What to put in Garage Corners

[AldeanFan]

I'm in the planning stages of a major re-organization of my 2 car garage and I can't decide what to put in the corners. If I put a tool chest, shelf or cabinet in the corner I need to leave enough space on the adjoining wall to open the drawers/doors or access the shelves. I've thought about putting my drill press in the corner but I think that would use up even more space than having it on a wall.

I have the following large items to organize:
2 chest tool boxes,
Full size fridge
Floor model drill press
Lincoln 140 welder
20gal compressor
wood lathe
portable Table Saw on stand

I'll also need to build a new bench and enough shelves to hold all my small tools.

There's a large window (66' wide) in the middle of the back wall so it makes sense to put the bench under the window, a corner bench doesnt' make sense in my garage.

Thanks for you input!

 

[FLUndertaker]

I have the same problem. still haven't come up with a solution other than my wife's smart assed comment that perhaps we should have built a round garage.

 

[justanengineer]

Milling machines go great in corners, as do drill presses.

 

[Aquamoose]

Air compressors, fixed shop vac or other seldom used appliances.


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[rsanter]

Put the compressor in one corner. Run a line out that will allow you to easily drain the tank.

In the other corner you put the drill press on wheels so you pull it out when you need to use it

Bob

 

[Jon_E]

I use the corners of my shop for: dust bunnies, dust, long things standing on end, other ****, occasional cat hairballs, stuff I never use, and things I've lost.

You should use the corners to put your drill press and air compressor. Unless you work with really large workpieces on a DP, you can leave your typical 15" drill press out a foot from the corner and still work with 4'+ long stock.

 

[Kevin54]

Milling machines go great in corners, as do drill presses.

Milling machines in a corner are not really a good thing all for the fact that it makes it hard to get into the corner to clean things up. A drill press is better but still not very practical. Machines should be in the open, or on a single wall.

Myself, I really don't like anything in the corners unless it is a cabinet of some sort. Dirt and cobwebs always tend to build up in corners, and when the corners are accessible, it makes things easier to keep clean. But then again, that is just a personal choice, as there is no steadfast rule as far as garage decorating.

 

[Whiskeymike]

Sink? Water cooler?

 

[James-W]

I have my tool chest in one corner, but like most tool chests it has wheels so I can move it out if I need to. I have shelving in two other corners. I don't usually try to sweep the corners, I just use my shop vac to get rid of any build-up of dust bunnies or whatever else that may accumulate there.

 

[damiansd]

Air compressor in a sound deadened cabinet. Tv/radio on top.

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[ripperd]

I have shelving in one corner, and in the other corner I hang my jackstands.

 

[NES]

You could always put speakers in the corner. The other would be a fire extinguisher on the corner wall. Or an antique gas pump.

 

[miner]

I have a 60 gallon compressor in one corner, the other has a large dust collector and filter housing. These are the back corners, which are the worst place to put things you will use or need access to often, hence why I put things there that never need to be moved and which don't need much if any access.

The front corners near the roll-up door, on the other hand, are the exact opposite since they are probably the most accessible place in the garage.

 

[crewchief888]

back corner of the garage has a shelf made from scrap tubing and plywood.

air compressor up on top
shelf for scissor jacks
shelf for portable toolboxes, and spare tool bags
jackstands underneath
behind the shelf, back in the corner, manual tire changer, motorcycle lift & water charged fire ext

 

[Steevo]

Just today I was drilling holes in a 9 ft. long piece of steel, and had to feed it in/out both sides to get all holes drilled. This is one reason I don't put a drill press in a corner.
Mine rolls out on wheels, so that I can work large or odd shaped objects around it.
My corners become mostly storage. My workbench fills one corner, and the corner of the workbench collects **** just like an empty corner would.
I do have my hydraulic press in a corner, but when I need to work on long items, it rolls out, just like the drill press.

 

[sixty4]

One corner of my garage has a garbage can where I keep the shovels rakes hedge clippers etc. With the heads of the tools up you can store a ton of stuff in one.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm trying to think what I have in the corners of my garage, which there isn't much room. I do have my firewood rack but you don't have that issue. You could put your trash can there and hang your brooms/dust pan there. I'd consider like a few others mention, drill press but only if it is easy to slide out or is sitting a roller cart.

 

[AldeanFan]

Great suggestions so far, I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggles with this. I drew up a rough plan after measuring all the large items in the garage. The plan is to make it as flexible as possible so lots of things will be mounted on casters so I can reposition tools and equipment to best suit the job.
I'll start a new thread on my garage when I get started, keep the corner suggestions coming !

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Compressor. I always stick them in corners. I also talk customers into it as well. You really never have to move them. The parts on them you touch are underneath and up top. Nothing extends or moves so it's perfect for a corner.

