Scout Driver
Well-known member
Just watched your slideshows on the garage and the 911. Wow! Both of them were great. Thank you for posting them.
Scott
Scott
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The 12-Gauge Garage
- Thread starter Jack Olsen
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
Hemihead2
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Great video, Jack. So many ideas here that I'm inspired to start a second phase of upgrades to my shop. Phase 1 was about 7 years ago and thanks to yours and others threads on this site, I now see many things I would like to have done differently - I can fix some of them in Phase 2.
Again, great garage and your inventiveness and attention to detail are tremendous.
Mike
Again, great garage and your inventiveness and attention to detail are tremendous.
Mike
santagary
Well-known member
Where did you find the large Porsche emblem....gotta have one to put on the wall next to the Boxter. santagary
OP
Thanks, guys. Gary, I got it on ebay. I think the seller is cranking them out. Here's the latest. I 'made an offer' of $45, and he agreed to that price. Maybe you could get it for less.
EBAY LINK
If that link doesn't work, search for item: 160420682526 or search for "Porsche 3D Sign"
Here it is in a wider shot:
Whether it's worth $45 (plus shipping) is something I'm not prepared to say unequivocally. But it's what I paid.
(Congratulations on the wedding, too!)
EBAY LINK
If that link doesn't work, search for item: 160420682526 or search for "Porsche 3D Sign"
Here it is in a wider shot:
Whether it's worth $45 (plus shipping) is something I'm not prepared to say unequivocally. But it's what I paid.
That's my plan, pretty much. I want to get a base for it so it can rotate. But then it'll just be take it apart, spray it, put in new grease and put it back together.
(Congratulations on the wedding, too!)
OP
Well, now I'm really getting carried away. Here's another thing I was sure I'd never have in my garage. A street sign.
Lightfighter
Member
Yeah, Jack you're outta control! lol! The sign is "fitting" in your garage, and looks good!
Ocular Engineer
Active member
Jack, beautiful work on your garage! Impressive. I haven't read all the text here, so I'm sorry if these questions are duplicate.
1. Your Milwaukee chop saw: Is that the cold saw or the abrasive chop saw? If it is the cold saw, what is your opinion of it? I just started looking at chop saws (we have a Milwaukee abrasive chop saw at work that works well but messy) and would like to avoid spending $850+ for a JET or similar.
2. What kind of tube bender/roller do you have? (nice work on the work bench w/ the curved brace. Very nice looking.)
1. Your Milwaukee chop saw: Is that the cold saw or the abrasive chop saw? If it is the cold saw, what is your opinion of it? I just started looking at chop saws (we have a Milwaukee abrasive chop saw at work that works well but messy) and would like to avoid spending $850+ for a JET or similar.
2. What kind of tube bender/roller do you have? (nice work on the work bench w/ the curved brace. Very nice looking.)
OP
Thanks. The Milwaukee saw is the cold saw:
I got it from an ebay vendor for $280 (without a blade). I use $40/ea Freud Diablo blades, and have been very happy with both the saw and the blades. I've used abrasive saws in the past. They work, but I hate the long wait, choking dust and that 'muffler shop' smell.
The tubing roller is the Harbor Freight unit -- I bought when it was on sale with one of their additional 20%-off coupons. The final $110 price tag was low enough that there was no way for me to be disappointed. It did okay with that 2" square tubing, considering I only had round dies to work with. There are some guys who make aftermarket dies that fit it -- which I might get down the line. First up, I want to take a set of 1/2" square tubing dies (which HF does sell) and widen them up to work with 1" square tubing. Absent a lathe or a mill, I'm still working out the best way to accomplish that without injuring myself.
I got it from an ebay vendor for $280 (without a blade). I use $40/ea Freud Diablo blades, and have been very happy with both the saw and the blades. I've used abrasive saws in the past. They work, but I hate the long wait, choking dust and that 'muffler shop' smell.
The tubing roller is the Harbor Freight unit -- I bought when it was on sale with one of their additional 20%-off coupons. The final $110 price tag was low enough that there was no way for me to be disappointed. It did okay with that 2" square tubing, considering I only had round dies to work with. There are some guys who make aftermarket dies that fit it -- which I might get down the line. First up, I want to take a set of 1/2" square tubing dies (which HF does sell) and widen them up to work with 1" square tubing. Absent a lathe or a mill, I'm still working out the best way to accomplish that without injuring myself.
