The Garage Mahal!

[enginerd]

Very cool.

Is this going to be the place of your work, or just free time?

Whats the day job if not?

The shop area of our project is looking to about about 1000-1200sqrft (of the totl 4850sqrft) but unfortunately i'm not planning any CNC equipment, just a small mill and lathe to handle some small racecar parts.

Are you planning to use the CNC for business or pure personal use?

Are they pretty lax with having all this stuff in a residential zone?

 

[REFLEXX]

eng,

The answer is yes.

I'm a design consultant / prototype machininst. So this shop is now my place of work and play. I'm working on my own patents, I have my own products, and I do work for others (machining / consulting / 3D design / light fab).

Here's my "work" website: www.RXDi.com <---it will be back up in a day or two. I'm doing some security mods.

The machines are my tools (like any other), I use the appropriate one when necessary. So the CNC doesn't run every day, just when a part needs the type of geometry I cannot generate on a knee mill or the quantity is over 10 pieces.

I am zoned agricultural, so I'm allowed to have a certain amount of equpiment to keep the "farm machinery" working. My neighbors all know and they don't mind. Since I'm here 24/7, I double as the neighborhood watch guy. I also overbuilt this building to where it is SILENT outside, no matter what kind of noise I generate inside. As you can see, it's more of a "R&D lab" than a "machine shop."

From 8am-5pm it's work, from 9pm-1am it's play. Usually ends up a mix of both.

 

[enginerd]

Cool, I had a feeling it was your place of work, I only know a couple guys with CNC equipment in thier garages, and both have 8 figure car collections at the same location Needless to sya the cnc equipment barely gets used, it was merely purchased as a "just in case" thing, damn filthy rich bastards.

I mostly just need a lathe and mill to do suspension/chassis components. The shop area will be mixed with the machine area, but it'll be about 1/4 of the entire garage taking up about 1200sqrft or so. The other 3600sqrft will be lounge/showroom/washport/etc.

Definitely wish i could have a full cnc shop though, definitely would come in handy.

Have fun in the garage, definitely will be convenient and can equipment/garage can pay for itself pretty quick.

 

[wilbilt]

damn filthy rich bastards.

Heh.

I have a wife, 3 kids, and a mortgage, make $30K/year, and don't even own a garage.

damn middle class bastards.




Will

 

[REFLEXX]

Will,

I have a wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, make damn near zero, and if it wasn't for home equity loans, I wouldn't have a garage/shop.

damn everyone with a steady paycheck!


The last two years, I've put every penny back into the business to buy tools , equipment and pay biz bills. The shop was built 100% with loan money.

Now I'm at zero and looking forward to getting out of debt!

 

[wilbilt]

Will,
damn everyone with a steady paycheck!


The last two years, I've put every penny back into the business to buy tools , equipment and pay biz bills. The shop was built 100% with loan money.

Now I'm at zero and looking forward to getting out of debt!

Much respect for that! I tried the self-employed thing for a few years...and found that the government likes to punish those who try to do for themselves.

I do have a steady paycheck and health insurance, I guess that is worth something. I could make more if I moved back to SoCal, but with the higher cost of living, it would be a wash.

I would still like a garage, but am trying to avoid the refinance thing. I might do it if I can find the right deal.

Also trying to figure out how I can retire in 20 years...

 

[SCOOTER]

OK Reflex check this out...that poster on the back of your work bench??? the one with the buggy in the upper right hand corner.....That is Jeff Quinns ( the owner of Mckenzie's Performance) Jeff and I go back 20 years or so and he is still a good friend of mine...we also raced together "back in the day" and even won a championship together back in 1994..hhmmmm small world...just thought I would share some useless info with you all......

 

[jloveridge]

Four years ago I found the real reason my Russian stayed with me. We (wife and I) went to Kazakhstan (former Russian republic) to adopt our two kids!

That is very cool Reflexx.
Even though my co-workers don't have your connection, I thought it was very cool that two couples where I work have adopted 3 children from Chita in the past few years. For you it seems to be a natural. Either way these kids are great and you can't help but feel good about them being here with great families.

I love your garage. The fact the the wife and kids helped so much has to make it even more special to you.

 

[REFLEXX]

Scooter,
The girl in the poster could pass for the twin of a girl I dated long ago. It was the only girlie poster I would not give up (and I gave up many!) It's just a beautiful sight to look at when I work in the mill. If you could get me her name, I'd owe you big!

