The Spyder's web

[type550]

It is a very small world - you know the history of my car?? PM sent!

 

[type550]

Over the last few weeks I have spent a lot of time thinking of the little things I need to complete my garage. So through a combination of ebay find bargains and a coincidental hard rubbish collection in my neighbourhood I have been able to find some of them.

Starting with my metal cabinet which I store my power tools in, I found an old ikea office cabinet with castors on the side of a road - 5 minutes later, now my cabinet has a set of wheels to move it around my workspace. Along with a can of white paint to freshen it up (I have sanded back some rust patches and applied some Rustrid) and to match the other unit. Also I had some rubber left over from the floor of my spyder, so that will work nicely as protection for the top

I have really bad lighting over my workbench and temporarily mounted a spot light which I have to plug in every time I want to use it. An 11.50pm end to an ebay auction last night fixed this with a brand new, long twin tube fluro light which hangs from chains for $16, so when I get a sparky in to put in some extra points, he can wire this up to with a switch!

I have finally got a clock for my garage and found this great 'Mille Miglia' race clock which needs to go up

I always need an extension power cord when working in the garage and outside. The reel mounts to a wall near a powerpoint and has a net underneath which neatly winds it in and out without tangling

On the side of the wardrobe I have just done up I am going to mount a paper towel dispenser as I am sick of a roll of paper towels unrolling with a breeze etc, so this will look a lot neater and easy to access with dirty hands

The problem I have found with building a higher workbench is finding legs long enough to be able to fit my roller drawers under. Most legs are typical table height. I could use a length of timber and paint it up, but I would have to fit brackets which will make it look messy. I came across some posts used for a pool fence which are powder coated black. Flip them upside down and they can be trimmed to the right height and mounted under the benchtop.

I got a little carried away with the checker pattern on the fridge too, but it will all come together!

 

[sscustom]

dammm nice cars and garage ...a fellow aussie me too lol

 

[PCW]

Type550,

I love what you are doing with your garage space and your car is truly top notch. I have long wanted to get a reproduction of a 550, but am finding it hard to find a good reproduction manufacturer, can you suggest a few? I really want to get one now that I have a modern day 550 Spyder, I know it's no substitute for the original but it sure would look nice having them sit side by side in my garage

pcw

 

[m.james]

A pretty awesome thread. Keep it up. I feel like I learned so much about the spyder. I would also like to point out you have nice looking garage.

 

[type550]

The Boxster spyder is pretty sweet, but is probably as practical as the 550 spyder with its bare metal finish! Unfortunately with building spyders as a cottage industry, there are not many reliable builders - a couple have gone under, some take forever and some are pretty much old looking Mietas out of a box. It is probably best to get one already finished and has all the correct registration papers which is a minefield in itself for your State and customise it to how you want it. The most authentic and quality builds are Vintage Spyders and Fibersteel Spyders - both will probably take over a year before you see something with wheels on it!

 

[PCW]

The Boxster spyder is pretty sweet, but is probably as practical as the 550 spyder with its bare metal finish! Unfortunately with building spyders as a cottage industry, there are not many reliable builders - a couple have gone under, some take forever and some are pretty much old looking Mietas out of a box. It is probably best to get one already finished and has all the correct registration papers which is a minefield in itself for your State and customise it to how you want it. The most authentic and quality builds are Vintage Spyders and Fibersteel Spyders - both will probably take over a year before you see something with wheels on it!

I gave up practicability for cars a long time ago The Boxster Spyder is not a my daily driver and living in CA, lots of sunny days to drive it.

PS, thanks for the info on the 550 Spyder manufacturers.

pcw

 

[abstamaria]

Matsuda Museum

Type550, I discovered two pictured from the non long-gone Matsuda Porsche Museum that might be interesting to you. These are converted from slides I took in 1996 and unfortunately not very clear. That's my Japanese fried Osamu in the picture.

Andres

 

[type550]

Thanks for sharing them Andres. I don't know many spyders that colour today - I need to find out who owns it now. There are still a couple in Japan, but I am unsure of their numbers

 

[type550]

I got a good days worth of work done on the garage. I finished painting one side which let me bring in my new storage cabinet.

With the gap behind, I was able to put in a spare outdoor table and also a roof rack basket. Now they are safely out the way but with easy access if I need them.

