Something just clicked…..

[Strouty]

Progress is good man keep it up.

Slowly but surely. I think it will get better exponentially at some point. I bought a couple recliners, one for the house and one for the shop. Not sure which one is going where yet, but I will let the GF make the final call. I am looking forward to being able to get my feet up in a comfortable way, being so far from home it ***** when I want to really take a break. I usually stay at the shop pretty late in the summer and it takes a toll on my body. Hopefully this will offset some of the standing on the concrete for 12 hours feeling.

Today I was going to try and do a project, but now I think I will get a bunch of ebay listings set up so they can be listed tomorrow night. I figure the project will not make me any money, but the ebay sales might get me some coin to finish another couple projects.

 

[bgarrett]

and it is the realization that my garage doesn't fit everything I own,

Your floor is still visible in several places. Write back when your place is full.

 

[Strouty]

I hope to never fill it again, it was much worse. I will have to see if I can find some of the older pictures.

On another note, I still do not have anywhere near the amount of stuff in the shop as I do outside it, waiting to come in.

 

[Strouty]

This is back when I was trying to keep the forklift from running away on me.

 

[Strouty]

Before I put the shelving in the stockroom.

 

[Strouty]

This was typical a few years ago.

 

[greasemonkey44]

I like the CPR mannequin in the background, could've been strouty if he didn't clean up ;-)

 

[Strouty]

I like the CPR mannequin in the background, could've been strouty if he didn't clean up ;-)

He is actually a rescue dummy, I wish he was just CPR, he weighs in at 165 pounds and boy is it tough to move him alone. We usually take his lower legs and forearms off. Funny thing is when I was looking to buy one, they were all like $1000 used. I found this guy that had one that I bought for $400 that was used as a training aid to move dead bodies, no lie. He was a mortician, (the dummy is a "Rescue Randy") so we started calling the dummy Mort. He even came with a toe tag and he was shipped in a body bag. I can remember picking him up at the shipping depot and opening up the bag, the guy on the forklift freaked out.

I just found the original add, it is still up for some odd reason.

Rescue Randy

 

[mechanicalmoron]

You are feeling something that hoarders end up feeling, and it stops us dad in our tracks.
We look at the mess, in it's entirety, and it is overwhelming. So we just quit, and never get started on clearing it up.

The secret, is what you are doing.

Focus on one area.

Then move on to another.

Ignore everything else.

Once all areas are fairly well organized, with things in the proper areas, then you can work the overall project without being overwhelmed.

Bill

This.

It looks like, if you really organize it well, you could have everything there usable, accessible, and generally awesome.

I always have a hard time with this, because I'm an all-or-nothing type about organization. I'll sleep on the edge of the bed, because of the clothes I didn't fold, because I couldn't get into organizing my freakin' socks PERFECTLY. I'll scoot things over so there's JUST enough room to get the car on stands, because I don't have the time or space to organize it all PERFECTLY into the bitchin' garage setup it could be. If you're like this, you've got to pick one area and do a really good job, and just keep on truckin'. (then, of course, while you enjoy your newfound freedom and power with clean workspaces, you'll forget to organize anything, and all the fun can start again next season )

 

[Strouty]

This.

It looks like, if you really organize it well, you could have everything there usable, accessible, and generally awesome.

I always have a hard time with this, because I'm an all-or-nothing type about organization. I'll sleep on the edge of the bed, because of the clothes I didn't fold, because I couldn't get into organizing my freakin' socks PERFECTLY. I'll scoot things over so there's JUST enough room to get the car on stands, because I don't have the time or space to organize it all PERFECTLY into the bitchin' garage setup it could be. If you're like this, you've got to pick one area and do a really good job, and just keep on truckin'. (then, of course, while you enjoy your newfound freedom and power with clean workspaces, you'll forget to organize anything, and all the fun can start again next season )

That is a great description of how I feel, at least I know I am not alone. It seems weird having perfectionist tendencies with the looks of a hoarders space. I guess it is like you said, in your brain it is all or nothing, but it always needs to be "perfect". I am beginning to think that it is all a trick, seems to me nothing could ever be perfect, I just need to learn to be happy with it.

I love the garage journal, so many insightful people out there.

