68 replies to this topic

[blacktulip]

hi all,

 

just moved into our new place where i now have my own 20x10ft brick/block built workshop garage. it has a big work bench with a massive vice, a pit, electricity and concrete floor. the mini fits in lovely with good working room for it. i was after a few good ideas to help me make it an efficient workspace.

 

what can you advise from experience? regarding lighting, tool storage, heating or anything really.

 

 

Edited by blacktulip, 26 August 2014 - 05:39 PM.

[Miniminx71]

Sounds awesome. I'd just make 100% sure the pit was sound and stable, no cracking/damp etc.

[blacktulip]

thanks, the pit is in good order. they left me the oil drum seat down there too lol.

[Bubblebobble]

I would give the place a very thorough clean , sweep , dust , and degrease the floor . Then paint the floor and the walls . Makes such a difference to keeping it clean , and you can see things when you drop them . Makes it a nicer placer  to work as well . Then perhaps some tool boards on the walls , so you know exactely where things are . Then get some of that heavy duty shelving [ bigdug] to put  parts on off the floor - nothing worse than having stuff in piles which gradually takes over your floor space.

[Chance]

Any pics? I like drooling over a decent garage haa

Sounds like what I want when I'm older!! I can but dream at the moment

Can't offer any garage advice I'm afraid

[HarrysMini]

Will be following this, we're building a garage and I've only got as far as planning the air lines. 

 

A pit would be really useful, you're lucky!

[blacktulip]

i will post up a few pictures soon, when we viewed the house i just thought it was going to be a single garage, when we got there and the old man was showing us around, he took me to the garage and that instantly swung it for me. then when he showed me the pit it was a done deal lol.

 

i like the ideas guys.

[Mini Manannán]

Make room for a compressor Tulip.  So handy for drying, cleaning, bleeding stubborn brakes etc.

[M J W J]

Fit as many double plug sockets in there as you can.

 

However many you think you will need, double it and put them between. It stops you having to have extension cables everywhere. My Grandad was an electrician yet there are only 3 plug sockets in his garage and they are all on one side.

 

If you have florescent lighting make sure you fit a diffuser over them. They can cause a strobe effect with running machinery making it look like they are switched off. It only takes a lapse in concentration and the next thing you know you are missing part of a finger.

[Ellie]

Heating, make it adequate.
Nothing worse than trying to work the spanners with cold hands.
My dad had a heater that ran on old engine oil, probably not that environmentally as good as it should be.
But it threw out some good heat, iirc it was something like a salamander.

[blacktulip]

pictures added im still sorting through bits at the moment. the roof leaks a bit so i need to seal it up asap.

[jamesmpi]

I would consider doing something to the roof. Looking at the photos it looks like galavanised panels which could be bad for moisture build up,....are there any signs of damp?

haha just read your previous comment about the leaky roof after i posted this.

Edited by jamesmpi, 26 August 2014 - 07:28 PM.

[Carlos W]

A little shed out the back for the compressor would make things a lot quieter

[jamesmpi]

Could also consider putting some proper lighting down in pit. Some low energy strip lighting should do the trick, and a decent cover to stop people falling down it by accident!

[Carlos W]

Sorry to be a bit H&S but a warning sign about the pit may get you out of trouble if anyone falls down it.