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OK so the movers showed up and when they left my garage looked something like this:



So now I'm ready to start rebuilding everything and I need some ideas, when the garage is empty it's pretty large but like alot of you I have alot of tools that take up space and one more big one on the way..

So I'm looking for ways to free up floor space, provide storage for parts, jigs and tools and keep it neat and tidy, it's a tall order for a 24X24 shop. I lose the corner by the entry door due to the AC and the water heater so I'm not sure what to do about those yet.

Some ideas I was kicking around:

- Move all the storage for tools and parts to cabinets up high on the wall to free up lower wall space for large tools.

- Use the area above the garage door for wood storage (building a shelf up there).

- Build custom dual purpose cabinets for things like the thickness sander so that it can share space with other tools AND be used for storage.

- Move the Air-Compressor and dust collector to a small shed on the side of the garage and feed tubes into the shop. This would free up more space and if done
correctly I could use the shed for wood storage as well.

My old workbench in a huge monster and it's time to replace it with a true woodworkers workbench which will free up more workspace, I might be able to also put some tools back to back to conserve space.

So I'm look for ideas... I need to figure out how to store my guitars and parts as well while I work on them. There are some things I'm doing for certain:

- I'm wiring some tools for 220

- The big tools are getting mobile bases.

- I'm running an air pressure line around the shop.

- I'm running dust collection piping to each of the tools coming in from the attic I think (not totally sure yet)...

This time around I want to take my time and do it right, we are going to be here for a while and I want something that I don't have to keep monkeying with so any ideas you have send em over....

Cheers

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Easy.....send all your tools to me just kidding

Man, that looks just like my garage. We'll be moving in a couple of weeks or so and I am already dreading it.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Hi Paul

I changed our kitchen not long ago and have the old wall units above my bench which is great for all the stuff you need to hand, I also but shelves under the bench for storage.

A company I knew was closing there warehouse so I got some 5 shelf racking the top I have carpeted to store work in progress and the rest is for timber etc.

All I can say is that looks like a lot of work. Just remember as you are working, "Rome wasn't built in a day." And think of this, "When I get done, I get to build guitars"! Good luck from all of us. Hey, you supply the beer we'll all come and help.

I'm finally starting to build again after moving here to Purdue in August. I know my shop looks much different now than I intended when I first arrived. Take your time and think everything through. I unpacked all my boxes first, than I tried to get semi-organized, than I began working again. As I began working I found there were differences in how I wanted my shop to function, so little by little I found permanent "functional" homes for all my tools and supplies. Good luck, and like Bruce said, take your time.

John

Wow, 575 sft of space. I wouldn't know what to do with it all.

First, if you can, make some "loft" type storage for wood, jigs, bodies in progress.

Your idea of getting the dc outside is a good one, just make sure you have the return air come back into the shop (I'm sure you know this, just a reminder) so your not "heating the outside" as mom used to say.

If you are finishing your own guitars (can't remember if you are) build a semi-knock down booth, I'll post some pics of mine tonight. That way you can still have the booth and when not in use it's not realy in the way.

I don't know how I do it, but I have only 185 sft and I have the following:
10" Delta unisaw cabinet style
14" Delta bandsaw
home made 24" drum sander
the new semi-knock down spray booth
2'x10' bench
3'x4' built in go bar deck
3'x16' loft area 3' high in the middle (I have a sloped ceiling)
and I still have room from the dust collector I plan to build plus an area for a sanding station.

I have a fold down workboard (something like the one in Cumpiano's book) which folds down out of the way when not in use. I would like to make a few more tools, stations like this, but I am starting to run out of room.

Of course, it all depends on how much space you want around your tools. If you want the bench to be accessed from all sides, than you loose some precious floor space.

If you can, lay it all out on cad or some sort of drawing and play around with the layout a bit.

Take a look at Wood magazine's Idea Shop 2 it's a 24x24 shop. This may help.

Have fun Paul.

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I think that slat wall stuff looks really handy. Lots of opportunities to hang shelves and move things around as your needs change.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Thanks for the ideas...