The cabinet fits perfectly and I have started to fill it - it has got so much space and can fit decent size tubs too. The drawers are great for small car parts and bits n pieces

I will have to move it all around again when I get the floor tiles in a few weeks. I left a gap to fit my jack between the fridge and cabinet

I fitted the extra pair of wheels onto the steel cabinet which will work like a treat. Then I took them off and started to spray paint it white. I think I was a bit optimistic when I bought the one can which didn't even really do much more than a side, so I had to buy another 3 cans late today. With the first day of day light savings today, I might be able to finish it after work - roll on Summer!

My next task is to pull out my workbench and paint behind it, plus build a new one - so much to do, so little time!

 

[type550]

I need to get some advice fairly quickly...

There is a fire door on ebay which goes off tomorrow. I should be able to pick it up for approx $50 with a bit of luck. It would be perfect for my work bench top as it is next on my list of things to do. My only problem is that it is too long to fit in the space that I have for it. By the looks of it, it is a solid core door with a galvanised steel wrap. What would the easiest way to cut it to fit?? Is the steel usually bonded to the door or if I open an end the whole thing will slide out?? Will one tool like an angle grinder do the whole job or would I have to cut the steel around it first and then use a saw to do the solid core?? If I cut the galv first should I add a bit to fold over the edge, if so, how do I get a saw in to cut the door??

All advice is much appreciated!

Andrew

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

The differences in car guys and bike guys...

When I first read the title to the thread, this is what came to mind:

Oddly enough, its the first thing that comes to Goggle Image's mind as well...

 

[haugy]

I need to get some advice fairly quickly...

There is a fire door on ebay which goes off tomorrow. I should be able to pick it up for approx $50 with a bit of luck. It would be perfect for my work bench top as it is next on my list of things to do. My only problem is that it is too long to fit in the space that I have for it. By the looks of it, it is a solid core door with a galvanised steel wrap. What would the easiest way to cut it to fit?? Is the steel usually bonded to the door or if I open an end the whole thing will slide out?? Will one tool like an angle grinder do the whole job or would I have to cut the steel around it first and then use a saw to do the solid core?? If I cut the galv first should I add a bit to fold over the edge, if so, how do I get a saw in to cut the door??

All advice is much appreciated!

Andrew

If it's a true fire door the metal should be fixed to the door. If so, a bandsaw is what comes to mind for cutting it. If you don't have access to a bandsaw, your idea of cutting the steel and the going back with a saw for the core will work fine. If it's a good solid rigid door, you may be able to cut the steel, and cut a little into the door, and actually break the core like you would drywall.

By the way, that is a beautiful car, and I love the artwork! I'm loving the ideas of murals, and your posts have given me an idea. Thanks

 

[type550]

Hi RbrtAWhyt

there are many different breeds on this site, but some do change. I was never big on muscle cars, only 1950s classics, but the more I see them here, the more they grow on me. It is going to be a while for the bikes, once again, I like the classics - Indians, Triumphs etc, but not today's bikes - but that's what makes the world interesting!

 

[type550]

If it's a true fire door the metal should be fixed to the door. If so, a bandsaw is what comes to mind for cutting it. If you don't have access to a bandsaw, your idea of cutting the steel and the going back with a saw for the core will work fine. If it's a good solid rigid door, you may be able to cut the steel, and cut a little into the door, and actually break the core like you would drywall.

By the way, that is a beautiful car, and I love the artwork! I'm loving the ideas of murals, and your posts have given me an idea. Thanks

Thanks haugy - I don't have a band saw, but I think the grinder and jigsaw will do the trick to make it fit. I love doing the murals - they are never a chore to do and when I have the rest of the garage sorted, I will do the Mobil on on the opposite wall.

I have got a few things up and started building and painting my peg boards

 

[HOTFR8]

Sorry if I missed it but where did you find that extension cord devise ? Would be great for me as I hate winding those things up when finished.

You would need to use it fully unwound otherwise it may be a fire risk and act like a heating coil.

 

[type550]

20 bucks is a bargain - there is the exact same for $60

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Wonder-Winde...5787070?pt=AU_Power_Tools&hash=item2a09f6ab3e

 

[type550]

My search for a bargain continues... picked up this fire door today - it weighs a tonne but was a wrong size door order which the customer didn't want - brand new, unused and $60 - now I just need to work out whether to cut it down or rearrange one side of my work area to make it fit! It is going to be a great top for my workbench to replace my sheet of MDF. Also my vice will actually be solid when I bolt it on

 

[Dennis Cavallino]

That'll be one great workbench.

