Building a new shop
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Install dependable steel shelves and cabinetry with proper labeling to identify the tools' place. Make sure that shelves are capable of handling the weight that you will place on them. One option is to use wire adjustable shelving -- it comes in varying widths and lengths, the dirt and dust falls right through, and you never have to climb up to see what's on the top shelf. Add colored bins and boxes, and it starts to look like a well organized shop. One option for independent shelving units are the "Gorilla" shelf units, available at Costco. The "Gorilla" shelves have a powder-coated angle iron frame with high density wood shelves, and are diagonally braced to prevent shifting. If you're worried about shelf units tipping, just add a turnbuckle, or a hook and eye from the wall to the unit for extra stability. | Install dependable steel shelves and cabinetry with proper labeling to identify the tools' place. Make sure that shelves are capable of handling the weight that you will place on them. One option is to use wire adjustable shelving -- it comes in varying widths and lengths, the dirt and dust falls right through, and you never have to climb up to see what's on the top shelf. Add colored bins and boxes, and it starts to look like a well organized shop. One option for independent shelving units are the "Gorilla" shelf units, available at Costco. The "Gorilla" shelves have a powder-coated angle iron frame with high density wood shelves, and are diagonally braced to prevent shifting. If you're worried about shelf units tipping, just add a turnbuckle, or a hook and eye from the wall to the unit for extra stability. | ||
| − | ==Cabinets== | + | ===Cabinets=== |
| − | + | For cabinets, you can take stackable ledger card bins with pull out drawers, and find cardboard boxes that fit snuggly into the drawers for different bolts, nuts and washers sizes. A double door locking paper cabinet with adjustable shelves can house paint guns and precision tools. Stackable computer cabinets with a large opening door and two interior shelves can store paint supplies. Also, a plastic "Euro style" desk unit can be modified into a rolling work bench. The possibilities are endless, if you put your mind to it. Check out the local auction houses and flea markets in your area. | |
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| − | + | The ignition cabinets with the fancy labeling tend to run in the $100-250 per unit. With proper sourcing, you can get ALL of your cabinets for less than that. | |
| − | Box tubing, angle iron and rolled 1/8 inch steel top | + | ===Benches=== |
| + | Box tubing, angle iron and rolled 1/8 inch steel top make a nice bench for heavy working and welding. Pretty melamine cabinets should be left in the kitchen along with plastic laminated tops -- you can't hammer on them, welding and grinding sparks put pits in the surface, and spray paint is hard to get off. 10-16 gauge flat steel makes a nice working surface for most hands-on guys. It can be formed to roll over the front lip of the bench, or rolled up for a back splash or a flame and spark deflector. One of the first things that should be installed on a steel bench is a good grounding lug, you can lay a piece of metal almost anywhere on it and be able to weld or tack it. You know you're going to weld on it sooner or later. Tack welds to the bench surface come off easy with an angle grinder and flap wheel. Doors on the benches keep the clutter hidden, welding sparks out of the paint cans, grinding grit on a manageable level, your choice! | ||
| − | + | A unique option is to use a tailgate from a pickup truck as a garage seat. For more details, see [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/garage-seating-137916.html this discussion]. | |
| + | ===Storage=== | ||
Here's a system my daughter-in-law devised for my son and then, me. She bought 24 of those 60 gallon stackable plastic containers with lids and wheels. She attached numbered plastic tags with snap ties to each container and labeled them with a contents header, I.E. spray paint, Chevelle, Flathead, air tools, etc. , then made a corresponding entry book with a bin # and wrote down what was inside each bin. Now, when I'm looking for something, I pick up the book, look for the header, and see what's inside the container that I need. My only job is to add and delete what I take in or out of the container. Next bunch I buy is going to be the clear type. With the clear type you can 'see' what the majority of the contents are and decide if that's the one that you need. | Here's a system my daughter-in-law devised for my son and then, me. She bought 24 of those 60 gallon stackable plastic containers with lids and wheels. She attached numbered plastic tags with snap ties to each container and labeled them with a contents header, I.E. spray paint, Chevelle, Flathead, air tools, etc. , then made a corresponding entry book with a bin # and wrote down what was inside each bin. Now, when I'm looking for something, I pick up the book, look for the header, and see what's inside the container that I need. My only job is to add and delete what I take in or out of the container. Next bunch I buy is going to be the clear type. With the clear type you can 'see' what the majority of the contents are and decide if that's the one that you need. | ||
| − | Every shop should have a tire rack and cord rack. | + | Every shop should have a tire rack and cord rack. |
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| + | ==Specialty areas== | ||
Some people are welders, some are painters, some are mechanically inclined. We all have our specialty and usually build our shops around it. Big is not always better, you just have to walk further to get what you want. Well organized is better. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to weld up a project, reach over pickup a grinder and polish up the welds, turn around and pick up some nuts and bolts as you place a new piece of equipment on the part you just completed, without spending hours looking for tools and parts? If you are a fabricator, you know you need a place for plans, materials area, a welder, a cutting wheel or set of torches, grinders, drills and bits, supply of fasteners, parts and an area to paint it in. Why not plan your space efficiently? | Some people are welders, some are painters, some are mechanically inclined. We all have our specialty and usually build our shops around it. Big is not always better, you just have to walk further to get what you want. Well organized is better. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to weld up a project, reach over pickup a grinder and polish up the welds, turn around and pick up some nuts and bolts as you place a new piece of equipment on the part you just completed, without spending hours looking for tools and parts? If you are a fabricator, you know you need a place for plans, materials area, a welder, a cutting wheel or set of torches, grinders, drills and bits, supply of fasteners, parts and an area to paint it in. Why not plan your space efficiently? | ||
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