Tooling (Re)Organization

[lilscorpion]

I'm serious, those that you have built are awesome and you make it look so easy!

The secret is fear. If I don't figure out the garage organization then we have to buy a new house with a bigger garage.

No matter how many times I say that out loud, I still feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

Yes, I want a bigger garage but I don't want a bigger mortgage payment that comes with one because the bigger garage comes with a bigger laundry room, a mud room, and a bunch of other $hit that makes the mortgage go up like a sidewalk that has like 100 steps which is brutal to shovel show off of. I'd rather keep the mortgage the same and buy more tools.

So I gotta figure out how to buy myself some more space in the garage. If I can't accomplish that, and get the other car in, the next step is to sell the lathe or the bigger garage/house thing.

And here comes the stress.

 

[EOC_Jason]

If you lived closer I would give that lathe a good home and you could come over any time to use it... That would give you a lot more room....

 

[lilscorpion]

If you lived closer I would give that lathe a good home and you could come over any time to use it... [emoji6] That would give you a lot more room....

It would look good in your garage. [emoji16]


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[BoilermakerFan]

The secret is fear. If I don't figure out the garage organization then we have to buy a new house with a bigger garage.

No matter how many times I say that out loud, I still feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

Yes, I want a bigger garage but I don't want a bigger mortgage payment that comes with one because the bigger garage comes with a bigger laundry room, a mud room, and a bunch of other $hit that makes the mortgage go up like a sidewalk that has like 100 steps which is brutal to shovel show off of. I'd rather keep the mortgage the same and buy more tools.

So I gotta figure out how to buy myself some more space in the garage. If I can't accomplish that, and get the other car in, the next step is to sell the lathe or the bigger garage/house thing.

And here comes the stress.

Any room for a bump out on the exterior wall of the garage? Or a nice sized shed in the back yard?

Or sell the wife's car... oh wait, that would make more stress and you'd be begging for forgiveness...

 

[lilscorpion]

Any room for a bump out on the exterior wall of the garage? Or a nice sized shed in the back yard?



Or sell the wife's car... oh wait, that would make more stress and you'd be begging for forgiveness...

The side wall away from the house is right up against the easement so it can’t be moved. Rear wall behind the tandem is on the back edge of the house so it really can’t be moved without overrunning the kitchen bay window that looks out the rear.

Only way I can expand the garage is up or down. Both would be crazy expensive. If I go there, I’m probably better off buying a different house.



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[BoilermakerFan]

The side wall away from the house is right up against the easement so it can’t be moved. Rear wall behind the tandem is on the back edge of the house so it really can’t be moved without overrunning the kitchen bay window that looks out the rear.

Only way I can expand the garage is up or down. Both would be crazy expensive. If I go there, I’m probably better off buying a different house.



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So, you need a big shed in the backyard!

 

[lilscorpion]

So, you need a big shed in the backyard!

And a bigger backyard.



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[lilscorpion]

Any room for a bump out on the exterior wall of the garage? Or a nice sized shed in the back yard?

We did look at a house end of last year that had a 4-Car garage and below it another 4-Car garage. It didn’t have a shed though so we moved on.




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[carnutdallas]

We did look at a house end of last year that had a 4-Car garage and below it another 4-Car garage. It didn’t have a shed though so we moved on.




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I hope your kidding


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[icecactus]

l noticed you own a Kreg Foreman, just curious as to why you drill into the sides and end grain of the plywood instead of using pocket holes for the your carcasses?

 

[lilscorpion]

I hope your kidding


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Kidding about the shed part, not kidding on the 4+4. We moved on because the house ironically had very small closets, office, dining room, and no way for the dogs to get to the backyard from the main level.


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[BoilermakerFan]

Kidding about the shed part, not kidding on the 4+4. We moved on because the house ironically had very small closets, office, dining room, and no way for the dogs to get to the backyard from the main level.


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Not to mention the need to fill the garages gets expensive too! 2 daily drivers, the Jeep, a bay for your tools... that leaves 4 more vehicles to purchase and insure.


Hmmm... if I can fit 10 motorcycles in a small double, then I would have room for at least 30 there while still giving my wife a place to park!

