Between Independence Day weekend, Powercruise @ BIR, then Car Craft... haven't had much time to pound nails! Finally got back at it, and some progress to report.
I'd really been kicking around the idea of sticking "FRP" (Fiberglass Reinforced Panel) on the walls... you know, that shiny pebble-grained stuff in janitor closets/commercial kitchens/etc. After doing some research and watching some YouTube vids, it comes to be that the wall surface really has to be "paint ready" to ensure a good bond with the mastic. Well crap - if the wall needs to be "paint ready" - why not just PAINT the dang walls and save the $25+ per 4x8 panel!!
So out come the mud knives, hawk and tape, get a 5 gallon bucket of mud and revive some old skills. (I really want to punch the old owner of the house in the nuts. He did a crappy job of hanging the 'rock in the garage!)
The other plan was to hang "slatboard" on several areas of the walls. The flexibility of hanging something anywhere, and being able to cover 32sq/ft. of crappy 'rock in one go was appealing. The ugly part is the stuff is $40 a 4x8 sheet for basic white. (Yeah, I'm a cheap SOB). Then, the "basic white" doesn't have the extruded metal inserts in the grooves, so it's very weight limited (cantilevered) as to what you hang off it. The metal inserts are another $55 for each 4x8 panel.
Did some research and found this place! They salvage/reclaim retail store fixtures and accessories... including slatwall. They also stock every bracket/hanger/gizmo imaginable in bulk. For about $130 I got five 4x8 birch veneer slatwall panels w/ metal inserts, five 14"x60" laminated shelves, and a load of brackets and hooks - and they loaded it in the Green Mary. OK... the panels aren't perfect. There's a gouge or chunk out here and there, or an outlet box cut in, or the corners are dinged, but cut/plan around the damage and save big $$$.
Next step is to prime this wall, then move/hang crap on it to open up then next wall for work.
Looks good JD, I like the wall storage concept. Any plans for heat?
Lost in the 60s said
Jul 31, 2014
That is very
bowtie said
Jul 31, 2014
nice, thanks for the link. I will need a mannequin soon and wasn't sure who/where to look exactly.
SShink said
Jul 31, 2014
bowtie wrote:
I will need a mannequin soon and wasn't sure who/where to look exactly.
Were you maybe thinking this one Bryan....?
Seriously John, that's a great find and idea (Not that I'm surprised coming from you ). I will have to save the link too for when finishing the walls in the bat cave.
Chris R said
Jul 31, 2014
For a second there. It looked like you installed a flat screen on the wall too.
John D said
Jul 31, 2014
Just got cleaned up from priming the south wall. It took 1-1/4 gallons of Kilz "premium" for two coats - and the stamping on the OSB is still leaching through! We'll see - I'll have to do a test swatch with final color to see if it bleeds... thinking a gloss light grey.
It's amazing at how much just this one wall in flat primer brightens up the space!
(I don't even want to go near why Bryan needs a mannequin... )
Yeah, the slatwall is neat stuff - but friggin' HEAVY - about 75lbs a sheet! But what's cool is if you wanna hang something up, just click a bracket/hanger in the spot and done - no anchors, looking for studs, etc. It's screwed to the wall through every 3rd slot into the stud. In my case the ends of the panels fell between studs, so a bead of general-purpose construction adhesive near the edge is sticking it to the wall. What's also cool is if you use the metal slot inserts, the fasteners/screw heads are concealed.
I will need a mannequin soon and wasn't sure who/where to look exactly.
Were you maybe thinking this one Bryan....?
Seriously John, that's a great find and idea (Not that I'm surprised coming from you ). I will have to save the link too for when finishing the walls in the bat cave.
Oh yes, I have to have one of these, I have the perfect spot for it, her, she and plenty of height for the pole. Should go over very well in this very conservative roman catholic community.
bowtie said
Aug 1, 2014
I have these, still need a proper set of racing goggles. I have a jacket (am working on an even cooler one) and I need a body to put it on. I also want a small v-type drag steering wheel too. Should look cool in the garage corner when complete.
