Archived from the Tools In Action forum (In The Shop). This thread is read-only.
So, after a rather adventurous move late last month, we finally got back down to the house I left over ten years ago. Between getting the kids in school, handling day to day stuff. And the weather (a heavy rain and/or severe thunderstorm almost daily), I still have to finish unpacking and begin my garage organization. Attached is a photo of what I’m working with.
There are actually two built-in garages, a 20’x20′ and a 10’x20′. The larger one hasn’t had a door on it since I bought the house. The previous homeowner had issues with the full width door getting damaged by heavy winds so he finally decided to use it more like a carport. The smaller garage on the right has a door but I removed the inoperable opener shortly after moving in.
Ultimately I hope to have a 30’x40′ steel building erected but short term I plan to enclose the double garage. I’m debating adding a smaller roll up door but am definitely adding an entry door. Even shorter term, I need to clean out the 10’x20′ and convert it to my interim workshop. This way I can secure my tools and maybe run a window unit ac while tinkering around.
Right now the larger space on the left is still full of stuff unloaded from the U-Haul, while the one on the right is pretty much a time capsule. Stuff I stored in it ten years ago is still boxed up, to include old toys from my now adult kids, Army promotional items, video game consoles from the Atari 2600 to the PS2, and a rather impressive collection of Playboy magazines that will be either sold or burned. In mint condition, some full year sets sell for upwards of $100, and someone is asking almost $1000 for the issue with the 1990 Trump interview. Unfortunately, most of my magazines are probably mildewed or otherwise damaged.
Anyway, I hope to share more pictures as the shop comes along. I’m not sure how much if anything will be done today, however, as it’s already raining. South Louisiana at its finest!
fm2176 wrote:
17 hours ago, fm2176 said:So, after a rather adventurous move late last month, we finally got back down to the house I left over ten years ago. Between getting the kids in school, handling day to day stuff. And the weather (a heavy rain and/or severe thunderstorm almost daily), I still have to finish unpacking and begin my garage organization. Attached is a photo of what I’m working with.
There are actually two built-in garages, a 20’x20′ and a 10’x20′. The larger one hasn’t had a door on it since I bought the house. The previous homeowner had issues with the full width door getting damaged by heavy winds so he finally decided to use it more like a carport. The smaller garage on the right has a door but I removed the inoperable opener shortly after moving in.
Ultimately I hope to have a 30’x40′ steel building erected but short term I plan to enclose the double garage. I’m debating adding a smaller roll up door but am definitely adding an entry door. Even shorter term, I need to clean out the 10’x20′ and convert it to my interim workshop. This way I can secure my tools and maybe run a window unit ac while tinkering around.
Right now the larger space on the left is still full of stuff unloaded from the U-Haul, while the one on the right is pretty much a time capsule. Stuff I stored in it ten years ago is still boxed up, to include old toys from my now adult kids, Army promotional items, video game consoles from the Atari 2600 to the PS2, and a rather impressive collection of Playboy magazines that will be either sold or burned. In mint condition, some full year sets sell for upwards of $100, and someone is asking almost $1000 for the issue with the 1990 Trump interview. Unfortunately, most of my magazines are probably mildewed or otherwise damaged.
Anyway, I hope to share more pictures as the shop comes along. I’m not sure how much if anything will be done today, however, as it’s already raining. South Louisiana at its finest!
I have a minimalistic personality, if I don’t use anything for two-three years I throw them away or give to someone who can use it.
Your garage looked like my garage for the last 4 years. I finally cleaned it up and was able to walk around for two days. I only have a single car garage. Now I have stuff back in there. I just want my shop back but can never seem to get it.
Altan wrote:
6 hours ago, Altan said:I have a minimalistic personality, if I don’t use anything for two-three years I throw them away or give to someone who can use it.
I guess you could say I have the opposite issue. Over the years I’ve given a lot away, sold and traded a few items, and lost stuff through theft, especially the burglary that took place in 2012-2013. Having been active duty Army over the past 21 years, I have what are essentially time capsules, left in my last four locations.
