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Fantasy garage challenge

Eric L

Eric L

Member
I need inspiration... been looking around on the net for ideas for the man cave. lets see photos of the most extreme garage/workshops. These can be your own, or something you spotted elsewhere. Even if its just a small detail that you thought was cool, I'm sure we'd like to see it.

I remember a trade show exibit I saw once that was a complete garage all decked out with all the latest gismos, but cant remember whos display it was.. might have been Sears/Craftsman. :confused2:
 
My escape workshop has been posted up here before.

Mine is NOT a dream garage by any means.

It is NOT close to large enough (I should have built it 3 times the size). But I like the detail and the comfort (it has AC for summer comfort!). We inset some carved concrete plaques at one of the entry doors. I've got the usual toys installed like a 4 post car lift, 33 gallon air compressor with a 50' hose reel, 5 large casement windows for natural light and airflow. I installed 2 garage doors on the front, one on the rear so I can drive through the garage. The center bay has an elevated ceiling so I can lift cars in the center area. Its drywalled and sprayed white. I used outdoor rated 8' flourescent bulbs and fixtures to provide plenty of light. I also have a work light that is built into a reel with a 35' cord that allows me to take light under the hood, or below the lift. Assorted tools fill up the rest of the space.

Here are a couple photos that may provide some inspiration. Don't make the mistake I made and build too small!!!
 

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B_Skurka said:
Don't make the mistake I made and build too small!!!
Click to expand...

Mines built... about 2000 ft in 3 sections, should be enough space if I consolodate and organize. I have some ideas for many areas, but there are some things I'm keeping (and some I'm adding) that dont fit well within the existing structure and my current plans.

One area is storage for wood products, previously I had a bunch of old barns that were fine for stacking wood and plywood in, now, I really dont need to store that much material, but its gonna take years to use it all and I gotta get it stowed out of the way. I'm thinking of using one wall for this and making racks like they have at Home Depot to store it vertically with some kind of restraint to keep it standing and not falling down. I'm really trying hard to come up with projects to consume as much of it as possible, but my experience with wood is limited... so designing these projects is slowing me down.

Eric
 
Eric,

So many things to consider but somehow budget comes into play.

Mine isn't a fantasy garage but some things I like and think warrant consideration:
1. Fridge & stereo (obviously...)
2. Microwave (occasional popcorn or re-heat coffee).
3. Phone line(s) I can go either way with this one. I like it to make calls but rarily like incoming calls. Kind of a necessary evil.
4. A 3-way switch back to the house. From this, you can kick on/off heat, battery chargers or whatever from the house.
5. Run cable, internet, phone... so you can have a TV, PC out there to watch the game or check in on the forum (or reference sites).
6. Motion detectors outdoors as well as indoors. The indoor ones are for when you come in at night. When you leave during daylight but return at night, when you turn off your headlights and get out of the vehicle, it'll then be lit-up.

More if/as I think of them.
 
Eric L said:
I'm thinking of using one wall for this and making racks like they have at Home Depot to store it vertically with some kind of restraint to keep it standing and not falling down.
Click to expand...
Too bad you live so far away... I've got a bunch of the isle type shelving from a K-Mart when they went out of business that would probably work perfectly for this.
 
Well, can't help with any pics but I'm hoping to build my pole barn this year, as I have hoped every year for the last 10. This year though, I may actually have some time to do it. I'm figuring on a 40x60. Most of the guys I know who went with 12' walls wish they had gone with 10' due to heating and cooling that much more space. I want a clear floor two post lift, so what I'm thinking of is building it with 10' walls but using scissor trusses in the area where the lift will be to get me to the necessary 12'+ height there. We have a tray ceiling in our bedroom and something like that might be an option also. All I have now is my garage and it's full. I have to conduct a major excavation to get to my table saw or grinder and it's just not worth the effort most of the time. I need to get my stuff into a place where it's out so I can use it. I've got 4.5 acres of flat land here, I need to do something more with it than just mow it. Hutch
 
bczoom

Eric,

So many things to consider but somehow budget comes into play.

Mine isn't a fantasy garage but some things I like and think warrant consideration:
1. Fridge & stereo (obviously...)Done
2. Microwave (occasional popcorn or re-heat coffee).Maybe later, low priority to me
3. Phone line(s) I can go either way with this one. I like it to make calls but rarily like incoming calls. Kind of a necessary evil.Had it working, but was messing with the phones in the house, needs rework
4. A 3-way switch back to the house. From this, you can kick on/off heat, battery chargers or whatever from the house.Good idea, hard to add at this time
5. Run cable, internet, phone... so you can have a TV, PC out there to watch the game or check in on the forum (or reference sites).Done, Need a PC that works
6. Motion detectors outdoors as well as indoors. The indoor ones are for when you come in at night. When you leave during daylight but return at night, when you turn off your headlights and get out of the vehicle, it'll then be lit-up.Have exterior, interior not really an issue, have to get out of car and go inside to open door... it's not a "garage", more of a "shop"

More if/as I think of them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Keep 'em coming
 
Jen's Jeep said:
How's about a robot that builds things....like at the jelly belly factory:confused:
Click to expand...

I had one... too heavy to make portable and no good for one-off projects like Jeeps.

$$$,$$$.$$

Now, a CNC plasma would be nice...I'd find the room for that.

Eric
 
There's something you apparently need.

A secret stash place for your Oreo's. :hide:
 
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