With the exception of a piece of 1x4 base molding, the south & west walls are DONE!! \
Insomnia has its benefits... (OK, maybe not insomnia, but being "body-clock" programmed to wake up at 5am) Did the finish sanding & the prime-coat on the west wall before the stores opened. While drying I went and got the color paint. Got back and put the color on the south, then the west.
Insomnia has its benefits... (OK, maybe not insomnia, but being "body-clock" programmed to wake up at 5am) I am REALLY HAPPY at how this is turning out!
And well you should be. Nice job.
I have the body-clock thing going on too....
SShink said
Aug 3, 2014
Amazing transformation when you look at the 'before' pictures!
Seems kind of like a car restoration... when you make one part look good, it's hard not to do the rest.
John D said
Aug 3, 2014
What strikes me is the previous owner built the garage in the late '70s. We moved here in '96. It's only taken FORTY YEARS to get the ceiling done, lighting installed, and walls finished/painted!
It only took 15 years to get a paved driveway all the way to the garage, then nearly 20 to build myself a shop that I'll have to learn how to work in!
I've been working on gravel or in the dark since I was a kid - don't know anything else...
Better get Kevin back here to trim out that window!
John D said
Aug 3, 2014
No sheit, and there's 3 to do... I can handle "rough" carpentry - cabinetry is another art.
John D said
Aug 24, 2014
Been awhile on a construction update...
Got about 1/3 of the north wall done. This is the toughest wall to do, as it is the "working" wall over the main bench - everything happens here, and all the CRAP is centered around here.
Pulled down the '50s leftover/kitchen remodel cabinets that were screwed to the wall (moving the contents to the SW corner shelving), and moved the bench stuff to the new west wall bench. This wall wasn't bad, as I planned to install new cabinets - so I didn't have to do a really good job on the taping/mudding (90% of it was going to be covered up) - but my inherant machinist thing kicked in and did the friggin' wall nice anyway.
Went over to "Save Big Money", cashed in some 11% rebate coupons and got some cabinets. For those that watch the "house flipper" shows - these are the units that are touted as "oak kitchen cabinets" - yeah right. They have oak face-frames, oak stiles and panels on the doors, but they're only good for a garage or laundry room. Getting them kitchen & stain ready would cost 3x in labor the price of better units! No worries - they're in primer and will be painted.
North wall is 98% done. Just some 1/4-round to trim off the slatwall. Log this in your history files - this is probably the cleanest you'll ever see the 40 Watt main workbench!
(Pulled the vise and grinder off, hit the entire bench with the belt-sander (varying grits) and there's a quart of sealer back on it.)
Looks good John, now you need a project other than the "garage project" to put all this new space to the test.
John D said
Sep 7, 2014
Funny you should say that... at Car Craft this year "S" showed some interest in a particular make/model. Of all the 1000's of possibilities she really likes the '68/9/70 Corvette "Stingray".
Now, for my 1/2 of it, the car would have to be a roadster/convertible ('Vette's with a hard roof are just wrong), for her 1/2 it'd need to be an automatic. I'm thinking pretty cheap buy-in here... A nice convert, base 350/350 car with nothing special = cheap $$$. Hmmmmm.
Lost in the 60s said
Sep 8, 2014
John D wrote:
Funny you should say that... at Car Craft this year "S" showed some interest in a particular make/model. Of all the 1000's of possibilities she really likes the '68/9/70 Corvette "Stingray".
Now, for my 1/2 of it, the car would have to be a roadster/convertible ('Vette's with a hard roof are just wrong), for her 1/2 it'd need to be an automatic. I'm thinking pretty cheap buy-in here... A nice convert, base 350/350 car with nothing special = cheap $$$. Hmmmmm.
