Shop, need suggestions

[Ken Miele]

I thought this would be a good forum to start because of obvious reasons. Most of us have garages and shops that we store and work on our race cars. After ten years of neglecting my shop for one reason or another, I thought it was time to finish the inside. Below are pictures of what it looked like before and now. If anyone is interested, I have some pictures of the 4 weeks it took me to get to this point. I have always wanted a nice clean bright shop. I know some feel if it is not messy then there is no working being done, but I wanted neat a clean. My next project is to add some wall cabinets. After that I‘m looking into a 2 post lift.

If anyone has any suggestion feel free to chime in. I have a 127 inch ceiling so I am limited to the type of lift I can use. Cabinet suggestions are also welcome.

Tell us about your shop or garage, and don’t forget the pictures. I think this can become a great place for ideas, suggestions and help. We all need the right equipment and a place to work on our cars. Whether you do everything your self or just maintain your race car, lets see your shop and here your ideas.

[cicero819]

Ken Great idea, here's are some pictures of my past garage, presently using a temporary winter garage until next year when my township final approval since i have one of those crazy neighbor who contest everything you do. Metal cabinets are quite expensive $5K and up. Try checking with some local kitchen cabinet makers, you can by plywood grade cabinets for a great price, the great part, they won't rust. You're right there is nothing better to work than a clean garage. Claude

[Ken Miele]

Claude,

That was a nice garage, I like the floor. I need to do my floor as you can see by the picture, I need to recoat. I was not thinking of metal cabinets, I like the ones you had, the gray ones, but I would go with white.

My township is the same way. I could only build a 30x36, I should have went higher though. My neighbor called the township every month even though I never made any noise. Now that he passed away, there is piece in the neighborhood. Keep us updated on the build, I would love to see your ideas.

[Keith 944]

thought i could add a few of my new garage, i too was limited. it is a 40x36. i did decide to make it tall enough to work on the motor home, trucks etc. i do custom painting and have yet to put in a booth, still looking at my options. i made one door 12x12 the other two are 10x10. i found the lift at Greg smith equipment, picked it up just a few miles away, and installed it myself, it is the 10k extra tall and extra wide, i can drive the m/h through it. i also got a trans jack, two large adj. stands. new 50' hose real and a large roller oil drain. all for a haggled price of $2500. i have an unfinished office now and storage space above it. was thinking more of a brass pole up there just in case....i made a room in the back for my air compressor and the lift accessories. i love the lights, they are the new 4 bulb sunlight instant on fixtures. i also installed a sink and a drain. i can wash my cars indoors now. had the whole front paved and added a RV dump and 30 amp receptacle where i park the m/h. also added several 50 amp recp. for my welder and all on walls are 20 amp for the plasma cutter. had receptacles mounted in a finished ceiling so i could add a door opener and one for the 75' ceiling extension cord. installed a surround sound and the 42" LCD TV. would someday like to finish the inside walls like the ceiling, but the TV pushed the wife off the edge so that may have to wait.....

[Ken Miele]

Keith,

Nice shop, I like the high door for the big stuff. How do you like your Atlas lift?

[Keith 944]

i love the lift, made the wife help me change out both transmissions at our other house's garage, on the floor. she agreed a lift would be part of this new garage. (sometimes it's all in the way you ask, lol) also, i was able to drive about 20 miles, pick it up, (they had 10 in stock) and make a heck of a deal on it with all the other accessories! installed it myself within a day. had about 4 others help lift it in place after i assembled it on the floor... i also used it to lift the front of the motor home while i did the brakes, i think it is the best tool i ever bought!

[Ron Brindisi Jr.]

Finally resized.... Ron

[Steven Cappetta]

You guys have some really great garages out there. I thought I might throw my garage into the mix. Originally got permission to build by promising my wife a parking spot (heating in the winter). It has been 15 years of updating. I am always moving and adding things.


Notice the pulley system for the one man hood removal and storage (got tied of asking for help to get the hood off). In the last couple of years I also added a small machine shop area for doing modifications.
I live in the northeast so I hade to throe in a picture of my 50 year old Ariens snowblower given to me by my father-in-law. Luckily I did a valve job last year cause I have been working it hard.