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Ocular Engineer
Active member
Thanks for the info. You got a good deal on that saw. From the reviews on that saw that I have read, it seems that most buyers go from an abrasive chop saw to a cold saw and apply too much force while cutting and burn the blade up in about a dozen cuts.
...and I would say that you are "frugal", not cheep. The level of quality of your shop is far to high to be called cheep. And I am completely envious of your Stronghold Cabinets. We have a similar one in the shop at work. It is a brick sh!thouse. You have a nice set up.
...and I would say that you are "frugal", not cheep. The level of quality of your shop is far to high to be called cheep. And I am completely envious of your Stronghold Cabinets. We have a similar one in the shop at work. It is a brick sh!thouse. You have a nice set up.
kizer
Well-known member
I have the abrasive saw and man its freaking loud and messy. It gets the job done, but man its not pleasent when you have to cut more than a few items.
I just joined here yesterday and am scanning through all these posts. And I have many more to look at but all I can say is WOW! You have done yourself proud. All of you guys and your fantastic organizing skills. I declare, I don't know if I should feel inspired or ashamed of my own place. I'm kind of the Oscar Madison of shop owners. I wish I was more Felix like. Every now and again I get the bug to organize better, but time always seems to work against me.
Anyway, your shop is a sight to behold.
Anyway, your shop is a sight to behold.
chrislehr
Well-known member
Answer my question on page 8? 
markviii
Well-known member
post #129 on page 7. As I said, it was an elegant solution for the door in that space. All it takes is careful reading to find lots of solutions for limited garage space.
Chris (markviii)
Chris (markviii)
markviii
Well-known member
I was thinking about the orientation of your garage. Is the entrance along an alley behind your house? Is it shaded by trees (thus helping to keep the garage cooler)? Do you have to maintain the alley, or is that your concrete driveway?
Just asking. One of our garages is along a non-paved alley in back of our house. We contribute with a few of the neighbors to have road pack put on it every so often - the village does the work for us. This makes a harder surface, keeps the dust down, and keeps the ruts (thus puddles) away. The garbage haulers pick up in the alley, so it can get very rutted and messy for our cars if we don't pay for the road pack. As it is, we have to deal with rock-and-chip streets in our town that they oil every couple of years to help deal with the dust in the summer. Oh, the charm of living in a small town!
Just asking. One of our garages is along a non-paved alley in back of our house. We contribute with a few of the neighbors to have road pack put on it every so often - the village does the work for us. This makes a harder surface, keeps the dust down, and keeps the ruts (thus puddles) away. The garbage haulers pick up in the alley, so it can get very rutted and messy for our cars if we don't pay for the road pack. As it is, we have to deal with rock-and-chip streets in our town that they oil every couple of years to help deal with the dust in the summer. Oh, the charm of living in a small town!
OP
I miss my small town; I'm originally from the north suburbs of Chicago.
My house is shoe-horned onto an eighth of an acre surrounded by other houses on similarly-tiny lots. There's no room for an alley. Here's a Google satellite view:
The concrete you see in my garage pictures is the end of my driveway, which runs the length of the property. The nice aspect to this is that the garage isn't very visible to anyone -- there's a gate along the front line of the house which blocks the view from the street.
To help decode the picture: the house itself has a roof covered in tiles, but the garage only has them along the front -- then there's an ordinary light-grey tar-papered flat roof behind it. You can see that it butts up against a neighbor's garage right behind it.
The satellite took this picture before I cleaned the garage up enough to park a car in it, so you can see the white roof of a vinyl canopy I used to have in place to protect the race car. The long green storage shed is there now (and that's the thing chrislehr wants to see a schematic on -- which I'm working on, I promise). My office, where I'm typing this now, is the other part to the free-standing garage structure. As you can see, my 'morning commute' from home to work is about 15 feet. That makes living in a crowded city a little more tolerable.
My house is shoe-horned onto an eighth of an acre surrounded by other houses on similarly-tiny lots. There's no room for an alley. Here's a Google satellite view:
The concrete you see in my garage pictures is the end of my driveway, which runs the length of the property. The nice aspect to this is that the garage isn't very visible to anyone -- there's a gate along the front line of the house which blocks the view from the street.
