The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk *Work-space I wish I had*

I really envy you fellows that have the big garages or out buildings to work on your projects. I have a 2 1/2 car garage so the wife parks on one side and the 49 parks on the other. Yup.....I park outside. I do have a work bench and a small area for smaller projects but that's about it. If I do have a bigger project I have to move the wife's car out but it has to be back in the garage at the end of the day. Years ago I worked at a steel fabricating shop where we worked off shop prints to fabricate fenders, consoles, frames, etc. to build a completed unit to drive on the golf courses to spray fertilizer, water, etc. The company was sold out and moved to Mexico. Maybe you have heard of them, TORO. I know I have the ability to do a lot of this work I just don't have the space that I would like where I can keep things tore down and work on them as needed. Show me the space you guys have that I wish I had to work on your projects.

I have almost exactly the same situation as you describe, I managed to do a frame-off in that space by creative movement of parts and pieces.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/25002469381/in/album-72157631867396207/
I just back the vehicles out for project work (in good weather).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/15589650912/in/album-72157631866985745/

Nice. I like the front end of the AD you have on the wall.

I did mine in a 20 by 24 with a covered 14 by 24 carport next door, seems like I spent 1/2 the time moving parts and things around. Stored painted and finished fenders and body parts in my rec room. In my next life, I'm going to build me one with enough room.

I always look at the shop space first when folks show their trucks inside. Mrs. Wally's Buick gets our single car garage. I park the '48 outside and that's where I swapped the 235 for the 261 which took 2 winters and only 1 summer.

Heck, I'd be happy with your 2 1/2 car garage lol

I'd be happy with a nice neatly laid out 2 car garage, but I'm stuck with this.

I was spoiled when i fully assembled and LS swapped my 49 gmc. Never got wet.

Nothing a little paint and spackle can't fix..

I'm jealous of most of you guys. I have a single car garage that my daily driver truck won't even fit into if it was otherwise empty. The wife's car got relegated to the driveway when I started on my 'Bolt project. The chassis is currently outside in the snow with miscellaneous sheet metal parts on it, a few more in my 6x10 cargo trailer sitting in front of it next to the garage. The garage currently contains my original 4' long workbench, a freezer, a 7' long work table made out of a door, and the cab on a rotisserie with the bed parts propped up against the outside wall. I still manage to get some work done, mainly by shuffling things around. but I'm wondering how that will go when I get around to working on the chassis. Fortunately a friend nearby has a 2 bay double deep shop that he lets me use for some stuff.
Wally, is that personal antifreeze I see in the snowbank at your feet?

[img]https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...AEBA7DD-7BFF-4ADB-879C-442CD1D8F8B3.jpeg[/img]

Here is mine I don’t know why I can’t post pictures in these forums anymore...

Tony, by looking at your images as posted, I suspect they are way too large for our program to handle.

I have a 26 x 32, and it is always getting smaller every time I buy anything. Plus I rent 2 garages on opposite sides of town to store crap, and cars, plus a heated warehouse spot for my 4100. It's a total of $125 per month. Adds up, but it's a little cheaper than buying a huge place with more taxes/insurance for now. Too late to start over with that plan anyway. I've wasted a lot of time trying to find stuff that I couldn't remember where I stashed it, but it is always where I put it.

Well all and all it's kinda like the more money you have, the more money you spend and you live to them standards. I hear people all the time talking about how broke they are at the same time I'm towing their BMW and putting it the garage next to 2 more. If you have a 500 sq, you need 1000. If you have a 1000, you need 2000. I have 3000 but I need 4000. As with every thing, as humans, were never happy. Some are content, but never happy.. Be happy with what you have, or could be worse..

I'd definitely be happy with a 3000 sq ft garage Glenn, you are a very lucky man. Actually I would do jumping jacks for a 1000 sq ft.

Thanks. But the truth of the matter is I really need the rent payment for a write off on my taxes or Uncle Sam would get it anyhow. I figured I should spend it b4 he takes it.....
Looking at your garage and the organization you put into it, you are probably using more sq footage in a 1 bay than some people use in a 3 bay. Nice setup. Its obviously working for ya.. Nice truck too

Some of you guys really get innovative when it comes to no space at all. I guess we all have our issues with what we have and we would all like more space. I guess I'm lucky my AD is in out of the weather. Nice to see everybody is getting it done though.

I have a friend who can make a U-turn in his garage. I'm jealous.

Kevin, Don't have to worry about keeping a beer cold when a snow bank is handy.

My problem is that I have too many types of projects. One of my biggest projects was building my personal shop. It is the second one I built and I know it still would not be enough room. My biggest key to the space problems is two things. First, I take advantage of all the space I can that is up high. My shop is 36'x56'x14'. I built mezzanines where I use the space for storage. I try to use all nooks and crannys for storage. I get some of the stuff I have out of boxes and hang them up on a wall (more room for more items). The second is cheap reliable storage space. I had a garden shed that needed replacement. After figuring out the costs of these sheds, I instead got a couple of storage containers. The 20' one I use as my new garden shed. I put shelves in it and have big doors for my lawnmower and wood chipper. The second on is 40' and I filled it 1/2 full of shelves for "shop stuff". I also have a 22' trailer I use for some larger items. The thing I like about the storage containers is that they are solid, cheap, movable, and near rodent proof. I bought 2 storage containers for less than the price of a 1 stall garage. They work and they are secure too. I don't need all that stuff in my shop.
Builder

This is my future shop as right now it is only being used for storage. Bigger than it looks, it's currently storing 4 trucks (3 half tons and 1 ton and a half Big Bolt), a 27 foot travel trailer, an extra Task Force cab, 2 canoes and a kayak, 2 garden tractors, a lawn sweep, 3 or 4 engines and transmissions and way too many parts to mention (hoods fenders etc), plus tool boxes, ladders, lumber etc.
My brother in-law Terry helped me build it a dozen or so years ago. It features 14 foot side walls, 220 volt power, a 16x42' mezzanine, one each 18x12.and 10x8 overhead doors. A little more insulation and a source of heat is all I need to for it to be a fully year-round functional workshop.

Oh yeah, and the time to enjoy it. Still working full time. But someday .....

John

One could remove the tin on the south wall and replace it with something to let the sun shine through-free heat. Double sided plastic panels with airspace between for insulation would one option.

Ed

Holy Smokes John, looking at the garage door opening it is full. That is your storage area, now you need to build a shop,lol.

Kinda like Barnfind49's, here's my truck's garage. Someday when the daughter takes the '65 m00stang out of our garage, I might move the truck in there, but will say that the truck gets driven way more often being outside than it would if it was in a garage.

I'd be content with just some new siding and lights

I would like at least a 40 x 60 x 14 shop for Christmas. Forget the two front teeth I also want for Christmas because I never smile looking for hours, for things I set down only to find them buried by parts and stuff.

Removing tin is not an option as it provides stability for building. Not enough sunlight during winter months and would be of no help after dark.



I have other storage options when I get the time to play in the future workshop. Right now it's a convenience to just pack it all in for the winter.


Someday..........

John

Tom,

Since your still planning, take the walls to 16'. That way if you put a loft in using 2x12" floor joist you can have 7.5' of head room on both levels.

Also, the higher ceiling makes infrared heat (if that's how you want to heat the building) work better because you have proper clearance from combustibles.

Mike B

Guess i feel lucky to have 2/3rds of a 60 x 80 bought the whole building 5 years back from my friend left him a side to work on
Use it for my business in season but still have some room to tinker need to get couple of buildings at the farm i boight couple years ago in shap have a decen shop there too