either A) use it or B) get rid of it.

 

[Strouty]

This is a very interesting thread, Strouty. You've got a great space and some really cool/desirable storage items.

One thing I've realized is that I love the storage stuff for it's design/look/heavy-duty-ness as well as its function. I think you're a bit more serious - that way - than I am. But, then again, I've only got 400 sq feet to work in.

I don't even bother with residential-type storage solutions anymore because the heavy duty stuff is more suited for what I've got.

I'm really focused on economizing and clearing my space of duplicates. If I have a two tools that can serve a similar function, I've chosen to move out the one I'm less likely to want/need. Or, the one that wastes the most space. Collecting tools/machines (or hardware, storage items, etc.) is silly if the motivation isn't to use the stuff. One of the best things I have done, which got the whole ball rolling for me, was to clear a shelf and put only for sale items on it. When it has free space (meaning I sold or gave it away), I put more stuff onto the shelf. After a while it was a habit. Now it's spurned into a clean/organized space. I've got to habituate keeping it that way, now.

Doing so has netted me a tidy sum in my hot rod/4x4/tool fund. As well, I'm starting have a lot more usable space. Plus, it feels really good to have a better grasp/focus on what I actually do vs some other reasoning for owning the machine or tool. If it's just sitting around, unused, I better either A) use it or B) get rid of it.

I really like the shelf idea, I have an area in the shed that is designated for auction items, but your idea is easier to get to. Sometimes I go all hoarder and take things back out of the donate, sell, trash bins.

I definitely try and get industrial storage equipment. I have a few that are not as nice as what I would like to have, but I can usually find a better replacement. I find that sometimes it is more about the hunt than it is about the actual item. Now if I could just become a purchasing agent for a wealthy fabrication shop owner, that could be my dream job.

 

[Strouty]

People in general will almost always fill whatever size container they have. When I first walked into my shop in 2006 I thought that it was huge and I would never be able to fill it. Now I wish it was twice as big and even then I am sure I could fill it.

 

[pendragon1998]

My honest opinion, just from reading post #1, is that your problem isn't finding more space to store your ****, it's finding it in yourself to sell off at least 50% of it.

 

[zcar751]

Okay after seeing the photos and reading the thread I'm not sure what the problem is. I would say your only problem is not putting things away before starting the next project, and probably to many projects going at the same time.

If your planning 5 years out on your projects you might have a problem.

 

[tomshep]

Keep the stairs. Come up with property use of the space underneath. Using the forklift will get old and you even said it will eventually go outside.

Tom

 

[MatBirch]

People in general will almost always fill whatever size container they have. When I first walked into my shop in 2006 I thought that it was huge and I would never be able to fill it. Now I wish it was twice as big and even then I am sure I could fill it.

We're like goldfish!

 

[Strouty]

Okay after seeing the photos and reading the thread I'm not sure what the problem is. I would say your only problem is not putting things away before starting the next project, and probably to many projects going at the same time.

If your planning 5 years out on your projects you might have a problem.

How far out would you prepare for? I like to be prepared, I like to have long term projects. I also collect parts of projects as I find them. Sometimes I stumble on something that is perfect for one of my future projects, so I grab it and save it.

Keep the stairs. Come up with property use of the space underneath. Using the forklift will get old and you even said it will eventually go outside.

Tom

I use the stairs maybe once a month, I do not think that is justification to keep them, they take up so much valuable wall space.

I may have missed the post,but remember if u have too much stuff,u don't have a big enuff shop!! so its not really too much,now is it? or spend less time on the journal and work in the shop,i sorted 3k sockets last nite,only took years to get to it,and Im not finished yet.

Start along one wall,and organize,last time i started throwing **** away,yep i didn't need it,but i could a used it.caddy trans,wrecker push bumper,and more.the one wall thing is less intimidating to me,don't have to pull the whole shop out in the drive and all that jazz.get a helper,u gotta pay? so do it,Ur worth it.or Ur stuff is,or Ur peace of mind,if u have any left over.

I have been using the idea of "how do you eat an elephant, one bite at a time", it seems to work. I stumble every so often and it can be hard to get motivated.

We're like goldfish!

At least our stuff is.

