What did you do to / in your garage / shop today?

[chili_pepper]

As a renter, technically not "my" garage/shop, but as I've been here for almost 7 years now, figured it was about time to clean it up and organize it better for my use. Freed up quite a bit of real estate with the LJ's hardtop leaving after over a year in residence for repair/refinish, I figured it was time to do some additional work.

Made final adjustment to items stored on the walls and prepared the space for a fresh coat of paint. Probably pulled 50-60 wall anchors and cheap hooks installed by previous tenants/owners and mudded all the holes. The walls weren't perfect to start, typical garage finish (tape and 1 coat of mud) so I wasn't overly concerned but still finished things well enough to serve as an improvement. Painted two walls and half the ceiling last weekend, finished up the last wall yesterday and proceeded to reinstall everything.

Someone who lived here previously decided to partially wrap the steel column (that should have been centered IN the demising wall when designed ) in blue painters tape some years ago. In an effort to make it look better, I tried removing the tape but that quickly proved a pointless endeavor. In a moment of clarity, it occurred to me that 4" PVC sewer pipe, cut to length and split up the spine, might serve as a cheap "snap on" column wrap. It did.

I've still got some minor cleanup and organization to do on the benches and storage shelves, but I'm calling the project done. I celebrated with a fist-sized brisket sammy and some laser potatoes w/chipotle mayo. It's a shit photo but eating was the focus.

 

[chili_pepper]

Forgot, actually roped a little design and 3D printing into the garage project with some simple standoffs for my paddle holders, a custom hook for the Jeep bike rack and some bungee clamps to hold my folding workstand tight against the wall.







I also designed and printed a box for dispensing rubber gloves. I have a magnetic holder for boxes of gloves purchased some years ago, but I've never found a single brand of glove that makes a box of gloves to suit the holder....so I decided to make one.

 

[tworley]

I wired in a switch so I don't have to go outside to unplug my christmas lights each night.

 

[B1Toad]

As a renter, technically not "my" garage/shop, but as I've been here for almost 7 years now, figured it was about time to clean it up and organize it better for my use. Freed up quite a bit of real estate with the LJ's hardtop leaving after over a year in residence for repair/refinish, I figured it was time to do some additional work.

Made final adjustment to items stored on the walls and prepared the space for a fresh coat of paint. Probably pulled 50-60 wall anchors and cheap hooks installed by previous tenants/owners and mudded all the holes. The walls weren't perfect to start, typical garage finish (tape and 1 coat of mud) so I wasn't overly concerned but still finished things well enough to serve as an improvement. Painted two walls and half the ceiling last weekend, finished up the last wall yesterday and proceeded to reinstall everything.









Someone who lived here previously decided to partially wrap the steel column (that should have been centered IN the demising wall when designed ) in blue painters tape some years ago. In an effort to make it look better, I tried removing the tape but that quickly proved a pointless endeavor. In a moment of clarity, it occurred to me that 4" PVC sewer pipe, cut to length and split up the spine, might serve as a cheap "snap on" column wrap. It did.



I've still got some minor cleanup and organization to do on the benches and storage shelves, but I'm calling the project done. I celebrated with a fist-sized brisket sammy and some laser potatoes w/chipotle mayo. It's a shit photo but eating was the focus.

View attachment 656807

Is that a racing kayak?

 

[chili_pepper]

Is that a racing kayak?

KInda-ish. Technically a surfski, so like a mix of sit-on-top kayak and fast kayak, but faster, wetter and easier to self-rescue. It's an Epic V8, though not specifically a racing model, a good balance of stability and speed at ~21" wide and 18' long. The serious racing skis are around 16"-17" wide and 21' long...and beyond my paddling skill set as well as quite a bit narrower than my ass.

If you're into paddling, particularly kayaking, you should give a surfski a try if you ever get the opportunity. I started in a fitness cockpit kayak, but I never looked back when I discovered the surfski. I don't get too many opportunities anymore, but I'm always happy to let folks try mine, as well as the wing paddle.

 

[bucky]

I wired in a switch so I don't have to go outside to unplug my christmas lights each night.

View attachment 656865

My lights went up today. I’ve lived in my house since Christmas Eve 1983. No time for lights that year but I went all out the next. I put in a pool timer and ran outlets around the front of the house. Two circuits one timed the other always hot. I run my front fountain on the timer and switch it to the hot and put the lights on the timer. My street has an unofficial competition and I hold up with the best of them. Approx 2K bulbs but no inflatables. After 41 yrs I have it down pat, it takes me about a 1.5 hrs to set up and 45 min to put everything away. I made permanent hooks for the eaves and made a stick with a hook so I have almost not ladder work. All the light strings go into 5gal buckets labeled with their location and separated by paper plates and then in the garage rafters. When I switched from incandescent to LED my added electrical bill went from an extra $50 to $15 a month.
I grew up in a farm house 1/4 mile off the road and behind a hill and we never had Christmas lights. As a kid I was always frustrated to see all the houses with decorations up. I’ve more than made up for the years of no lights.

 

[B1Toad]

KInda-ish. Technically a surfski, so like a mix of sit-on-top kayak and fast kayak, but faster, wetter and easier to self-rescue. It's an Epic V8, though not specifically a racing model, a good balance of stability and speed at ~21" wide and 18' long. The serious racing skis are around 16"-17" wide and 21' long...and beyond my paddling skill set as well as quite a bit narrower than my ass.