 

[Strouty]

I ended up doing one project and of course I could not finish it. I wanted to tune up the push mower, but found that the oil dipstick tube was broken. I could have taped it back together, but I felt it was half assed. I cleaned it up, sharpened the blade, drained the oil, and then ordered the parts and they will be in by wednesday (I hope). It will be nice to finish even a small project, most of them have become a hinderance because I can't get them finished.

I did get to pack up an item that is on ebay so it will be ready for shipping when the auction is over. That actually made me feel pretty good, because not only is the item safe now, but I got to use some of my saved boxes and a bunch of bubble wrap that I saved up as well.

 

[A_Pmech]

I see some definite progress compared with the "before" pictures!

I've been throwing away a lot of stuff lately. Today, for the first time since I started, I realized I threw away something I need. While working on my old Ferguson tractor today I removed the intake / exhaust manifold because of a blown gasket. I thought to myself "that gasket looks familiar..."

Yup, I threw away a brand new one in the package six months ago.

Still, I made the right decision trashing all that ****. Storing all that stuff just because I might need one tiny piece of it 6 months later isn't really logical.

 

[Strouty]

I see some definite progress compared with the "before" pictures!

I've been throwing away a lot of stuff lately. Today, for the first time since I started, I realized I threw away something I need. While working on my old Ferguson tractor today I removed the intake / exhaust manifold because of a blown gasket. I thought to myself "that gasket looks familiar..."

Yup, I threw away a brand new one in the package six months ago.

Still, I made the right decision trashing all that ****. Storing all that stuff just because I might need one tiny piece of it 6 months later isn't really logical.

Logic has nothing to do with it, it is usually emotion based, at least for me it is.

I am glad you are getting things squared away. I am hoping to get started on the air compressor pretty soon. I will have to discuss the pulley sizes at some point.

I just acquired some "salvage" from a job and I need to list it for sale ASAP so I am not bottlenecking the shop again.

 

[greasemonkey44]

thats awesome shipping him in a body bag with a toe tag
it seems like you are making real progress on cleaning and organizing your shop.
At my work I am forever throwing away bits of gasket sets and left over parts from cars. Sure i might need the same stuff again, but I sure dont want to store it til then

 

[Strouty]

thats awesome shipping him in a body bag with a toe tag
it seems like you are making real progress on cleaning and organizing your shop.
At my work I am forever throwing away bits of gasket sets and left over parts from cars. Sure i might need the same stuff again, but I sure dont want to store it til then

Thank you.

I am seeing the flip side right now, I was going through a lot of old car parts and found out they are worth some money. Now I am in the process of listing them on ebay. I have removed an entire dumpster in the last two weeks, it is a smaller 2 yard, but it is something. It is getting dumped this week as well, but it is not my stuff, I helped MIL clean out her garage and we filled the dumpster. Hopefully the week after, I will have it close to filled with my own trash.

 

[js289]

wow nice stuff. like the bridgeport!

 

[Strouty]

Thanks, maybe someday I can actually use it!

I have had to move it two times in the last month, each time it gets further from a power plug. I am beginning to think that it is allergic to electricity.

 

[nosnerd]

i would go into culvultions.


great job! just unload the s@&t you dont need.be honest with yourself!!!!

EBAY AND CRaigslist!!! $$$$$$$


oh yeAh.. the dummy scares me.

 

[sprntpshr]

Looks like you are making good progress! Clearing out one area at a time is very much like eating the elephant, One bite at a time! Slowly more and more area in the shop is useable.

Recently I found room after clearing a section of my shop that I was able to run my truck inside and get the front driveshaft out and repaired, cardan joints **** by the way!

Keep going and hope you get feeling better!

 

[fordbroncodave]

"rescue randy"

 

[keelan]

One thing I learned from dealing with the estate of my wife's grandfather and father, who both had all kinds of things set aside all over their acreages for "future projects" is that you really need to be honest with yourself about how much time you'll have in the future to get to those projects. If you don't have time today or next week, there's a very good chance you still won't have time 10 years down the road. It took me a long time to understand this about myself, and I've reluctantly been shedding bits and pieces I've been hoarding for projects that are never going to happen. There will always be things cropping up and eating into your project time.

Whenever someone points to a rusted out car, an abandoned school bus, or a broken down tractor in the corner of their yard and says "I'm going to fix that up one day", I know, with almost 100% certainty, that their kids will have to deal with it after they've died. Speaking from experience, it's not fun to deal with that.

Is spending days at a time shuffling around **** for projects that you've been hoping to "get to one day" for 8 years really the best way to spend your time?

