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TV in the work shop?

Johnny A

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mass
My daughter gave me a 20 inch TV w/HD TV antenna for my work shop. She said it would be nice to have a TV in the shop. The only thing I can imagine is having it on during a snow storm or a football.


I think it might be a distraction.


Any opinions??
 
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NUTTSGT

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It's been discussed a few times over the years. For most it seems to be a take it or leave it item. Some guys use theirs to watch how to videos, watching weather radar or when just hanging out with buddy's in the garage.

Other guys prefer not to have one at all, like you mention, they consider it a distraction. A few members even believe a radio is a distraction.

I've been out in the garage when there is too many females in the house. I'll sit down with some pretzels and a Dr Pepper and watch a little TV.
 
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Johnny A

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Eric,
You made a good point. It would be a place for me to "hide out" & relax when my wife & daughters have friends over. Great Point!

Thanks
I will hook it up
 

04chase

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depends on what your working on and your necessity to finish or if its something where extreme precision and thoroughness is needed ( machining or loading ammunition for me).

I dont think i would spend big bucks on any t.v. but if i had an old one or a free one i may consider it to get away from whatever is going on . For the most part give some good sounds and im good to go.
 

kaymccampbell

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Upstate New York
Rules are no TV in the shop. Distraction when operating slicing, chopping, grinding, nipping, punching, ripping, crushing machinery is not something I want to sign up for. I've got enough stupid in me without having the boobtube add more.
 

LS6 Tommy

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I think it's personal preference. I don't "need" a TV in the garage. It's not a place to "escape" or "hang out" for me, but since I have an extra 20" flat screen and a freebie wall mount, I will be adding it to my garage. Eventually. That way if I'm bumping around in there I can put a race or some other background show on.

Tommy
 

Gary in NY

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I don't think I would ever have one in my shop. I don't need another distraction to prevent me from getting work done. I have a radio, and that is enough for me. I do have more than one TV in house that helps me to "escape" when the mood strikes.
 

wingnut_1

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Midwest USA (Wisconsin)
I have both at TV and Stereo in my workshop. I do not have them on every time that I am in the shop, but I like to see the news/weather report, football games and NASCAR races. I like the background noise.
 

SweetD

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Rhode Island
If you "hang out" in your garage over and above doing serious work that deserves your undivided attention, then a TV is great to have.

For example, I am done doing work for the day and am watching the news in my garage right now. I will end up being in here this evening surfing the web and listening to some tunes, with college FB on in the background. I love it!

Dave
 

Playwme

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The good thing about most tvs is that they have a new feature called an on-off button. This allows you to ensure its not a distraction when you're doing a job where concentration is required. Those other times however, you have the option of having it on. Best of both worlds.
 

coljar

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Mine has this hand held thing that has an on and off button. If I'm in the mood to work, I work. If I'm in the mood to be distracted, and I'm doing some mundane task like cleaning the shop, I turn on the TV. Sometimes it's just background white noise. Ah, Playwme beat me to it. My work bench is getting a computer area, too.
 
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Chris83

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Langley, BC
When we moved I had an extra 32" TV so it went in the garage. Most of the time it's just on for background noise and I just tune it out if I need to concentrate on something.
 

Matt M PA

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I have a small flat panel in my garage. When doing less intensive projects, it's nice to have the noise in the background. I can play music streamed on the cable system or TV..either way it's a help for me. That being said, there are times it gets shut off so I can concentrate on something that demands complete attention. (Cleaning or detailing the car doesn't reach that level...)
 

ford33

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I think it would be distracting for me to have a TV in the garage. I have a radio and my music which is allows me some background "noise" without distracting me.
 

Algoma56

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Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I have one in my shop, stereo and laptop. Use as needed. Like someone else mentioned, sometimes I have music on, sometimes a sports event that I'd like to keep tabs on, is on in the background. Some days, no background at all.
 

frank_c

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NE Ohio/Lake Erie's South Shore
I have my old 32" out in the garage. Next to the bench, so about 4 feet from the door. It's nice to have on when I'm grilling, or late in the NBA season I'll sit out there and watch some playoff games.
 
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dougf

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Missouri
I have a TV hooked up to a laptop on top of my beer fridge in my garage. It's great! I can watch football, listen to music on YouTube, and look up stuff in the garage. Those who say it's a distraction must be easily distracted :) if you are cutting/grinding pay attention to the tool. When you are done grab a beer and a stool and watch the end if the game. Too easy :)
 

SchuLace

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I have a 32 inch mounted on my wall. I love it. I am not doing serious work my garage usually, but if I need to concentrate, I turn it off. It's nice to turn on a game or something to have some noise and to be able to watch from time to time
 

RCPro87

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West Liberty, OH
I have always liked working with some noise in the background. Good music helps you work better. I always notice that after a project isn't going well and its kicking my **** its because its silent in the shop. I like to have my TV on for background noise or have music playing. I used to help a farmer friend in the shop and he didn't want music on, drove the guys and I crazy. He also didn't believe in rags, only old newspaper. I can't wipe my hand very well with it.
 