As for Mckenzies, I've spent a few pennies there. Usually for building off-road cars or sandrails. Good stuff, no cheap junk there. I'm sure that I'll be back when I start my off-road Manx build in a few years.

Jloveridge,
I've got the kids most parents dream of. Blessed every day. And if anyone wants kids, just let me know. I've got an orphanage-full that I can show you!

 

[SCOOTER]

Glad to here that you have donated to Jeff's cause to keep him in the lifestyle he has become accustomed to

I worked for him from 98-99 just before I moved up here....


Oh and I'll ask about the models name...hahahaahah

 

[W-Cummins]

eng,

The answer is yes.

I am zoned agricultural, so I'm allowed to have a certain amount of equpiment to keep the "farm machinery" working. My neighbors all know and they don't mind.

Dream on, That will NOT work...
Heck I don't think I could even pull that one off here, and I have enough land to actually be doing some agriculture and I have farm equipment When some one complains ( and notice I said when _not_ IF) ( your neighbors might all love you today, but tomorow is another day and neighbors come and go

I suggest you get down to the county office, and apply for a home business exemption for your home business. If they grant you one, your *** is covered in the future. Then when your neighborhood gets re-zoned and or annexed into the city your grandfathered in. Also it's much easier to get one BEFORE the complaints come in than after!

Good luck!

William....

 

[REFLEXX]

William,

I forgot to mention that it's been done. If it was city, I'd be screwed. But county was much more accommodating.

I already have one neighbor that ******* about my kids riding thier quad on MY property! ONE out of four neighbors is the local witch. Just my luck.

 

[noissesboyobyalp]

i think when i get my own house... i wont have a house, but just one big garage that i live in. that thing is beatiful... how much did all those machines cost you?

 

[wilbilt]

When some one complains ( and notice I said when _not_ IF) ( your neighbors might all love you today, but tomorow is another day and neighbors come and go

Neighbors are an unknown. Consider them all adversaries until proven otherwise.

Virtually every one of my neighbors within a one-mile radius have dogs, and let them run loose. Everywhere. All the time.

My dogs are fenced, and never leave my property.

But, one of those neighbors felt it necessary to call Animal Control and complain about my (formerly) numerous dogs (that don't bark and are never off my property).

Hypocrisy at it's finest. That should be Webster's definition of "neighbor".

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Meanwhile I finished up the electrical panel. The main feeder line is not in yet and the fat wires you see that are not hooked up are for the CNC mill.

Reference post #49 -- Ah, the old upside down electrical panel installation. Actually, nothing wrong with that. Just browsing tonite and finally saw your build thread, real nice.

Never thought much of MT buildings, but you did a nice finish job.

Charles

 

[Down Under Bloke]

Reference post #49 -- Ah, the old upside down electrical panel installation.

It must be because I'm looking at it from the other way up but I can’t figure why it is upside down. If it is upside down there will be a reason I’m sure.

That is one of the tidiest boards I have ever seen.

 

[REFLEXX]

Gents,

Here's the highly technical explanation:

The main wires come in from the bottom! That and the panel mfg said it makes no difference. My wires go underground from the main panel to the sub. I saw no benefit to coming out of the ground, going to the top of the box (extra 4-5 feet of materials) and then back in. There's details of this somewhere in the thread.

BTW, thanks for reviving the thread. I'll be posting more stuff I've done when I have a chance to breath (a bit too much work right now).

This thread is up to 38,000+ views, any more and I'll consider running for some political office! There are some nicer shops here on GJ, but I think it's a perpetual motion thread. People see a lot of views, they assume it's gotta be good, they take a look, the numbers go up, and the vicious cycle repeats.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

It must be because I'm looking at it from the other way up but I can’t figure why it is upside down. If it is upside down there will be a reason I’m sure.

That is one of the tidiest boards I have ever seen.

In the pic the main feed cables are not installed yet, but the lugs for connecting them are on the bottom, barely visible at the bottom of the two buss bars. Normally they would be at the top. However, in this case, the most room in the panel is at the main lug end and since all of the wires come in from the bottom in this installation, having the most room on the bottom is an advantage.

There is no main breaker in this installation, I presume it is outside, as this is a sub panel fed off a 400 amp meter socket on the house (dual disconnects on the house I suppose, one house, one garage?).

These panels are actually designed to be installed either way, most of the lettering on the label inside the door on my Siemens panelboard is printed both ways.