 

[Strouty]

i would go into culvultions.


great job! just unload the s@&t you dont need.be honest with yourself!!!!

EBAY AND CRaigslist!!! $$$$$$$


oh yeAh.. the dummy scares me.

He used to reside in a truck out back, it would scare the **** out of people, they would think someone was just sitting there watching them. One time when my nephew was at my shop, Randy was in an office chair and my nephew kept telling everyone to be quiet because he was sleeping.

Looks like you are making good progress! Clearing out one area at a time is very much like eating the elephant, One bite at a time! Slowly more and more area in the shop is useable.

Recently I found room after clearing a section of my shop that I was able to run my truck inside and get the front driveshaft out and repaired, cardan joints **** by the way!

Keep going and hope you get feeling better!

I am just figuring one step at a time. I got the lawn mower done this morning so I can mow my 8" lawn.

"rescue randy"

He is single if you want his number……..

One thing I learned from dealing with the estate of my wife's grandfather and father, who both had all kinds of things set aside all over their acreages for "future projects" is that you really need to be honest with yourself about how much time you'll have in the future to get to those projects. If you don't have time today or next week, there's a very good chance you still won't have time 10 years down the road. It took me a long time to understand this about myself, and I've reluctantly been shedding bits and pieces I've been hoarding for projects that are never going to happen. There will always be things cropping up and eating into your project time.

Whenever someone points to a rusted out car, an abandoned school bus, or a broken down tractor in the corner of their yard and says "I'm going to fix that up one day", I know, with almost 100% certainty, that their kids will have to deal with it after they've died. Speaking from experience, it's not fun to deal with that.

Is spending days at a time shuffling around **** for projects that you've been hoping to "get to one day" for 8 years really the best way to spend your time?

I believe I am actually starting to learn this myself. I think the younger you are, the harder it is to be honest about the time for projects. I am not looking forward to when we need to clean my Dad's place, he has multiple locations, and acres of stuff.

 

[Strouty]

So today I will be moving a bunch of things around, mostly outside stuff so that I can get the excavator in to level things up a little more. After that I can move my storage boxes around and get myself better situated for next winter. I am trying to keep all the issues I had this winter in mind so that I do not have the same problems again.

I have to bring some things inside the shop as well. Went to plug the charger for my forklift in and it made some sparks. I guess it is time to put a new cord end on it.

 

[brownbagg]

you got too many cabinets fill with stuff you will never use. you not a hoarder but a pack rat

hoarder, just don't know what to throw away
pack rat- ten of everything

 

[Strouty]

I got most of the big stuff moved, hopefully tomorrow I can get the rest of the smaller stuff moved.

Then I have to move a small building on skids, that one may be tougher. I may end up waiting for the excavator.

I now have to unload a bunch of stuff from the office trailer so it can be used for the wood shop and my GFs hobby workshop.

 

[Kev442]

I should thank you. After seeing your outside piles everywhere, I took stock and realized I never want to have things get that bad. I emptied out the junk pickup, stripped what I wanted off it, and scrapped it. More to do, but a start.

 

[Strouty]

Today I am taking some parts off a John Deere 316, I just sold some of them to my brother and he thinks I can sell the rest of them pretty easily. I need to do a few more things outside, but I have moved a ton of stuff.

I have also decided that my goals are may too ambitious for me and I have tried to scale them back so I don't feel so bad all the time.

I am also trying to balance the cost of storage based on the volume and value of my stuff and I am not sure if it is worth having most of it. I will be working at pairing things down in the next month. I still have too many projects and I am dreaming ambitiously about what the future holds. I need to wake up to a taste of reality, but it is hard to get a grip.

 

[Strouty]

So I started working on moving my large tools to the knaack boxes outside. I realize that this is a temporary solution, but for now it makes sense. I was wondering how you guys store the big tools? This is my 3/4" and 1" drive stuff, up to 3 1/2" sockets and my big wrenches. I also have some slam wrenches and other misc tools for when building towers. At one point these were dedicated to just rigging, but now that I do not do as much, they have just become a kind of catch all.

I guess my question is, would you commit to making one of these boxes dedicated to just large tools or would you find a home inside the shop? I do see that the tools have some surface rust, so I will need to combat that at a minimum.

 

[A_Pmech]

I like the knaack cabinet idea for the large tools. You have enough of each to make a dedicated cabinet like that worth the trouble.