 

[type550]

I got around to clearing the side to set up my workbench. A lot of stuff to move around but it all seems to be coming together. Once again painting the walls makes a big difference, even seems to cut the amount of dust around which was just sticking to the walls

before...

after...

The problem is at the end of the day everything just gets thrown back in to fit the car in and to sit for another week. I would love just 4 days to do it all and then sit back and enjoy it!

 

[type550]

I had a couple of tasks to do - build a frame to fit my larger pegboard in to sit over my workbench and also to build a couple of doors to close off the shelves that have my jars of nuts and bolts. I was in the process of painting the shelves and had the pegboard sitting next to it. Then I realised that the pegboard wasn't much bigger than the shelves, so 2 hinges later I mounted the pegboard to the front of the shelves - now it is multi purpose and saves me more space!

I forgot how snug the whole unit fitted to the wall. I had to mount it higher, so I have 100mm clearance from the new benchtop going in

It was a good time to go through the jars and consolidate and also clean them out before I put them back.

I had to add a clip to the bottom to stop it from swinging open

So now it is all hidden! (just add tools)

I also hung a banner of 550-01 which has been sitting around for a while without a place

My old pegboard has now become a space to frame old license plates and the odd trophy on top, plus the helmet is back where it belongs

I did a painting a while back, but my wife refused hanging it in the house, so the back of the sliding panel is its new home

Next task is the new workbench!

 

[Shaggie]

The problem is at the end of the day everything just gets thrown back in to fit the car in and to sit for another week. I would love just 4 days to do it all and then sit back and enjoy it!

Type550,

i am SO hearing that!

am NEARLY there in sorting my garage - even managed to get both cars and the motorbike back in there for the first time in months (after painting and rearranging) but to get the workbench built, i'll need to take most of it OUT again!


Loving your work -

Shane

 

[Shaggie]

So now it is all hidden! (just add tools)

thats slick!

 

[type550]

I keep seeing on this site the importance of making lists and doing everything in a logical order so you don't bite off more than you can chew when trying to renovate a garage and ending up in a big mess. I have been very focussed on doing things in the right order even though I just want to get it done!

There was quite a lot of gardening things in my garage such as lawn mower, blower and other bits and pieces. A few years back I built a garden shed in the front yard as our back yard is 'very landscaped' and one really didn't fit in. So it wasn't an eye sore from the street, I built a fence around it and landscaped

I pulled everything out of it and reclaimed the shelves that were under my workbench that I have pulled out. Now everything fits, including the mower!

So back to the garage, I started building the new workbench. From the racking I originally had, I cut it down to form the back base of the bench. This will fit a heap of crates full of odds and ends that I go searching for when I am doing those 'special' projects. I know you have to be ruthless, but you can't throw everything. At least they are all hidden out of the way!

I made sure to reinforce and brace it to stop it from wobbling. I got the angle grinder out and cut some grooves on the fire door I bought to fit around the brick pillars and bolted some melamine to the back to stop loosing things off the back and also I will be able to fit some powerpoints to it later.

I fitted all the right hooks to the peg board and put on all the tools I use the most

Nothing falls off when I need to access the jars either which is good

I also fitted the new fluro, but another job is to get a sparky in to wire it all up along with the points and other lights. A bit of a clean up and the new bench top comes up a treat. My only concern is the height of it. I built it to fit the roller under it, but I will see how functional it is, otherwise I might have to drop it 6 inches. I still need to mount the vice to the bench top too.

I bought a couple of cutlery drawer inserts to organise my mix match of tools - worked a treat

I hung all my ladders - following the rules here of getting everything off the ground...

I still have to put the final coat on the cabinet and decorate it with the checker pattern. I will have to take the wheels off it as they don't fit properly and doesn't roll well (the thought was there!)

Hopefully in the next week or so I will get my flooring tiles, so I will have to pull everything out again, which I am not looking forward to.

As we are in Spring downunder, I put the Spyder in for a service today as it have been an extremely wet winter here and there has not been much Spyder time without a roof! Now all the shows are starting, so it is time to start focusing on the car now.