 

[Alexbn921]

Dude, you have a ton of space! Most of it is underutilized. I like to pick a standard size storage container and build shelving according. Clear bins make it easy to see what you have.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/video/pm-mythbusters-tour---wall-o-boxes-video-32836266001
<div style="width:480px; height: 360px;"><object id="flashObj" width="480" height="360" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=32836266001&playerID=1029613695001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAAyqBbs~,3zLG8i7OTQKORBjIePv0q4-bDHd9lIox&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=32836266001&playerID=1029613695001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAAyqBbs~,3zLG8i7OTQKORBjIePv0q4-bDHd9lIox&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="480" height="360" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></div>

 

[Thumper68]

I can feel your pain, my shop is a bit over an hour away and right now is snowed in so I haven't made the time to go and work on the clean up in over a month.

I was at the point you're at last spring, the first thing I did was to start on the shelving, once I had a place to put stuff it made it much easier to stay motivated.

Thread here

My advice is to just keep plugging away at it, and try and limit other projects, they tend to get in the way and make it harder to get it cleaned up.

 

[Strouty]

Dude, you have a ton of space! Most of it is underutilized. I like to pick a standard size storage container and build shelving according. Clear bins make it easy to see what you have.

I am pretty sure that the ton of space is my problem.

The problem I have with most of the clear boxes is they tend to break easier than any other type of plastic container. I know you can buy really expensive ones that will not break easily, but I can't justify it. I am going to try and label everything, that way I don't have to look in every box or drawer.


I couldn't get your video to work for some reason, but I found it on youtube. There are 4 parts, but part one was just talking about the office area.

Part 1 mythbusters office

Part 2 mythbusters wall of boxes

Part 3 mythbusters machine shop

Part 4 mythbusters electronics room

 

[Strouty]

I can feel your pain, my shop is a bit over an hour away and right now is snowed in so I haven't made the time to go and work on the clean up in over a month.

I was at the point you're at last spring, the first thing I did was to start on the shelving, once I had a place to put stuff it made it much easier to stay motivated.

Thread here

My advice is to just keep plugging away at it, and try and limit other projects, they tend to get in the way and make it harder to get it cleaned up.

I don't know how I missed your thread, thanks for posting.

I would love to see your thread updated, you never posted pictures of the final wall of shelving you and your son made.

 

[GarageWarrior]

The problem I have with most of the clear boxes is they tend to break easier than any other type of plastic container. I know you can buy really expensive ones that will not break easily, but I can't justify it. I am going to try and label everything, that way I don't have to look in every box or drawer.

Suggestion - if you start labeling stuff - come up with a standardized inventory label and use it consistently for all your storage. Make label on a computer, print 3 copies and apply to top, front and side of each container. This way you have flexibility in stacking and yet label would still be plainly visible.

Like you noted - large plastic totes are terrible, except for very light stuff. For dry storage cardboard boxes can be had free and plentiful any time and are easier to handle and don't crack and break like totes. They also stack better, can be sealed in seconds, and opened in seconds, and don't split open like totes often do.

Also for labels - in addition to itemized list, I found it helpful when making a label to put a date when label was last updated, brief description of container contents, brief description of container, and identification code that you can clearly see from across the room when looking for said container.

If you make label on a PC, it's very simple to save it in to a master word document that holds all the labels. I've been doing it for a year now, and can find any even most obscure item in minutes by simply searching through word document and going and looking for the right container.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I noticed you have a forklift - palatalize as much stuff as you can - it really helps with organizing and maximizing 3-d space/volume utilization.

 

[Strouty]

I noticed you have a forklift - palatalize as much stuff as you can - it really helps with organizing and maximizing 3-d space/volume utilization.

I like the labels with the contents listed. I really can't do full size pallet racking. I just don't have the depth. If I put the racks along the back wall (this is the only place I can assure is open enough for the forklift), then when I pull my truck in, I barely have enough room to get around it and I do not have enough room to tilt open the hood without the shop door being opened. My truck is about 26' long and the shop is only about 31 feet deep. As it is, I usually end up moving things around just to get it inside.

 

[Strouty]

I didn't really get a chance to update last night, but it wasn't really anything to talk about. Today I got my cabinet bases done (finally), now I have to figure out what I want for countertops. For now, I just used some 3/4" birch veneer plywood.

Yesterday I ended up cleaning and organizing the flammable cabinets, here is the larger one.


Here is the smaller one. At some point I will go through all the paints, yesterday was a quick sort and I tossed anything that was almost empty or wouldn't spray.



