The Rusty Ranch 2 car tetanus techshop.

[RustCollector]

Iv'e shown a few photos on other post before, but I'm starting a project to get my tools organized and thought I may as well just start a thread for whats going on in my shop. Now this garage has for the most part of the last 11 years, not been used for parking our dailys. Now that my wife has a new car, I felt it was time for her to have a spot. The burden for me is trying to move my 49 Caddy over ( on dollies) to work on it.It's just too damn heavy. Anyway, with my tools spread between 2 rollaways and some pegs on the walls, I decided to build a "Wall of tools". Iv'e looked at many different examples here- and honestly there are a few garages here in GJ that are cleaner than some rooms that Iv'e had surgery in! Thats not really my style.I get my shop dirty! So I'm going in a little different direction. Where I'm starting is the back wall (behind the Ford in the photo).I have removed everything that was there and am now starting to work on the bench design.

 

[RustCollector]

This is what I'm starting with.I picked up that new Blue base box at a discount yard last weekend for $75.00 ! Thats what motivated me to start this project. I hope to go to the steel yard tomorrow for materials. Progress will be slow as I work out of town most of the week. I will be looking for advice on a few things and my first question is-

Does anyone have experience of stripping paint from metal and just spraying it with a clear coat? I like the raw look. Any examples to look at? I am thinking of this for all my boxes and drawers. Also, this bench will only be 18" deep due to the length of the garage being only 20' and needing to get the Caddy in there with the bumpers on.

 

[RustCollector]

The Cadillac takes up alot of room!

 

[BuickFarmer]

I can barely open the door wide enough to pitch stuff into my old barn anymore so will be watching this for ideas! Have you considered or do you have room for one of the 10x20 portable garages for the caddy? They usually go on sale at Tractor Supply after Christmas
Btw, looks as if you are pulling out of your "funk" here, keep it up

 

[BuickFarmer]

This is what I'm starting with.I picked up that new Blue base box at a discount yard last weekend for $75.00 ! Thats what motivated me to start this project. I hope to go to the steel yard tomorrow for materials. Progress will be slow as I work out of town most of the week. I will be looking for advice on a few things and my first question is-

Does anyone have experience of stripping paint from metal and just spraying it with a clear coat? I like the raw look. Any examples to look at? I am thinking of this for all my boxes and drawers. Also, this bench will only be 18" deep due to the length of the garage being only 20' and needing to get the Caddy in there with the bumpers on.

Check out a thread called Industrial Metal Desks in General Discussion, there is a guy there who has done some

 

[RustCollector]

I had it in the back under the tin roof. I moved it into the garage because its where all the tools are and its more comfortable. I have my 34 chevy truck and a couple other piles of projects out there now. I'm alway's in some sort of funk or another.I'm 50,I'm married, and my last name is Moody.There you go

 

[xtremek]

Looks like a ton of fun and pain happen in that garage. Count me in for the ride on this one.

 

[BuickFarmer]

You forgot one...... You're a Construction Manager

 

[RustCollector]

Looks like a ton of fun and pain happen in that garage. Count me in for the ride on this one.

Yeah, pain- considering I was recently diagnosed with advanced deterioration in my lower spine and neck from arthritis! But theres always a ton of fun ( when you have no help) breaking down a 60- 70 year old car and tryin to figure out how it goes back together!

 

[RustCollector]

You forgot one...... You're a Construction Manager

That only works for me because I'm a little "Off". Any normal person would feel like jumping off a bridge at times in this industry!

 

[BuickFarmer]

That only works for me because I'm a little "Off". Any normal person would feel like jumping off a bridge at times in this industry!

Nah, I consider myself "normal", was in the industry for 39 years and felt that way many times. But you know how good it feels when the projects are done, you look back and say I built that, you'll survive. And I can empathize with your neck pain, I have had ever since falling off a bridge scaffold 35 years ago. 2-3-4 Aleve generally get me through a day though.
What year is the sedanette, 48-49? Love the 49 caddy and Buick sedanettes. What you need is another one as a go by for putting it back together. I have a yard full of 54 Buick go by's and 2-3 torn down needing to go back together. Got to get my garage finished before that happens though. Hang in there, you're a young man, it will all work out.

 

[RustCollector]

The Caddy is a 49. 454, TH400, 70 GM front clip, will have 4 wheel disk brakes.

On another note, I just returned from my local Industrial Metal Supply. The have the largest selection and best prices around. That being said, I left there empty handed with sticker shock. I'm going back to the drawing board.I'm cheap. I preffer to work with used /scrap materials when possible,but this project is going to require full lengths of stock. I am now going to redesign it in "Unistrut" because I like the configureability of it. If thats too expensive, I'll use wood.I can build it in wood in a fraction of the time and cost as I can in steel.