Rod, I forgot about the return air actually, that would have been fun to figure out

I'm not finishing anymore, Adam goings to get all my stuff from now on, I can do it in a pinch but it's just easier to let him deal with it so I can build.

You know brock I was thinking about the same thing, need to figure out where to get that stuff and see how much it is, could get expensive to do all the walls in it.

Bruce and John are right, I intend to take my time and get it right, we are going to be here for a long time. I'm having Home Depot come out and spray insulation in the attic next week, otherwise I'll freeze in winter and fry in the summer.

Grizzly is finally going to ship my edge sander at the end of the month which is good news so I have to clear out enough space for it, unpacking it all and the organizing seems like a great way to start...

I really wanted a bigger workspace but we wanted a smaller house payment and two just don't go together, but with some work and planning it should work out. The new workbench thing is interesting because I know I can build a really nice one, the question becomes is it cheaper to build or buy

Thanks

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

[QUOTE=RussellR] Hi Paul

I changed our kitchen not long ago and have the old wall units above my bench which is great for all the stuff you need to hand, I also but shelves under the bench for storage.

A company I knew was closing there warehouse so I got some 5 shelf racking the top I have carpeted to store work in progress and the rest is for timber etc.

[/QUOTE]

I'd think that, properly/strongly mounted, wall-hanging kitchen cabinets at the righ height could equal a nice, long, sequential go-bar deck.

Hey Davis, if you can't make 575 sq ft work, well, then you suck! Some of us have to work in less than half that space.
That slat board is pretty cool. Quite expensive and made of MDF so I'm not sure it would hold the weight you want it to. One could make it with the right keyhole router bit.
Regarding the waterheater/ac unit. You really need to enclose it. Just frame in two walls around them giving enough space to work on them if needed. I'd punch a hole in one of the walls and enclose a filter. That way neither will starve for O2. Not sure if it's a gas water heater or electric but either way, you'll want to keep shop dust out of the mix. Plus that will give you more wall space to hang stuff.
One thing I did from the start was think about my flooring. I epoxied it with that expensive garage floor stuff from HD. Then I decided that I really didn't want to spend the rest of my days standing on concrete so I bought wall-to-wall horse stall mats. Not the cheap foam you can get from Costco but these are super-compressed hard rubber. Each one (4x8') weighs about 110 lbs. Very sturdy, easy on chisels when dropped, and you back will thank you. But it's much easier to put something like that in before you have tools to work around. I'd still epoxy the floor for humidiy issues.

First I would release the cat or dog in the pet carrier on the upper left hand side of the photo, then just make an enormous mess like the rest of us Actually this must be so much fun, I did a lot of planning before I even put up a shelf, but every few months I change a whole bunch of things around.
Good Luck and post photos as it comes along.
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Hahahahaha Yeah I guess that cat's pretty hungry by now...

So Woolson ya big lug, tell me more about these horse mats your referring too?? (I could insert all kinds of funny remarks here but will restrain myself)...

I do like your idea of walling in the AC and Heater units, I think that will be the first thing I do.

The question I'm wondering about now is should I build my own cabinets or just buy them pre-made?....

I'm going to fill the attic with insulation tomorrow, it seems easy enough to do and home depot rents the equipment, then I'm going to start box diving and see what I actually have out there. One funny thing is that the packers labeled every box in the garage as "Carving Tools" so each box is a new adventure, they even boxed my scrap wood

Cheers

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Running Electrical. Paul you gonna add a bunch of receptacles? I would. Garages are notorious for lack of receptacles. Any 220 V devices? While a lot of hobbiests use PVC to run electrical, because it's easy.

I recommend looking into 1/2 inch EMT, electrical metallic tubing. Cut's with a hacksaw, ream it out and hang. I use screw connectors, easier than the compression type. You can even legally wire using the tubing as a ground, so one less wire, in most areas. You simply ground to the box, receptacles automatically are grounded due to the upper and lower screws, again, you have to check local code to see what they approve.

From the ceiling, plastic remodel boxes are your friend, you can run romex in the attic. I have receptacles at the ceiling over my workbench, my router table, and any other place you need electricity in the room, that's a good idea to put it in.