ZRX61

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I had a tv in the garage at my old place. Mounted up in one corner (above what was basically a bar, but used to hold a bunch of restored vises). It was very rarely on (usually just radio/CD player going). However, whenever I had a BBQ the garage would become the focal point, especially Memorial Day Weekend, so the TV would be on with various car & bike races.
 

bushmechanic

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Background noise. I usually leave one of my computers or the Xbox One on autoplay on a favorite youtube channel when I'm doing stuff around the house, or just find a show I like on netflix that I've seen many times.
 

exranger06

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I have a spare 20" CRT TV that I don't really have any use for. I'm considering putting it out in the garage but I'm not sure I'll use it enough to be worth my time installing it. If I hook up cable to it, I have to rent another cable box from the cable company and pay for it every month, which I don't want to do. Antenna is an option, but I'm not sure what channels I would get, and I would also have to buy a digital converter box and antenna. I already have a stereo in the garage and often listen to music while working and I'm not sure if I would opt for TV over music.
 

myredracer

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I want a TV in my shop at home for company and have it pre-wired for one. Just need to get another satellite box. I prefer to have something on for company. Then I won't miss any Dr Phil episodes either. Heck, my dentist has a TV on while working so why not when wrenching or building something?
 
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justanengineer

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Motor City
I broke down when we upgraded tvs and put the old 32" in the garage with a roku, kinda nice to watch YouTube for background noise and see others shops/projects. I'm not easily distracted and do all manner of precision machining with it on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kevin54

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I have a 42" in my shop and it's not a distraction, it's background noise. At times it's like having company in the shop. I need to get my wifes XM radio from here and have it in the shop. All the songs are the same thing over and over. At least with XM there would be different tunes to listen to. But even with the radio playing, I usually have the TV on also. And during the week, I can usually find car shows of some type on the tube. Street Outlaws all day, Gas Monkey all day, or American Pickers all day. That's about the only good thing to watch.
 

Radical540

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Johnny

That is why I often refer to my garage (to family&friends) as an estrogen escape.

:beer:
Estrogen escape indeed!! I have a 50" LG LED, and an 800 watt Sony Stereo. (nothing better than banging 80's metal while working on exhaust!):rocker:
Yes, I definitely need "noise" when I'm working in the garage; silence is deafening itself.
Cheers!
:3gears:
 

Bronson

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Like Kevin, I have a 42 inch flat on the wall above My workbench.
I usually spend 14-18 hours a day in My shop. It is background noise for Me, or, I sit and watch some of My "programs", Pickers, Ice Road, Oak Island.
I used to keep it on news channels all day, but I found Myself getting too pissed off to work!
I also have a CD player in th shop, when I don't want the TV on.
 

atthebeach

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I have a stereo in the shop to play some tunes, but the dust is a little hard on electronics in a wood shop. I don't think a TV would last long.
 

No Noise Dude

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Minneapolis, MN
Like Bronson and Kevin, I too have a 42-inch flatscreen in the garage. I have an Audio/Video receiver, Bose AM-5 speaker system and Directv. I enjoy having either a tv program or music on in the background while working on my projects.
 

jayoldschool

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I rearranged my garage into "winter mode" today, and part of it was rolling my big old Sony into a storage spot. I have yet to actually watch it out there... maybe next year I'll wire it up.
 

Rocker4x4

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I have a 42" in my shop and it's not a distraction, it's background noise. At times it's like having company in the shop. I need to get my wifes XM radio from here and have it in the shop. All the songs are the same thing over and over. At least with XM there would be different tunes to listen to. But even with the radio playing, I usually have the TV on also. And during the week, I can usually find car shows of some type on the tube. Street Outlaws all day, Gas Monkey all day, or American Pickers all day. That's about the only good thing to watch.

This, ^^^^ I get way more done with tv on. Just puts me in a better mood with background noise!! Radio *****, same ol songs over and over that I listen to on way to work everyday!! I don't want to listen to that in my free time!! TV way better for me, Even if its just the game playing, and I don't even watch sports. Street outlaws/ GM playing, before I know it, its past midnight and I've got chit load of stuff done!! Sorry everyone is different,, I just don't do well in dead silence!!
 

HOTFR8

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I have a radio on in another part of my works most of the time and away from my main office area. I used to have a TV built into the computer but when we went digital signal that finished. All I need is a new digital antenna and a TV and I would be in action again. I have the place set up with two different locations for one when I do get back to putting a TV in again.
 

Wanna Ride

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I've been out in the garage when there is too many females in the house. I'll sit down with some pretzels and a Dr Pepper and watch a little TV.

^^Yep. I have mine piped into the stereo. Most of the time, I just turn it on the History channel, and use that for background noise, like a radio.
 

coljar

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Look at it like this, if you had an electric chair in your garage, nobody says you have to sit down in it and turn it on.
 

mike_dmt

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Spokane Washington
As my shop gets closer to done, I'm planning a good sized flat panel, with my cable subscription that is too expensive, and a small computer for looking stuff up.

Distraction? Maybe. But a quiet shop is creepy IMO. Besides if I'm doing something that takes that much attention, the noise of the machine or tool alone drowns out any TV noise..
 
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