I sorted through a big pile of wire and took out all the scrap pieces. This is what is left of all the heavy gauge pieces.



I found some SO cord to use for power cords on my tools and some cool coiled trailer wire that allows stretch.



I put away the trailer hitches and wheel chocks, I still want to add to the legs, that will essentially give me another shelf (the floor).

 

[Strouty]

Here are the cabinets that I added the bases to. Now they are a better height and the doors don't scrub on the floor! I forgot to put the drawers in the big cabinet, I do have them. I am actually going to put them in right now.

 

[bczygan]

I have been following this thread and know exactly what you are experiencing.
I did the same thing on a much smaller scale.
Building something.
Acquiring all the pieces.
Putting it all together.
Working toward a goal.
Rough master plan in your head.
Collecting the pieces as you find them.

Are you a hoarder?

Some people say you are a hoarder if you have stuff you can't find.
Some say if the stuff negatively impacts your life, then you are.
Some say if you haven't used something for a set period of time, to get rid of it.

I think the second definition comes closest.

Martha Stewart has TONS of stuff in her estate, but it is all organized.

You are doing the same thing.

There is a little of the hoarder mentality when you get "emotionally" attached to the stuff. When you lose track of it's real and realistic value to you.

If you have a project that you know you will never get to, it may have an intrinsic market value, but it has a negative value to you. It is taking up physical and mental space in your life.

The way to get past the hoarding thinking is to focus and prioritize. Decide what specific project is your hearts desire.
Assemble exactly what is needed for that project. And then begin it.

Everything else is superfluous.

Without the project goals, you have a warehouse or storage building, not a shop. A shop is where projects happen. Materials and equipment are ancillary to the purpose, not the purpose itself.

I've started thinking about how little I can get away with having, about what is REALLY important to me. Once I figure that out, I want to hurry through setting up the shop as quickly as possible. It's not the shop, it's the project.

All this said, you are making real progress. You really do already have a very usable shop. Keep it up. And don't worry about stuff you might discard or leave outside or even give away. There's plenty more where that came from.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Thanks Bill,

You are right about #2, that is definitely a good way to describe a hoarder. The problem is I don't always see it and the people around me don't like to hurt my feelings. That is why a forum like this is a good place for open, honest discussions. I know you took serious heat, heck, even I was dishing it out. I think more than anything when we see someone else doing something that we also have issues dealing with, it is way too easy to criticize and condemn. I know I have shown a lot of pictures, but in my head, I still have many more items that "need" to be in the shop. I have an actual list of tools and supplies that are "needed" and when I find part of it, I attain it. Sometimes it is costly financially, sometimes it takes a physical toll, and it always burdens me mentally. I am also a perfectionist and that makes this battle even worse. Sometimes I am using the mess as a kind of punishment, other times it is used as an excuse.

As far as my list is concerned, I don't think that will change anytime soon. Just to name a few things, I have a large sandblast cabinet and dust collector sitting out back, there is a bridgecrane waiting to be installed in the fab shop, I have a 2 post lift sitting around, there is the ironworker in the conex. Those are a few of my things, they all cause me grief in some way, yet I feel that the final product will be well worth the pain.

 

[Strouty]

I had a chance to play with a ladder and see how easily I can get up and down from the loft area. It is perfect. If I remove the stairs it will gain me some serious wall space. I don't need access to the loft very often so it makes perfect sense.


The ladder is very stable and I will just put a handrail or something to help with the transition from the ladder to the loft.

 

[bczygan]

Thanks Bill,

You are right about #2, that is definitely a good way to describe a hoarder. The problem is I don't always see it and the people around me don't like to hurt my feelings. That is why a forum like this is a good place for open, honest discussions. I now you took serious heat, heck, even I was dishing it out. I think more than anything when we see someone else doing something that we also have issues dealing with, it is way too easy to criticize and condemn. I know I have shown a lot of pictures, but in my head, I still have many more items that "need" to be in the shop. I have an actual list of tools and supplies that are "needed" and when I find part of it, I attain it. Sometimes it is costly financially, sometimes it takes a physical toll, and it always burdens me mentally. I am also a perfectionist and that makes this battle even worse. Sometimes I am using the mess as a kind of punishment, other times it is used as an excuse.