If you're into paddling, particularly kayaking, you should give a surfski a try if you ever get the opportunity. I started in a fitness cockpit kayak, but I never looked back when I discovered the surfski. I don't get too many opportunities anymore, but I'm always happy to let folks try mine, as well as the wing paddle.

I was thinking more of a sea kayak for where we go, one that I could fish from. At one time I had a decent inflatable that I was actually able to catch fish from off Coronado Island. Now we go down to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, there's a couple cheap kayaks down there that my grandson and his buddies use but I'd want something bigger and more stable.

We took a kayak day trip once where they furnished the kayaks, wooden ones. They were fast but if you sneezed you were going over.

 

[tworley]

After 41 yrs I have it down pat, it takes me about a 1.5 hrs to set up and 45 min to put everything away.

It takes me probably 3-4 hrs. They went up early this year (taking advantage of the weather).

The two outdoor outlets i installed were for the christmas lights--theres nothing else to ever plug in in their locations. The first two years I was just flipping the breaker, but that also killed the garage outlets. So today I set it up with the switches just to make it easy

 

[B1Toad]

It takes me probably 3-4 hrs. They went up early this year (taking advantage of the weather).

The two outdoor outlets i installed were for the christmas lights--theres nothing else to ever plug in in their locations. The first two years I was just flipping the breaker, but that also killed the garage outlets. So today I set it up with the switches just to make it easy

Alexa can do that. Just sayin...

 

[Apparition]

It takes me probably 3-4 hrs. They went up early this year (taking advantage of the weather).

The two outdoor outlets i installed were for the christmas lights--theres nothing else to ever plug in in their locations. The first two years I was just flipping the breaker, but that also killed the garage outlets. So today I set it up with the switches just to make it easy

I’ve seen this in a movie before

We’ve decided to go with permanent lights and they are installing them in a couple weeks. We’ll control them year round with our phoooooonnes.

 

[chili_pepper]

I was thinking more of a sea kayak for where we go, one that I could fish from.

While surfskis are well suited for open ocean use like a sea kayak (often raced there), most skis have little to no storage hatches for gear. Most, but not all, tend to be fast and might be a little tippy unless under way. I had the itch to try my hand in a racing ski or ICF kayak at one time...but I outgrew the urge.

I used to be a member on a now-defunct firearms forum, frequently talked small, unpowered boats with one of the other members there who had just purchased a lovely, light weight, well apportioned and well fitted sit-on-top fishing kayak...but unfortunately I cannot recall who made the thing.

 

[Zorba]

I used to be a member on a now-defunct firearms forum...

G&A?

 

[chili_pepper]

G&A?

No, a rather small one that was tied to a manufacturer of aftermarket firearm parts, name escapes me at the moment. The main mod was a rather good competition shooter and VA state trooper, seemed a nice guy and he ran a tight ship. The place was civil and constructive, and anyone messing with that balance got tossed immediately. You could post most anything you wanted so long as you were decent about it and showed a little courtesy and consideration for others. They didn't filter speech, only assholes. Was kind of sad to see it vanish as places like that are a rare thing nowadays.

 

[red02tj]

Packed it. Not sure which red tool I appreciated more. Solo cup or fastback.

View attachment 656316

Final pack before the listing photos.

 

[tworley]

Following plans that @MountaineerTom posted some time ago, I built a new work bench. Though this one is 8' wide, 37" tall and 37" deep. I need to cut/install the lower shelf yet and the top will have an 1/8" steel layer since I will be welding on it from time to time.

 

[lBasket]

Following plans that @MountaineerTom posted some time ago, I built a new work bench. Though this one is 8' wide, 37" tall and 37" deep. I need to cut/install the lower shelf yet and the top will have an 1/8" steel layer since I will be welding on it from time to time.
View attachment 658908View attachment 658909View attachment 658910View attachment 658912View attachment 658911

I just weld on the plywood top and leave burn marks are you going to put it on wheels

 

[tworley]

are you going to put it on wheels

I think I'll have to, I cant move this thing by myself!

 

[B1Toad]

Following plans that @MountaineerTom posted some time ago, I built a new work bench. Though this one is 8' wide, 37" tall and 37" deep. I need to cut/install the lower shelf yet and the top will have an 1/8" steel layer since I will be welding on it from time to time.
View attachment 658908View attachment 658909View attachment 658910View attachment 658912View attachment 658911

I'm not exactly an ace carpenter but I think if you add diagonals to at least two sides it will eliminate racking, especially when you try and move it loaded which is inevitable if you are going to be welding on it. You could use 2X or add some plywood to the back and one side. A plywood back also eliminates the annoying issue of stuff falling off the back of the lower shelf and it doesn't even need to go all the way up.

 

[tworley]

I'm not exactly an ace carpenter but I think if you add diagonals to at least two sides it will eliminate racking, especially when you try and move it loaded which is inevitable if you are going to be welding on it. You could use 2X or add some plywood to the back and one side. A plywood back also eliminates the annoying issue of stuff falling off the back of the lower shelf and it doesn't even need to go all the way up.

With the amount of screws and glue I used, racking doesn't appear to be an issue. But I do have 2, 11"x8' plywood pieces available that I could screw to the backside to help.

 

[macleanflood]

I've always been a fan of 3/4" angle iron. Makes good cross bracing and frames 1/2 plywood or OSB well for shelving.

-Mac