GlenC
Well-known member
Strouty, at least your Mohawk lift is standing in the garage... Mine has been laying in the back yard for 10 years... still waiting for a place to bolt it down...
Something just clicked…..
- Thread starter Strouty
- Start date
Strouty... AKA "Lord Lista"
No kidding! Those cabinets in my neck of the woods would be 1500+
Most of the sellers were asking $650 to $1200. I did not pay more than $550 for any of them. That includes the 60" vidmar. She has been abused, but there is lots of life left. I spent my budget and then some, but I also sold a lot of stuff, now I am trying to figure out how to put it all back together.
I made it until 3:30 then when I tried to get some sleep, I couldn't. Finally fell asleep a little after 5:30 and I just got up. Now for some breakfast and then I back to it.
The sad thing is that it does not look like I did a lot. I worked on several areas that were all very time consuming. I wish every time would show huge results, but I know there is lots of tedious stuff to be done. The final result will be worth it, because I should be able to find things!
GlenC
Well-known member
Wow, that's a great price... I think i paid close to $3K for my 9000 lb and had it shipped from Oregon to So Cal...
Yeah, when I said I got a lot done, you could not tell by looking at it. It appeared that I only hung a shop light but the small things I had to move and organize to hang the light took all night. Plus the cabinets I mounted, they looked the same except now they were actually bolted together and top bolted on instead of just tossed up against the wall. Keep at it, it will start to show.
Sounds like you got a good bit done.
Of course I now have a total mess again. I have four of the durham drawer cabinets. In January I bought a base for them. I just put it together and it is too small. Now I can't return it and I have all the cabinets and all the drawers spread out. Apparently amazon lists the dimensions for the base as length, height, width. I looked at it as length, width, height. Now I will have to wait until midweek to get the right one.
I also am trying to figure out if I want to use my old stack-on plastic small parts cabinets or if I want to upgrade to the akro-mills version. I need to buy one or two more of the stack-ons or 5 of the akro-mills. I want them all to be the same size and color.
Right now I only have about an hour to organize, then I have slated a few hours to get some ebay items listed.
Next week I am helping my brother on one of his jobs for a few days, so I may hardly be at the shop. I will post some pictures later, but it does look worse.
When I was looking for a TP9 I stumbled on the TP15 and I found that most were priced around $7000 used. I feel pretty good about the deal, it came from a Verizon fleet repair facility that had been combined with another one. I missed out on a TP18 for $6,000. I ended up buying a Forward 15k lift for my Father for $1000 at the same time.
Didn't do as well as I would have liked to do, but I got some items listed on Ebay as well. Overall I feel good about what I did, I can see it is going to take more time than I thought to get just the stockroom organized. I spent some time cleaning out some of the drawers in the tall vidmar so I could load all my small bins. I can see I will need more bins, but now I have to fill them, and label them! It is kind of like a blank slate, it is intimidating.
I took some time to do a few things to get organized, including buying a few things.
Toilet paper rolls, I may actually glue them together to make it more stable. I did have to cut them down about an inch.
I collected a bunch of my tape measures and put them in a fairly convenient spot, at least I will know where they are!
I bought a Huot drill cabinet. Now I need to figure out where to put it and get it loaded up.
I got out a bunch of my stack-on parts bins, one was broken, so I glued it back together, hopefully it will hold.
I added a little Atari artwork to my door, anyone remember BEZERK?
Toilet paper rolls, I may actually glue them together to make it more stable. I did have to cut them down about an inch.
I collected a bunch of my tape measures and put them in a fairly convenient spot, at least I will know where they are!
I bought a Huot drill cabinet. Now I need to figure out where to put it and get it loaded up.
I got out a bunch of my stack-on parts bins, one was broken, so I glued it back together, hopefully it will hold.
I added a little Atari artwork to my door, anyone remember BEZERK?
mdbeck1
Well-known member
So what is going in the different drawers? I find it much easier if I decide what is going in each drawer before I start sorting.