The electrical code does address neatness, and I had one electrical inspector simply quit looking at a house rewire I did on my parents house after he saw the breaker panelboard. It was so neat he was astounded. I tried to show hime the basement subpanel and some other stuff, he said it was a waste of his time to look. He called his office right away and told them to get the power company out to reconnect the wires at the mast.

I think that the fact that I had consulted frequently with the "old guy, a retired electrical contractor working at the Home Depot elect. dept" helped out too. Turned out the "old guy" was the inspectors father.

Charles

 

[PAToyota]

My panel is oriented the same way - for the same reason - the feed wires come in from underground.

And X2 on tidy counting with the inspectors. The comment I got was "This is the way things should be done..."

 

[Aeroman]

best garage work I have ever seen, PERIOD.

 

[zjrog]

I had read all the way through this, thinking it must be nice to have all this. And then I read your family history posts and I have to admit to a tear in my eye. Good for you and your family. I was born and raised here, served 20 years in the Navy, and RARELY run across people who appreciate their country as you do.

Oh yeah, I appreciate the work you put into your shop, and hope it is everything you need.

 

[cyclopsblown34]

Wow, thanks for posting your progress and sharing your family history. Awesome thread.
Reflexx for president!!!!!!

 

[REFLEXX]

Thanks guys. You have really made my day.

You've also encouraged me to post up some stuff I've done since "finished" the build.

 

[whiskytango]

Hey man, its been a while now, I think you need to start thinking about starting another shop-build for us to look at! Haha!

Kudos to you and your family - you definately have something special there. In my line of work I see far too many familys take their children for granted due to their own selfish vices. Its nice to see someone "exploit" their kids by bringing them together for a family project and putting them to work.

 

[tom.cronin]

Real nice shop, I can't wait to see more. I am in the process of building a 36 X 30 Miracle Truss garage/workshop. I only purchased the trusses because I am going to put a conventional roof and cedar siding to match the house (that was the wife's only requirement). Your pictures are great and help me envission the poject as it goes together. Could I be so brazen as to ask you for more photos? I am doing this myself with the exception of the slab and need all the help I can get. Any suggestions you can offer would be very helpful. I have lot's of questions so let me know when I start to become a pain in the @ss.

Thanks, Tom

Thunder Road Garage

 

[ksp]

Great Job on the shop man. We need new pictures!!!!!

 

[CobraKilla]

Real nice shop, I can't wait to see more. I am in the process of building a 36 X 30 Miracle Truss garage/workshop. I only purchased the trusses because I am going to put a conventional roof and cedar siding to match the house (that was the wife's only requirement). Your pictures are great and help me envission the poject as it goes together. Could I be so brazen as to ask you for more photos? I am doing this myself with the exception of the slab and need all the help I can get. Any suggestions you can offer would be very helpful. I have lot's of questions so let me know when I start to become a pain in the @ss.

Thanks, Tom

Thunder Road Garage

This guy's garage is insane! I love it!

If I were doing it the only other things I would ad would be a bathroom, a stereo built into the whole place, and hard air lines.

 

[Deltarat]

I know this is a silly question and way late in the thread, but I just found the thread.
What is the house wrap under the metal roof used for?

 

[MXtras]

I agree! We need more eye candy. Please.

Scott

 

[bthrb4u]

definatly a nice workshop/garage/possible house, lol

brody

 

[Woffski]

Wow, this is by far, one of, if not the best garages I have ever laid eyes on. Very detailed and documented! Outstanding job Reflexx.

 

[REFLEXX]

Hello All!

First of all, thanks to everyone for the comments. This was truly a labor of love.

It's been a while since I posted up any info, and it's long overdue. Life has been very busy (who's hasn't been?).

I will take some pics this weekend and post up my "1+ year later review." There are things I still haven't finished, things I want to add and some things that were not necessary.

Someone asked what the plastic was under the roof's sheetmetal. It's Tyvek style house wrap, just an additional vapor barrier. If the roof condenses on the inside, the water droplets will not harm the drywall or insulation. In theory.


PS: If anyone has SPECIFIC questions about the build, post them here. That way everyone can see the answers.

 

[REFLEXX]

UPDATE!!!

Ok everyone, here are some pics of the shop 'in use." I am a bit of an organizational freak. So everything looking clean and put away is normal. I just cannot work in a mess, too distracting.

