Hey Kusto, you can't have enough plug ins around the wall or in the ceiling for lights. Don't forget to plumb your shop with plenty of air line outlets too!! I don't have to say no matter how big you build it, it'll be too small!!

 

Actually, it's hard to afford a small garage, in Southern Callifornia....or ANY garage, for that matter! That's why I moved to Indiana. Bought what would have been a $750,000 house, in San Diego, for $25,000, then the 1/4 acre lot, for $7500, and $20,000 for the 28 X 40 shop, finished...Do I regret moving from So. Cal?? One or two days a year. But, winter time here, with the snow and all, just means you do INdoor truck work!!

The price you pay for paradise....



R

 

in oceanside, just moved down from laguna beach

 

Welcome to San Diego !

There's a few of us down here. The other knuckleheads will likely say Hi or not..........

E-Dawgie

 

I was in San Marco/Escondido area...

R

 

Ernie - love the colors on your "last" '49! Hard to tell from the picture - two tone brown, is the fender color metalflake?

R

 

Kusto - Terry's right! And the more you build in, while you are building, is less than you'll have to "retro-fit" after the fact.

I laid mine out on a set of plans, and pretty much stuck to it. There were a few things I would have done different, but for the most part, I am happy with what I did.

Think big, and think future! My shop is 28 X 40, although was thinking 28 X 36. Found it was just a little more expensive to go longer, the width would have cost a lot more. I could have gone another 8 feet, but the 40 feet is fine for me. Everyone told me I would be unhappy, no matter how big I built it, but I'm very happy with the size.

I wasn't thinking about my truck when I built it - more a woodshop. But, since I have gotten my truck, I have gotten a welder. I had two 220 volt outlets, one at each end, figured that would be enough - one is taken by the compressor. So I basically have one at the opposite end. I would definitely put in at least two more, probably one at every corner - it would have been as cheap as building a 35 foot extension cord!

I would over-build as far as all electric - I'd rather have a receptical never used, than to be one short, when I needed it.

If you go air or water, behind the walls, or any plumbing at all, make sure you pressure test, before you cover it up. Also, make sure the electric is 100% before you cover it up. Believe me, the oddest things will happen once you cover something up!

I also recommend overhead radiant tube heating - it heats everything IN the shop, not the air. The forced-air heat heats the air. So when you open a door, all the air goes out, and you start over. With the radiant tube, as soon as you shut the door, you are back up to temp. Plus laying on a cold floor sux!!

Speaking of doors, I went with one on each end. I went with a bigger one on one end, thought they'd be plenty. GO AS BIG AS YOU CAN!! My daughter bought a off-road Jeep, and it barely fits in the BIG door, and nothing fits in the smaller one. I wish I had the big door where the small one is, and a much bigger one where the big one is...too late now, but I still may end up figuring out a way to make the one bigger, a VERY expensive and extensive proposition!!

Put in a bathroom, if at ALL possible...nothing worse than having to drag your greasy, oily butt into the house...

R

 

You aint kidding!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...5844&showall=1

 

My shop is my dirt driveway...

 

Roger,

Thanks, the Truck was originally built and painted by my good friend Darrel Shea. Over the next 8 years I drove it daily and replaced about everything except the Body. I sold it about 8 years ago. It was recently sighted by a friend of mine and he took a picture. The grille is caved in, the fenders have been hit and it's a mess.

As I recall, the paint colors were '80s Bronco. The Dark Brown was not metalflake.

I should scan some more photos and put them in my gallery. It was always a popular truck at shows.

Dawgie

 

Dawg, yeah, you should! Would love to see some more!

Shame on what happened to it. My last Sunbeam Alpine resto I did, came back about 10 years later, had been in numerous accidents and finally "totalled", but there still wasn't a drop of oil dripping from or on the engine!! Drove it until I left California, after pulling out the "major" dents, to make it legal. It was rather heartbreaking, to see it, but was nice to know the motor held so nice...

R

 

Here's my Shop, first bay on the left is where the booth is.





Save space by stacking the welders. Input power cord is run to a junction box, then to each machine. Also feeds a 50 Amp plug for the plasma cutter, and 115 outlet to plug in your grinder, to keep power where you need it.



Paint booth. All the metal fabrication stuff is against the paint booth wall, and to make use of otherwise wasted space, wall cabinets are hung on the side of the booth.




Some of the metal fabrication eqpt:










http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/?start=all

 

Dude!!!!!!! What an awesome shop!! Right after I took them pics of my shop. I took my plasma cutter down off that cabinet and put it on my TIG welder cart (stacked) I put a junction box on the cart and I can have only one plug to deal with!! Now I can move it around, it only had a 20 foot torch on it, and I had it on the wall. Every time I needed it I had to drag the vehicle or whatever to that bay. NOT ANYMORE!!!!


I think we can all learn from one another something?? I think John gets the vote for best use of space!! Although we can all learn tricks from each other! I love this place

 

Most here have seen it before, but for those who haven't:



Just after the build. 28 x 28 2 stories. Downstairs ceiling is 12' to accomidate future lift.

 

Those vehicle rollaways are real handy, I have 4 under Gracie just like those. I got mine on ebay for 49.00 a pair.