To help decode the picture: the house itself has a roof covered in tiles, but the garage only has them along the front -- then there's an ordinary light-grey tar-papered flat roof behind it. You can see that it butts up against a neighbor's garage right behind it.
The satellite took this picture before I cleaned the garage up enough to park a car in it, so you can see the white roof of a vinyl canopy I used to have in place to protect the race car. The long green storage shed is there now (and that's the thing chrislehr wants to see a schematic on -- which I'm working on, I promise). My office, where I'm typing this now, is the other part to the free-standing garage structure. As you can see, my 'morning commute' from home to work is about 15 feet. That makes living in a crowded city a little more tolerable.
Steve from Socal
Well-known member
You know Jack I have been trying to figure out where your house was and I thought off Highland. I have or had family with houses on Cloverfield and Spaulding, between 8Th and Olympic.
Steve
Steve
OP
Yep, that's my neighborhood. I'm right by the County Art Museum and... the La Brea Tar Pits.
When I bought here, I had to have the place checked for signs of oozing tar. The flip-side is that I also get regular checks in the mail for the oil drilled by some company's well from underneath my property. Maybe that explains why the garage floor is so uneven.
When I bought here, I had to have the place checked for signs of oozing tar. The flip-side is that I also get regular checks in the mail for the oil drilled by some company's well from underneath my property. Maybe that explains why the garage floor is so uneven.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Jack Olsen, "Oozing Oil Millionaire"?...or Tacky Tar Thousand-aire? Lol.
OP
Both of the above. I get about a hundred bucks a year from it, which I think qualifies me for membership in this prestigious old oil family:
Glen
Active member
I haven't been on the forum in a long time...just read thru this whole thread. Jack, you have a very cool garage. Great job!
Burgerkong
Well-known member
It seems you are famous Jack...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pors...ultimate-jack-olsen-self-portrait-thread.html
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pors...ultimate-jack-olsen-self-portrait-thread.html
OP
Yikes. But yep, five years and running. I used to hold the camera out and snap a picture of myself at Porsche events. And I'm not a big smiler.It seems you are famous Jack...
It got to be kind of a thing.
OP
Today I added some lighting. The trick was to suspend lights in the opening of the garage, while still allowing the door to open and close. Click on the picture to jump to the post about it in the General Garage Discussion forum.
UncleJoe
Well-known member
Jack, I am in need of a new camera and I notice that your photos are very sharp and clear in a variety of light conditions. What make and model are you using?
OP
I've got an old junky one (Panasonic) that I use for most pictures. It's not our main camera so if it sits in the garage most of the time no one misses it.
When I want a nicer picture, I use a Nikon D40. I got it when it was replaced by a newer model. I suspect that by now the newer model has also been replaced.
But it takes nice pictures.
When I want a nicer picture, I use a Nikon D40. I got it when it was replaced by a newer model. I suspect that by now the newer model has also been replaced.
But it takes nice pictures.
MusicMan
Well-known member
Well, it took me a while to make it thru all the photos but i have to say - i really like your setup!
Love the space - you have a room for everything, and have it placed nicely. Big plus for the first aid kit in easy acces place!
ps. "no personal calls" rocks!
Love the space - you have a room for everything, and have it placed nicely. Big plus for the first aid kit in easy acces place!
ps. "no personal calls" rocks!
e-tek
Well-known member
Plenty of kudo's - think your head will ever fit in there again?
In my mind, the beauty of your shop Jack is it's simplicity. We know it's packed full of tools and stuff, but it's all well-hidden and only a perfect modicum of wares are displayed. The basic industrial/kitchen look makes a statement in it's contrast to the ****** lines of the Porsche.
If you aren't the out-right garage design winner, then you are surely the master instructor and giver of inspiration. I hope your writing touches as many peoples hearts as does your garage!
Cheers.
In my mind, the beauty of your shop Jack is it's simplicity. We know it's packed full of tools and stuff, but it's all well-hidden and only a perfect modicum of wares are displayed. The basic industrial/kitchen look makes a statement in it's contrast to the ****** lines of the Porsche.
If you aren't the out-right garage design winner, then you are surely the master instructor and giver of inspiration. I hope your writing touches as many peoples hearts as does your garage!
Cheers.
OP
Thanks, guys. It's only a two-car, but it's what I've got. If I did the amount of work on cars that you do, e-tek, I'd have to get an extra place to have the space.
