The Front to Back Four Car

[stelthy77]

Thanks for the kind words guys about the vice. I was really pleased with the way it turned out. And the paint is pretty durable, I have slipped with a flat blade screwdriver and raked it across the paint, and it didn't make a mark.

That gave me more confidence that it would hold up in a working environment...

 

[stelthy77]

The next project was lighting.

I got 8, t8, 6 bulb, high bay, light fixtures from my father-in-law, out of his commercial shop, when they replaced them with LED. They were going to pitch them, and he grabbed them.

We removed the reflectors, because my ceiling isn't high enough to justify needing them. We mounted them directly to the ceiling. We rewired the garage ceiling to place them in two rows of 4. And wired them to turn on only two bulbs per fixture for normal lighting.

Then you can hit the second switch to turn on the remaining 4 bulbs and it really gets bright!

The lights are wired to motion sensors around the garage and turn on when you enter. I use Z-wave and a SmartThings hub in my whole home. The aux. lighting (as we call the remaining 4 bulbs per fixture), can be turned on with voice control with a Google Home or via a switch on the wall.

All in, we went from 6 fixtures with 10 - 4ft T12 bulbs and 2 - 8 ft T12 bulbs, to 48 - 4 ft T8 bulbs and 2 - 4 ft T12 (in the back by the stairs). Quite the improvement.

Here are some shots:

 

[big_bake]

Good idea with the two stage lighting. Did you just use z-wave wall switches?

 

[stelthy77]

Good idea with the two stage lighting. Did you just use z-wave wall switches?

Exactly, two z-wave switches and a handful of motion detectors to keep the lights on when I am in there, but turn them off automatically (after 5 minutes of no motion). I had a bad habit of leaving them on, drove my wife crazy.

 

[stelthy77]

Time for the Floor!

I have been wanting to do the floor of this garage since I moved in, but it is so large that the price was a limiting factor.

I decided to go with RaceDeck free flow, and I LOVE IT! I knew this, but it really changes the look of the whole garage. It makes me want to clean up some of the random stuff going on in the rest of the garage.

Near the door, I put in carpeted Tiles in lieu of a rug. The rugs always seemed to move around.

This brings us almost current. I did floor and lighting in early February.

 

[stelthy77]

A year or so ago, I setup a recycling bin near the entrance to the garage, off the kitchen so recycling didn't gather on the kitchen counter. I never really liked the way it looked so I replaced it.

I got the idea for an in wall SS garbage can from another member here and pulled the trigger in late Feb.

Unfortunately I opened the wall to put it in and found electrical cord. And to top it off, i had to take 1/4 inch off of the stud for it to fit. It ended taking up a whole afternoon to install. But i think it looks great now.

 

[C_F]

The recycle can looks nice. I assume the can is removed from it's holder when it's time to empty? I might have to borrow that idea, too.

 

[stelthy77]

The recycle can looks nice. I assume the can is removed from it's holder when it's time to empty? I might have to borrow that idea, too.

Correct, there is a little key to unlock and remove, then I just carry it over to the big bin and dump it, twice a week or so.

 

[big_bake]

Nice recycle bin.


I had the same quarter inch issue with spacing between studs. I was replacing my entire electrical panel, and didn't find out until the old one was out and everything disconnected. It was summer, and it was dark. Had to knock on the neighbors door to chain a few extension cords together so I could run the circular saw with a headlamp on.

 

[idriveahonda]

RaceDeck completely changes the look of a garage. Goes from a garage to an extension of the house!

 

[stelthy77]

Nice recycle bin.


I had the same quarter inch issue with spacing between studs. I was replacing my entire electrical panel, and didn't find out until the old one was out and everything disconnected. It was summer, and it was dark. Had to knock on the neighbors door to chain a few extension cords together so I could run the circular saw with a headlamp on.

What a nightmare! I tried to use a circular saw for most of it, my god the dust it threw up into the air. I ended up finishing it with a chisel.

 

[stelthy77]

RaceDeck completely changes the look of a garage. Goes from a garage to an extension of the house!