Here at the house is the stuff in the right garage, along with one of the two walk in closets in the master bedroom. What’s left of my pre- and early military stuff is mostly there. In Coastal Georgia I have two small storage units (I think, I keep forgetting to send the check…) containing mechanic’s tools, a lot of stuff from my time at Fort Stewart and in Afghanistan, and building materials from a shed I built and then tore down before deploying. In Southwest Georgia is a larger unit containing mostly military gear and various resale items like ladders I picked up for over 75% off. In Virginia I have my trailer at a friend’s house and some tools in the flipper home. Truth be told, I could lose half of the stuff I have outside of this property and not worry too much.
My old joke was that guns, tools, and ice chests were all the personal property I moved around as I was relocated. Well, it’s a start: I left almost all of my nice chests at the house in Virginia. I’ll probably downsize my tools at some point, but the guns are going in Lake Ponchartrain.
Eric – TIA wrote:
14 minutes ago, Eric – TIA said:Your garage looked like my garage for the last 4 years. I finally cleaned it up and was able to walk around for two days. I only have a single car garage. Now I have stuff back in there. I just want my shop back but can never seem to get it.
I know what you’re saying, which is why I need to eventually build a shop. I think most of us are guilty of excessive clutter or lack of organization. My neighbor has a large three bay building which is kind of organized but still requires maneuvering to get around in. He built 25 years ago for his RV and bass boat and has since built a storage port for the Class A motorhome he upgraded to,as well as a carport. In recent years he walled in a workspace which he keeps clean and well organized, showing that sometimes it isn’t space we need to work on things, but rather a lack of space.
One thing I need to do is buy the materials to start building organization for the small garage. Ideally I can incorporate my modular boxes and also maximize the ability to work. I need to come up with a good layout to mount the drill press, band saw, sander, router table, and a vise or two, along with the bedt place to put my dust extractor. I’ll also likely bolt down one of the 20v Max miter saws. The FlexVolt miter and table saws are both on rolling stands and probably best used in a more open environment anyway.
In the garage today. Some of the magazines may be worth selling after all, and I found 1990 Trump issue but the back few pages are torn at the binding. That’s a shame since I could probably sell it for a premium. Anti-Trumpers would probably love to burn it alongside an effigy and MAGA types would likely place it in their shrine.😉
I think I’ll burn what remains of the furniture. Cheap pressed wood coffee table, decent for its time but now obsolete TV stand with DVD storage, etc. Rats moved in at some point but I haven’t seen anything besides evidence of nesting. A few bags of clothing will be sorted and what isn’t worth keeping or donating will be burned.
And…as I type this in the bathroom (where else?) I hear a sudden downpour outside. There goes any chance of starting the fire. To be honest, though, I need to saturate the burn pile with a gallon or so of diesel anyway. We tried starting it with gasoline and cardboard a week or two ago but there’s too much wet and green wood.
Nice, feels awesome to start cleaning things out.
Well, some progress has been made. To be honest I’ve been caught up with the kids’ school activities and job seeking. I did finally get my first civilian job in over 20 years, working in a gun vault at a major outdoor retailer. It seems like it may be decent, I report directly to the General Manager and will primarily be responsible for making sure paperwork and accountability are in order. Other employees usually work the gun counter.
My biggest holdup with the shop at the moment is storage and bench space. I’ve got all those modular boxes but want to build a tool wall similar to those some YouTubers have. Something where I can grab what I need without digging through boxes or shelves.
I also found out the reason that my band saw was on clearance for $79 five years ago: it has a bent base. Just one corner is a bit bent, so once I bolt it down there shouldn’t be any issues. It’s also missing the locking bolts for the table, but M8-25 bolts should be easy enough to source without paying almost $7 apiece for the Ryobi ones. This same saw is now $199, I’m pretty certain it was only $129 in 2017.
Another thing I need to do is organize my hardware. The clear bags in the bottom picture contain maybe 5% of what I need to organize, so there’s no way it’s all fitting in the blue parts bin.
Looking good so far compared to the first picture. Making a dent.
Eric – TIA wrote:
On 10/11/2022 at 8:15 AM, Eric – TIA said:Looking good so far compared to the first picture. Making a dent.
