My garage project

[Onkel Neal]

I've really settled down in my new house. Done a fair bit of improvements and stuff, but I need a lot more storage space so I am going to work on my garage. It's a bit on the small side, 20'x23' two car, so with my car and two bikes, not much room. I have to pull the car out to work on anything. Not a showstopper but I think it could use some serious storage and workspace upgrades.

First, I bought a garden shed to clear out some of the yard tools, mower, gardening stuff and other stuff I don't use every day.

I did not build the shed, too lazy, but I did paint it, and started building shelves in it.

Picked out some storage bins to size the shelves, so as not to waste space.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5311&d=1656523019

[Onkel Neal]

Here's the garage, as it came with the house purchase.

It has a stark workbench, very rough and no drawers. Also about 5 inches too high, comes to my sternum :k_confused:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5312&d=1656523542

The walls are festooned with house and nails.

All wall storage is just board shelves, kinda sloppy but it does the trick.

Previous owners built some kinda of enclosure here... kinda decent build quality... not sure if I am going to keep it. :hmmm:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5314&d=1656523555

Overall, not really very good tool and storage system, I think I will rip out the enclosure, scavenge parts out if for some high storage shelves and a mini-workbench. Then rip out the too tall workbench and build a workbench with cabinets or drawers. :yep:

[Jeff-Groves]

These will fix that 5" problem.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=12617

[em2nought]

These will fix that 5" problem.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=12617
The US military new unisex boots? :D


I'm fond of this kind of addition in the garage https://www.smartracksflorida.com/

https://www.smartracksflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lshape1.jpg

[Onkel Neal]

I'm fond of this kind of addition in the garage https://www.smartracksflorida.com/

https://www.smartracksflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lshape1.jpg

Yes! Something like that. I like that.:up:

[Onkel Neal]

Got the shelves in the storage shed finished, added some pegboard on one of the doors for rope, cable, wire, etc

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5320&d=1656613644

Now that I have some place to store a lot of stuff and get it out of the way, on to the garage. :arrgh!:

[Skybird]

Reading the title I thought Neal had founded a band.

[mapuc]

Well with some training he could be a master and play Country & Western on his saw with a violin string.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lHKRR7xn7c

Markus

[Catfish]

It is the destiny of each garage to become a store room with no place for motorcycles or cars.
Temporary makeshift arrangements hold out forever and are resistent to any change.
One of the big truths i learned :haha:

Seriously, this looks nice! Can never have enough space for storing or a workshop. We have no cellar and no real garage, only an open twin carport with an additionally attached room that serves as a workshop and to store tools, size of a smaller garage (6x3 meters).
Currently working on equipping it with a second foldable workbench and shelves.. i think i posted some photos of it in some similar thread.
Will make some new ones and post here, had no time at all in the last weeks.

[Onkel Neal]

I hear you, but like Sisyphus, I plan to fight till the end and have room and use the room to park my car and bikes :O:IN:O: the garage.

Yes, please post some pics, I am very interested in the layout and design of spaces, thanks! :up:

[Onkel Neal]

Progress so far: The Right side of the garage goes first, so all the lumber, tools, & junk not in the shed gets shoved to the left side, may have to store my bikes in the house short term.

I want to utilize overhead space, and being a cheap basterd, I think I can reuse the cabinet built by the previous owner... So I can make two fairly large overhead shelves with that.


I think I can use the shed for heavy items, the floor and bottom two shelves are supported by the floor and can take the weight.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5325&d=1656774966

So I will make one of the garage overhead shelves supported by the floor, as long as my car will fit, and the other overhead shelf will manage bulky but not heavy items, like empty water cans, ice chests, and boxes with light items. That shelf I can rely on wall strength to support the load.

I also think I need a good amount of wall space from large items to hang like cords, leaf blowers, work lights...
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5326&d=1656774970




I guess I can use the space under the shelf for a work space with areas to hang frequently used tools, blades, etc. And I can fit my genny and tank under it. Of course, I will need to back my car out of the garage to use this workspace... no way around that but a bigger garage :arrgh!:

[Catfish]

Neal, you once posted a generator to keep up electricity in case of a power outage, what kind or type was that? I guess i even asked this before and got an answer :oops:
We are thinking about buying a generator; until february i thought this is probably nonsense in Germany. Now ...

[Onkel Neal]

Kai, after Harvey I bought as Champion 3400 watt duel fuel invertor generator, I've used it a few times, last time was the Great Freeze in 2021. Was without power for 3 days, it kept my phones charged, refrigerators cold, computer and TV on, gas furnace to heat the house, and as needed, coffeemaker, microwave, etc. Not all at the same time, it will not run my central A/C system or the whole house. But it wasn't that expensive and I don't need backup power that often.

It's Chinese made, but it has not given me any issues, I run it once a month to keep it routine.

I went with the invertor type for fuel economy and the "clean" sin wave output for my electronics, plus they are able to "idle" when the power demand is low so they manage fuel better. And it runs off propane and gasoline, so I can easily store propane for long periods of time, if I can't get gasoline.