The Porsche will always get the good parking space -- even though I finally got around to replacing my old daily driver yesterday. This new car is fun to drive, but not at the Porsche's level -- at least not in terms of design, attitude, or grip.
And honestly, I'm still more comfortable running errands and stuff in the CJ-7.
This one's nice and quiet on the freeway, though.
The Porsche will always get the good parking space -- even though I finally got around to replacing my old daily driver yesterday. This new car is fun to drive, but not at the Porsche's level -- at least not in terms of design, attitude, or grip.
And honestly, I'm still more comfortable running errands and stuff in the CJ-7.
This one's nice and quiet on the freeway, though.
51rider
Well-known member
Nice DD! What's the story on the plate?
Hylke
Well-known member
Hi Jack, I've read through both your threads while I was still a lurker here. It sure is an inspiration seeing you rebuild your shop and doing the work yourself. That's what I enjoy about fitting out my shop while rebuilding the Jeep. And I'm only 26, so I can take my time doing it.
I did see a photo of your Jeep come by, have you got any more pictures of it? What year is it, and what engine are you running? V8 or the 258 inline 6?
And I might be stupid to ask, but how do you get the Porsche to the track? It seems road legal to drive there, but I'd guess you haul it there. With the Jeep by any chance?
I did see a photo of your Jeep come by, have you got any more pictures of it? What year is it, and what engine are you running? V8 or the 258 inline 6?
And I might be stupid to ask, but how do you get the Porsche to the track? It seems road legal to drive there, but I'd guess you haul it there. With the Jeep by any chance?
OP
Thanks.
I can only find the one picture of the Jeep. It's a 1983 with the straight six (so I doubt it would have the oomph for towing). It was from when AMC owned the company and (if I remember right) the cars were made in Wisconsin.
It's purely a work car for me -- a parts hauler. I wish I had a picture of it with the 1200 pounds of ceramic tiles and adhesive for the garage. It was riding LOW.
But I've had it since 1993, and it's never broken. I've thought about restoring it -- paint and a V8. But I don't know what I'd do while it was out of commission.
I drive the 911 around town and also to the track. I used to run stickier tires, and made 10-hour drives to some tracks with wheels and tires on the roof.
I can only find the one picture of the Jeep. It's a 1983 with the straight six (so I doubt it would have the oomph for towing). It was from when AMC owned the company and (if I remember right) the cars were made in Wisconsin.
It's purely a work car for me -- a parts hauler. I wish I had a picture of it with the 1200 pounds of ceramic tiles and adhesive for the garage. It was riding LOW.
But I've had it since 1993, and it's never broken. I've thought about restoring it -- paint and a V8. But I don't know what I'd do while it was out of commission.
I drive the 911 around town and also to the track. I used to run stickier tires, and made 10-hour drives to some tracks with wheels and tires on the roof.
Lightfighter
Member
Jack,
The Jeep is cool. It fits the purpose you've set for it. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" comes to mind. I'm sure your 911 turned a lot of heads when it was on it's way to the track. That's a unique setup! All I can say is, "Wow!"
Not a big fan of reality tv, but if you had a show, it would definitely be a "must-see" program. Hey! there's an idea! Thanks for sharing your garage and toys with us!
The Jeep is cool. It fits the purpose you've set for it. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" comes to mind. I'm sure your 911 turned a lot of heads when it was on it's way to the track. That's a unique setup! All I can say is, "Wow!"
Not a big fan of reality tv, but if you had a show, it would definitely be a "must-see" program. Hey! there's an idea! Thanks for sharing your garage and toys with us!
markviii
Well-known member
I chuckled when I saw your car with the tires loaded on top. It reminded me of two painters we hired one summer (1980?). They were vet med students on a shoestring budget trying to make a buck. They rode their bikes out to our town (13 miles) every day. The first day they brought their ladder, tools and camping stove (for cooking their lunch daily). We provided the paint and other supplies, so they didn't have to transport it, too. Anyway, it brought back good memories. I've been trying to find the pictures I took, but haven't been successful yet.