Usually Corvette and "CHEAP" don't go in the same sentence, BUT, there are basket cases around. Read up on fiberglass work before buying one that needs paint as they have particular issues with the factory seam sealer and need special care to look right.
John D said
Sep 14, 2014
Well, the windows are trimmed & cased, did a throwback to the 70's and glued some cork around the main bench window (to actually use tacks and hold stuff up...), and started a little "man cave"/auto-art on the unusable wall areas.
No Lambo poster here. I was deprived as a child. Also had to walk miles to school in the snow, etc. etc.... Now the calendar girl, that is another story.
John D said
Nov 3, 2014
Thank You's to Bryan's for his compliments/credits in the latest newsletter - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The "40 Watt" is nearly done. The overhead door is scheduled for replacement in the next few weeks. A new 5-panel, double-skinned (steel) door with injected polyurethane foam (R13+) will be going in. Once that's up and done I'll finish the east (last) wall.
I ran into a problem this past weekend however. With all the new storage (shelves, cabinets, slatwall, "tubs" in the attic, etc.) I organized myself into not remembering where anything is anymore!! I changed the wheels/tires on the "Green Mary" Saturday (from alloys/meats to steels/snows/grandpa wire hubcaps) and for the life of me I couldn't find the box that had the hubcap adapters and steel-wheel lugnuts!! I could visualize the box on the shelf, over the west window... but that was the old 40 Watt. Could I remember where that box went in the new 40 Watt??? No. It took 3 trips around every cabinet, shelf, and attic... then the proverbial light-bulb went off when I looked at a tub in the attic marked "Misc 95/6 Caprice". Sure 'nuff the box was in there.
I also undertook a minor project during the hoop-swap, finding the cause of notchy/loose steering. With 92k turns on her, I expected something worn out. Turned out to be the driver's outer tie-rod end. Lemme tell you, it was a pleasure to do this job in a well-lighted & warm space, tools & supplies organized and at hand. Even with the rusted fasteners & 20 years of crud it took about an hour to exchange the tie-rod end (including the "red-neck/shadetree"/tape measure/count the turns/ruler toe-in wheel alignment).
I'll agree - having blank, horizontal space IS a catch-all for CRAP... unless you discipline yourself to finding a dedicated space for it (which more often than not should be the big green can you roll to the curb every week!), or you retrain yourself to PUT THINGS AWAY WHEN YOU'RE DONE. I have a tendency to "sprawl" during a project.
I'll post some pics of the door install.
Lost in the 60s said
Nov 3, 2014
I'm all too aware of the "project sprawl". I am HORRIBLE at laying parts and tools down and leaving them. You saw my shop/storage building. I find stuff all the time that I forgot I had in that disaster and CAN'T find the parts I know I have and am looking for...
Yours looks very neat and orderly now. Discipline yourself to maintain that.....
and then teach me...
John D said
Nov 3, 2014
I'm still fighting the OCD/organizer thing, but it's a wonder what having "enclosed" cabinets & storage can hide...
Between Independence Day weekend, Powercruise @ BIR, then Car Craft... haven't had much time to pound nails!
Finally got back at it, and some progress to report.
I'd really been kicking around the idea of sticking "FRP" (Fiberglass Reinforced Panel) on the walls... you know, that shiny pebble-grained stuff in janitor closets/commercial kitchens/etc.
After doing some research and watching some YouTube vids, it comes to be that the wall surface really has to be "paint ready" to ensure a good bond with the mastic. Well crap - if the wall needs to be "paint ready" - why not just PAINT the dang walls and save the $25+ per 4x8 panel!!
So out come the mud knives, hawk and tape, get a 5 gallon bucket of mud and revive some old skills. (I really want to punch the old owner of the house in the nuts. He did a crappy job of hanging the 'rock in the garage!)