When I work with nuts and bolts I separate by SAE/Metric then by diameter and thread pitch. All bolts with the same diameter go in the same drawer. With that much space you may even be able to sub-sort them by length.
I am going to have one drawer for Volvo specific hardware, clips, switches, etc. Another one will have GM hardware for my suburbans and various engines. I figure there will be open bins, but I have not figured out yet how I will handle it. It is going to be a trial and error thing.
I have lots of electrical components, and other specialty hardware. I have a feeling, that I may end up having more space than I ever thought. That is a good thing, I would like to have open space for future growth.
bczygan
Well-known member
When stuff is safely tucked away inside a building it is easy to just forget about it.
Here's a little mental trick I use to rid myself of things I don't need.
I purge them from inside to outside in one big pile.
Once they are outside, the extra effort needed to bring them back in, makes me more particular about what comes back.
And the more liable I am to dispose of them in some fashion.
Once outside, in the harsh light (Literally and figuratively) of day, it becomes apparent that most of the stuff is stuff I don't need, use or want.
It's already partly separated from me. It is out the door. Little additional effort is required to either give it to a neighbor, put it on the curb or toss it in the trash.
And the fact that things may get rained on, makes me get the sorting done quickly.
Sometimes I will sort twice, each time getting rid of additional stuff.
It works for me.
Right now I am purging 2 rooms. The dressing/craft room is almost completely empty and the office is over half empty. I've filled 1 1/2 big trash cans so far, from the pile outside.
Bill
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Strouty,
Just finished reading the total thread to this point. I don't quite know what to say for sure except that maybe you are not embracing the real purpose you have in this place. You've said many times you don't know the final purpose but yet you continue to struggle towards some mythical finished point in your shop layout. I submit like others have said that we are all never really done. You may get the overall big picture layout but we always seem to find that better cabinet or storage system. That's ok just make sure that when you replace something you actually get rid of the prior item, cabinet, shelf, etc. I see a lot of things going out of the shop to maybe sit on the cluttered outside? Then you bring more into the shop that has been purchased.
You have said you don't want a warehouse but yet you continually make it into one. It seems like you do have a gift and talent at finding and flipping items for a profit. That's something not everyone can do. I'd say stop fighting that ability and go with it full time just be more business like in the process. IF you can make money scrapping and flipping items, set aside some of your property, buildings, containers et al to foster that business. And be "OK" with the idea that your shop will sometimes get messy with tear downs etc. The real trick is to always clean it up afterward and to always put some of the profit into the bank rather than spending it all on more junk as soon as it hits your pocket. Figure out a percent to re-invest and a portion to live on or save.
You also seem to have a passion and talent for those medium truck builds. Have you sold one yet? I would recommend you actually take one of the beasts setting around and fix it up to your design and sell it. Do not say you would miss it too much. There are plenty more around for you to start another one.
I wish you well and will be reading with interest on the future. Hoping you capitalize on your interests and talents rather than getting depressed over what you think should happen but isn't. IF any of this makes sense?
Just finished reading the total thread to this point. I don't quite know what to say for sure except that maybe you are not embracing the real purpose you have in this place. You've said many times you don't know the final purpose but yet you continue to struggle towards some mythical finished point in your shop layout. I submit like others have said that we are all never really done. You may get the overall big picture layout but we always seem to find that better cabinet or storage system. That's ok just make sure that when you replace something you actually get rid of the prior item, cabinet, shelf, etc. I see a lot of things going out of the shop to maybe sit on the cluttered outside? Then you bring more into the shop that has been purchased.
You have said you don't want a warehouse but yet you continually make it into one. It seems like you do have a gift and talent at finding and flipping items for a profit. That's something not everyone can do. I'd say stop fighting that ability and go with it full time just be more business like in the process. IF you can make money scrapping and flipping items, set aside some of your property, buildings, containers et al to foster that business. And be "OK" with the idea that your shop will sometimes get messy with tear downs etc. The real trick is to always clean it up afterward and to always put some of the profit into the bank rather than spending it all on more junk as soon as it hits your pocket. Figure out a percent to re-invest and a portion to live on or save.