[Gorpet]

I've really settled down in my new house. Done a fair bit of improvements and stuff, but I need a lot more storage space so I am going to work on my garage. It's a bit on the small side, 20'x23' two car, so with my car and two bikes, not much room. I have to pull the car out to work on anything. Not a showstopper but I think it could use some serious storage and workspace upgrades.

First, I bought a garden shed to clear out some of the yard tools, mower, gardening stuff and other stuff I don't use every day.

I did not build the shed, too lazy, but I did paint it, and started building shelves in it.

Picked out some storage bins to size the shelves, so as not to waste space.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5311&d=1656523019

What happened to the Containers? You built to live in did you bury them?

[em2nought]

I've used the top section of a metal bunkbed previously to create a storage space near the ceiling in my garage. You can find those either free or practically free and make a storage area over top of the garage door for cheap compared to those that are specifically made for that sort of thing. Old metal bedframes are a great source of angle iron much cheaper than trying to buy it at the hardware store. People throw them away quite often too.

It looks like you could only get very skinny items above your garage door, but it still might be worthwhile.

[Catfish]

[...]
I went with the invertor type for fuel economy and the "clean" sin wave output for my electronics, plus they are able to "idle" when the power demand is low so they manage fuel better. And it runs off propane and gasoline, so I can easily store propane for long periods of time, if I can't get gasoline.
Thanks Neal, i am also looking for a dual fuel model, also an inverter type seems like a good idea. :)

[Rockstar]

Another plus for inverter generators is they're nowhere near as noisy as conventional generators. And don't forget, depending how close the machine is to any windows or doors a Carbon Monoxide detector might be a good investment too.

[Catfish]

ok i found two possible candidates, both "hybrid" types running on propane/butane or gasoline.

Planned to hook it up to the house's fuse box. You have a switch for "island mode", cutting the house energy/fuse box from the grid/net support, then starting the generator and provide the energy from it alone.

1. type: can support the whole house with up to 8000 watts, meaning you could use the oven for cooking, washing machine, fridge, heating a.s.o. at a time without problem. In Germany you need 380 volts for the oven/stove, which the generator also provides (able to generate 230 and 400 Volts simultaneously, several plugs).
But: no clean sinus signal, so you may destroy your laptop or mobile when trying to charge it with this thing. No problem for an electric drill, washing machine, a.s.o. but not suited for delicate electronic devices.

2. type: Also is a 8000 watts generator with inverter technology, providing 230 volts and being less fuel-greedy. But no 380 volts, so no oven/stove.
The advantage of the inverter is less noisy, less consumption, and a clean sinus signal needed to charge laptop, mobile and so on.

I hate it :haha:

[Onkel Neal]

What happened to the Containers? You built to live in did you bury them?

There was one shipping container, when I was home from the road I would stay in it. But it was impractical in the Texas summer, so I bought a used camper. Did not bury it.

I've used the top section of a metal bunkbed previously to create a storage space near the ceiling in my garage. You can find those either free or practically free and make a storage area over top of the garage door for cheap compared to those that are specifically made for that sort of thing. Old metal bedframes are a great source of angle iron much cheaper than trying to buy it at the hardware store. People throw them away quite often too.

It looks like you could only get very skinny items above your garage door, but it still might be worthwhile.

Yeah, sounds right, having something like that laying around, would be a smart way to get the bed out of the way and have storage at the same time. :up:

Another plus for inverter generators is they're nowhere near as noisy as conventional generators. And don't forget, depending how close the machine is to any windows or doors a Carbon Monoxide detector might be a good investment too.

Yes exactly, they are quieter. Mine is not silent, but it is a volume that does not rattle my teeth.


ok i found two possible candidates, both "hybrid" types running on propane/butane or gasoline.

Planned to hook it up to the house's fuse box. You have a switch for "island mode", cutting the house energy/fuse box from the grid/net support, then starting the generator and provide the energy from it alone.

1. type: can support the whole house with up to 8000 watts, meaning you could use the oven for cooking, washing machine, fridge, heating a.s.o. at a time without problem. In Germany you need 380 volts for the oven/stove, which the generator also provides (able to generate 230 and 400 Volts simultaneously, several plugs).
But: no clean sinus signal, so you may destroy your laptop or mobile when trying to charge it with this thing. No problem for an electric drill, washing machine, a.s.o. but not suited for delicate electronic devices.

2. type: Also is a 8000 watts generator with inverter technology, providing 230 volts and being less fuel-greedy. But no 380 volts, so no oven/stove.
The advantage of the inverter is less noisy, less consumption, and a clean sinus signal needed to charge laptop, mobile and so on.

I hate it :haha:

So, your stove and oven are electric? I think I would go with the option #2, you can always use a propane camp burner or camp stove. The invertor is going be better all around.

Depends a lot on a. how often your power goes out and b. how long the outages last. I can get by with a hotplate for a few days, easy. My stove/oven is gas, so that's not a problem, but if I had to, a camp stove would be fine, if the outages did not last more than a week.