 

[Strouty]

I like the knaack cabinet idea for the large tools. You have enough of each to make a dedicated cabinet like that worth the trouble.

I think I would just combine the 1" and 3/4" drive sockets. The wrenches will fit as well. I just need to figure how to set it up, but I figure that will be a "when it is colder outside" project. Figured maybe I could get some ideas of what would work for organizing.

I have two boxes this size and one that is a little smaller. I have thought about getting some more and just compartmentalizing by type of work. Then I can just load and go with all the tools I need quickly.

 

[impala4speed]

Just read through your entire thread. I can only imagine how overwhelmed you must have felt. I had a mess to sort through also but on a much smaller scale seeing as how I've only got a 24' x 24'. As others have suggested, doing just one piece at a time will get you there. And it looks like you're already making good progress. Don't let it get you down and keep up the good work.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks for the support.

I have found it helps by posting my progress here as well. A lot of the members are really helpful and I know I could not tackle this alone. Sometimes moral support is all you need to get through a tough time.

* I am conveying my true thoughts telepathically *

 

[ahab]

I just finished 5 years in a job that kept me really busy. In the 6 weeks off since I've managed to sell on craigfslist:

5 piece ridgid cordless set
33 gallon compressor
9 quarts of BMW //M oil
Stereo with 12 inch tower speakers
Unused computer monitor

I threw out:
3 old computers (recycled at best buy)
20 gallon air tank
Old 8" sub boxes
Took some other parts to the scrapper
5 gallon bucket of cables recycled

I also traded a 17 year old bike for something more usable.

Another old laptop is listed on eBay, and I have a remote control truck that I'm putting back together to list on craigslist.

It does feel like that stuff was a weight now that it is gone.

You ever thought about having a scrapper visit? Acreages always seemed to have lots of old farm machinery stuck in them and are a pain to clean up, but scrappers would eliminate the headache of removing some of the things outside if you're just going to haul them off.

 

[Strouty]

It does feel like that stuff was a weight now that it is gone.

You ever thought about having a scrapper visit? Acreages always seemed to have lots of old farm machinery stuck in them and are a pain to clean up, but scrappers would eliminate the headache of removing some of the things outside if you're just going to haul them off.

I am the scrapper, so I have taken a bunch to the scrap yard. Yesterday I got rid of a 42" TV (it died two years ago and I said I was going to repair it), an old computer monitor, and five PC desktops. I can feel the weight lifting, but I still seem to manage to bring things back and they tend to be heavy and bulky.

This probably seems like an excuse, but I have a plan for almost everything that I keep. I can move things fairly easily, except in the middle of the winter. I have a boom truck and a forklift, maybe those are bad tools for someone like me to own?

What I need to concentrate on is being realistic about how much time and money my "good deals" will cost me in the long run. I have been thinking a lot about the cost of storage, since reading and posting in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237016

I am starting to actually see that when I buy an item at 1/4 the cost of new and it needs to be repaired, by the time I have handled it, stored it, figured out the problems, handled it again, bought parts, fixed it, handled it again, then realized it has another issue, handled it again, then fixed it again……. it really cost me more than new.

Some things are so valuable that I can manage to do that and come out the other side without being upside down on the price, but those are not very common in my collection. I try and balance projects, but when you have more time than money, these type of deals seem like the way to go.

 

[Strouty]

Today I am having an urge to toss tons of hardware into the scrap bin. I am starting to think I just have too much and that if I tossed a bunch maybe I could actually find the useful stuff when it is needed.

I just upgraded to a new (to me) snap on triple bank, I feel that once it is full, I probably don't need everything that doesn't fit.

I had a thought while eating lunch that I figured I should post so I don't forget that I thought about it. Basically since my shop is not a place of business and I do not need it to make money, I am going to try to take the entire month of July and not spend any money on anything unless it is making me money.

I think I can use what I have, organize and toss more of what I have, then see how things feel.

I spend way too much time researching, spending money on parts for projects that I can't even touch, or buying tools that I don't need. I have three suburbans that all need work, my freightliner needs rear wheel seals and brakes, I have several trailers that need attention, a dump truck that needs exhaust work, a bucket truck that has oil leaks and needs paperwork to get the title, junk spread out everywhere that is supposed to be sold.

I don't know if I am alone in this, but I get these ideas that when I buy something I can sell it for $**, then I go and spend this pretend money I made on something else, then I never sell the item that I need to sell.