You also seem to have a passion and talent for those medium truck builds. Have you sold one yet? I would recommend you actually take one of the beasts setting around and fix it up to your design and sell it. Do not say you would miss it too much. There are plenty more around for you to start another one.
I wish you well and will be reading with interest on the future. Hoping you capitalize on your interests and talents rather than getting depressed over what you think should happen but isn't. IF any of this makes sense?
I am still trying to figure out that purpose. I am pushing forward with progress, but it is slow.
I actually started writing down things that I thought of as goals, now I need to start to focus on something. I am not exactly decisive and I am in no rush. Those two things probably make for a really bad combination.
I have been busy, but not at the shop. I have been helping my brother out on a job. At least I am making some money.
It looks like I have been neglecting my positing. Still not a lot to report, I have been selling things on ebay, my brother had a yard sale and I sold some items there as well. I am still in the midst of a mess, but it is looking like there is a plan.
I have a friend who needs to use the shop this week, so I need to make room for his truck. That is my goal right now, to clear the main bay out so it can be used.
I was going to go to an auction yesterday, but I decided not to. I think I got a little clammy and maybe even showed some signs of withdrawal.
I also made a mess outside. I tried to do something in a hurry and made a mess that I still have not cleaned up. I unhooked the future wood shop from my truck and did not have its wheels chocked well (not at all actually). It came unhooked and then proceeded to roll backwards, fall off the bottle jack and crash to the ground. Now I have to lift it up to get it back on the truck. I did buy a new jack for it, that way I won't need to use the bottle jack anymore. That is one of my goals this week, to remove the old jack and weld on the new one. I am also going to order the cords and connectors to finally get it wired up so I can use it.
I have a friend who needs to use the shop this week, so I need to make room for his truck. That is my goal right now, to clear the main bay out so it can be used.
I was going to go to an auction yesterday, but I decided not to. I think I got a little clammy and maybe even showed some signs of withdrawal.
I also made a mess outside. I tried to do something in a hurry and made a mess that I still have not cleaned up. I unhooked the future wood shop from my truck and did not have its wheels chocked well (not at all actually). It came unhooked and then proceeded to roll backwards, fall off the bottle jack and crash to the ground. Now I have to lift it up to get it back on the truck. I did buy a new jack for it, that way I won't need to use the bottle jack anymore. That is one of my goals this week, to remove the old jack and weld on the new one. I am also going to order the cords and connectors to finally get it wired up so I can use it.
egnorant
Well-known member
Got your invite to help organize! Problem is that we are too much alike. I had to put my purchases on hold while I bulldozed everything out of my shop so I could have a more efficient method of utilizing or disposing of stuff. Well, I did include the modifier that I could still buy screaming deals or that Holy Grail item that I wanted forever.
I did adopt a hard focus when I was getting the shop up to certain standards such as cleaned out, electricity, lights and air, lift and tools available. Now that I have projects rolling I pay attention to those moments when I think that I need something to make life easier. It may be rollers for that table, placement of an air hose reel or whatever. These fill those gaps when a project stalls because I need a certain color paint or a couple of 1157 bulbs to move the Mustang project along. I have a big white board with all the little stuff. I get to erase 4 things today and hopefully get 4 more erased later today. Might add 5 items, but that is O.K. Todays goal is not to be perfect...just better!
Bruce
I did adopt a hard focus when I was getting the shop up to certain standards such as cleaned out, electricity, lights and air, lift and tools available. Now that I have projects rolling I pay attention to those moments when I think that I need something to make life easier. It may be rollers for that table, placement of an air hose reel or whatever. These fill those gaps when a project stalls because I need a certain color paint or a couple of 1157 bulbs to move the Mustang project along. I have a big white board with all the little stuff. I get to erase 4 things today and hopefully get 4 more erased later today. Might add 5 items, but that is O.K. Todays goal is not to be perfect...just better!
