E9 Garage Thread: Lifts, Rotisseries, and more!

Markos

Markos

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I'm starting a thread on this subject to prevent a hijack on an existing thread. Feel free to post your setup and chime in with advice. Admins - I would really like to keep this E9 related and out of the off topic graveyard.

I'm currently working on my garage. New insulation, new drywall, epoxy floor (Armorpoxy kit, 40% discount on garagejournal.com), corrugated steel wainscoting, additional 240v outlet (totalling two, each on their own circuit), 7 new receptacles, two POE security infared tilt/pan/zoom cameras, one outside, 1 inside). New workbench, steel construction with receiver to mount grinder, vise, etc (construction hasn't started). Surplus kitchen cabinets over the workbench (need to buy). I'm supposed to put a bowling lane top on the workbench but I'm crushing my garage budget.

I also bought three 4'x2' steel cabinets from costco:

http://www.costco.com/Tennsco-Jumbo...48"W-x-24"D-x-78"H-Gray.product.11676041.html

I added 4 800 lumen LED cans, and have 4 1600 lumen bulbs in the garage openers. Then I have 4 FEIT 4' LED panel lights, around $35 each at costco. Those are on a separate outlet, but I will likely use the chamberlain myQ light switches so I can power them with my remote. I also added two more 800 lumen LED cans on the overhang over the garage doors. I shouldn't be starved for lighting.

1506LEDSF2_fig7.jpg


41dNtL-3jSL._AC_UL320_SR178,320_.jpg



I and have spent a lot of time looking at options for restoring my car. I've considered a scissor lift, but it still may be a bit much for my 500sf garage with low ceilings.


I will likely build a rotisserie for the restore. I dont' have much room in front and back of the car, so I would likely build a roller hoop style, with the smallest possible hoop.

metro2.JPG


I've been researching where to buy hoops, and inexpensive 6' trampolines come to mind. They are about $150 new, and half that used. I don't know how thick the walls are though, so more on that later.

Trampoline: $150
 
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Steve,

You forgot the link to a rotisserie thread. :) Such a fine balance between relevancy and necroposting. Feel free to kill this thread mods but I must say that garage lift technology has come a long way since June of 2014 :D

I blame rsporsche for giving me this bright idea!

rsporsche said:
i have been thinking about this type of scissor lift, anybody have any good recommendations?
Click to expand...
 
Hi Markos -- A couple of comments (and I spend a lot of time in my garage).

Think about climate control. I am actually crazy enough to have installed a PTAC unit in my garage. My garage is on the south side of my house, and outside DC, it gets really hot and humid for long stretches of summer. My desire to work on my car goes way down when temps in the garage exceed 90 degrees.

I have Sears craftsman wall units rather than kitchen cabinetry. Not expensive, more functional and better suited to the garage.

Lastly, consider electronic needs. Old, heavy stereo equipment is cheap, its nice to have music. Consider too network connectivity; if you will be wrenching on your cars, there will be many times when you are going to want to access the net.
 
Thanks for the tips! I'll take a look at the cabinets. I can get new surplus maple cabinets for $25 each so I was headed that direction. My wifi router is very close to the garage so I am covered there, and I could easily run cat6 to my workbench if needed.

I think for music I will just get a Bluetooth speaker that is plugged in. I currently have a five dedicated garage circuits, which seems a bit overkill. I did flip a breaker on my main receptacle circuit, because I had two 1,500w heaters plugged in at the same time (on accident).

circuit 1: 20a receptacles
circuit 2: 20a LEDlighting (and fridge, garage openers)
circuit 3: 20a single 110v receptacle (I use this for my table saw)
circuit 4: 20a 240v
circuit 5: 30a 240v

Fortunately the climate is really temperate in Seattle. It usually doesn't go below 50 or above 80 in the garage.
 
Yeah, maple cabinets at that price point and a little paint would be hard to beat.

You are well on your way. Post some pictures when you are up and running.
 
Tire racks are nice if you are a wheel and tire collector. I made 3 racks out of slotted angle iron left over from my garage door install. This powder coated angle iron is available inexpensively from garage door companies. All hardware came from Lowe's.

I'll take better pictures of the tire/wheel racks and post them.

The post with my lift is in the link stevehose posted.