 

[Aquamoose]

Fire extinguishers should never be put in corners, but by exits as a minimum.


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[rburke65]

Usually something that is not often used but on casters so I can pull it out and use it.

 

[bww_mnm]

What ever you do, don't put baby in the corner!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I find the corners near the over head door the most problematic.. Here is what I use that space for. The other corners have either shelving or general mobile equipment storage (pressure washer, 2 wheel cart, etc.).

 

[dbabicky]

What ever you do, don't put baby in the corner!

Dirty Dancing !

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

What ever you do, don't put baby in the corner!

As a kid, I spent plenty of time in the corner... as well as "under the switch" or "under the belt"...or "under the paddle"... Oh, the days of corporal punishment...

 

[ND80]

Beer Fridge??

 

[justanengineer]

Milling machines in a corner are not really a good thing all for the fact that it makes it hard to get into the corner to clean things up. A drill press is better but still not very practical. Machines should be in the open, or on a single wall.

Myself, I really don't like anything in the corners unless it is a cabinet of some sort. Dirt and cobwebs always tend to build up in corners, and when the corners are accessible, it makes things easier to keep clean. But then again, that is just a personal choice, as there is no steadfast rule as far as garage decorating.

To each their own. I've always found that with Bridgeport'ish sized mills, with the machine at 45 degrees and leaving myself enough room to work on either end of the table at full travel the base/column's ~2-3' from the corner which is about perfect for easily maneuvering the shop vac hose in from the side.

 

[BMack37]

If you don't have the larger items that are being suggested why not simple corner shelving for misc storage? If you want to get fancy some design ideas for drawers or rotating shelves can be found in newer kitchen cabinet designs.

 

[zkling]

Vertical air compressor tank, bench end, trash can/vac, misc long stock, belt sander. I too am not a fan of having a drill press or mill in the corner. Especially when you need to service the motor.

 

[nadogail]

In one corner of my stand alone garage is the toilet (in it's own closet) another corner is the exit door, at the other end (where the rollup door is) a vertical tank wheeled compressor and the last corner the roll around tool box has a home.

The drill press, band saw, table saw, miter saw, disc sander, belt sander, jointer, arc welder, are all on wheels. The welding table I built on a wheel and tire that lays flat on the floor, on it's side.

The radio is mounted under wall hung cabinets.

Some how all this and more fit into a 2 car garage, and we park a car in there at night.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Having a compressor in a corner is OK as long as you can get to the drain. Also long handled tools (shovels, rakes etc.), Tall, thin spare materials (pipe, angle iron, threaded rod, some lumber) work out OK as well.

 

[maxpower_hd]

In corner number 1 have a 60 gallon compressor in one corner along with a vacuum and misc steel for welding projects. In corner number two I have a corner shelf for misc storage of things I don't use but can't bring myself to through away and a bead breaker for motorcycle tires. Corner number three by the overhead door has a cabinet for leathers and helmets up top and a rolling cart that houses my sliding compound miter saw. Beer fridge is right next to that and corner number 4 I have a small door that is access to my basement, and a spigot with a pail hanging off I use as a sink, along with some small hanging items like brooms, dustpans a small wire rack, etc.

I wouldn't call them problem areas, just storage areas.

 

[pmiranda]

Corners are great. Since it's an L shape my garage has 5
Folding stepladder in one, propane and easy-up in another, shop vac in 3rd, compressor and fan in 4th, and an old kitchen trash bin in the 5th to hold shovels, rakes, tiki torches, and other stuff that is generally long and dirty. Lots of high shelves and we get 3 cars, 3 bikes, and a Vespa in a 3-car garage.
Only problem is the shop vac is landlocked behind other stuff so I need to get some 2-1/2 PVC piping or something like that to make it useful again. I don't use it for sawdust collection so it almost never fills up.

 

[bww_mnm]

I have my workbench run into the corner w cabinets above. Lower cabinets need 18" of clearance so I can open bottom cabinet door. I do have shallow, open wall cabinets on the perpendicular wall tho. Keep my cans, nails, etc there. That way u only lose half the wall.

Hope I described that well enough.

 

[PhantomEB]

Rollaway top n bottom in one, compressor and stereo in other, both of these are corners opposite from big door then flanking the big door will be hose reel, 220 plug and water barrel for the pressure washer in one then other be parts washer and jack stands hung up with bungee cords as well my ladder for accessing most of my cupboards as at lowest they be 5-6' off the ground for max floor space.

 

[kaymccampbell]

O-A torches. An 8 foot workbench. Wood lathe. Random scraps or stuff being staged in or out of the shop.

 

[fattogatto]

Blast cabinet with door to open side with vacuum in corner.