Bruce
Here's to hoping clearing out a stall gets you back on track.
I've scrapped two more loads and got a front clip and an entire car interior out of my shop. Things are definitely getting better. Even sold the boat I hadn't used in 6 years.
I've scrapped two more loads and got a front clip and an entire car interior out of my shop. Things are definitely getting better. Even sold the boat I hadn't used in 6 years.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
But what if you decided tomorrow you needed that boat?? 
Seriously, tho, that's what happens with my excavation projects - I get all gung ho, start pitching the **** I haven't used and never will have a use for, or start (finally) s***canning the broken, rotted, worn-out $1.49 phillips screwdrivers and the rusted solid crescent wrenches... and then I'll grab something and think "Damn, I may need this for..."
And then its all over.
At least... I've broken myself of digging **** I threw out back out of the trashcan... now, once it's gone, it's gone.
Next thing to attack will be the 25 years of old paper records that I haven't looked at in 25 years because they're not doing nothing but taking up space. That, and the 15 coffee mugs full of 15 year old never used pens. For criminey sakes, if a pen runs out, I'll go buy a new one...
Sometimes... I feel like slapping... myself... for letting it get this bad.
Seriously, tho, that's what happens with my excavation projects - I get all gung ho, start pitching the **** I haven't used and never will have a use for, or start (finally) s***canning the broken, rotted, worn-out $1.49 phillips screwdrivers and the rusted solid crescent wrenches... and then I'll grab something and think "Damn, I may need this for..."
And then its all over.
At least... I've broken myself of digging **** I threw out back out of the trashcan... now, once it's gone, it's gone.
Next thing to attack will be the 25 years of old paper records that I haven't looked at in 25 years because they're not doing nothing but taking up space. That, and the 15 coffee mugs full of 15 year old never used pens. For criminey sakes, if a pen runs out, I'll go buy a new one...
Sometimes... I feel like slapping... myself... for letting it get this bad.
I can't wait to actually do some projects in the shop, rather than projects to the shop. They can be fun, but not while tripping over stuff. I am slowly getting the whole don't buy it unless it is going to be used right now mentality. I am currently sweating my *** off and tripping over my uninstalled air conditioners.
Awesome progress, I wish I could say the same. I did sell a bunch of things, some where larger so it cleared some space. The good thing is that I made some money on most of the stuff I bought to flip, the bad news is I bought more stuff not to flip.
But what if you decided tomorrow you needed that boat??
Seriously, tho, that's what happens with my excavation projects - I get all gung ho, start pitching the **** I haven't used and never will have a use for, or start (finally) s***canning the broken, rotted, worn-out $1.49 phillips screwdrivers and the rusted solid crescent wrenches... and then I'll grab something and think "Damn, I may need this for..."
And then its all over.
At least... I've broken myself of digging **** I threw out back out of the trashcan... now, once it's gone, it's gone.
Next thing to attack will be the 25 years of old paper records that I haven't looked at in 25 years because they're not doing nothing but taking up space. That, and the 15 coffee mugs full of 15 year old never used pens. For criminey sakes, if a pen runs out, I'll go buy a new one...
Sometimes... I feel like slapping... myself... for letting it get this bad.
I just have to remember that it did not get this way overnight, so it won't be cleaned up overnight either.
I ended up buying a new jack for the "wood shop on wheels". Here is the aftermath of me not chocking the wheels. At least it rolled backwards and not towards the truck!
Tomorrow I am going to lift it up and get it hooked up to the truck. I took the truck off the road since I am not using it for anything, so it can stay hooked up. I want to cut off the old jack and weld the new one on this week. It is one of my small goals. I am also ordering the cords to get power hooked up so I can use it to actually make some shelves.