As far as my list is concerned, I don't think that will change anytime soon. Just to name a few things, I have a large sandblast cabinet and dust collector sitting out back, there is a bridgecrane waiting to be installed in the fab shop, I have a 2 post lift sitting around, there is the ironworker in the conex. Those are a few of my things, they all cause me grief in some way, yet I feel that the final product will be well worth the pain.

It's kind of funny.
As I watch the list of things you are acquiring, it's the same list I have.

Only I was trying to fit it all into a small (9x19) 1 car garage!!!

Just won't work.

You will be amazed at what I am going to have in there, though.

And in my head, it will be neat, orderly, usable, and even beautiful.

You have much more space to work with.

Here's a little design hint for you.

As you are arranging things, group like things together. For instance, if you have 2 or 3 of the same kind of cabinet, put them in a group. And if you have a different cabinet, leave a space between it and the other ones. Put something else in that space, that doesn't fill the space completely. This creates negative space. It is more agreeable to the brain.

Use color to connect things and provide continuity. Paint a stripe around the wall or a border on the floor, to unify the shop.

Use consistent details. Make every anti-fatigue mat the same. I just bought a third SO wall cabinet, to match the 2 I already have. The first 2 will go over a bench made from a thick wood top placed on a black 36"x36" Stronghold cabinet. The third one will go over a similar bench on an adjacent wall. The cabinet there is slightly taller, but same width and black color. Stools at both will match. Very pleasing visually.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

And WOW! Just read most of your thread about the arm surgeries.

EVERYTHING you are doing is ALL GOOD!

Makes me feel like a royal wuss.

Bill

 

[ishiboo]

When you say you paid someone, do you mean an organizer or just laborer? I have been thinking about having an organizer just to help me with the stockroom. It would be nice to have someone with no emotional attachment to try and make me realize what this stuff actually costs me.

I have always tried to sell more than I bring home from the auctions, but sometimes I just get carried away. It is usually a cabinet full of neat stuff that kills me, not only do I have to figure out how/where to use the cabinet, but where to put all the stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I do throw stuff away, but some of the "valuable" stuff really shouldn't even go home with me.

I paid a laborer just to help clean/move/etc. I'm actually really good at organizing, the problem is I collect, do projects, etc. and stuff builds up.

It gets pretty sad when you add everything up. I bought a lot of things for projects, like I'll have a huge container of PVC fittings that should have been returned after I was finished and didn't need them. Another with drain tile fittings.

Sales kill me - when I see something I'll need in the future on sale, I'll buy it. But instead of paying $7 now on sale when I might not use it for 3 years, I should have waited. I don't mind the "investments" in larger tools at significant discounts, but I have enough screwdrivers, hammers, etc. to last me and a team for decades

One of the biggest things you must begin to accept is storing something = money. It's not simply that the item costs money you could have in your pocket, it's that item is taking up space which you could be utilizing. Space = money. Does not matter if the building is paid for/free/etc., the opportunity cost (stolen economics term) of what you could be doing with the space in terms of completing projects safely and efficiently is often worth more than **** taking up space.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I like the labels with the contents listed. I really can't do full size pallet racking. I just don't have the depth. If I put the racks along the back wall (the only place I can assure is open enough for the forklift), then when I pull my truck in, I barely have enough room to get around it and I do not have enough room to open the hood without the door being opened. My truck is about 26' long and the shop is only about 31 feet deep. As it is, I usually end up moving things around just to get it inside.

Can you run pallet racking along the side walls? - You said your garage is 60' wide. Mine is only 25' wide, and I have pallet racks running along both sides and with car lift in the middle.

First shelve on pallet racking was set to 6' to keep floor space underneath usable for equipment, benches and storage. The metal table in the pic in the attachment was actually used for my lathe.

Also I like filing cabinets much better than shelves - easier to keep things organized, 26' deep and you can still get to items in the back, unlike with shelves, also they are easy to dust and keep stuff inside clean.

One major problem with shelves is that they are hard to move. You have to empty them, then move then re-stock. With filing cabinets you can put them on pallets - and just move them around with a pallet jack or forklift anywhere you want them. Sometimes I move them outside for a day when I need extra space. Actually you can see in the attachment I have rows of filing cabinets that I hoisted top of pallet racking to free up floor space. If I need to grab something I climb up there with a ladder, only takes a second.
I do have a few shelves for large odd sized items that don't fit in to blueprint or filing cabinets.