Here is the Garage Journal post about my garage: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224511&highlight=Andrew+Wilson's+garage

Tire racks: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=227095&highlight=Andrew+Wilson's+garage
 

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Andrew, love the oriental rug! Wow, gauntlet thrown!

Consider where you live; I have heat in my garage but not AC as NH does not get very hot...most of the time.
I have a deep sink, often called a "slop sink" from Lowes. There is nothing like hot and cold running water. Add to that a vintage Boraxo dispenser and you have the ability to wash up outside.

 
I built a detached 'hobby' garage about 9 years ago. I have a few things there that I don't know how I lived without them for the previous 52 years of automotive interests!

1. Two post asymmetric lift (I have 10'6 to the ceiling)
2. A two component (split system) ~15K btu heat pump for comfort in the winter and summer (6" insulation in walls and 12" in ceiling)
3. A laundry room sink (got at Habitat for Humanity 'Home Store') and running water.
4. LOTS of light. I have 30 light bulb sockets on 3 different circuits, using 65 watt fluorescent bulbs with a mix of color temperatures (easier for an old man on a ladder to replace than the 4 foot long fluorescent tubes). Also, six 300 watt halogen spots on the walls on 3 circuits (great for doing detailing work).
5. A big work bench with small grinder and drill press. It is always TOO cluttered (need to finish 'jobs' earlier, so I have time to clean up!!
6. Good, but not great Air Compressor with 130 psi and a lot of air/impact tools
7. About a dozen 110 V outlets (each one quad), and three 220 V (only use one - operates the heat pump
8 This one is very handy - trap door access to a floored attic, where I can store a lot of chemicals, parts, tires, etc.
9. A 'modest' exhaust fan, larger than the 'kitchen/bathroom' size, but smaller than a restaurant kitchen size. Works well if I want to use MEK etc. with the large door closed.

Hope some of these might be helpful to 'think' about.
 
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Awesome garage Andrew! I love the wood and overall look that it conveys.

I had the option to easily add a utility sink when my drywall was off and the plumbing was exposed. I will probably regret it later, but I wanted the space that it would consume. my garage feels tiny compared to what has been posted.
 
Messy Garage

My garage is 1700 square feet, of not always neat and clean as it appears. Luckily cars fill the space. Here's the view from my workbench looking across the wood shop which is 12' x 24'. Lights are American Nail Plate polycarbonate pendants with halogen accent lights on the perimeter. The 2" BMW lighted sign was purchased on ebay, it's from a 1970s motorcycle dealership in California.
 

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My garage:

IMG_0710.jpg


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Floor, shelving, fridge and Packers flag (Note the warning sign: Danger Men Thinking):

IMG_0713.jpg


I don't have a lift, so I have to do this Hack Mechanic type of stuff:

20150520_141414.jpg
 
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Well I'm still a bit high from the epoxy VOC's. Anyone considering a floor coating should be sure to do it when it's warm out. It takes longer to dry when cold, but more importantly you can comfortably keep your windows open when it's warm. I may get a hotel this weekend if we put the clear down (which is the worst).
 
Markos said:
Well I'm still a bit high from the epoxy VOC's. Anyone considering a floor coating should be sure to do it when it's warm out. It takes longer to dry when cold, but more importantly you can comfortably keep your windows open when it's warm. I may get a hotel this weekend if we put the clear down (which is the worst).
Click to expand...

Yeah, that and the need to sand the floors prior to coating were the reasons I paid someone to do mine.
 
I have a dyed terra-cotta slab that was clear coated. Salt from the vehicles in winter has eaten the clear away. Will probably acid etch and re-clear it with epoxy in the spring or summer.
 

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Ohmess said:
Yeah, that and the need to sand the floors prior to coating were the reasons I paid someone to do mine.
Click to expand...

I rented a concrete grinder with the industrial shop vac, which hooks up to the grinder. It wasn't that messy actually. Then I used my angle grinder to touch up the spots I missed, and holy hell did that make a mess of things! My concrete looked polished and sealed before, but it was just glazed from years of foot and vehicle traffic.
 
adawil2002 said:
I have a dyed terra-cotta slab that was clear coated. Salt from the vehicles in winter has eaten the clear away. Will probably acid etch and re-clear it with epoxy in the spring or summer.
Click to expand...

The solid color epoxy looks good without the flakes I must say. I'm adding the finish coat with the flakes tonight, but a solid red would look good.
 
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