 

[bczygan]

Today I am having an urge to toss tons of hardware into the scrap bin. I am starting to think I just have too much and that if I tossed a bunch maybe I could actually find the useful stuff when it is needed.

I just upgraded to a new (to me) snap on triple bank, I feel that once it is full, I probably don't need everything that doesn't fit.

I had a thought while eating lunch that I figured I should post so I don't forget that I thought about it. Basically since my shop is not a place of business and I do not need it to make money, I am going to try to take the entire month of July and not spend any money on anything unless it is making me money.

I think I can use what I have, organize and toss more of what I have, then see how things feel.

I spend way too much time researching, spending money on parts for projects that I can't even touch, or buying tools that I don't need. I have three suburbans that all need work, my freightliner needs rear wheel seals and brakes, I have several trailers that need attention, a dump truck that needs exhaust work, a bucket truck that has oil leaks and needs paperwork to get the title, junk spread out everywhere that is supposed to be sold.

I don't know if I am alone in this, but I get these ideas that when I buy something I can sell it for $**, then I go and spend this pretend money I made on something else, then I never sell the item that I need to sell.

I'm pulling things out of my house as we speak. And every item I touch, is something that has been buried for weeks and months or years or longer.

Why would I let that stuff clutter up my life?

The other day I looked at 6 of those hardware organizers that I have, with all the little drawers. Only one was organized and labeled. The others all had stuff I will never use, all jumbled together. Do I need them, or the stuff they contain?

Bill

 

[Strouty]

I'm pulling things out of my house as we speak. And every item I touch, is something that has been buried for weeks and months or years or longer.

Why would I let that stuff clutter up my life?

The other day I looked at 6 of those hardware organizers that I have, with all the little drawers. Only one was organized and labeled. The others all had stuff I will never use, all jumbled together. Do I need them, or the stuff they contain?

Bill

Don't leave me hanging, are you going to toss the misc hardware? I am thinking about doing it too. You can be my clutter buddy.

 

[bczygan]

As OCD as I am, I will have to go through every bolt, washer and screw.
Those that are of sizes I could use, will get organized. The rest will get tossed.
OCD IS a part of the hoarding problem. I could spend an hour just polishing a piece of aluminum.

And each of those boxes will have to be gone through and sorted.

Things that get sorted, get sorted again and winnowed down each time.

Each item gradually loses value in your eyes, and can eventually be discarded.

Ask each thing, as you examine it, "What are you for. When will I use you. Where will you be located so I can get to you when I need to."

Be exact and specific about your need for an item. And weigh the cost to accommodate it in your home and shop, versus letting it sit on a shelf in a store until you need it.

 

[Strouty]

Good thoughts, that other thread about the cost of storage has been really depressing me. I spend so much money on storage of things that I do not even need or use. I just wish I could start over, but I am scared shitless that I will need it as soon as I toss it.

I know this is irrational, but I can remember every time that this happens. I just wish I could remember all the feelings of joy after cleaning out and tossing a bunch of junk. Seems like I am slightly dysfunctional.

 

[bczygan]

Good thoughts, that other thread about the cost of storage has been really depressing me. I spend so much money on storage of things that I do not even need or use. I just wish I could start over, but I am scared shitless that I will need it as soon as I toss it.

I know this is irrational, but I can remember every time that this happens. I just wish I could remember all the feelings of joy after cleaning out and tossing a bunch of junk. Seems like I am slightly dysfunctional.

Same exact feelings here.

I just took a couple of armloads of Julies clothes, and a very old purse, out the door. Threw them in a pile on the ground.

While doing this, I am thinking, "Are these all old and ruined?.Do they fit me if they don't fit her? Can they be used as rags?" Even the purse, I wondered if I could use it to store something in.

That is the train of thought a hoarder uses to avoid throwing things away.

You must fight it with other thoughts like, "I can always get another. This is taking up space I need. This is not something I need right now. and This is really junk."

You will occasionally need to replace something soon after disposing of a like item.

More ofter, you will be uncovering things you need, but had misplaced.

You will become more organized and efficient. You will be freed from being a warehouse manager.

It's funny. I acquired all this stuff so I would be prepared for any eventuality. But what really makes me able to respond to any problem, is traveling light. Money in the bank is a better and more flexible tool than bins full of bolts I may never need.

Bill