 

[lilscorpion]

Not to mention the need to fill the garages gets expensive too! 2 daily drivers, the Jeep, a bay for your tools... that leaves 4 more vehicles to purchase and insure.

Dude. The upper 4-Car is one for the wife, 1 for me, 1 for the Jeep, one for the snowblower and other yard **** like lawn mower (tractor), etc.

The bottom garage would have a 2-post lift in one bay, one bay for metal working machines, one for wood working, and one between the two fab bays for universal shop tables, assembly are, etc.

Come to think of it, 4+4 may not quite be big enough. Where would my kids park?!


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[BoilermakerFan]

Dude. The upper 4-Car is one for the wife, 1 for me, 1 for the Jeep, one for the snowblower and other yard **** like lawn mower (tractor), etc.

The bottom garage would have a 2-post lift in one bay, one bay for metal working machines, one for wood working, and one between the two fab bays for universal shop tables, assembly are, etc.

Come to think of it, 4+4 may not quite be big enough. Where would my kids park?!


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Exactly! In all seriousness, that house I posted in my thread that is for sale in town is a sweet house, but NO room for two cars, let alone my daughter's car which is in our driveway now while she is at school. Fortunately, my son is only 12 so my daughter would be out on her own by the time he inherits the Subaru or Pilot for his first vehicle. And the house was seriously landlocked. I would have had to buy land from the neighbor just to add a driveway to the backyard for the detached 3 or 4 car garage and shop.

And that 4+4 would limit you to one toy!

 

[Bessy]

Wow I had a lot of catching up to do. After only skimming the thread a few times over the last month or so, I finally sat down and read it through from where I left off. Turns out I really should have refrained because now I "need" a 3D printer!

If you ask me if I had the opportunity to get into a place with 4+4 garages, the dogs would just have to **** it up and figure out their own way to the yard!

Things are coming along great! Keep up the good work, Scorpion.

B.

 

[BearsFan315]

I buy my filament from Maker Geeks they sell their own homemade brand which is great, but also sell all the other big name brands. I run the Maker Geeks in my Wanhao Dup i3 never an issue, really good stuff.

set it up and print the calibration cubes to ensure everything is set up correct. i have printed many of these to calibrate the machine (simple insurance):

PLA is my go to and never an issue... love the glow in the dark stuff fun to print and play with !!

 

[ODIS]

Drawers, Drawers, and more Drawers. Love them all! Enjoy reading this thread and have experienced some of the same challenges you have had in your shop.

While my space would creep you out since there is little organization, can tell you after reading your nicely documented thread, we will be looking forward to making better organized storage units......Ones that are strong and less so pretty as built by me recently.

Thank you for your inspiration.

ODIS.

 

[lilscorpion]

Drawers, Drawers, and more Drawers. Love them all! Enjoy reading this thread and have experienced some of the same challenges you have had in your shop.



While my space would creep you out since there is little organization, can tell you after reading your nicely documented thread, we will be looking forward to making better organized storage units......Ones that are strong and less so pretty as built by me recently.



Thank you for your inspiration.



ODIS.

You can still be saved! Build some drawers. [emoji16]

I’ve not had time to share last weekends progress yet however, after moving In I’ve realized that I missed adding some ultra shallow drawers for some of the little stuff like tape measure, marking utilities, utility knives, etc. I have a plan and now I’m seeing more drawers in my immediate future...so I ain’t done yet, more to come!!


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[Nuts]

I've wondered if the way to handle a large amount of sockets, is to do the layout in cad and have a local cnc router guy do the milling. It you did it right I'd think a 24x40 3 to 4in deep drawer could hold all the sockets a guy could ever want standing on end.

Somewhere I saw that you could buy two color plastics, that when you routed in the socket sizes they would show another color for easy reading.

Guy would want to have every socket he ever wanted before having it built, because changing your mind could get expensive.

 

[niget2002]

I've wondered if the way to handle a large amount of sockets, is to do the layout in cad and have a local cnc router guy do the milling. It you did it right I'd think a 24x40 3 to 4in deep drawer could hold all the sockets a guy could ever want standing on end.

Somewhere I saw that you could buy two color plastics, that when you routed in the socket sizes they would show another color for easy reading.

Guy would want to have every socket he ever wanted before having it built, because changing your mind could get expensive.

