KDXRIDER.NET

Been planning on doing some cool mods - to my attached garage. If you have any cool ideas to share regarding your shop, garage, storage or maintenance area, please share them here. The coolest thing I did a long time ago was bury an air line to my shed where the compressor is stored. It freed up garage space and it's quieter inside the house.

Photos would be welcomed here. Thanks.

Install a retractable air hose and power cord in th ceiling. Very handy for working on anything to not have to drag out hoses or to trip on extension cords.

Heat it somehow. Mine is completely insulated and stays 20 degrees warmer than outside at all times just with that.

Sheet rock and texture with a smooth finish. Paint with semi gloss a good white. My garage is so bright and the walls wipe down very easy this way.

Seal the floor. It's easy to clean up spills and keep strong odors down when you do spill something like gas.

Put in a motion detector light. When I step out into the garage, there is a light that automatically goes on. Very handy.

Lighting, lighting and more lighting.
I've got 7 twin 8' fluorescent fixtures in the cieling and still need to use a shop light on occasion.

Hot and cold running water in a laundry utility sink is nice.

Lots of light! I have 20 4' T-8 bulbs in my 20x22 garage, probably could have used a bit more.

Heat! I installed a Mr. Heater Big Maxx 45K BTU gas furnace, everytime it kicks on, I remember how glad I am to have it.

Epoxy floors, look nice, clean up pretty well (some staining), the prep work is what counts. Not that expensive if you do it yourself.

Prewire for everything you might want, tv, in-wall speakers, plenty of 110v outlets and 220v if you need it.

I chose not to do in-wall air, I wish I would have installed a ceiling hung air reel (I still can). I get tired of dragging the hose around and getting caught on stuff. I have a little 220v 5hp oiled compressor, seems to get the job done.

Here are some pics I happened to have on photobucket:
Floor done, garage unfinished



Wiring starting:



Old pics:



Some mostly finished pics:









Funny, I don't really have any fully finished pics, you can seee the paint scheme in this kdx one:

Great looking Garage....

Someday I'll get off my butt and fix mine up.

Re: 'Lighting, lighting and more lighting.'

..and

'Lots of light!'

Yep!

I've got 26 4 footers in mine (13 doubles 26' x 26'). According to specifications, that is still just over 1/2 the lumens required for a workspace.

If my garage was NOT rocked and painted..even that number of lights would simply disappear into the gloom.

I've got six 4' windows, too. That's good for light.

Yep...LIGHT!

Don't know how unfinished it is, but if wiring is involved, use 20 amp circuits. That includes #12 wire, NOT #14.

My 2 1/2HP compressor (direct drive) in the house garage will NOT recharge on the 15 amp circuits in there..the motor just hums. Not a problem in the separate, 20 amp wired garage.

Use SCREWED wire outlets..not the 'strip-stick-in-the-hole' type. Well, if you use the right kind of outlet (spec..at least double-wiped), you won't have a choice.

Sealed floors are nice. Someday I'll epoxy mine....

Someday I'll put my tools in my new toolbox, too!

Strider: Nice BTU machine!!! I want one!!

Note where Strider put his outlets, too. Most codes will require them 'up' from what you find in a house. Whether codes are an issue or not..put 'em up there anyway. Reason for that is self-evident, right?

I like the pull-down power idea. I might do that!

Have fun!!

For Mr. Heaters, watch northern tool towards the end of winter, I got mine for $325 shipped! Plus $100 for misc fittings and exhaust. I have less than $450 invested for wonderfull heat!

BTW I think the heaters retail for $425 or so normally.

I looked 'em up on the web. Less than $400..that's with no vent kit, no T-Stat.

No Northern Tool here. I live in Southern Orygun.

Well...before it became The State of Jefferson I mean.

The folks that are selling the house we're moving into in a couple of weeks have a drop light suspended from the garage ceiling. One look at it and it's a no-brainer, so if they take theirs I'm replacing it. And I like the retracting power outlet as well. So maybe a retracting drop cord w/ power outlet AND a light.

Few pics of my small shop and shed

http://wibby.smugmug.com/gallery/3975359/1/231060270

Shelving brackets I used : http://johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm

Mr. Wibbens wrote:Few pics of my small shop and shed

http://wibby.smugmug.com/gallery/3975359/1/231060270

Shelving brackets I used : http://johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm

So small I can't even see the picture?

Ondatrail wrote:

Mr. Wibbens wrote:Few pics of my small shop and shed

http://wibby.smugmug.com/gallery/3975359/1/231060270

Shelving brackets I used : http://johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm

So small I can't even see the picture?

Yes this is a little nice small place I think. Do you have your own garage?

This shed cost more than a 10$ air filter oil bottle

kdxquebec wrote:

Ondatrail wrote:

Mr. Wibbens wrote:Few pics of my small shop and shed

http://wibby.smugmug.com/gallery/3975359/1/231060270

Shelving brackets I used : http://johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm

So small I can't even see the picture?

Yes this is a little nice small place I think. Do you have your own garage?

This shed cost more than a 10$ air filter oil bottle

Haha I forgot about that, still haven't got any! I've been using 80w-90 gear oil, going on my christmas list now . You could say I "own" half of our garage most of the time; just don't have to pay taxes, heat, electricity, etc.

If ya have water and space you might consider an old washing machine. It's kinda nice to have for the nasty riding clothes. Helps keep the wife off your A$$ and you don't get all the crud in the good machine. If you watch the classifieds and craigslist you can usually pick one up for a few dollars or free.

" I "own" half of our garage most of the time; just don't have to pay taxes, heat, electricity, etc. "

Isn't teenage life sweet?

2001kdx wrote:" I "own" half of our garage most of the time; just don't have to pay taxes, heat, electricity, etc. "

Isn't teenage life sweet?

No bills, back problems, aches, wife nagging,= pretty much

paceyman, you can have your post back

Ondatrail wrote:

Mr. Wibbens wrote:Few pics of my small shop and shed

http://wibby.smugmug.com/gallery/3975359/1/231060270

Shelving brackets I used : http://johnsterling.com/FMshelfbrackets1.htm

So small I can't even see the picture?

Didja even look?

paceyman, you can have your post back [/quote]

No problem... so far, this is all good stuff. But I know that there are more cool work spots out there that would give us some ideas to work from. Timing is good for such a project. Thanks for your input so far...

Check out this site: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

Warning!!! This site will make you feel like less of a man, lighten your pocket book and sink all of you time. Tons of cool garages and projects. After finding that site, I have more time and money invested in my garage remodel than all other house projects combined. It has been well worth it! Check out the "garage mahal" http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/show ... ight=mahal

What a site that is... thanks Strider