Garage Feng Shui?

[Alan Kramer]

Huw,

I think you hit it right on the money about shelves.  Currently I have 310 
ft^2 of shelves in the garage and am in the process of redesigning them so 
that 1.  they look nicer, and 2. they are better laid out.   Some of the 
stuff is in wierd places because that's where it fits.  Pretty much what I'm 
looking for are ideas that would really make my redesign functional and 
slick.

>Get a decent tool box that is also too big.  The Craftsman ball bearing 
>drawer ones are pretty good, and don't cost a fortune.

Yep, got 3 sets of them!   Don't think I paid full price for any of it.

>A sheet of paper that lists many common bolt sizes is cool to have, too - 
>like the oil drain, brake bolts, the stuff you do over and over again but 
>might forget the size.

Memory's got that for me.  I already have plastic shoe boxes full with 
nuts/bolts/screws organized by size (M6, M8...) as well as head style.  I'm 
thinking of getting one of those neat bin-racks so I can organize by length 
too  (ok, I'm anal).

>Get a lot of light.

Yep, got 24 banks of double 4' flourescents.  I found it's nice to arrange 
them in a square over where the engine bays sit so you don't get shadows.  
I've also got a moveable spot light over each engine bay area too.

>All "godlike" shops have compressed air.

I've got 2 compressors... One twin cyl. 60 gallon and a smaller "portable" 
15 gal.  I also have a ~60 gallon distribution system built into the ceiling 
with compressed air taps hanging down at 4 locations from the ceiling and 
from 4 in the wall...and a regulated tap on the front of the garage for 
filling tires in the driveway.

>Paint the floor a light color so goo doesn't soak in and it's easier to 
>find dropped bolts.

That's the one I missed when I built the garage.  I proably have 55 gallons 
of motor oil soaked into the concrete already.  Should have painted the 
floor.

>Put a phone where it is easy to get to, perhaps have a desk like area for a 
>PC that can get dirty, manuals, etc.

Yep, got cordless phone and a little moveable laptop stand for using my 
Vag-com.

One of the great things I did was make a vice stand from a 2" pipe bolted to 
the floor with a floor flange.   Also made a few "moveable" tool stands from 
stacks of used brake rotors welded together and one with a crankshaft with a 
flywheel bolted to one end and a little piece of pipe and a brake rotor 
welded to the other end.

Alan

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