Thus the 3d printer was born...

Print it in chunks 4" by 2" instead of CNC cutting.

If you ever need to adjust, print new ones. As long as you use some type of known grid size, you can easily adjust the grid for changes.

 

[lilscorpion]

Thus the 3d printer was born...



Print it in chunks 4" by 2" instead of CNC cutting.



If you ever need to adjust, print new ones. As long as you use some type of known grid size, you can easily adjust the grid for changes.

Exactly. As mentioned previously, different thinking needs to be applied So grouping tools by their “set” (how they were purchased and/or may be replaced) otherwise you’d find yourself in a position where you’d have to (re)print more than you might find desirable. e.g. - when replacing an entire socket set.

 

[tjpavlov]

Can you share some more details about the metal base that you are using for the cabinets? Is that Unistrut? Did you weld the little leg levelers on?

I need to build something similar, but it needs to be about 18 inches tall to go over my water meter.

 

[lilscorpion]

Can you share some more details about the metal base that you are using for the cabinets? Is that Unistrut? Did you weld the little leg levelers on?

I need to build something similar, but it needs to be about 18 inches tall to go over my water meter.

I do use uni-strut to make my cabinet bases.



How I make the legs and reinforce them depends on hollow long they need to be. If the base needs to be only inches off the ground (standard cabinet toe kick is ~3-inches) I’ll cut off a 3-inch long piece and weld a nut inside.



Then weld it to the main assembly keeping it parallel to the uni-strut it’s being welded to.



If the leg needs to be taller/longer, I weld the leg perpendicular. Here’s a welding bottle stand that I needed to make to work around the foundation.





If I can minimize by attaching multiple bases together, I do so. This base incorporates the foundation as the rear legs/support.



Fairly simple structure for how much it supports.



Though not obvious, all of my bases that use the longer perpendicular legs are also attached to something else for additional stability. In the above cases they’re attached to the wall. I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable using them as unattached bases if I could attach them to the wall.

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[niget2002]

Your use of unistrut is just one more reason I want to get a welder and learn to use it.

Dang temptations...

 

[zmotorsports]

Great use of Unistrut. You may want to do yourself a favor and get a piece of small chain or cable and secure those tanks in the corner on that stand.

 

[lilscorpion]

Great use of Unistrut. You may want to do yourself a favor and get a piece of small chain or cable and secure those tanks in the corner on that stand.

Interesting fact - they’ve been standing in that same corner (but,on the ground impeding the garage door) more or less for about 3 years. Same spot, other side of the garage for 5 years. Thinking that if they’d get knocked over it woulda happened by now.

Now I have to because you made me jinx myself. Damn




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[XJSuperman]

I think i would run a safety chain regardless, but even more so now that they are off the ground. In my mind it doesn't matter how well it sits or how much its bolted down, raising the height or putting an object on a stand increases the potential for a fall.

But I do like the stand.

 

[EOC_Jason]

That's the kind of accident that only happens once... Get a little chain and you won't have to worry about something catastrophic happening...

 

[Jason Lister]

Ok, wow guys. After personally watching my cylinder exchange professionals drop my 300 cf argon cylinder off a loading dock directly onto the safety cap, I feel I can safely say he's in no danger.
Yes, if the safety cap is removed the brass valve is susceptible. The biggest danger is the heavy bottle crushing something or someone. That being said, my bottles are all secured.

Lil scorpion, I love your work and the detail of your posts. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

 

[zmotorsports]

Interesting fact - they’ve been standing in that same corner (but,on the ground impeding the garage door) more or less for about 3 years. Same spot, other side of the garage for 5 years. Thinking that if they’d get knocked over it woulda happened by now.

Now I have to because you made me jinx myself. Damn




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Sorry, I guess that's the safety aspect of my job coming out. I realize that a home shop is nothing like a maintenance shop but accidents can still happen and a huge part of my job is not only managing the companies assets but also risk management which is something I seem to not be able to shut off when I walk out the door each day.

In some aspects I am grateful because I look at things in my own shop with safety and risk management included but other times I kick myself for not being able to shut it off.

Either way, it's your shop I just thought it was worth mentioning. I would hate for that "it's never happened" to turn into "it only happened once and I wish it hadn't".