Gradually… It’s amazing how adaptive I am, easily able to go full speed and equally able to just sit around doing nothing. Since starting retirement leave I’ve been mostly procrastinating, but my new job should liven things up a bit. I’ll get to handle every new firearm that the retailer receives, and depending on my disability rating I’m considering a $300-$1000 a month budget for new firearms. And tools, but I need to organize what I have first. I “think” my wife blessed off on me having a firearms budget when she told me I can save for a year instead of buying monthly, and I responded that I can buy a $12k gun instead of a bunch of cheaper ones. 😅
I hear you on going from 0-100, I am the same way. That’s a nice budget for guns. You can get some nice stuff. Not sure what your new job it but sounds like it’s a good gig with being able to see them first hand as they come in.
Eric – TIA wrote:
18 hours ago, Eric – TIA said:I hear you on going from 0-100, I am the same way. That’s a nice budget for guns. You can get some nice stuff. Not sure what your new job it but sounds like it’s a good gig with being able to see them first hand as they come
Well I just received the background check, so I should be getting a call to schedule orientation. The job is mostly ensuring that paperwork is in order and that guns are accounted for. As a long time gun owner I know that the ATF isn’t an agency to mess around with, and my position is basically the “keeper of the FFL”. Meaning, we report directly to the store manager who’s responsible for the store’s firearms license. There are checks and balances to ensure that gun sales fully comply with federal and state laws before a purchase is completed, but at the end of the day I’ll be inputting receipts and paperwork for all sales, ensuring the serial numbers match up, and reviewing 4473s and state background check paperwork. One other thing I was told I may be called upon to do on occasion is deal with customers who are denied a sale. If a manager isn’t around, the counter sales person might call back to me to talk to the customer. I think that my Army experience will help: I can turn on Recruiter or Drill Sergeant mode as needed. Also, my knowledge of gun laws and understanding of NICS should help convey the point that no gun seller is going to disapprove a legal sale. Also, I like to think I’ll be able to prevent possible straw purchases in some situations, which is one of the few times I’ve seen a dealer refuse a sale.
All told, it seems like a job that will hold my interest for the foreseeable future.
That’s awesome. Sounds like a great job and you sound like the right man for that job. Congrats. Keep us posted how you like it.
Going well so far. Been here a week and a half and catching on quick. My job is far more complex than selling guns, though I’ve made a few sales. Basically, guns come in and I pick them up from Receiving and acquire them in the system. I ship guns to other stores if a customer buys one, for example a gentleman from Las Vegas wanted to buy a handgun that costs much less here than it does at his local store. He paid here and will receive a call when the Las Vegas location gets it, where he’ll do his background check. Once a gun leaves the store, I complete the necessary logs and dispose of it in our system, after which Asset Protection or a Senior Manager inspects the paperwork.
Once I’m deemed fully trained, I’ll likely not make any sales requiring a background check. We use a three check system: there’s the mandatory initial and second check in order to submit the ATF Form 4473, and I’ll be one of the few authorized to conduct a final check before sending the customer on their way.
As for the shop, it’s going, just not very quickly…🙃
Glad its going good. Always nice liking what you do.
It’s “only” been nearly 2.5 years since the last post, so why not update this thread? Over the past few months, I’ve made tremendous strides in organizing the garage and shed. Yep, despite planning to eventually build a sizeable shop (I’m thinking at least 30×40, maybe larger), I bought a 10×12′ shed back in 2023. At first it was a little overflow storage, then temporary lodging for my son and his now-wife when they came to visit, then a getaway room for my now-14-year-old. It was piled full, much like the garage, but is now mostly in order as my own getaway (man cave, if you will). I went to Harbor Freight for the first time in years and bought the wood workbench. For $150, it seems solid enough and should hold up for what I bought it for. The shed will be my tinkering area; not really a place for heavy/dirty work, but rather a place I can play with my tools and do smaller electrical, gluing, or other projects. Two things I need to get are an adjustable power supply and an ultrasonic cleaner. I have a few batteries that might be salvageable with the former, and a bunch of tools that could use a good cycle in the latter.
