How to organize your shop

[Rich Ard]

Check this guy out: The 12-gauge garage. Lots of great ideas there, all done on a budget many of us would be friendly with. And all little stuff, like every work surface being the same height.

For those who want to take it a step further, here's some reading on the lean manufacturing concept of 5S.

 

[Tim]

My problem is I have 1/2 the space and have 5 motorcycles along with my car packed in there

 

[broncoboy79]

Now that is some excellent strategizing and utilization of space.

 

[sasquach]

Jack is a very talented man . I've been following his work for a couple of years over at The Garage Journal .

 

[Basement rat]

My problem is I have 1/2 the space and have 5 motorcycles along with my car packed in there

 

[lingo]

My problem is I have 1/2 the space and have 5 motorcycles along with my car packed in there

And pulling your car out doesn't make much more room.

 

[RoadRash]

That's all well and good if you have money to piss away, but some of us are making do woth what we have.

 

[sphynx88]

That's all well and good if you have money to piss away, but some of us are making do woth what we have.

This is true, but that is one AMAZING garage for $3,500. For hardly anything you could implement some of those ideas into your work space.

 

[Barkingmadspeedshop]

Likewise problems
8 bikes, 9 tool boxes, 1 80gl compressor, 2-6foot metal topped benches, 3 wall cabinets,3 stand up wardrobe type cabinets, sandblaster, soda blaster, and so on and so on in a 2 car garage.

 

[Kanticoy]

That's all well and good if you have money to piss away, but some of us are making do woth what we have.

I'm not saying that Jack isn't wealthy, but he is one hell of a guy. Very kind hearted individual. It isn't always about having money to piss away. Sometimes it's just about having the initiative to do it. Jack did all of that stuff on his own, and a lot of it was with creativity and on a budget. Well executed for sure! You can do it on the cheap if you're patient and hard working. Just takes time.

 

[Rich Ard]

That's all well and good if you have money to piss away...

And I - like many here - do not. But there's a lot of stuff to draw on in those pages. For my part, I've moved all of my woodworking stuff to the front of the garage (where it has to be in order to use it!) and my wrenches closer to the lift table; and it's easier to clean up, so it stays cleaner.

My garage won't look like that next week unless I spend ten grand - but it could go that direction in five years if I'm careful.

 

[MNBikerPup]

I've seen this post before. Great idea. Great way of utilizing space and what not.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks for the mention!

Here's a clean shot of the place, and a dirty shot. It's a working garage.

 

[rockcitycafe]

This is true, but that is one AMAZING garage for $3,500. For hardly anything you could implement some of those ideas into your work space.

there's a difference between having money to "piss away" and having a tool and shop budget because you didn't "piss money away", it's amazing how much you can burn on "entertainment" that could have been spent on tools

 

[theprep]

Thanks for the mention!

Here's a clean shot of the place, and a dirty shot. It's a working garage.

Beautiful garage/shop and my favorite 911 body.

 

[Rich Ard]

Thanks, Jack, for popping in - like I said, lots of neat stuff there!

 

[Mr.E]

I'm not saying that Jack isn't wealthy, but he is one hell of a guy. Very kind hearted individual. It isn't always about having money to piss away. Sometimes it's just about having the initiative to do it. Jack did all of that stuff on his own, and a lot of it was with creativity and on a budget. Well executed for sure! You can do it on the cheap if you're patient and hard working. Just takes time.

Kiley, I think your shop is a great example of on the cheap as long as your dont mind putting in the work! And I think a lot of us would be surprised what can be accomplished in garages with patience, hard work, and extra hands to hang those plywood panels up for my drop ceiling and get the new electrical service ran for the future welder and better air compressor... anyone? garage party at my house? pretty please?

 

[Rich Ard]

Bring NC closer to MI and I'm totally in!

 

[Tim]

My garage would be that clean if it was that big and the only thing I had in it was 1 car.

As it is, my 12 x 20 foot garage has 5 motorcycles, a tool cabinet, 3 bicycles, an air compressor, 12" mitre saw, band saw, drill press, shovels and rakes, oh and yeah, my car

Honestly I don't even know how it all fits but it does. If I had 2x the space and 1 car, it would be awesome (except the 1 car bit - where are the motorcycles?)

Nothing taken from the garage though - it's pretty epic and he clearly put a ton of effort into it. When you look closely it's nothing outrageous - some of the wall cabinets look like they're just 2x4's nailed together, he's got some awesome heavy steel cabinets and the scissor lift is pretty cool but also nothing terribly complicated to do.

I definitely need to clear some stuff out and move 3 of my bikes out of the garage to 'somewhere' else.

 

[Redbird]

I say it all the time about loading trucks and it certainly applies here... it's all about space management.
I agree with the shed theory as well. I had the idea of keeping my 6'x6' shed in my backyard after I finish my 16'x24' workshop, to house all the crap I didn't want in my way in the shop.
And that lift is awesomeness