I salute you men and women who

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abdywgn

abdywgn

dismantler
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can keep a work bench clean and not use it as a shelf. I have my Dad's wooden work bench in the basement, covered with stuff. From time-to-time, I am able to use the table top drill press on it and leave saw dust on everything nearby. The other wooden work bench from my wife's Grandfather is in the back of the garage...you guessed it! COVERED IN STUFF! (should be a good place to insert George Carlin's talk about "stuff"). A metal work bench that was waiting for me after Church one Sunday is covered in whatever. Another wooden bench a neighbor was tossing out has various pieces of taken apart A/C unit and duct work, along with an electric motor and rimless tire. Last, but not least, I think the strongest metal work bench I have is taken apart and behind the fileing cabinets in the garage. What brought this all up was the time I spent on my knees assembling lamps in the basement. Thought, it would be nice to have a work bench to, umm, actually work on. Thanks for the rant space and as I stated earlier, you who keep your benches clean after projects, I salute you! And maybe have a shot of kombucha in your honor!
 
Well that ain't me... there's a wing under there somewhere.
workshopapril12021 002.JPG
 
When I built my garage I intentionally built one workbench, about 40 by 24 inches, and one shelf, roughly the same dimensions and 8 ft high for miscellaneous parts and some power tools. I have 2 small shelves, about 14 by 24 inches, but they are mounted about 6 ft high, and only used for stocking oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, and air/oil filters.
I have learned through experience that any flat surface has exceptional magnetic properties that will only attract more junk. I also repurposed an old medicine cabinet for things like brake cleaner and other spray cans. Of course I also have at least 2 old milk crates in the basement full of other spray cans and paints that can't be left outside in winter, since I don't have heat in my garage.
 
I built a 24"x 16-foot bench across the back of my garage. It`s fully loaded with stuff.
I built a temporary 4x8x3/4 plywood tabletop setting on steel horses. Mostly loaded.
30"x30" steel table, non-useable, stuff mounted to it.
30"x40"x 1/2" steel table, full of stuff. I usually manage to keep 12" square foot on the corner for projects.

Most larger projects, I spend more time organizing/moving stuff off than the time the repair takes.
To think 18 years ago it was a wide-open space.:lol:
 
missing linc said:
I have learned through experience that any flat surface has exceptional magnetic properties that will only attract more junk
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YES! something they don't teach you in science class or auto shop. Disliking this working on the floor although tailgate of the truck not too bad when the weather is nice.
mopar head said:
Most larger projects, I spend more time organizing/moving stuff off than the time the repair takes.
Click to expand...
Almost any project takes longer to find anything than do, Often, it's just quicker and less stressful to buy new stuff even though you know it's in there somewhere.
Mine was open space 26 years ago, largest garage I've had, wondered how I would fill it. I found out!
 
Studies have shown that, no matter the available square footage, all that is necessary to successfully complete most tasks, is a 1-2 square foot area.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I have a 30x60 bench with zero available surface, a 24x50 bench with zero available, a 36x96 with about 1 square foot available and a 28x64 with between 1 and 2 square feet available.
 
This happens all the time at work too. Set a piece of plywood on the sawhorses and walk away for 5 min. Minimum you’ll find someone’s coffee on it in that amount of time, more than likely someone putting together something and needing a bench, and just need to “make a cut”! Needless to say the bench in my garage is full too, and no amount of cleaning it off makes any headway to a remedy!
 
Boy - if ever there was a club designed just for me, this is it! My shop is a complete disaster with every horizontal surface full to overflowing with stuff. It's so bad I have to slither sideways in the narrow pathways left open to get around. I'll bet all my clutter-buddies know all about this least-favorite deal too, having to move multiple piles of stuff to get to other stuff. God forbid I ever need something squirreled away at the back of a bottom shelf in the corner.

I started out with a 96x20" bench at the back of the shop. Then I added overhead cabinets and two vertical cabinets. Over time I've added a 108x36" three-level pallet rack, another 96x30" four level pallet rack, four more tall cabinets, multiple 5-6 shelf tall wire racks on wheels, all of which are overstuffed. I had a nice SS topped workbench that was 48x30 but it was full so I added a 24x30" wing shelf for work space that is now also full. And a 36x60" folding table. There are three rolling work carts that are - you guessed it! - also full. And then there's the floor. Beside the lift is an area about 5'x20' that's three feet deep in stuff. There are engines (four if I recall correctly), transmissions (something like a dozen or so) and more parts for each project car than you can shake a stick at.