 

[lilscorpion]

In some aspects I am grateful because I look at things in my own shop with safety and risk management included but other times I kick myself for not being able to shut it off.

No apology required. You’re right and I see it (and have been programmed to see it) as well, it’s just not made it to the top of the list yet. I do visualize one of them tipping over, the valve getting knocked off, and the bottle rocketing through the garage and ending up in my neighbors living room. The redneck Friday night matinee..


Probably time to put some insurance in place.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Or it falls over and bangs a car, or your table saw, or hits a person and knocks them over onto something else... domino effect... Not necessary to go airborne, can still cause plenty of damage just falling over.

 

[niget2002]

See... this is why I hate showing pictures of stuff. You do a wonderful job and suddenly everyone wants to bust your balls over one little thing.

Life is full of 'acceptable risk'. If the OP doesn't have a problem with it, then I think one, maybe two, people telling him he should do something about it is enough. Once everyone else starts jumping on it, it's excessive.

 

[zmotorsports]

See... this is why I hate showing pictures of stuff. You do a wonderful job and suddenly everyone wants to bust your balls over one little thing.

Life is full of 'acceptable risk'. If the OP doesn't have a problem with it, then I think one, maybe two, people telling him he should do something about it is enough. Once everyone else starts jumping on it, it's excessive.

I agree that is the downside of posting pictures of your work on a public forum. Believe me, I'm not perfect and get my balls busted routinely as well as anyone else. One side of this forum is to show off our projects and abilities but the other side is to help, assist, inquire, educate or all of the above our fellow forum members.

Personally there are constructive ways of doing that then there is the "****" way of doing it. I apologize if I came across as "busting your balls", I was trying to operate in the assisting mindset to help a fellow forum member avoid an accident or damage. Sometimes we don't see the forest for the trees and something we see every day is not as obvious as a fresh set of eyes.

Sorry to hijack your thread lilscorpion and believe me, I was NOT trying to "bust your balls" so I apologize if I came across in that manner.

 

[EOC_Jason]

We just don't want you to die or get injured, then we wouldn't get to see all the awesome stuff you build! We're looking out for your best interest!

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Nah, we just like busting his balls!

 

[Nuts]

Sometimes when building something, you are too close to the project to see the faults.

I have the bad habit when someone asks me about a project, I immediately think of all the negatives. For one, I'm pretty sure that they have already discovered all the positives, because that's what we all do, the rose tinted glasses effect.

It's a nice stand, hidden behind the door track. Needs a safety chain.

Looking forward to the first printed tool holder.

 

[lilscorpion]

I agree that is the downside of posting pictures of your work on a public forum. Believe me, I'm not perfect and get my balls busted routinely as well as anyone else. One side of this forum is to show off our projects and abilities but the other side is to help, assist, inquire, educate or all of the above our fellow forum members.

Personally there are constructive ways of doing that then there is the "****" way of doing it. I apologize if I came across as "busting your balls", I was trying to operate in the assisting mindset to help a fellow forum member avoid an accident or damage. Sometimes we don't see the forest for the trees and something we see every day is not as obvious as a fresh set of eyes.

Sorry to hijack your thread lilscorpion and believe me, I was NOT trying to "bust your balls" so I apologize if I came across in that manner.

No perception of ball bustin’ at all. I’ve been thinking about that pair of bottles now all damn day. Picturing one tipping and clipping the rear quarter of the Jeep and/or smashing my damn foot. Adding a chain or cable is so damn easy. I probably have everything I need to do it. It has been 8 years those bottles have been in the corner. It’s been a good run but I’m pushing my luck.





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[nes999]

This thread finally was the kick in the *** I needed to get a 3d printer.

I bought a used Anet A8 according to the machine is has 50 minutes of use.



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[b-dog]

See... this is why I hate showing pictures of stuff. You do a wonderful job and suddenly everyone wants to bust your balls over one little thing.

Haha, yuuuuup. THIS is why my postings, specifically pictures, are so few and far between. I saw the picture of the bottles and knew exactly what to expect in the following posts. Obviously, this isn't just one person, not even this forum. It's the internet, in general...

That being said, my bottles are always tethered to the wall