Hung some bikes up and stored some stuff:
Then I used the sides of my big rolling storage and workspaces to hang more stuff for more storage. Folding tables:
And my old creeper:
Hung some bikes up and stored some stuff:
Then I used the sides of my big rolling storage and workspaces to hang more stuff for more storage. Folding tables:
And my old creeper:
Finally, I started putting up 'backsplashes' using extra trim pieces. I hate when stuff rolls off the back of my work surface (and usually then disappears forever). Hopefully I am preventing myself some grief by screwing these barriers in.
4cylndrfury wrote: Nothing to add except that threads like this are always a lot of fun. Got any updated shots of the whole garage (like the first pic in the thread)?
Here's the garage as I left it today. All the stuff in the middle is on wheels so moves around easily. Getting better!
Long time since I have posted, but I have been working.
First was my side bench. Added a backsplash, put some torn up old towels underneath, and added a cheap vice to the corner.
Next was lighting. I relocated this fixture to above my workbench, and installed one small one under a cabinet.
Big lighting fixture. It did not have a switch, so I mounted a powerstrip up there to use it as the light switch.
Small under cabinet lighting:
Next I made some more improvements to my rolling workbench. Added lighting, and a vice.
For the vice, I did myself a favor 2 years ago when I bought this vice. I also bought all the necessary hardware, and put it all in the box, but didn't install the vice right away and promptly forgot that I bought the hardware. Imagine my surprise and good fortune when I opened the box to get the vice and found everything I need. Thanks me from 2 years ago. Today me appreciates you.
Installed:
Next, lighting. This adjustable fixture was in the garage when I moved in, so I'm using it.
The base is just a 1/2 inch dowel, so mounting it was easy.
Drilled three holes (left, middle and right of the bench) in the backsplash, so the light easily lifts and moves from side to side on the bench.
A quicky: I re-purposed this old coat rack to hang my jackstands. Make sure those jackstands are in the picture or the safety police will chew you out!
Finally, a fun one. Decorations. A friend gave me some sweet tire company banners a few years ago. Since I don't have any good open wallspace, I had to get a bit creative.
First, the rolling bench. put up the banner, and then use a sharp knife to trace the drawers and doors.
Then, remove the doors and drawers, glue the background on, re-attach the doors and drawers, and glue the pieces to them. I love the result! its a bit wavy and has bubbles, but it looks sweet I think:
On the back, staple the yokohama banner:
Next was my pegboard. Since I don't have any tools up on it yet, I thought I could do a banner behind the tools. I also cut out the doors for the corner cabinet, so I can still use that cabinet.
I can still put pegboard stuff right through the material really easily, so the pegboard is still just as functional.
Remember the rolling hinged shelf from earlier? I made it sweet with a bridgestone banner stapled to the outside.
The one I like best I saved for last.
Remove all the hardware from doors and drawers. Put up a firestone banner over some really old school cabinets with flat faced doors. Cut out door shapes.
Remove material in-between cabinet doors. Staple material to the door faces.
Re-attach hardware. Commence using now really sweet cabinets!!
That's all for now!
These are really creative uses for the banners. Thanks for sharing the pics!
Finally got my entry into the CM shop contest (before the deadline - ha) and pushed my next big project into the garage.
Still need some more major organizing in the garage, but I wanted to get the project in before any possible snow (we have been quite lucky this year and no snow of significance yet in chicago).
Will get some updated pics soon.
What's the maroon 70's euro car? I thought it was a 2002 at first glance but the turn signal/marker is not right. Mercedes?
2002maniac wrote: What's the maroon 70's euro car? I thought it was a 2002 at first glance but the turn signal/marker is not right. Mercedes?
Its an MGB-GT. That's a crappy shot of the next big project (the one I just pushed into the garage - ha!).
Here's a photo of it in its new spot, ready for its next phase of projectness.
Ok, updates! I have been working little by little on small stuff, but not posting updates because my shutterfly decided not to let me right click to hot link to photos anymore. boo. so now I am the proud new owner of a photobucket as well.
So lots of odds and ends, but this is a pic of the bigger work. Finished making the 'backsplashes' all around the workbench to prevent small pieces falling back there.
and
And NOW I have clean workbenches to start fresh from!
Nice work. I like the banners!
OK GRM, I need some help at this point in the process. I now have clean benches and a few tools that need to find a semi-permanent (bolted down) home.
The three tools are:
Here is a drawing of my options:
So, what would you guys do? Which tools should go where? Why? I'm interested in things like " I would not put a bench grinder in front of a window " or "Don't put a vice over a drawer, because you will be constantly trying to open the drawer but the vice handle will be in the way ".
Ready? GO!
I'm a big fan of putting my vises on an outside corner of a workbench. As an added bonus, there's usually additional bracing there; nobody likes a floppy vise.
I would consider moving the small vise and putting the big vise in its place. Beyond that it's hard to say where things would go. Maybe bench grinder at "A" and drill press at "B"?
Well, I figured id just mount the vice and be done with it, until I find I don't like it, then I can move it if necessary.
To mount it down I first traced the holes and put two 2x4 cutoffs under the bench surface and used wood screws to hold them up to the bottom of the bench surface.
Oops, never had this happen before. I guess the bit thinks its cold outside too (was only using a drill, not even an impact).
Next drill holes and use grade 8 hardware with huge fender washers to bolt the vise down (through the extra 2x4s as well for extra support).
Job done. I like that the vice hangs out over the edge of the bench if needed, but also rotates out of the way as necessary as well. It is also far enough away from the drawer that it shouldn't interfere with the movement of the drawer.
Next was the bench grinder. The plywood is 3/4 inch so I didn't add 2x4 bracing under it. I just drilled holes, and bolted it down with some washers.
I haven't put all the 'accessories' on it yet. Kinda debating if I will or not.
Final image at the end of the day yesterday:
In reply to XLR99 and EastCoastMojo:
Thanks! The more I'm out there the more I like them. Makes non-car projects feel like car projects.
Good job mounting the vice and grinder. I've been using mine on the floor for something like five years. It's getting old.
You will probably end up moving the grinder towards the edge of the bench or saying "eff-it" and buying a grinder stand. Being able to manuever a long object around the grinder without the base being in the way is one of those "ah... now I understand..." kinda things.
Be aware of anything you place behind the grinder as it will get covered in metal/grinder wheel dust.
Ian F wrote: You will probably end up moving the grinder towards the edge of the bench or saying "eff-it" and buying a grinder stand. Being able to manuever a long object around the grinder without the base being in the way is one of those "ah... now I understand..." kinda things. Be aware of anything you place behind the grinder as it will get covered in metal/grinder wheel dust.
Good call. I will see how it goes for me. It is just bolted so I can always move it if necessary in a pinch.
About the dust, yes, I expect that. I almost put the grinder right in front of that window, but then I was like - "hmm, wait a minute..." (imagines loosing grip on a small part and sending it through the window at about 100 mph).
Not like my wall would be much better, but it would be better than the window.
Added some dry erase boards and how could I resist putting up my GRM calendar!
Small update - the recent GRM mantra is "every shop needs a computer". So here is my shop computer and its spot in the shop.
Peg Board hooks:
With Computer:
Its a really old dell laptop, (running XP), but after I went through and removed all programs except IE and word/excel, it now feels like it flies. Battery isn't awful either, probably a good 1.5 hrs of life in it on a charge.
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