The other plan was to hang "slatboard" on several areas of the walls. The flexibility of hanging something anywhere, and being able to cover 32sq/ft. of crappy 'rock in one go was appealing. The ugly part is the stuff is $40 a 4x8 sheet for basic white. (Yeah, I'm a cheap SOB). Then, the "basic white" doesn't have the extruded metal inserts in the grooves, so it's very weight limited (cantilevered) as to what you hang off it. The metal inserts are another $55 for each 4x8 panel.
Did some research and found this place! They salvage/reclaim retail store fixtures and accessories... including slatwall. They also stock every bracket/hanger/gizmo imaginable in bulk.
For about $130 I got five 4x8 birch veneer slatwall panels w/ metal inserts, five 14"x60" laminated shelves, and a load of brackets and hooks - and they loaded it in the Green Mary.
OK... the panels aren't perfect. There's a gouge or chunk out here and there, or an outlet box cut in, or the corners are dinged, but cut/plan around the damage and save big $$$.
Next step is to prime this wall, then move/hang crap on it to open up then next wall for work.
That should work great.
That is very
Were you maybe thinking this one Bryan....?
Seriously John, that's a great find and idea (Not that I'm surprised coming from you
). I will have to save the link too for when finishing the walls in the bat cave.
For a second there. It looked like you installed a flat screen on the wall too.
Just got cleaned up from priming the south wall. It took 1-1/4 gallons of Kilz "premium" for two coats - and the stamping on the OSB is still leaching through! We'll see - I'll have to do a test swatch with final color to see if it bleeds... thinking a gloss light grey.
It's amazing at how much just this one wall in flat primer brightens up the space!
(I don't even want to go near why Bryan needs a mannequin...
)
Yeah, the slatwall is neat stuff - but friggin' HEAVY - about 75lbs a sheet! But what's cool is if you wanna hang something up, just click a bracket/hanger in the spot and done - no anchors, looking for studs, etc. It's screwed to the wall through every 3rd slot into the stud. In my case the ends of the panels fell between studs, so a bead of general-purpose construction adhesive near the edge is sticking it to the wall. What's also cool is if you use the metal slot inserts, the fasteners/screw heads are concealed.
Oh yes, I have to have one of these, I have the perfect spot for it, her, she and plenty of height for the pole. Should go over very well in this very conservative roman catholic community.
I have these, still need a proper set of racing goggles. I have a jacket (am working on an even cooler one) and I need a body to put it on. I also want a small v-type drag steering wheel too. Should look cool in the garage corner when complete.
That's way cool garage art Bryan!
With the exception of a piece of 1x4 base molding, the south & west walls are DONE!! \
Insomnia has its benefits... (OK, maybe not insomnia, but being "body-clock" programmed to wake up at 5am) Did the finish sanding & the prime-coat on the west wall before the stores opened. While drying I went and got the color paint. Got back and put the color on the south, then the west.
I am REALLY HAPPY at how this is turning out!
And well you should be. Nice job.
I have the body-clock thing going on too....
Amazing transformation when you look at the 'before' pictures!
Seems kind of like a car restoration... when you make one part look good, it's hard not to do the rest.
What strikes me is the previous owner built the garage in the late '70s. We moved here in '96. It's only taken FORTY YEARS to get the ceiling done, lighting installed, and walls finished/painted!
It only took 15 years to get a paved driveway all the way to the garage, then nearly 20 to build myself a shop that I'll have to learn how to work in!
I've been working on gravel or in the dark since I was a kid - don't know anything else...
Been awhile on a construction update...
Got about 1/3 of the north wall done. This is the toughest wall to do, as it is the "working" wall over the main bench - everything happens here, and all the CRAP is centered around here.
Pulled down the '50s leftover/kitchen remodel cabinets that were screwed to the wall (moving the contents to the SW corner shelving), and moved the bench stuff to the new west wall bench. This wall wasn't bad, as I planned to install new cabinets - so I didn't have to do a really good job on the taping/mudding (90% of it was going to be covered up) - but my inherant machinist thing kicked in and did the friggin' wall nice anyway.