Keep on going. Eventually you'll figure out what works best for you. It took me about 8 months of working on sorting and selling things every day, but it was worth it (if anything, after doing all the work I now think twice before bringing stuff home no matter how good of a deal it seems).

 

[slowzuki]

I live not to far away and have a shop in similar state of mess while it isn't complete (ceiling needs insulated). I have a bit of a problem with deals accumulating too and a love of storage.

Things that have helped me include:
-Don't look at craigslist/kijiji or go to auctions. This is hard for me but is the only way to really prevent the moral dilemma I have of seeing a fantastic deal on something I'm eventually going to need.
-Nothing else comes into the shop unless a equal square footage is cleaned up into a storage or leaves.
-Have a scrap pile, in my case an old trailer and apple bins that anything that is scrap goes into.
-Don't shuffle stuff, pick it up once and decide where it goes. This was hard when I didn't have a good concept of the final shop layout.
-Use pallets that can be shifted with the pallet jack or forks. I palletized my steel rack, plywood rack, blocking pile, spare parts bins, anything big and awkward. I now have the steel rack outside but can bring it to the door when needed. I also set up one section of pallet rack that helped out a lot.
-Smart person told me - let craigslist store stuff for you. IE sell anything you aren't using that isn't really unique and buy it back off craiglist later when you come time to actually needing it. Steel cabinets are a good example of that!

Things that are going to help me once I man up:
-Get rid of the project vehicles that aren't going anywhere. I have a hard time with this. I post them for sale, get pissed at the low ball offers and take them down. Lose interest again. I have managed to sell almost 10 project vehicles in 5 years but there are still 6 non-runners on the property.

 

[Strouty]

And in my head, it will be neat, orderly, usable, and even beautiful.

As you are arranging things, group like things together.

Use color to connect things and provide continuity. Paint a stripe around the wall or a border on the floor, to unify the shop.

Use consistent details.

Bill

Those are great tips, I try and do that as much as possible, but sometimes you just can't find a matching item. I definitely agree with grouping things together, that will be the most useful advice. I am trying to sort and separate things as I go. It seems funny how simple some ideas are, yet they just don't seem to come naturally.

And WOW! Just read most of your thread about the arm surgeries.

Makes me feel like a royal wuss.

Bill

We all go through different issues and everything is relative. I am thankful that I had a very supportive girlfriend, without her, I don't know where I would be. We have been together for 15 years and she will come over to the shop and help anyway she can. She even has her own coveralls! My hands are doing much better now and the prognosis for the future is good. I actually started climbing towers again this past fall. I don't think I will be climbing as often as I used to, but I can still do it.

 

[Strouty]

I paid a laborer just to help clean/move/etc. I'm actually really good at organizing, the problem is I collect, do projects, etc. and stuff builds up.

It gets pretty sad when you add everything up. I bought a lot of things for projects, like I'll have a huge container of PVC fittings that should have been returned after I was finished and didn't need them. Another with drain tile fittings.

Sales kill me - when I see something I'll need in the future on sale, I'll buy it. But instead of paying $7 now on sale when I might not use it for 3 years, I should have waited. I don't mind the "investments" in larger tools at significant discounts, but I have enough screwdrivers, hammers, etc. to last me and a team for decades

One of the biggest things you must begin to accept is storing something = money. It's not simply that the item costs money you could have in your pocket, it's that item is taking up space which you could be utilizing. Space = money. Does not matter if the building is paid for/free/etc., the opportunity cost (stolen economics term) of what you could be doing with the space in terms of completing projects safely and efficiently is often worth more than **** taking up space.

You make perfect sense, when I think about the costs associated with storage I almost don't want to add them up. I have a 40' conex that I bought just for storage. I have paid laborers numerous times to help move existing items that are being stored to different areas to store them again. I have repurchased many items that I knew I had but could not find due to the mess. I have actually lost work due to not being able to get ready for a particular job in a timely fashion.

Sales and "good deals" take me out every time.

 

[Strouty]

Can you run pallet racking along the side walls? - You said your garage is 60' wide. Mine is only 25' wide, and I have pallet racks running along both sides and with car lift in the middle.

First shelve on pallet racking was set to 6' to keep floor space underneath usable for equipment, benches and storage. The metal table in the pic in the attachment was actually used for my lathe.