I agree with you about the grid lockout switch, smart.:yep:

[Onkel Neal]

Made some progress: Took down the cabinet/enclosure, disassembled it.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5329&d=1657025998https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5330&d=1657026009



Got the heavy load shelf placed, leveled and confirmed the car's position. I've got a foot or two of margin, that's fine.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5331&d=1657026015

finished the framing, I think I will have a cabinet for my compressor, too, will help cut down on the noise (a little). Test fit some of my totes, good fit. This shelf is supported by the floor so heavy objects can go here.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5332&d=1657026023

[Commander Wallace]

^ let me know when you have it finished, Neal. I have some motorcycles, engines and the odd assortment of parts tucked away in big, nice plastic trunk / containers. :D

I need a place to store them :yep:

On the other hand, my lady told me if I drag anymore motorcycles or parts home, I will be living under the deck with the groundhogs, bunnies and other assorted wild life. So, I might need a place to live before it's all over. :haha:

[Onkel Neal]

Hey, I'm building this to decrease the clutter, not add to it :03:

More progress, added the work top, some shelves, pegboard and a good LED light.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5334&d=1657108684

First time installing a piano hinge, got a door cut and hung for the compressor section.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5335&d=1657108692

[Catfish]

Hey, I'm building this to decrease the clutter, not add to it :03:
I also thought i had a chance..
Looks nice :up:

[Armistead]

That ain't nothing with the saw, we got a guy up here in the mountains that can get guitar, fiddle, banger, drums and bass songs out of his saw,

[em2nought]

Don't forget some thick steel and a gun port in the bottom section of your garage door so you can hold off the barbarian horde if need be from the prone position. :D

https://www.armortex.com/gun-ports/

[Onkel Neal]

Yeah, it's so hot outside, I'm taking the day off :k_confused:

Next step: repair and paint the wall, mount the light shelf, and then add the wall pegboard.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5336&d=1657126011

[AVGWarhawk]

Maximizing space and storage is a must in any garage. But no matter what your final build looks like there is always room to improve. Trust me here, two Buicks and garden implements/tools take up some room!

[em2nought]

Here's another thing that would be really nice in the garage. I think it would work for changing oil too. :up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVrf6cSxICo

[Onkel Neal]

Got some stuff done!

Wall patched and painted
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5342&d=1657423273

Light duty shelf mounted
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5343&d=1657423286

Added another shelf to use the space over the fridge!
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5344&d=1657423297

Next: large tool wall section.

.

[Rockstar]

If you have the time check to see if you have a ‘rolling code’ remote garage door opener. The older ones that have pot switches can easily be defeated and next thing ya know all your beer is missing.

[Onkel Neal]

Good thinking. Mine is a year old, but I can check. Though theft and burglary in this area is nearly none existent. My father has not shut his garage/shop doors in 20 years.

[Onkel Neal]

Wall rack complete, screwed a 3/4 sheet of plywood into the studs then covered with standard pegboard. That way I can use peg hooks, or, if the tool is too heavy, just use screw in hooks.

.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5347&d=1657548439

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/attachment.php?attachmentid=5348&d=1657548449

.
.
That's the easy half of the project, now for the technical half.:hmmm:

[Catfish]

Useful and well made :)
I hesitate posting photos, my cave still looks like a scrapyard :oops:

[Onkel Neal]

Everyone loves a good before and after :) This forum could use more constructive threads, some projects threads, etc. :up:

[Jeff-Groves]

How about a 3d Modeling thread or area?
:hmmm:

[Onkel Neal]

Start a thread.

[Onkel Neal]

Starting on the other side. First off, mounted my air hose reel and electric cord reel.

[Skybird]

Still Early Access, or already released? :)

[em2nought]

You need a deadbolt on that door. :up:

[August]

I like it!

[Onkel Neal]

You need a deadbolt on that door. :up:

Ok, added to the list.

Still Early Access, or already released? :)

EA :)

I like it!

Thanks!

[Mork_417]

Looking good. :up:

I remember when we first moved in to our house; it was my first time owning an actual garage. I was like, I'll never use all this space. :har:

[Onkel Neal]

You need a deadbolt on that door. :up:

Done. :Kaleun_Cheers:

[Jeff-Groves]

Did you use Jimbuna's post count as the code?
:haha:

I'm watching since Nancy has some money coming and there will be a new Shed here soon.
Something like a 12 or so by 20 or so.
:o

[em2nought]

Done. :Kaleun_Cheers:
Fancy! :up:

[Onkel Neal]

Wall repair, relocating a switch, and painting

[Jeff-Groves]

I just got good news here in Nevada, Ohio
All Village Zoneing is dumped! So I only have to follow County Zoneing and State Zoneing!
:woot:

[Mork_417]

I just got good news here in Nevada, Ohio
All Village Zoneing is dumped! So I only have to follow County Zoneing and State Zoneing!
:woot:

Too many E's. :o