Tomorrow I am going to lift it up and get it hooked up to the truck. I took the truck off the road since I am not using it for anything, so it can stay hooked up. I want to cut off the old jack and weld the new one on this week. It is one of my small goals. I am also ordering the cords to get power hooked up so I can use it to actually make some shelves.
I have no problem with others posting about their situations. It makes me feel like I am not the only one. Lots of people read this thread and I feel when they don't post, it is like I am a bad person for having all this stuff. I know that the stuff is not me, so I move forward. I am actually glad that this thread got you motivated to do something about your stuff.
egnorant
Well-known member
I do a lot of side to side organizing too. Sometimes it is just a shelf cleaned off and items moved to fit my current organization. Got stalled yesterday after 2 1/2 of my 4 planned items (horn, turn indicators half of the brakes none of the backup lights)and pulled out a tub of plumbing stuff for evaluation. Discovered my pipe wrench collection is now at 14 and overloading my planned space.
Just taking more steps in the right direction than the wrong direction!
Bruce
Just taking more steps in the right direction than the wrong direction!
Bruce
Strouty, I can feel your pain not knowing what purpose the shop plays in your life.
I have a few thoughts on that end....
First a question.
Does it really need to have a specific purpose?
In my case the only real purpose is that it keeps me sane, it's a place that fills a few needs.
first off I really like to repair and build things, I like to tackle new projects and enhance existing skills and learn new ones.
second it allows me to bring in a little side money.
Third it allows me to save money by fixing mine and others vehicles all year round.
I honestly don't think that a shop (Like yours and mine) need a true purpose other than to keep us sane and allow us to tinker or create.
Kent
I have a few thoughts on that end....
First a question.
Does it really need to have a specific purpose?
In my case the only real purpose is that it keeps me sane, it's a place that fills a few needs.
first off I really like to repair and build things, I like to tackle new projects and enhance existing skills and learn new ones.
second it allows me to bring in a little side money.
Third it allows me to save money by fixing mine and others vehicles all year round.
I honestly don't think that a shop (Like yours and mine) need a true purpose other than to keep us sane and allow us to tinker or create.
Kent
That's good thoughts Kent! When organizing my shop, I had two main goals, a somewhat
"clean" side that I can do my upholstery/computer work in and a "dirty" side that will house all my machines(grinders, drill press, lathe etc). The shop doesn't have one particular purpose, but like yours, it is a place I can make or break things and just hang out when I just need a place to get away from life in general. I do so many things, I would need about a billion sq ft facility if I tried to categorize any more than "clean and dirty".
Keep at it Strouty!
"clean" side that I can do my upholstery/computer work in and a "dirty" side that will house all my machines(grinders, drill press, lathe etc). The shop doesn't have one particular purpose, but like yours, it is a place I can make or break things and just hang out when I just need a place to get away from life in general. I do so many things, I would need about a billion sq ft facility if I tried to categorize any more than "clean and dirty".
Keep at it Strouty!
Most of the time, I feel like I am taking two steps forward and then two or three steps backwards. I think that is how you start cleaning a mess, then it slowly turns into two forward, two back, then it gets to two forward one back.
Right now I am afraid to be purposeless, I tend to "wander" too much. I eventually hope that I can be more laid back when I am at the shop. If I remember, you have a longer drive to get to yours than I do. Sometimes I would like to go to the shop to do some little thing, but I can't justify an hour round trip.
That's good thoughts Kent! When organizing my shop, I had two main goals, a somewhat
"clean" side that I can do my upholstery/computer work in and a "dirty" side that will house all my machines(grinders, drill press, lathe etc). The shop doesn't have one particular purpose, but like yours, it is a place I can make or break things and just hang out when I just need a place to get away from life in general. I do so many things, I would need about a billion sq ft facility if I tried to categorize any more than "clean and dirty".
Keep at it Strouty!
I had high hopes to have a "clean" area, but once I got into using the plasma cutter, grinding, and welding aluminum it became clear that aluminum dust gets everywhere. I hope to make a second floor eventually and have that my "clean" area.