Also I like filing cabinets much better than shelves - easier to keep things organized, 26' deep and you can still get to items in the back, unlike with shelves, also they are easy to dust and keep stuff inside clean.

One major problem with shelves is that they are hard to move. You have to empty them, then move then re-stock. With filing cabinets you can put them on pallets - and just move them around with a pallet jack or forklift anywhere you want them. Sometimes I move them outside for a day when I need extra space. Actually you can see in the attachment I have rows of filing cabinets that I hoisted top of pallet racking to free up floor space. If I need to grab something I climb up there with a ladder, only takes a second.
I do have a few shelves for large odd sized items that don't fit in to blueprint or filing cabinets.

Keep on going. Eventually you'll figure out what works best for you. It took me about 8 months of working on sorting and selling things every day, but it was worth it (if anything, after doing all the work I now think twice before bringing stuff home no matter how good of a deal it seems).

I really like your setup, I love filing cabinets as well, I have some of them in my storage boxes. They keep things dry and also keep out the mice. Thank you for posting pictures of your racking. You win title of "label king" in my book.

I am working on drawing up my floor plan, but the short answer is no I can't put pallet racking along the sides. My 60' is broken up into 3 segregated areas. I have a stockroom section that actually is divided by a wall, that takes up the first 15'.

The middle is where the lift will be and that is 25' wide, but I would like to be able to get around the lift without any issues, that way if a truck is on the lift, I can still get by it with something large. I know I could try and go under it, but I want to keep my options open.

The last part is 20' wide and is the fabrication area, the first 5' of it is my steel rack. I do think I can make some sort of loft area above that, it is completely wasted space right now. If the fab shop section did not have an overhead door I could do something along the front, but it has a 12' wide door and I would like to keep it. I do fabrication on my trucks and it would be nice to be able to still get inside and work on one without having to move too much stuff.

I am figuring that this year will be the year of the shop. I plan on doing projects as I go, but right now I concentrating on getting it to a comfortable feeling space for me.

 

[Strouty]

I live not to far away and have a shop in similar state of mess while it isn't complete (ceiling needs insulated). I have a bit of a problem with deals accumulating too and a love of storage.

Things that have helped me include:
-Don't look at craigslist/kijiji or go to auctions. This is hard for me but is the only way to really prevent the moral dilemma I have of seeing a fantastic deal on something I'm eventually going to need.
-Nothing else comes into the shop unless a equal square footage is cleaned up into a storage or leaves.
-Have a scrap pile, in my case an old trailer and apple bins that anything that is scrap goes into.
-Don't shuffle stuff, pick it up once and decide where it goes. This was hard when I didn't have a good concept of the final shop layout.
-Use pallets that can be shifted with the pallet jack or forks. I palletized my steel rack, plywood rack, blocking pile, spare parts bins, anything big and awkward. I now have the steel rack outside but can bring it to the door when needed. I also set up one section of pallet rack that helped out a lot.
-Smart person told me - let craigslist store stuff for you. IE sell anything you aren't using that isn't really unique and buy it back off craiglist later when you come time to actually needing it. Steel cabinets are a good example of that!

Things that are going to help me once I man up:
-Get rid of the project vehicles that aren't going anywhere. I have a hard time with this. I post them for sale, get pissed at the low ball offers and take them down. Lose interest again. I have managed to sell almost 10 project vehicles in 5 years but there are still 6 non-runners on the property.

I am at the stage of deal addiction. I do not think I could pass up every auction, I have scheduled things on auction days so that I do miss them. Of course my buddies will always tell me about the good deals, then I get mad at myself for not going. It is a viscous cycle.

My final concept is what is killing me. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to accomplish, so when I try and do something that doesn't align with the plan it frustrates me to know I will have to redo it later. I am getting better at that, I have been trying to think of the shop in stages or transitions that will eventually make the final product a reality.

 

[Garage Coffee Roaster]

I share some of your traits. I love an auction/good deal/free find.

I bought much stuff at the police auctions in Las Vegas.

I have moved cross country twice and each time have purged some of those deals.

Last summer I started listening to the podcast "The Avid Woodworker"
http://avidwoodworker.com/

His first 6 shows dealt with organizing and retaking the shop back from the clutter and junk and finding motivations needed to do this. His style took me about half the show to get used to but I hung on and think he pushed me to take back my shop.