Went over to "Save Big Money", cashed in some 11% rebate coupons and got some cabinets. For those that watch the "house flipper" shows - these are the units that are touted as "oak kitchen cabinets" - yeah right. They have oak face-frames, oak stiles and panels on the doors, but they're only good for a garage or laundry room. Getting them kitchen & stain ready would cost 3x in labor the price of better units! No worries - they're in primer and will be painted.
Progress report:
North wall is 98% done. Just some 1/4-round to trim off the slatwall. Log this in your history files - this is probably the cleanest you'll ever see the 40 Watt main workbench!
(Pulled the vise and grinder off, hit the entire bench with the belt-sander (varying grits) and there's a quart of sealer back on it.)
Now, for my 1/2 of it, the car would have to be a roadster/convertible ('Vette's with a hard roof are just wrong), for her 1/2 it'd need to be an automatic. I'm thinking pretty cheap buy-in here... A nice convert, base 350/350 car with nothing special = cheap $$$. Hmmmmm.
Usually Corvette and "CHEAP" don't go in the same sentence, BUT, there are basket cases around. Read up on fiberglass work before buying one that needs paint as they have particular issues with the factory seam sealer and need special care to look right.
Well, the windows are trimmed & cased, did a throwback to the 70's and glued some cork around the main bench window (to actually use tacks and hold stuff up...), and started a little "man cave"/auto-art on the unusable wall areas.
Ok, how many guys didn't have the Lambo & Alpine poster on their wall in the 80's??
(No shop is complete without at least one "tool company" calendar girl either!)
Thank You's to Bryan's for his compliments/credits in the latest newsletter - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The "40 Watt" is nearly done. The overhead door is scheduled for replacement in the next few weeks. A new 5-panel, double-skinned (steel) door with injected polyurethane foam (R13+) will be going in. Once that's up and done I'll finish the east (last) wall.
I ran into a problem this past weekend however. With all the new storage (shelves, cabinets, slatwall, "tubs" in the attic, etc.) I organized myself into not remembering where anything is anymore!!
I changed the wheels/tires on the "Green Mary" Saturday (from alloys/meats to steels/snows/grandpa wire hubcaps) and for the life of me I couldn't find the box that had the hubcap adapters and steel-wheel lugnuts!! I could visualize the box on the shelf, over the west window... but that was the old 40 Watt. Could I remember where that box went in the new 40 Watt??? No.
It took 3 trips around every cabinet, shelf, and attic... then the proverbial light-bulb went off when I looked at a tub in the attic marked "Misc 95/6 Caprice". Sure 'nuff the box was in there.
I also undertook a minor project during the hoop-swap, finding the cause of notchy/loose steering. With 92k turns on her, I expected something worn out. Turned out to be the driver's outer tie-rod end. Lemme tell you, it was a pleasure to do this job in a well-lighted & warm space, tools & supplies organized and at hand. Even with the rusted fasteners & 20 years of crud it took about an hour to exchange the tie-rod end (including the "red-neck/shadetree"/tape measure/count the turns/ruler toe-in wheel alignment).
I'll agree - having blank, horizontal space IS a catch-all for CRAP... unless you discipline yourself to finding a dedicated space for it (which more often than not should be the big green can you roll to the curb every week!), or you retrain yourself to PUT THINGS AWAY WHEN YOU'RE DONE. I have a tendency to "sprawl" during a project.
I'll post some pics of the door install.
I'm all too aware of the "project sprawl". I am HORRIBLE at laying parts and tools down and leaving them. You saw my shop/storage building. I find stuff all the time that I forgot I had in that disaster and CAN'T find the parts I know I have and am looking for...
Yours looks very neat and orderly now. Discipline yourself to maintain that.....
and then teach me...
I'm still fighting the OCD/organizer thing, but it's a wonder what having "enclosed" cabinets & storage can hide...