The Man's Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

[v8dave]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

At my previous home, there was an outside bathroom with a small sink. I used that for clean-up and it worked ok, I'm more-or-less duplicating that size. But, this time the bathroom is inside the shop.

I actually do have the space for a tub. Back wall for the bathroom sink is accessable and could be spliced for a drain. However, I have chosen to use that space for a small counter. Top of counter will be for a coffee pot, under counter for a small referigerator. Cabinet above for snack and cup storage with an under cabinet microwave--gotta have popcorn for breaks.

In the interior view of the framing you can see the small nook I've set aside for this.

 

[v8dave]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

Ah ha, Junkman.

I am not starting cold with this shop. I've been collecting parts for a while and have two storage units in town to empty into this shop. Besides the machine tools, I have lots of spare auto parts, engines and transmissions. Only saving grace is I have no auto sheet metal stored up. But, I'll have lots of wall space to hang it on when I get it.

About the only good thing about this is all the stuff will be neatly arrainged after move in--for at least the first few months anyway.

There is only one absolute truth about a shop--they are never big enough! One of the two lifts I'm planning on is a two post lift for working on cars, the other lift is four post lift for a potential storage solution. If if get too many more cars, I'll have to start stacking them.

One fo the reasons car clubs and tractor restoration clubs have garage tours is so the guys (it's always guys) can show their wives other people's excesses. Both in the size of the shops and the quantity of cars. It makes it appear we aren't being too excessive.

 

[Junkman]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

The Junkman theory...

Junk will occupy space in direct proportion to the space alloted within hight constraints, and not limited to the objections of wife, girlfriend or significant other. When said space is fully occupied, then the cellar becomes fair game to fill also. After that comes the kitchen drawers, living room television cabinet, and ultimately the stairs in the hall leading to the cellar. Upon death, the wife, girlfriend, significant other will mourn your death and curse you for leaving the entire mess to deal with...... that is, until the auctioneer tells her how much value is there. Then she is again all smiles thinking of her inheritance. If she is young enough, and not too jaded in the process, the cycle will restart with another male.

 

[RobertN]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

Welp, your pretty lucky with that heating thingy. Seeing how Placerville freezes maybe once a year or two /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif 'Course, you might get a lot colder weather than we do 9 miles down the road here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[v8dave]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

Yes, we get a lot colder a few miles further up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Actually, the shop is in a little draw and doesn't get a lot of sun during the winter. The little shed shown to the side in the rear view picture used to be on the shop site. It got to freezing several times last winter.

I also wish to keep the machine shop a little warmer to keep the machine tools from sweating. Not to mention the engine blocks in my old cars. I ruined a motor paint job in a restored car last winter due to block sweating. I'll probably have to pull the engine to fix it right.

Finally, the fuel oil heater can be left on for weeks at a time without having to refill as a pellet stove would and it's cheaper to operate than propane. The fuel oil heater runs on a thermostat, so you can set it and [almost] forget it.

I just tried to look up the Diesel/fuel oil heater I was planning on buying and it is discontinued. I'll have to look over the remaining products and make another decision. Here is a link to Al's heating a dealer who has strong opinions about what not to buy in fuel oil heaters.

 

[tracdoc]

Re: The Man\'s Garage...Ideas??? Pictures???

Dave,
Hearty Congrats on a well planned and executed project. I'm certain you will spend many happy hours there.

As I indicated in my PM many weeks ago, we're in the planning stages. Well, we moved one step closer, and should have a set of plans in hand in a couple of weeks. We wound up doing some modifications to a published plan for a modest cost of $300 over the basic price. The plan is for a big garage (~30x60) with apartment over. Our idea is to build it on the lot next to ours, with a curb elevation that is distinctly "home-like" (door, windows, dormers, etc) and have the garage door entries around back, like the gracious carriage houses of days gone by. When we are ready to downsize, we're considering selling our current home, and finishing out the apt over the big garage.

We hope we can ask for your expert advice along the way. What a nice job you did. Your idea of using 20 amp circuits throughout the garage is definitely the touch of a car guy.

Have fun...