 

[RustCollector]

Okay, so I was able to get something going yesterday. I finished removing and storing the rest of the shelf items.I went to my stash and found that I had 6 sheets of 3/8 plywood (jobsite left overs) and I found 8 adjustable SS legs from a commercial kitchen build last year. My bro Kiwi gave me two steel frames that are 20" x 96".I can modify those for a base. I also bought a gallon of paint stripper for the boxes. I installed the plywood and am starting layout of the tool storage bench. I hope to resume construction when I return home for a 4 day Christmas weekend. I will spending very little out of pocket on this project as usual.

 

[RustCollector]

So, I was able to get in the shop and get some work done. I decided to make two 18" deep x 6' long bases. This will leave room (after the tool boxes) to install my mini fridge and my new hose reel +some. The frames were 20" x 8' so I had to cut it down and stitch back , and then I made some base plates for the legs.I stripped the paint where needed and I will finish with the Penetrol that I ordered from Amazon when it arrives. I'll start the 2nd base tomorrow.

 

[RustCollector]

It's been a long while to get this far because I work out of town and have limited time on the weekends. I am close to being done. I have more tool drawers to strip and the mini fridge door. My new hose reel will be in the lower cubby at the far left. I used new lumber but trimmed it out with old fencing my neighbor was trashing. I was never a fan of "faux" brick, but I think when I get all my old goodies on the walls it will look like an old shop.

 

[RustCollector]

Slowly getting it put together.. What do you think?

 

[captain14]

Very nice. Did you order the program that puts everything away in its correct place after a day of wrenching?

Gotta spend time everyday putting stuff away or it just accumulates.

 

[RustCollector]

Cap, I'm pretty good at puttin tools away because Im out of town so much.The problem is, I used to identify my tools locations by the color of the chest that they were in. I will come up with a reasonable solution, but I know that I will be searching drawers for some time to come to remember where I store the tin snips or whatever.I dont have enough room for clutter because after being married for 10 years (to this wife) I am actually letting her park in my garage. I must be getting soft in my old age.

 

[RustCollector]

Been a while, So after working out of town for 15 months and only home on weekends, I had done nothing to my truck except collect parts. I was ready for something to cruise and now. So- I moved the 64 short bed out back to the carport, and rolled in this. I used some well deserved bonus $ and drove the 15+ hours round trip with my best bro- Merc John, to the bay area to grab this 1949 Chevy coupe. It was an OG "Bomb" style car so I had to spend a few weeks and bucks doing a makeover to resemble a "Gentleman's Custom" The photo inside of the garage is the current state of it.I got it done in time to cruise with my bro's the "Lords" from here in Riverside, to the GNRS in Pomona and we had a blast. This old car got a whole lotta love!

The news on the shop space is-- I am currently relocating the entire "in the house workshop" to a 10 x 12 out building (existing) and will be gutting and remodeling the 56 year old bedroom and bath for us to live in while we ( Next year?) remodel our master and bath.UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[xtremek]

Nice Chebbie. 15 months away from home? Not this dog. My hat's off to you.

 

[RustCollector]

Yeah, it was tough X, in fact - it sucked. But in the end I earned a huge bonus and a month off for " Catching my breath" Now I'm working from my home office and life is good.

Its funny. I bust my *** on my little space and its not noticed.But, the vast majority of the shops here are new "pole barns" or giant shops. I dig the fact that some can have the luxury of land and $$$$ for such spaces, but I'm just a dirtbag at heart. I like my space lean and mean and sometimes clean. I need to see my stuff so I can find it,
and not hide it behind cabinet doors. I know there are more guys like me out there, I cant be the only one. I don't need paint, fancy boxes, or color coordinated rubber floors to make me better at what I do. I just enjoy the basic ideas that are presented on some of these threads. I hope that more guys like me will just post the basic stuff and not feel pressured to build a "GarageMajhall" and sacrifice their children's future or family life to "Keep up with the "GJB boy's"

 

[xtremek]

I fall somewhere in between. Would I love a Garagemahal? Sure. Do I have the money? No. So I'll hustle and get something in between. I'm guessing you don't usually get cold weather, so having finished walls isn't a priority.

 

[RustCollector]

X- it does get down to low 30's a few times a year and that's cold enough for us sunshine lovers!

My walls are finished! there is drywall behind everything you see here. I also park two cars in here full time, my 49 Chevy and my wife's car. If I need to work on something inside I just drive em out!

I have an outside carport area in the back, that is where my 64 Chevy truck is waiting to be given some attention.

 

[HSpencer]

RustCollector

A very well organized shop. I like your hardware storage and bench. I am also pretty blown away over the black ride in the last photo!! Very Nice!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[RustCollector]

Thanks Herb, you have a very inspiring shop yourself. That Chevy is my new baby that I got at the new year and its nice to have a driver again.

 

[thetastelingers]

Nice shop! Has a very rustic feel to it. Everything in it's place.
That new baby though. Man that is a slick car. Congratulations on that purchase!

 

[xtremek]

I get it now. That's my kind of shop. One that's used.

 

[RustCollector]

Thanks, TTL - yeah I'm driving her as much as I can for now. There may be an LS swap in the future though, That 216 /3spd is good for the slow cruise only.

X- yes, every weekend I spend time in there if I can.