Topic: How is your garage/shop organized?

[C5ZZ]

I just need a bigger garage, that's all there is to it!
My 65 fastback is up on jack stands and when I get
a chance to work on it I have to basicly remove boxes
of spare parts from around it, under it and in it! I have
shelves above the garage doors, along the wall etc and
still don't have enough room. My problem is that I like
to hit the swap meets and local salvage yards and always
end up bringing something home!

How do you have your garage organized, any creative ideas
on storage?

[carlite65]

lots of good info at this site.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=12

[svo2scj]

Unfortunatly - it sounds like you just don't have the room !  (Sounds like it is a small one car , part of an older house)

Since I get no closet space in the bedroom, nor can use one of the bathrooms for guests....the garage is mine !   NOTE: I keep all lawn garden tractor/equiptment in a shed.  (Smells and space concerns)

I'm a big believer in shelves !  BUT if you have them and they are filled - then not much to offer.
Now if it a matter of 'poor use" of space - then you have options !


It's funny I have seen SO MANY that get thier garage cluttered from day one of moving in!  NOTE: On moving in 6 years ago - I closed the garage door and said to the movers " can't put anything in it" !

Organization is a art !  I have organized 6 friends garages in the last 20 years.  Mostly from getting tired of working in clutter !   It takes investment of time and money.  But it also needs to be creative in space thinking.  NOTE:  Build shelves around/over stationary fixtures. (Air compressors , etc)

Get stuff UP !

The amazing thing is no matter how much room you have - you can and will fill it !   I didn't think that was the case , but it seems it always happens ! 

Mark
P.S.  One thing that can help and is cheap (free) ! Commit to "NOT MOVE SOMETHING TWICE" ! If you have parts for car (you have acumulated) - put them on the car!  AND throwaway trash , junk and the used stuff that no one wants !

[thefordshow]

Because of this crazy hobby of mine, [I also like to snoop at swap meets and clean out other folks garages], the wife said No car stuff in the house. Answer was to move to the country and build the shop I wanted,[100'x40']. Shortly after I finished it, my friend did the same thing, but added a basement the same size as the upper level. He keeps the air compressor, parts washer, sand blast cabinet, shelves for all his parts, has a lift that he can lower engines and any thing heavy down with all threw a trap door in the floor. On the ground level he has his work area with a collapsable paint booth for doing parts in that folds away when not being used. and did up the other half of the main floor as a show room for his finished cars.   Here is what my shop looks like, just wished I did the basement thing.

[Randyfastback65]

My garage is more showroom than work shop, but it got too crowded last fall when I added the 66 coupe to the stable, Now I have to move one car or the other out if I want to do any project where I need the floor space.   

[midlife]

I have a three bay garage, 30' x 36', and am running out of room. 

I use the center bay (with the lift) when I need the use of a lift; otherwise, it stores the utility trailer which doubles as a work bench and temporary storage.  It's easy to maneuver outside when needed.

When I am working on the workbench, my DD is too close to the bench, so it moves outdoors.  Then I have a good 20x10 work floor to lay out parts, wires, and whatever when I work on wiring harnesses.

So far, having two possible bays to work on projects seems to be adequate.  I haven't done sheet metal work in quite some time; that is what takes a lot of room (welding slag, grinding dust, etc.)

I have two storage rooms, and they are jammed pack!

[Bill Cabaniss]

 When I was a teenager I had to make car repairs in a driveway. I always said that if I only had a 2 stall garage I would be happy. When I married we bought a new house with that 2 stall garage. I was in heaven, at least for a few years. Then I started saying, if I had just 2 more stalls. So I bumped that shop back for 2 more stalls. Wow, I  had a 4 stall shop. What else could I ask for. You guessed it. In a few more years I said, if I just had 2 more stalls. Sooo, I went out back and built 3 more stalls giving me 7 with attic storage. What else could I ask for, right!! It is starting to get really crowded around here. If I just had 2 more stalls!!!

[sparky65]

How do you have your garage organized, any creative ideas
on storage?

Well I know I am not organized.  A few weeks ago I was looking through my parts and spotted the firewall seal for the steering column.  A few days later I thouht I should get that seal cleaned up.  Must have spent the next 3 days trying to figure out which box i found it in a few days earlier.

I recently moved to my own garage after working at my parents house.  At my parents house i had parts stored every where there was space.  I had boxes in the attic, my room, basement, and two sheds besides packed around the car in the garage.  Moving obviously didn't help since now I still have some parts at my parents house and the rest spread all over mine. 

[ajd350]

Like a Tetris game. I have ten pounds of stuff in a five-pound garage. I never knew how much space a TOTALLY disassembled '66 convertible took up until last winter. If not for lots of shelving and cabinets of drawers it would be impossible to keep things straight. I also have stacking plastic tote trays bought at the flea market. Stacked on top of caster dollies they can be moved easily and stacked six feet high.

[svo2scj]

When I responded the first time I didn't go into SPACE SAVINGS (use of casters, trolleys etc)

Here are my shelves on a rail system.  It allows 5 to fit in the space of 10. 


Has this been any help?
Mark