I have sold some stuff that is in the way. Thrown out other stuff and organized the stuff that I am keeping. while not totally done I am motivated to keep it going.

Stay positive and take it step by step and day by day. You are making progress.


Thank you and the other posters for the great info and support on this thread.

Jim

Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

 

[Strouty]

I share some of your traits. I love an auction/good deal/free find.

I bought much stuff at the police auctions in Las Vegas.

I have moved cross country twice and each time have purged some of those deals.

Last summer I started listening to the podcast "The Avid Woodworker"
http://avidwoodworker.com/

His first 6 shows dealt with organizing and retaking the shop back from the clutter and junk and finding motivations needed to do this. His style took me about half the show to get used to but I hung on and think he pushed me to take back my shop.

I have sold some stuff that is in the way. Thrown out other stuff and organized the stuff that I am keeping. while not totally done I am motivated to keep it going.

Stay positive and take it step by step and day by day. You are making progress.


Thank you and the other posters for the great info and support on this thread.

Jim

Sent from my LG-LS720 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the post, this thread is really helping me stay positive. I am determined to keep motivated and I am keeping myself accountable by posting. I will check out the link, I am always looking for new organizing tips. Even if I only get one thing out of it, sometimes that can be just what I needed.

 

[ishiboo]

You make perfect sense, when I think about the costs associated with storage I almost don't want to add them up. I have a 40' conex that I bought just for storage. I have paid laborers numerous times to help move existing items that are being stored to different areas to store them again. I have repurchased many items that I knew I had but could not find due to the mess. I have actually lost work due to not being able to get ready for a particular job in a timely fashion.

Sales and "good deals" take me out every time.

OMG, I completely forgot about that.

I've had a remote 30x40 shop I leased, plus 3 storage units over the past few years... all that stuff gets moved each time and I pay for the help. Yeah, that adds up too

 

[Strouty]

OMG, I completely forgot about that.

I've had a remote 30x40 shop I leased, plus 3 storage units over the past few years... all that stuff gets moved each time and I pay for the help. Yeah, that adds up too

I think we are depressing ourselves.

 

[bczygan]

Don't be depressed.

Keep your eye on the prize.

That vision in your head....of the cleaned up and beautiful shop.

You can walk in and use it anytime.

Everything is put away where it belongs.

All the tools work.

You have everything you need.

And it is a pleasant place to be.



As an aside, you guys REALLY know what you are talking about. As an expert master hoarder, I have gone through the same exact things. Still do.

CL and auctions and sales and resale stores and pawn shops are death to me. I now avoid them like the plague. But we cal all fall off the wagon. I just found a SO cabinet on CL, that I just had to have. Great deal, and I have a purpose and place for it. But the kicker is that I don't have the garage sufficiently cleared, so that I can mount it on the wall where it will go. So it got tossed on the top of the pile of stuff in the garage, making the garage even less usable!

I should have just waited, and let CL find me one later, when I could really use it.
Now, I have to work around it until the day I can really use it.

I deserve to kick myself a little over this faux pas. But then I need to rededicate myself to working harder to clear, clean and organize. This will bring closer the day when it can be a benefit rather than a burden.

I used to think only of the possibilities that each thing possessed. Even a scrap of metal could be something someday, if I could just get to where I could do something with it.

Now, I also think of how long it will be a burden to me, before that day of usefulness actually comes.

Realistically, much of the stuff I have, will never see that useful day, at least in my remaining lifetime. So if I continue to keep it, it will be a burden until the day I die.

So when I throw it out, or sell or donate it, or give it to someone, it takes a weight off my shoulders. It frees me. It brings me closer to the things I REALLY want to do.

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Bill,

Just work towards clearing the wall space enough to mount that new cabinet. Then that deal will totally be realized and appreciated.

There is a local store called Marden's and it has this stupid slogan that is a hoarders true mantra…… "I shoulda bought it when I saw it at Marden's ". I can think of so many times where I was interested in something, but hesitated and then it was gone. My GF always says it just wasn't meant to be, I do not like that phrase at all. If I buy it for the future and get to use it, it is like gold to me. I know the pain of storing it and moving it can be tough, but the joy of finally using it is far better. That being said, I do know I need to think a little clearer as to what I will actual be able to use, repair, sell. I clearly have overstepped those boundaries with my current situation. I just hope that I can keep my thoughts clear when it comes to future purchases.