Agreed!

 

[stelthy77]

I picked up a QuickJack a week ago, pretty excited.

It'll get a lot of use this weekend. I'll be working on my father-in-law's mustang (formerly MY mustang), it needs new rear diff fluid, an oil change, and the removal of some race bushings, so it can better be used for cruising by my in-laws.

I'll also change the oil on the Sky Redline (you can see it in pictures posted here). Lastly if I have enough time, I'll use the lift to detail my Volvo and the wife's van after this winter's salt/tar/grime accumulations...

 

[stelthy77]

I also got a new tool box and moved my TV from the back wall to next to the heater. Don't worry, the TV is behind the heater outlet, and those side walls of the heater rarely get above the ambient temp of the room.

That opens up the back wall for my next project...

 

[C_F]

Oh wow, I think you just cost me money...I now "need" a set of those QuickJacks!

 

[stelthy77]

Oh wow, I think you just cost me money...I now "need" a set of those QuickJacks!

The amount of money this forum has cost me is crazy! The most expensive "free" thing I have ever done is come here and start reading the threads...

The Quickjacks are pretty sweet! I'll report back after doing some real work with them this weekend.

 

[stelthy77]

The entire back wall of my garage is pegboard. I had planned on putting cabinets up and hiding away some of the power tools that I use rarely.

Before I did that, however, I thought some paint was in order. I sprayed primer and then a exterior dark grey (for durability) on the whole back wall pegboard.

It looks a little splotchy in a few shots, but that is because it was still drying. Turned out very nice, and made a big difference.

 

[stelthy77]

I ordered 5 cabinets to match my existing Craftsman boxes and cabinets. And hung them on Versatrak so I can move them if needed along the length.

I ended up bolting them together, for a nice clean look and extra support.

I am trying to keep the pegboard clear of not often used tools. I am only putting tools up there that I use once a month (...ish).

For undercabinet lighting I am using led undercabinet lights that I got on a clearance website. They require a plug outlet, so I will add them to a z-wave outlets and automate them with my motion sensors. Right now they are just plugged in to the regular outlet.

 

[stelthy77]

I try to get my boys out in the garage to "help" or just hang out, they think it is cool to watch TV out here...

 

[marty_p]

Here is a picture to get us started...

I try to get my boys out in the garage to "help" or just hang out, they think it is cool to watch TV out here...

Good grief, that is one heck of a transformation from start to finish, boss!

Two thumbs up to the new space for you and your crew!

 

[TX4runner]

Very impressive. So jealous of the space you have, and the enhancements you have done. So much more usable!!!

I got the quickjack 5000lb lift when they first came out, and I love it!!! Used them the other week to easily change the oil and flush the brakes on my wife's car.

 

[stelthy77]

Good grief, that is one heck of a transformation from start to finish, boss!

Two thumbs up to the new space for you and your crew!

Thanks! It is very enjoyable to be out there now.

 

[stelthy77]

Very impressive. So jealous of the space you have, and the enhancements you have done. So much more usable!!!

I got the quickjack 5000lb lift when they first came out, and I love it!!! Used them the other week to easily change the oil and flush the brakes on my wife's car.

Appreciate the kind words. I love the quickjack. we actually just used it to do some spring maintenance (Oil changes, diff fluid, fitting lubrication) on the summer cars. It worked great!

 

[stelthy77]

Speaking of the QuickJack, I needed a place to store it. I have the 7000, so it is HEAVY. I setup a Gladiator rail with some hooks to hold it to the wall. No weight is on the hooks, they just keep it from falling. Just in case it does fall or somehow all the weight gets to the hook, I have reinforced the mounting by putting a screw through the hook itself into the stud.

I hung my 180 lbs on each hook and they didn't budge, it will be fine.

 

[stelthy77]

That brings us pretty much current. There are a few other small things I have done, and I am still working on a little cleanup and organization of existing items. I'll see about taking a few all over shots or perhaps a panoramic.

In the meantime, here are a couple glamour shots, including a garages at night one.