I think Lightfighter's reality show idea could work, but, I think, it's not your usual screenwriting genre. Someone (not me!) could do a documentary on garages/owners, set it to music (required - can't have garages and cars without tunes), try to get a distributor by shopping it around at film festivals (after making sure to get the rights to the songs before the screening!), then have Roger Ebert show it at his film festival in my town (every April)(his hometown, too) because it's overlooked. It would at least get an audience of 1500 people with the documentary maker getting to be on the panel afterward and front page coverage in the local newspaper. What fun that would be! I'd go (oh, wait, I do go every year - this was the 12th). No "best of" awards at this festival, other than a "Golden Thumb" award from Roger. (go to ebertfest.com if you're interested)
I think Lightfighter's reality show idea could work, but, I think, it's not your usual screenwriting genre. Someone (not me!) could do a documentary on garages/owners, set it to music (required - can't have garages and cars without tunes), try to get a distributor by shopping it around at film festivals (after making sure to get the rights to the songs before the screening!), then have Roger Ebert show it at his film festival in my town (every April)(his hometown, too) because it's overlooked. It would at least get an audience of 1500 people with the documentary maker getting to be on the panel afterward and front page coverage in the local newspaper. What fun that would be! I'd go (oh, wait, I do go every year - this was the 12th). No "best of" awards at this festival, other than a "Golden Thumb" award from Roger. (go to ebertfest.com if you're interested)
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Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Thanks.
I've thought about restoring it -- paint and a V8...
Hi Jack,
I don't know what to tell you about having the Jeep out of commission...maybe the Home Depot cheapo rental truck for the few times when you have something big or heavy to carry?
Anyway, I noticed you mentioned going to a V8. But are are you really talking about a "restoration" i.e. original color, badges, etc, or are you talking about a moderate refurbishment/resto-fication?
I'm posting a picture of a very nicely detailed Chevy straight 292 six cylinder that is in a '67 Chevy short bed fleetside truck to give you an idea how nice an inline can be. You retain the low end grunt while drastically improving the appearance (and not running afoul of strict California smog laws if swapping to a V8). The owner said he just did a cosmetic rebuild. He ground the intake manifold smooth(er) and of course found those few billet parts for it, painted the distributor cap to match the engine paint. He painted it with automotive paint but personally, I'd do with with VHT, Duplicolor or Krylon - all in heat resistant paint of course. I just thought you might like the photo.
As for the body, over on the Jeep forums I see guys that do beautiful jobs with Jeeps like yours and put Line-X throughout the interior; sometimes in black with the gloss coat (as my dually bed) and sometimes in body color matching. Anyway, enjoy.
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I finally read through all the posts and have really enjoyed it and learned some things. I haven't seen mentioned here the use of bending plywood, but for forming around curves, nothing is better. It's about 3/8" thick and available at many larger lumberyards (at least here in Ky). We use it in the scene shop.
Jack- great job on everything - design, execution and the writing. You've obviously engaged your passion in that garage. We've recently moved and hope to incorporate some of your ideas in mine.
The Strong Hold cabinets were the perfect choice for your space. Before I retired a few years ago as a machinist, I bought several of these for our shop at about $3000 each. They held up very well in a heavy industrial environment. Again, great job I'm impressed.
Jack- great job on everything - design, execution and the writing. You've obviously engaged your passion in that garage. We've recently moved and hope to incorporate some of your ideas in mine.
The Strong Hold cabinets were the perfect choice for your space. Before I retired a few years ago as a machinist, I bought several of these for our shop at about $3000 each. They held up very well in a heavy industrial environment. Again, great job I'm impressed.
OP
Thank you, sir.
z28snksknr
Well-known member
Every time I am about to proudly post some pic of my garage on this site, an image of your place pops into my mind....
and then I quit loading my pic.
awesome place
keep giving me something to shoot for!
and then I quit loading my pic.
awesome place
keep giving me something to shoot for!
OP
Thanks. I grabbed that song mostly because it was the right length for the pictures I had. Still, it's harder than you think to find something to play over pictures of a garage that doesn't come off seeming really weird.
There was a guy called Harry Oster who went around recording Delta blues artists in the late 1950s so that their work wouldn't disappear forever when they died. He put together a collection called 'Country ***** Jam Sessions' (which I'm sure seemed like a good idea for a title at the time
).The song I used is called 'Thousand Miles From Nowhere.' The band is Butch Cage (on the 'black string' violin), Clarence Edwards (singing, I'm pretty sure) and his brother Cornelius Edwards.
And z28snksknr, your wall with the wheelbarrow hung on it made me want to put more pegboard in my garage. It's awesome.