Editing Spring cleaning for the shop and garage

==Introduction== The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and you decide to open the garage door. Inside, you find a mix-bag of good and bad. The good, you can have the "big door" open to let the warmth of spring in. The bad, over the preceeding colder winter months your shop has become the gathering point for all the miscellaneous "stuff" that magically appears. What to do, what to do?? Guess what, it's time to re-dedicate yourself to shop access, cleanliness and safety. '''Now''' is the right time to start improving your working space. Shelves can be put up, assorted tools can be cleaned and put away for their next usage, projects in the works can have components re-discovered, but before all of that, those unwanted or un-needed items need to go. ==Recycle what you can== Empty plastic soda bottles can hit the recycle bin, or may even find a new use as storage for nuts and bolts or other odds and ends. Cardboard boxes left over from those Christmas gifts can be recycled as well. Soda and beer cans strewn around the shop can be turned in for cash. ==Properly dispose of those unwanted chemicals== Many shops have a can of paint or two that could either: *Be used on a current project until it's used up *Be sent to a local recycling center for toxic waste Part of being a good steward of our environment is making sure that tomorrow's kids will be able to enjoy it, too. Proper disposal doesn't include dumping used brake fluid down the drain, or the storm sewer. ==Pass the spare parts around== This idea comes into play when you switch projects in the middle of construction. Say you go from building a '34 roadster to building a chopped '51 Mercury. You have a narrowed 9" Ford rear end just taking up space in the corner of the shop. Use the rear end as a "trade-for-services-exchanged" item. Or trade it with that GM guy buddy of yours for his used overdrive transmission you'll otherwise need to buy. It's a win-win for both parties involved. ==Inspect your safety items== Spring (and fall) are the perfect time to give all of your major safety items a thorough inspection. Replace those well-worn welding gloves with a new pair. If you don't have a fire extinguisher, get one and make sure it is functional. Face shields covered in scratches make projects difficult to see, and should be replaced. The same goes for goggles. If your shop has a smoke detector, change those batteries. [[Category:Garage and shop]]

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