This is a photo of the back of the garage

 

[Lickers]

I love how you've created a working area that has a distinction from the garage area where the car is stored. I may just have to steal that one from you.

Top marks on creating such a nice space - even though it's quite small in terms of physical volume. Loving the car, too!

 

[type550]

Thanks lickers. It works really well having 2 distinct spaces as over the years there has been a few war scars on the Spyder of kids bringing bikes past it or knocking it with other things. Now there is no reason for them to go where the car is.

I must say I am a little disillusioned at this point. Even though I have thrown and moved a heap, it feels like I am just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as I haven't really gained any more storage space. My daughter just dumped a tank on my bench because her mouse just died - where do I put that?? I know I can't throw it as she will want another one in 6 months!

 

[Lickers]

To be fair, there's nothing else you could do - save for installing a lift that takes to to an underground area, James Bond villian-style. I know how difficult it is to make small spaces work so the only tangible way to go is to expand into another area or have another garage, elsewhere.

Re: the tank. She should keep it in her room and make a feature out of it. Cars belong in the garage, regardless how much kids/wives will moan about freeing up some space.

 

[type550]

Unfortunately I don't have the height for a real hoist (Bond style would be interesting!) - not a bad idea at all with the tank - thanks

 

[abstamaria]

What about a shed outside, type550, if it will fit and won't spoil your lovely outdoor space? I have been using an off-the-shelf Rubbermaid garden shed.

 

[type550]

Good idea, but I was thinking that I have some storage space in the roof - less chance of someone knocking it off a shelf - there is always a solution when you put your mind to it

 

[Plushy]

Awesome Job on the Car and Garage Type550 ! and Good to see another Aussie on here , hope you dont mind but i am stealing a few of your ideas for my own shed .
Also i was wondering where you get the large prints done? i wouldn`t mind getting a few done for my own shed and whats the largest size they can do ?

cheers Plushy

 

[abstamaria]

You already have one! I don't know how I missed that shed you built, Type550. You may have to have more stringent rules on what gets stored and what is given away. BTW, you blended in the garage and your shed with the rest of your nice property. Many of us on GJ forget to do that. Very pleasant surroundings.

 

[4StarCstms]

Thats come out great! Superb job

 

[type550]

Hi Plushy - take all the ideas you need - that's what this site is here for! I get the displays made up by a guy who does all my display jobs for work. Thinking of putting a large format machine in myself as I reckon there is a market for these garage posters and the classic 50s racing shots are so cool they look good anywhere. The most expensive part is getting the photo scanned large enough.

Andres - We have a hard rubbish collection this week where we put everything we don't want out on our 'nature strip' (don't know what you guys call them, but it is the piece of grass between the road and the foot path [or pavement]) Then during the week, the council comes and collects it all and takes it to the tip (dump) This time would have been the most I have ever put out - from the garage, garden shed and the house. I have to try harder to be as disciplined as you

4StarCstms - I am happy with the result - the new floor will be the icing on the cake, can't wait!

 

[Boosted1]

Man you have done an outstanding job with that space. I think I would smile everytime I opened the door and saw the view shown in your last picture. Probably noone would expect to see that behind the door, but when you do it looks like it was meant to be there.

 

[type550]

Exciting week this week - I get my tiles for the floor and if all goes well I should be able to lay them this weekend

I started last night on the next mural for my wall which is the Pegasus sign. I got a bit of an outline done and layed the based colour, so it shouldn't take long to do (it is just a pain that I have to roll the spyder out to do the bottom half!)

 

[Dennis Cavallino]

You did a lot of work since I visited this site a couple of weeks ago. Great afford.

 

[robertgreen79]

Shop is looking great. After we get our walls up, I'll be doing the projector image/mural thing too.

BTW, your home itself is beautiful!

 

[type550]

Thanks guys - it's coming together. Picked up the tiles today which will make a big transformation. The car are will be easy and a straight lay - the back half is going to be fun as I need to pull most of it out again to lay them, but after that, I can sit back and enjoy it!

It doesn't look like many

 

[slowtwitch]

Great garage!!! Beautiful car !!!! My ultimate goal is to get an older Porsche, but, for now I'll have to make do with my 57 VW. Btw, I make linkages for the aircooled engines, currently working on a 911 setup. What did the Spyder's use, crossbar???? bell crank????.