Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The Mad Lab gets some sanity

MadMechMaster · Jun 7, 2013

Edit 2024, I found some of these old photos outside of Photobucket, So I am fixing this up somewhat.

This is my work shop. It's a 2 car, measures 19 X 21 on the inside. This is the space where I get projects done, which could be woodworking, car repair, or a random build. Lately, I've been working on the yard and landscaping projects. So there is alot of yard stuff laying around.

Left Side:

Right Side:

This is where most of the work happens:

Another view of the back corner:

I have some plans, and I think that having a thread to update will keep me moving on this project.

Edited: this is where it sits today, July 30th

MadMechMaster · Jun 7, 2013

My first step will be to build a table saw station that includes the miter saw and the small drill press. I hope to get everything to flip down and out of the way so that I can have a large worktable when not using these tools.

To do this I am making a sacrifice, the large work bench in the middle of the room.

This is where I am today.

Bib Overalls · Jun 7, 2013

Looks alot like my shop. I call it purposeful clutter.

MadMechMaster · Jun 8, 2013

Yeah, I kind of have everything grouped by purpose. But the clutter is what I want to get rid of.

MadMechMaster · Jun 9, 2013

I got started on the table saw station today.

Thruxton · Jun 9, 2013

This so much reminds me of where I started- looking forward to watching your progress, it is an incredibly rewarding exercise!

pepi · Jun 9, 2013

Clutter cutter that'll fix it.

ScubaSteve · Jun 9, 2013

Try cleaning the whole shop and getting rid of the clutter first. It'll make building things that much easier. The hard part is keeping the shop clean...lol...

MadMechMaster · Jun 9, 2013

Square footage is my handicap. I want to put up a shed, but that is long term. I'm stuck with the yard tools until then.

The long rang plan is to build under eave storage shelves in a U shape around the back and sides. Put the machines in the back right corner, The tool boxes and service cart along the back wall. The stuff stored on the left wall will be limited to 18" out to make it easier to service our cars.

The desk presently in the right corner and the work bench along the back wall are all going to be raw materials for the builds.

I'll knock out some of the clutter for Garbage Eve on Tuesday.

MadMechMaster · Jun 12, 2013

It doesn't really show in the pictures, but I tossed some stuff, and swept up. I put a cement tub behind the table saw to collect dust. Also started to mock up the placement of the miter saw and drill press.

The miter saw should be able to use the TS fence and dump some dust in the bin also.

This back area will be built into a work bench with storage beneath it. I think I can fit all of my woodworking tools here.

This is the stack of old computer desks that I will use for some of the materials. Look at all of that wasted space.

MadMechMaster · Jun 18, 2013

OK, time for an update. I have the woodworking bench constructed, to a point where it can hold everything that needs to go in or on it. I still have to build the flip down mounts for the miter saw and small drill press, along with the various storage cubbies and shelves.

I put the floor drill press on the rolling base from the table saw.

My priority is getting the whole place straightened out, so I have been putting all of my woodworking related stuff on it on order to get it out of the way. This way I can also see what needs to have a place made for it on the bench.

This is the long bench that I am planning to cut down shorter and beef up so that I can put my vise on it for heavy work. I've got alot more stuff to toss or sell.

safexcrane · Jun 19, 2013

You are having a great space.. you just have to maintain it well.

MadMechMaster · Jun 27, 2013

OK, time for another update. I'm not as far along as I want to be, but I am doing this an hour or two at a time.

I shortened and beefed up that 10' work bench. I moved the tool boxes into place. The Mill and Lathe were moved up into the corner and the Table saw was pushed against he wall. It is nice to have almost everything on casters.

The old bench held a lot of junk. Some will be sold at a garage sale, and the rest was put up on the shelves that I had been using for wood storage. This is not the final place I want this stuff. You can see I've got some burning to do.

All that work, and I bury the table saw. But all of this is woodworking stuff, and as part of the sorting process it needs to be for now.

And finally, here is a new corner. This is all of the yard stuff. It should really be in a shed. I think that I have enough material for a small wall locker sized shed. This should get everything except the mower and blower out of here. I could buy a small plastic shed, but I am trying to see how far I can get with what I already have.

MadMechMaster · Jul 31, 2013

It's finished, at least for 2013. There are a lot of boxes to go through, but they are out of the way. But with the space, I can get back to projects.

Thruxton · Jul 31, 2013

You'll keep going I'm sure, but even now you get to enjoy the fact that jobs take less time, organization almost (ha!) comes naturally, and work is more fun. You've made great progress and no matter when the next big push is, keep us posted!

shopnut · Jul 31, 2013

Sanity? Say it isn't so! It's waaaay overrated

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But I think clutter really slows any project down. Nice job cleaning up in there - you will not regret it.

MadMechMaster · Aug 1, 2013

Thanks guys!

I can walk to any area without climbing over stuff. I used to just throw parts and tools where it was convenient after a job was finished. Since my youngest is now three, I can take some more time to do it right.

In the future, I'll go through the junk on the walls and thin that out. That would be for insulation and drywall (heat?)sometime next year.

MadMechMaster · Aug 1, 2013

Today I pilled my wife's Monte Carlo in to get started on struts and lower control arms. I can walk around it with the doors open. No NASCAR gymnastics.