For now, the goal is to consolidate tools by trade/type into my modular systems. Those take up much of the space in the shed, with at least 10 complete stacks (bottom/roller box, middle box, and top box), plus additional components like organizers and a cooler (for the VeraStak):
ToughSystem – two with the DS450 rolling box, one with the DS400 and TS Carrier, and a TS 2 setup, along with a few organizers and additional boxes and my TS radio
VersaStak – one system, plus a cooler, some organizers, and a tote
TradeStak – one system
Ridgid Pro – two systems, plus organizers and totes
PackOut – two systems, plus organizers and bags
Since I don’t currently have the “grab and go” need I bought them for, I’ll simply fill them and label them with what’s inside (drywall, electrical, plumbing, etc.), with plans to better organize them later.
I put a 4×8′ pegboard up before adding the bench. Since I have yet to get my truck from Virginia, and because the full 4×8 panels are flimsy and subject to damage, I paid about 2x the cost to get the pre-cut 2×4 panels. They were much easier to handle and seem to be made of slightly thicker/better material than what Home Depot had for the full panels. That’s probably going to be used for a combination of tools and expendables like sandpaper and blades.
Anyway, headed back to Home Depot to kill some time. I’ll get some pictures to upload between today and Sunday (I work tomorrow). I don’t need it, but the TS light dropped to $100 at my local store. I probably won’t give in, as I have four Milwaukee tripod lights (two M12 and an M18 Rocket, along with the other M18 light), and a bunch of other lights I rarely use, but it’s tempting. I did manage to pick up a couple of pairs of leather Milwaukee gloves for $5.02 each earlier this week, and some more concrete board screws for $3 and change a box a week or so ago. I got a couple boxes of each size of the latter, leaving at least 60 or so on the shelf, and they were sold out when I went back.
Sounds great! How about some images?
That is my current project. I just purchased a 288ft² Lark shed (12’x24′), I got a Lumberjack w/ box eves, using a crane to swing it over the detached garage and house.
This will be my workshop, so I can keep the house and garages nice.
My plan is for painted steel diamond plate floor, on top of the plywood.
My old bones were REALLY tired doing the over-the-top ground preparation.
A wingless Workshop Shed topic will eventually be provided. Still LOTS to do…
wingless wrote:
On 3/28/2025 at 10:39 AM, wingless said:Sounds great! How about some images?
That is my current project. I just purchased a 288ft² Lark shed (12’x24′), I got a Lumberjack w/ box eves, using a crane to swing it over the detached garage and house.
This will be my workshop, so I can keep the house and garages nice.
My plan is for painted steel diamond plate floor, on top of the plywood.
My old bones were REALLY tired doing the over-the-top ground preparation.
A wingless Workshop Shed topic will eventually be provided. Still LOTS to do…
Nice I have to replace the carpet in the office and bathroom of my soon to be mine office/shop. Bathroom carpet (why carpet in the bathroom no idea) is shot and office carpet has also seen better days and not something a good carpet cleaning will fix. I’m going to try out some engineered tile in both rooms then throw a rug down in the office to dampen some of the hard floor noise.
Everything that was done is nearly undone. Not long after posting the above, I finished cleaning out my double garage, at the expense of the shed and single garage. I need to unbury my lawn mower to cut the grass today, but I’ll probably just wait until the weekend. Now, my double garage is nearly full again:
I did finally talk to my last pre-Army friend a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure I’ve mentioned him before, as he’s the one who’s spent much of his adult life locked up for alcohol-related incidents. Fortunately, he’s never killed or seriously injured anyone besides himself, but it seems that he’s been on a wash and repeat cycle since his early 20s of “get a DUI, go to jail (prison for the last 10-15 years), get out, get caught for driving on a suspended/revoked license and/or DUI, go back to jail/prison on a probation violation, etc., etc. He got arrested again in the summer of 2023, and wasn’t released until last December, called me once, then I didn’t hear from him for months and figured he either wasn’t doing well or just didn’t want to talk. As I figured, he’s been in a “dark place”, but as always, I plan to try to help him get on his feet by sending him some tools he can use. I’ll be sending him a small ToughSystem box with a few Ryobi tools (USB power supply kit I got on clearance, glue gun, and at least one more battery and “real” charger) and a Hart tool set I’ve mostly pieced together (my local Walmart will sell kits missing pieces for 50% or more off, so I had two identical 90-piece sets with about 75-90% of their contents), then when I get to VA next, I’ll bring him the medium and large roller boxes full of hand tools and some stuff I plan to pick up during Ryobi Days (implied task for him is to stay out of trouble for the next few months).