Some things I've learned over the past year:

Epoxy coat is tough stuff, but it does get beat-up. That's OK because it's a shop, not a museum. I just make sure to wipe up any gas, coolant or other harsh chemical spills. So far, some discoloring after gas sits on it for a week, but nothing has gone through. ORDER EXTRA FLAKES! When I drag stuff across the floor, the flakes act like tiny "skid plates"

Insulation is fantastic! Outdoor tems hit 110+ a few times this summer. With the window A/C units, I maintained 80-85 degrees inside!!! Plus I can work at midnight with grinders and not worry about upsetting the neighbors.

The drop down power cord (retractable reel) is used 90% of the time. most of the 110v wall outlets are still virgins.

I wish the storage room was bigger and the "office" was smaller. The office is still an empty room while the stroage room is at capacity.

My motorcycle lift/table is AWESOME as a workbench. Tough, height adjustable, big surface area and MOBILE! I rarely use the tabletops on the cabinets.

Still no copper lines (too expensive), so I have hoses on the floor when necessary.

Air compressor is inside the big room and goes off once in a while. I muffled the intakes and it's very tolerable. Eventually it will be in an outside shed.

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE is on wheels, use it and tuck it away. My bender, welding cart, jacks, moto-lift table, toolbox rollaway, etc...

I bought some 5 shelf storage carts and whatever project i work on, all the parts go on the cart. When I'm done for the day, the cart goes in the storage room and the shop is neat.

I HATE DUST!!! I know, very sissy-like. But we live in the desert and it gets on everything. Whenever I use the air gun, I create huge clouds of ****. I bought a (woodshop style) air filtration system, but it's not that effective.

Ventilation fan is great. I can weld indoors by just cracking open some windows or the garage door and turn on the fan. It ***** all the fumes out quick!!!

ONE PROJECT AT A TIME! That's a new rule since I finished this shop. having a bunch of projects/parts/plans laying around is sooo distracting. Now everything is under tarps or out of sight. I seem to work MUCH faster when I can concentrate on ONE thing at a time.

MAKE TO DO LISTS! As I'm working on my projects, I make notes on what else to do, or what's next, or what to buy/get. I use a Palm Pilot.

I still have not put in a sink and I might never do it! I found that "GOOP" moist hand towels (white jug with blue letters) work incredibly well to clean up my hands after some serious dirty-work. The work so well that I don't even need to do a second wash with regular soap, smells nice too.

Desert buggy (sandrail) is 99% finished. Runs awesome, just some electrical work to clean up. We'll be spending a lot of time this winter in the dunes and the desert.

The next project is on the moto-lift. Stay tuned. Then I start on my Long wheelbase Samurai and my daughter's 1972 Samurai.

AND FINALLY!!!! I had a visitor from a "car magazine" last weekend. He took pics and asked questions. Looks like I might be featured in an upcoming issue!!! : )

I'll add more as I come up with stuff.

 

[MXtras]

Well! It's about time! Geesh.....some people....




Keep the pics coming, and let us know when you are 'published' so that when you continue to ignore us, we will know why......



Scott

 

[deathbypontiac]

hello,
I thought you might want to know than when an American flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. (your flag is backwards).

Taylor

P.S i like your shop.

 

[REFLEXX]

Taylor,

you are absolutely right! I'll have to fix Ole' Glory asap!

Gene S.

 

[mrodgers]

New here and surfing around looking for cabinet ideas, I ran into your original thread posted about your cabinets, before you started this thread.

I see you kept them the original color, LOL.

 

[jrod60]

Awesome shop!
Got any close-ups of that welding cart? What I saw in CC looked like a pretty slick setup, what with the bench grinder, hooks and all. Does the cart have outlets on it or do you use extension cords for each tool?
J

 

[1SlowFormula]

I hate to be the new guy that brings an old thread back to life, but I just wanted to say, Thanks...

I have been doing research on Miracle Truss garages since I will be doing one next spring, and this is the best looking shop/garage out there for the price you put into it. I come from a Ukranian background as well, born and raised in the US and served in the US Army, and think the family heritage was a great addition to the workspace. My dad had a lot of little collections, and now I have an idea where to put them after I built my garage.

Thank you for posting the pics and details of your build...

 

[blazair]

I'll jump on the bandwagon too, REFLEXX. Great thread. Im trying to decide on a steel building in the next couple of months. Miracle Truss is tempting, and your build makes it even more tempting.
I'm not Ukranian though....