STOP & congratulate yourself

[HanShotFirst]

All,

While cleaning up my workshop this weekend and griping about my lack of space, general facilities, tool boxes, etc. I stopped in the middle to look not of what I have to clutter things up, but of all I have managed to attain over the past decades.

When we dreamed of having all we dreamed of having, I'm sure for most of us the shop we dreamed of was much like this...

All the tools needed to support your particular passion, and of course all those tools would be in your favorite brand. Lastly, all those tools would be in an immaculately clean and organized shop!


HOWEVER...

For many, the reality of the prescious minutes we get to work on our projects, among the hours and days of keeping up with life, the life we all live where we have to balance our jobs, families, friends, etc. with our hobbies; which often results in our shops taking on a look much like this...

All of us are in different stages of life. Life hands us victories and defeats. We get a dream shop and tools, only to loose it to some mis-fortune. Or we stumble on to a cache of tools for pennies that would take you the better part of a lifetime to collect on your own.

THE IMPORTANT PART IS...WE DON'T QUIT!!!
Wherever you are in your tool/shop quest. Stop and gain some perspective.
If you live in a 1st world nation, you have already won the lottery!!! Your quality of life is already better than 90% of the rest of the world. You have the liberty and means to have a hobby that requires our beloved tools/shops that we covet so much.

While cleaning my shop, I became frustrated with how cramped it was, and how messy it was. But I stopped and looked around. With all it's flaws (and there are MANY), my shop is better now than it has ever been in my life. Sure some things have taken a dive in quality (stolen SK's were replaced with Harbor Freight ratchets/sockets), and in some other areas things have vastly improved (a very old/used Kennedy chest that was full of Starrett tools replaced my hodge-podge of Chinese tools).

A set of tools is something you build over a lifetime, and the journey is often every bit as interesting as the things we do with our tools. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to collect tools. I'm blessed to have what I have, and what I have gives me so much joy, even when my shop looks completely trashed!!!

Tomorrow, I have the day off. And I will be chasing down a couple of Craigslist ads. One had two Eagle oil cans and I believe she's looking for $10.00ea; if they're still available, I'll be giving them a new home. Another gentleman has a good supply of ball-pien hammers & files; I'll have to take a look at those too...

So stop and smell the roses from time to time

 

[yamaha0343]

Great post!

 

[Jarhead0408]

Well said.

I'm in the middle of rearranging the shop yet again. It's easy to get frustrated with the process, but I'm very grateful for what I have. Every time the layout in my shop changes, it's always an improvement in multiple ways. It's not the shop of my dreams, but it's the shop that allows me to keep my family's vehicles up and running. After having a shop, a lift, and a good set of tools, I don't think I could ever go back to how things were before. The positive benefits of the use of a shop far outweigh the financial cost imo.

I'll be out there Wednesday to replace the fuel pump in the Jeep; next Monday to do a buddy's clutch, and the Monday after that to drop a busted oil pan and subframe for another buddy.

 

[nine4gmc]

Well put, it's easy to get overwhelmed but if you can stop and take a minute to enjoy life, it makes things better.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Great post and thank you for the words of encouragement. I often walk into my garage/shop and wonder where to start to organize. It seems that there is always a project or two that are in progress and need finishing. I focus on the projects and clean up as I go. Right now there is light at the end of the tunnel*** and organization is in the near future.

In a recent Wood Magazine there was an article that stressed not to point out the mistakes you have made in completing a project. Just let people oo & ah and keep your mouth shut.

*** Yes, I know. The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.

 

[FigureItOut]

It's easy for me to get discouraged with my setup, and even my knowledge and abilities, being an avid reader of GJ. Every now and again though, I'll have a family visitor, customer, UPS guy or whatever just marvel at what I've put together in my little 20'x20', and I remember to be grateful, and proud. I know I'm far more well equipped and organized than your average guy, which is not the cross section we see here.

Then a post like this also reminds me, this is a process, a pleasurable, lifelong process. I've been at it for two years and on a average income. Reflecting on it with that in mind, there's a lot to congratulate myself on, and I appreciate the reminder.

Three and a half years ago I was unemployable and half dead, with barely a screwdriver. Now I've got a reasonably well equipped garage and a basic grasp of using my stuff, three professional certifications in garage disciplines, the ability to build rudimentary but useful and study things, and a job that I love using tools to create income, much of the time in the comfort of my own garage, watched over only by my CCTV cameras and my own ever-heightening standards.

Yes there's a lot to be grateful for. It isn't everything I want it to be, but I thank my lucky stars it isn't what it used to be.

 

[jabberwoki]

Well said , thanks.

 

[anndel]

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Scout3918]

true post and yes we all got a lot to be thankful for. Great post!

 

[larry_g]

I can say that I've never dreamed of anything that looks like your #1 picture, that is a hobby in itself that is more work that what it may produce. I can say that I have been close to #2 and still lean more that way. I do try to at least clean, sweep and vacuum the place often and do put most things away when a project is done.

On the subject of collecting more tools, I have most of what I need and now only buy what is needed. I leave the 'good buys' for the next guy. I've figured out it is a matter cubic space and the effort to keep a piece in good condition. I no longer have the need to own something just because.
lg
no neat sig line

 

[MikeF2316]

I can honestly say my dream shop includes everything I have and one more clear horizontal surface!

 

[SweetD]

Great post. I often think along the same lines...I'm lucky to have what I have - both in life, and in the garage! Could be waaaaaaaaaaay worse...

Thanks!