On interior walls, you can use a 5/8" spade bit to get through the two top plates and drop romex down the wall to a remodel box, very handy. Just put a junction box in the attic and run drops from that. You need to have any boxes a couple feet high to keep them out of the insulation, think accessibility.

Now's the time, before the insulation.

P. S. From the Ceiling Receptacles, you can buy inexpensive 4 Foot MultiPlugs with the switch and circuit breaker right on them, gives you four plugs at least. Nice for heat lamps, routers, bending blankets, dremels, benchtop sanders, really nice.

Well, they are horse stall mats. Mats that go in horse stalls. Mats that horses stand on when they are in their stalls. Mats that go on the floor of stalls so horses can stand on them. Doncha just love a smart mouth?
But that's what they are. I got mine at a place called Farm 'n' Fleet. But I would think you might have some sort of farm/ranch supply store in the area. That's who I would try first. I've just got mine layed in, no glue, not tape and nothing has budged a bit. I'm telling you, these things are frickin' heavy. Get a friend to help you move them and expect to pay him LOTS of beer. I didn't know anyone so I did mine myself. It's like carrying a 100 lb sheet of plywood but totally floppy so you can't carry it at all. I had to roll them up and carry them as a tube. That was a hard job.
I'd build your cabinets if I were you. Go buy some 1/2" mdf and go to town. You could always buy the doors later if you want them to look pretty.

I don't know about building your own cabinets. I can go to HD or Lowes any day of the week and pick up stuff in there scratch & dent area for virtually nothing. No problems other than some minor cosmetic issue that will seem mild by comparison after a week in a shop environment.

The stores close to me always have quite a few of these on hand at any one time and it is possible to get a whole set that matches if you are patient and check back often.

I literally got them for $5 and $10 each.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Paul, could you give us an idea of the cost on those mats you are using? I'm getting ready to set up my new shop as well and would love to have something like that on my floor. Concrete hurts after a while.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

[QUOTE=Dickey] Running Electrical. Paul you gonna add a bunch of receptacles? I would. Garages are notorious for lack of receptacles. Any 220 V devices? While a lot of hobbiests use PVC to run electrical, because it's easy.

I recommend looking into 1/2 inch EMT, electrical metallic tubing. Cut's with a hacksaw, ream it out and hang. I use screw connectors, easier than the compression type. You can even legally wire using the tubing as a ground, so one less wire, in most areas. You simply ground to the box, receptacles automatically are grounded due to the upper and lower screws, again, you have to check local code to see what they approve.

From the ceiling, plastic remodel boxes are your friend, you can run romex in the attic. I have receptacles at the ceiling over my workbench, my router table, and any other place you need electricity in the room, that's a good idea to put it in.

On interior walls, you can use a 5/8" spade bit to get through the two top plates and drop romex down the wall to a remodel box, very handy. Just put a junction box in the attic and run drops from that. You need to have any boxes a couple feet high to keep them out of the insulation, think accessibility.

Now's the time, before the insulation.[/QUOTE]

Yeah that's on my mind, this garage has more receptacles than most I have seen, I've run outlets before on the outside of the walls. But this time I'm going to call an electrician and get an estimate for running 220 to some of the tools, it's not something I want to tinker with honestly. I'll be running conduit for all the lighting and wiring all that in, but I haven't decided on the best approach for the outlets yet.

Keep in mind that running outlets is half the battle, you need to add extra breakers for the shop to do it properly and hook into the main breaker box. Last time I split the shop into two sections and it worked very well. I have also run conduit with outlet boxes, but when you throw 220 in the mix I get a little edgy about it so I think some professional advice is in order.

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

220 is simple, two hot wires, one off Side A, one off Side B. The breaker does it for you, just plug it in. The sheathed cable will include a ground to hook up, no problem either. If your device uses 110 power you'll have to include a neutral white wire in the cable you buy, again, no problem. (A kitchen stove or a dryer is a good example of 220 devices that sometimes use a 110 timer, gotta have the neutral.)

Now if you have to add a subpanel, that's easy too. I bought one at Lowes night before last for my spray room, etc. 31.98 including the breakers 125Amps.

If you have plenty of money, hire the electrician.