I've been working hard to reduce, sell, give away, donate, or scrap stuff to try to get this under control. Part of the issue is having three cars blown apart at the same time, with lots of goodies for each one taking up space. I made the mistake of starting a project, then getting burned out and thinking I'll just roll that project out and take care of this quick fix (insert delirious laughter here) on the next one which of course turned out to be a major project too. Lather, rinse, and repeat and you have my current dilemma. And I'm nobody's idea of ADHD either. The focus now is pick something and get it completed, then move on to the next thing. A little victory, just last night I got a major overhaul done on the shop sound system with a new TV added. Happily, everything works and it sounds great. Next project, wrap up the truck and get started on the new top end and stereo for the wagon.

May the force be with you all! :thumbsup:

There are many other pics I could send, but this is a good slice of what my world looks like. And yes, it gets worse in some of the other photos.

20240130_152620[1].jpg



20240130_152605[1].jpg
 
It's simply the nature of us bi-peds/humans to use any flat surface as a shelf. I guess the best example I can present is Jotul #3 wood stove because we own one. It is illegal to place this or similar stove in a bedroom. Someone would throw a robe or something flammable on top of it. "Nature of the beast" applies here.
 
halfafish said:
Boy - if ever there was a club designed just for me, this is it! My shop is a complete disaster with every horizontal surface full to overflowing with stuff. It's so bad I have to slither sideways in the narrow pathways left open to get around. I'll bet all my clutter-buddies know all about this least-favorite deal too, having to move multiple piles of stuff to get to other stuff. God forbid I ever need something squirreled away at the back of a bottom shelf in the corner.

I started out with a 96x20" bench at the back of the shop. Then I added overhead cabinets and two vertical cabinets. Over time I've added a 108x36" three-level pallet rack, another 96x30" four level pallet rack, four more tall cabinets, multiple 5-6 shelf tall wire racks on wheels, all of which are overstuffed. I had a nice SS topped workbench that was 48x30 but it was full so I added a 24x30" wing shelf for work space that is now also full. And a 36x60" folding table. There are three rolling work carts that are - you guessed it! - also full. And then there's the floor. Beside the lift is an area about 5'x20' that's three feet deep in stuff. There are engines (four if I recall correctly), transmissions (something like a dozen or so) and more parts for each project car than you can shake a stick at.

I've been working hard to reduce, sell, give away, donate, or scrap stuff to try to get this under control. Part of the issue is having three cars blown apart at the same time, with lots of goodies for each one taking up space. I made the mistake of starting a project, then getting burned out and thinking I'll just roll that project out and take care of this quick fix (insert delirious laughter here) on the next one which of course turned out to be a major project too. Lather, rinse, and repeat and you have my current dilemma. And I'm nobody's idea of ADHD either. The focus now is pick something and get it completed, then move on to the next thing. A little victory, just last night I got a major overhaul done on the shop sound system with a new TV added. Happily, everything works and it sounds great. Next project, wrap up the truck and get started on the new top end and stereo for the wagon.

May the force be with you all! :thumbsup:

There are many other pics I could send, but this is a good slice of what my world looks like. And yes, it gets worse in some of the other photos.

View attachment 1716200131


View attachment 1716200130
Click to expand...
at least you have floor space to walk! back of the garage? I can see it when I open the door. Quickest way back there would be a George of the jungle imitation, swing from the ceiling 2X4's. I've heard that a vehicle taken apart takes up three times as much room as one assembled.
 
Has anyone been to Kregel Windmill Museum in Nebraska? I guess from what they say it looked like my garage; not one square inch of floor uncovered.
 
My bench
20240201_155727.jpg


A complete 5.0 Ford, a complete 350 Olds, and a small block 727 live underneath. A small tire rack above after I got sick of them being stacked in a corner.

My one miscellaneous shelf.
20240201_155816.jpg


Kinda got taken over by the Costco oil that was on sale in the fall.

Mainly oil and transmission fluid on this one.
20240201_155821.jpg



Air and oil filters and a few small parts here.
20240201_155839.jpg
 
abdywgn said:
seems tight but organized. not a lot of extra "stuff". other than heat, a very workable area.
Olds a W31?
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No, the Olds is a good block with the solid main webs, but has the shittiest smogger heads they made with huge chambers. I had it in my Ventura for a couple years, runs ok, but developed some valvetrain noise, so I pulled it and put the "killer" 260 cube engine back in.
 
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