Dave

 

[derosa]

I always thought it funny that my father never got into woodwork because he could never get the "right tools" or the "right space". Often he asks me how I can get any work done in the clutter. Some tools are new, I bought the drill press to build my daughter's crib 7 years ago, others are a little older like the 1932 lathe that's been rebuilt or the RAS I have perfectly tuned. Quality is equally variable but I've tossed anything that doesn't work well. At the end of the day I'd rather be productive then pretty and can live with a little less efficiency if it means not spending a ton of time getting everything just right.
Not that I won't work to make it better but I'd rather work and learn what better might be through experience. Ultimately I had to learn to be happy with what I had and grow my skills to make it work, I'd love to have a shop like the first pic and maybe one day I'll have the money to pay someone to build it for me, till then I'll keep working and keeping the clutter at bay.

 

[metaldad]

great thread.
im another, with not enough time, or room.
tools always get put away, sometimes so away i cant find them the next time
floor is always swept.
now, shuffling 2 new doors, and the jambs and trim for them, from here, to over there, because they're in the way, and trying not to scratch them. waiting for warm sunny weather, so i can stain/urethane them outside. drilling/ routing the hinges/locksets was an adventure

 

[B_Bimmer]

Who's the chick on the far right? I think she may have an eating disorder.

 

[HanShotFirst]

It's a process, and I wouldn't miss it for the world!

 

[bczygan]

I look around my garage, and I see...........an embarrassment of riches!

Bill

 

[ambenz]

I just like when it all fits!
Yes, us GJers got it good!
View media item 47393

 

[ScottsGT]

3 years ago I made a commitment to organize better. I had tools everywhere! So New Year's Day I bought a 44" HF cabinet with two side cabs.
I started tossing out old junk, rearranging storage and cleaning things up. I was making great headway until my boys started bringing home car parts to be stored. To include one boys car getting totaled and we stripped it and now I'm storing his parts.
It was a major blow to my well being, but I'm not going to be that dad that tells their kids to deal with their stuff while away at school.
So I'm still coping with the added clutter, but I'm still finding ways to organize and clean up. Lots of storage bins, creative stashing, etc.

 

[Farmall450]

Great post! At 50, my dad finally has the shop he wanted, or close to it, for the past 50 years. I'm lucky to be able to spring off that, and you're absolutely right about taking lifetime(s) to collect. Between his father, him, me & my brother we still have a lot to collect before we're "done."

 

[bsg1]

thanks for posting. between the two photos, the 2nd is of the place i'd stop at first on a treasure hunt. it's also the one i'd prefer my home shop to look most like.

 

[hangfirew8]

I am indeed blessed. I have a garage bigger than the one I grew up with, and that wasn't bad at all, either. It's been through several stages of organization over the past couple of decades.

A couple of years ago I decided to really get the tools organized. I bought more tool chests, and moved everything automotive into a chest&top box, and everything else into the rest. Then I focused on that automotive box and organized, built a pliers rack in one drawer (as found here from all-thread, pipe sections and plexiglass dividers), some Ernst wrench organizers and cheap socket racks... now that toolchest top & bottom is really ship-shape.

Now I just have to work on the rest of my garage, haha. But when I work on my cars, I spend zero time looking for tools. I grab and go. That's priceless. So I'll congratulate myself on that!

 

[Pitalplace]

I also like this post. In 2003 I put up a dream shop, 40 x 64, and retired a couple years ago. No with a life time of putting my tools together I can just go play every day. I am just getting ready to build a 8 x 40ft. loft in the back for more storage and seem to have enough projects to keep me busy for at least ten more years.

 

[sberry]

Sometimes more doesn't help0 but I would get rid of that one bench and it would make a world of difference. I have went out of the way to make it as easy to clean or put back as it is to simply drop, it helps a lot as does getting rid or getting out of the way absolutely everything I don't need.
I is about a habit to get a wrench we dont need and want to drop it, takes a little discipline to carry it back the same time as getting the one we do need. Put the rolling benches in the right place etc. Its almost human nature to keep carrying away from the tool boxes.

 

[crewchief888]

yea....
i could be divorced, unemployed, and living in a cardboard box under the overpass on the interstate.

i have a roof over my head, lights are on, and we have food to eat. i dont care about much more than that.

it's nice to have the few things i do have,
just ***** that they're in my crappy little garage

 

[General Geoff]

No matter how little you think you have, there are still millions who make due with less.

 

[ScottsGT]

This thread got me going again after my post the other day. Stopped at Home Depot and picked up a couple more of the Dewalt organizers for all my pocket screws, dowel pins, biscuits, and plugs. I'm thinking about removing the containers in the other and build holders for my Kreg pocket jig and shelf pin kit
I've also got a 4 drawer industrial supply container I'm going to build a rack for that will hold the Dewalt's below it. Put it on casters and roll it anywhere.

 

[egnorant]

I know the feeling! Currently my shop is happily trashed (again!) Been shoving projects through at record pace and loving it!

Bruce

 

[crewchief888]

No matter how little you think you have, there are still millions who make due with less.

thinking back, i'm kinda amazed at what i did in the past with a smaller space, or no "space" at all, fewer tools and equipment.

but those experiences probably made me better at what i can do today...

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have to admit, I have it good. My shop may be a little too small, sometimes, but I somehow find the space to finish my various projects.

Besides, when I am in the shop, the wife knows where I'm at, and she also knows that I'm not getting in any trouble. In years past, I would have a kid in the shop to supervise, now it's a grandkid.

I really do have it good